As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe, Japan has since experienced several significant climate disasters and adopted new policy changes. In this report, we are highlighting some of the most significant changes. In late summers and early autumns, Japan is often hit by tropical cyclones that devastate regions along the coasts with very heavy...
COVID-19 has been the focus of a majority of countries around the world this year and rightfully so. The virus has already claimed over a million lives worldwide and infected over 34 million people. In Indonesia, there have been over 300,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths. A majority of the world went into lockdown in...
Listed below are some of the notable events that took place in India between July and October 2020, offering glimpses of India’s initiatives and new response measures to better build back the country in a post-COVID-19 period. New Federal Air Quality Guidelines India has long been troubled by the practice of stubble burning of agricultural...
Earlier this year it became evident that Germany will fail to achieve its emission reduction targets of 40% by the end of the year, reaching a reduction of only 35.7% compared to the 1990 levels. According to two independent studies ordered by the Ministries of Environment and Economy, at current conditions and standing policies the...
Green energy policy was accelerated in France last September as the French economy faced its deepest recession since World War II with a projected GDP drop of 11% in 2020. In the face of severe economic distress, a 100 billion euro stimulus package was passed to simulate the economy and drive job growth—a third of...
There have been numerous discussions in the EU within the past months regarding Climate Change mitigation efforts and it is becoming apparent the EU wants to fortify some of its ambitious goals. Some recent events that highlight the emphasis on the EU’s restructuring of its goals, as well as the larger discussion surrounding climate change,...
China surprised the world in September with a pledge to take further action in combating climate change and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. The first pledge was made to leaders of the European Union mid-September, then reiterated in President Xi’s speech to the UN General Assembly. Neither announcement provided any details as to how carbon...
CLIMATE POLICY – Canada’s minority government received a confidence vote on its September 23rd Throne Speech plan (which opens every new session of Parliament). The pillars of the plan announced by Prime Minster Justin Trudeau are to: fight the pandemic and save lives, support people and businesses through the COVID-19 crisis, reconciliation, recognize Canada’s progress...
It is unsurprising that the same administration which vowed to take advantage of the pandemic to “pass the cattle” is also approving the easing of environmental laws. Brazil’s most relevant climate-related news is concerning given its preoccupation with legislative changes in conservation and the preservation of ecosystems. President Bolsonaro’s rolling back of climate mitigation and...
The July to October period has seen some incredible leaps in the Australian renewables sector despite lack of federal government support. The state of Tasmania is currently legislating a world-leading 200% renewable energy target. In October, South Australia became the first major jurisdiction in the world to be powered by 100% rooftop solar for any...
