The Draft Climate Change Bill was published for comment earlier this week. It’s stated objectives are the following: provide for the coordinated and integrated response to climate change and its impacts by all spheres of government in accordance with the principles of cooperative governance; provide for the effective management of inevitable climate change impacts … [Read more...]
African cities pledge to cut climate emissions to zero by 2050
Africa is sometimes better known for its vulnerability to climate change than its action on the problem – but a set of African cities intend to change that. Eight cities – from Accra to Dar es Salaam – pledged this week to deliver their share of emissions cuts needed to meet Paris Agreement targets to limit climate change. That means achieving “zero carbon” city economies … [Read more...]
Final countdown to climate chaos underway
The last thing on our minds whilst driving a car, flying between cities or using grid-supplied electricity, is that our actions are contributing to the global phenomenon of climate change. Unfortunately, we may only take climate change seriously once it's escalated to a point of all-out climate chaos … and by then it'll be too late to reverse it. In fact, there are some … [Read more...]
Well-designed carbon pricing will have a small economic impact
Last week saw lots of talk around the economic costs of carbon pricing. In one sense, that’s appropriate. In fact, policy costs are exactly why economists like carbon pricing—because it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a lower economic cost than any other policy approach. But the concept of cost is not always clear, and the conversation last week was sometimes inaccurate … [Read more...]
Sustainable Maldives hotel turns beach trash into profit
The Maldives may be sinking into the ocean, but one thing that Sonu Shivdasani knows for sure is that he won’t let them go without a fight. Shivdasani is the CEO of Soneva Fushi, the hotel he founded with his wife, Eva, in 1995. Together, they are on a mission to save not only their beloved adopted home of Kunfunadhoo Island, but maybe the whole planet, too. To call … [Read more...]
Smartphones are killing the planet faster than anyone expected
Before you upgrade your next iPhone, you may want to consider a $29 battery instead. Not only will the choice save you money, it could help save the planet. A new study from researchers at McMaster University published in the Journal of Cleaner Production analyzed the carbon impact of the whole Information and Communication Industry (ICT) from around 2010-2020, including … [Read more...]
Putting a positive spin on climate mitigation
To generate effective, universal action that will solve the problem of climate change, the global community needs to abandon the “wussy” language of climate mitigation and rethink the “negative” sports and war metaphors that are pervasive in discussions about the issue. This was the advice offered by American environmentalist, author and activist Paul Hawken at the recent … [Read more...]
Climate disruption has officially ended the era of stable climate
A study recently published in the journal Nature brings grim news: anthropogenic climate disruption (ACD) has officially ended the era of stable climate that has made possible the development of modern civilization. The world we live in today, based on industrial-scale agriculture capable of feeding billions of people and sustaining these vast numbers of humans, is only … [Read more...]
Germany unveils zero-emissions train that only emits steam
Alstom is making progress on its Coradia iLint train, the world’s first hydrogen-powered passenger train, expected to launch in Germany this year. The train, which emits no carbon and is capable of operating in near-silence, could be set to revolutionise the future of rolling stock while improving air quality. As the world looks to curb carbon emissions, rail operators’ … [Read more...]
Time is running out to curb energy use in buildings & construction
Time is running out to reform the buildings and construction sector’s energy performance and keep the Paris Agreement on track, with the energy intensity per square metre of buildings needing to improve 30 per cent by 2030, according to new research released in Paris on Monday. The Global Status Report 2017, from the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction, found that … [Read more...]
Natural gas emissions will blow Europe’s carbon budget at current levels
Governments have drastically underestimated methane emissions from natural gas and will miss the Paris agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 2C unless they urgently scale down its use, a major new study has found. Continuing natural gas emissions at present levels will add 0.6C to global warming and, with other fossil fuel use, exhaust Europe’s carbon budget – the … [Read more...]
Livestock methane emissions underestimated according to new study
Emissions of the greenhouse gas methane from livestock are larger than previously thought, posing an additional challenge in the fight to curb global warming, scientists said Friday. Revised calculations of methane produced per head of cattle show that global livestock emissions in 2011 were 11 percent higher than estimates based on data from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel … [Read more...]
Climate and water threatening Thabametsi coal plant still on the cards
The Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) could be giving the go-ahead for what will be one of the most greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensive coal-fired power stations, not only in South Africa, but in the world. Its GHG emissions are likely to be 60% higher than Eskom’s new Medupi and Kusile coal plants. This is apparent from the final climate change impact assessment … [Read more...]
