archive2022

The world’s wealthy nations’ green agenda ignores Africa and its unique needs, priorities and challenges, says the African Energy Chamber. Those advocating for African countries to continue using their oil and gas resources are not ‘ignoring’ the world’s green agenda, says NJ Ayuk of the African Energy Chamber, they are simply not willing to embrace the world’s timetable for transitioning to renewable fuels at the expense of their own energy security and economic well-being. The green agenda of developed nations further ignores the tremendous role that Africa’s oil and gas...

Deforestation should be more of a priority among financial institutions in order to tackle climate change, a major new report urges. Deforestation for agricultural commodities, including palm oil, soy, and beef, currently accounts for 10 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions, more than the aviation sector.  Action to halt the pillaging of forests is essential for achieving net zero targets but financial institutions are at the starting line when it comes to action, according to Global Canopy’s new Deforestation Action Tracker. The Tracker, which will become an annual accountability mechanism,...

Debbie Shakespeare, senior director, sustainability, compliance and core product line management, RBIS Avery Dennison argues that the fashion industry needs to adopt circularity. Fashion has a dark side. Of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes are dumped. That is the equivalent of a rubbish truck full of clothes go to landfill sites every second. Should this shocking trend continue, fast fashion waste is expected to rocket up to 134 million tonnes a year by 2030. Thankfully, there is government, industry and consumer acceptance that things must...

Fashion industry brands will fail to reduce emissions by 55 per cent by 2030 unless real action is taken soon, say Stand.earth. As global leaders gather for COP 27, an updated analysis by Stand.earth of the fashion industry’s emissions shows why its pollution cannot go unchecked. The fashion industry is a massive global emitter, responsible for 5-8 per cent of annual climate emissions. But despite the growing urgency for dramatic absolute emissions reductions across all industries and geographies, the sector continues to maintain close ties to the fossil fuel industry,...

Eileen Sharpe, executive vice president, IDA Ireland outlines the five steps organisations must take to reduce their carbon footprint. Seventy countries, including EU members, the United States and China have set net-zero targets addressing approximately 76 per cent of all global emissions. 1,200+ companies, more than 1,000 cities, and over 1,000 educational institutions have committed to science-based targets to guide and measure progress towards net zero, and while many are making progress, research shows a significant challenge matching targets with achievable plans. Climate Action 100+, the world’s largest investor engagement...

Ben Turner, CEO, Origen Carbon Solutions argues that politics should not be a factor in holding back carbon removing technologies. If we are ever to undo the damage done by two centuries of unfettered industrialisation, then the emerging carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry must be given room to develop and grow at scale and pace. Part of that involves a re-awakening of an entrepreneurial spirit matched by new free-flowing revenue streams to invest in the industry. But for CDR to succeed it needs to operate in an environment safe from unwarranted...

Energy storage is the secret solution to the success of Net Zero 2050, suggests Professor Seamus Garvey at the University of Nottingham. “There is no energy crisis – and there never was one,” says Garvey, Professor of Dynamics in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham. “At any one time, the sun throws down over 10,000 times more energy onto the earth than we humans consume. All we need do is collect a tiny fraction of that energy and deliver it when and where it’s wanted. “Delegates at...