Good morning <<First Name>>
In our top story today, the UN Security council holds its first meeting focussing on the security threats of climate change.
In other news:
- The UK’s Environmental Agency says the country is already experiencing climate change ‘worst case scenario’ disasters;
- In Australia, researchers have published a paper on the extreme fires experienced over the last two summers and what we need to do to adapt;
- John Kerry admits the USA and Australia are not on the same page when it comes to climate action;
- Freshwater fish are in alarming decline with pressures coming from many directions;
- Malcolm Turnbull joins Fortescue Metals green energy development unit;
- Iran proposes an international fund for climate action funded by taxing the largest emitters;
- South Australia is about to implement legislation banning single use plastics; and
- Two articles from field experts on how to reduce emissions in New Zealand’s energy market.
Top Story
Johnson and Attenborough warn of global security threat from climate breakdown | BusinessGreen
Boris Johnson and Sir David Attenborough have both warned world leaders that climate breakdown represents the single gravest threat to global security, as the UK Prime Minister today chaired the first ever UN Security Council meeting focused on the climate change. Marking the first time a UK PM has chaired the UN Security Council in around three decades, the virtual session saw Johnson urge nations to take urgent action to address the climate crisis or risk worsening conflict, displacement and insecurity.
See also:
Boris Johnson chairing the first ever UN Security Council meeting focused on climate change
Climate Crisis
Getz glaciers on the run | Phys.org
ANTARCTICA - Using a 25-year record of satellite observations over the Getz region in West Antarctica, scientists have discovered that the pace at which glaciers flow towards the ocean is accelerating. This new research, which includes data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission and ESA's CryoSat mission, will help determine if these glaciers could collapse in the next few decades and how this would affect future global sea-level rise. Ice lost from Antarctica frequently hits the headlines, but this is the first time that scientists have studied this particular area in depth.
See also:
Between 1994 and 2018, all 14 glaciers in Getz accelerated, on average, by almost 25%, with three glaciers accelerating by over 44%. While each of the 14 glaciers has been assigned a number in the map, the names of glaciers 10 to 14 are also shown. Credit: University of Leeds/ESA/MEaSUREs version 1, 2016–17 (multimission data), NASA/REMA, PGC/IBCSO, GEBCO
Climate crisis hitting 'worst case scenario', warns Environment Agency head | The Guardian
The climate emergency is already hitting “worst case scenario” levels that if left unchecked will lead to the collapse of ecosystems, with dire consequences for humanity, according to the chief executive of the Environment Agency. Warning that this is not “science fiction”, Sir James Bevan said on Tuesday that in recent years several of the “reasonable worst case scenarios” had happened in the UK, with more extreme weather and flooding. And he urged politicians to take action to reduce emissions and adapt to the “inevitable” impacts of the climate emergency.
Related:
Flooding in Telford after Storm Christoph in January. Bevan said the ‘reasonable worst case’ for flood incidents had happened in the UK over the last few years. Photograph: Nick Potts/PA
Fires bring home climate-driven urgency of rethinking where we live – and how | The Conversation
AUSTRALIA - We have published a new research paper in the journal Nature, titled Apocalypse Now: Australian Bushfires and the Future of Urban Settlements. It was put together as the fires were raging in the east, and comes out as Perth residents are still reeling from the devastating fires in the west this month.
See also:
Climate Action and Adaptation
Kiribati and China to develop former climate-refuge land in Fiji | The Guardian
KIRIBATI - A block of land the government of Kiribati bought in Fiji half a decade ago – ostensibly to serve as a refuge when their country disappeared under a rising ocean – will be transformed into a commercial farm to help feed the i-Kiribati people, with “technical assistance” from China. The president of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, announced last week that China would help fulfil his administration’s plan to resume farming on a 22 km sq parcel of land in Fiji, sparking widespread speculation the land would be gifted or sold to China. Maamau has ruled out any military application – “any land or sea base” – for the land.
The village of Eita on South Tarawa Kiribati. There is little food grown on Kiribati’s islands. Photograph: Mike Bowers/The Guardian
Joe Biden's climate envoy admits US and Australia not on 'same page' | The Guardian
AUSTRALIA - Joe Biden’s climate envoy, John Kerry, has publicly acknowledged “differences” between the United States and Australia in tackling the climate crisis while calling for a faster exit from coal-fired power. Kerry’s comments highlighted the increased pressure on Australia to commit to do more before this year’s Glasgow climate conference even though the Morrison government maintains it is “playing its part”.
Recent Australian emissions cuts likely to be reversed in recovery from Covid and drought | The Guardian (With graphs)
AUSTRALIA - Most of the reduction in Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions last year is likely to be wiped out as transport rebounds after Covid-19 lockdowns and farming recovers from the long-term-drought, according to an audit of national climate data. Scott Morrison told the National Press Club earlier this month the government was “getting on with” reducing emissions, citing official data that found emissions were down 3% in the year to June to their lowest levels since 1998. He declared “these are the facts”. An audit by Hugh Saddler, an energy consultant and honorary associate professor at ANU’s Crawford school of public policy, suggests at least some of the drop is likely to disappear.
North West politicians and businesses plot 2040 net zero vision | BusinessGreen
UK - Political leaders and businesses from across North West England have unveiled their vision for the region to transition to net zero by 2040 bolstered by a "green recovery" from the coronavirus crisis, as they yesterday announced plans to launch a decarbonisation roadmap later this year.
Environment and Biodiversity
Extinction: Freshwater fish in 'catastrophic' decline | BBC News
A report has warned of a "catastrophic" decline in freshwater fish, with nearly a third threatened by extinction. Conservation groups said 80 species were known to have gone extinct, 16 in the last year alone. Millions of people rely on freshwater fish for food and as a source of income through angling and the pet trade. But numbers have plummeted due to pressures including pollution, unsustainable fishing, and the damming and draining of rivers and wetlands.
Environment department failed to investigate allegations rare Australian birds were exported for profit | The Guardian
AUSTRALIA - The federal environment department failed to investigate allegations endangered and rare Australian birds were being sold in Europe at a huge profit and instead continued issuing permits to allow more birds to be exported to a secretive German charity, an independent review has found. The investigation, by KPMG, was triggered after reporting by Guardian Australia revealed hundreds of birds, including endangered species, were exported to the Berlin-based Association for the Conservation for Threatened Parrots (ACTP) on the grounds that they would be used for a zoo exhibition.
Sussan Ley says federal environment department will adopt all recommendations of a review that found allegations rare birds had been exported for profit had not been investigated. Photograph: blickwinkel/Alamy Stock Photo
Human chain of 150 volunteers guide 40 stranded pilot whales back to sea | Stuff
NEW ZEALAND - A human chain made up of around 150 volunteers is guiding a pod of whales back out to sea in chest-deep water, after successfully re-floating them at high tide. Roughly 38 of the 49 long-finned pilot whales that stranded Monday morning at Farewell Spit were encircled by the human chain from 6.30 pm, after being re-grouped by the volunteers. As the high tide came in and the sun began to set behind the mountains, volunteers wearing wetsuits sat in seawater up to their necks and held the whales to stop them from swimming away.
Economy and Business
Former Australian PM Turnbull joins Fortescue's green unit | Reuters
AUSTRALIA - Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has joined Fortescue Metals Group’s new green energy development company as chairman of its Australian unit, the iron ore miner said on Tuesday. Turnbull, who served as prime minister from 2015 to 2018, will head Fortescue Future Industries (FFI)’s Australian subsidiary starting this month, Fortescue said in a statement. FFI was launched with much fanfare late last year by Andrew Forrest, Fortescue’s founder and majority shareholder, who outlined ambitious plans to build a renewable energy business that could compete with oil giants to provide low-cost green energy globally.
Govt rushes to patch $90m hole in carbon market | Newsroom
NEW ZEALAND - The Government is exposed to $360 million in financial risk over the next year due to a loophole in the rules governing New Zealand's carbon market, the Emissions Trading Scheme. The existence of that hole is a result of an error in the drafting instructions sent to the Parliamentary Counsel Office when the Scheme (ETS) was amended last year, Climate Change Minister James Shaw told Newsroom.
Iran proposes creating international fund for climate change | The Independent
IRAN - Iran has proposed the creation of an international fund to fight climate change that would tax nations based on their pollution output, according to state media. Mohsen Rezaei, Tehran’s Expediency Council secretary, said that richer countries had an obligation to help poorer ones to mitigate climate impacts.
Local government pensions invest nearly £10bn in fossil fuels, data shows | The Independent
UK - Nearly £10bn remains invested in fossil fuel companies through local government pensions, it has been revealed. Figures obtained via freedom of information requests show that local authority pensions invested £9.9bn in fossil fuels in the financial year of 2019 to 2020. That means that each of the 6.8 million people who depend on local government pension funds had at least £1,450 invested in fossil fuels… More than three-quarters of UK local authorities have made “climate emergency” declarations, and many have also pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2030, ahead of the national target of 2050.
Waste and the Circular Economy
Businesses prepare for South Australia's plastic ban ahead of March 1 roll-out | ABC News
AUSTRALIA - In less than a week, South Australian businesses will face fines if found to be selling, supplying or distributing single-use plastic straws, cutlery or drink stirrers. The ban — coming into effect on March 1 — is the first of its kind to be legislated and implemented in Australia, but many SA businesses have already made significant changes to reduce their plastic footprint. Adelaide cafe Argo On The Square had already moved away from using plastic takeaway products, with single-use cups, straws, cutlery, containers and bags all binned for good in 2020. Cafe worker Chloe Briddon supports the state government's ban and said the business made the changes months ago… "I don't think anyone would do it without being forced. It's a lot cheaper to not have the biodegradable packaging, so I don't think they would change it if they didn't have to."
Cafe worker Chloe Briddon said Argo On The Square swapped its plastics for compostable options months ago.(ABC News: Sarah Mullins)
Government not ruling out limits on nitrogenous fertiliser | Stuff
NEW ZEALAND - The environment minister says New Zealand will continue to follow WHO guidelines on nitrate levels in the water despite international research finding much lower levels could still cause cancer. The first study into the country's nitrate in drinking water says one in six people could be drinking water polluted enough to cause colorectal cancer. The research, overseen by Victoria and Otago Universities, calls for action from the horticulture and dairy industries.
Politics and Society
Indian judge sees no reason to detain climate activist charged with sedition | Reuters
INDIA - A New Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to 22-year-old climate activist, saying there was “scanty and sketchy evidence” of sedition in her efforts to help farmers protest in a case that has drawn global attention.
What I learned when I recreated the famous ‘doll test’ that looked at how Black kids see race | The Conversation
Back in the 1940s, Kenneth and Mamie Clark – a husband-and-wife team of psychology researchers – used dolls to investigate how young Black children viewed their racial identities. They found that given a choice between Black dolls and white dolls, most Black children preferred to play with white dolls. They ascribed positive characteristics to the white dolls but negative characteristics to the Black ones. Then, upon being asked to describe the doll that looked most like them, some of the children became “emotionally upset at having to identify with the doll that they had rejected.”
Energy
Our energy system has been broken for too long | Newsroom (Comment)
NEW ZEALAND - From a climate perspective, it is urgent that we move from fossil fuels to renewable electricity for many energy needs as rapidly as possible. The current profit-driven regime is promoting enormous expansion of the electricity system to meet what they hope will be increasing demand. There will be large costs to consumers, higher prices for electricity, unnecessary infrastructure, and greater ecological degradation. Expanding the current electricity system will produce considerable greenhouse gas emissions in the short term, when reducing emissions is so critical… Many independent energy analysts have provided warnings that a mostly renewable energy system is not likely to produce whatever level of electricity demand we wish to have. Hence, reducing demand becomes an important goal to ensure that whatever energy surplus is available can cover our most important energy needs.
Related:
Australian farmers call for renewable energy zones as Nationals push coal and nuclear | The Guardian
AUSTRALIA - Renewable energy zones must be “at the centre of any regionalisation agenda”, the National Farmers’ Federation has said. In a policy paper released on Tuesday, the NFF makes the call for renewable energy to be part of new investment to address the $3.8bn annual shortfall in infrastructure in regional Australia. The paper, which makes no mention of coal or nuclear energy supporting jobs in the regions, comes as the Nationals push for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to invest in those technologies.
The National Farmers’ Federation wants renewable hubs to be part of a regional revitalisation strategy, but for there to be more consultation in rural areas about how they are designed. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP
How bad is bitcoin for the environment really? | The Independent
In little over a decade, bitcoin has risen from a fringe technology popular with cryptographers, to the world's ninth most valuable asset by market cap. The cryptocurrency's dramatic ascent has created millionaires, reimagined money, and launched a multi-billion dollar industry inspired by its revolutionary decentralised technology. But it has also brought with it some unwanted side effects. The computing power required to support bitcoin's underlying network now requires nearly as much energy as the entire country of Argentina, leading to criticism about its environmental footprint.
|
|
|
|
