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COP26

Everything you need to know about COP26

(Português do Brasil) COP reúne centenas de líderes mundiais e milhares de representantes de organizações interessadas na área ambiental. Entenda o que deve ocorrer nesta edição.

Airlines lobby to rewrite carbon deal in light of coronavirus

Airlines are lobbying to rewrite the rules of a global agreement designed to tackle aviation emissions, with the coronavirus outbreak expected to make its targets tougher to meet. Campaigners accused airlines of attempting to “dodge their obligations”, but the industry said it was “a matter of survival”, with most international travel currently frozen in the… Read more »

Scientists reveal reduction in global air pollution and nitrogen dioxide levels

Since the Coronavirus outbreak, scientists have reported a decrease in air pollution and nitrogen dioxide levels around the world. The World Health Organisation recently declared coronavirus a pandemic. At the same time, scientists from around the world have revealed a decline in air pollution and nitrogen dioxide levels. At the beginning of March, NASA revealed… Read more »

UK carbon emissions have fallen by 29% in last decade

In 2019, Carbon Brief found that the UK’s CO2 emissions fell by 2.9%, bringing the total reduction to 29% over the past decade since 2010, even as the economy grew by a fifth. Coal use fell by 29% last year, which Carbon Brief say was the main driving force behind the decline in UK emissions… Read more »

Circularity at the heart of climate action

As heads of states and governments, business leaders and civil society from across the world gathered in Davos for the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting at the end of January, sustainability – including climate emergency – topped the agenda like never before. An urgent wake-up call, climate activist Greta Thunberg’s speech marked a… Read more »

COP 26 Private Finance Agenda Launched

Today, the COP 26 agenda has been launched to help private finance support the whole economy transition to net zero. The objective is that every professional financial decision will need to take climate change into account. The right framework for reporting, risk management and returns will embed these considerations and help finance a whole economy… Read more »

The Coronavirus and Carbon Emissions

In the past month, the world has seen a remarkably large drop in emissions of carbon dioxide, the main driver of global warming. The reason isn’t something to celebrate, though. The coronavirus outbreak in China, which has sickened at least 77,000 people, has shut down factories, refineries and flights across the country as officials order… Read more »

IPCC meets in Paris to discuss major 2022 climate change report

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is meeting at UNESCO on 24-28 February to consider the outline of the Synthesis Report for the Sixth Assessment Report, which will provide policymakers in 2022 with the most up-to-date scientific information related to climate change. The opening ceremony brought together government representatives and heads of UN-Agencies, who… Read more »

Amazon’s CEO pledges $10 billion to climate change fight

Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos will commit $10 billion to fund scientists, activists, nonprofits and other groups fighting to protect the environment and counter the effects of climate change.  Cutting emissions will be challenging for Amazon. The e-commerce company delivers 10 billion items a year, has a massive transportation and data center footprint, and… Read more »

£90 million UK drive to reduce carbon emissions

Households and businesses will benefit from £90 million to cut carbon emissions in industry and homes, Energy Minister Kwasi Kwarteng announced today (18 February 2020). £70 million will include funding for 2 of Europe’s first-ever low carbon hydrogen production plants – the first on the banks of the Mersey, the second planned for near Aberdeen…. Read more »

Most high-emitting industries not aligning with Paris Goals

New research by the Transition Pathway Initiative finds that 29% of the largest publicly-listed industrial companies are set to align their emissions with the Paris Pledges by 2030, up from 24% in mid-2018. These companies are aligned with the emission reduction pledges made by national governments in the Paris Agreement. However, those pledges are not… Read more »

EU and PIFS sign agreements totaling EUR 94 million to boost climate-sensitive business, trade and investment in the Pacific

The European Union (EU) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) signed financing agreements for the Pacific Regional Integration Support Programme (EUR 37 million, approximately 88.9 million FJD) and the Investment Facility for the Pacific (EUR 57 million, approximately 137million FJD). The private sector is a key partner for sustainable development and essential for attaining… Read more »

Global carbon markets grow 34% in 2019, led by Europe

Carbon markets around the world grew for a third consecutive year in 2019, and the value has grown almost fivefold since 2017, the calculation shows. “Record strong prices in the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), which makes up almost 80% of the global traded volume, was the main reason behind the growth in value,”… Read more »

Failure to act on climate poses greater risk to humanity, says Davos

The most immediate risk hanging over humanity in the next ten years is the extreme events caused by the climate crisis. And the risk of greater impact hanging over humanity in 2020 is the failure to act against the climate crisis. The message was given by a thousand political, business, academic and youth leaders from… Read more »

Research finds Antarctic penguin colonies declining due to climate change

Scientists surveying chinstrap penguin colonies in the Antarctic have found that the impacts of climate change have led to drastic reductions of chinstraps in many colonies, with some declining by as much as 77% since they were last surveyed almost 50 years ago. The independent researchers, who joined a Greenpeace expedition to the region, found… Read more »

Air Pollution could kill 160,000 in the UK over next decade

The BHF has said that heart and circulatory disease deaths attributed to particulate matter air pollution could exceed 160,000 over the next decade in the UK, unless the new Government takes bold action. This is equivalent to over 40 heart and circulatory disease deaths related to air pollution each day. Jacob West, the BHF’s Executive… Read more »

Glasgow unveils new electric buses to cut emissions ahead of net zero target

First Glasgow will roll out two all-electric buses as it becomes the city’s first commercial bus operator to introduce state-of-the-art fully-electric vehicles onto a commercial bus route since the 1960s. The launch of these vehicles means the city has now come full circle back to fully electric transport on commercial routes for the first time… Read more »

Half of UK universities have committed to divest from fossil fuel

Half of UK universities have signed up to divest from fossil fuels in what campaigners say is a significant blow to the “social licence” of big oil. Seventy-eight of the UK’s 154 public universities have joined the divestment campaign, either divesting or pledging to divest hundreds of millions from the fossil fuel industry. Although some… Read more »

VOTE FOR OUR AMAZON RAINFOREST PROJECT!

We need your help once again! Our Amazon Rainforest project, Ecomapuá, is finalist to offset emissions from AirFrance, and we need your vote! Voting goes until 17/01.  Beside offsetting, investing in this project ensures the Amazon standing and the sustainable development of neighboring communities! HOW TO VOTE: 1. CLICK  HERE 2. Our project is the… Read more »

Burns in the Amazon increased 30% in 2019, says INPE

The year of 2019 had a 30% increase in the number of outbreaks of fires in the Amazon compared to 2018, according to the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) through the Burned Program. The Amazon biome recorded 89,178 outbreaks in total, while the previous year totaled 68,345. It is the highest index since 2017… Read more »

York to ban cars from city centre

Private cars are to be banned from York’s medieval city centre by 2023, under plans approved by councillors. The City of York Council wants an end to “non-essential” car journeys within the city walls. The authority, which is run by the Liberal Democrats and the Greens, wants to make the city carbon neutral by 2030… Read more »

UN publishes booklet explaining to children rights to a safe environment

What are children’s rights? What rights of children are being affected? What can they do? The answers to these and other questions can be found in the booklet Rights of the Child and the Environment, launched by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), which didactically explains the right to a safe, healthy and sustainable environment…. Read more »

Zero-carbon electricity outstrips fossil fuels in Britain across 2019

Zero-carbon energy became Britain’s largest electricity source in 2019, delivering nearly half the country’s power and outstripping fossil fuels for the first time. Following a dramatic decline in coal-fired power and a rise in renewable and low-carbon energy, 2019 was the cleanest energy year on record for Britain, according to National Grid, which owns and… Read more »

What are carbon credits? See why travelers are shopping

When 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg crossed the Atlantic Ocean aboard a non-polluting sailboat, her intention was to address the issue of the millions of tons of carbon dioxide annually emitted into the atmosphere from air travel. A plane trip of about 10 hours this holiday season can generate up to one metric ton, or… Read more »

2019 was Australia’s hottest year on record – 1.5C above average temperature

The year 2019 was the hottest on record for Australia with the temperature reaching 1.52C above the long-term average, data from the Bureau of Meteorology confirms. The year that delivered crippling drought, heatwaves, temperature records and devastating bushfires was 0.19C hotter than 2013, the previous record holder. The Bureau of Meteorology data shows the average… Read more »

UK’s first grid-injected hydrogen pilot gets underway

A new pilot to inject zero carbon hydrogen into a gas network to heat homes and businesses is now fully operational. This is the first time zero carbon hydrogen has been injected in the UK’s modern gas grid. HyDeploy, a new ground-breaking green energy trial at Keele University, Staffordshire, has been developed to help Britain… Read more »

SDG 7: win-win for ending energy poverty and protecting the climate

In 2015, the climate and development agendas crossed paths with the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and the Paris Agreement. While climate change touches all facets of development, perhaps the most direct link is made through SDG 7 which calls for ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all… Read more »

Progress made at COP25, despite lack of agreement to increase climate ambition

Negotiations at the COP25 UN climate conference in Madrid finally ended, wrapping up an event which saw much progress made by the private sector, and by national, regional and local governments. However, there was widespread disappointment that no overall consensus was reached on increased climate ambition.   UN chief António Guterres expressed his feelings on… Read more »

UK’s first zero-emissions street to be trialled in London

Beech Street, much of which runs under the Barbican Estate, will now be restricted to zero emission vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians by Spring 2020. This new initiative is subject to final approval by Transport for London (TfL). Emergency vehicles will be exempt from the restriction and there will be access to the car parks off… Read more »

Cutting air pollution ‘can prevent deaths within weeks’

Cutting air pollution can prevent deaths within weeks, according to scientists. They found the health benefits of clean air were “almost immediate and substantial” and stretched into the long term, saving billions of dollars. “I was surprised at how rapidly the benefits arise,” said Prof Dean Schraufnagel, at the University of Illinois at Chicago and… Read more »

Polluting firms ‘will be hit by climate policies’

Carbon-intensive firms are likely to lose 43% of their value thanks to policies designed to combat climate change, a report says. Meanwhile the most progressive companies will see an uplift of 33% in their value. The forecast was commissioned by the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).  Representatives of fossil fuel companies told the BBC… Read more »

Decade of ‘exceptional’ heat likely to be hottest on record

The last decade has been one of “exceptional” heat around the world, and was almost certainly the hottest on record, while the oceans have also warmed to record levels and grown markedly more acidic, the World Meteorological Organization has said. Temperatures for the years from 2010 to 2019 were about 1.1C above the average for… Read more »

Germany investing 82 million euros for sustainable development projects in Brazil

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 40.4 million euros will be contributed to projects related to sustainable agriculture. Brazil and Germany have signed technical and financial cooperation agreements to encourage sustainable development, with a contribution of 81.9 million euros per year by the European government, the Ministry of Agriculture reported on Monday (2). Most of… Read more »

Tackling degraded oceans could mitigate climate crisis

Halting overfishing and the plastic pollution of the oceans could help tackle the climate emergency by improving the degraded state of the world’s biggest carbon sink, a report has found. The oceans absorb both the excess heat generated by our greenhouse gas emissions, and absorb carbon dioxide itself, helping to reduce the impacts of climate… Read more »

Northeast faces severe drought and 636 municipalities are in emergency

Oil on beaches is not the only challenge that Brazil’s Northeastern states faces today. Droughts, so historically present in the region, are more intense, as mapped by the Satellite Image Analysis and Processing Laboratory (Lapis) published earlier this week. According to Professor Humberto Barbosa, coordinator of Lapis, the current low humidity picture this month is… Read more »

COP 25: Carbon Market will be the focus of COP 25

You already know about our projects (and can learn more about them here at our website), and know how they help reducing ghg emissions, deforesting and long term sustainability, with benefits for the entire community. Projects like these produce credits for the carbon market, one of the main subjects of COP 25.  The projects are… Read more »

COP 25: ‘point of no return’ in sight

Political leaders and climate diplomats are meeting in Madrid for two weeks of talks amid a growing sense of crisis. The world’s average surface temperature is rising rapidly because human activities release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, much like the glass roof of a greenhouse. The meeting… Read more »

COP 25: Critical year for climate change starts in Madrid

A critical 12 months in the battle against rising temperatures begins in Madrid this week, as UN delegates gather for key talks. The 25th Conference of the Parties, or COP, will see negotiators from almost 200 countries in attendance. Ahead of the meeting the UN secretary general has warned that the world is at the… Read more »

UN calls for push to cut greenhouse gas levels to avoid climate chaos

Countries must make an unprecedented effort to cut their levels of greenhouse gases in the next decade to avoid climate chaos, the UN has warned, as it emerged that emissions hit a new high last year.  Carbon dioxide emissions in 2018, also accounting for deforestation, rose to more than 55 gigatonnes, and have risen on average… Read more »

Doctor’s plea for hospital to end coal use for its energy, heating needs

A doctor has called on Nelson Hospital to end its use of coal, citing health and environmental concerns.  General practitioner Dr Ngaire Warner made the submission with support from Matt Lawrey at a Nelson Marlborough District Health Board meeting on Tuesday. “I want to table my concerns that this hospital still burns fossil fuels as a portion of its energy… Read more »

New Earth Mission Will Track Rising Oceans into 2030

Earth’s climate is changing, and the study of oceans is vital to understanding the effects of those changes on our future. For the first time, U.S. and European agencies are preparing to launch a 10-year satellite mission to continue to study the clearest sign of global warming — rising sea levels. The Sentinel-6/Jason-CS mission (short… Read more »

Climate-heating greenhouse gases hit new high, UN reports

The concentration of climate-heating greenhouse gases has hit a record high, according to a report from the UN’s World Meteorological Organization. The jumps in the key gases measured in 2018 were all above the average for the last decade, showing action on the climate emergency to date is having no effect in the atmosphere. The… Read more »

China coal surge threatens Paris targets

While the rest of the world has cut coal-based electricity over the past 18 months, China has added enough to power 31 million homes. That’s according to a study that says China is now in the process of building or reviving coal equivalent to the EU’s entire generating capacity. Researchers say the surge is a… Read more »

Oxford Dictionaries declares ‘climate emergency’ the word of 2019

Oxford Dictionaries has declared “climate emergency” the word of the year for 2019, following a hundred-fold increase in usage that it says demonstrated a “greater immediacy” in the way we talk about the climate. Defined as “a situation in which urgent action is required to reduce or halt climate change and avoid potentially irreversible environmental… Read more »

A Third of California Methane Traced to a Few Super-Emitters

NASA scientists are helping California create a detailed, statewide inventory of methane point sources — highly concentrated methane releases from single sources — using a specialized airborne sensor. The new data, published this week in the journal Nature, can be used to target actions to reduce emissions of this potent greenhouse gas. Like carbon dioxide,… Read more »

Formula 1 launches a plan to become carbon neutral by 2030

Formula 1 has launched a plan to become carbon neutral by 2030. The intention is to wipe out the carbon footprint of activity at race tracks, including road and air transport of staff and equipment to the events. F1 says it will “move to ultra-efficient logistics and travel and 100% renewably powered offices, facilities and… Read more »

Pantanal fire hits 2,430 outbreaks in October, worst month since 2002

Thousands of yellow dots appear on the map of the Burned System of the National Institute for Special Research. From November 1st to Thursday (07), 912 outbreaks were detected in the Pantanal. In the year, between January 1 and November 6, there were 9,394 outbreaks of fire in the biome, the worst series since 2007,… Read more »

What are the risks of contacting oil slicks in the Northeast?

Researchers at various universities are analyzing the visible and invisible impacts of oil on the environment and public health on the northeast coast. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation of Pernambuco (Fiocruz-PE) issued an open letter warning that an emergency should be decreed in the affected states and municipalities. Researcher Mauro de Melo Júnior, from the Federal… Read more »

Africa poised to lead way in global green revolution

Africa is poised to lead the world’s cleanest economic revolution by using renewable energy sources to power a massive spread of urbanisation, says an IEA report. The IEA, or International Energy Agency, predicts that solar energy will play a big role in supporting the continent’s growing population and industrialisation over the next 20 years. Africa has less than… Read more »

Air bubble barrier traps plastic waste in Amsterdam’s canals

The world’s first rubbish barrier made entirely from bubbles has been unveiled in Amsterdam in an attempt to catch waste in the city’s canals before it reaches the North Sea. A Dutch start-up, the Amsterdam municipality and the regional water board launched the Great Bubble Barrier, a simple device that channels rubbish – especially small pieces… Read more »

Climate change: ‘Clear and unequivocal’ emergency, say scientists

A global group of around 11,000 scientists have endorsed research that says the world is facing a climate emergency. The study, based on 40 years of data on a range of measures, says governments are failing to address the crisis. Released on the day that satellite data shows that last month was the warmest October on… Read more »

Serious climate impacts meet serious climate action

A study published recently in the journal Science presented troubling news for the Southeast. As a review of its findings describes, “climate change will actually affect the Southeast disproportionately to the rest of the United States, particularly with regard to economic productivity.” In layperson terms, what the report said is that — should current greenhouse gas emission trends continue —… Read more »

CMNUCC confirms COP25 in Madrid

UNFCCC has now officially confirmed Madrid as the host of COP 25. After the Government of Chile decided not to host COP 25, spanish president Pedro Sánchez made the offer to host it on December 2nd-13th. “Chile maintains its commitment to climate action and sustainable development and will keep coordinating the Climate Ambition Alliance and… Read more »

Chile cancels COP a month before the event

Chile’s president, Sebastián Piñera, reported on Wednesday that the country won’t host the 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP – 25) anymore. The main reason is the protests that have been taking the streets for almost two weeks. At the press report, Piñera informed that the government priority at the moment is to restablish… Read more »

How to protect forests and wildlife while surrounding communities benefit

One day, an American businessman who went to do a safari in Kenya fell in love with the Tsavo region’s wildlife but noticed the difficulties the communities around the wildlife sanctuaries faced. He set up Wildlife Works and in 2011 their Kasigau Corridor Project became the first Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)… Read more »

German metal recyclers want to be included in climate change plans

German politicians should recognize the value of the domestic metals recycling industry by including its representatives on the planned expert council for climate protection, the local metal traders association said. Germany’s ruling coalition in September agreed a package worth more than 50 billion euros of measures through to 2023 to protect the climate and boost… Read more »

World unprepared for impact of climate change on mountain water supplies

The world faces increased flooding, droughts and possible conflicts due to the effects of climate change on fresh water supplies drawn from mountains but is “woefully unprepared” to tackle these risks, experts said. Mountain-sourced water supplies, which provide about half of all drinking water worldwide, is becoming more unpredictable as warmer temperatures melt glaciers and… Read more »

Plans to help consumers buy electric cars

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, is preparing a $450 billion climate change initiative that aims to replace about a fifth of the nation’s traditional gasoline-powered vehicles with hybrid, electric or hydrogen fuel-cell cars and trucks in the next 10 years. The senator’s clean car plan is the first specific climate policy… Read more »

Climate change among top concerns of leading CEOs

New data from Global Data firm released suggests that climate change has become prominent topic in the most powerful executive boardrooms. The research shows that climate change is now one of the most frequently mentioned themes among the world’s leading CEOs on Twitter.  Its CEO Influencer platform, which captures the Twitter discussions of over 300… Read more »

Tesco and Amazon lead latest green energy procurement push

Tesco and Amazon have become the latest high profile brands to beef up their green power procurement efforts, after inking major new renewables agreement. EDF Renewables today announced it has signed three corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Tesco, providing a total of 60MW of power to the supermarket giant.   The renewable power will come… Read more »

(Português do Brasil) Aquecimento global: eventos extremos cada vez mais frequentes

In the Pacific Ocean, near the equator, a weather pattern periodically manages rainfall, droughts, floods, and storms across the planet. This meteorological phenomenon, whose full name is El Niño-Southern Oscillation (Enos), arises from warming ocean waters and often punishes Earth’s climate. “Enos alters the patterns of atmospheric circulation and causes extreme events around the world…. Read more »

To understand climate change

Climate change is “real time before our eyes,” says Michael Mann, a professor at Pennsylvania State University and one of the world’s most respected climate scientists. Mann cites as examples of this reality of our times the intensification of rainfall, a higher frequency of hurricanes and devastating heat waves. The BBC report summarizes 15 key… Read more »

Almost 40% of logging in Mato Grosso is illegal

Illegal logging in Mato Grosso was detected on 60,400 hectares, equivalent to 39% of the state’s logging area. Most of this illegal activity (67%) is concentrated on private property. Conservation Units, Indigenous Lands and rural settlements were the places with the lowest percentage of illegal exploitation, representing respectively 7%, 5% and 5%. The data are… Read more »

The importance of restoring ecosystems

More than natural beauty and soil protection, ecosystems provide important ecosystem services to humanity. The maintenance and preservation of forests ensures stability in the regime of rain and floods of rivers, biodiversity of fauna and flora, cleanliness of the air, and even physical barriers against pollution, flooding and sounds in urban areas. Ensuring conservation of… Read more »

Bahia government decrees emergency situation because of oil slicks

After Sergipe, it is now Bahia’s turn to declare an emergency because of the oil slicks that have been reaching the northeastern coast of Brazil for over a month. In addition to the emergency decree, which frees funds for six municipalities in the state that were hit by oil on the coast, the governor signed… Read more »

Study shows 20 companies account for one third of all CO2 emissions worldwide

A study by the US-based climate accountability research institute says that a group of 20 companies has been responsible for more than one-third of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide since 1965. Brazilian state-owned Petrobras appears in the list at 20th position. According to the analysis, first published by The Guardian newspaper on Wednesday, the 20 oil,… Read more »

Climate change: Big lifestyle changes are the only answer

The UK government must tell the public small, easy changes will not be enough to tackle climate change, warn experts.The government has passed a law obliging the country to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. Researchers from Imperial College London say we must eat less meat and dairy, swap cars for bikes, take… Read more »

Can Mayors Save the World From Climate Change?

When international leaders met last month at the United Nations to discuss climate change, and when millions of young protesters took to the streets, the focus was on sweeping global action. But for much of the world, the response to climate change looks more like small-town leaders laboring to persuade a skeptical public about complex… Read more »

The new and greener Paris

All over Paris, streets have been dug up and cut in two, and old paving stones overturned to build dozens of miles of bike lanes. A major urban highway has been closed to cars and turned over to pedestrians. Paris is readying feverishly for an emergency that, in the minds of the city and its… Read more »

Zero-carbon transition is gaining momentum but must accelerate.

The transition to a zero-carbon economy is achievable, will bring significant benefits and has already begun, but the governments of the world must come forward with clear bold policies needed to further accelerate action.  That was the clear message from the growing number of forward-looking businesses committed to bold climate action at the UN Climate… Read more »

Deforestation is a material risk that companies can no longer ignore

As the cycle of forest fires burning through the Amazon has captured the world’s attention, institutional investors have seized the opportunity to shift the focus to some of the root causes of the problem: decades of poor forestry and land-use management and poorly managed agricultural supply chains. While Unilever and Nestlé have made strides towards… Read more »

Sustainable fashion

Reuse to save money and resources. More and more people are striving for conscious consumption to reduce waste and its damage to the planet. The sustainable fashion movement gained momentum with the glaring data from the textile industry. In Brazil alone, it is estimated that about 175,000 tons of textile waste are disposed of annually…. Read more »

Pacific islands seek $500m to make ocean’s shipping zero carbon

A coalition of Pacific island nations wants to raise $500m (£400m) to make all shipping in the Pacific Ocean zero carbon by the middle of the century. The Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership, announced on Tuesday by the governments of Fiji, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, has set an emissions reduction target… Read more »

Investors make unprecedented commitment to net zero emissions

In one of the boldest actions yet by the world’s largest investors to decarbonize the global economy, an alliance of the world’s largest pension funds and insurers – responsible for directing more than US$ 2.4 trillion in investments – has today committed to carbon-neutral investment portfolios by 2050. This commitment by the newly launched, United… Read more »

Amazon’s tallest tree puzzles scientists

A team of British and Brazilian scientists published an article claiming to have found the tallest tree in the Brazilian portion of the Amazon rainforest. And the giant plant is surrounded by other huge trees, about 80 meters high. The researchers traveled 220 kilometers by boat and walked 10 kilometers deep into the woods until… Read more »

Scientists set out how to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

Greenhouse gas emissions could be halved in the next decade if a small number of current technologies and behavioural trends are ramped up and adopted more widely, researchers have found, saying strong civil society movements are needed to drive such change. Solar and wind power, now cheaper than fossil fuels in many regions, must be scaled… Read more »

Air pollution particles found on foetal side of placentas

Air pollution particles have been found on the foetal side of placentas, indicating that unborn babies are directly exposed to the black carbon produced by motor traffic and fuel burning. The research is the first study to show the placental barrier can be penetrated by particles breathed in by the mother. It found thousands of… Read more »

A methodology to measure plastic leakage

On 27 August 2019 at the World Water Week in Sweden, IUCN launched a report that identified numerous gaps and opportunities for developing a standard methodology to measure the extent of the plastic pollution crisis. The urgently needed methodology will provide decision makers with improved data collection and analysis on plastic waste management at the… Read more »

Clean clothes in Bangladesh

Since the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory building in 2013, Bangladesh’s textile industry has been under particular scrutiny. Among the controversial issues associated with the production of clothing is the use of chemicals. This poses a health risk to employees, in particular, but also to the environment and to customers. The chemicals, which are… Read more »

Satellite Data Record Shows Climate Change’s Impact on Fires

While every fire needs a spark to ignite and fuel to burn, the hot and dry conditions in the atmosphere determine the likelihood of a fire starting, its intensity and the speed at which it spreads. Over the past several decades, as the world has increasingly warmed, so has its potential to burn. Since 1880,… Read more »

Extreme weather events are happening sooner than expected

Recent examples of extreme weather have been linked to climate change – and they’re said to be happening sooner than expected. Prof Sir David King, who advised the UK government on scientific issues for almost eight years, described extreme events like heatwaves and hurricanes as “scary”. “We predicted temperatures would rise, but we didn’t foresee these sorts of extreme… Read more »

2019 ozone hole could be smallest in three decades

The ozone hole over Antarctica this year could be one of the smallest seen in three decades, say scientists. Observations of the gas’s depletion high in the atmosphere demonstrate that it hasn’t opened up in 2019 in the way it normally does. Ozone is a molecule that is composed of three oxygen atoms. It is… Read more »

Diesel cars emit more air pollution on hot days

Emissions from diesel cars – even newer and supposedly cleaner models – increase on hot days, a new study has found, raising questions over how cities suffering from air pollution can deal with urban heat islands and the climate crisis. Research in Paris by The Real Urban Emissions (True) initiative found that diesel car emissions… Read more »

GCF joins initiative to help Africa expand its REDD+ roots

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is helping REDD+ gain a stronger foothold in Africa by joining the first initiative to promote a regional approach to using payments to keep forests standing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.   GCF staff joined more than 60 REDD+ experts and country representatives from 22 African countries at a workshop… Read more »

Barcelona’s car-free ‘superblocks’ could save hundreds of lives

Barcelona could save hundreds of lives and cut air pollution by a quarter if it fully implements its radical superblocks scheme to reduce traffic.  A study carried out by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health calculates that the city could prevent 667 premature deaths every year if it created all 503 superblocks envisaged in its… Read more »

What can accelerate or slow the recovery of the fire-stricken forest

Over 40 thousand plant species, 1.3 thousand different types of birds and 426 mammals live at the Amazon, the biggest rainforest in the world, with 6.7 million square kilometers. Many specimens of fauna and flora, however, are threatened by the burning that has plagued the region for a few weeks.  The outbreaks are not limited… Read more »

Indians ally with former enemies to defend the Amazon

Past feuds – which almost led one of these groups to extermination – were abandoned in the name of a larger goal: to defend the Amazon. The list of concerns includes government plans to authorize leasing and mining on indigenous lands and actions that would be encouraging invasions by prospectors and loggers on their territories,… Read more »

Benefits to farmers of global heating outweighed by losses

Any advantages to European agriculture from a warming world will be outweighed by the losses from extreme events and environmental stress, leading to a probable large economic loss for farming in the next 30 years, research on the impacts of the climate crisis has found. Heatwaves this year and last year have exposed the vulnerability… Read more »

Wild geese change routes to cope with climate change

Barnacle geese are choosing new feeding sites to cope with climate change, according to Scottish researchers. A team from St Andrews University, along with Norwegian, Dutch and British colleagues, found that the birds were flying further north in the Arctic. The findings are based on 45 years of observations by experts. The teams found that… Read more »

Switch fossil fuel subsidies to renewables to trigger clean energy revolution

Switching fossil fuel subsidies to support renewables could unleash a clean energy revolution and propel the decarbonisation of the global economy, according to a new report from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). Despite G20 nations pledging every year since 2009 to phase out unnecessary fossil fuel subsidies, they continue to far outstrip equivalent support for… Read more »

Plastic bag sales in England halved in past year

Plastic bags sales by the biggest supermarkets in England have halved in the last year, government data shows. 6 big supermakets sold 549 million single-use plastic bags in 2018-19, down from one billion in the previous year. Since 2015, when a 5p charge was introduced to tackle plastic pollution, the number being used is down by 90%. Across… Read more »

5000 hotels to ditch mini toiletries

InterContinental Hotels Group is ditching miniature shampoo, conditioner and body-wash bottles across its 5,000-plus sites worldwide to reduce plastic waste. The hotel chain will switch to bulk dispensers, refillable bottles and ceramic containers by the end of 2021. The company says it uses about 200m bathroom miniatures every year, equivalent to about 1m kg of plastic. Though they… Read more »

England region plans world-first for climate change teaching

North of Tyne, in England, plans to become the first place in the world to have a UN-accredited climate change teacher in every state primary and secondary school. According to the mayor, Jamie Driscoll every school in the area would have the opportunity to train a member of staff to give lessons on global heating and… Read more »

Global warming is the biggest in 2000 years

The current global warming surpasses, in velocity and extension, any climate event registered in the last 2000 years. In an article published on Nature magazine, researchers confirm that not even the “Small Ice Age” – a significant global cooling between 1300 and 1850 – compares to what is happening right now.   According to the study,… Read more »

World exceeds 1,5ºC with future infrastructure

In recent studies, Dan Tang, from California University in Irvine, projects that the existing infrastructure, if the present operation is maintained, will emit 648 billion tCO2. Furthermore, the emission of future construction and planned infrastructure will be of 188 billion tCO2. In other words, a total of 846 billions tCO2 is already planned to hit… Read more »

London to have climate similar to Barcelona by 2050

London will have, in three decades, a similar climate to that of Barcelona today, while Madrid will feel like present-day Marrakech, and Stockholm like Budapest, according to a reasearch about the impact of climate change. Besides the high temperatures, the change would be accompanied by severe drought.  Cities closer to the temperate and cold zones… Read more »

To contain global warming, our planet needs 1,2 trillion of new trees

The best way to contain the global warming, besides preserving the existing forests, is to plant trees. According to a publication from Science magazine, the massive reforesting in underutilized areas is the best way to get to the limit established at the UN’s IPCC. At last years report, the goal was to limit global average temperature increase… Read more »

A Drier Future Sets the Stage for More Wildfires

Droughts creates ideal conditions to wildfires. The lack of rain and low humidity dries out trees and plants, providing fuel.  Under those conditions, lightining, electrical failures, human error can make even the planned fires get out of control quickly.  Global climate change is predicted to change precipitation and evaporation patterns  all over the world, leading to… Read more »

What causes heat waves in Europe?

Summer is at its peak in Europe: temperatures reached 38,6ºC at Coschen, near the border with Poland. In Germany, the asphalt from a road in the center of the country melted, leading authorities to reduce the speed limits. France suspended classes because the thermometers  hitted over 40ºC in some regions at the South.  According to the… Read more »

Sustainable Carbon at the Diversity Dinner from AHK

Sustainable Carbon’s CEO, Stefano Merlin, was invited to the Diversity Dinner, that received the Germany’s Federal Development Minister, Gerd Müller.  The event engaged the German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK), NGOs and German-Brazilian companies in group discussions concerning diversity in the corporate environment and social commitment.  To pay tribute to the Minister, the Chamber… Read more »

Find out what ULEZ is and how they reduce pollution in London

Acronym for Ultra Low Emission Zone, are places of the city where it is prohibited to traffic with vehicles that use gasoline or diesel, only hybrids or electric, as well as bicycles. The novelty was introduced in the city of London in April and have already produced great results. The average number of vehicles that… Read more »

Single-use plastics are largely responsible for climate change

The proliferation of single-use plastics worldwide collaborates too much for climate change, according to a report by the Center for International Environmental Law. Plastic contributes to greenhouse gas emissions in any part of its life cycle, from the production, refining to its daily use. The report says that plastic compositions will account for 13% of… Read more »

Indigenous leader defends forests at Harvard University meeting

Shaman Davi Kopenawa, a Brazilian indigenous leader, was invited by the Harvard University in the United States to participate in an event on the Amazon that brought together Brazilian scientists and researchers on the subject. Kopenawa was categorical in saying that the current Brazilian government is wiping out indigenous territories and weakening the National Indian… Read more »

$2 million worth of carbon credits will be spent by Fiat Chrysler

According to CFO Richard Palmer, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles plans to spend $ 2 million on carbon expenses, including fines and credits. The expenses will be incurred in three years, from 2019 to 2021, and were disclosed during the company’s first quarter results meeting. FCA CEO Mike Manley said the purchase of the credits is a… Read more »

Ireland decrees state of climate emergency

After England, the Irish parliament also issued a state of emergency in the country. An amendment was included to the parliamentary report, which declared the emergency situation and also put climate issues at the top of the Irish government’s priority, which accompanies the decision of the neighboring England. Pro-climate activists and parliamentarians celebrated the decision… Read more »

Climate may influence elections in Australia

The Australian elections, scheduled for May 18, 2019, may be affected by one important issue: climate change. The country is very vulnerable to these changes, as it is part of the continent that has warmed most in the last century. However, the candidates to lead the nation have not yet demonstrated proposals that benefit the… Read more »

UK sets record for hours without coal burning

In 2017, the United Kingdom stayed 24 hours without burning coal. The record was just over 90 hours without burning, recorded on Easter 2019. Last night, May 6, 2019, the record was broken. The new brand was established in 125 hours without coal burning in the UK. Since the Industrial Revolution the country did not… Read more »

Australian Metropolis suffer from lack of water

Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane and Melbourne face the scenario of their dams having less than 50% of their water capacity. This occurs after a sequence of days without rain and high temperatures in the Australian territory. Forecasters predict hotter than normal fall and winter, which could further undermine the water-related situation in Australia. So far, none… Read more »

Resource extraction is the cause of half the world’s carbon footprint

If climate change was a super-villain, it would probably be the extraction industry. A new study by the United Nations has just revealed a fact that is not very surprising, but extremely alarming. The extraction industry is responsible for half of the planet’s carbon emissions, as well as being responsible for the loss of 80%… Read more »

Green Climate Fund causes conflict between countries

More money, more problems. Even if it’s for a good cause. The world is in disarray due to the Green Climate Fund of the United Nations. Currently, all 24 countries on the board have veto power. Coming to unanimous agreements has become a problem. Last year  the United States blocked a request for China made for… Read more »

NHL buys carbon credits to offset emissions

To offset its carbon emissions with air travel, the National Hockey League (NHL) of the United States has announced the purchase of carbon credits to equalize 465 metric tons of pollution. The NHL announced the purchase on Monday, April 22, which coincided with Earth Day. Compensation is equivalent to taking 99 cars out of the… Read more »

2018 was the fourth warmest year in history

According to a NASA study that looked at the average surface temperature of the planet since 1880, the global temperature of 2018 was 0.83 degrees Celsius warmer than the global temperature in the period from 1951 to 1980. The last 5 years have been the hottest since the 19th century. It is noteworthy that since… Read more »

The long road to “zero” emissions

The dream of a carbon-free world is still a long way off, but not impossible. In the UK, environmental activists have demanded that the country’s emissions be zeroed in 2025, but it will be very difficult to achieve. What is expected is that by 2050, the nation will be carbon free, which would be a… Read more »

Fernando de Noronha Island faces problems with pollution

The Brazilian environment has just found a new threat: tourists. Fernando de Noronha can be considered a paradise on Earth. A recent boom in tourism on the island may make that statement no longer true. Since 1992 the annual number of tourists in the island has jumped from little more than 10 thousand to almost… Read more »

Activists take London streets in favor of climate

A movement called “Rebel for Life” took to the streets of the English capital. In protest, protesters called for action against climate change. The main act of the activists was peaceful. They blocked five of the city’s central sites, including the Waterloo Bridge and the Shell Center. Demonstrators placed flowers in the middle of the… Read more »

Renewable projects to be top priority in China

Starting in April, the Chinese energy regulator will give free subsidies for the rest of 2019 to wind and solar projects. The country’s government has promised to launch a series of sustainable projects, where wind and solar energy will be a priority in the nation’s development. The total subsidies were set at 3 billion yuan,… Read more »

Study reveals priority for renewable energy in rich countries

Those who understand money support sustainability. The February issue of the World Economic Service unveiled research that claims that in countries where many fossil fuels are imported, native economists give high priority to energy transition. That is, authorities in the field of economics support their countries to adopt efficient and sustainable energy sources. Statistically, 71%… Read more »

Norwegian youth protest against oil companies

The Lofoten Islands, located in the north of Norway, have a high oil index throughout. In this way, the country’s government plans to explore the territory. In return for the leadership of the Nordic state, the country’s young people did not like the idea and staged a protest that not only the islands were not… Read more »

Finland calls for ban on coal use

1 year can make a lot of difference. Finland has just taken one more step to fight against climate change. Surely it will displease any member of the coal industry, as the country has just cut its date of banning fossil fuel in 1 year. The ban, previously allocated for 2030, will come into effect… Read more »

Multinational companies announce agreement for renewable energy development

Never doubt opposites attract. National Grid, an electricity and natural gas delivery company, has just acquired Geronimo Energy, a pioneer in renewable energy in a $ 100 million deal. The buyer has become a landmark in the sustainable energy market, accelerating the growth of renewables and reducing carbon emissions in both the US and the… Read more »

France in the fight against global warming

When it comes to climate change, the French do not play on the job. A group of experts recently published the first version of a European financial agreement, which is supposed to be about mobilizing trillions of euros in the fight against global warming. In February, during the launch of the newly created “Pacte Finance… Read more »

Canada is the country that suffers most from global warming

According to the nation’s official report, Canada warms up twice as fast as the rest of the globe. In addition, the report confirms that, according to the projection, the changes should become even stronger. The document notes that the country’s average temperature has risen by 1.7 degrees Celsius since 1948, with the highest increase in… Read more »

Beijing, take a deep breath

Air pollution can be considered one of the biggest problems faced by metropolises worldwide. The situation can be considered so precarious that some governments even conceal the true damage caused by harmful gases in the atmosphere. But like every big problem, this is accompanied by a great solution. This is the case in Beijing. The… Read more »

Single-use plastics will be abolished in Europe by 2021

In a vote of the parliament of the European Union, it was decided that single-use plastics, such as forks, straws and swabs, will be abolished from the continent until 2021. Also at the meeting, it was studied how to reduce the use of food containers and plastic lids. In addition, plastic bottles should be made… Read more »

Carbon emissions to be taxed in South Africa

South Africa does not want to be left behind in sustainable development. In March, the African nation approved a new tax. This is a federal tax on carbon emissions. For each ton issued will be charged 120 rands (eight US dollars). The law has been passed for years. The idea of ​​taxing carbon was introduced… Read more »

The end of the world can start from below

According to the first global scientific review, insects have never been so close to extinction, with one prediction seeing the total disappearance of arthropod life in less than a century. With an extinction rate almost 8 times faster than mammals, birds and reptiles, more than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are… Read more »

Costa Rica plans to end emissions by 2050

Costa Rica may be about to start a climate revolution. This is at least part of the plan introduced by President Carlos Alvarado Quesada. The plan is basically to end the country’s carbon emissions by 2050. Achieving the goal, which on the world stage could be considered unattainable, is based on a strategy that focuses… Read more »

The future depends on the young

This is one of the phrases that may come to mind when it comes to climate activism in the UK. In at least 60 cities in the UK in February, more than 10,000 young people left their classrooms in protest. On the street, the members of Generation Z, left nothing less than clear their frustration… Read more »

COP 25 will be held in Chile

The COP 25 has just found a new home. After President Jair Bolsonaro withdrew the offer to host the next United Nations climate conference in Brazil, the organization’s authorities wereted no time in finding a new venue for the event. The so-called COP 25 not only changed location, but also had the date changed. Originally… Read more »

Australia reaches new annual emissions high

  It looks like it’s time for Australia to adopt more efficient compensation policies. 2018 was a special year for the country’s climate, but not in a good way. According to the organization, Ndevr Enviroment which maps greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), Australia reached a new annual emissions high in 2018. The increase occurred because, although… Read more »

What is the #trashtag challenge?

Never say that the internet is not recyclable. A new hashtag has just viralized on social networks. #trashtag, an online challenge for users to post profile photos in a “before and after” format of regions that have been contaminated by the relentless disposal of trash. It is basically a movement to encourage ordinary citizens to… Read more »

Honda wants to go full electric in Europe by 2025

The future is electric. And Honda knows that. The Japanese automaker has just announced that, starting in 2025 in Europe, it will sell only fully electric cars, or at least hybrids. Two years ago the company’s plan was to electrify its European fleet by the middle of the next decade. According to Tom Gardner, senior… Read more »

Germany introduces new climate law project

Germany may have just started the process to become sustainable. Thhat’s the dream of the current German minister of the environment, Svenja Schulze. The minister is currently fightimg so that by 2050 her country has reduced its emissions by “at least” 95%. She also wants to remove emissions that are already in excess in the… Read more »

Dairy Business wants to become carbon neutral

Farmers discover the concept of antithesis. In a contradictory statement, Arla Foods, a dairy company, has just promised to make its more than 2,000 farms scattered throughout the UK and its entire business ventures, completely carbon neutral by 2050. The pledge may be considered ambitious, but this does not seem to affect the firm, which… Read more »

Beijing air gets healthier. Could become international role model

Beijing, take a deep breath. Air pollution can be considered one of the biggest problems faced by metropolises worldwide. The situation can be considered so precarious that some governments even conceal the true damage caused by harmful gases in the atmosphere.  But like every big problem, this one is accompanied by a great solution. That’s… Read more »

São Paulo’s air is extremely polluted

Your government is hiding things from you. At least if you live in São Paulo, Brasil. The current estimate is that 17,000 people die each year in the state of São Paulo due to air pollution. This calculation, carried out by a USP (University of São Paulo) research team, also estimated that if nothing is… Read more »

Costa Rica wanst to become carbon neutral by 2050

Costa Rica may be about to start a climate revolution. This is at least, according to the plan introduced by President, Carlos Alvarado Quesada. The plan intends to oversse end of the country’s carbon emissions by 2050.  The goal, which due to the current scenery, could be considered unattainable, is based on a strategy that… Read more »

Chemical Production set to double by 2030

  The Climate Catastrophe continues. In a new twist that should not surprise many, one of the goals of reducing environmental impacts will surely have to see an increase on its deadline. The goal in question is the reduction of industrial chemical production. The most recent forecast, set up by the UN environmental department, states… Read more »

Students organize global strike against Climate Change

  Wisdom does not necessarily come with age. Today, March 15, 2019, signs of a new, emerging, politicized generation have never been so clear. Thousands of children and teenagers have skipped class this Friday, but it’s not for the reason you’re thinking. There are strikes happening in more than 100 countries, organized by young people…. Read more »

2018 was the fourth warmest year in History since the 1880´s

At least it didn´t finish first. 2018 was the fourth warmest year in Earth’s history. This is  according to a study by NASA that looked at the average temperature of the planet’s surface since 1880. The global temperature of 2018 was 0.83 degrees Celsius warmer than the average global temperature from 1951 to 1980. The… Read more »

Fique por dentro da Lei de Serviços Ambientais em debate no Tocantins

Depois do Acre, agora chegou a vez do Tocantins avançar na elaboração de uma lei que regulamente os serviços ambientais. O processo já passou pelas consultas públicas em três cidades diferentes e agora estará disponível no site da Secretaria de Meio Ambiente do estado para mais apreciações. Em conformidade com o Código Florestal, a lei… Read more »

First steps for a more sustainable aviation

In order to help air navigation service providers improve their environmental performance, the Civil Air Navigation Services Organization (CANSO) has recently published a best practices guide on carbon footprinting for the sector. Focusing primarily on managing the carbon footprint of infrastructure such as energy buildings and logistics services, the guide aims to provide these services… Read more »

Bom exemplo: indústria da moda avança em uso do algodão sustentável

Você sabia? O Brasil produz cerca de 30% do algodão sustentável que circula no mundo, algo em torno de um milhão de toneladas, sendo o principal fornecedor desse algodão certificado com princípios socioambientais, de acordo com a BetterCottonIniciative (BCI). Para dar ainda mais orgulho, a meta da Associação Brasileira dos Produtores de Algodão é que… Read more »

Prize: ceramics receive recognition for environmental performance and water reuse

Cerâmica e Agropecuária Asunção (Ceagra) received, for the fourth consecutive year, the Environmental Performance award from the Federation of Industries of Ceará (FIEC), in addition to be declared winner in the Reuse of Water category. The award was presented at Sesi da Barra do Ceará, on September 2016. The award values ​​and recognizes companies that are… Read more »

New Batch of Premium Carbon Credits Just Out of the Oven

The project Gomes de Mattos has just verified 126kt of premium carbon credits from very recent vintages: 2014, 2015 and 2016. This is a top renewable biomass project with robust socio-environmental co-benefits. Below you can check some of the highlights: Provision of Health and Educational Services to the Community: the project carries out periodic events… Read more »

TAM Airlines partners up with Sustainable Carbon

TAM recently announced a partnership with Sustainable Carbon for offsetting the emissions originating from the company’s flights during the World Cup, a pioneering initiative in Brazil and soon to be […]