April overshoot ??

Welcome to this month's edition of The Climate Loop, where we serve up the latest climate news, trends, jobs, and events from across the Middle East.

This month, we're talking about #overshooting , #oceancurrents , #oryx and #OAPs .

Global News

Latest IPCC report raises the alarm ahead of COP28: The major climate news this month is the last installment of the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Report, a compilation of eight years of research and observations from hundreds of the world’s leading scientists and experts. The sober toned report highlights:

• There is very little chance of preventing the planet from warming less than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels (overshooting)
• Coming back down as quickly as possible after overshooting this mark is where the focus should be, with expensive, unproven technology like carbon capture looking like the most promising solution
• By overshooting 1.5C, there is a risk that we will trip certain tipping points causing irreversible damage
• The future of energy is renewable and with increased investment, could be a cheaper and more attractive alternative than fossil fuels
• There is room for individual action - everyone can choose to lead low-carbon lifestyles by eating plant-based, reducing flights and choosing to walk or bike wherever possible
• The phasing out of fossil fuels is increasingly becoming a political topic and we need more governments on board

Antarctic ocean currents heading for collapse: In other disappointing news, a report published by journal Nature warns that rapidly melting Antarctic ice is causing a dramatic slowdown in deep ocean currents. The deepwater flows which drive currents and carry vital heat, oxygen, carbon and nutrients around the globe could decline by 40% by 2050.

ECHR hears case on climate change and human rights: A group of senior Swiss women are taking their government to court claiming its policy on climate change is violating their right to life and health. The group of women - called the Club of Senior Climates - is claiming that sharp heat rises caused by climate change are putting their human rights, their health and even their lives at risk.?If the case succeeds, it would set a precedent for all European courts.

Local News

• Abu Dhabi begins work on its new carbon capture and storage project: The project is “the world’s first fully sequestered carbon dioxide (CO2) injection well in a carbonate saline aquifer” and is expected to begin injecting carbon dioxide in Q2 2023. Once operational, the project will initially fully sequester a minimum of 18,000 tons per year of carbon dioxide.
• UAE spearheads initiative to ensure youth are central to COP28: The country is to sponsor 100 international youth delegates to attend the summit in December. The initiative will focus on applicants from small island states, developing countries and indigenous communities and will give all participants the training, resources and opportunity to advocate on behalf of their countries and communities.
• Saudi Arabia releases more than 1,500 endangered animals: The?Royal Commission for Al Ula has begun its largest release project?to repopulate Arabian?gazelles, Sand gazelles, Arabian oryx and Nubian ibex across three nature reserves. All of the animals have satellite tracking collars and will be monitored by the commission's ranger force.

Every week, we explore the big questions related to?#esg ?. If you missed any of this month's articles, you can find them here:

• ??? How can hospitality venues (hotels, F&B and retail spaces such as malls) be more sustainable this Ramadan?
• ?? What is the difference between sustainability and ESG?
• ???How will having more women in leadership positions impact the adoption of Sustainable Development Goals???

The book?Speed and Scale?is an action plan to solve and address the climate crisis, written by investor John Doerr.?After watching Al Gore’s?An Inconvenient Truth?and begin challenged by his daughter, Doerr claims to have realized the urgency of the moment and committed himself to search for a comprehensive solution to the issue of greenhouse gases and revert Planet Earth on a sustainable path into the future.?

Speed and Scale?is a detailed implementation plan, broken down into component initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 59 gigatons (of CO2 equivalents) in 2020 to 0 gigatons by 2050.?Initiatives are grouped into thematic categories, each of which is composed of subcomponent objectives and key results (OKRs).?An exercise borrowed from his investing practice, OKRs are the defining characteristic of this book.?The first part of the book addresses the six subject areas to focus emission reduction efforts: transport, electricity, food, nature, industry, and carbon reduction. Then, Doerr lists four types of interventions to deliver on these emission reduction goals, called "accelerants": policy, movements, innovation, investment.?

Climate OKRs are listed by theme for the forthcoming decades.?Progress against the climate OKRs can be tracked on?speedandscale.com .?One of the few targets that have been achieved is exceeding $50 billion in clean-tech Venture Capital financing – unsurprising since given Doerr’s VC background.?While the OKRs are convincing, they often read like a wall of statistics from an engineering manual.?The case studies provide balance to the overarching story and help establish credibility for the proposed solutions.?

Speed and Scale?is a compelling plan and one of many ways to reach the goal of net-zero carbon emissions.?The overwhelming technical grounding, and perhaps more importantly, the effective comparison of topics help readers understand which efforts should be prioritized and inform their individual efforts.?This book is not going to convert a climate change skeptic, but likely will motivate those already committed to addressing climate change and call them into action.?

This month we are reading A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and Vision for the Future by David Attenborough.

• Nordic Conference on Climate Change Adaptation 2023, April 17-18, Hotel Reykjavík Grand, Iceland
• Global Ethics Summit , April 17-19, virtual, $2695
• International Earth Day , April 22
• 4th global conference of the Sustainable Food Systems Programme, April 24-27, virtual
• US Climate Action Summit 2023, virtual and in person
• SF Climate Week , April 17-23, San Francisco

Principal Consultant, Ricardo plc, Dubai (hybrid)

Sustainability Development Lead, Suez Consulting, Dubai

Senior Consultant - Carbon & Sustainability, Atkins, Dubai

Sustainability Consultant, DSS+, Dubai

Lead Researcher - Renewable & Sustainable Energy, Technology Innovation Institute, Abu Dhabi

ESG Consultant, AECOM, Abu Dhabi

Sustainability Policy & Engagement, ARAMCO, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Environmental Researcher, Gulf Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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?? The Climate Loop is a newsletter developed by?Matcha Studios, a Dubai-based creative impact studio specialising in green content, consulting and?courses. Follow us for updates on things going on in the region.