Francesco Bassetti

AR6 marek-piwnicki

The IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report reveals the truth about past, actual and future climate change

In the new IPCC report scientists have made more accurate and reliable assertions on the extent, causes and future of our changing climate. As the crucial COP26 in Glasgow approaches, their assessment of the physical science of climate change may well act as a much-needed wake-up call. “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land [and that] changes in the climate system have become larger in direct relation to increasing global warming,” reads the report.

carbon price

Will a carbon price on imports really help the climate transition?

Reaching the Paris Agreement requires a global effort to step up ambition and lower emissions. “Even if Europe, China and the US manage to go carbon neutral, which would be a major achievement, it still leaves us far from the 2-degrees goal of the Paris Agreement”, explains director of the RFF-CMCC partnership Massimo Tavoni. “To increase ambition carbon border adjustment measures have been proposed. But they are risky and might not be compatible with a just transition.”

Olympics for climate action

The United Nations have long recognized that sport can help promote sustainable development. With the Tokyo 2020 Olympics currently underway, organizers have seized the opportunity to showcase how the sporting world can be sustainable, setting the bar for future Olympics and sporting events.

sharing economy

Is the sharing economy caring for the planet?

The sharing economy is often touted as a win-win solution for both environmental problems and economic efficiency. However, new studies give a fresh perspective on just how much sharing helps reduce our carbon footprint. Some of their findings are surprising. 

virtual climate meeting

Time to meet in person

With the annual intersessional UN climate talk taking place online, and mired with technical difficulties, delegates are eager to get back to in person meetings. However, in three weeks of virtual discussions, little headway was made leaving all decision making to the COP26 in Glasgow.

To what extent do we value the future?

Over the last few decades, through rigorous investigation and research, the scientific community has reached a consensus around the reality of climate change. As this process continues, there is also a need to focus on finding solutions to the unfolding crisis and communicating scientific knowledge through effective storytelling.

The power of climate policy

Policy is the key to contrasting the worst effects of climate change. Analysing the impact of climate laws implemented by the G7 nations on their overall emissions gives a clear indication of how important policy measures are in the fight against climate change.

who will survive

Who Will Survive? A Journey to Climate-Proof Populations

Climate change is exacerbating problems such as habitat loss and extreme temperature fluctuations. With one in four species currently under threat of extinction, understanding which ones are better equipped to adapt, and hence survive, can provide valuable information for conservation efforts and policy choices.

water security

Water Scarcity: Glaciers Sound the Alarm

Glaciers account for approximately 70% of all freshwater stored on the planet. From Latin America to the Himalayas, New Zealand and the European Alps, climate change is causing most glaciers to retreat at unprecedented rates with many experts sounding the alarm on water security. 

Natural capital

There Is No Prosperity Without Natural Capital

Natural resources are neither free nor boundless. The time has come to challenge our conception of the relationship between the economy, society, and the environment and how we measure well-being and social progress. A new system takes the contributions of nature into account when analyzing economic development. It can be a game-changer for decision making processes.

next-generation-eu

Next Generation Fund: Putting the EU at the Forefront of the Transition

The €750 billion plan will help member states address the COVID-19 pandemic whilst ensuring that their economies undertake green and digital transitions. Climate goals, research and innovation, Horizon Europe, fair climate and digital transitions: all you need to know about the largest stimulus package ever to be advanced through the EU budget.