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The fossilfuel industrys role in driving climatechange is undeniable, yet corporate accountability remains a contested space. As the scientific evidence strengthens, courts around the world are increasingly considering the role of major fossilfuel companies in climate-related damages.
OTTAWA/TRADITIONAL, UNCEDED TERRITORY OF THE ALGONQUIN ANISHNAABEG PEOPLE — Ecojustice and Environmental Defence have uncovered that greenhouse gas emissions from Canada’s exported oil, gas, and coal ballooned to record levels in 2023.
In a new study released today, UCS attributes substantial temperature and sea level rise to emissions traced to the largest fossilfuel producers and cement manufacturers. Every delay in phasing out fossilfuels will burden future generations who need to adapt to rising seas and recover from loss and damage due to sea level impacts.
To adjust the focus of this picture a little closer, just our passenger cars and light trucks contribute to a whopping 58 percent of total transportation emissions, placing our car-centric society in the fossilfuel spotlight. Petroleum has accounted for more than 90 percent of transportation energy in the last 50 years.
Last week, I joined my colleagues at COP28 in Dubai , as negotiators and civil society push for a fossilfuel phaseout to meet climate goals. This year there has been a lot of attention on the more than 2,400 oil and gas lobbyists at the climate meetings. Global net anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions 1990–2019.
The decision at the Glasgow climate conference to phase down fossilfuels is an important step forward — and not just because of climatechange. We think of fossilfuels as a source of climatechange, but that’s only a one part of the problem. Consider coal. Download as PDF.
The destruction caused by climatechange is directly linked to human activity, primarily burning fossilfuels. There are multiple realistic, tangible solutions that would rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, yet policy addressing anthropogenic climatechange remains slow and insufficient.
According to the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange report published Monday, Southeast Asia coastal zones are among the world’s most climate vulnerable regions. Graphic courtesy of the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue.
The summary for policymakers of the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) sixth synthesis report was released on March 20th (available online as a PDF ). There is a recording of the IPCC Press Conference – ClimateChange 2023: Synthesis Report for those who are interested in watching an awkward release of the report.
Fossilfuel power plant owners are facing increased accountability for their air and water pollution, including from a new round of environmental and public health protections that are being rolled out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). We’ve heard these lazily disingenuous narratives before.
In a few days, the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) will release its latest synthesis report that provides a comprehensive assessment of the current state of scientific knowledge on climatechange, including its causes, impacts, and potential solutions.
The result is that countries in the Global South have not been granted the necessary funds to adapt to climate disasters or to effectively reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions. The next round of national climate plans under the Paris Agreement are due in February. Background information: Vulnerable regions say that a $1.3-trillion
In an unusual move, the commission is also reviewing what keeping Line 5 operating means for climatechange. Evaluating the impact on climatechange if Line 5 continues to operate is new. “We Kearney’s group argues that would ultimately cut the greenhouse gas emissions from fossilfuels.
In recent advice to the government, the Net Zero Advisory Body made clear that even a 50 to 55 per cent reduction wouldnt represent Canada doing its fair share in reducing greenhouse gas pollution. This disappointing target cements Canadas position as a global climate laggard. Provincial governments share the blame.
Costly and Inequitable In addition to emitting greenhouse gases, gas power plants also pollute the air with nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds.
Statement from Aly Hyder Ali, Oil and Gas Program Manager, Environmental Defence Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – We welcome the Government of Canada’s Oil and Gas Greenhouse Gas Pollution Cap draft regulation, which aims to curb pollution from the oil and gas industry.
Interview by Jenni Doering, Living on Earth From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine , an interview by Jenni Doering with Bob Berwyn, who covers climate science and the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) for Inside Climate News.
UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/ Frank van Beek This blog post is Part 3 of a three-part series highlighting the main legal arguments presented during the hearings of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the request for an advisory opinion regarding the obligations of States with respect to climatechange.
Study shows that plastic production could be nearly one third of the global carbon budget and emits four times more greenhouse gases than the airline industry.
The ocean absorbs more than 90% of the excess heat trapped by greenhouse gasses and generates 50% of the oxygen we breathe. Our ocean is a cornerstone of life on Earth and holds powerful solutions to the climate crisis. Yet despite its critical role, the ocean is often sidelined in global climate discussions.
A Montana state district court has issued its long-awaited decision in a major climatechange case brought by Montana children against state officials. Judge Seeley did so after presiding over a two-week, non-jury trial in June 2023–the first such climatechange trial in U.S. In Held v. legal history.
Though the case caught fewer headlines, it, too, threatened Earth-shifting implications all its own by thrusting into question a critical EPA lever for addressing climatechange. First and foremost, despite some fossilfuel interests swinging for the fossilfuel-favored fences, the Supreme Court’s decision in West Virginia v.
Don’t forget to add on top of that the cost of climatechange. From increasing costs of insurance and everyday items like coffee and chocolate, to major expenses when dealing with climate crisis infrastructure damage, like damaged roads, bridges and buildings, we know climatechange is expensive.
That means we’ll need to quickly add additional clean energy policies and policies to phase out fossilfuels just to meet our 2030 goals. c) of the Paris Agreement calls for “ Making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.” Article 2.1(c)
Earlier this month at COP28 countries committed to transitioning off of fossilfuels and massively scaling up renewable energy instead. So you’re excused if, like me, you’re baffled by Minister Freeland’s first move in the wake of COP28: a giant new fossilfuel subsidy, via the new Canada Growth Fund.
After 30 years of international negotiations failing to mention the root cause of the climate crisis, the acknowledgement that we must phase out all fossilfuels and massively scale up renewable energy in order to effectively tackle the climate crisis, was both long overdue and extremely significant.
This wasn’t the first of these summits – but it was the first one that focused on the concrete actions governments are taking to phase out fossilfuels. We heard world leader after world leader say what has been only an elephant in the room until now – that we must phase out fossilfuels. It’s not complicated.
Standing based on climate impacts C. Climate science F. Climate justice II. EPA regulation of greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA) A. Climatechange under other federal statutes. Climatechange as substantial impact requiring discussion in environmental impact statement.
Scientists have unequivocally confirmed that human activities, primarily the burning of fossilfuels, are driving unprecedented changes to the Earth’s climate, raising fundamental questions about our responsibility to safeguard the environment for future generations.
This past week, I attended the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) meeting in Hangzhou, China. In previous posts, Ive explained what the IPCC is, why this assessment cycle is crucial , and highlighted its role in climate action. Whats Next for the IPCC?
In summarizing its report on the consequences of climatechange, the scientific body described a society running out of time to prevent unbearable damage to the planet’s lands and waters — and to the people and creatures that depend on them. Climatechange is a threat to human well-being and the health of the planet.
This past week, I attended the Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange (IPCC) meeting in Hangzhou, China. In previous posts, Ive explained what the IPCC is, why this assessment cycle is crucial , and highlighted its role in climate action. Whats Next for the IPCC?
That would be the straw man erected by defenders of the fossilfuel industry who claim that facing climatechange is a doctrinaire liberal policy. One group that has filed resolutions in the past is the far-right National Center for Public Policy Research, which fossilfuel companies including ExxonMobil have funded.
They’re also hoping to circumnavigate efforts to hold them accountable for their contribution to climatechange. The key word here is “ intensity :” Fossilfuel companies often focus on emissions intensity, meaning emissions per barrel of oil, rather than absolute emissions, which is a set number measured in metric tons.
That also means they play the largest role in climate-related environmental changes. For example, researchers at the Union of Concerned Scientists have directly linked fossilfuel producers’ Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions to increases in ocean acidification , global temperature, sea level rise and North American wildfires.
In recent years, The Netherlands has become the leading site of climatechange litigation. its district, appellate , and supreme courts decided in favor of Urgenda, an upstart environmental organization, ordering the government to more aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Everyone produces greenhouse gases.
The bench trial took place last month in the state capitol, Helena, where 16 youth plaintiffs ages 5 to 22 made the case that Montana’s unwavering promotion of fossilfuels violates the state constitution’s guarantee to a “clean and healthful environment.” Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange.
Advocates are focusing on the Glasgow meeting to highlight water’s indispensable climate role. Demonstrators took to the streets at the 2009 global climate convention in Copenhagen. Adaptation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and accounting for climate damages will be prominent topics at the UN climate convention in November.
For the past two decades, explicit state policy has been to transition as quickly as possible from reliance on fossilfuels to renewable energy sources–motivated primarily by climatechange concerns and the critical need to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
A state court judge in the ‘Last Best Place’ just gave the youth climate movement a shot in the arm with the first decision of its kind that directly connects specific state actions to global climatechange and then to injuries suffered by young people. courts have not yet engaged in this kind of fact-finding on climatechange.
The Substitution Effect: Could Reducing FossilFuel Sales Truly Have No Impact? By Shekhar Pathak Climatechange is an extremely complex and difficult issue. A Dutch appellate court (Court) reflected similar reasoning in a recent ruling concerning Shells climate obligations. in the Netherlands.
And, while a historic level of federal funding for climate action is on its way via the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, too many bad actors and opposition forces are working hard to stall and stop the help Californians need. Right now, UCS is working towards a fast and fair fossilfuel phase out.
Hydrogen is all the rage because when it is burned, it doesn’t create any greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is being presented as a key climatechange solution. You can create hydrogen either using renewable energy or using fossilfuels. A new fossilfuel subsidy in 2023! The post What?
Fuel transport – Spring floods can hinder the transportation of fuels like coal. While it is a heavily polluting fossilfuel that is set to continue declining as a fuel source for US electricity generation over the next decade, coal still accounted for roughly 20 percent of the country’s generation in 2022.
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