GLOBAL WARMING ACTIONS
UN - Speaking at the beginning of the UN's Climate Action Summit on Monday, the 16-year-old acclaimed climate activist Greta Thunberg, was unsparing in her criticism of world leaders, telling them that they are still "not mature enough to tell it like it is".
She added, bluntly, “you are failing us, But the young people are starting to understand your betrayal. The eyes of all future generations are upon you, and if you choose to fail us, I say, we will never forgive you."
Ms. Thunberg was speaking directly to dozens of Heads of State and Government, business leaders, and senior representatives from civil society from around the world, who lined up to promise far-reaching steps to beat climate change, at the day-long event, held at the Organization’s New York headquarters.
The build-up to the Summit has included the latest scientific report of potentially catastrophic global warming, unprecedented demonstrations for climate action, and a steady drumbeat of pressure from the UN Secretary-General, who demanded that world leaders come to New York with “bold action and much greater ambition”. Launching the Summit, he added “We have had enough talk. “This is not a climate negotiation summit. You don’t negotiate with nature. This is a climate action summit.”
Mr. Guterres reiterated the urgency and importance of the situation, describing the man-made climate change as an existential threat when he warned “if we don’t urgently change our way of life, we jeopardize life itself”, but insisted that he is hopeful that this enormous global challenge can be overcome.
The fact that so many governments, cities and businesses attended the Summit with enhanced climate commitments was testament, said the Secretary-General, to their leadership, and investment in a green future. And the solutions and technology already exist, he said, to deal with more than 70 per cent of today’s emissions.
“This is not a climate negotiation summit. You don’t negotiate with nature. This is a climate action summit.”
However, these solutions need to be implemented, and this will require “fundamental transformations in all aspects of society”, particularly the ways in which we grow food, use land, fuel our transport and power our economies. The UN chief went on to call for an end to fossil fuel subsidies, and for countries to shift taxes from salaries to carbon.
Going beyond Paris
Throughout the day, delegates explained what they were doing to better adapt to climate change and cut emissions, and improve on the commitments that they all made under the 2015 Paris climate agreement.
Sebastián Piñera, the President of Chile, announced the creation of a “Climate Ambition Alliance”, bringing together countries prepared to commit to enhanced action by 2020, and work towards achieving zero net carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. The latter group comprises 65 countries, 10 regions, 102 cities, 93 businesses and 12 investors.
To shift the world away from its current dependency on fossil fuels, the “Powering Past Coal Alliance” has been expanded to include 30 countries, 22 states or regions, and 31 corporations committed to spotting the building of new coal power plants in 2020, and rapidly transitioning to renewable energy.
Earlier:
2019, September, 23, 14:20:00
CLIMATE INVESTMENT WILL UP TO $175 BLN
In a statement today at the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Action Summit in New York, nine multilateral development banks (MDBs) announced plans to increase the global climate action investments they support each year to US$ 175 billion by 2025.
2019, September, 23, 14:15:00
RENEWABLE CAPACITY ADDITIONS WILL UP 12%
After stalling last year, global capacity additions of renewable power are set to bounce back with double-digit growth in 2019, driven by solar PV’s strong performance,
2019, September, 23, 14:10:00
DANISH PENSION GREEN INVESTMENT $52 BLN
The funds will invest 350 billion Danish crowns ($52 billion) in energy infrastructure, green stocks and bonds and energy efficient construction up to 2030, Danish pensions industry association Insurance and Pension Denmark said in a statement.
2019, September, 23, 14:05:00
CLEAN ENERGY FOR CENTRAL ASIA
Energy ministers from across Central Asia committed their countries to collaborating on meeting the United Nations' seventh Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), which pledges 'affordable and clean energy' by 2030. The meeting is the first time they have come together to discuss the region's common energy challenges.
2019, September, 23, 07:53:43
CLIMATE INVESTMENT PLATFORM
Climate Investment Platform Targets Increase in Flow of Capital to Clean Energy Projects
2019, September, 20, 15:20:00
U.S. WIND ENERGY UP
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects that U.S. wind capacity additions in both 2019 and in 2020 will be near the annual record level of additions set in 2012.
2019, September, 20, 15:15:00
DUBAI SOLAR ENERGY
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the world’s largest single-site project to generate renewable energy. It will have a capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 with investments of AED 50 billion. It is based on the independent power producer (IPP) model. This model contributed to world record prices for solar energy projects. According to a study published by Japan's Nikkei Asian Review, the UAE's interest in renewable energy production has contributed to its global cost reduction. Through its projects, the solar park will accelerate the shift towards adopting and using solar energy.
