In bloom this June ??

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 starting talking about international commitments, ocean currents and COP controversies.

Global News

• A globally binding plastic in discussion in Paris. The United Nations (UN) has opened a five-day negotiation session in Paris on Monday towards a binding global agreement to significantly curb environmental pollution from plastic waste by 2040. Debate is expected between countries wanting to limit the production of more plastics and the petrochemical industry favoring recycling as the solution to plastic waste.
• Slowing ocean currents could have drastic impact on climate. A new study has revealed that the Southern Ocean, a major global deep ocean current, has slowed down by approximately 30% since the 1990s. The global circulation system plays a key role in influencing the Earth’s climate, including rainfall and determining how much heat and carbon dioxide the oceans store.
• UN advises against offsets for carbon removal technologies. The United Nations climate body has cast doubt over technologies that aim to suck carbon pollution from the atmosphere, calling them “unproven” and potentially risky. A group of unnamed researchers have said that removal activities are “technologically and economically unproven, especially at scale, and pose unknown environmental and social risks”.?

Local News

• Satellite data study examines methane levels over UAE. Researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi behind?the study in?Frontiers in Environmental Science?used satellite data to calculate concentrations of the gas – which has the chemical formula CH4 – over the past few years. They found that “column values” of methane were increasing by around nine parts per billion per year. This was double the increase recorded over two other locations – the Arctic and Argentina – for which similar work has been carried out using satellite data.
• 'Loss and Damage Atlas' to climate change. The UAE?Space Agency is to harness satellite data to map out a trail of destruction caused by extreme weather events around the globe and develop early warning systems to limit the future impact of climate change. The agency has joined forces with Planet Labs, a leading US-based Earth-imaging company, to compile a technology-driven database that will highlight the stark consequences of climate change and support efforts to mitigate its impact on vulnerable nations.
• Extension of Sheikh Zayed Protected Areas Network. Wildlife and natural habitats in Abu Dhabi are getting an extra layer of protection through a new Environment Agency policy which brings Al Saadiyat Marine National Park and Mangrove Marine National Park under the remit of the Protected Areas Policy.

This month there have been a number of controversies surrounding the UAE's COP presidency, with international news publications sharing stories that threaten to undermine Sultan Al Jaber's position as COP President.

• US and European lawmakers call for Jaber's removal. In a joint letter addressed to UN officials, President Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyan, more than 100 US lawmakers and members of the European parliament called for the removal of Sultan Al Jaber stating that his position as an oil executive risked 'undermining negotiations'.
• COP President's team accused of 'wikipedia greenwashing'. According to reports by the Centre for Climate Reporting and the Guardian, Al Jaber's team have requested edits to his wikipedia page, including adding quotes to support the President's position and removing references to involvement in fossil fuel projects.

International Awareness Days

• World Environment Day, 5th June (Theme: Solutions to Plastic Pollution)
• World Ocean Day, 8th June (Theme: Planet Ocean, Tides are Changing)
• World Day to Combat Desertification (Theme: Food, Feed, Fibre)

Online Events

• World Circular Economy Forum, 30th May - 2nd June
• Plastic-Free Seas: Diving into how plastic impacts our health, climate and oceans, 22nd June, Plastic Pollution Coalition

In-person Events

• Wild Talks Environment Edition, 5th June @ 10.30AM, Wild & the Moon, Al Serkal
• Azraq World Ocean Day Beach Clean Up, 8am, Dubai and Abu Dhabi
• MENA Oceans Summit & Exhibition, 8th-9th June, Hilton Palm Jumeriah
• London Climate Action Week, 24th June-2nd July, London various locations

Join me this coming Monday to talk about water with some amazing panelists.

Recent Events

In May, we hosted our first Climate Club meetup at sustainable dining restaurant, Teible. Nearly 20 aspiring and practicing sustainability professionals tasted a seasonal menu of locally-sourced ingredients from farm, land and sea. Thank you to everyone who joined!

If you would like to join our Climate Club community and find out about future events, click the following link or follow us here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DXpfvPdQ4HJHWermbELe82

• How is your brand celebrating World Environment Day?
• Five ways to protect the planet this World Ocean Day

• Group Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Chalhoub Group, Dubai
• Advisory Director - Environment & Sustainability, WSP, Dubai
• Specialist, Sustainability, American Bureau of Shipping, Dubai
• Associate Manager Sustainability, IFFCO Group, Dubai
• Senior Sustainability Manager, NEOM, Saudi Arabia
• Assistant Environmental Programs Manager, Red Sea Global, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
• Captive Breeding Expert, UNEP, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

?? 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 or get in contact for support with your green goals.