THE BRIEF [Jan 15-21'24]
THE BRIEF [Jan 15-21'24]
YouTube's new climate deniers, energy transition cheaper than thought, renewables grew 20% in ASEAN in 2023 and Davos ignores climate crisis.
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.
🙀 YouTube’s new climate deniers
😻 New analysis suggests clean energy transition is cheaper than we might think
😼 Renewables grew 20% in ASEAN in 2023.
💩 WEF Davos puts climate change on the back burner
This week’s highlights
[#costs] — A new analysis from RMI challenges the commonly held belief that the transition to clean energy will be extremely costly. The report argues that many estimates fail to consider the decrease in fossil fuel spending, resulting in inflated figures. The analysis suggests that global capital spending on energy supply will only increase by 2 percent per year, amounting to about $2.5 trillion in 2030. This counters estimates from organizations like McKinsey & Company and the International Energy Agency, which project much higher costs. The report emphasizes the need for a fairer comparison between a net-zero emissions scenario and a business-as-usual scenario. While the transition to clean energy will vary by country and region, the report highlights that the world has sufficient funds to support a rapid transition.
[#junkoffsets] — Developers are seeking to sell offsets from controversial projects through a revamped UN mechanism, raising concerns about the potential for worthless credits to enable pollution. Renewable energy investments make up the majority of projects seeking a transfer from the old Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to the new system under the Paris Agreement. However, many of these credits are considered "junk" as they do not provide additional emissions reductions. There are also concerns about human rights violations associated with some of these projects. The future market for these credits is still being developed, and the transparency of the system will be crucial in determining their value and impact.
[#meatcommercial] — A £4-million ad campaign called "Let's Eat Balanced" aims to boost meat and dairy consumption among Gen Z in the UK, contradicting scientific evidence and the environmental impact of meat-heavy diets. The campaign, timed to coincide with Veganuary, includes multimedia ads promoting the health benefits of lamb, beef, pork, and dairy produce. Experts warn that the campaign ignores the health benefits of reducing meat and dairy intake and the large environmental impact of UK diets. The campaign is run by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and has the support of major supermarkets.
[#fossilfuelpropaganda] — This article discusses the role of the PR industry in shaping public opinion and influencing various sectors, including fossil fuel propaganda. It highlights the historical connection between PR and propaganda, the tactics employed by PR firms, and their impact on journalism and the media ecosystem. The document emphasizes the need to recognize and understand the influence of PR in order to combat its effects.
That’s it for this week folks!
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