Climate News Round-Up | September 18 - October 1 2019

The climate change crisis made major headlines since last issue, no small thanks to Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. The 16-year old wrapped up a 6-day visit to D.C. by testifying to Congress with other young climate leaders. She then headed to New York City in time to lead a climate strike that over four million people around the globe participated in.

During the September 24 UN Climate Summit, Thunberg urged world leaders to take bold action to reduce emissions in an impassioned speech, and later, alongside 15 other young people, filed a complaint with five countries for violating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child for not taking strong enough measures to curb emissions. 

Nevertheless, the UN Climate Summit did not yield sufficient commitments to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius, as recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. While 70 countries agreed to tighter greenhouse gas reduction goals, the biggest emitters - China and the U.S. - did not increase their commitments from goals set in the Paris Agreement of 2015. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, the third largest emitter, announced that India would increase its renewable energy production capacity from 175 gigawatts to 450 gigawatts by 2022, in line with a 2-degree scenario, although did not commit to reducing coal consumption. 

The UN Climate Summit prompted nearly one hundred companies to make new environmental goals, including Amazon and Nike. Milan’s Fashion Week, held roughly the same time as the Summit, ended with its third annual Green Carpet Fashion Awards, celebrating 12 awardees’ commitment to sustainability. In media, The Economist dedicated an entire issue to climate, The Boston Globe released dramatic research into the effects of climate change on Cape Cod, and MSNBC hosted a climate forum for 11 2020 Democratic (and one Republican) presidential hopefuls over two days.

IPCC released a major report on the deleterious effects of climate change on oceans. Perhaps researchers at CalTech can help solve these and other climate problems with their new $725 million environmental sustainability research grant, the second largest grant ever given to a university.

Around the states, Pittsburgh is funding climate change adaptation with municipal bonds, Chapel Hill, North Carolina has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050, and Maryland lays claim to the first gas station to transition from petroleum to electricity, thanks to a grant from the Maryland Energy Administration.

 

Headlines:

Teen Climate Activist Greta Thunberg Demands That Congress Listen to Scientists, Washington Post

Across the Globe, Millions Join Biggest Climate Protest Ever, The Guardian

Transcript: Greta Thunberg's Speech At The U.N. Climate Action Summit, NPR

Greta Thunberg and 15 other Children Filed a Complaint Against Five Countries over the Climate Crisis, CNN

The UN Climate Action Summit was a Disappointment, Vox

Big Companies Commit to Slash Emissions Ahead of U.N. Climate Summit, Reuters

Jeff Bezos Pledges that Amazon will Swiftly Combat Climate Change, The Verge

Glamour and Sustainability: Inside The Green Carpet Fashion Awards That Closed Milan’s Fashion Week, Vogue

Nike Unveiled a Big New Sustainability Initiative as Millions around the World Prepared to Strike for Action on Climate Change, Business Insider

The Climate Issue, The Economist

At the Edge of a Warming World, The Boston Globe

MSNBC Will Host 2020 Democrats — and One Republican — at the Next Climate Town Hall, Vox

Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, IPCC

The Second-Largest Gift to a US University was Pledged to Caltech. It's Being used for Climate Research, CNN

 

Around the States:

How Pittsburgh is Funding the Fight against Climate Change, Public Source

Chapel Hill Commits to 100% Clean, Renewable Energy, Sierra Club

First Gas Station in America to Ditch Oil for 100% Electric Vehicle Charging Opens in Maryland, CNBC