Stephen Boucher

The COP29 Presidency outlines key strategic priorities for 2024 to enhance climate ambition and enable action - in solidarity for a green world - with a focus on : - Climate finance: getting an agreement on the The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance (NCQG) - NDCs: mobilizing all Parties to submit new Nationally Determined Contributions and climate action plans that match the level of ambition agreed in Paris. See also the timelines with the Heads of States and Leaders Summit taking place from November 11th to 13th and the finance day on the 14th of November 2024.

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What has been hailed as the ‘#greentransition’ – the global project to end large-scale extraction of #fossilfuels – requires a shift to a new set of #extractive projects. Green technologies depend on #minerals and #metals locked in the earth: #lithium, #cobalt, #nickel, #copper, and, above all, #iron for #steel. The #exploitation, #corruption and #environmental #destruction involved in the #mining of these materials are not on the wane. But what can be done to counter the interests behind them? What possibilities are there for a less ecologically compromised and economically stratified future? [...] "But the thing that most worries the #mining#industry – more than #finance, more than the reliability of supply – is the so-called #sociallicense to operate. Over the past couple of decades there has been a rise in community-level #militancy. I’ve mentioned the #protests in Panama and Serbia, but there are many, many more. Some mining projects have been stalled for years or a decade with no clarity over when or even whether they will resume. Mining companies no longer feel confident that local populations will accept their operations, which has resulted in a whole cottage industry of consultants on corporate social responsibility, green credentials and ethical certification schemes. The classical form of contention in the mining industry for the past century was labor. And strikes still happen. But given how much automation has changed the sector and reduced its labor intensity, community and frontline conflict have become the primary concerns."

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🌍 We are excited to share insights from the brand new "Transition Indicators" report by Climate Strategies! As decision-makers gather at the Bonn #Climate_Change_Conference, new research highlights the importance of #Transition_Indicators. These indicators articulate positive outcomes, facilitate dialogue, guide policy implementation, and enhance investment frameworks. 🌱 Dive into UCL's Bipashyee Ghosh's case study on page 51, focusing on water security in India. This study highlights the importance of innovative transition indicators in addressing water scarcity and promoting climate resilience. 💧 Explore the full report below: 🔗 https://buff.ly/3Kt3Tu3 #ClimateAction #TransitionIndicators #WaterSecurity #Sustainability

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G7 ITALIA ministers of environment, climate and energy agreed on a 35 page long communique that presents a compendium of shared commitments to address climate, biodiversity and pollution problems. #G7 also offers to help G20 Brasil 2024 to develop a shared approach to #bioeconomy via a "technical workshop for sharing information and best practices for designing robust and comprehensive #bioeconomy indicators." The ministers "recognize the need for sustainability criteria adapted to different economic activities producing and using #biological resources, where such criteria do not yet exist, particularly respecting the limits of sustainable #biomass production so that biological resources: are used sustainably and efficiently, kept in use for as long as possible to achieve #waste prevention and minimization, are recovered and #recycled to make the material available for another use, and energy is recovered."

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Storytelling for the Planet: The Importance of Storytelling for Climate Action Climate change is a complex issue with no easy solutions. In order to create the change we need, we need to be able to communicate the urgency of the issue in a way that resonates with people. Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways to do this. Stories can help us connect with people on an emotional level, and they can help us make sense of complex issues. When we hear a story about the impact of climate change on a real person or community, it can be more difficult to ignore the problem. Stories can also inspire us to take action, and they can help us to see the possibilities for a better future. Here are some things I do when preparing for a presentation that is climate-related:  1. Create a Venn diagram of the speaker request, my expertise, and audience interests. This helps me identify the key points that I want to make the presentation, and how to best tailor my message to the audience. 2. Identify a few stories that convey my main message. Stories are a powerful way to connect with the audience and make your message memorable. I try to choose a story that is personal, relatable, and illustrative of a specific impact of climate change. 3. Draft my remarks and practice them aloud, practice! The more I practice my presentation, the more comfortable I’ll feel delivering it. This also allows me, upon delivery and in the moment, to make adjustments and respond to the audience. Storytelling is something that I’m working on. I recently read Kindra Hall's book Stories that Stick, and I found it to be very helpful. Hall argues that the most effective and memorable stories are those that are simple, relatable, and emotional. I agree with Hall that stories are a powerful way to communicate and I’m excited to incorporate more storytelling into my own work. I believe storytelling is essential for motivating climate solutions and actions. Stories can help us to connect with each other, understand the impacts of climate change, and they can inspire us to take action to protect our planet. I encourage you to share your stories with others. Together, we can create a better future for our planet 🌎

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As the spotlight today in Parliament turns to the environment, and as the Prime Minister hosts the European Poltical Community, will there be any crossover? Perhaps not in the headlines, but unsurprisingly from someone who runs the Institute for European Environmental Policy UK (IEEP UK) I'm going to flag that the environment and climate aren't just important areas for closer working, but considering the common ground in shared aims, a good place to start rebuilding these relations, as I outline in this blog for UK in a Changing Europe https://lnkd.in/erTem9jA With some of the lower hanging fruit outlined in this report https://lnkd.in/enxRYjeK Steve Reed Adam Dyster Griffin Mosson Labour Climate and Environment Forum Paul McNamee Polly Billington Catherine Fookes Mike Buckley

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https://lnkd.in/ddCQ9kWg <<Former ECB president Mario Draghi, mandated by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to come up with proposals to revitalise the EU's economy, is expected to echo the same sentiments in a report due in June. "If you ask me, when you have a beautiful tree, admire it, cherish it, hug it once in a while and you will see that it will keep growing," she told a conference to mark the 20th anniversary of rules last updated in 2004.>> #EU #economy #rules #ECB #MarioDraghi #EC #sustainability

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More regulatory tailwinds for Green PRAXIS can only serve to accelerate the mission we're on. Yesterday, the UE enacted another piece of legislation that will help strike a better balance between economic activity and the preservation of nature. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZg3nqyS #GreenPRAXIS #Regulations #EnvironmentalPreservation #UELegislation

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Interesting experiment in #biodiversity uplift credits using bioacoustics and ground observation. There has been a lot of debate on an ideal unit for this nascent market and they may have landed on it.. 100 m2/yr at about $25. This can involve a lot of different intervention types, but it looks like it will be focused here on restoration. So it’s priced about right for a typical native forest restoration project ($2500/ha).

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🌞 Facing the heatwave before it's too late 📚 I am delighted to announce the release of my book "Facing the Heatwave" (Faire face à la canicule) by Desclée de Brouwer editions scheduled for May 15th. The observation is clear, climatologists have been warning us for a long time, if we don't act now, our summers, our daily lives will be unbearable in the near future. Global temperatures reached record highs again in 2023, making it the hottest year ever recorded. As an expert, as an elected official of Paris, I had the privilege last year of being the rapporteur for an information and evaluation mission Paris at 50 degrees. This collegial mission had then established 85 recommendations to both delay the arrival of the critical point, but also in a second stage to anticipate measures to mitigate the social, health, and environmental impacts. We are at a time when science fiction scenarios that were forecasted over 20 years ago seem to be coming true today. And awareness is still too timid in the face of the acceleration of negative effects. If we must accelerate the adaptation of cities to climate change starting from concrete solutions, we must keep hope. This is what I have attempted to do with this book: Enjoy your reading! https://lnkd.in/eM2HQCbA Manuel Pulgar-Vidal IUCN #heatwave #climate #security #environment #newbook #MaudLelièvre

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The freedom of #journalists is a vital element for accountability and good governance. On #WorldPressFreedomDay, I want to pay tribute to all the journalists who take personal risks to report and investigate - especially where corruption, conflict, human rights and the environment are at stake. Quality information and reportage is essential for #thinktanks and researchers in the field of policy and international affairs, like myself and many of you on Linked-In. This informs our work in trying to improve the basis for multilateral, government, corporate and civil society decision-making on issues including #peace #economics #energysecurity and #climatechange. In 2018, Chatham House awarded its annual Prize to the Committee to Protect Journalists (do check out their work https://cpj.org/thetorch/). Tragically, since then, conditions for journalists have only worsened. Constraints, and in far too many cases, imprisonment and targetted killings across the World are on the rise. In its latest index, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) finds press freedom increasingly threatened by political authorities, as well as the use of #artificialintelligence in spreading disinformation for political purposes (https://lnkd.in/eF8djr-A). A new UNESCO report found that at least 44 journalists investigating environmental issues had been killed over the last 15 years, of which only 5 have resulted in convictions (see below). And in #Gaza and the #WestBank, the killing of journalists has become normalized, with at least 107 dead since October (watch this video by IMS (International Media Support) https://lnkd.in/eR4kjeXi ). The list of countries repressing press freedom is long and includes many so-called democratic, as well as authoritarian states, and it is something that should be of deep concern to all those in #academia #research and #policy. https://lnkd.in/eagav92J

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#Reflective writing workshops for #climate researchers Calling all #climate people! Those of us working in the #climate space know that carrying out #research on #climate #adaptation and #resilience can be rewarding and challenging. People working in the #climate sector may have #feelings about their #work that can be hard to talk about or may make them feel isolated. I’m offering climate researchers and others working in the field the chance to reflect on and process some of these feelings through #reflective #writing for wellbeing workshops. #Reflective writing can support personal #wellbeing by allowing people to increase their self-awareness, and their awareness of their feelings towards their work and its #impact on them. It can also help to devise strategies for self-care. #Reflective writing can also be used to better understand the experiences of colleagues and strengthen communication in groups. This can support change and collective action to address challenges. The practice is based on the ‘expressive writing’ method used by social psychologist James Pennebaker. I’m a #communications specialist working in climate resilience programmes and a qualified #reflective writing facilitator. Find out more and contact me at Well Through Words: https://lnkd.in/enbbciAr I also offer a small number of concessionary places. Women and Climate London Arts and Health Arts Council England Lapidus International The Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance Here's what a climate researcher who took part in one of my #reflective writing workshops said afterwards👇

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We are rapidly approaching the deadline for the #ParisAgreement, yet progress remains far from sufficient. This year's COP will be crucial for shaping future discussions on #climateaction, particularly in the realm of finance. Especially the topics such as new climate finance goals, the current international financial framework, and strategies for designing Nationally Determined Contributions (#NDC) that facilitate investment in climate-resilient infrastructure. Having recently participated in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue (PCD), I had the privilege to shared Indonesia's perspective on how the Ministry of Finance can play a proactive role in supporting the development, financing, and implementation of NDCs. It is disheartening to note that only 29% of respondents in a 2021 survey conducted by Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action reported actively contributing to NDC development in their countries. I shared the stage with other prominent speakers including, HE Svenja Schulze, HE Marina Silva (Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Brazil), Amar Bhattacharya and Warren Evans. The discussion at the PCD also brought to light contrasting views on the responsibilities of developed versus developing countries in financing climate action. While emerging nations advocate for greater support from historical emitters, developed countries hold a different perspective on this crucial issue. I am proud to stand in solidarity with other developing nations in advocating for a fair and inclusive approach to designing the new climate finance goals. It is imperative that the specific needs and priorities of developing countries, such as the imperative for a #justtransition, are taken into consideration in these discussions. Addressing the $1.6 trillion investment gap required to shift from brown to green energy is essential for achieving sustainable growth and climate resilience. Indonesia is committed to leading by example in mobilizing transition financing through initiatives like the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and the Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) Country Platform. Additionally, we are actively updating our Indonesia Taxonomy for Sustainable Financing and supporting the development of the ASEAN Taxonomy for Sustainable Finance Version 2 to promote transition activities. On a global scale, Indonesia is playing a significant role in various climate forums as the Co-chair of CFMCA and actively participating in the #G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group and G20 TF-CLIMA. As we navigate the complex challenges of #climatefinance, cooperation and collaboration among nations will be paramount in achieving our shared #climategoals.

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Last month, the European Commission held it's 4th meeting of the Expert Group on #CarbonRemovals. This meeting was one of many significant steps forward to developing and operationalising Carbon Dioxide Removals (#CDR), that the #EU has taken since the inception of the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (#CRCF)📜. Sometimes I feel like I work in acronyms, rather than #Policy! 📝 I, along with my colleagues, Alejandra Muñoz Castañer and Rebecca Sanders-DeMott put together a highlights blog synthesising the points that stuck out to us and where we see things going in the future. Have a read of it here: https://lnkd.in/eT_6RpQa While there's definitely consensus on a number of issues, and the meetings proved to be a fruitful place for discussion, there are still many unanswered questions, and some of which were at the top of my mind which I raised: 📏Where and how do we set the bar of #Permanence and #Measurability for the category 'Permanent Removals'? ⚖️How do we adapt existing #Liability mechanisms, such as the #CCS Directive to cover different forms of potentially permanent #CDR? ➕➖ How wide should we set the life cycle analysis (#LCA) boundaries for bio-CCS projects? 💭I'm very keen to hear the thoughts of the CDR community on these aspects, please do let me know your thoughts! These will be important as CATF continues it's work in advising the Commission on the development of these methodologies. #CarbonDioxideRemoval #ClimateAction #ClimateNeutrality #DACCS #BECCS #BioCCS

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I finally managed to read the recent report on “Empowering Women in Clean Energy: Advancing and Retaining an Equitable Workforce” by Shortlist Professionals and the The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). The report explores what limits women’s advancement and retention, even when obstacles to recruitment have been overcome. What did the study find?   1️⃣ The study highlights that training of employees is not a strategic priority for many firms. Many companies offer specific product knowledge training, as it directly impacts sales, but other training efforts tend to be reactive.   2️⃣ The the study confirms the global pattern that female employees are less likely to have access to skilling at work. This is true across many countries and industries, but particularly so in male-dominated industries like (clean) energy. What is holding back women’s ability to advance and be retained? While lots of discussions around adult learning and enterprise training focus on financial barriers, I was happy to see that the study sheds light on a lot of non-financial constraints for firms and women. For example:   👉 Small firms, incl. in the clean energy sector, often face intense pressure to survive. This leaves little bandwidth for leadership teams to focus on employee development 👉 Women’s uneven share of home responsibilities makes it harder for them to take advantage of new work opportunities, training, and extracurricular activities that are associated with advancement 👉 Women may self-select out of jobs or drop out of a job or industry when the job features require them to break with gender norms (e.g., around travel, manual labor). This is reinforced by family pressure, as women may have to convince their families that the job suitable for them 👉 Cultural barriers can prevent junior staff, esp. women, from being proactive and outspoken at work, incl. when it comes to seeking advancement opportunities 👉 Women’s aspirations and values can differ from those of their male peers 👉 Lack of role models. When there are few women in leadership positions, this lack of visibility discourages women in junior and mid-level positions from seeking advancement 👉 Unwelcoming work environments. In male-dominated fields, women often face harassment or hostility from colleagues and clients. They may be excluded from information sharing networks and may not acquire the same skills they need to thrive in their roles.   These findings closely mirror what we found in our own research at Prospera Consulting about barriers to up/reskilling for workers, firms and training providers, suggesting that up/reskilling efforts are often held back by psychological, social and belief-related obstacles.   Unfortunately, policy efforts to encourage (equitable) up-/reskilling are still largely centered around financial subsidies to firms or workers, which do not address the above-mentioned constraints. Ciara Marie Remerscheid Shivani Kotecha Paul Breloff

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The Art of Storytelling in a simplified and very understandable language based on the Audience works Miracles and it Focuses on enhancing #LocallyLedApproach in Matters #ClimateChange and #Energy We need to think about the #Nexus between these different areas and their impact to #Livelihoods. What Sustainable Energy Access Forum Kenya (SEAF-K) is doing is enhancing the presence of #CivilSocietyOrganizations in amplifying the #JustTransition and improved #Livelihoods. LCOY-KENYA KENYA PLATFORM FOR CLIMATE GOVERNANCE Antony Alfred Kamau omenyi brian AGNES Africa

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Is the #GreenAmendment a viable option for addressing #pollution, #environmentalracism, #environmental degradation, the #climatecrisis? I enjoyed exploring these questions on The Sustainability Journey podcast. https://lnkd.in/evPuTRza

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