[Apr 21-27 '25] THE BRIEF
🌡️ From Sweating to Shivering: CO2 Levels Surge as Coffee Farmers Navigate EU Deforestation Rules
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekly Climate 🎉
References: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6].
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‼️News you can’t miss
Here’s one important scary/bad (🙀), good (😻), interesting (😼) and fossil (💩) news item.
🙀 [#co2crisis]: Atmospheric CO2 levels surged by a record 3.75 ppm in 2024, largely due to ongoing fossil fuel emissions and a weakened land carbon sink, raising concerns about meeting climate targets and indicating broader climate anomalies.
😻 [#xprizecarbon]: Mati Carbon won the Xprize for its enhanced rock weathering technology that locks carbon in soil, benefiting smallholder farmers by increasing productivity and income while aiming for affordable carbon credits. The company plans to expand its operations in developing countries to maximize impact.
😼 [#microseasons]: Japan's traditional calendar divides the year into 72 microseasons, each lasting a few days, reflecting cultural practices around food, celebration, and nature's changes, emphasizing harmony with the environment and seasonal transitions.
💩 [#oillobbying]: Public affairs firms in Europe are enabling pollution by lobbying for fossil fuel companies, despite these clients representing only a small fraction of their revenue. The analysis highlights a lack of accountability and public pressure on these firms, which continue to work with polluters while claiming sustainability commitments.
This week’s highlights
As we approach the final days of April, this week has brought significant developments in climate news. From record-breaking CO2 levels to innovative carbon removal solutions, we've seen both alarming indicators and promising steps forward. Here are five stories that caught our attention this week:
This week's highlights
Atmospheric CO2 levels hit record surge in 2024
Climate scientists have reported that CO2 levels in the atmosphere increased by an unprecedented 3.75 parts per million in 2024, the largest single-year jump ever recorded. This alarming acceleration has been attributed to both ongoing fossil fuel emissions and a concerning weakening of the land carbon sink, which typically absorbs a significant portion of human-caused emissions. The record surge raises serious questions about the feasibility of meeting established climate targets and suggests that broader climate system anomalies may be developing. Researchers warn this could indicate potential feedback loops beginning to amplify warming beyond direct human activities. Read more...
Vermont pioneering corporate climate accountability with new legislation
Vermont's Climate Change Superfund Act represents a significant shift in climate litigation, establishing a framework to hold fossil fuel companies directly accountable for climate damages. The legislation is supported by new attribution science that can link specific emissions to quantifiable economic losses. A groundbreaking study estimates that Chevron's emissions alone have caused approximately $3.6 trillion in heat-related GDP losses globally. This approach could fundamentally change how legal systems approach climate responsibility, potentially creating a model for other jurisdictions to follow and a powerful incentive for companies to reduce their carbon footprints more aggressively. Read more...
Ethiopian coffee farmers struggle with EU deforestation rules
New European Union regulations designed to prevent deforestation are creating significant challenges for Ethiopian coffee farmers, who must now provide detailed geolocation data to verify their products aren't linked to forest destruction. The requirements impose heavy burdens on small-scale producers with limited access to technology, potentially cutting them off from vital European markets. The situation highlights tensions between environmental protection and economic justice, with experts calling for substantial support and investment from both EU institutions and coffee companies to ensure these farmers can maintain their livelihoods while meeting the new standards. Read more...
Innovative soil carbon technology wins Xprize
Mati Carbon has been awarded the prestigious Xprize for their enhanced rock weathering technology that effectively sequesters carbon in soil. The approach offers a compelling dual benefit by simultaneously improving agricultural productivity, particularly for smallholder farmers in developing regions. The company is working to make carbon credits more affordable while expanding operations in countries where their solution can have maximum impact. This technology represents a promising path for carbon removal that aligns climate goals with agricultural development, potentially creating economic opportunities in regions most vulnerable to climate change. Read more...
Air quality crisis affects 156 million Americans
A sobering report reveals that approximately 156 million Americans—nearly half the population—are currently living with unhealthy air quality. The situation has been exacerbated by recent regulatory rollbacks and increasingly severe wildfire seasons. The research highlights persistent disparities, with communities of color disproportionately affected by air pollution. Perhaps most concerning, only two cities across the entire country met clean air standards this year, demonstrating the pervasive nature of the problem and underscoring the urgent need for more effective air quality policies at both local and national levels. Read more...
That’s it for this week folks!
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See you all next week 👋
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