Zero In #2 - Original opinion and analysis on the transformation to net zero

Curated by the team at?Innovation Zero?every month, we zero in on the latest developments in the low carbon transformation.

INSIGHTS

The ocean - our greatest climate ally hiding in plain sight.

"Ocean-based climate action could deliver a fifth of the emissions cuts needed to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C, without even considering the full spectrum of blue economy opportunities."

Belinda Bramley , Ocean Solutions Consultant.

Read Belinda's article?here.

Climate Change is the New Lion – Growing up in the Maasai

"My grandfather told me that I have to be a champion for my community. According to most stories, the warriors had to kill the lion so that it rain. Now climate change is the new lion."

Keshoe lsaiah , Maasai Climate and Indigenous Advocate.

Read Keshoe's article?here.

Will the coming focus on climate adaptation affect our mitigation ambition?

"Not only is the voice of anti-net zero lobby growing louder but it has been joined by a growing acceptance that our planet is on a warming trajectory that will see these targets exceeded."

Simon Heppner , Executive Director, Net Zero Now .

Read Simon's article?here.

An interview with Joshua Western, CEO and Co-Founder of Space Forge

"We founded [Space Forge] in 2018, after recognising the huge climate benefits that outsourcing complex manufacturing environments to space could have. We have been working with ESA through their Space Transportation Programme to create our unique service - the ForgeStar."

Joshua Western , CEO and Co-Founder, Space Forge .

Read our interview with Joshua?here.

What's new with Innovation Zero?

We're delighted to announce an even bigger, expanded programme for 2024!

Get in touch early to find out about the best speaking and exhibiting opportunities before they're all gone... [email protected]

IZ Recommends: Must-see Climate-Related Exhibitions in London

This month,?Innovation Zero's?Content Director, Alistair Drennan recommends?Civilization: The Way We Live Now?at?The Saatchi Gallery?(closing September 17th)?and?Design Researchers in Residence: Islands?at?The?Design Museum?(closing October 1st).

Read Alistair's thoughts?here.

Innovation Zero team on the road

You can visit members from our team at the following events running this month:

• Sustainability LIVE (It's today! Find us at stand B1)
• CogX Festival?(12 - 14 September)
• The Greenhouse Startup Demo Day – Cohort 4?(26th September)
• Innovate UK: Capital to Climate - Hydrogen?(28th September)?

Don't be shy; come say hello! ;-)

INDUSTRY NEWS

???On the 29th of August, the Ultra Low Emission Zone?(ULEZ) expanded across all London Boroughs. The controversial change will mean that owners of the most polluting cars will now face charges of ￡12.50 per day for driving anywhere in the capital.

???Orkney has become the first location in the UK to have mail delivered by drone.?The Orkney I-Port operation has been launched by Royal Mail and drone firm Skyports Drone Services to distribute letters and parcels between the islands.

???In the UK, around?18,000 heat pumps?and?120,000 solar panels?have been installed so far in 2023. This is in line with the UK Government's commitments to achieve 600,000 heat pump installations by 2028 and 70GW of solar capacity by 2035; however, current subsidies aren't enough to encourage more households.

????On the 20th of August, Ecuadorian citizens voted against oil-drilling in the Yasuní National Park.?The historic referendum saw almost 59% of the eligible populous voting to ban oil-exploitation in the national park.

?????The United Nations are investigating Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil and gas producer, for possible human rights violations related to fossil-fuel induced climate change.?Aramco's financiers – including BNP Paribas and Citi – have been warned that they may be complicit in potential breaches of human rights.

??A state court rules in favour of Montanan youths in the landmark?Held v. Montana?climate lawsuit.?The 16 youth plaintiffs sued the state for anti-climate policies, arguing that they have a constitutional right to a healthy environment.

???Over the past 14 years, India has been successful in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 33%.?The rise in prominence of renewable sources of energy as well as an increase in forest cover are two key contributors to the reduction.

????The UK government has lifted a de facto ban on onshore wind farms in England. Experts have warned that onshore wind energy production must be scaled up rapidly for the UK to meet its climate change goals.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

• 24-26 October 2023 - Decarb Connect Canada: Join leaders from mining, steel, cement, chemical, O&G, think tanks, policy makers, investment, technology and much more - all focused on the key issues surrounding industrial decarbonisation in Canada.
• 24-25 October, 2023, UK - World Cement Association Annual Conference: The? World Cement Association 's Annual Conference is the perfect opportunity for you to explore how cement companies can improve profitability in the face of the many global crises plaguing the industry.

Thanks for reading!?

We hope you've enjoyed the latest issue of?Zero In?– if you have something you think we should include in next month's Zero In, feel free to email us at?[email protected]