What's going on in the world of ESG, CSRD, CSDDD, SDGs etc...
1. 2024 LIKELY TO BE THE HOTTEST YEAR ON RECORD, OVER 1.5C
Meanwhile, in other news... that deeper shade of red you are seeing is the world heating up.
New update from Copernicus.
After 10 months of 2024, it is now virtually certain that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first year of more than 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels.
The average temperature over European land for October 2024 was 10.83°C, 1.23°C above the 1991-2020 average for October, making the month the fifth warmest October on record for Europe. October 2022 is the warmest October on record, at 1.92°C above average!
This marks a new milestone in global temperature records and should serve as a catalyst to raise ambition for the upcoming Climate Change Conference, COP29.
2. COP29 CEO ALLEGEDLY TO FACILITATE FOSSIL FUEL DEALS AT COP
The CEO of Cop29 has been filmed apparently agreeing to facilitate fossil fuel deals at the climate summit. The recording has amplified calls by many who want fossil fuel industry and its lobbyists banned from future COPs.
Campaign group Global Witness posed as a fake oil and gas group asking for deals to be facilitated in exchange for sponsorship.
In the calls, Elnur Soltanov, Azerbaijan’s deputy energy minister and chief executive of COP29, agreed to this and spoke of a future that includes fossil fuels “perhaps for ever”. COP officials also introduced the fake investor to a senior executive at the national oil and gas company Socar to discuss investment opportunities.
It appears there is no bottom to this well.
3. ALBERTA CANADA TO REBRAND CARBON AS ESSENTIAL NUTRIENT
You can’t make this up.
Alberta’s United Conservative Party has passed a resolution to rebrand C02 as an essential nutrient. Resolution 12, part of the environmental stewardship and emissions reduction policy, “recognizes the importance of CO2 to life and Alberta’s prosperity.”
The UCP resolved to abandon the province’s net zero targets, remove the designation of CO2 as a pollutant, and “recognize that CO2 is a foundational nutrient for all life on Earth.”
“We must prioritize policies that protect our economy and our way of life. CO2 is an essential nutrient for mass, driving growth and boosting plant production. “
The resolution passed by a wide majority. We don’t even know where to start.
4. POLITICIANS NOT AMBITIOUS ENOUGH TO SAVE NATURE
As COP16, the UN biodiversity summit, came to a close, there has been an alarming lack of progress in saving nature.
The scale of political ambition has not risen to the challenge. The destruction of nature is costs the economy billions and, more importantly, threatens the planet’s future.
Representatives of 196 countries met in Cali, Colombia, to agree on how to halt nature decline. $700Bn is needed to halt biodiversity loss. Seven countries pledged $163m.
Clearly this is not enough, but in most cases. there is little of no recognition that without a biodiverse planet we are nothing.
Renowned scientist, Dr Jane Goodall, said our future is "ultimately doomed" if we don't address biodiversity loss.
5. TRUMP PREPARES TO WITHDRAW FROM PARIS AGREEMENT
Donald Trump's transition team has prepared executive orders on withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement. The administration formally notified the UN on Monday that it would withdraw, leaving global climate diplomats to plot a way forward without the cooperation of the U.S.
Trump is also expected to end the pause on permitting new LNG exports to big markets in Asia and Europe and revoke a waiver that allows California and other states to have tighter pollution standards.
His team said that the results of Tuesday's election gave him a "mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail. He will deliver.”
Buckle up.
6. INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE TO HEAR ON CLIMATE CHANGE
In early December, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold public hearings on the request for an advisory opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
At a time of climate devastation, a strong opinion clarifying what States are required to do under international law, in relation to climate change, could have the potential to advance climate justice and human rights.
It would be good if the Court affirms that those most responsible for the climate crisis must remedy and repair the resulting harm.
Strong objectors (aka big polluters) will be in the room. So, this is really a story of the most vulnerable against the most powerful.
7. CENTRAL PARIS GOES CAR FREE WITH NEW TRAFFIC FREE ZONES
On an early November morning, Parisians woke up to more traffic-free streets, as a ban on motorists in central Paris came into effect.
Signs appeared overnight indicating a new limited traffic zone, or ‘ZTL’. Only certain vehicles, such as emergency vehicles, buses, taxis, and people with reduced mobility and motorists residing or working in the area, will be allowed to drive through the ZTL.
The ZTL covers 5.5 square kms, where 100,000 people live. Destination journeys’ that start and end in the area are also allowed, like a medical visit, or shopping.
City officials hope the initiative will help reduce air pollution from 10.5 μg/m3, closer to the World Health Organisation max level of 5 μg/m3 for long-term exposure.
8. NESTLE, UNILEVER AND MARS, RESIST DELAY TO DEFORESTATION LAW
Nestlé, Ferrero, Unilever and Mars have joined calls by fellow food and drink manufacturers in opposing the European Union’s delay to deforestation laws.
The companies say the decision to delay the law (past December 30) is causing uncertainty in the industry and putting investment at risk.
The law ban foods made with commodities grown on deforested land – like cocoa, palm oil, and rubber – from being sold in the EU.
Implementation has been delayed following lobbying from producing countries, such as Brazil, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The confectionery giants say further delays by Europe would leave firms, who are reliant on cocoa and rubber imports, vulnerable due to uncertainty in sourcing materials.
9. PEPSICO BEATS NEW YORK STATE’S CASE ON PLASTIC POLLUTION
PepsiCo won the dismissal of New York's lawsuit accusing the company of polluting the environment with single-use plastic packaging, as the judge criticized Attorney General Letitia James, for bringing the case.
James sued PepsiCo and its Frito-Lay unit last November, seeking to hold them liable for endangering Buffalo's water supply by generating 17% of the plastic waste found in and near the Buffalo River. She also said the defendants deceived the public about their efforts to fight plastics pollution.
The judge said it was people, not PepsiCo who ignored laws prohibiting littering. That is like saying it is the car drivers not the fuel or automotive companies who are responsible for tail-pipe emissions. Very short-sighted.
10. CALIFORNIA CLIMATE LAW SURVIVES LEGAL CHALLENGE
A legal challenge filed against California's climate-related disclosure laws – SB 253 and SB 261 - was rejected by a US District Court.
Signed into law last year, SB 253 and SB 261 require large public and private companies that operate in California to publicly disclose information on their climate-related risks and their GHG emissions.
A US Chamber of Commerce-led coalition of business associations, filed a lawsuit saying the laws violate the First Amendment by forcing businesses to engage in subjective speech. Yes, I know, really!
District Judge Otis Wright rejected the suit ruling that it was unclear if any aspects of SB 253 or SB 261 violate the right to free speech.
The suit was complete nonsense.
