Climate News Daily: Environment, Conservation & Sustainability

The controversial Rosebank offshore development off Shetland has been granted consent by regulators.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-66933346Banks including some of Europe’s largest lenders have helped fossil fuel companies to raise more than €1tn from the global bond markets since the Paris climate agreement, according to an investigation by the Guardian.https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/sep/26/europes-banks-helped-fossil-fuel-firms-raise-more-than-1tn-from-global-bond-marketsA new report has found that Russian oil and gas assets have an industry emissions intensity that is nearly double the global industry average.https://thebulletin.org/2023/09/over-polluting-and-under-reporting-a-look-inside-russias-dirty-fossil-fuel-industry/Unprecedented global warming will wipe out all mammals during a mass extinction event in about 250 million years, according to a new study.https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/mammals-extinction-extreme-global-warming-b2419313.htmlAnd finally today in an Op-Ed on the National Parks Traveller Mike Murray  informs us that “To Protect National Parks, We Must Take Urgent Climate Action Now”https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2023/09/op-ed-protect-national-parks-we-must-take-urgent-climate-action-now

New polling from The Associated Press-NORC indicates that extreme weather, including a summer that brought dangerous heat for much of the United States, is bolstering Americans’ belief that they’ve personally felt the impact of climate change. https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/09/25/ap-norc-poll-more-americans-feeling-climate-changes-impact/Naming and shaming can be effective to get countries to act on climate according to a new study.https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/09/230925153739.htmIn the UK, Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats is set to use his party conference speech to take a swipe at Rishi Sunak over eco policies.https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ed-davey-speech-liberal-democrats-tories-fossil-fuels-b1109530.htmlCaroline Lucas, the UK’s sole MP from the Green Party accuses the Prime Minister of 'Alice in Wonderland' approach to net zero, slamming his watering down of key climate policies, warning the government's new approach will 'slash investment in the green economy’.https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4129076/caroline-lucas-accuses-prime-minister-alice-wonderland-approach-net-zeroAnd to round-off of hat-trick of opposition to Sunak’s announcement is an article written why Chris Skidmore MP “I’m a Tory MP, but I know Rishi Sunak’s claims about the cost of net zero are false” https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/26/tory-mp-rishi-sunak-net-zero-economy-chris-skidmoreFish have been dying in parks across the English city of Birmingham creating fears over the impact of climate change. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/fish-dying-parks-across-birmingham-27788605The Netherlands branch of the Extinction Rebellion is suing the Dutch Government over hosing downs they received from police when they blocked the A12 motorway in The Hague.https://brusselssignal.eu/2023/09/extinction-rebellion-goes-to-court-over-use-of-water-cannon-by-police/Japanese car manufacturer Nissan has announced it will accelerate plans towards electrification by committing that all vehicles sold in Europe will be electric by 2030.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-66915440

President Joe Biden is set to establish diplomatic relations Monday with two South Pacific nations, the Cook Islands and Niue. The announcement comes as Biden prepares to welcome leaders to Washington for a two-day U.S.-Pacific Island Summit expected to focus heavily on the impact of climate change.https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/u-s-will-establish-diplomatic-ties-with-the-cook-islands-and-niue-as-biden-prepares-to-host-pacific-summitWired has a deeper dive into the announcement we reported on last week that President Biden was launching a Climate Corps to Fight the Climate Crisis.https://www.wired.com/story/the-us-is-mobilizing-an-army-to-fight-the-climate-crisis/The Guardian has a review of a TV documentary by environmental campaigner and naturalist Chris Packham: “Is It Time to Break the Law? They conclude that it’s the bravest, most anguished TV of the year.https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/sep/20/chris-packham-is-it-time-to-break-the-law-review-the-bravest-most-anguished-tv-of-the-yearOn the same subject Patrick Harvie, the co-leader of the Scottish Green Party says he 'will never condemn' climate activists who break the law as part of campaigns designed to push governments to take more action on climate change.https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/patrick-harvie-says-he-will-never-condemn-climate-activists-who-break-the-law-4347074Six young people aged 11-25 are taking 32 countries in Europe to court over climate change.https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/66877490Former Prime Minister of the UK Gordon Brownsaid a share of profits from the surge in oil prices should help poorer nations fight climate change.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/gordon-brown-cop28-uae-norway-qatar-b2417825.htmlRupert Murdoch who, it was recently announced, is stepping down from News Corp and Fox, has used his outlets to promote denial and delay action, experts say.https://www.theguardian.com/media/2023/sep/23/rupert-murdoch-climate-change-denialLego is scrapping its ambitious plans to make its famous bricks from recycled plastic bottles after its CEO revealed the alternative would eventually cause more carbon emissions than its current oil-intensive bricks.https://fortune.com/2023/09/25/lego-scraps-plans-bricks-plastic-bottles-rpet-higher-carbon-emissions/

39 million U.S. properties are overvalued because damage risks from climate change as a result of flooding, hurricanes, and wildfires ““have yet to be reflected in the insurance premiums.” The largest percentage of those properties—60%—are coastal properties at risk from hurricanes, 30% are vulnerable to flooding, and 10% are in wildfire zones.https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/9/20/2194395/-Report-Nearly-40-million-U-S-properties-are-overvalued-because-of-climate-related-risks?The complete phasing out of fossil fuels is not realistic, China's top climate official has said, adding that these climate-warming fuels must continue to play a vital role in maintaining global energy security.https://www.trtworld.com/asia/chinas-climate-envoy-says-phasing-out-fossil-fuels-is-unrealistic-15080033Illinois’ Signature Climate Law Has Been Slow to Fulfill Promises for Clean Energy and Jobs.https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22092023/pritzkers-climate-laaw-behind-on-jobs-renewables/Higher Air Pollution Found in Chicago's Western Edge.https://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/58546/20230922/higher-air-pollution-found-chicagos-western-edge-health-concerns-increase.htmGov. Maura Healey signed an executive order Thursday that she says will make Massachusetts the first state to ban the purchase of single-use plastic bottles by state agencies.https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/massachusetts-becomes-first-to-ban-purchase-of-single-use-plastic-bottles-by-state-agenciesKing Charles III has called for courage over tackling climate change in wake of Sunak’s slowdown. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-charles-king-french-senate-b1108574.htmlWildfires recorded by UK fire brigades surged in 2022 to almost 24,000 compares to just 9300 a year earlier. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/22/uk-firefighters-go-to-spain-for-wildfire-training-as-number-of-blazes-doubles-aoeThe Swedish government is facing a huge backlash – including threats of no-confidence votes against its climate minister – after slashing the country’s climate budget while admitting it will dramatically increase carbon dioxide emissions.https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/21/swedish-government-faces-backlash-after-slashing-climate-budget‘Nature positive’ isn’t just planting a few trees – it’s actually stopping the damage we do.https://theconversation.com/nature-positive-isnt-just-planting-a-few-trees-its-actually-stopping-the-damage-we-do-213075

Speaking at an oil rig site in Texas, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis unveiled his energy plan for the U.S. saying he would seek to undo the policies of President Biden's administration. DeSantis' opposes directing the automotive industry towards electric vehicles; and supports withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. It’s this podcast’s view that DeSantis’ policy proposals are wrong, foolish, and dangerous. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/desantis-rolls-energy-policy-contends-climate-change-invoked/story?id=103340918Speaking of policy plans that are both wrong and dangerous, the UK Labour Party is relishing the challenge of going “toe-to-toe” with the Tories at the next general election over yesterday’s reversal of their net zero plans by the Prime Minister. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/labour-ed-miliband-prime-minister-tories-government-b1108439.htmlA Record Number of Billion-Dollar Disasters Show U.S. Isn't Ready for Climate Change according to the NOAA. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-record-number-of-billion-dollar-disasters-show-u-s-isnt-ready-for-climate-change/UN Secretary-General made only one demand of world leaders at the special climate summit: Bring new and credible plans for averting the worst outcomes of a warming planet, or stay home. https://www.politico.com/newsletters/power-switch/2023/09/20/the-empty-chairs-at-the-u-n-climate-summit-00117001A growing number of Americans are finding it difficult to afford insurance on their homes, a problem only expected to worsen because of climate change.https://www.thegardenisland.com/2023/09/21/hawaii-news/insurance-rates-rising-as-climate-change-makes-wildfires-storms-more-common/Prince William has said his Earthshot Prize is not a charitable endeavour but a mission to find commercially viable answers to environmental issues. https://inews.co.uk/news/prince-william-earthshot-prize-not-philanthropic-announces-2023-finalists-2628796?ITO=newsnowVox has a useful guide to what climate activists mean when they say “end fossil fuels”.https://www.vox.com/climate/2023/9/21/23879312/climate-protests-activism-un-climate-weekHotter Days Are Increasing both Car Crashes and Fatalities.https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hotter-days-are-increasing-car-crashes-and-fatalities/Our Vocabulary Is Adapting to a Hotter Planet according to an article on time.comhttps://time.com/6315949/climate-change-vocabulary-adapting-to-a-hotter-planet/Among the world’s ever-expanding array of board games, a small but growing number deal with climate change. But are these games any good?https://theconversation.com/what-can-board-games-teach-students-about-climate-change-213601

The Biden administration has today announced the launch of an American Climate Corps to train thousands of young workers to pursue careers fighting climate change.https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy-environment/white-house-launches-pared-back-climate-corpsIn the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak is considering weakening some of the government's key green commitments in a major policy shift. It could include delaying a ban on the sales of new petrol and diesel cars and phasing out gas boilers.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-66857551However, as a result of this leaked u-turn on climate policy the Prime Minister came under fire from senior Conservatives in his own party, with some of his own MPs said to be so incensed that they were considering submitting letters of no confidence.https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/rishi-sunak-climate-change-cars-petrol-diesel-oil-war-global-tory-b1108181.htmlUK car industry has condemned the Prime Minister’s proposals to push back a ban on the sale of new internal combustion vehicles from 2030 to 2035, warning British motoring sector could lose billions of pounds in investment and face thousands of job losses.https://inews.co.uk/news/ford-rishi-sunak-plan-delay-2023-uk-ban-new-petrol-diesel-cars-2629236 In the US state of Arizona, new research focusing on one lizard species is revealing shocking evidence of a rapid acceleration in climate change-driven extinction. https://studyfinds.org/climate-change-extinction-rates/Forbes has an article suggesting that a new system of global institutions is required to tackle the challenges presented by the climate crisis, equivalent to those established at Bretton Woods.https://www.forbes.com/sites/sumantsinha/2023/09/20/the-world-needs-a-climate-bretton-woods-moment/A new study suggests that working remotely from home could cut worker emissions in half. https://gizmodo.com/working-remotely-could-cut-worker-emissions-in-half-1850853923The vast majority of the environmental projects most frequently used to offset greenhouse gas emissions appear to have fundamental failings suggesting they cannot be relied upon to cut planet-heating emissions, according to a new analysis.https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/19/do-carbon-credit-reduce-emissions-greenhouse-gasesAnd finally, a new policy forecast by the IPR predicts the world will meet the “well below 2°C” Paris Agreement climate target. https://www.energymonitor.ai/policy/world-on-track-to-meet-well-below-2c-paris-agreement-climate-target-finds-new-forecast/

The devastating floods in Libya that killed 11,000 people this month were made “50 times more likely” due to the man-made climate crisis, a scientific assessment has found.https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/libya-floods-climate-change-b2414260.htmlThe Treasury Department has released a new set of guidelines for financial institutions working to reduce their carbon footprint in the latest climate change push by the Biden administration.https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/economy/treasury-releases-principles-net-zero-financing-investmentCOP 28 president: ‘It’s time to transform climate finance–and bridge its 2.4 trillion dollar gap’https://fortune.com/2023/09/19/cop28-president-unga-transform-climate-finance-bridge-trillion-gap-environment-politics-sultan-al-jaber/Swedish police have arrested several climate activists after vandalizing a private jet at Stockholm's Bromma Airport over the weekend.https://simpleflying.com/climate-activists-target-private-jet-stockholm-broma-airport/The trial of six Extinction Rebellion activists for spraying fake blood from a fire engine over the UK Treasury has begun. https://www.thecanary.co/uk/2023/09/19/extinction-rebellion-trial-treasury/News that New Zealand will be an early signer of the Global Ocean Treaty is being celebrated by Greenpeace this week, who are calling it a win for nature, global cooperation and people power.https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2309/S00152/greenpeace-celebrates-new-zealands-commitment-to-global-ocean-treaty.htmAs the world witnessed record heat this summer and rain disasters become more frequent, thousands of people joined a climate protest in Tokyo on Monday 18 September, calling for a society powered by 100% renewable energy with stricter climate policies and no nuclear power.https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230919/p2a/00m/0na/009000cThe UK has awarded 21 carbon capture and storage licences to 14 different companies operating in oil and gas reservoirs and saline aquifers in the North Sea and East Irish Sea, spanning 12,000 square kilometres.https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2023/09/first-companies-awarded-carbon-storage-licences-in-the-uk/

Tens of thousands of people joined a march in New York City to end the use of fossil fuels, and to demand climate action from President Biden. https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/new-york-fossil-fuels-march-b2413223.htmlExtinction Rebellion activists have scaled Labour HQ, set off smoke grenades, and doused the front steps in black paint. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/extinction-rebellion-xr-labour-keir-starmer-gas-oil-b1107659.htmlThe state of California is suing five oil and gas giants — ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips — accusing them of causing tens of billions of dollars in damage and misleading the public by downplaying the risks posed by fossil fuels. https://www.semafor.com/article/09/18/2023/california-sues-oil-giantsThe United Nations has released a draft of what might become a landmark agreement to protect human health and the environment https://www.wired.com/story/this-treaty-could-stop-plastic-pollution-or-doom-the-earth-to-drown-in-it/According to a University of Michigan-involved study for the American Medical Association journal, the development of dementia may be linked to exposure to certain kinds of air pollutionhttps://www.michigandaily.com/research/air-pollution-exposure-associated-with-dementia-risk-umich-researchers-find/Replanting logged forests with diverse seedlings accelerates restoration, says Oxford study.https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2023-09-18-replanting-logged-forests-diverse-seedlings-accelerates-restoration-says-oxfordGerman research institution Fraunhofer ISE has developed a perovskite-silicon triple-junction solar cell, which boasts a conversion efficiency of “over 30%” and a voltage of over 2.8v.https://www.pv-tech.org/fraunhofer-ise-develops-triple-junction-solar-cell-with-conversion-efficiency-of-over-30/Octopus Energy has developed new residential heat pumps in the UK, with plans to initially market a 6 kW version, followed by larger models in the near future. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/09/18/octopus-energy-introduces-new-residential-heat-pumps/Solar panels have soared in popularity across the UK  in the last five years with the number of properties installing solar PV having increased by 40%.https://electricalreview.co.uk/2023/09/18/solar-installations-in-uk-properties-increased-by-40-over-the-past-five-years/A group of the world's largest companies have today issued a joint letter calling on governments attending COP28 Climate Summit this autumn to establish a 2030 global renewable power capacity target. https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4126163/quantum-leap-climate-action-multinationals-tripling-renewable-power-capacity-2030

On today’s show:Totten Glacier, the biggest glacier ice shelf in east Antarctica, is enormous, and is thinning faster than any other part of the region. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-13/antarctic-sea-ice-probes-dropped-from-helicopter-totten-glacier/102844512The 2023 annual report from Solar Power Europe has concluded that the EU will reach its own renewable energy goals it set for 2030, three years early. https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/12/solar-power-europe-predicts-eu-will-reach-its-renewable-energy-goal-3-years-early/Reducing deforestation, resuming the climate fund, and proposing debates on funding to curb climate change are some of the future measures Brazil will present to the COP28 U.N. climate summit in Dubai later this year. https://anba.com.br/en/cop28-brazil-to-showcase-actions-against-climate-change/CleanTechnica take a look at how President Biden is bringing more environmental and climate justice to the US - a link to this story is in today’s shownotes.https://cleantechnica.com/2023/09/10/how-biden-is-bringing-more-environmental-climate-justice-to-the-us/During the G20 summit in New Delhi in India, the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a commitment to contribute a record £1.6bn to the UN-backed Green Climate Fund. https://eandt.theiet.org/content/articles/2023/09/uk-pledges-16bn-for-the-un-s-green-climate-fund/Countries will decide next month how much they will pledge to the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The summit in Bonn, Germany could determine billions of dollars of financial support from rich polluting countries to developing nations – those which have contributed little to the causes of climate change yet will suffer the most from its impacts.https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/crucial-role-green-climate-fund-why-australia-should-contributeConstruction of large-scale hydrogen storage facilities needs to begin immediately if the UK government is to have any chance of meeting its net zero targets, a report by the Royal Society has concluded.https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/large-scale-hydrogen-storage-must-be-kick-started-now-to-reach-net-zero/4018070.articleA new California bill will force companies to report all emissions, even those from contractors. Companies that fail to do so could face $500,000 fines.https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/california-bill-forces-companies-report-all-emissions-even-contractors?And that’s the latest from Climate News Daily. For all the details on today’s stories, visit climatenewsdaily.net

This is Climate News Daily, the 5-minute news bulletin for anyone wanting to keep informed of global efforts to combat the climate crisis. I’m your host, Paul Robinson, and every single weekday I release a brand new episode, bringing you a variety of stories from across the web, news outlets and blogs.  I’ll be highlighting all the ways in which our world is dramatically changing as a result of the climate emergency, the legislative efforts intended to reduce emissions, as well as the work of protestors drawing attention to the problem.This is the podcast focusing on the most important and urgent challenge facing the whole of humanity.You can listen to all the episodes of Climate News Daily wherever you find your favourite podcasts, as well as going to climatenewsdaily.net 

In this episode we cover stories detailing the discovery of new global warming accelerators, improvements to animal farming, a ban on wetland hunting within the EU as well as a greener alternative to burials and cremations.