Climate & environment
Five good news for the environment and climate
Of:
TT
Published: Today 08.44
Updated: Today 09.24
Wind farm in Marsberg in Germany. Archive image. Photo: Martin Meissner/AP/TT
NEWS
A "monsoon on steroids" submerged parts of Pakistan. Russia's war slowed climate work. And the 1.5 degree target is getting the world out of hand.
There are plenty of worries about the state of the environment and climate. But there is also hope – here are five bright spots from 2022.
US President Joe Biden. Archive image. Photo: Alex Brandon/AP/TT
1. Important step forward in the US: "Strong signal"
The world's second-largest emitter (after China) approved a reform package that involves investing nearly $400 billion in clean energy initiatives and a transition away from fossil fuels. It is expected that the US's carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 1 billion tons annually by the end of the decade, and the hope is that more countries will be inspired by how the American economy should be adjusted.
Chris Field, a professor of earth system science and biology at Stanford University, was positive when President Joe Biden signed the package into law in August.
- I believe that US leadership in the climate area is absolutely necessary for the world to make the necessary progress. It sends strong signals to the world to act, he told TT.
China's Environment Minister Huang Runqiu, chairman of the UN's environmental conference COP15, gives the thumbs up after the negotiations on a new framework agreement to protect biological diversity have come to an end.
China's Environment Minister Huang Runqiu, chairman of the UN's environmental conference COP15, gives the thumbs up after the negotiations on a new framework agreement to protect biological diversity have come to an end. Archive image. Photo: Paul Chiasson/AP/TT
2. Wind in the sails for renewable energy
Russia's war and rising fossil fuel prices have pushed countries even more towards alternative energy sources. In the next five years, the world will invest as much in renewable energy sources as solar and wind as it has done in the last 20 years, according to the international energy agency IEA.
Some countries have indeed gone back to coal - but this is seen as temporary. Next year, 90 percent of all new electricity production is expected to come from renewable sources.
"Renewable energy was already expanding rapidly, but the global energy crisis has led to an extraordinary new phase of even faster growth as countries seek to reap the benefits of energy security," writes IEA Director Fatih Birol and continues:
"This is a clear example of how the current energy crisis can become a historic turning point towards a cleaner and safer energy system."
Activist Patience Nabukalu, from Fridays for future in Uganda, holds up a sign demanding rich countries pay for climate-related damages and losses during a protest at the COP27 climate summit. Archive image. Photo: Henrik Montgomery/TT
3. Rich countries agree to pay the climate bill
They failed to get to the root of the problem – the emissions that are warming the planet. But the world managed to agree on a major contentious issue at the COP27 climate meeting in Egypt: a fund is to be set up to compensate developing countries for damages and losses arising as a result of climate change already now.
It's a big step forward for vulnerable countries that have long called for climate justice and for wealthier countries - which account for the lion's share of climate-damaging emissions - to foot the bill when extreme weather strikes and causes death and destruction.
- The COP has taken an important step towards justice. It is not enough, but a much-needed political signal to rebuild damaged trust. The voices from the front lines of the climate crisis must be heard, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
COP15 led to a historic agreement to protect biological diversity. Archive image. Photo: Paul Chiasson/AP/TT
4. Important breakthrough for flowers and bees
Night mangling was required. But in December, the countries at the COP15 environmental meeting managed to approve an agreement that is seen as a "Paris agreement for nature".
One of the most important goals is to protect 30 percent of the Earth's ocean and land surface by 2030. Richer countries must also increase their contribution to developing countries to preserve biodiversity to 20 billion dollars a year in 2025, and 30 billion by 2030.
- It's a glass half full, or half empty if you like. Very important pieces are included, such as that 30 percent of the earth's surface must be protected. They have also managed to find a compromise in terms of funding, which is good, said Henrik Smith, professor of zooecology at Lund University, to TT.
- Then a lot of work is required to prevent the money from disappearing in corruption.
EU climate director Frans Timmermans. Archive image. Photo: Nariman El-Mofty/AP/TT
5. The EU is leading the way in the climate area
Climate tariffs are introduced on goods that are manufactured with high emissions and imported into the EU. Emissions trading is expanded to cover, among other things, aviation, housing and waste incineration. A social climate fund will help households with the energy transition and new fossil cars will be phased out by 2035.
Towards the end of the year, a series of agreements regarding the large climate package "Fit for 55" have been reached within the EU. The climate package was put forward by the European Commission in 2021 and contains measures to reduce the EU's emissions by 55 percent by 2030 (from 1990 levels).
"The trading of emissions rights is central to the European green given - to put a price on carbon dioxide. A stronger system for trading emissions rights will help us drive investments in decarbonisation and reduce emissions further and faster, in line with our climate goals", writes the EU's climate chief Frans Timmermans.
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