The COP25 came to an end on Sunday afternoon. The inadequacy of current policies in bridging the emissions gap was partially recognized, but disappointment was also widespread, as negotiations failed to deliver ambitious targets and regulate carbon markets by creating consensus around Article 6. Although many are viewing this as a missed opportunity, it isn’t all bad news…
For the 2019 International Mountain Day, the theme of choice is “Mountain’s matter for youth”. Mountain areas are home to over 1 billion people and represent an invaluable asset with the power to inspire people to act on climate change and contribute to our Sustainable Development Goals. As the COP25 is underway the topic of mountains is a side-issue that is also gaining attention due to the importance of mountains for both up and downstream populations.
The final five days of the Conference start after a week of negotiations. The spotlight is on Article 6 and the challenge of “establishing a solid basis for international cooperation to reduce emissions and allow for a greater role of the private sector in climate action”, as explained by Antonio Guterres. The objective is to make sure that energy, finance, and environment are aligned with policies that can accelerate and scale-up action and investments to guarantee a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy. Is it feasible in Madrid, or will it be postponed to 2020?
Making aviation sustainable is becoming ever more pressing as the total amount of air passengers and annual CO2 emissions from air travel continue to rise. Solving this issue is a priority if we are to meet the Paris Agreement objectives. Whilst airlines are looking into solutions, such as alternative fuels and offsetting their CO2 emissions, they also continue to engage in damaging practices that make our insatiable thirst for air travel all the more impactful.
Historically adaptation projects have received less funding than ones for mitigation. Furthermore, the burden of implementing adaptation is falling ever more on the public sector, whereas for mitigation private sector interest and investments are on the rise. This is leading to consequences in how climate finance allocates resources which are failing to support at risk areas and Least Developed Countries. The Green Climate Fund aims to bridge this funding gap and has secured its second round of funding, this time obtaining 9.78 billion USD in pledges.
By focusing on climate outcomes in 2100 scenarios used to inform climate policy can lead to risky strategies, potentially ignoring higher-than-acceptable mid-century warming and over
On the 20th October 2019, the Swiss elections came to a close with a surprising outcome: Green parties gained an unprecedented share of the vote and for the first time could get a seat in the coalition that governs Switzerland. After advances by Green parties in the European parliamentary elections, climate change continues to play a key role in politics, as public opinion is ever more influenced by the effective communication of climate science.
With urban populations continuing to grow and contributing more than their fair share of global emissions, cities must step up and fulfil their potential as sources of solutions to the climate crisis. Initiatives such as C40 smart cities can help catalyse ambitious climate action plans in line with science-based targets. The latest C40 meeting in Copenhagen shows that there is a growing drive for cities to take the lead in generating positive change.
Not only does climate change have a more significant impact on the economies of lower income countries, these also have to pay more for adaptation, recovery and redevelopment loans, leading them into the climate debt trap. With the added “cruel irony” that those less responsible for climate change are being made to pay a larger share of the price.
A new IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere claims that we still have time to avert some of the worst effects of climate change. Although painting a dire picture, which reveals the pervasive effects of global warming, the Report also highlights the significant benefits of limiting global warming by emphasising how lower emission scenarios will have reduced impacts on the wellbeing of oceans and the cryosphere.
Responding to a changing climate can be both a challenge and an opportunity. A new policy paper published in the journal Science advocates a strategic and managed climate retreat, curbing new developments in at risk areas and shifting the focus from ad hoc disaster measures to efficient and equitable retreat strategies.
Due to human activity we are currently undergoing Earth’s sixth mass extinction. Delegations from all over the world came together in Switzerland at the CITES conference to debate how to protect over 500 endangered species by regulating wildlife trade.
