UN REPORT

‘Bleak doesn’t mean hopeless’

One of these days, the UN will release a climate report and it will be good news. One day. But unfortunately today’s not that day. The most recent UN report, released in advance of the UN’s annual climate change conference, which kicks off this week, found that global greenhouse gases, once again, reached record levels in the atmosphere. As the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization said, “there is no sign of a slowdown, let alone a decline, in greenhouse gases.” 

The picture at home isn’t much rosier. Canada’s emissions, the report claims, are expected to miss the 2030 target by 15%. As a political science professor at the University of New Brunswick put it, “we’re spending not only our carbon budget but the carbon budget of our children and grandchildren.” 

It’s been described as “bleak.” But as this Bloomberg piece writes, “of course, ‘bleak’ doesn’t mean hopeless.” There are still encouraging trends. Renewable power is the cheapest form of energy almost everywhere, and countries now know what they need to do, even if they aren’t yet doing it. We have the ingredients for the energy transition. We just need to make it.

In need of a shovel

Ontario’s energy minister, Greg Rickford, was in need of a large shovel last week to extricate himself from the sizeable hole in which he found himself after quoting from his favourite “periodical.” The periodical, which sports not-so-thinly-veiled climate denial, says its mission is to “deconstruct” climate change theories. The minister since clarified his position, saying he “believes” in climate change. Meanwhile, several young Ontarians are taking his government to court over its climate inaction, which, they say, will lead to “widespread illness and death.”

How to save jobs in the oil patch

Energy transitions aren’t unprecedented (the once coal-dependant U.K. is expected to phase out coal in the next few years). In Parkland Country, Alberta, an accelerated coal phaseout could provide an Albertan example of the energy transition in the flesh. With smart policy and spending, there needn’t be an apocalyptic loss of jobs, according to a new report. In fact there could be more jobs. As the report’s author put it, “If (the United Conservative Party) are really concerned about costs (and) creating jobs, there are jobs to be created in renewable energy, and it actually costs the government and consumers less than promoting gas or coal power.”

The economics of meeting Paris targets

Canada’s Ecofiscal Commission’s five-year term has come to an end, and I am grateful for all their hard work showing Canadians that we can have a strong economy while fighting climate change. As their parting report, released last week, explored, there are many ways to use economics to fight climate change, and achieving our Paris targets is possible. The most economical option is carbon pricing, though there are other effective and cost-efficient solutions. I recommend giving their report a read and watching their parting video. 

Cause for concern

“It now appears that China has kicked off a new coal building boom.” Perhaps not the words you were hoping to hear today. But worryingly, cuts to China’s renewables subsidies has caused a steep drop in clean energy investments in the world's largest emitter, while coal projects are on the rise. And it’s not just China—India and Brazil are also seeing clean energy investment slowdowns.

Auditors must take action

Investors in Europe managing $1.7-trillion worth of assets are putting pressure on the “Big Four” auditors—EY, Deloitte, KPMG, and PwC—to take urgent action on “climate-related risks.” The group, which decided to make the letter public in line with its increasing concerns, says it wants “auditors to challenge assumptions about long-term prices for oil and gas, which underpin shareholder returns.”

EU eyes up carbon neutrality

A plan for carbon neutrality is in the cards for the EU’s next summit this month. Despite the union’s climate ambition—it voted to declare a climate emergency last week—it still has to ease the concerns of member countries currently most reliant on coal if it is going to be successful. If a deal is endorsed, it will be one of the only major emitters with a concrete strategy to meet its 2050 Paris commitments. 

Thinking about an electric car?

Need a new car in the next couple of years? Eyeing up some potential options? Look no further than this summary of every electric car expected in the next two years. They range from practical, to cool, to sporty, to slightly odd. But not a single one pollutes—so even the weirdest are winners. And if pickup trucks are more your thing, here are the upcoming electric options—including, of course, Tesla’s Cybertruck.

Climate not as political as politics thinks it is

Despite increasing political polarization, desire for climate action in the U.S. is not neatly split down party lines. In fact, 62% of Republicans believe the U.S. should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources over fossil fuels, while almost 40% think the government isn’t doing enough. But if conservatives want real climate action, they need to be on the lookout for bogus solutions. As Chris Turner highlights in this National Observer piece, expanding fossil fuel production in the name of fighting climate change may not be the best long-term course of action.

E. Coli is going on a diet

Here’s some cool science to kickstart your week. If you thought the E. Coli bacteria’s only use was to give you a dodgy stomach, think again. Scientists in Germany have “put E. Coli on a diet”—an all-carbon diet. The result is a CO2-munching bacteria that could be used to create carbon molecules for biofuels or food—even drawing carbon from the air. 

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