All posts tagged: emissions

New Global Policies to Cut Plastic Waste and Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2050

New Global Policies to Cut Plastic Waste and Reduce Carbon Emissions by 2050

Published by Webster

A recent study by the University of California, Santa Barbara has identified four policies that could reduce plastic waste pollution globally by over 90 percent and cut associated carbon emissions by nearly a third by 2050. The findings highlight a comprehensive approach involving increased recycled content, a cap on plastic production, enhanced waste management investment, and a packaging fee to address the plastic waste crisis effectively. Proposed Policies to Combat Plastic Waste The study titled “Pathways to reduce global plastic waste mismanagement and greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” by researchers at the University of California Berkeley and the University of California Santa Barbara was published in Science. The study recommends mandating that new plastic products contain at least 40 percent post-consumer recycled materials and capping new plastic production at 2020 levels. It advocates for significant investments in waste management infrastructure, including landfills and collection systems, especially in underserved regions. Lastly, a minor fee on plastic packaging is suggested to discourage single-use items and promote sustainability. According to Professor Douglas McCauley, an environmental science expert at UC Santa …

Global Fossil CO2 Emissions Hit Record High in 2024: Here’s What You Need to Know

Global Fossil CO2 Emissions Hit Record High in 2024: Here’s What You Need to Know

Published by Webster

Global carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion have reached an unprecedented peak in 2024, with the Global Carbon Project reporting a projected 37.4 billion tonnes of fossil CO2 emissions, a 0.8% increase from 2023. The report underscores an urgent call for emissions reduction as the world’s annual output of CO2 from fossil fuels and land-use changes collectively approaches 41.6 billion tonnes. Despite increased efforts to mitigate climate impacts, there are no clear signs of a peak in global fossil CO2 emissions, heightening the risk of surpassing critical climate thresholds. Sector-Specific Emissions and Regional Insights As per a report by University of Exeter, emissions from fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and gas, are anticipated to rise in 2024, accounting for 41 percent, 32 percent, and 21 percent of fossil CO2 emissions, respectively. Coal emissions are expected to increase by 0.2 percent, oil by 0.9 percent, and natural gas by 2.4 percent. On a regional level, China, responsible for 32 percent of global emissions, is projected to see a slight increase of 0.2 percent, while emissions in …

UAE pledges to cut emissions by 47% by 2035  | World News

UAE pledges to cut emissions by 47% by 2035  | World News

Published by Parlour News

By Gloria Dickie UAE pledges to cut emissions by 47% by 2035  LONDON, – The United Arab Emirates committed to cut its planet-warming emissions by 47% compared with 2019 levels by 2035 in its new national climate plan released on Thursday, ahead of next week’s United Nations COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan. The UAE, which hosted last year’s U.N. climate summit in Dubai, is the first major emitter to submit its updated strategy, known as Nationally Determined Contributions , ahead of the February 2025 deadline. WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? The UAE is among the world’s 10 largest oil producing countries. NDCs are the foundation of the Paris Agreement. They are meant to encourage countries to adopt new targets to cut emissions and measures that keep them on track to meet the accord’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and preventing global temperatures from rising beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. KEY CONTEXT Under the Paris accord, signatories are required to update their climate plans every five years. The UAE previously promised in 2023 …

Power Shortages Stall Data Center Growth in UK, Europe

Power Shortages Stall Data Center Growth in UK, Europe

Published by Webster

The construction of new data centres in the U.K. and Europe is being held up due to insufficient electricity supply. Utility companies in the U.S. have also been struggling to keep up with demand. David Sleath, chief executive of development giant Segro, said that he would ideally be investing “hundreds of millions and more” into building new data centres, according to The Times. “The single biggest constraint is access to power,” he told the publication. Segro, which operates 35 U.K. data centres, has had to wait “a number of years” for infrastructure upgrades that boost grip capacity before breaking ground on a planned development. A National Grid spokesperson told The Times it is connecting data centre developments to the grid “as quickly as possible,” while a government spokesperson said that efforts are underway to push stalled projects forward. The spokesperson added that the National Grid is collaborating with energy regulator Ofgem to update the grid connections process. Power shortages: A significant area of concern Power shortages are the top concern for data centre companies globally, …

Do Emissions Credits Skew Sustainability Reporting?

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A review of emissions reports from Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Apple by The Guardian revealed that actual emissions could be up to 662% higher than the companies’ official statements, The Guardian announced on Sep. 15. The discrepancy is largely attributed to the difference between direct, “location-based” emissions at company facilities and the purchase of renewable energy credits, according to The Guardian. Meanwhile, the growing use of generative AI is further increasing the energy demands of big tech companies. The Guardian reviewed emissions reports from 2020 to 2022. Renewable energy certificates provide credit for indirect power purchases In the renewable energy certification system, organizations purchase renewable-generated electricity to offset their spending on their energy consumption elsewhere. Critics of this system say factoring credits, or “market-based” emissions, into emissions calculations obscures “location-based emissions,” the pollution created directly by company-owned infrastructure. Companies subtract the amount of sustainably produced electricity they buy from their emissions reports — even if that electricity is never used in the company’s facilities, The Guardian alleges. Meta’s Clonee data center in Clonee, Ireland. Image: …

Greenhouse Gas is Rising Rapidly in Atmosphere Due to Human Activities, Highlights New Report

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Recent research highlights a troubling rise in atmospheric methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide (CO2) at trapping heat in the short term. Despite the 2021 Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce methane emissions by 30 percent by 2030, current levels are increasing faster than at any time in the past 40 years. This trend poses a serious threat to climate goals, as methane’s short-lived but intense warming effect accelerates global temperature rises. Human Activities Driving Methane Growth Human activities, including livestock farming, fossil fuel extraction, and waste management, now account for around two-thirds of global methane emissions. Agriculture, particularly livestock and rice paddies, contributes 40 percent, while fossil fuels and landfills make up 36 percent and 17 percent, respectively. Recent data shows that methane emissions from these sources have surged significantly, with a marked increase in atmospheric concentrations since 2020. Need for Immediate Action The persistence of high methane levels is concerning, as it aligns with scenarios predicting up to 3°C of warming by 2100. To meet the 2015 …

With high targets, CO2 emissions from transport sector could be slashed up to 71% by 2050: Study | India News

Published by Parlour News

Carbon dioxide emissions from India’s transport sector could be reduced up to 71 per cent by 2050 if high-ambition strategies are adopted on three key parameters – electrification, improving fuel economy standards, and switching to cleaner modes of transport and mobility, said a new study by World Resources Institute (WRI). India’s transport sector accounted for 14 per cent of the total energy-related CO2 emissions in 2020, and there is a need for an emission reduction roadmap and targets for this sector, the study said. The study noted that following a high emission reduction target in the transport sector would also be pivotal in achieving India’s net-zero target by 2070. The study’s findings are based on the energy policy simulator, which allows users to develop dynamic models for different decarbonisation targets and their outcomes. In addition to the simulation, inputs were also collected from expert stakeholder consultations. “Implementing fuel economy, electrification, and modal shift strategies simultaneously at their highest ambition level results in a 71 per cent reduction in CO2 emissions and fossil fuel consumption by …

Strong GDP growth, weak monsoon drove up India’s energy-related carbon emissions in 2023: IEA | Business News

Published by Parlour News

Strong GDP growth and a weak monsoon drove up India’s energy-related carbon emissions by around 190 million tonnes in 2023, though the country’s per capita emissions remain far below the global average, the International Energy Agency said. Global energy-related carbon emissions grew by 1.1 per cent in 2023, increasing 410 million tonnes (Mt) to reach a new record high of 37.4 gigatonnes (Gt) in 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday. It said emissions in China grew around 565 Mt in 2023, the largest increase globally and a continuation of its emissions-intensive economic growth in the post-pandemic period. Per capita emissions in China are now 15 per cent higher than in advanced economies. However, China continued to dominate global clean energy additions. “In India, strong GDP growth drove up emissions by around 190 Mt. But a weak monsoon increased demand for electricity and cut hydro production, contributing around one-quarter of the increase in its total emissions in 2023. Per capita emissions in India remain far below the world average,” the IEA said. India …

The US will relax pollution-limiting rules for vehicle emissions

Published by Webster

President Biden’s administration plans to pull back on strict new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules that would have forced US automakers to turn EVs into their main business by 2032. That’s according to The New York Times, which wrote yesterday that industry players had moved the administration to give them more time to bring down EV costs, and for a nationwide charging infrastructure to be more fully built out. The Times writes that labor leaders pressured Biden to give them more time to extend union membership to those working in new US EV plants. As the article notes, labor union support is crucial as Biden faces re-election where he’s straddling a dire climate situation and attacks from candidate and former President Donald Trump. The original EPA requirements called for electric vehicles to make up 67 percent of new light-duty vehicle sales and 46 percent of new medium-duty sales by 2032 — a huge spike from the 7.6 percent the Times notes from last year. Sales of EVs have slowed, putting the goal further out of …

Australian Organisations Need to Better Leverage IT to Reduce Carbon Emissions

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In 2015, The Paris Agreement, a landmark global agreement across 196 nations and parties acknowledging the dangers posed by climate change, was signed. But despite all of the efforts at awareness-raising, the amount of carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere is increasing. According to Australia’s CSIRO research, the world has fewer than seven years to slash carbon emissions by half to keep the impact of climate change to a relative minimum. The IT function within organisations can drive efficiencies that result in lower carbon being emitted by the company overall. With employees expecting to see their organisations show leadership in this way, leveraging IT to support sustainability can also improve morale, employee engagement and retention. More broadly, countries like Australia, which have access to the kind of technologies and capabilities to drive efficiency and the wealth to invest in them, need to be more proactive in furthering the reduction of emissions. Companies within nations like Australia that do take a genuine leadership position on this will benefit commercially and reputationally. Companies need to do …