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An article by Josh Hrala in Science Alert

As the world’s leading superpowers struggle to make the transition from fossil-based energy systems to more sustainable options, 47 of the world’s poorest nations have pledged to skip fossil fuels altogether and jump straight to using 100 percent renewable energy instead.

The ambitious goal was laid out by members of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) during the final day of the UN Climate Change Conference in Morocco last week, which discussed ways for countries to hit the targets set by the Paris Agreement late last year.

The idea, in a nutshell, is to have some of the world’s poorest countries skip from pre-industrialisation practices to renewables, allowing them to basically avoid the ‘messy part‘ in the middle where a need for more energy to support economic growth spurs fossil fuel use to dangerously high levels.

In economics, this sort of skipping is known as ‘leapfrogging’ and it occurs when a society skips a step of development that other countries have taken.

One of the best examples of this process is mobile phones in rural Africa.

In many African nations, people in remote areas ended up skipping the landline step, with only one land line per 33 people, and moved straight to mobile technology. Now one in 10 people have a cell phone – a transition that some have called a revolution.

Members of the CVF hope to perform the same kind of ‘leapfrogging’ with regards to energy.

The 47 members of the CVF – which includes nations like Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Haiti – say they’ll “strive to meet 100 percent domestic renewable energy production as rapidly as possible, while working to end energy poverty and protect water and food security, taking into consideration national circumstances”.

The goal is to have all of these systems in place some time between 2030 and 2050, and the members have committed to presenting a detailed plan to the UN by 2020.

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Are we making progress in renewable energy?

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The announcement comes at a time when countries around the world are trying to come up with a way to uphold the Paris Agreement set at the end of last year, which aims to keep global temperature levels from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

“The commitments made by the Climate Vulnerable Forum today are both impressive and inspirational,” EU climate commissioner Miguel Arias Canete told Matt McGrath from the BBC.

“They have once again shown their moral leadership in this process with real-world commitments to action. These countries are already living the terrifying reality of climate change today and their very existence is on the line. The EU stands with them and their commitment to greater ambition in the years ahead.”

While large, more economically powerful countries are applauding the efforts, members of the CVF are questioning why some of the world’s super-powers are so reluctant to change course to protect our shared planet.

“We don’t know what countries are still waiting for to move towards net carbon neutrality and 100 percent renewable energy,” Edgar Gutierrez, Costa Rica’s minister for the environment, told the BBC.

“All parties should start the transition, otherwise we will all suffer.”

Another worry is that the world’s richest countries will stop providing financial support for the Paris Agreement.

The US had pledged to contribute US$3 billion to the US$100 billion pool the agreement hopes to amass by 2020, but so far, it’s only pitched in US$500 million.

These funds are supposed to provide developing countries with the capital they need to get started in changing their infrastructure, but if the richest countries refuse to pay – a threat recently made by US President-elect Donald Trump – it could seriously hinder or destroy the goals set in Paris.

Only time will tell how the situation will play out, but it’s definitely a step forward for the 47 countries of the CVF, and hopefully it will spur on other countries to take the same action.

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An article from Ecowatch

Today [October 28], the largest marine protected area in the world was created in the Ross Sea, off the coast of Antarctica. This is a huge victory for the whales, penguins and toothfish that live there and for the millions of people standing up to protect our oceans.

Source: New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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For years, Greenpeace has campaigned for protection of the Ross Sea at the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the international body responsible for stewardship of Antarctic waters. Each year, Greenpeace, the Antarctic Ocean Alliance and millions of people around the world would call on governments to do the right thing, each time thinking this was the year it would finally happen. But year after year, there was always something blocking progress. But this year, all of CCAMLR’s members finally agreed—it’s time to make the Ross Sea a protected sanctuary!

The Ross Sea sanctuary becomes the biggest marine protected area in the world, covering 1,550,000 km2 (which is roughly the size of three Texases, two Spains, or one Mongolia), almost three quarters of which will be a fully-protected.

Known as “the Last Ocean,” the Ross Sea has been identified by scientists as the most pristine shallow ocean left on Earth. It’s stunning, but we were starting to wonder if it would ever be protected…

To finally get agreement to protect the Ross Sea a time clause of 35 years was included, which means that in 35 years CCAMLR members will again need to decide on its future. Marine protection, to be truly effective, needs to be long lasting so we have all those years ahead of us to make sure when the Ross Sea sanctuary is up for renewal, there is no resistance to making it permanent. We’re pretty confident that by 2051 it will be a simple decision!

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If we can connect up the planet through Internet, can’t we agree to preserve the planet?

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This year has already been a huge year for ocean protection.

The Ross Sea win comes on the heels of President Obama’s decision to expand the Papahanaumokuakea National Marine Monument, making it—until now—the world’s largest marine protected area. Just days before that, Obama also made history by establishing the first National Marine Monument in the Atlantic, protecting canyons and seamounts.

Other nations have been stepping up too on protecting their national waters—such as Chile’s creation of a massive marine park around Easter Island and the UK’s commitment to create protected “Blue Belts” around its overseas territories.

As big as these new sanctuaries are, the ocean is bigger still. Despite a pledge at the World Conservation Congress this summer to protect 30 percent of our oceans by 2030 , we have a long way to go to meet that target—and Greenpeace is pushing for more, with a goal of setting aside 40 percent of our world’s oceans as fully-protected sanctuaries.

The science is clear that ocean sanctuaries are vital to protecting biodiversity, rebuilding fish populations and increasing resilience to climate change. Unfortunately, long battles like the one that led to this victory for the Ross Sea need more than just good science—they need millions of people speaking up for our oceans. Without your voices, the best scientific case in the world is not enough to stand up against the short-term interests of the powerful commercial fishing lobby.

The tide seems to be turning on marine conservation, but as the long battle to win protection for the Ross Sea shows, getting action in shared seas, beyond national jurisdiction is a massive challenge. That’s why we need to do more to protect the so-called High Seas, which at the moment not only have no protection, they don’t even have an agreed system that could protect them. But we are getting there! Greenpeace is working tirelessly to ensure that United Nations delivers sanctuaries on the high seas, as well as campaigning and mobilizing to protect some of our most precious shared seas like the Arctic. With your help, we want to do even more.

Thank you all for your part in this victory! Together, we can keep the momentum building and ensure that we’ll have healthy oceans long into the future. Let’s make this the decade of ocean protection!

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An article from the Climate Examiner

Renewable sources of electricity overtook coal last year to become the largest source of installed capacity in the world, the International Energy Agency has reported.

Some 153 gigawatts (GW) of net renewable electricity capacity was installed around the world over the course of 2015, up 15 percent on the previous year. For comparison, Canada’s entire electricity capacity in 2014 was 133 GW.

Most of the growth has come from solar and wind, the global body said in its Medium-term Renewable Market Report published this week. Of the total, 63 GW came from onshore wind and 49 GW from solar photovoltaic.

Forty percent of the growth has occurred in China, where reportedly two turbines were built every hour on average last year. The People’s Republic is expected to continue to lead the world in growth in renewables for the foreseeable future, followed by the United States, then the European Union.

“When people talk about China, they think about coal, but it is changing,” said IEA chief Fatih Birol.

Looking forward, the renewables sector is expected to climb by 42 percent between 2015 and 2021.

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Are we making progress in renewable energy?

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The organization credits what it describes as “a transformation of global power markets led by renewables” to two factors. The first is a sharp reduction in costs for solar and onshore wind. Over the coming five years, costs for solar photovoltaic are predicted to drop by a further 25 percent and for onshore wind by 15 percent.

The second major factor has been government subsidies for the installation of renewable capacity. Over the next five years, policy changes in four key countries will drive much of the new growth: the US, China, India and Mexico.

The agency is careful to point out however that it is only the capacity to generate electricity that has surpassed coal, not the actual amount of electricity produced. Because wind and solar are intermittent—producing less or no electricity when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining, and at other times producing more electricity than needed—the proportion of actual generation remains much lower than coal, gas, hydro and nuclear, which can generate electricity at any time of the day.

Renewable sources of electricity are predicted to deliver 28 percent of generation by 2021, up from 23 percent last year. But most of this will come from existing hydroelectric dams. Hydro represented 71 percent of global renewable generation in 2015. Wind generated 15 percent, bio-energy eight percent and solar just four percent.

The report authors also warn that despite the significant growth in the sector, this is still insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement’s 2°C maximum increase in average global temperatures above pre-industrial times by the end of the century.

In addition, the IEA notes, while growth in clean electricity capacity has soared in the last few years, renewable penetration for transport and heating remains slow.

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

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An article from the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature)

Key decisions boosting support for Indigenous peoples’ rights have been adopted by IUCN State, government and civil society members today [9 September] at the IUCN World Conservation Congress taking place in Hawaiʻi.

Photo: Colectivo Siestesia – UICN América del Sur
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In a landmark decision, the IUCN Members’ Assembly has voted to create a new category of membership for Indigenous peoples’ organisations. This will open the opportunity to strengthen the presence and role of Indigenous organisations in IUCN – a unique membership union gathering 217 state and government agencies, 1, 066 NGOs, and networks of over 16,000 experts worldwide.

“Today’s decision to create a specific place for Indigenous peoples in the decision-making process of IUCN marks a major step towards achieving the equitable and sustainable use of natural resources,” says IUCN Director General Inger Andersen. “Indigenous peoples are key stewards of the world’s biodiversity. By giving them this crucial opportunity to be heard on the international stage, we have made our Union stronger, more inclusive and more democratic.”

“This decision is historical in that it is the first time in IUCN’s history that a new membership category has been established,” says Aroha Te Pareake Mead, Chair of IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP). “It also marks a turning point for the inclusion and full participation of Indigenous peoples in all aspects of IUCN’s work.

“For Indigenous peoples this provides an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to global policy on biocultural conservation, indigenous issues, traditional knowledge and the future direction of conservation as distinct peoples. I am proud of IUCN and its members for doing the right thing and enabling Indigenous peoples to speak for themselves as full members of the Union.”

IUCN Members have also called today for all protected areas to be considered as no-go areas for environmentally damaging industrial activities and infrastructure developments. IUCN Members emphasized the need for respect of Indigenous peoples’ rights as a high priority, to ensure their free, prior and informed consent in relation to activities in sacred natural sites and territories conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities. To date, only World Heritage sites have been recognised as off limit.

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(Click here for the Spanish version of this article or here for the French version)

Question for this article

Indigenous peoples, Are they the true guardians of nature?

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The need for consideration of the rights of Indigenous peoples has also been emphasized as part of the decision to increase the coverage of marine protected areas in order to achieve effective conservation of the oceans.

Tomorrow IUCN Members are expected to vote on a motion related to primary forests, which highlights the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities in conserving intact forest landscapes. Ecosystems such as primary forests are vital for the protection of Indigenous cultures and livelihoods of the poorest and most marginalised communities.

Other motions important for Indigenous peoples have also been adopted on a wide range of topics.

The Members’ Assembly is the highest decision-making body of IUCN. It brings together IUCN Members to debate and establish environmental policy, to approve the IUCN Programme and to elect the IUCN Council and President.

Motions are proposed by IUCN Members every four years to set priorities for the work of IUCN. IUCN’s membership currently stands at over 1,300 and includes some of the most influential government and civil society organisations from more than 160 countries, giving the decisions taken at the IUCN Congress a powerful mandate.

Resolutions and Recommendations on important conservation issues are adopted by this unique global environmental parliament of governments and NGOs, guiding IUCN’s policy and work programme and as well as influencing many other organisations around the world.

About IUCN

IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature, helps the world find pragmatic solutions to our most pressing environment and development challenges. IUCN’s work focusses on valuing and conserving nature, ensuring effective and equitable governance of its use, and deploying nature-based solutions to global challenges in climate, food and development. IUCN supports scientific research, manages field projects all over the world, and brings governments, NGOs, the UN and companies together to develop policy, laws and best practice. IUCN is the world’s oldest and largest global environmental organisation, with almost 1,300 government and NGO Members and more than 15,000 volunteer experts in 185 countries. IUCN’s work is supported by almost 1,000 staff in 45 offices and hundreds of partners in public, NGO and private sectors around the world. www.iucn.org.

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A press release from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)

Cities now have an unprecedented opportunity to transform and decarbonise their energy supply and use, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Energy in Cities, released today [18 October] on the sidelines of the Habitat III Conference in Quito, estimates energy use in 3,649 cities and explores their potential to scale-up renewable energy by 2030. It finds that while there is no one-size fits all solution, every city has massive potential to cost-effectively boost renewable energy use at the local level.

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“Cities can play a transformative role in leading the world to a clean and sustainable energy future,” said Adnan Z. Amin, IRENA Director-General. “We have to rethink the entire urban energy landscape, which requires rigorous planning and holistic decision-making. Renewable energy, combined with energy efficiency, will power the future growth of cities. We must ensure this transition happens as soon as possible.”

Electricity use varies widely across cities depending on climate conditions, population density and development stage. Likewise, energy use for transport varies greatly depending on urbanisation models. Today, renewables supply only 20 per cent of this energy, but much more is possible. Renewable Energy in Cities outlines three priority areas – both in technology and in policy – where cities can take action to scale up renewables use: renewable energy in buildings (for heating, cooling, cooking, and appliances); sustainable options for transport (electric mobility and biofuels); and creating integrated urban energy systems.

Accounting for 65 per cent of global energy use and 70 per cent of man-made carbon emissions, cities must play a key role in the transition to a low-carbon economy. By highlighting best practice from cities around the world, the report shows what is possible and what policies are needed to enable the change. It also provides concrete examples of how city actors can accelerate the switch to renewable energy at the local level by acting as planners, regulators, financiers and operators of urban infrastructure.

“By 2050, urban populations are expected to double, making urbanisation one of this century’s most transformative trends,” said Mr. Amin. “Now is the time to grow with renewables, leapfrog dirty technology, and create cities of the future that people are proud to call home.”

Renewable Energy in Cities was released today in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Habitat III Conference taking place in Quito, Ecuador. Meeting every 20 years, this year’s Habitat Conference is focused on sustainable urbanisation. Within this context and for the first time ever, the Conference is discussing the proliferation of renewable energy as a means to achieve a sustainable urban future and common prosperity.

Download the Renewable Energy in Cities report

Are we making progress in renewable energy?