THE BRIEF [Nov 13-19'23]

We're behind on almost all policies, right-to-repair is gaining momentum, net-zero pledges are greenwashing and current climate plans will increase emissions.

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.

🙀 We’re behind on almost every policy required

😻 The right-to-repair movement is gaining momentum

😼 Most net-zero pledges are greenwashing

💩 Current climate action plans expected to INCREASE carbon emissions

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This week’s highlights

[#electrifyrenters] — Renters face challenges in electrifying their homes due to limited control, financial incentives, and government assistance. Homeowners have more options to reduce carbon emissions through electrification, but renters often encounter roadblocks such as reluctant landlords, outdated infrastructure, high costs, and lack of government support. Policymakers need to develop solutions to decarbonize the entire housing sector and provide rebates and incentives for renters to adopt electric appliances.

[#uncertainties] — New research raises questions about the future temperature of the Earth after human carbon dioxide emissions reach zero. Uncertainties around the response of carbon dioxide-absorbing systems, such as forests and oceans, could lead to continued warming even after net zero emissions. Policymakers at COP28 need to understand these risks to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The study also highlights the amplified rate of warming in the Arctic and the need for urgent action to reduce emissions and adapt to climate impacts.

[#behind] — New research has found that countries are falling behind on almost every policy required to cut greenhouse gas emissions, making it more difficult to hold global temperatures to 1.5C above preindustrial levels. The report suggests that coal must be phased out faster, deforestation reduced, public transport built out, and renewable energy growth increased. Without drastic action, the prospect of staying within 1.5C will slip away. The report also highlights the continued public funding of fossil fuels and the lack of policy measures necessary to meet climate goals. And adding to that is Grist, which writes that a new United Nations report (different from the one in the previous link which was from World Resources Institute) reveals that countries' current climate action plans would actually increase global emissions by 8.8 percent by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, falling short of the drastic cuts needed to limit warming. The report highlights the gap between commitments made under the Paris Agreement and the action needed to reach the target of a 45 percent reduction in global emissions by 2030. World leaders are expected to review their commitments at the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Dubai and set more ambitious goals. The report also emphasizes the need for countries to implement all parts of their climate action plans, including financial and technological resources and market-based mechanisms.

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That’s it for this week folks! 

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See you all next week 👋