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The
Guardian's recent survey reveals that many top
climate scientists feel "hopeless and broken"
due to the severity of climate change
predictions, with only a small percentage
believing countries will meet the crucial 1.5°C
warming target. Despite this grim outlook, there
are rays of hope, including significant progress
in solar and wind energy, advancements in
battery storage technology, and ambitious
renewable energy projects around the world,
indicating that solutions are within reach if
urgent action is taken. The juxtaposition of
dire warnings and promising developments
underscores the critical importance of heeding
scientists' calls for action and accelerating
efforts to combat climate change.
The
new global carbon market established under the
Paris Agreement will implement a system allowing
local communities to challenge UN-registered
carbon credit projects both before and after
their implementation, addressing concerns about
land grabs and environmental abuses. Negotiators
and experts recently approved an appeals and
grievance procedure for the UN's proposed
Article 6.4 carbon crediting mechanism, aiming
to empower vulnerable communities and
individuals and uphold their rights. While the
procedures mark a significant step forward in
ensuring accountability and protecting affected
communities, concerns remain about potential
retribution against complainants and the need
for further safeguards.
The
Climate Change Media Partnership (CCMP) has
opened applications for its COP29 Reporting
Fellowship Program, inviting up to 20
journalists from low- and middle-income
countries to report in-person at the 29th United
Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties
(COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11-22,
2024. Established in 2007, the CCMP has
facilitated coverage of the annual UN climate
talks for journalists worldwide, offering
valuable training and insights into global
climate action. The fellowship covers travel
expenses, accommodation, meals, insurance, and
provides logistical support, aiming to equip
fellows with the resources and knowledge needed
to report effectively on the climate
negotiations.
Renewable
energy sources, particularly wind and solar,
drove a significant drop in fossil fuel
generation in the EU, resulting in fossil fuels
providing less than a quarter of the bloc's
energy for the first time in April. Wind and
solar alone generated more than a third of the
EU's electricity, with coal contributing just
8.6 percent of the energy mix compared to 30
percent in 2023, marking a significant shift in
the region's energy landscape. Despite rising
electricity demand, fossil fuel electricity
generation continued to decline as renewables
increasingly replaced them in the energy mix,
indicating a structural transition towards
cleaner energy sources in the EU.
The
deep ocean, one of Earth's last untouched
frontiers, is threatened by the nascent industry
of deep sea mining, driven by the extraction of
metals and minerals purportedly for clean energy
transition but now marketed for military
purposes. Despite attempts to justify its
existence as essential for the energy
transition, scientific evidence suggests
otherwise, leading 25 governments to reject or
call for a cautious approach to deep sea mining.
Companies driving this industry, exemplified by
The Metals Company and Kongsberg, are accused of
greenwashing and hypocrisy, exacerbating
geopolitical tensions and risking environmental
destruction and global conflict.
2024 Resilience
Fellowship
The
Global Initiative Against Transnational
Organized Crime launches 5th edition of the
Resilience Fellowship to support community
responses in fragile contexts
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