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Making the Case for Direct Air Capture for Carbon Storage

The idea of mitigating climate change by removing carbon from the air is nothing new. It has been present on the desks of academics, businessmen and policymakers for over twenty years, taking a central role in climate change prediction models and leading to intense debates on its feasibility and potential for scale up so as to avoid catastrophic climate change. A new study published in the Energy and Environmental Science journal outlines a new ground-breaking technology that may be able to overcome some of the criticisms levelled at direct air capture for carbon storage technologies.

Clean Energy Revolution? The Numbers Make Sense

Although fossil fuels have powered and shaped the modern era they have also been a major contributing factor in the current climate crisis. However, energy will also be a key factor in coping with the consequences of climate change: a global clean energy revolution whose economic implications bring newfound hope for our future.

The Global Banking System is not Immune to Climate Change.

Climate change will have a growing influence on the stability of the banking system, potentially contributing to future financial crises. A new paper published in Nature highlights the detrimental effects of climate change on the banking system, adding to established literature on the effects of climate change on economic growth and productivity of labour. However, financial regulation authorities can act to reduce climate-related risks by implementing targeted measures.

UN Climate Talks: Lights and Shadows of the COP25

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…

Mountains Matter for the World’s Youth at COP25

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. 

What to expect from the “Ambition COP” on climate change, as it enters its crucial week

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?

Can We Fly Sustainably  

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.

Everything that Climate Change is not

People, action, solutions, and opportunities. These four keywords can drive effective climate communication, because “climate change is not a story about the future”. A talk

The Green Climate Fund Must Focus on Adaptation  

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. 

The Green Wave Takes Swiss Elections by Storm

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.