US And China Could Ratify Paris Accord This Week And 12 Other Key Stories

Posts 30 Aug 2016

Things are moving quickly as our planet makes the transition to a new, clean economy. You want to stay in the loop – but you’re busy, that’s why we keep an eye on the headlines for you!

Welcome to the 30 August 2016 edition of the Daily Planet’s weekly State Of The Planet. Don’t hesitate to send your tips and comments to @peter_koekoek or peter.koekoek@climate-kic.org.

1. #ClimateActionAugust: 8 super simple steps to a greener office.

It’s not too late to do your bit for #ClimateActionAugust! Greening your office doesn’t have to be expensive, it can actually save you money and help boost productivity. The Daily Planet has listed eight super simple tips so you can get started on making your office a little bit more climate friendly.

2. Investors worth $13 trillion have urged the G20 countries to ratify the Paris Agreement this year.

A total of 130 investors in charge of over $13 trillion have called on the G20 countries to ratify the Paris Agreement before the end of 2016, the Daily Planet reports.

In a letter to the G20 heads of state – who are set to meet in Hangzhou, China, on 4 and 5 September – the investors also called for a doubling of global investment in renewable energy, and measures such as the introduction of a price on carbon and a phasing out of subsidies for the fossil fuel industry.

3. The United States and China could actually ratify the Paris Agreement this week.

China and the United States might jointly announce their ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change before the G20 summit in Hangzhou – which kicks off on Sunday – the South China Morning Post reports.

The announcement could take place on Friday 2 September, according to the Hong Kong based newspaper. The move could tip the momentum in favour of the agreement and bring the accord into force at a global level, the paper suggests.

Whether or not the ratification will take place this week will likely hinge on president Barack Obama’s ability to bypass the grid-locked US Congress. But unlike the United States, China has “few uncertainties” to deal with in order to ratify the accord, the Post quotes an insider.

China and the US are the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters. Their contributions total almost 40 per cent of the world’s total output, CleanTechnica highlighted.

4. Morocco says governments need to “show the money is there” to implement Paris Agreement.

The UN’s climate summit in Marrakesh this November should deliver a series of roadmaps on greenhouse gas cuts, finance and adaptation, Morocco’s environment minister has told Climate Home.

Hakima El Haite told the news site that the UN summit would be a chance for governments to show “solidarity” with the goals of the Paris Agreement. “There’s only one way to do that, and that is to fulfil all promises from the Paris pledges,” she said, “We need to show the money is there and allocated to key projects.”

5. The New York Times has dedicated an entire editorial to hailing America’s tough new clean transport rule.

The new rule “imposes tough new fuel economy standards on the 18-wheelers, buses, delivery trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles that make up only 5 per cent of the vehicles on the road but account for 20 per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions of the transportation sector,” the paper’s editorial board explained.

The editorial praises how the rule is a result of collaboration between all stakeholders including transportation fleet owners, truck manufacturers and environmental organisations – rather than just a top-down decision by the US president.

6. Elon Musk perfectly explained how carbon pricing could spark an ‘innovation explosion’.

You might have heard about carbon pricing, but what is it and how could it solve climate change? South African-born Canadian-American electric car entrepreneur Elon Musk explained it during an interview on MSNBC, and the Daily Planet has the explanation and the video clip.

7. New research shows human impact on climate change dates back at least to 1830.

Signs of warming appear as early as 1830 say researchers according to the Guardian. The new data would roughly place the start of global warming with the start of the industrial revolution.

8. Watch Professor Brian Cox confront a climate change denying Australian senator.

This already happened a few weeks ago, but it has since gone viral on the internet. The Guardian has some of the highlights of British celebrity physicist Brian Cox’ appearance on an Australian TV show with right-wing senator Malcolm Roberts.

9. Twitter: 4 climate change investment groups you should follow.

Investors around the world are excited about the low carbon economy. They have organised themselves to collaborate, and to remind governments to do their bit.

Several climate change investor networks and groups have been founded to represent influential organisations such as banks, pension funds, insurance companies, hedge funds – the list goes on.

The Daily Planet has listed four must-follow Twitter accounts so you can make sure you’re always be the first to hear about the latest developments!

10. California is set to beef up its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal.

The legislation would commit the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 per cent below 1990 levels, the New York Times reports. California is on track to meet its current goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.

The New York Times notes that although federal emission reduction plans have stranded in a Republican dominated Congress, several states are setting ambitious new targets. New York recently approved a 50 per cent reduction goal for power plants and Colorado is set to sign-up to a goal of 35 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases from the state’s power plants by 2030 compared with 2012 levels.

11. Meanwhile, other US and Canadian state and provincial leaders are also set to renew their commitment to climate action.

At a meeting of state and provincial leaders from northeastern North America, governors and premiers will renew the group’s commitment to fighting climate change, CBC News reports. The meeting – which is currently taking place in Boston – has energy, environment and climate change as a focus.

12. A new map shows how animals will flee climate change.

Researchers have created an animated map of North America that shows the routes animals are expected to take in the coming decades as climate change forces them to find new habitats, the Weather Network reports.

“There are a number of ways that conservationists and land managers can re-build or maintain connectivity to improve species’ ability to adapt to warmer temperatures,” the map’s makers write according to the Weather Network. “Removing fencing, adding wildlife overpasses (or underpasses) to major roadways, and better routing of infrastructure like pipelines and powerlines can all help re-connect areas fragmented by human development.”

13. In this Rio favela, solar power is a ‘key to peace’.

A BBC news segment shows how Belgian entrepreneur Pol Dhuyvetter is helping a Rio favela become self-sufficient by producing its own power using solar panels.

Bonus story: 4 practical tips for communicating climate innovation.

Don’t miss these top tips! After four and a half years as Climate-KIC’s stellar Head of Communications, Angela Howarth is moving on – but not before sharing four practical tips that could help you overcome some of your everyday communications challenges.

Looking for something to fix?

One of these stories may just inspire your next business venture:

  • Stagnant air is on the rise, increasing ground-level ozone pollution. A Climate Central investigation has found that 66 per cent of the US has seen an overall increase in days with stagnant summer air conditions since the early 1970s.
  • Climate change is likely to cause allergy misery for millions of Europeans. The number of people suffering from ragweed allergies could double by 2050, CityLab reports.

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to receive next week’s State Of The Planet in your inbox. Don’t hesitate to send your tips and comments to @peter_koekoek or peter.koekoek@climate-kic.org!

 
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