Sustainability Progress Report #1

Or how is the EU managing its climate stripes?

This article lists the most important sustainability news that hit the headlines this week regarding changes in regulation, industry news, and global events.

Legend:

??? climate change

??? labour rights

?? waste

?? litigation

???? regulatory/policy changes

?? financing

?? green energy

?? deforestations

Regulatory talks.

Regulating packaging and waste reduction. The Council and Parliament reached a provisional agreement, which is awaiting official approval, to address the EU's growing packaging waste problem. This will be done by creating binding reuse goals to reduce packaging waste, prohibit some types of single-use packaging, and require economic operators to minimise package consumption. Restrictions apply to single-use plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables, food and drinks, condiments and sauces, small cosmetic and toiletry items used in the hospitality business, and extremely lightweight plastic bags. By 2029, member states must also ensure that at least 90% of single-use plastic bottles and metal drinking containers are collected separately. To do this, they will need to create deposit return systems (DRSs) for this packaging. (to the source) ??

Regulating forced labour. A preliminary agreement has been reached between the European Parliament and the Council about a law that would exclude goods made using forced labour from being sold in the EU. The main objective of the plan is to outlaw the placement, sale, and export of any goods made using forced labour onto the EU market. The Commission will oversee inquiries conducted outside of EU borders and establish a database containing verified and regularly updated data about the dangers of forced labour, including reports from global organisations. The basis for the provisional agreement will depend on several factors, including the extent and kind of suspected forced labour, the amount of goods sold in the EU, the proportion of product parts that are likely to have been produced using forced labour, the proximity of economic operators to risks of suspected forced labour in their supply chains, and their ability to mitigate those risks. (to the source) ???????

EU to revise Ecolabel criteria. EU is to amend Ecolabel rules to ensure the environmental quality of detergents and cleaning products. The current EU Ecolabel criteria for home and professional cleaning products were adopted in 2017. These criteria restrict the use of hazardous substances, require sustainable raw material sourcing, promote the use of biodegradable ingredients, mandate minimal and recycled/recyclable packaging, ensure performance even at low temperatures, and provide guidance for proper product use to avoid overdosing. The first multistakeholder meeting will be held online on March 12-13, 2024, as part of the ongoing consultation process. (to the source) ????

Regulating E-waste. The WEEE (waste from electrical and electronic equipment) law has been amended by the European Council to clarify who is responsible for paying for waste management. The amendments clearly state that the producer of the energy-efficient equipment is responsible for handling and getting rid of waste from solar panels that are placed on the market after August 13, 2012. E-products added to the scope in 2018 and launched onto the market after that date will be covered by the extended producer responsibility programme. A large variety of items, such as laptops, refrigerators, and solar panels, are included in WEEEs. (to the source) ??

Looser deforestation rules. The EU intends to postpone enforcing severe regulations on goods imported from areas that are experiencing deforestation. EU's Green Deal previously included anti-deforestation regulations, which were modified as a result of many countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America protesting that the rules would be burdensome, unfair, and scare off investors. Instead, the EU will categorise all nations as "standard" risk in order to allow them more time to adjust to the new measures, rather than assigning them a "low, standard, or high risk" designation. (to the source) ??????

Industry talks.

Forced Labor Regulation to focus on workers. Human Rights Watch said that the proposed EU forced labour rule might motivate and promote strong prevention, mitigation, and remediation of forced labour in supply chains. This includes allowing enterprises to demonstrate remedial steps they have done in response to claims of forced labour before the EU imposes an import or export restriction. Before reversing a prohibition, the legislation should also compel corporations to present proof of remedial steps, such as victim compensation. The EU should not pass up this critical opportunity to implement a powerful legislative weapon to support workers. (to the source) ???????

CBAM is not taken seriously. The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) was established to tax low-cost imports from nations with highly polluting industries. EU companies are already required to pay the tax on carbon-intensive products. By January 31, companies in seven sectors (eg. fertilisers, steel, iron, and aluminum) had to provide reports estimating the emissions of their imports. However, only a modest percentage of European enterprises have reported on their imports of carbon-intensive goods. Less than 10% of German and 11% of Swedish anticipated reports had been submitted. Companies who do not submit their reports by the middle of July risk a fee of €50 for each tonne of carbon emissions they produce. (to the source) ????

Digital product passports (DPPs). DPPs are being adopted throughout the EU to promote sustainability. They present information regarding a product's environmental effect, composition, manufacturing process, and history. Industrial and electric car batteries will be the first goods subject to mandatory DPPs beginning in 2027. Other product categories, such as textiles, are predicted to follow by 2030. Companies will need to work with both their suppliers and their competitors to complete a product passport. (to the source) ????

Green premium on nickel. Global miners are lobbying the London Metal Exchange to introduce a green premium for nickel as part of a significant drive towards more sustainable mining operations. This approach emphasises the essential role that ESG norms play in manufacturing. The industries that create renewable energy would gain immediately from this boost to reach net zero emissions by 2050. This stresses the importance of a nickel green premium in encouraging companies to engage in more sustainable and environmentally friendly mining processes. (to the source) ?????

Fossil industry to finance climate goals. As states prepare for discussions on a global financing goal this year, a draft document shows that the EU intends to call on the fossil fuel sector to help pay for fighting climate change in poorer countries under a UN objective. The EU will continue to insist that big rising economies and countries with significant CO2 emissions and per capita income, such as China and Middle Eastern governments, contribute to the new UN climate financing objective. (to the source) ??

Greenwashing. According to Reuters, the growth in regulations for ESG transparency, particularly around environmental and human rights risks inside supplier chains, is expected to spur greenwashing lawsuits in 2024 and beyond. Litigations focus on claims related to product recyclability, supply chain integrity, the sustainability of the practices used to make and distribute products, as well as human and animal rights issues, and the companies that use voluntary carbon markets to meet their net-zero targets. (to the source) ??

Slower than expected energy transition. Germany "is falling behind" in its target of obtaining 80% of its power from renewable sources by 2030, according to the German Federal Audit Court. As of right present, the Federal Network Agency has only committed 50% of the total volume needed for onshore wind turbines by 2023. To get back on schedule, it would have to reserve more land for onshore wind turbines in 2024, which appears improbable. (to the source) ??

Global talks.

Climate inequality. According to a study, women in rural regions suffer far more economic losses as a result of climate disruption than males in developing nations, and the difference is expected to expand. When flooding or severe heat occurred, poorer households suffered losses that were almost 5% more on average than their wealthier neighbours, according to the survey. A 1C increase in long-term average temperatures is related to a roughly one-third decrease in the earnings of female-headed families as compared to male-headed households. (to the source) ???

Satellite to keep companies accountable. The Environmental Defense Fund, a US NGO, collaborated with the New Zealand Space Agency to produce MethaneSat. It will offer publicly available information on the powerful greenhouse gas leakage from the oil and gas industry. Compared to current satellites, it will offer high-resolution data across a larger region. MethaneSat is an accountability instrument, according to EDF’s senior vice president. Methane emissions were 60% more than estimated by US authorities and other sources, according to previous EDF measurements. (to the source) ???

Smuggling of GHGs. The United States has filed the first criminal charge for greenhouse gas smuggling under a 2020 law aimed at phasing out some of the world's most harmful greenhouse pollutants. The accused bought HCFC-22 petrol in Mexico and carried it across the border in the back of his vehicle, hidden behind equipment. He then reportedly sold them online, including on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp. (to the source) ??

Fourth mass coral bleaching event. Marine scientists are on high alert after months of record-breaking ocean temperatures caused by climate change and the El Ni?o weather trend. Heat stress causes coral bleaching, which happens when corals eject the colourful algae that live in their tissues. Without these beneficial algae, corals turn pale and are susceptible to famine and illness. The loss of coral reefs has disastrous effects on the ocean. Reefs benefit both local tourism and the commercial fishing sector. They help protect coasts from floods during severe storms. (to the source) ???

Drowning deltas. Scientists estimate that by 2100, over 90% of the delta will be underwater if current trends continue. This is a worrisome possibility, given the delta's major contribution to both regional economy and global food security. (to the source) ???

Seaweed bloom. Seaweed is spreading over the Arctic Ocean as a result of climate change, according to recent studies. The Arctic Ocean is impacted by global warming; although some marine life benefits from greater sunshine, others are negatively impacted by it. Examples of these creatures include seaweed. More species may move from lower latitudes as the Arctic Ocean warms, which might result in a marine environment that is more productive than it is now. (to the source) ???

Snow in Pakistan. In rural parts of Pakistan, freezing rain and unexpected snowfall resulted in at least 35 deaths and several injuries. Disaster management officials said that twenty-two children were among the dead, many of them crushed in landslides that buried their homes. Since Pakistan is often warm in March, experts were taken aback by the snow, which they attributed to climate change. (to the source) ???

Science explains where to establish wind farms. Researchers found that areas like the American Midwest, Australia, the Sahara, Argentina, Central Asia, and Southern Africa have high power densities, little seasonal variability, and few weather changes that are conducive to wind power generation. Power systems that rely heavily on wind power have challenges during wind droughts, which are prolonged periods of low wind speeds. This study will help to choose safe wind power generation sites by offering information on the patterns and geographical distribution of wind droughts. (to the source) ??

Summer wildfires expected in Greece. According to data assessed by Greek experts, the winter was the warmest on record in Greece, jeopardising crop viability and increasing concerns about another summer of deadly wildfires. It was the hottest winter since records began in 1936, and it continued a pattern that has seen six of Greece's warmest winters in the previous ten years. Scientists say Greece's warm winter, combined with minimal rainfall and humidity, might lead to more wildfires in the summer. (to the source) ???

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