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☆ Good news, bad news: U.S. emissions shrank last year, but very slowly
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-10 | by ( Evan Bush | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Carbon emissions shrank in 2023 even as the economy grew, a sign the U.S. is plodding toward a more sustainable future. "This is the first time since 2019 that the economy has grown while emissions have fallen," said Ben King, an associate director leading the Rhodium Group energy team. U.S emissions fell sharply in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, when activities were restricted, and then rebounded in the two years that followed. The Biden administration, which rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement in 2021, said it would target emission cuts of 50% to 52% by 2030. The power and buildings sectors were responsible for the 2023 emissions decline, according to the Rhodium analysis.

Persons: Ben King, Biden, King, Joe Biden's Organizations: U.S, Stockholm Environment Institute, EV, U.S . Locations: Los Angeles, Los Angeles , California, Paris, Stockholm, Greenland, West Antarctica, East Antarctica, U.S

☆ A ‘thirsty’ generative AI boom poses a growing problem for Big Tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Shaolei Ren, a researcher at the University of California, Riverside, published a study in April investigating the resources needed to run buzzy generative AI models, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. Hundreds of millions of monthly users all submitting questions on the popular chatbot quickly illustrates just how "thirsty" AI models can be. The study's authors warned that if the growing water footprint of AI models is not sufficiently addressed, the issue could become a major roadblock to the socially responsible and sustainable use of AI in the future. For Google, meanwhile, total water consumption at its data centers and offices came in at 5.6 billion gallons in 2022, a 21% increase on the year before. watch nowIt's notable, however, that their latest water consumption figures were disclosed before the launch of their own respective ChatGPT competitors.

Persons: Shaolei Ren, Ren, Eitan Abramovich, OpenAI, Somya Joshi, Microsoft's Bing, Bard, Joshi, Paul Hanna Organizations: UNITED, EMIRATES, Tech, Microsoft, Google, University of California, Uruguay's Central Union, CNT, Afp, Getty, CNBC, Big Tech, Meta, SEI, U.S ., Stockholm Environment Institute, United, Inc, Talavera de la Reina, Bloomberg Locations: Dubai, Riverside, Montevideo, U.S, Stockholm, United Arab Emirates, Talavera de, Spain

☆ Climate summit leader said there’s ‘no science’ behind need to phase out fossil fuels, alarming scientists
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Laura Paddison | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The president of the COP28 climate summit, Sultan Al Jaber, recently claimed there is “no science” that says phasing out fossil fuels is necessary to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, in comments that have alarmed climate scientists and advocates. The future role of fossil fuels is one of the most controversial issues countries are grappling with at the COP28 climate summit. Al Jaber was asked by Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and current chair of the Elders Group, an independent group of global leaders, if he would lead on phasing out fossil fuels. While some argue carbon capture will be an important tool for reducing planet-heating pollution, others argue these technologies are expensive, unproven at scale and a distraction from policies to cut fossil fuel use. “They are not going to get any help from the COP Presidency in delivering a strong outcome on a fossil fuel phase out,” he said in a statement.

Persons: Sultan Al Jaber, Al Jaber, Mary Robinson, Robinson, ”, Al Jaber’s, what’s, Romain Ioualalen, Al, ” Joeri, Mohamed Adow, Angela Dewan, Rachel Ramirez Organizations: CNN, ”, Guardian, Elders Group, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, UN, International Energy Agency, IEA, Stockholm Environment Institute, Change, Imperial College London Locations: Paris, “, Abu Dhabi, Stockholm, UN, UAE

☆ Carbon emissions of richest 1% equal to those of poorest 66%, Oxfam report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Jenni Reid | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Private jets are seen on the tarmac at Friedman Memorial Airport ahead of the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, July 5, 2022 in Sun Valley, Idaho. The world's richest 1% of people are responsible for around the same percentage of global carbon emissions as the 5 billion people who represent the 66% poorest, according to a report published Monday by Oxfam. The charity's analysis, conducted with the Stockholm Environment Institute, found both groups contributed to 16% of emissions in 2019. The wealthiest 10% were responsible for 50% of global emissions, it found, while the bottom 50% were responsible for just 8%. Within the top 1%, the report links one-third of the carbon emissions to personal consumption in the U.S., followed by China and the Gulf countries.

Organizations: Friedman, Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference, Oxfam, Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI Locations: Sun Valley , Idaho, Stockholm, U.S, China

☆ The world is planning to blow the fossil fuels production limit that would keep a lid on global heating, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Global fossil fuel production in 2030 is set to be more than double the levels that are deemed consistent with meeting climate goals set under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, the United Nations and researchers said on Wednesday. The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) report, assessing the gap in fossil fuel production cuts and what’s needed to meet climate goals, comes ahead of the global COP 28 climate meeting, which starts on November 30 in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates. “We need countries to commit to a phase out of all fossil fuels to keep the 1.5C goal alive,” she said. It said 17 of the countries have pledged to reach net zero emissions but most continue to promote, subsidise, support and plan the expansion of fossil fuel production. The 20 countries analysed account for 82% of global fossil fuel production and 73% of consumption, the report said and include Australia, China, Norway, Qatar, Britain, the UAE and the United States.

Persons: Achakulwisut, ” Organizations: CNN, Global, United Nations, United Nations Environment Programme’s, United, United Arab Emirates, Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI, UNEP, International Institute for Sustainable Development Locations: Paris, United Arab, Stockholm, Australia, China, Norway, Qatar, Britain, UAE, United States

☆ Nations That Vowed to Halt Warming Are Expanding Fossil Fuels, Report Finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Hiroko Tabuchi | More About Hiroko Tabuchi | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

And over the past decade, governments and businesses have made progress in weaning themselves from fossil fuels by ramping up wind and solar power, for example, and investing in electric vehicle infrastructure. Yet the report issued on Wednesday, led by researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute, found that nations of the world plan to keep increasing coal production until 2030, and oil and gas production decades beyond that. The world was also set to overshoot, by 69 percent, the amount of fossil fuels consistent with limiting warming to 2 degrees Celsius. Beyond those thresholds, the world faces the danger of irreversible and catastrophic damage from climate change, scientists say. The authors partly credited nations’ nascent efforts to rein in their emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement, and the rapid growth in clean energy.

Organizations: Stockholm Environment Institute Locations: Stockholm, Paris

☆ Rich Nations Cut Aid for Climate Shocks, Even as Risks Grow
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Christopher Flavelle | More About Christopher Flavelle | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Developing nations will need between $215 billion and $387 billion annually this decade to protect against climate shocks, such as worsening storms, crop failures and loss of access to water, the report found. That’s as much as 18 times greater than the total amount that wealthy countries committed for climate adaptation in 2021. The new data comes weeks before the start of a major United Nations climate summit in Dubai, where aid to developing countries will be a top agenda item. At a similar summit two years ago in Glasgow, countries agreed to double their climate adaptation funding by 2025, compared with 2019 levels. Even if nations make good on that pledge, the report said, it would provide just a small share of the additional money needed.

Persons: ”, Georgia Savvidou, Paul Watkiss Organizations: Stockholm Environment Institute, United Nations Locations: United Nations, Dubai, Glasgow, Georgia, Stockholm

☆ Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara. Here's why it won't be so easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Adek Berry | Afp | Getty ImagesIndonesia has ambitious plans to relocate its capital from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Nusantara National Capital Authority, a government agency charged with planning and constructing the new capital, did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The new Presidential Palace under construction at the country's new capital Nusantara. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesA lack of demand for service-led jobs is another challenge Archer predicted. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Persons: Adek Berry, Joko Widodo's, Melinda Martinus, Martinus, Ju Ye Lee, Bagus Saragih, Agung Wicaksono, it's, Wicaksono, Bruno Lanvin, Joko Widodo, Diane Archer, Archer, Lanvin, Maybank's Lee Organizations: Nusantara, Afp, Getty, Indonesia, Cultural Affairs, Yusof, CNBC, Nusantara National Capital Authority, country's Ministry, Public, Agung Wicaksono Nusantara National Capital Authority, Maybank Investment Banking Group, Smart, IMD Business School, Bloomberg, Ciputra, Stockholm Environment Institute, Nusantara . Bloomberg Locations: Jakarta, Nusantara, East Kalimantan, Indonesian, Indonesia, Singapore, Agung Wicaksono, Asia, Pacific, Nusantara ., Stockholm, Diane Archer Stockholm, Kalimantan

The hands of the Doomsday Clock are closer to midnight than ever before, with humanity facing a time of “unprecedented danger” that has increased the likelihood of a human-caused apocalypse, a group of scientists announced Tuesday. “We are living in a time of unprecedented danger, and the Doomsday Clock time reflects that reality,” Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said in a statement, adding that “it’s a decision our experts do not take lightly.”The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight on Tuesday. When it was unveiled in 1947, the clock was set at 7 minutes to midnight, with “midnight” signifying human-caused apocalypse. In 2020, the Bulletin set the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight, the first time it had moved within the two-minute mark. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 to examine global security issues related to science and technology.

☆ COP27: Activists hoped Egypt would bring a focus on Africa. They were disappointed
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt CNN —The crowd was loving what Bhekumuzi Bhebhe had to say, cheering loudly as he yelled “don’t gas Africa!” into the megaphone. Bhekumuzi Bhebhe speaks at a protest against the development of new fossil fuel projects in Africa. Experts and activists are stressing that many African countries are getting locked in fossil fuel investments that are polluting and will likely prove uneconomical in a few years. “Africa has contributed very little to the climate problem, but the fossil fuel companies are using that to their advantage. What Elmaawi, Adow and other activists want is for the COP27 conference to help African countries foster more investment into renewable energy.

☆ Climate justice gets harder as world population passes 8 billion
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Gloria Dickie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

These are also among the countries most vulnerable to climate impacts, and most in need of climate finance. "A SIGN OF HUMAN SUCCESS"Globally, the 8 billion population milestone represents 1 billion people added to the planet in just the last 11 years. Even while the global population reaches ever-new highs, demographers note that the growth rate has fallen steadily to less than 1% per year. "A big part of this story is that this era of rapid population growth that the world has known for centuries is coming to an end," Wilmoth said. Rapid population growth combined with climate change is likely to cause mass migration and conflict in coming decades, experts said.

☆ Ahead of COP27, researchers call for climate compensation fund
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BRUSSELS, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Channelling climate compensation payments through existing funds will not work for vulnerable communities, a team of international researchers said on Tuesday, arguing that a new fund be created. Representatives of the nearly 200 countries attending COP27 will be weighing whether to create some form of compensation fund - a central demand by developing countries worldwide. In a report on Tuesday, researchers at the Stockholm Environment Institute backed the case for a new fund. For example, most climate finance takes the form of loans, rather than the small grants the researchers said would support vulnerable communities without burdening them with debt. The researchers said that, in principle, those responsible for causing climate change should be on the hook for paying compensation - but acknowledged that the idea was politically contentious.

☆ Studiu: 20 de firme produc 55% din totalul deșeurilor plastice din lume
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-18 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +4 min

Amplul studiu relevă care sunt companiile care produc materiale plastice realizate dintr-un poliester numit acid polilactic (PLA) care nu se degradează. Printre companiile globale responsabile pentru 55% din deșeurile plastice din lume se află atât corporații de stat, cât și corporații multinaționale, inclusiv giganți de petrol și gaze și companii chimice, notează The Guardian. Cercetătorii arată că în topul țărilor care produc cele mai multe deșeuri plastice pe cap de locuitori, Australia este pe primul loc. Întrucât majoritatea materialelor plastice sunt fabricate din petrol și gaze, producția și consumul de plastic devin un factor major al crizei climatice. În fiecare an, doar 10% -15% din plasticul de unică folosință este reciclat la nivel global, iar criza deșeurilor din plastic crește.

Persons: Guardian ., Britanie, Wood, Chase, Gore, Andrew Forrest AO Organizations: Guardian, Wood Mackenzie, London School, Dow Locations: Australia, Statele Unite, Coreea de Sud, SUA, Irving, Texas, Stockholm, Institute, Asia, Europa, America de Nord, America Latină, Orientul Mijlociu, Barclays, Bank, America, Citigroup

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