Several American states recently strengthened their carbon emissions reductions targets. In August, Louisiana Governor, John Bel Edwards, signed an executive order establishing the Climate Initiatives Task Force; they are charged with reaching a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and a set of interim targets of reducing economy-wide emissions 26-28% by 2025 and 40-50% by...
Along with the appointment of a new Minister, in June the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Nature Resources became a separate entity. Some sources (Shevchenko) argue that despite some changes made to the organization, many issues remain unaddressed including: Slowing down of determining a Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to Paris Agreement; Delays in adjusting...
Paris Agreement COP26, initially scheduled for November 26th of 2020 in Glasgow, has been pushed back a year due to COVID-19. This setback is not stopping the United Nations and United Kingdom from hosting an online celebration to mark the 5th anniversary of the historic Paris Agreement. In doing so they hope to strengthen global...
A Bangkok Post report from October 21, 2020 discussed the Thailand Government’s recent plan for finalizing the country’s first-ever Climate Change draft bill. In this regard, “the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will submit a draft of the bill to the cabinet for approval by the end of this year.” The Environment Minister Varawut...
In July 2020, the government of Spain announced the closure of 15 coal-fired power plants, arguing the production of electricity was no longer profitable due to a combination of market conditions and political decisions by the European Commission. Coal emission prices make it so that it is more profitable for countries to produce green energy...
The cabinet of South Africa has approved the establishment of the Presidential Climate Change Coordinating Commission on the 9th of September 2020. Its mandate is to coordinate the implementation of South Africa’s Low Emissions Development Strategy, and the revised National Waste Management Strategy 2020. The Commission also will coordinate the just transition to a low...
September 2020 It’s a race against heat, and humanity is losing Saudi Arabia has increased their air pollution amidst heat waves after their power plants burned more crude oil for air conditioners. In July 2019, the capital city of Riyadh registered its poorest air quality for the year as the average high temperature reached 43 Celsius. With...
President Putin has finally admitted Russia has been facing environmental and climate-related issues for years. A REGNUM correspondent reported that the President made this admission on July 13 at a meeting of the Council for Strategic Development and National Projects. Gazprom says they see a niche for themselves in the European hydrogen strategy Konstantin Romanov,...
These past few months have proven to be deeply challenging for the world as it reckons with the impacts of both COVID-19 and Climate Change. Nigeria, specifically, is struggling to cope with significant flooding and economic issues relating to the pandemic. Over the past two months, Northern Nigeria and the states of Jigawa, Kano, Kebbi,...
According to Jorge Rickards, Director of WWF Mexico, urban centers are key for the creation of solutions and environmental policies to address climate change given they are responsible for 70% of CO2 emissions globally. Mexico City‘s Program for Climate Action 2020-2026 is a strong example of courses of action cities can take to improve reforestation,...
