THIS WEEK

New electric pickup trucks, U.S. carbon tax proposal (with some concerning caveats), how solar roofs just got more accessible, and why farmers in India are going electric

EXTREME WEATHER

The world at greater risk from extreme weather

For this one you might need to take a deep breath, a sip of coffee, and brace yourself (spoiler alert: even your coffee isn’t safe).

For the third year running, “extreme weather” induced by climate change has hit the World Economic Forum’s top spot in its global risk report, which cheerfully begins: “Is the world sleepwalking into a crisis?” (I’m unsure if this is meant to be rhetorical). Close runners up in the list are failed climate change mitigation and natural disasters.

Unsurprisingly, “extreme weather” is going to be pretty costly for Canada, with a new report citing how cities are struggling to adapt quickly enough to the risks of climate change. The costs of weather have risen dramatically in the past. The pre-2008 yearly average cost was $405 million per year, which has climbed to $1.8 billion in the years since.

Further afield, extreme weather brings even more tidings of woe, this time in the form of coffee. A new study indicates that of the world’s 124 varieties of coffee plant, 60% are at risk of extinction in the wild due to deforestation and climate change. Bad news for your cup of coffee, and even worse news for the millions of farmers whose livelihoods depend on it.

Now, in case you needed a pick (me) up

EVs are breaking down yet another barrier to universal uptake: enter the electric pickup. Ford has announced it will introduce a fully electric version of the F-series in addition to the already-promised hybrid version. With plans for a Tesla pickup already in the pipeline, Ford said the move was necessary to “futureproof” the franchise.

A risky investment

A new report finds that climate change risk is not being fully disclosed to investors in Canadian financial services. In other words, current capital has it jugular exposed to the risks of climate change—and no one is being told. The report suggests a three-year-plan to “green Canada’s financial ecosystem.”

A-list economists back a U.S. carbon tax

A list of high-profile economists—including all previous chairs of the U.S. federal reserve—have signed a statement asserting that a carbon tax is the best way to reduce emissions. Although there are issues with deregulation and, perhaps, Big Oil being let off the hook.

World’s biggest roofer serving roofs sunny-side-up

Roofing giant Standard Industries has jumped on the solar-powered bandwagon by launching a new startup. GAF Energy presents customers with a simple decision: a cost-cutting, real-estate-boosting solar-powered roof or a run-of-the-mill tiled roof?

The (one, totally fixable) problem with electric cars

Electric cars. They cut pollution, fuel bills, and maintenance costs—plus, they smell better. But the losers? Roads. Less revenue from gas taxes could mean less money for roads. A new report suggests the best way to collect money from EV drivers could be a mileage-based road user charge—ie. you drive more, you pay more.

The gift that keeps on giving

New research has shown that EVs still produce less CO2 than gas-cars, even when the electricity is generated by coal plants. What’s more, as worldwide electricity grids get cleaner so do the EVs connected to them.

EVs, EVs everywhere...

EVs are making appearances all over the world, including on farms in Western India, where farmers like Vinod Gore are ditching petrol scooters for cheaper electric versions. In fact, India’s prime minister has set targets to increase the current market share of EVs from 1% now to 30% by 2030.

In international waters

Shipping is one of the world’s dirtiest industries, but it can fall into a convenient no man's land when it comes to who is responsible for the emissions. One solution: allocating shipping emissions to different countries.

Up for some political theory and climate change?

If yes, clear your schedule and take a stab at this: a discussion on the role of nation-states in tackling the international climate problem. My favourite quote? “We have so few tools to deal with this problem that the nation-state is kind of being swung around like a dead cat, with the hope that it’ll hit something and help.”

Clean Energy Review is sponsored in part by Genus Capital Management, a leading provider of fossil-fuel-free investments.

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IMAGE & MEDIA CREDITS

Images: The Globe and Mail, Bloomberg NEF

Clean Energy Review is a weekly digest of climate and clean energy news and insight from across Canada and around the world.

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