*[Enwl-eng] CAN EECCA Newsletter: Concerns over COP29, water shortages in Central Asia and innovation in battery storage

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Jul 8, 2024, 11:42:49 AMJul 8
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Climate Action Network
Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia

 Digest of news on climate change, energy issues

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Regional Climate News 

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Host Country Agreement with Azerbaijan for COP29 must guarantee human rights and be publicly available

Amnesty International has called for the Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan to include human rights safeguards and be made publicly accessible immediately after signing. This follows concerns over the inadequacies in the HCA for last year's COP in the UAE, which lacked comprehensive rights protections. Amnesty emphasizes the importance of transparency and the protection of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, given Azerbaijan's history of human rights violations and the recent crackdown on dissent.

COP29 Preview: Kazakh Ecology Ministry Shares Goals and Expectations at Bonn UN Climate Meetings

During the June UN Climate Meetings in Bonn, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources discussed key topics such as climate financing, greenhouse gas mitigation, Kazakhstan's role in the Global Methane Pledge, and the loss and damage fund. The meetings highlighted the urgency of increased climate finance, with UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell emphasizing the need to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Kazakhstan also outlined its efforts to reduce CO2 and methane emissions, highlighting regional cooperation and international partnerships to achieve climate goals.  

Central Asian Farmers Face Drastic, Growing Water Shortages

Farmers in three Central Asian countries who rely on the Ferghana Valley watershed have been forced to cut irrigation to a minimum and many have abandoned thirsty crops as they struggle to keep fruit trees alive. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan all count on the same threatened water source for agriculture and their economies. They are now forced to compete and adapt to the chronic water shortages.

Kyrgyzstan’s Hot (Mess) Transport Summer

Bishkek, despite its manageable size and grid layout, faces significant transportation issues, with traffic jams causing severe delays and contributing to pollution. The city's reliance on minibuses (marshrutkas) is declining due to financial difficulties and policy changes, with the city shifting focus to buses, though the transition has faced challenges such as a lack of air conditioning in the new vehicles. Despite efforts to improve public transportation, the city's "transportation collapse" continues to impact residents' daily lives and environmental health.

Fifty travels for civil society organisations from six Eastern Partner countries and you can use it for participation in COP29

The EU-funded project ‘Enhancing the Resilience of Civil Society in the Eastern Partnership’ (ERICS-EaP) has announced a call for proposals for individual travel grants to support networking and cooperation among civil society representatives from the six Eastern Partnership countries. Led by the Transatlantic Foundation and in collaboration with the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation, the project will provide 50 travel grants, each up to €1,500, over the next two and a half years. The grants are open to CSO representatives, civic activists, and informal group representatives, with proposals accepted continuously without a specific deadline.

Uzbekistan continues to run up big deficits with leading trade partners

Kazakhstan will present its program to reduce methane emissions at the UN climate conference in Baku in November, following its commitment to the Global Methane Pledge to cut emissions by at least 30% by 2030. The plan includes measures across various industries, with significant investment expected, including $1.4 billion by 2030 for the oil and gas sector and additional funds for coalbed infrastructure and methane management. Recent events, such as a major methane leak in the Mangystau region, have underscored the urgency of these efforts


World Climate News

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France’s short-haul flight ban one year on: Has it encouraged more people to take the train?

France implemented a ban on domestic short-haul flights over a year ago, aiming to reduce carbon emissions, despite initial criticisms regarding its limited scope and effectiveness. While exact emission reductions directly attributable to the ban remain unspecified, overall domestic flight emissions decreased by 3.4% in 2023 compared to 2022, suggesting a partial influence from the ban. The measure, seen as a symbolic political move, has sparked broader discussions in Europe about the feasibility and impact of similar regulations, with Spain considering a comparable ban on short-haul flights with viable rail alternatives.

Leaflet Series: Japan’s Dangerous Distractions

Japan's promotion of a fossil fuel-based energy strategy in Asia, under the guise of the "Asia Zero Emission Community," prioritizes corporate profits over environmental and public health. This strategy, involving technologies like LNG, CCS/CCUS, and ammonia-hydrogen co-firing, prolongs dependence on fossil fuels and delays the transition to renewable energy. By pushing these costly and unproven technologies, Japan's initiative threatens to exacerbate climate change and economic burdens, hindering Asia's progress toward sustainable energy solutions.

Beyond lithium: how a Swedish battery company wants to power Europe’s green transition with salt

Northvolt’s research facility in Västerås, Sweden, is Europe's largest battery research campus and recently achieved a breakthrough by developing sodium-based batteries, which replace critical minerals like lithium and cobalt with more abundant elements such as sodium, iron, nitrogen, and carbon. This innovation, which was expected closer to 2030, aims to reduce dependence on China for battery materials and build a European supply chain for cleaner tech. Northvolt’s sodium batteries are designed to store renewable energy efficiently and could play a significant role in meeting the global energy storage capacity needed to triple renewable capacity by 2030.

Cool, Green Infrastructure Can Beat Urban Heat and Drought, Experts Say

The World Resources Institute (WRI) emphasizes the urgent need for reflective and green infrastructure to counteract rising temperatures and drought, particularly affecting millions in urban areas, especially those in developing countries. Transitioning urban landscapes from heat-absorbing surfaces to cooling greenery like trees can significantly reduce temperatures by as much as 5.5°C, as observed in Mumbai. These efforts are crucial for mitigating the urban heat island effect and improving living conditions, especially in low-income neighborhoods and informal settlements where residents are most vulnerable. 

‘We are the first impacted by climate change’: Why Europe’s rural farmers support green policies

Young farmers across Europe, represented by Jean Matthieu Thévenot of European Coordination Via Campesina (ECVC), are advocating for systemic change in agriculture to combat climate change. They emphasize the need for fair revenue for farmers, challenging agribusiness influence and pushing for environmental policies that prioritize ecological standards. Thévenot argues against lowering standards to compete globally, advocating instead for import regulations aligned with European norms and fair pricing mechanisms to support local agriculture and combat the impacts of climate change.

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