Sustainability Notice #1 (13-19 June 2022)

World, heatwaves, floods, wild fires and drought: Spain, US, Iraq, France, UK and Sri Lanka

Temperatures hit 43C in Spain’s hottest spring heatwave in decades (Source Link)

Spain has been hit by its first major heatwave of the year, with temperatures reaching 43C in some parts of the country. Extreme heat warnings are in place across the country, which is grappling with its earliest heatwave in more than four decades.

Heat wave keeps its sticky grip on Midwest and South (Source Link)

The swimming season kicked into high gear early in a large swath of the U.S., as a heat wave pushed temperatures into the 90s and beyond in a stretch spanning from northern Florida to the Great Lakes and covering about a third of the country’s population.

Yellowstone floods wipe out roads, bridges, strand visitors (Source Link)

Massive floodwaters ravaged Yellowstone National Park and nearby communities Monday, washing out roads and bridges, cutting off electricity and forcing visitors to evacuate parts of the iconic park at the height of summer tourist season.

Northern Arizona watches winds as Western wildfires blaze (Source Link)

Calmer winds and cooler temperatures allowed firefighters across the U.S. West to get a better handle on blazes that have forced hundreds of people from their homes.

Climate-driven flooding poses well water contamination risks (Source Link)

A record-setting Midwestern rainstorm that damaged thousands of homes and businesses in Illinois left no safe drinking water for nearly two months. Roughly 53 million U.S. residents, about 17% of the population, rely on private wells, according to a study conducted ?by EPA researchers.

Iraq’s ‘pearl of the south’ Lake Sawa dry amid water crisis (Source Link)

Lake Sawa in Iraq struggles with water shortages that experts say is induced by climate change, including record low rainfall and back-to-back drought. The stress on water resources is driving up competition for the precious resource among businessmen, farmers and herders, with the poorest Iraqis counting among the worst hit amid the disaster.

France braces for early heatwave as Spain battles forest fires (Source Link)

French officials warned that a record pre-summer heatwave was spreading north from Spain, where authorities were fighting several forest fires as the country sizzles under a sixth day of sweltering temperatures.

Sea level rise in England ‘will put 200,000 homes at risk by 2050’ (Source Link)

Sea level rise will put about 200,000 coastal properties in England at risk within 30 years, new data suggests, as the climate crisis takes hold.

Sri Lanka gives government workers extra day off a week (Source Link)

Sri Lanka is giving government officials an extra day off a week to encourage them to grow food, amid fears of a food shortage.

World, UN and EU: Climate Talks in Bonn, UN, EU’s Vote and MEPs’ Objection

Climate change: Bonn talks end in acrimony over compensation (Source Link)

Two weeks of climate talks in Germany have ended in acrimony between rich and poor countries over cash for climate damage. Developing countries reeling from climate change caused by richer countries' emissions over hundreds of years. They hoped to get compensation onto the official agenda for discussions by world leaders in November. But in Bonn they couldn't get the US and the EU to agree.

U.N. campaign toughens standards for company net-zero plans (Source Link)

A U.N.-backed campaign, Race to Zero, to drive faster climate action is toughening the minimum standards for companies pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions, including a requirement for businesses and banks to curb new fossil fuel projects.

Act now to end food, energy and finance crisis, Guterres urges world leaders (Source Link)

Ripple effects from the war in Ukraine have generated a severe cost-of-living crisis which no country or community can escape, Guterres said at a press conference to launch the latest report on the conflict’s impacts on food security, energy, and financing.

New fossil fuel funding ‘delusional’, risking war and climate catastrophe, warns UN secretary general (Source Link)

Nations funding new fossil fuel projects are "delusional", putting the world on track to miss vital climate targets, and feeding "the scourge of war", Guterres has warned. In an address to the Austria World Summit, ?Guterres said the world now "faces climate chaos", and called for all G20 governments to dismantle coal infrastructure and halt funding for any new fossil fuel exploration or infrastructure.

UN chief: Governments’ inaction on climate is ‘dangerous’ (Source Link)

Guterres warned of a “dangerous disconnect” between what scientists-citizens are demanding to curb climate change, and what governments are actually doing about it. Guterres said global greenhouse gas emissions need to drop by 45% this decade, but are currently forecast to increase by 14%.

UN cuts food aid to 1.7 million hungry people in South Sudan (Source Link)

At least 1.7 million hungry people in South Sudan are losing humanitarian food aid “at the worst possible time” as the UN World Food Program suspends the help, blaming critical funding shortages.

Lawmakers strike deal ahead of EU carbon market vote (Source Link)

Groups representing a majority of lawmakers in the European Parliament have struck a deal on climate change policies that they hope will pass a vote next week and avoid delays to Europe's green agenda.

Taxonomy: MEPs object to Commission’s plan to include gas and nuclear activities (Source Link)

MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) in the 2 responsible committees objected to the inclusion of nuclear and gas energy in the list of environmentally sustainable economic activities, with 76 votes to 62 votes and 4 abstentions.

Nuclear Is Back on the Table for a Green Future (Source Link)

Shifting from dependency to energy sources that are completely sustainable, can nuclear power help fill the gap? It is the third rail of the energy debate: nuclear.

World: Australia, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Singapore and the US

Western Australia to shut state-owned coal plants by 2030 (Source Link)

The Western Australian government will shut its last coal-fired power unit before the end of the decade and spend an extra half 1 bn dollars to foster new jobs for displayed workers.

German minister backs Middle East ‘peace through water’ plan (Source Link)

Germany’s economy and climate minister has talked up a plan to bring peace to the Middle East through solar panels and drinking water.

Saudi Arabia’s senior negotiator Ayman Shasly steps back from climate talks (Source Link)

Chair of the Arab group for a decade, Shasly is absent from interim climate talks in Bonn and is being replaced by Albara Tawfiq, an international policy advisor at the energy ministry and policy advisor at oil giant Saudi Aramco.

China rejects ‘major emitter’ label in talks to step up climate action (Source Link)

China is opposing any references to “major emitters” in discussions about how to scale-up carbon cutting efforts this decade at interim climate talks in Bonn, Germany. The US proposed that a “work programme” to accelerate emission cuts and close the gap to global climate goals lead to “concrete actions by major emitters with capabilities”.

Singapore Prepares to Kick Off Inaugural $25 Billion Green Bond Program (Source Link)

For the first time in the endurance event’s history, the 62 race cars competing in the 90th 24 Hours of Le Mans (June 11-12, 2022) will be supplied with a 100% renewable fuel developed and produced by TotalEnergies: Excellium Racing 100. This zero-oil fuel will deliver a reduction in CO2 emissions of at least 65% over its lifecycle.

Biden tells oil companies in letter ‘well above normal’ refinery profit margins are ‘not acceptable’ (Source Link)

Biden called on U.S. oil refining companies to produce more to help alleviate the burden of high gas prices on consumers. The national average for a gallon of gas crossed $5 over the weekend for the first time on record, according to AAA.

Business, Green Energy, EVs, Renewables, Eco-Innovation and Strategies: TotalEnergies, BP, Toyota, Ford, Nio, Meta, NextEra, AIMCo, Vodafone, Germany, Emerson, Nestle, Indian Eco-School and Persefoni

TotalEnergies, Adani to Invest $50 Billion in World’s Largest Green Hydrogen Ecosystem (Source Link)

TotalEnergies of France and Indian multinational conglomerate Adani announced a new partnership aimed at jointly creating the largest green hydrogen ecosystem in the world. Adani New Industries Ltd plans over $50 bn in green hydrogen and associated ecosystem investments over the next 10 years and expects to develop 1 mn ton per annum of green hydrogen production capacity before 2030.

Oil giant BP buys 40.5% stake in massive renewables and green hydrogen project (Source Link)

Oil and fuel supermajor BP has agreed to take a 40.5% fairness stake within the Asian Renewable Vitality Hub, an enormous challenge deliberate for Australia set to span space of 6,500 sq. kilometers. BP says it will become operator of the development, adding that it has “the potential to be one of the largest renewables and green hydrogen hubs in the world.”

Toyota says consumer choice dictates pace of electrification (Source Link)

Toyota Motor Corp pushed back against critics who say it has been slow to embrace battery electric vehicles, arguing it needed to offer a variety of car choices to suit different markets and customers.

CEOs of GM, Ford and other automakers urge Congress to lift EV tax credit cap (Source Link)

The CEOs of GM, Ford, Stellantis and Toyota North America are urging Congress to lift a sales cap on the federal government’s $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit.

Chinese Tesla rival Nio launches new electric SUV as competition heats up (Source Link)

Nio launched the ES7 sports utility vehicle as competition with Tesla intensifies in China. The ES7 with the 485-kilometer range starts from 468,000 Chinese yuan before subsidies. The longest-range version starts at 526,000 yuan before subsidies. Nio shares were up more than 4%.

Meta’s Silicon Valley home, Menlo Park, plans to electrify 95% of its buildings (Source Link)

Smaller cities and towns across the U.S. are setting aggressive goals for 100% carbon neutrality and targeting residential and commercial building consumption of fossil fuels. Ithaca, New York, was among the first, and now Menlo Park, California, where Meta is based, will be re-engineering thousands of buildings around climate goals and a target of 95% of existing buildings being electrified.

'Real zero' | US power giant NextEra vows no trees or offsets in emissions-free push (Source Link)

NextEra Energy, the largest producer of electricity in the U.S., announced the launch of Real Zero, a new sustainability goal to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations.

Investor Group Commits $650 Million to Finance World’s Largest Green Hydrogen Platform (Source Link)

A group of investors, including Canada-based Manulife, Alberta Investment Management Corporation, and the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board, along with Singapore’s GIC, announced a $650 million commitment to finance the largest green hydrogen platform in the world.

Vodafone debuts UK's first standalone renewables-powered phone mast (Source Link)

Wind and solar-powered technology promises to slash emissions and help connect remote and rural communities to the mobile network. The UK's first wind and solar-powered mobile phone mast has been switched on at a site in Pembrokeshire, Wales, mobile giant Vodafone has announced.

German govt seeks to resolve wind power dispute with states (Source Link)

Germany unveiled a bill to resolve a long-running dispute between federal authorities and the country’s 16 states on where to build land-based wind power plants. Some German states have bristled at proposals that would require them to set aside at least 1.4% of their surface for wind parks by 2026 and 2% by 2032, arguing that some people in rural areas don’t want turbines close to their homes.

Emerson Pledges to Reach Net Zero Value Chain Emissions by 2045 (Source Link)

Global technology, engineering, and industrial software company Emerson announced the launch of a new climate goal to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2045.

Greener wheat: Nestle launches new regenerative farming initiative (Source Link)

Nestle aims to encourage more sustainable farming practices across the food giant's cereal supply chain. Shredded Wheat could soon be produced for breakfast tables across the UK using innovative low carbon and regenerative agricultural practice.

Inside the Indian eco-school that proves sustainable design doesn't scrimp on style (Source Link)

In the heart of the Thar desert, India students brave blistering 45 degree temperatures to attend class. But the Rajkumari Ratnavati Girls School doesn’t need any air conditioning, thanks to the school’s unique oval build they can study in peace despite sweltering temperatures and regular sandstorms.

Persefoni Launches Carbon Modeling and Management Solutions for Companies and Investors (Source Link)

Climate management and accounting platform (CMAP) provider Persefoni announced the launch of a new series of tools aimed at helping companies and investors set, manage and report on emissions reduction goals and pursue sustainable investment strategies.

Study and Research: Turkey, RECs, Flood Risks, Air Pollution, Wildlife, Green Covid Recovery, Microplastics in Antarctic, Climate Change Driven Viruses, Climate Anxiety, Gen Z and Stakeholder Capitalism

Climate Action Could Provide Nearly $150 billion in Savings for Turkey by 2040, Says Pioneering World Bank Study (Source Link)

Turkey stands to reap $146 billion in savings over 20 years if it takes effective and appropriate actions to boost resilience and adaptation against the impact of climate change and to mitigate economy-wide emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, says a pioneering World Bank report.

Companies’ Use of Renewable Energy Certificates Masks Inaction on Carbon Emissions, Concordia Research Finds (Source Link)

As a new study of Nature Climate Change argues, because RECs (Renewable Energy Certificates) generally do not reduce emissions, firms using them are overstating their climate mitigation claims. A sample of 115 companies between 2015 and 2019 reported a 31% reduction in emissions. Without including the purchase of ineffective RECs, the actual drop in emissions was roughly 10%.

Global population will lose 17 billion life-years to air pollution, says shocking new research (Source Link)

According to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) latest findings, 99% of people live in areas where air pollution exceeds safe levels. The contamination chops an average 2.2 years off global average life expectancy for each person - a combined 17 billion life years.

World’s protected natural areas too small and isolated to benefit wildlife – new study (Source Link)

By August 2020, some 15% of the world’s land had been protected. This was below the target, but there were enough specific commitments in place to drag the world over the line slightly late.

World misses the mark on green COVID recovery (Source Link)

Despite government promises of a green COVID recovery, a new report says the world missed a "historic chance" to boost clean energy.

Scientists find microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time (Source Link)

Scientists have found microplastics in fresh Antarctic snow for the first time, highlighting the extent of global plastic pollution as even the most remote regions experience contamination. Researchers gathered samples of snow from 19 different sites in the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica and discovered plastic particles in all of them.

Climate change will drive new transmission of 4,000 viruses between mammals by 2070 (Source Link)

A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Nature found global warming will drive 4,000 viruses to spread between mammals for the first time by 2070.

Report: Fires, heat waves cause ‘climate anxiety’ in youth (Source Link)

Oregon health officials say the impacts of climate change, including more devastating wildfires, heat waves, drought and poor air quality, are fueling “climate anxiety” among young people. Their findings have been published in a report that highlights youth feelings of distress, anger and frustration about perceived adult and government inaction.

How Gen Z shapes sustainable luxury fashion through digital (Source Link)

Research shows that 62% of Generation Z prefer to purchase from sustainable brands and are willing to pay more for ethically produced goods.

Stakeholder Capitalism and ESG as Tools for Sustainable Long-Term Value Creation (Source Link)

Recent high profile investigations into greenwashing, the ongoing war in Ukraine and soaring energy costs have prompted questions as to the purpose and value of ESG, and more broadly, stakeholder capitalism. Some have criticized stakeholder capitalism and ESG as “woke” politics, a threat to shareholder interests and a distraction for boards and management. Others have questioned whether stakeholder capitalism and ESG can straddle “doing good” and “doing well.” Uncertainty also abounds as to what ESG truly means.

Activism: Billie Eilish and Latino Activism

‘It’s not all on you’: Billie Eilish appeals to Gen Z at her first-ever climate event (Source Link)

Imperfect activism was the theme of Billie Eilish’s first climate event in London. A six-day line-up of conversations with climate activists, musicians and designers at the O2. The venue has gone almost entirely vegan for the duration of the event.

Latino activism leads in grassroot efforts on climate change (Source Link)

Students at a largely Hispanic elementary school in Phoenix have long lined up for morning classes on a dusty patch of dirt under a broiling sun. Desert willows, oaks and mesquites just a few feet tall were among trees planted at the event organized by the local nonprofit Trees Matter and the environmental organization