Despite directly impacting our communities, health, and livelihood, climate-related reports usually take a back seat to dominant news beats like politics and business. Climate Watch aims to ensure you never miss important stories on climate change and actions being taken toward limiting its impact.
Here is a round-up of last week’s climate stories:
- After his meeting with civil society climate leaders across the world on June 15, Antonio Guterres, UN secretary general, called on nations and financial institutions to phase out fossil fuels to avoid climate catastrophe. Guterres said a 45 percent reduction in carbon emissions is required to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C by 2030. He said current policies spell catastrophe. Guterres called on countries to accelerate the transition to a green economy by “leaving oil, coal and gas in the ground where they belong”.
- Also, the UN secretary-general said the fossil fuel industry must apply its resources to drive, not obstruct the global transition to renewable energy. Guterres called for detailed plans from global financial institutions to end investments in coal, oil and gas. While noting that too much risk is involved in reliance on fossil fuel, the UN chief added that the ambition to transform global energy must be encouraged.
- Meanwhile, Poland is set to appeal against the European Union (EU) combustion engine phaseout and other climate laws seeking to end the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2035. Anna Moskwa, the country’s climate minister, on June 12, said the ban would have scandalous social and economic impacts on European countries. Moskwa said Poland did not agree with the ban and expressed hope that other countries would join in the protest. Find out more here.
- To commemorate World Ocean Day, the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance (FBRA) and member companies held a clean-up exercise at the Elegushi beach in Lagos, to encourage more sustainable practices. Ziad Maalouf, FBRA chairman, said the initiative aimed to influence the environmental footprints of companies across the industry. The chairman said the FBRA is committed to preserving the environment from post-consumer packaging materials. Read more here.
- Similarly, Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) launched green clubs at Orile Agege Community High School and Eko Junior College in Lagos. Lawrence Akpoterai, a CYFI representative, said the launch was part of the organisation’s efforts to reduce plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability among students. Read more here.
- Last week, a tropical cyclone called Biparjoy – which means disaster – struck India and Pakistan. According to reports, more than 100,000 people have been evacuated from India and moved to shelters, while in Pakistan, about 82,000 people were moved from high-risk coastal areas. At least two people have died in India after being swept away by flood waters. The storm, classified as the least severe on a scale of one to five, made landfall, disrupted power supply with strong winds and heavy rain, and damaged standing crops, plantations and public infrastructure. Sherry Rehman, Pakistan’s climate change minister, said such storms are always unpredictable, adding that emergency measures were being taken to protect against the expected winds and rain.
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