THE BRIEF [Feb 5-11'24]
Farmer protests leads to rollbacks, energy demand might be lower in 2050, climate shocks could trigger unrest and China accounts for 96% of all new coal power.
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.
🙀 Farmers protests have led to roll back of legislation aiming to reduce carbon emissions
😻 Energy demand could be lower in 2050 due to decarbonization
😼 Climate shocks could trigger unrest and authoritarian backlash
💩 China accounts for 96% of all new coal capacity
This week’s highlights
[#unrest] — Scientists warn that as the world surpasses 1.5 degrees of warming, climate shocks could lead to social unrest and authoritarian backlash. The increasing climate shocks and their impacts on society could trigger nationalist and authoritarian responses. The 1.5 degree mark, established by the Paris Agreement, has already been crossed in 2023, and current global climate policies are on track to heat the world by about 2.7 degrees Celsius by 2100, posing a threat to human civilization. The imminent breaching of the 1.5 degree limit may not stir the public due to denial, fear, and distractions from other crises. Passing the 1.5 degree threshold will likely empower climate activists calling for systemic change, but it may also trigger a backlash and repressive measures. The emotional and psychological responses to climate change, along with political and social tensions, will shape the future of climate action and its societal implications.
[#energydemand] — Despite the world getting richer, global energy demand could be lower in 2050 due to decarbonization. A decarbonized energy system requires less energy than one running on fossil fuels. The International Energy Agency projects that with strong decarbonization, energy demand will slightly fall, especially in Europe and North America. However, electricity demand will increase significantly as transport and heating are electrified. It is concerning that countries across Africa will still face deep energy poverty in the future. Electrification leads to efficiency gains, particularly in sectors like transport, where energy demand can be reduced significantly. Encouraging shifts in behavior and modes of travel can further limit energy demand and offer multiple benefits beyond climate change mitigation.
[#shipflyindustry] — According to a new analysis, while there has been progress in reducing reliance on fossil fuels in areas such as clean energy and electric vehicles, three sectors - aviation, shipping, and industry - continue to heavily rely on fossil fuels. These sectors lack widespread alternatives to jet fuel, ship diesel, and carbon-intensive fuels used in industrial processes. The analysis highlights the need for innovative solutions and policies to address emissions in these sectors in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
[#exxonlawsuit] — ExxonMobil is suing activist investors who proposed a resolution for the company to limit its climate pollution. The lawsuit, the first of its kind, aims to prevent the resolution from coming to a vote at the shareholder meeting. Advocates argue that Exxon's legal actions are an attempt to silence shareholders and avoid addressing climate-related issues. The lawsuit is seen as part of the fossil fuel industry's strategy to protect its operations and prevent scrutiny. Exxon's claim to be pursuing better solutions while battling emissions reduction efforts is criticized as greenwashing.
That’s it for this week folks!
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