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Natural disasters in
Georgia's Adjara and Imereti regions have
resulted in eleven deaths, with landslides and
avalanches claiming lives on February 6 and 7.
Landslides in Tsoniarisi village and Nergeti
village, as well as an avalanche in Tkhilvana
village, have caused casualties, with one
citizen transferred to safety. The Ministry of
Internal Affairs has mobilized over 200
firefighters and rescuers, along with drones and
K-9 units, while Georgian leaders including
President Zurabishvili and Mayor Kaladze have
expressed condolences for the victims and their
families.
Moldova, facing
significant challenges from climate change, is
actively engaged in combating the crisis and
developing strategies for adaptation and
mitigation. Despite expressing determination at
COP28 to address climate issues, there are
concerns about translating ambitious plans into
concrete action, particularly involving young
people who are increasingly feeling disconnected
from climate activism. However, the #WorldWeWant
campaign demonstrate how engaging youth in
climate protection efforts can lead to impactful
solutions, exemplified by activities like summer
climate camps and environmental campaign
creation.
Kazakhstan aims to
reduce its water dependency on neighboring
states by 25%, with 46% of its water currently
sourced from outside its borders. To achieve
this, the Ministry of Water Resources and
Irrigation has initiated the construction of
nine new reservoirs as part of the Comprehensive
Plan for Water Industry Development (2024-2030).
However, experts caution against overreliance on
reservoirs, advocating for domestic solutions
such as efficient water usage, infrastructure
upgrades, and embracing digital technologies,
while also suggesting diplomatic negotiations
for mutual resource exchange to address water
scarcity concerns in Central Asia.
Azerbaijan, heavily
reliant on fossil fuel exports, is set to host
the United Nations Climate Change Conference,
COP29, raising concerns among activists about
the nation's commitment to climate-friendly
policies amidst its economic dependence.
Criticism intensified when Azerbaijan appointed
a COP29 president with ties to the state oil
company and initially formed an all-male
organizing committee. While hosting COP29 could
enhance Azerbaijan's global standing, questions
linger about its dedication to human rights and
climate justice, especially as it seeks to
position itself as a major energy exporter to
Europe in the face of dwindling oil
reserves.
Uzbekistan is grappling
with water scarcity issues, exacerbated by
climate change, prompting the government to
incentivize farmers to adopt water-saving
technologies. Despite initial reluctance among
some farmers to abandon traditional irrigation
methods, the shift towards modern techniques is
gradually gaining momentum. The adoption of
water-saving technologies not only enhances crop
yields but also conserves precious water
resources, offering a sustainable solution to
the pressing challenge of water scarcity in the
region.
The
Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan has reported a
significant increase in renewable energy sources
(RES) electricity generation in 2023, totaling
6,675.5 million kWh, a 30% rise from the
previous year. Wind power plants led the
contribution with 3,824.99 million kWh, while
biopower plants produced the least at 2.71
million kWh. RES accounted for 5.92% of the
total electricity generated in the first half of
2023, with an installed capacity of 2,868.6 MW
across various sources including wind, solar,
small hydropower, and bioelectric power
plants.
Uzbekistan aims to
strengthen its partnership with China, as
evidenced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's
recent visit to Beijing, where various
agreements were signed to enhance cooperation in
diverse areas, including environmental
protection and poverty reduction. However,
despite the rhetoric, trade figures from 2023
indicate a significant trade deficit for
Uzbekistan, exacerbating its reliance on Chinese
imports, particularly in durable goods like
automobiles and consumer electronics. Notably,
China emerges as a major creditor, with
significant investments in Uzbekistan's energy
sector, indicating potential implications for
water management and ecological concerns in the
region.
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Global
warming has exceeded 1.5C for the first time,
signaling a critical moment for climate action,
with 2023 marked by extreme weather events and
human-induced global heating. While the Paris
Agreement target remains intact, urgent
measures, including phasing out fossil fuels,
are imperative to prevent further escalation of
global temperatures. UN Secretary-General
Antonio Guterres emphasizes the pivotal role of
the next few years in determining whether the
world can successfully limit warming to 1.5C,
highlighting the need for transformative changes
in energy, agriculture, pollution reduction, and
environmental stewardship to achieve this goal
and avert catastrophic climate
impacts.
The
Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI), with
support from The Rockefeller Foundation, is
relaunching the Developing Asia Journalism
Awards (DAJA) to highlight journalism that
accurately covers sustainable development amid
escalating climate risks. Journalists from ADB
member countries are encouraged to submit
articles focusing on food security, health
preparedness, or macrofinancial stability in
relation to climate change, published between
January 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024. Winners
of the competition will receive a $1,000 cash
prize and an invitation to a ceremony in Tokyo
in May, where they'll engage in discussions with
ADBI researchers and Dean Tetsushi
Sonobe.
The
European Commission is calling on companies to
participate in the development, demonstration,
and deployment of small modular nuclear reactors
(SMRs) to aid in achieving the EU's goal of
net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. These
SMRs are seen as complementary to renewables,
offering baseload energy production, heat for
industries, and low-carbon hydrogen production,
with the European Industrial Alliance aiming for
integration into power grids or district heating
systems by the early 2030s. While some EU
members support nuclear power as a low-carbon
solution, others oppose it, emphasizing that the
deployment will occur only in countries that
choose to do so, adhering to strict safety
standards.
Barclays,
Britain's largest lender to the oil and gas
sector, announced it will cease direct financing
of new fossil fuel projects and restrict lending
to energy companies expanding fossil fuel
production, as part of its Transition Finance
Framework. This decision comes amid mounting
pressure from activists concerned about the
environmental impact of fossil fuels, with
Barclays aiming to reduce emissions linked to
its lending and increase financing for greener
alternatives. The bank also plans to limit
financing to non-diversified companies with more
than 10% of their expenditure directed towards
expanding fossil fuel production, starting from
2025.
The
European Commission proposed a target for the
European Union to slash net greenhouse gas
emissions by 90 percent by 2040, although the
recommendation faced political challenges ahead
of EU elections. While the overall target aligns
with recommendations from climate advisers,
concerns from farmers led to a weakening of
proposed agricultural emission cuts,
highlighting the delicate balance between
environmental goals and economic interests. The
proposal triggers political debate, with
upcoming elections potentially influencing the
final adoption of ambitious climate policies
amid rising discontent and competing interests
within the EU.
Canadian
doctors, supported by MP Charlie Angus and the
Canadian Association of Physicians for the
Environment (CAPE), are advocating for a ban on
fossil fuel advertising, sparking controversy
with the fossil fuel lobby and alt-right
publications. The proposed bill, C-372, aims to
enforce truth in advertising principles, similar
to tobacco advertising bans in the 1990s, amidst
concerns about the fossil fuel industry's
promotion of misinformation regarding climate
solutions. CAPE emphasizes the urgent need for
the ban, citing the significant health impacts
of fossil fuel pollution, and highlights the
potential effectiveness of similar measures in
addressing public health issues.
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Newsletter: Natural disaster in Georgia, fierce Moldova’s youth and
increase of RES in Kazakhstan
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