Circular economy gap: just 9% of the 92.8 billion tonnes of materials that enter the economy are re-used annually

These numbers were revealed in a report presented by Circle Economy in Davos during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. According to the report, 62% of global greenhouse gas emissions (excluding those from land use and forestry) are released during the extraction, processing and manufacturing of goods to serve society’s needs; only 38% are emitted in the delivery and use of products and services. Authors of the report argues that innovation to extend the lifespan of existing resources will not only curb emissions but also reduce social inequality and foster low-carbon growth.

Outcomes of COP24 in Katowice, December 2018

The Katowice climate package, adopted in December 2018 during COP24 in Katowice, Poland, is a set of rules regarding how the Parties will measure the carbon emissions and report on their emissions-cutting efforts. This ‘rulebook’ can be called as the detailed “operating manual” of 2015 Paris Agreement, and it includes:

•    the information about domestic mitigation and other climate goals and activities that governments will provide in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs);
•    the rules for the functioning of the Transparency Framework, which will show to the world what countries are doing about climate change;
•    how to assess progress on the development and transfer of technology;
•    how to provide advance information on financial support to developing countries and the process for establishing new targets on finance from 2025 onwards

The implementation guidelines for the Paris Agreement respect the different capabilities and socio-economic realities of each country while providing the foundation for ever-increasing ambition with respect to climate action. They establish an effective international system for promoting and tracking progress while empowering countries to build national systems for implementing the Agreement

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Source: Katowice climate package. UNFCCC

Renewable energy needs to be scaled up at least six times faster

In recently published report Global Energy Transformation: A Roadmap to 2050, IRENA states that renewable energy needs to be scaled up at least six times faster for the world to meet the decarbonisation and climate mitigation goals set out in the Paris Agreement.
While different paths can mitigate climate change, renewables and energy efficiency provide the optimal pathway to deliver most of the emission cuts needed at the necessary speed.

What are the major outcomes of COP 23?

The official  UNFCCC’s press release on November 17, 2017 lists over 30 concrete climate action commitments at COP23.

Couple month later, Climate Institute in the publication COP23: A Critical Assessment of the Conference’s Outcomes provides an overview of the most important outcomes of the negotiations, highlighting the main drawbacks and achievements.

WRI: to what extent multilateral development banks supporting a low-carbon future?

WRI’s working paper analyses approved and planned in 2015-2016 energy supply investments of three MDBs - the World Bank, International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Asian Development Bank (ADB),  which represent about 300 infrastructure projects with $35 billion of finance in developing countries.

Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change combines carbon price and output-based credit

In recent publication Technical paper: federal carbon pricing backstop, Canadian Government proposes combination of carbon price and output-based credit to reduce GHG emissions and address the business competitiveness problem at the same time.

Energy Efficiency Investment Toolkit presents a new perspective on boosting investments

The G20's Energy Efficiency Investment Toolkit, published by International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation, provides a set of collaborative and voluntary options for G20 countries to boost energy efficiency investments and realize the significant economic, environmental and social benefits of energy efficiency in their economies. 

Next oil boom: biofuels?

Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia strongly believe that oil in the leaves and stems of plants as well as the seeds may become a game changer in the global production of renewable oils.

Limiting global warming whilst extending energy access requires both - energy decarbonization and better energy productivity

Recent Energy Transitions Commission’s report presents achievable pathways to limit global warming to well below 2˚C while stimulating economic development and social progress. The transition to a new global energy system should:

Pembina Institute proposes ‘low-carbon transition’ pathway for buildings in British Columbia

Recommendations published by the Pembina Institute are based on discussions during the two days forum attended by over 120 participants from 90 organizations. Experts proposed that the building sector in British Columbia should aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the operation of buildings by 40-50% below 2007 levels by 2030, and 80-100% by 2050.