UN Environment Programme’s Post

#Cities consume 80% of #energy and emit 70%+ of #carbon so they reduce #climate change through rapid #decarbonization and #electrification. My "#Gaiapolis #Strategy" book provides a global framework and roadmap led by the #C40 to achieve our climate goals through #bionic cities that integrate #smartcities, #ecocities (macrobiology) and #biomedicine (microbiology). A #Bio Renaissance can save our planet. dreamscapeglobal.com

20 things to know about Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and climate change. They are some of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. → Rising sea levels threaten their very existence. → They are exposed to external shocks that can disrupt their economy. → Climate and financial risks are a major concern for them. → They need urgent development financing to adapt to climate change. → Infrastructure development is critical to their survival. → They require innovative financing solutions to combat climate change. → Climate-resilient infrastructure is a must for them. → They need to enhance their disaster preparedness and response. → Climate change can wipe out their entire economy. → They are taking proactive steps to address climate change. → They need international cooperation to combat climate change. → Climate change affects their human development and well-being. → They require sustainable agriculture practices to feed their people. → Climate change threatens their food security and water supply. → They need to adopt renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions. → Climate change can lead to social and economic instability. → They require climate-resilient healthcare systems to protect their people. → Climate change affects their tourism industry and economy. → They need to protect their biodiversity and natural resources. → International community must support them in their fight against climate change.

Developing policy to instigate change before change is needed. It is widely known that as a nation we are behind in every aspect when it comes to our preparedness for climate action, with us now working faster to lay claim on our actions to help mitigate our impacts as a nation to achieving our obligations to the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As part of our national obligations to climate change and how we are seen on the global stage for our SDG undertakings, Australia has committed to achieving net zero by 2050. However, given there are still significant gaps between politics and the scientific community, and the understanding how these climate change strategies that form our net zero commitments, will actually improve our agricultural sector, is yet to be explained.  The World Meteorological Organisation has established several climate indicators that provide a complete picture of the global climate system, and the associated risks by altering it. It is imperative that as a nation that we learn from these indicators how climate change threatens sustainable development, as we need to fill the gaps now, and ensure that we protect our agricultural sector. If we fail to incorporate future risks to food and water security, into current policy, and integrate the science that is already there, we will have little hope in meeting our net zero targets, and the policies then won’t be to help instigate change, they will be put it place to enforce it. What world do you want to live in? Anthony Albanese Anika Molesworth, PhD Fiona Davis #climateaction #watersecurity #foodsecurity #renewables #agriculture

𝐎𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐲... 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧? Praveen Gupta points out the harsh reality of our changing climate, with an increasing amount of destructive wildfires and damage to the environment. He says that fossil fuel companies are making the problem worse, especially for vulnerable communities. This affects people's health, the digital economy, and our finances, as there's a growing gap in insurance coverage that could lead to big financial problems. Gupta is calling for quick action to help save the planet. What do you think we should do to prevent this bleak future? Share your thoughts below! 📬 Stay ahead in sustainability & energy. Join our weekly TOP10 newsletter. Sign up: https://lnkd.in/dTdMp9j #climatemaladaptation #climateaction #illuminemvoices

"Cities are prime driving forces of development and innovation." Ban Ki-moon Former secretary-General,United Nations The above quote underscores the vital role cities play in our advancement. Cities through the ages have been instrumental in our progress as species. But the benefits have come at a cost and that cost is climate change effects. The Cities and Climate Change course by UN CC:Learn with the support of United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme) focuses on the climate change dynamics of cities. The course mainly dwells on climate change dynamics in urban settings.it looks how cities are affected by climate,how they contribute to it and finally how they plan for climate change. it has been noted that cities contribute to and are affected by climate. According to available statistics,The world's cities are responsible for up to 70% of global green house gas emissions while covering just 2% of the world's surface. Climate change affects different aspects of cities like economic development and infrastructure in light of the above,both mitigation and adaptation approaches should be adopted by city authorities to deal with climate change.

Climate Change: We keep moving on but how are investors underpricing climate risks The world is reeling from record-breaking climate issues, record heatwaves, wildfires and rainfall...but what could be the overall economic impact in the medium term? Does it have to be measured in the economic value which could destroy certain region and severely jeopardize other? If we fail to decarbonize translating likely into ~ 4C temperature rise from pre-industrialized levels by 2100, cumulative returns could be ~40% lower than the baseline with no climate change. Agriculture is among the most vulnerable sectors. Food insecurity is exacerbated by water shortages. By 2020 demand for freshwater is forecasted to to exceed by 40 per cent... It might be late already to fully price the decarbonization challenge but the costs of inaction might be even higher... #climatechange #climaterisk #renewableenergy #renewables https://on.ft.com/3OZxzC9

Often, global projections of #macroeconomic #climate change damages grapple with challenges stemming from long-term perspectives and human biases regarding uncertainty. However, recent research published on Nature aims to overcome these hurdles by introducing "committed damages" that represent the inevitable economic losses already accrued due to past #emissions and socio-economic inertia. Key highlights from "The economic commitment of climate change" include: - Committed Damages: Economic losses from climate change until mid-century are already substantial, with a global average income reduction of 19%, reaching approximately 22% in regions like South Asia and Africa. - Comparison with #Mitigation Costs: Surprisingly, these committed damages far exceed median projected mitigation costs for 2050 by approximately sixfold, emphasizing the urgent need for climate action. - Distribution Patterns: The spatial distribution of committed damages reflects a complex interplay between future climate changes and historical economic vulnerability, highlighting the injustice of climate impacts. - Magnitude and Considerations: Advanced methodologies reveal that projected damages surpass previous estimates, underlining the conservative approach taken to ensure assessment robustness. The findings underscore the critical importance of robust climate policies and adaptive strategies to mitigate economic losses and enhance resilience. While damages are already inevitable, prioritizing adaptation measures can help minimize their impact and build resilience against future risks. Recognizing the significant gap between damages and mitigation costs, investing in climate solutions now is not only environmentally responsible but also economically prudent. #climatechange #climatemitigation #climateadaptation #emissionreductions Also, a big shout out to the authors of the research Maximilian Kotz, Anders Levermann and Leonie Wenz 👏 For the research: https://lnkd.in/eetzGdV6

“Our analysis shows that climate change will cause massive economic damages within the next 25 years in almost all countries around the world, also in highly-developed ones such as Germany, France and the United States,” says PIK scientist Leonie Wenz who led the study. ”These near-term damages are a result of our past emissions. We will need more adaptation efforts if we want to avoid at least some of them. And we have to cut down our emissions drastically and immediately – if not, economic losses will become even bigger in the second half of the century, amounting to up to 60% on global average by 2100. This clearly shows that protecting our climate is much cheaper than not doing so, and that is without even considering non-economic impacts such as loss of life or biodiversity.” #climatechange #climateaction #netzero #regenerativedesign https://lnkd.in/gVKEjy9m

The big danger is of a "Climate Minsky Moment," a sudden correction in asset values as investors simultaneously realise those values are unsustainable.. So far, businesses and investors have paid less attention to the physical effects of climate change and more to the costs and risks of decarbonising. So lets look at it the other way... - Equity and bonds: At Net Zero, involving ambitious decarbonisation, cumulative returns over 40 years are 10% lower than a baseline assuming no climate change, and at a failed transition, 40% lower. - Agriculture: Climate disasters could put at least $314bn of annual output in jeopardy - Water: By 2030, demand is forecast to exceed supply by 40% - Housing: US residential properties exposed to flood risks are overvalued by between $121bn and $237bn & $495bn possible fall in US property values if insurers reprice wildfire risks - People: Potentially displaced people by climate-related factors by 2050 can reach 1.2bn Investors are only starting to price in decarbonisation. Importantly we need to start counting the costs of inaction too. Really good article by the FT. Planet NetZero

FT article on underpricing climate risk: - Failed transition scenario: cumulative 40 year portfolio returns 40% worse than baseline. - Nordhaus(won a Nobel prize for using time value of money 101 to show that climate armageddon is cheap): "wow this is really tricky stuff". Summary/conclusion: - Climate armageddon is indeed manageable and actually cheap. - Just convince dumb money you're a better than average investor. Issue: Apart from well-established science and logic, the planet Venus or, less hyperbolically, Sahel communities at the sharp end of climate change disprove this assertion. Action plan: 1. Strip Nordhaus of his Nobel Prize. 2. Lawmakers make sure that the 40 year expected cumulative return for any non Paris aligned investors, principals and beneficiaries thereof is severely negative. Tariq Fancy Sasja Beslik https://lnkd.in/eWHNY8WC