News roundup

Most Important News

Pope Francis has intensified the crusade against climate change, by warning that the world is “collapsing,” and lambasting decision-making institutions for being “ineffective,” as reported by aleem maqbool and Harry Farley for the BBC . While the pope heavily criticized the opulent lifestyles of many people in the Western world, it is encouraging to see some game-changing initiatives, like one launched by digital entrepreneur Denys Chalumeau and his wife in Brittany, France. As chronicled by Zoe Dare Hall for the Financial Times , the couple bought a previously abandoned 9-hectare farm and is building an “eco-collective” to encourage more people to live sustainably.?

The reason for the move, however, showcases the negative effects of climate change, which is that many people–those who can afford to do it–are abandoning cities where the summers are now too hot to endure. This leads to increased efforts to accelerate the sustainable transition, and there is good news to report in this regard. As the European Commission brought to light, the first tender under the EU renewable energy financing mechanism was oversubscribed, reaching the limit of EUR 40 million for projects located in Finland that can generate up to 516 MW.

This is one of many positive developments in Europe. For example, in the UK, a green energy company in Redhill, Surrey, is installing solar panels on a roof for free, and then selling the generated electricity to homeowners for a cheaper price. The company behind this pioneering initiative is Respirex International Limited , which is firmly committed to the long-term development of the region. Another company that made a breakthrough this week is @Starbucks, which announced, as reported by Aliya Uteuova ova from The Guardian n, that it successfully developed six new varieties of coffee seeds that can withstand the effects of climate change, spearheading the way for many companies who will need to adapt their products and services to a new reality.?

Innovations

Exciting quantum leaps are happening in various corners of the globe, and one of them was announced recently by @Dane Levitan from The Messenger , who shared that there is a giant solar energy project coming to the United Arab Emirates, which specifically will be located in the Abu Dhabi desert. The venture is a two-gigawatt solar farm, which will generate enough energy to power around 1.5 million homes.?

Nearby, in the emirate of Sharjah, the Emirates News Agency - WAM - ????? ????? ???????? - ??? , mentioned that SNOC (Sharjah National Oil Corporation), has signed an agreement to establish a 60-megawatt solar energy station, boosting the emirate’s push to transition to renewable energies. This is remarkable coming from a state that has generated much of its wealth through oil.?

Breakthroughs are also happening in India, where, according to SolarQuarter Global Goldi Solar, which is known as “India’s most quality-conscious solar brand,” has launched a technological solar panel at the Renewable Energy India Expo 2023. The panel boasts efficiency rates that surpass that of traditional solar panels, without generating additional expenses. Much-needed triumph for a country where the future of solar energy depends on affordability.?

In some not-so-good news, the S&P Global Clean Energy Index, which has made it possible for many individual investors to track the performance of the largest companies in solar, wind power, and other renewables, dipped 20.2 percent over the last 10 months, as reported by George Steer for the Financial Times . I expect that raising further awareness about the urgency of this issue can help drive these companies back on track, as they are doing very important work.?

Speaking of which, I read a compelling story by Jay Hilotin from Gulf News , where he clearly explains climate change, global warming, the differences between them and the ways in which they are interconnected. He also mentioned that, for companies, addressing this issue not only is a social imperative, but a potential $2 trillion economic opportunity.?

More International News

It is time to, like every week, take some time to acknowledge some of the critical events happening worldwide:

• The Washington Post has crafted a solid feature story talking about how Americans are gradually accepting the reality of living close to renewable energy hubs
• A new study shows that several amphibians, including types of frogs and salamanders, are at risk of extinction due to climate change
• The minister of environment and climate change for the Northwest Territories, in Canada, has avoided calling climate change an emergency, a worrying trend as the concept of climate change becomes more political
• Ice keeps melting in Greenland, harming water access for Inuit communities in various villages
• Emirati firms Masdar and W Solar Investment are eyeing the Tajikistan solar energy market, stating that it has a high potential for additional clean energy sources
• Solar power is helping people in war-torn Syria remain connected in the midst of the country’s electricity shortages
• In Dillon, Montana, a new project with over 200,000 solar panels has formally been inaugurated, generating the capacity to power up to 13,500 homes
• The largest home appliance manufacturer in South Africa has announced it will operate relying solely on solar energy
• Egypt is aiming to become an exporter of solar energy, targeting the attractive European market

Especially encouraging is the fact that so many developing countries are joining the transition to renewable energy, and that this is bringing them several social benefits, such as in the case of Syria, where solar power has literally kept citizens connected amidst a difficult situation. Also, it is relevant to recognize the great work that countries like the UAE are doing. It is not easy for an economy that made its money through oil to change its ways, but nations like the UAE are pioneering this sustainable living approach and setting an example to the rest of the world. If we are to succeed, the world needs us all.?