(Image Credit – NOAA on Unsplash)

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle or volcanic eruptions. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas (Source: United Nations (UN) Climate Action page).  These changes can be illustrated in the graphs below, showing the correlation between the rise in man-made CO2 emissions and the rise in global surface temperatures.

Other similar definitions of climate change can be found through the links below:

• Glossary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (under “Climate change”)  
• European Commission  
• Climate change: What is it and why is everyone talking about it? (BBC Newsround) 

“Global warming” refers to the rise in global temperatures due mainly to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. “Climate change” refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time – including precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns (Source: US Geological Survey).

Other useful links: NASA

Myths

Myth number 1:

“Climate change is a natural occurrence that has always been around, so we don’t need to worry about it”.

The climate on planet Earth has always changed in some way or another (including during millions of years when humans did not yet exist), but the way and speed in which the global climate has changed in recent times (i.e. dating back to the period starting in 1750-1850) is unprecedented. In order to consider the variations in climate periods and related temperatures, we take a closer look at the changes in temperature over the past 65 million years in our “Deep Dive” section further below.

This change has been noticed and proven to be a direct consequence of human industrial activity, and there is abundant evidence of this connection in the multiple studies conducted over the past 40-50 years.

The IPCC’s latest 6th Assessment Report from 2022 showed how GHG (Greenhouse gas) emissions over the past decade have reached their highest levels ever in human history. In addition, the report also concluded once again, as in previous reports, that the continued rise in global temperatures has most certainly been due to human industrial activity and that, in this report (even more so than in previous ones), the evidence gathered in this sense has proved to be unequivocal.

IPCC’s 6th Assessment Report 2022 and a further update from the IPCC in 2023 issues a final warning before the situation becomes irreversible. 

Myth number 2:

“Plants need carbon dioxide to grow, so rising atmospheric CO2 is a good thing”.

The belief that plants will benefit from increased atmospheric CO2 levels is false. While plants require CO2 to grow, elevated levels of CO2 can become harmful, and other environmental factors such as light, water, and soil fertility are also essential for plant growth. Below it is shown that experimental evidence disproves the misconception that rising atmospheric CO2 levels are beneficial for plants. Temperature

Temperature is an important factor affecting the distribution and abundance patterns of plants, as it impacts their development, growth and agricultural yields, as well as the geographic regions where they can be grown. However, the rise in atmospheric CO2 is leading to a rise in global temperatures, resulting in longer and warmer growing seasons for plants. This increase in temperature poses a threat to water resources and makes plants more susceptible to pests and diseases.

Water

(Image credit - MD Hasanuzzaman Himel on Unsplash)                          

The availability of water for plants has been decreasing due to competition for water resources among agriculture, environmental protection, and social-economic development. Climate change resulting from increasing CO2 levels has also caused significant variations in weather patterns, soil moisture retention, evaporation, and runoff, which are crucial for rainfed agricultural production. With 80% of all agricultural production being rainfed, variations in seasonal rainfall patterns pose a significant threat. The increase in atmospheric CO2 is expected to further decrease the availability of water resources, posing a threat to plant sustainability, food security, ecosystem services, and environmental health.

Soil Fertility

Scientific research has been conducted to determine the impact of increasing CO2 on soil fertility. While there were uncertainties, evidence suggests that rising atmospheric CO2 is leading to a decrease in nitrogen levels in soil. This decrease in nitrogen affects the soil nutrient cycle, resulting in reduced plant nutrient uptake and productivity. Furthermore, the rate of foliage decomposition is expected to decrease under higher atmospheric CO2, posing a threat to sustainable soil biodiversity. 

Sources for the above information can be found in the “Deep Dive” section further below.

Myth number 3:

(Image credit – Cristian Palmer on Unsplash)

“More CO2, emissions are not a real problem, since the ocean can absorb additional CO2, emissions”.

As a natural process, our planet’s oceans have the capacity to absorb CO2, in the atmosphere. Currently, it is estimated that roughly one third of CO2, in our atmosphere dissolves in the ocean, acting as an important buffer against rising temperatures. This CO2, which is dissolved in the ocean is then taken up by marine life, as part of a natural cycle that results in some of the CO2, being stored deep within the ocean’s floor.

However, recent studies have shown that, if global temperatures increase to the levels predicted, the ocean will no longer be able to store additional CO2. The latest research on the topic has revealed that the current cycle of CO2 storage in the ocean’s floor is being disrupted by rising ocean temperatures, thus contributing to further warming of the atmosphere.

These trends are due to the natural process that occurs when oceans absorb increased levels of CO2: rising levels of CO2 in the air cause oceans to absorb the gas in large quantities, affecting marine ecosystems adversely due to an excess level of CO2 being dissolved under water.

Again, it is an example of our natural environment proving unable to adapt fast enough to the additional CO2 and GHG emissions released by humans into the atmosphere - or, in other words, humans polluting the natural environment, too much and too fast.

Sources:

Ocean's climate change 'buffer' role under threat (BBC News) 

iAtlantic website

Study reveals uncertainty in how much carbon the ocean absorbs over time (MIT News) 

The oceans are absorbing more carbon than previously thought (World Economic Forum) 

These are of course only a few of the many myths that are and can be used to deny climate change through simple and logical reasoning that does not, however, rely on any evidence.

In the “Miscellaneous” section, we dig deeper into the different methods and tactics used to deny climate change in the press and in the media.

Why should we care and do something about it?

(Image credit – NOAA on Unsplash)

The number of intense storms is also increasing, as well as their destructiveness. Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011 are two recent examples of devastating natural disasters, as were the recent and repeatedly record-setting heatwaves and related forest fires in Europe (2022, 2021, 2020, and now 2023, among others) and in the “dust bowl” regions in the western part of the US and Canada, not to mention the devastating floods in Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2022, among countless other examples.

One of the most evident signs that our climate is changing is this increase in extreme weather events, including more frequent and intense storms, floods, droughts, heatwaves, and wildfires. These events are happening worldwide, costing lives, homes, jobs, and businesses.

Food Security 

Climate change is already making it harder to grow crops and raise livestock in some parts of the world, and it will only worsen as the climate continues to change. This could lead to widespread hunger and malnutrition, especially for the poorest people who already have difficulty sourcing enough food to eat.

Crop yields may decline by an estimate of 40-60% over the next 20 years in some areas. In Africa and other parts of the developing world, food production could decrease to below 1990 levels.

In addition to policy changes in agriculture that would help prevent further warming, our world would benefit from major changes in our energy system, such as prioritising a low or zero-carbon economy.

Biodiversity

(Image credit - Alenka Skvarc on Unsplash)

Climate change also has a direct impact on biodiversity. The warming of the Earth’s atmosphere is causing plants and animals to migrate to new areas to survive. As they move, they compete for resources with other species that have always lived in those areas. 
This can cause extinction and loss of genetic diversity within species. Climate change is also causing changes in the timing of life cycles, such as migration and flowering. This can disrupt ecosystems and cause problems for the species that depend on those cycles.

Economic Effects

Climate change also has serious economic effects. It is costing us billions of dollars every year in damages from extreme weather events, lost crops, and reduced tourism and is expected to continue doing so. In the US, direct damages from weather-related events have averaged more than $20 billion a year over the past decade.

Extreme weather events are causing more property damage than ever before. Hurricanes that used to happen once every 100 years now occur twice as often––and are much stronger and more destructive when they occur.

The economic effects of climate change are being felt most acutely by developing countries, which are the least prepared to deal with them. For example, it makes it harder for people to grow crops and raise livestock in certain parts of the world. This can cause food prices to rise and make it harder for people in developing countries to afford necessities like clean water, education, public health care, and housing. This, in turn, is also making it harder for developing countries to develop their economies.

Below is a graph demonstrating the increase in frequency of adverse weather events globally over the period between 1980 and 2019.

Source: Met Office (UK); Munich RE (Germany).

Sea-level Rise

One of the most severe consequences of climate change is sea-level rise. If we don’t reduce our emissions, the oceans could rise by as much as almost one metre (three feet) by the end of this century. Climate change is also causing the world’s oceans to acidify, which will make it harder for marine life and coral reefs to thrive. This would inundate many coastal communities with saltwater, destroy trillions of dollars’ worth of property, and put millions of people at risk of flooding and food insecurity.

It is important to remember that climate change is a global issue. It doesn’t matter where we live––the effects of climate change are being felt everywhere. We all have a responsibility to take climate action and help protect our planet.

Source: Why Should We Care About Climate Change? (Aspiration) 

History of Climate Change (as the concept we know today)

1.  Source: (The Conversation - Environment); (Live Science)
2. Idem.
3. Source: (IPCC).

Following the creation of the UN’s IPCC, a number of actions coordinated by governments began to take place on a more active scale, including the first Earth Summit organised by the UN and hosted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992 (Rio 1992). The summit gave birth to a number of policy initiatives aimed at creating long-term implementation plans and blueprints for agreements aimed at triggering action on environmental issues worldwide, namely through the Declaration on Environment and Development, the Statement of Forest Principles, Agenda 21, and the establishment of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). More importantly, it set the basis for the world’s first agreement on climate action, the Kyoto Protocol, signed by 160 countries in 1997, committing 37 industrialised countries, economies in transition and the European Union to binding reduction targets for six key greenhouse gases by 2012: carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (NOx), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6). In a nutshell, signatories committed to the targets agreed in order to reduce their collective GHG emissions by 5.2% by the year 2012, compared to their 1990 levels.

Since then, and due to the long time taken to ratify it among all the signatory countries, the Protocol did not actually enter into force until 2008, thus delaying the introduction of targets internationally, by which time the collective target had already been negotiated down to 5% (due to a shortened timescale for implementation). This took place following nine years of negotiations among countries under the framework of the Convention of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, first held in 1995 in Berlin, Germany, and in 1996 in Geneva, Switzerland. This is where national governments and international organisations laid the basis for initiatives and commitments from which signatories could select in order to meet their targets set under the Kyoto Protocol. Much criticism and uncertainty shrouded the prospects of progress with the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol, with both the world’s largest emitters, the United States and China, refusing to ratify the agreement and thus compromising global action to meet targets. As a result, GHG emissions leading up to 2010 and to the first 2012 Kyoto Protocol target date continued to increase at a global level, as shown by the graph below.

Source: (History – Natural Disasters & Environment); (BBC News, Science & Environment); (IPCC).

Despite positive developments continuing to prop up at local and national level in certain parts of the world - with growing public awareness of climate change as an issue of concern – and despite the wider global initiatives adopted, such as the proliferation of grassroots organisations created around the world to fight climate change and related issues during the 2000s and 2010s, or even the establishment of the Green Climate Fund under the auspices of COP16 in Cancún (Mexico) in 2010, globally coordinated commitments to reduce GHG emissions via binding targets would not be adopted officially until 2015, when governments and international organisations finally agreed at the COP21 in Paris (France) to limit the global average temperature “to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels,” in order to reach a “climate-neutral world” (as in, net-zero emissions) by 2050 (Source: UNFCCC). This is what has since then become known as the Paris Agreement.

            Although implementation of the Paris Agreement has since then proved challenging in certain parts of the world (not least wherever it has faced political opposition), a significant portion of civil society and both the public and private sector have been increasingly demanding and mobilising resources and capabilities to fight climate change. As a key outcome of discussions during COP26 in Glasgow (UK) in 2021 and COP27 in Sharm-El-Sheikh (Egypt) in 2022, nearly 200 countries adopted not only new and more rigorous language with regards to the industry sectors to be prioritised in actions to decarbonise economic activity, but also important changes to the workings of the Green Climate Fund so as to enable its disbursement in countries that need it most. This issue has since remained a hot topic in current events, given the major shortcoming of climate discussions since its adoption in 2010 and given that most of the $100bn (USD) committed annually to the Fund remains unspent. A key outcome of the latest COP27 in Egypt included a ‘Loss and Damages fund’ agreed to enable countries to also benefit from financial support for climate adaptation measures, already an urgent necessity in many places around the world, particularly in recent years (2019-2022) and in the wake of damaging climate-related events occurring at unprecedented rates (e.g. record temperatures, heat waves, floods, droughts and natural disasters occurring with increasing frequency and intensity on every continent).

Below are some interesting links on the history of climate change as a concept (including that of a 1912 article from New Zealand on the impact of coal burning on the atmosphere!):

• History of the IPCC (IPCC) 
• Climate Change History (History – Natural Disasters & Environment)
• A Brief History of Climate Change (BBC News - Science & Environment) 
• For 110 years, climate change has been in the news. Are we finally ready to listen? (The Conversation – Environment) 
• When did scientists first warn humanity about climate change? (Live Science)
• Planetary Boundaries (Stockholm University – Stockholm Resilience Centre) 

Effects & Inequalities

(Image credit – Jon Tyson on Unsplash)

It has been proven that the world’s most affluent countries, also often referred to as the “Global North”, are responsible for around half of all emissions since the time of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, as estimated by the World Inequality Database. Privileged lifestyles in Europe, North America and other nations in the Global North have produced a carbon footprint 100 times greater than that of the world’s poorest nations combined. In 2019, the top 10% of global emitters (771 million individuals) were responsible for about 48% of global CO2 emissions, while the bottom 50% (3.8 billion individuals) were responsible for just 12% of all emissions. This does not only mean that less developed countries, often located in the “Global South”, have contributed far less historically to global warming, it also implies that less developed countries have had a less equal share in the direct benefits of fossil fuel use, including energy consumption.
Despite these inequalities, most countries in both the Global North and the Global South continue to increase their GHG emissions, with only a handful of countries and the European Union having been able to cut down on emissions by 2020 against 1990 levels. More alarmingly, as countries across the Global South continue to develop their economies faster than the Global North, their emissions levels continue to increase and overtake those of the Global North. According to the Center for Global Development (a think tank), 63% of annual emissions are currently produced by developing countries, as illustrated in the graph below.

Source: Center for Global Development.

The challenge thus persists for all countries around the world to reduce their emissions drastically and as quickly as possible on every continent, as well as to take urgent action to help those most in need with climate adaptation measures in the regions affected by past and present climate-related disasters.

Source: Developing Countries Are Responsible for 63 Percent of Current Carbon Emissions (Center for Global Development) 

Further information on the inequalities of climate change:

Global North and Global South: How Climate Change Uncovers Global Inequalities (Generation Climate Europe)

Solutions: what can we do about it?

(Image credit – Anders J on Unsplash)

The United Nations points out that Renewable Energy is “at the heart of climate change’’ and defines it as a key to the solution for a healthy, sustainable and liveable planet. Its resources are natural and self-replenishing, its prices are affordable, the energy is healthier, and it is estimated to play an important role for new job opportunities all around the world. Not least, its reliability makes it more resilient and efficient in the energy market. 

Nowadays, as in the case of the marine renewable energy sector, there are still enormous untapped renewable energy sources that are considered as capable of meeting more than double the world’s current electricity demand and as the potential primary energy option for low-carbon energy economies. On the other hand, some of the challenges that affect renewable energy deployment include changing and counterproductive energy policies, a lack of technical information, and economic barriers that altogether have made the current “energy transition” not very sustainable.

To promote this sector, and its evident sustainable potential to mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions, it is essential to have an integration of policies and discussions from all regions across the globe and their sustained efforts to invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy deployment programs, along with awareness-raising to promote the adaptation and sustainable development of the industry. This can only happen with coordinated dialogue and cooperation among developed, developing and least developed countries aimed at facilitating renewable energy deployment, along with the necessary resources to be mobilised and deployed effectively.

Philanthropy and Impact Investing

An increasing share of resources used to fund sustainable development and environmental conservation projects and initiatives have tended to come from philanthropic donations as well as impact investing, particularly in recent times (including “blended finance”, that is, capital invested from public sector or philanthropic sources aimed at increasing private sector investment in sustainable development).

Typically, impact investing can be used to support social enterprises working in the area of climate change adaptation and mitigation as well as to support advocacy and campaigning organisations such as NGOs working on specific activities and initiatives in the field (e.g. wildlife conservation, the fight against deforestation, marine environment conservation etc.). Given the many projects and initiatives that exist nowadays, it would be difficult to recommend any one or group of these specifically. However, for a start, potential funders may choose to browse the following websites for further reference and information on opportunities to donate or invest in the sector:

• Green Funders 
• Charities and climate change (Charity Digital) 
• Want to fight climate change effectively? Here’s where to donate your money (Vox) 
• The Best Way to Donate to Fight Climate Change (Probably) (The Atlantic – Science) 

Here are other useful links with further information on the topic:

• Renewable energy – powering a safer future | United Nations
• What are the different types of renewable energy? | National Grid Group
• A review of renewable energy sources, sustainability issues and climate change mitigation (Taylor & Francis Online)  

How can we ensure a just energy transition?

(Image credit – NOAA on Unsplash)

Climate change has widespread impacts on a broad range of fields. In the marine environment, raised ocean temperatures and acidification, together with large-scale pollution of the marine ecosystem, have become critical drivers that affect important sea-based and coastal activities. As mentioned in the last UN Water and UN Oceans Side event, ‘…the importance of the ocean and seas in the water cycle cannot be overstated…’.

Our ocean is the largest ecosystem on the planet, and together with rivers, lakes, peatlands, reservoirs, and all kinds of inland freshwater ecosystems represent a valuable capacity of benefits to moderate climate change, which is currently threatened by actions that require more holistic mitigating approaches.

Goal 14: Life below water - The Global Goals

To mention some of the necessary strategies to protect such vast and diverse biodiversity that represent the ocean and wetlands, international cooperation has demonstrated failed attempts, and it is crucial for achieving convenient funding for multidisciplinary solutions. Along with this, well-managed marine protected areas involve an important potential for climate mitigation as mentioned in an article by Leticia Carvalho (UNEP) and highlighted in the Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue by the UN (2022). Ocean and Climate Change Dialogue 2022 | UNFCCC 

Nevertheless, a unified treaty has been recently agreed upon to protect biodiversity in the high seas (nearly half of the planet), which aims to create a new body to manage the conservation of ocean life and establish ground rules for environmental impact assessments in commercial activities, which are expected to be ambitious to strengthen the legal protection of the marine biodiversity.  

A treaty to protect the world's oceans has been agreed after a decade of talks: NPR

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency solutions can be quite a cost-effective way to reduce our carbon footprint, whether that’s through using more energy efficient light bulbs or insulating our windows, doors, or walls - there are plenty of ways that we’re able to reduce our emissions from energy sources while also reducing our energy bills.

Recent experiences with the use of heat pumps to provide heating and cooling to households (instead of gas boilers) are another good example of this, as are the contract arrangements that are put in place to ensure that people are able to access predictable prices at a fixed rate and benefit financially from energy savings thanks to the technology used. For instance, under Energy Performance Contracts (EnPCs), building owners and tenants can benefit from a lower risk of high energy bills by hiring energy efficiency project developers to cover the risk of achieving energy (and financial) savings through the technology and services they provide (e.g. for installing and managing retrofits such as building insulation, energy efficient light bulbs, power generators such as heat pumps and/or other lower-emitting solutions). On a larger and more industrial scale, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) can also distribute the risk-sharing needed to achieve energy savings among energy utilities, supply chain operators and their customers.

For more information on EnPCs and PPAs:

Energy Performance Contracting (E3P) 

Physical Power Purchase Agreement (EPA) 

Sustainable Finance

One very simple way everyday consumers can make a difference is by choosing how the money we put into banks is used and invested. On this topic, we invite you to refer to the Sustainable Investing section of Impact Garden here (insert link to the page) for more information.

Transport

     1) Introduction

The transportation industry is a substantial contributor to climate change, accounting for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions from the sector are mostly caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, in automobiles, trucks, ships, and aeroplanes. As a result, the industry is critical to worldwide efforts to combat climate change. In this post, we look at how the transportation industry contributes to climate change and how it is controlled to decrease emissions.

     2) Contribution of the Transport Sector to Climate Change

(Image credit – George Bakos on Unsplash)

The transportation industry accounts for roughly 24% of worldwide energy-related CO2 emissions, making it one of the most significant contributors to climate change. In industrialised nations, the sector contributes an even higher amount of emissions, accounting for around 30% of total emissions. Global transportation emissions are predicted to rise as demand rises, particularly in emerging nations.

Road transport is the major contributor to emissions in the transportation sector, accounting for nearly 75% of total emissions. Aviation and shipping are other substantial sources, accounting for 11% and 14% of total emissions, respectively.

The major source of transportation emissions is the usage of fossil fuels. The majority of emissions from road transport are caused by gasoline and diesel-powered cars, while aviation and shipping rely significantly on fossil fuel-powered engines. These engines produce carbon dioxide, the most prevalent greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, as well as other pollutants including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM). 

     3) Managing the Transport Sector to Reduce Emissions

Since the transportation industry contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, lowering emissions from the sector is crucial to meeting global climate targets. The following some of the examples of ways in which we can reduce emissions in the transportation sector:

     4) Encouraging Smart Growth and Compact City Design

Smart growth and compact city design may encourage mixed-use development, minimising the need for long commutes and encouraging people to use public transportation, walk and cycle. Governments may encourage smart growth and compact city design by offering incentives to developers and making it a requirement for development.

     5) Promoting Active Transport

(Image credit - Youcef Chenzer on Unsplash)

Walking and cycling are zero-emission modes of transportation that can help alleviate traffic congestion and promote a better lifestyle. Governments may promote active transportation by building infrastructure like bike lanes and pedestrian walkways, and encouraging mixed-use development, which lowers the need for long trips.

Also, using public or low-carbon transport (such as trains) and avoiding air travel when not necessary can also reduce our carbon footprint significantly.

"Active Transport and Health: A Toolkit for Planners" by the World Health Organization (WHO)

     6) Implementing Carbon Pricing

To put a price on carbon emissions, governments can establish a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, stimulating the development of low-emission technology while discouraging the use of high-emission ones.

     7) Encouraging Public Transport

Another strategy to minimise transportation-related emissions is to promote the use of public transit, such as buses and trains. Public transportation has the potential to reduce the number of automobiles on the road, resulting in fewer emissions. To encourage the use of public transportation, governments might offer incentives such as lower fares or subsidies.

"Reducing emissions from the transport sector" from the European Environment Agency: This page provides information on various strategies for reducing emissions from the transport sector, including promoting public transport.

     8) Implementing Fuel Economy Standards

Governments can impose fuel economy regulations on automakers, requiring them to create more fuel-efficient automobiles. Increased fuel efficiency regulations may result in decreased transportation sector emissions.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory that conducts research on renewable energy and energy efficiency in the transportation sector.

     9) Promoting Alternative Fuels

Biofuels, hydrogen fuel cells, and natural gas generate lower pollutants than typical fossil fuels and can help to cut emissions in the transportation sector. Governments can subsidise the development and use of alternative fuels.

     10) Promoting Electric Vehicles (EVs)

(Image credit – CHUTTERSNAP on Unsplash)

One of the most effective strategies to minimise emissions from the transportation industry is to encourage the use of electric cars (EVs). EVs emit much less pollution than gasoline and diesel cars, and their batteries can be charged using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Governments throughout the world are giving incentives for EVs, including as tax credits and rebates, to encourage their adoption.

The IEA’s Global EV Outlook 2023 is informative. It is an annual publication that identifies and discusses recent developments in electric mobility across the globe. It is developed with the support of the members of the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI).

     11) Maritime Transport

(Image credit – Venti Views on Unsplash)

The shipping industry is the largest mode of transport in the world, and it currently plays a vital role in the global economy and people's standard of living. While it is responsible for more than 90 percent of world trade, the efforts and concerns to carry large quantities of cargo safely, cost-effectively, efficiently, and environmentally acceptable have been inconsistent over the decades. Nowadays, the industry is responsible for 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions; therefore, various strategies, proposals, and measures have been set by stakeholders towards reducing greenhouse emissions.

Reducing emissions from the shipping sector (europa.eu)

The actions to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 have shown certain progress in terms of technology and supply, finance, policymakers, demand, and civil society according to a report by UMAS & UNFCC (2022) GTZ_ClimateActionInShipping.pdf (unfccc.int). However, the International Maritime Organization needs to be stricter in terms of regulations. Reports expect massive overshoot of emissions while waiting for international regulation development, and as it is mentioned in the following article, decarbonising the industry is a great challenge while the global fleet continues growing. Shippings emission overshoot problem (MAN Energy Solutions).

Consequently, The UNCTAD’s Review of Maritime Transport 2022 presents greater investments in the sector to be the main requirement for the transition to low-carbon energy and climate change mitigation: ‘There is an urgent need for innovative financing mechanisms for sustainable technologies, better access to green and blue infrastructure finance, as well as increased capacity-building.’

Climate change adaptation and maritime transport (UNCTAD)

Open Burning of Waste 

Waste is a large contributor to global emissions and its management is an increasingly complex global challenge. As waste composition in the Global South changes from largely organic sources to more complex compositions, the method of management becomes increasingly important. Currently 2 billion people live without access to solid waste management systems, and they often have no choice but to burn their waste, and often waste is burnt to recover valuable resources. It is predicted that the open burning of waste contributes to around 2-10% of global CO2 emissions and 11% of black carbon emissions. However, there is a scarcity of data in this area, which is a gap that needs to be urgently filled. The Global Review on the Safer End of Engineered Life states that ‘of all the municipal solid waste generated on earth, 24% (half a billion tonnes) is not collected and a further 27% is mismanaged’ (Velis, Cook, 2021). The open burning of waste releases short lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), such as black carbon and methane, particulate matter, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as dioxins and furans, and polychlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons into the atmosphere (Cogut, 2016; UNEP, 2018; Velis and Cook, 2021).  

There are huge economic opportunities in the waste sector noted in the African Waste Management Outlook report, produced by UNEP in 2018, which estimated the economic value of the recycling sector at $8 billion per annum. Professor Desta Mebratu and Dr Andriannah Mbandi call for a change in 4 key areas: attitudinal, institutional, infrastructural and operational in order to tackle the growing waste challenge (Mebratu, D and Mbandi, A, 2022).  

Resources:

• Video explaining the impact of Open Burning of Waste (Engineering X) 
• Webinar - more of a deep dive: Burning issue: how can we reduce the global impact of open waste burning? - Critical Conversations (Royal Academy of Engineering) 
• Open waste burning prevention (Climate & Clean Air Coalition) 
• Indonesian Waste Platform 
• What you need to know about the plastic pollution resolution (UN Environment Programme)  
• From Pollution to Solution: A global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution (UN Environment Programme)

(Image credit – Marvin Meyer on Unsplash)

Is moving digital always greener? 

As the world increasingly moves online, there have been massive benefits, however, it is predicted that by 2025 the technology sector will consume 20% of the world’s total electricity, this is an increase from 7% currently (Cooper, 2022). Whilst data storage feels infinite, it has a higher carbon footprint than than the aviation industry and if the internet was a country it would be the fifth highest energy consumer in the world. Huge amounts of energy goes into the cooling of data centres, and servers also contain precious metals, increasing waste and putting pressure on finite materials. 

End of life for data and the internet of things - Critical conversations (Royal Academy of Engineering) 

The Environmental Impact of Our Data Storage (Tier 1)

(Image source – The Environmental Impact of Digital Technologies and Data (Datacamp) )

Academic papers

Reports

• IPCC Sixth Assessment Report 2022

• UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2022

Useful tools & links

• Climate Action Tracker (a good source of information on the multiple initiatives going on worldwide to fight climate change)

• The Global South Climate Database (Carbon Brief) - a publicly available, searchable database of scientists and experts in the fields of climate science, policy and energy

Source: International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP).

Trends and Events

• UN Global Compact (world alliance of companies committed to fighting climate change)

• Global Covenant of Mayors (alliance of cities working to mitigate the impacts of climate change)  

• COP28: Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, 30 November – 12 December 2023, Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 

• Heartland Institute sends 8,000 teachers climate denial ‘textbook’ | Grist
• What is greenhushing? How to spot the sophisticated greenwashing tactics being used in 2023 | Euronews
• Shell’s actual spending on renewables is fraction of what it claims, group alleges | Shell | The Guardian (ampproject.org)

• Companies: Project Drawdown 
• Investors: Climate Action 100 - investor-led
• Philanthropists/Foundations: #PhilanthropyForClimate 
• Individuals: Signpost to My Impact Journey [insert hyperlink]