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Climate Action
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Eastern Europe, Caucasus
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Russia has signaled its
opposition to a global agreement aimed at
reducing the use of fossil fuels, a move that
could disrupt this year's UN climate summit amid
tensions with Western nations following Russia's
invasion of Ukraine. The US and EU member
states, along with numerous other countries, are
calling for a timeline to phase out the use of
fossil fuels that aren't equipped with emissions
capture and storage technologies ahead of the
COP28 climate summit in November. In contrast,
Russia opposes provisions or outcomes that would
target specific energy sources or fossil fuel
types, highlighting potential resistance from
major oil, gas, and coal producers to a new
climate pact.
Chinese
investors have poured over $25 billion into
Kazakhstan's power sector over the past 17
years, showing strong interest in both
traditional energy and renewables. This
investment is strategically important for China
as it seeks to establish efficient overland
transport corridors to Europe amid heightened
global tensions. Additionally, China's
investments extend beyond energy, encompassing
sectors like chemicals and nuclear, solidifying
the economic ties between the two
nations.
China
is increasing its presence in the power sector
of Central Asia, particularly in countries like
Kyrgyzstan. Despite Kyrgyzstan's significant
debt to China in the energy sector, the country
continues to seek Chinese investment for its
power projects. China is particularly interested
in Kyrgyzstan's energy sector due to its
potential for government-backed loans and
investment opportunities, with a focus on energy
facilities that can receive funding against
government guarantees.
The
UNDP in Ukraine has donated modern equipment to
enhance water monitoring and environmental
assessment in several river basins across
multiple oblasts. Funded by the European Union
as part of the 'EU4Recovery: Empowering
Communities in Ukraine' project, the equipment
includes portable photometers, underwater
drones, and an underwater metal detector. These
tools will enable more thorough analysis of
river pollution, comprehensive surveys of water
areas, detection of hidden pollution sources,
and identification of potential threats in
riverbeds, contributing to the safety and
ecological health of water sources in the
region.
The
Krasnoyarsk region in Russia, which produces
about a fifth of the country's gold reserves, is
witnessing environmental damage and tragedies
due to gold mining. Large mining companies use
powerful equipment to extract gold from rivers,
causing pollution and deforestation, while small
villages and their residents bear the brunt of
the environmental impact. The situation
highlights the devastating consequences of gold
mining on local communities and the environment
in the pursuit of valuable
resources.
As
Central Asia grapples with the omnipresent
spectre of climate change, the region finds
itself at a crossroads of energy transition. The
voyage towards decarbonisation is fraught with
challenges, particularly with the precarious
task of ensuring a ‘just transition’. Yet, amid
these trials, lies the tantalising prospect of
harnessing the region’s abundant renewable
resources, and transforming energy
infrastructures, bringing the nations closer to
a sustainable future. To better understand these
complexities, we turn to Dr Aliya Tskhay, a
recognised expert in the field, who offers her
incisive perspective on the subject.
In
October 2023, Belarus will host a series of
webinars aimed at those interested in climate
change and environmental protection. The
webinars will cover various aspects such as the
security implications of climate change, youth
participation in international climate
negotiations, technologies to address climate
challenges and others. Participation is open to
all and certificates will be provided to
participants for attending three or more
webinars.
The
Moldovan Ministry of Energy has drafted a bill
that will change the mechanism of compensation
for the use of solar panels and other renewable
energy sources. Under the new rules, users will
sell the excess electricity flow at a lower
price, making this energy less profitable. The
decision has raised concerns among experts who
believe it will make renewable energy less
affordable for most citizens.
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The
International Energy Agency (IEA) has released
an updated roadmap for achieving net-zero
emissions by 2050, taking into account
developments that have occurred since its
landmark report in May 2021. While energy sector
carbon dioxide emissions have continued to rise,
the update also highlights remarkable progress
in developing and deploying clean energy
technologies over the last two years. This
report aims to provide an updated and feasible
pathway to help meet the goals of the Paris
Agreement and address the challenges posed by
the global energy crisis and rising
emissions.
Microplastics
have been discovered in clouds, raising concerns
about their contribution to climate change,
according to a study published in the journal
Environmental Chemical Letters. Researchers
found various types of polymers and rubber in
cloud water around Mount Fuji and Mount Ōyama in
Japan. The presence of microplastics in clouds
may influence cloud formation and potentially
modify the climate, the study suggests, and
highlights the need to address the issue of
"plastic air pollution" to prevent irreversible
and serious environmental damage.
Effective
early warning systems are crucial in saving
lives during extreme weather events, with
significant improvements in these systems
leading to a drop in weather-related deaths
since 1970, according to the World
Meteorological Organization. As extreme weather
events become more frequent and intense,
countries are updating their warning systems.
The technology behind these warnings is
relatively simple, using mobile networks to send
alerts to people in affected areas, but the key
challenge is ensuring that warnings are received
and acted upon promptly, as demonstrated by the
deadly floods in Germany and Belgium in 2021,
which were partially attributed to a lack of
effective emergency
communication.
Turkey
is pushing for the closure of Armenia's nuclear
power plant while constructing its own massive
nuclear facility, Akkuyu, with Russian-built
reactors. Greenpeace and other activists have
raised concerns about Turkey's lack of nuclear
legislation, inadequate seismic assessments, and
the transportation of radioactive waste through
Istanbul and the Bosphorus. Critics also
highlight the financial risks, as Russia owns
Akkuyu, and Turkey is taking on substantial
liabilities while Russia profits from the
project.
Despite
their pledges to address the climate crisis,
several major UK universities, including Exeter,
Imperial College London, and Cambridge, have
accepted over €47 million (£41 million) in
funding from fossil fuel companies like Shell
and ExxonMobil in the past year, according to
DeSmog's investigation. This funding has been
allocated for research agreements, scholarships,
and tuition fees, raising concerns about the
universities' commitment to divestment and their
environmental goals. Previous research also
found that some of these institutions hold
direct investments in oil and gas companies,
further highlighting contradictions in their
environmental stance.
Urban
October, starting on UN World Habitat Day, is
dedicated to sustainable urbanization and the
essential role of cities, now home to over half
the global population, in preserving nature and
biodiversity. Despite the apparent contrast
between urban living and nature, this article
argues that nature is an integral part of
cities, from the air we breathe to the green
spaces and communities within. Greenpeace's
Urban Justice campaign, highlighting stories
like that of Flor Alba García, a waste picker in
Bogota, and Cecep Supriyadi, a Jakarta resident
advocating for housing and clean air,
underscores the importance of inclusive,
resilient, and green cities where marginalized
voices are heard and cities harmonize with
nature.
Standard
climate scenarios are not accurately reflecting
the potential of renewable energy technologies
and are overestimating the cost of achieving
net-zero emissions, according to a study by the
Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons
and Climate Change (MCC). The research argues
that these scenarios fail to consider the
significant price reductions in solar and energy
storage technologies over the past decade,
making the transition to net-zero emissions more
feasible than current models suggest. The study
also highlights the underestimation of the
growth rate for solar technologies in
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
scenarios, emphasizing the need for climate
models to better incorporate technological
progress.
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Newsletter: Russia opposes phase-out of fossil fuels, China’s presence in
power sector in CA and first air plastic pollution.
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