Sustt: Lofty goals. All about the base. The long run. Reactors reacting.

5 minute read:?

LOFTY GOALS

Finland wants to become carbon negative by 2040

by Anja Pries (Sustainability Specialist)

What’s happening??The Finnish parliament has approved the Climate Change Act, which mandates the country to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and carbon negativity by 2040. (Protocol )

Why does this matter??Against the backdrop of recent warnings from scientists and climate experts that the world is?not on track ?to limit global warming to 1.5C, every strengthening of existing climate targets is welcome. With the new law, Finland is leading by example, moving far beyond other countries’ long-term climate ambitions.

What does the law entail??Finland aims to become carbon negative by 2040 – meaning it will remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it adds. It’s not the first country to pursue this strategy; three other nations –?Bhutan, Suriname and Panama ?– have already been declared carbon negative. Nonetheless, once signed by President Sauli Niinisto, Finland will have the first legally binding carbon negativity target in the world.

Another aspect distinguishing this climate goal from others is the methodology behind it. The Finnish Climate Change Panel, an independent think tank advising the government, used the remaining global 1.5C-compatible carbon budget as a starting point to determine?Finland’s fair share ?based on the country’s population, ability to pay for emissions reduction and historical responsibility for climate change. Coupled with the government’s rejection of international carbon credits, the result is a climate pledge that is not just in line with the latest science but also based on the principles of climate justice.

Sounds great! Is there a catch??While an ambitious legally binding climate target is highly laudable, it’s worth taking a closer look at how Finland plans to get to negative emissions.??

The legislation’s?absolute emissions reduction targets ?– 60% reduction by 2030 and 80% by 2040 from 1990 levels – are progressive but not outstanding compared to other developed countries. The UK, for example, plans to reduce its emissions by 68% by 2030 from a 1990 baseline.

Finland, however, has a huge advantage: it’s Europe’s most forested country.?Almost 74% ?of its land is covered by trees, which act as a natural carbon sink and compensate for any remaining emissions from other industries.

Taking a big bet on trees?– The problem is that natural carbon stocks can be highly fluctuating and therefore difficult to rely on, especially to such a great extent. The amount of carbon sequestered by forests?depends on many aspects , including the type, age and health of trees, the composition of soil and other environmental factors. Scientists have already warned that Finnish boreal forests are facing?multiple climate-related risks ?such as more intense storms, drought, forest fires and pathogens – all of which could impact their ability to store carbon.

The issue is further complicated by conflicting interests and?major inconsistencies ?between the Finnish biodiversity, forestry and bioeconomy strategies. Last year, the land use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF) sector turned into a?net emitter ?for the first time due to increased logging and fewer plantings.

In addition, some have criticised the government’s failure to protect important peatlands and ban the use of peat – a material more polluting than coal – which still provides?15% of the country’s heating . Setting a phase-out date for peat was one of the measures?recommended by the OECD ?last year – alongside stronger policies for agriculture, transport and waste – to ensure all sectors are aligned with country’s ambitious climate targets.

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ALL ABOUT THE BASE

Can biodiversity baselines be baselines if they are set in the future???

by Katie Chan (Sustainability Specialist)

What’s happening??England's species-recovery targets are illogical and could see eight years of decline prior to any improvement, scientists have warned. The 23 experts, from institutions including Oxford University, Cambridge University, the Zoological Society of London and the RSPB, have expressed their concerns to Prime Minister Boris Johnson in writing. The scientists have claimed the fact that the baseline for improvement has been set for 2030 means that, even if biodiversity decreases until that date, the government could still herald reaching its targets as a success. (The Guardian )?

Establishing domestic biodiversity targets with baselines set ahead of current levels is unusual – and may undermine urgency for action between now and 2030. ?????Read more on the Sustt blog .?

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THE LONG RUN

Long Covid impacts millions, what’s being done about it?

by Nicola Watts (Health Care Specialist)

What’s happening??Long Covid patients in the UK are enduring a “postcode lottery” for getting care, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). The union said some NHS services are treating the illness as a psychological condition, while others as a physical ailment. In England, some patients are waiting more than 15 weeks to be assessed by one of the country’s specialist adult clinics. In Scotland and Wales, there are no dedicated clinics, meaning that some patients may not be getting treatment from core NHS services. (BBC )?

Why does this matter??Most people recover from Covid-19 within a few weeks, but others may develop long Covid, which can last for weeks, months or even years and doesn’t appear to depend on the severity of the original infection.

There’s a wide range of possible?symptoms ?that can impact both physical and mental health and there’s still much to learn about how it will affect people in the long term. Currently, there’s no diagnostic test to determine if an individual is suffering from the condition and no internationally agreed definition of it.

Who’s being impacted??Although anyone can develop long Covid, the UK’s Office for National Statistics?suggests ?it disproportionately affects people aged between 35 and 49, women, individuals with underlying conditions that limit activity, workers in health, social care and education and those living in poorer areas. It’s been?estimated ?200 million people globally have previously experienced long-term effects arising from Covid-19 infection, or are currently experiencing them.?

Long Covid may also have implications in the workplace if employees are hampered by the illness. ?????Read more on the Sustt blog ?on how employers can respond to this.

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REACTORS REACTING

Climate change raises questions over the future of nuclear power

by Mubaasil Hassan (Sustainable Finance Specialist)

What’s happening??The output of some nuclear plants in France has been put at risk due to high river temperatures stemming from a recent heatwave, according to data from financial technology company Refinitiv Eikon. River water can be used to cool reactors before being returned to the river at a higher temperature. However, regulations limit reactor production during hot weather in order to protect wildlife from the impact of this process. Nuclear supply in the country was just 50% of available capacity on 25 May, with many reactors going offline due to the identification of corrosion in the welding of reactor safety circuits. (Reuters )?

Why does this matter? France is heavily reliant on nuclear power – it accounts for around 37% of its total energy consumption and the country urged nuclear power be included in the EU’s green taxonomy.?

In February, when a number of reactors were closed for maintenance, the French government had to increase the coal-burning limit for electricity producers amid the risk of potential power shortages. The recent heatwave may force the government to increase this limit again, depending on how long any plants may have to shut down for.?

Has this happened before??Heatwaves have caused closures of plants previously. In August 2018, EDF stopped four nuclear reactors at three power plants due to a heatwave increasing river temperatures. The closure resulted in French nuclear production falling by 3.1 GW, according to the power grid operator RTE. EDF also closed nuclear reactors at two plants due to a heatwave in July 2019.?

Prior to the 2018 event, the last time France closed nuclear plants due to a heatwave was in 2006 and 2003. As the frequency of extreme heat?increases , nuclear facilities may have to close more often, further increasing the risk of power shortages.?

To address the risk of shortages, France has been attempting to diversify beyond nuclear power. The country is aiming for renewables to make up a third of its power mix by 2030. ?????Read more on the Sustt blog .??