Pushing Past.

Welcome to Climate Positive! If you are here to doom scroll, you're in the wrong place. This newsletter pulls together top headlines supporting a narrative that climate action is actually happening and making a real difference.?

In this week’s issue we highlight impressive results in addressing climate challenges with clean energy technologies and climate resiliency strategies being implemented in the face of financial or operational challenges. Enjoy the news roundup, and check out the moves being made to protect sub-antarctic creatures!

Most CEOs Still Committed to Climate Goals

Despite the world's cringing at the term ESG, working toward climate goals and up the sustainability mission is still critical for staying competitive and addressing key stakeholders for CEOs. A recent KPMG 2024 CEO Outlook survey reveals that ESG still proves to support a strong business strategy from reducing operational risks to supporting talent retention, with 74% of respondents noting its impact on driving financial performance. Further, they remain optimistic about the long-term returns from their sustainability efforts, with many expecting significant financial gains over the next five years. That said, while some ESG initiatives continue to rank among the top three operational priorities, alongside generative AI and workforce upskilling, many CEOs remain uncertain about achieving their near-term climate goals, particularly decarbonizing supply chains and addressing skill gap.

WindFloat Atlantic Shatters Records, A New Benchmark for Offshore Energy?

Portugal’s WindFloat Atlantic is the world’s first semi-submersible floating offshore wind farm, which began operations in July 2020. The 25 MW wind farm, located 20 km off the coast of Viana do Castelo, consists of three 8.4 MW Vestas turbines on floating platforms anchored to the seabed. Its unique design includes semi-submersible platforms that use an active ballast system to stabilize the turbines against varying wind conditions, ensuring optimal energy production. WindFloat Atlantic has steadily increased its power output, reaching a cumulative 320 GWh by July 2024, providing energy to over 25,000 households and preventing 33,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually – breaking its own power output records. Additionally, the project is prime example of how these clean power investments can deliver a wide range of ancillary benefits in local communities creating 1,500 jobs and contributing to marine biodiversity by fostering over 270 species around its floating structures.???

Net-Zero, Storm-Proof Homes Shine as Florida Goes Dark After Hurricanes??

In The Hunters Point community in Florida, developed by Pearl Homes, CNN reports an emerging model for climate resilience. The net-zero homes, powered by solar energy with battery storage are designed to withstand extreme weather events with key features such as concrete walls, hurricane-proof windows, buried power lines, and flood-resistant streets. The homes are also elevated to avoid flooding, with the first living floors intentionally built 16 feet above sea level. These design elements were put to the test during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, suffering little to no damage and maintained power while surrounding areas experienced widespread outages. The results showcase the impact of sustainable construction in facing stronger storms driven by climate change and offer a blueprint for future climate-resilient housing.?

Shift to Renewable Energy Surging in Developing Economies?

Recent reporting from RMI highlights a surge in clean energy adoption across developing economies, showcasing a remarkable shift from fossil fuels to renewables. Despite financial challenges, these countries are poised to catch up with their wealthier counterparts in renewable energy deployment within five years, driven by key trends such as increasing investments in cleantech and the exponential growth of solar and wind power. Solar and battery costs have dropped significantly, reaching cost parity with fossil fuels, further accelerating the transition. This progress is especially noteworthy in the Global South, where countries like Brazil lead in renewable capacity growth. With over 70% of the world's renewable resources located in developing economies, these nations are positioned to spearhead advancements in clean energy. This report offers optimism, as the rapid pace of renewable energy adoption can significantly impact global climate goals. By providing targeted financial support, developing economies can help meet the COP28 objective of tripling renewable energy by 2030.?

Australia Moves to Protect Sub-Antarctic Wildlife

The Guardian highlights Australia's recent decision to expand its marine park network, a move that will significantly protect its ocean territories. The government is committing to safeguarding 52% of its waters, surpassing the global target of 30% by 2030. This expansion, particularly around the sub-Antarctic Heard and McDonald Islands, aims to preserve wildlife habitats by restricting mining and limiting the creation of new fisheries. Concerns remain as some ecologically crucial areas for penguins, seals, and albatross were not granted sanctuary-level protection, and environmental groups argue that the decision misses the opportunity for full conservation of these high-value regions. The government also faces additional pressure to increase funding for environmental protection, with experts emphasizing that current investments fall short of what’s necessary to restore ecosystems and prevent extinctions however this bold initiative is a necessary step for the nation preserve environmental biodiversity and invest in the long-term health of its marine ecosystems.?

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And that’s all for this week’s issue! Please do share any positive news/stories you see that would be a fit. The more positivity and awareness we can build around progress, the more action we can inspire through hope. Like and follow if you'd like to see more. And if you'd like my team to help, tell your positive climate story, ping me at [email protected] .??

See you next week with more climate-positive stories. Until then, let’s keep the momentum going!?

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