• Ocean

WRI Gives Countries a Step-by-Step Guide to Ocean-Based Climate Action

• climate change
• coastal ecosystems
• emissions
• fisheries
• ocean
• renewable energy
• rising temperatures

A new paper released by the World Resources Institute (WRI) in collaboration with seven other environmental organizations outlines the ways that the ocean, often thought of as a victim of climate change, can be utilized to best combat global rising temperatures.

Why This Matters: We’ve written a lot about how the sea level is rising, and the ocean is warming, fueling stronger storm systems, and declines in biodiversity.

• Climate Change

A Climate New Year’s Resolution for 2021: Greening Construction and Building Operations

• buildings
• climate change
• CO2
• conservation
• construction
• emissions
• energy efficiency
• warming

A U.N. report suggests that a major impediment to carbon reductions and meeting the Paris Climate targets is the construction and building industry. Carbon dioxide emissions from building construction hit an all-time high in 2019, and the annual rate of decarbonizing buildings has been slowing.

Why this Matters: Building maintenance and construction create nearly 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions, according to GlobalABC.

• Air

Rich Nations Have Sold 14 Million “Dirty and Dangerous” Vehicles to Developing Nations

• Africa
• cars
• clean car standards
• climate change
• emissions

by Amy Lupica, ODP Contributing Writer A new report from the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) found that rich nations, including the United States, Japan, and the Netherlands, are exporting “dirty and dangerous” cars to developing countries en masse. Between 2015 and 2018, an estimated 14 million vehicles were “dumped” in Asia and Africa. 80% […]

• Politics

China and the U.S. Trade Environmental Barbs

• #30x30
• biodiversity
• China
• climate change
• emissions
• greenhouse gasses
• IUU fishing
• plastic
• pollution
• United Nations

Yesterday the Chinese government released a detailed condemnation of the U.S. government’s environment and climate policies.  Labeled as a “Fact Sheet of Environmental Damage Caused by the US,” it contains a litany of U.S. environmental failures.

Why This Matters:  The U.S.’s shot at China came after the Chinese announced at the UN General Assembly that China plans to be climate neutral by 2060.

• Health

Study Estimates Number of AC Units Needed Will Triple in Next Thirty Years

• air conditioner
• air conditioning
• climate change
• demand
• electricity
• emissions
• greenhouse gas
• heat

Increasing populations, incomes, urbanization, and temperatures could “triple the number of AC units installed worldwide by midcentury, pushing the total toward 6 billion,” as James Temple reported for the MIT Technology Review. This could create one of the “largest sources of rising electricity demand around the world.”

Why This Matters: This is the paradox of climate change. As the world warms, cooling will be even more necessary.

• Climate Change

Lyft Commits to 100% EVs by 2030

• #PoliticalClimate
• clean air
• clean cars
• conservation
• emissions
• environment
• EVs
• Lyft
• Political Climate
• Political Climate Podcast
• rideshare

By Julia Pyper, Co-Host Political Climate Podcast Rideshare service provider Lyft, with support from the Environmental Defense Fund, has announced a significant commitment to reach 100% electric vehicles on its platform by 2030. The company’s strategy includes purchasing EVs for its own rental fleet, as well as supporting a broader ecosystem of policies and best […]