The state oil company of the United Arab Emirates has the largest net-zero-busting expansion plans of any company in the world, according to new data.
At COP 28, nations will attempt to agree to cut fossil fuel use and triple renewable energy. The summit comes at the end of a year in which global temperatures have soared, intense impacts of extreme weather have wrecked lives, and there have been repeated warnings that the world already has plans to exploit far more fossil fuel reserves than can safely be burned. Read more
The US is warming faster than the global average, and its people are suffering “far-reaching and worsening” consequences from the climate crisis, with worse to come, according to an authoritative report issued by the US government.
An array of “increasingly harmful impacts” is hitting every corner of the vast country, from extreme heat and sea level rise in Florida to depleted fish stocks and increased food insecurity in Alaska, according to the new National Climate Assessment. Read More
The climate crisis will have a catastrophic effect on the health and survival of billions of people unless the world acts to reduce global heating, according to a leading report. The report further warns that heat-related deaths are soaring, dangerous bacteria are spreading along coasts, and economies are being hit as people struggle to work and food production shrinks.
The Lancet Countdown team’s eighth annual report on health and climate change shows that little account has been taken of past warnings. The report firmly states that the world is “moving in the wrong direction” and strongly criticises continuing investment in fossil fuels.
The report comes as COP 28 prepares its first Health Day, focused on the links between the climate crisis and human health.
If temperatures rise by 2 degrees C, heat-related deaths will increase by 370%, and the number of work hours lost will be up by 50% by mid-century, according to new projections from the Climate Vulnerable Forum of countries most at risk. By 2041-60, about 525 million people could be experiencing moderate to severe food insecurity, risking malnutrition. Read More
99% of all plastics are made from petrochemicals derived from fossil fuels, threatening our chances to keep global heat below 1.5°c. World leaders must heed the call for a strong “Plastic Treaty” to cut plastic production.
Let us make an attempt to cut plastics from our lifestyle and lead sustainably.
Fast fashion is a cancer of our planet, and we need to avoid scenes like the ones above. It is, therefore, time to forget about buying new and adding to the mountain and to buy good quality second-hand clothes that are suitable for the planet and your pocket.
Let us make an effort and Use/reuse/upcycle whatever you have in your wardrobe already, and if you NEED to get something new, buy good quality second-hand clothes.
Cruise ships visiting Britain frequently fail to plug into “zero emission” onshore power and instead run their engines, polluting the local environment with fumes.
The industry is under scrutiny over air pollution and contribution to greenhouse gases, with some European cities banning vessels from central ports. Cruise firms say ships can reduce emissions by switching off engines and plugging into low-carbon electricity when moored. But an investigation by openDemocracy has found that cruise ships regularly fail to use shore power at Southampton, Britain’s largest cruise port.
They instead rely on marine gas oil, which contributes to local air pollution, or liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has lower air pollutants but leads to some methane being emitted into the atmosphere. Both fuels contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
While cruising is one of the fastest-growing tourism sectors, with 31.5m passengers forecast for 2023, there are concerns about its environmental impact. A study published in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin in December 2021 found a large cruise ship can have a carbon footprint greater than 12,000 cars. An analysis published in June by T&E found that despite introducing a new cap of sulphur in marine fuels in 2020, 218 cruise ships operating in Europe in 2022 emitted more sulphur oxides than a billion cars. Read More
Indonesia has watered down plans to shut coal-fired power plants early after expressing disappointment at wealthy nations’ offers to help them do so. The reason cited for the same is that the funding made available by international partners was inadequate, according to the director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) and part of a working group advising the Indonesian government. Read More
The US government is proposing a ban on TCE, a highly toxic chemical commonly used in stain removers, adhesives and degreasers, which was contaminating drinking water on a wide scale across the United States.
The move comes after years of mounting scientific evidence showing TCE is “extremely toxic” at low levels of exposure, as explained by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
TCE, or trichloroethylene, is a volatile organic compound that humans frequently face in various settings. However, those who use products with the chemical in an occupational setting are most at risk. It’s also commonly used in carpet cleaning treatments, hoof polishes, brake cleaners, pepper spray and lubricants. Read More
Over 13 MILLION hectares have burned in Canada this year. That’s more than the land area of 140 of the world’s 230 countries. There is no time to wait; let us act now. #actonclimate #climatechange #PrachiJain
Climate change is real. But at the same time, governments worldwide don’t know many innovative ways to increase employment numbers without abusing natural resources.
Worldwide, more and more communities face extreme weather as our climate-fueled planet breaks record after record. How many records do we need to break before we do something about it? #actonclimate #savetheplanet #climatedevastation
