• Ocean

UN Report Says Countries Must Implement Ocean-Based Solutions to Fight Climate Change

• carbon sink
• climate change
• Nationally Determined Contributions
• ocean
• shipping
• UN
• United Nations

A new report released last week by the United Nations found that the countries of the world aren’t taking ocean health as seriously as they should in the fight against climate change. The oceans provide a key function in absorbing carbon and heat from the atmosphere. 

Why This Matters: The ocean has been a critical buffer against climate change, absorbing carbon and supporting ecosystems that prevent flooding, sustain communities, and more.

• Climate Change

France Found Guilty of Climate Inaction

• climate change
• climate rights
• Environment Programme
• France
• litigation
• UN

Add another landmark environmental moment in Paris to the list: a French court ruled this week that the national government is guilty of failing to turn its climate promises into action. In its ruling, the court recognized the damage caused by climate change and held the French state responsible, France 24 reports.

Why this Matters: The landmark decision is the result of France’s first major climate lawsuit–but it won’t be the last.

• Sustainability

Kerry Is Humble and Pledges Ambition In First International Appearance

• #30by30
• adaptation
• biodiversity
• climate change
• climate crisis
• nature based solutions
• risk
• UN

"We intend to make good on our Climate Finance Pledge. There is simply no adapting to a 4 degree warmer world except for the most privileged. We are coming back with humility and will work with multilateral institutions."– John Kerry @ClimateEnvoy #AdaptationSummit pic.twitter.com/BqT0LDo13H — CASsummit2021 (@CASsummit2021) January 25, 2021 Appearing virtually at the United Nations […]

• Climate Change

UN Warns Nations Must Dump Inefficient Air Conditioners in Order to Act on Climate

• air conditioning
• climate change
• UN
• UNEP

As Electrek reported, a new UN report has shown that if households around the world stop using poorly made air conditioning units in addition to ensuring they’re manufactured twice as efficiently as they are now, this would make a significant contribution to keeping to the Paris Agreement’s targets of a global temperature rise of 1.5C […]

• Ocean

Scientists Say Oceans Can Be Restored by 2050, With Big Commitments to Conservation

• 30 by 30
• biodiversity
• ocean conservation
• oceans
• UN

A new study published in the journal Nature has revealed that oceans are remarkably resilient and could be restored to health by 2050 if “major pressures—including climate change—are mitigated.” As the BBC reported, the researchers identified nine components that are key to rebuilding the oceans: salt marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, coral reefs, kelp, oyster reefs, fisheries, […]

• Water

World Water Day Focuses on Climate Change

• clean water
• drinking water
• Drought
• Flooding
• groundwater
• UN
• World Water Day

Yesterday was World Water Day and the focus this year was on the interconnectedness of water and climate change. As 2020 was set to be a critical year for climate action (though the coronavirus outbreak could change that), it’s timely to bring attention to how a warming planet affects the world’s water supplies and exacerbates […]