環保時事 - Page 22 of 86

California achieves nearly 100% renewable energy for the first time

Bloomberg reported that California's main power grid reached a milestone of 99.87% renewable energy last Saturday (April 30th), maintaining the record for approximately two minutes, bringing it one step closer to its goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2045. Much of this green electricity came from a large-scale solar farm south of Los Angeles. A historic day: California achieved nearly 100% green electricity for just two minutes. California established its goal of achieving 100% clean electricity by 2045 in 2018. Governor Gavin Newsom's budget proposal for next year also includes a roughly $2 billion investment in promoting the transition to 100% clean energy. Daniel M Kammen, an energy professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said on Twitter that California's achievement shows that "if we can reduce fossil fuel subsidies and political inertia, we can achieve 100% clean energy every day by 2030." According to the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), which oversees the state's power grid, this achievement broke the record of 97.58% renewable energy on the 3rd of the same month. Although the record was only maintained for 2 minutes, CAISO believes that this still shows that California is making progress towards its 100% green electricity goal. Although Denmark and South Australia have achieved 100% green electricity goals in the past, California's main power grid, which needs to supply 80% of the state's electricity needs,

2022-05-06

Global warming is causing severe marine ecological disasters, and scientists worry about another "mass extinction"

The Guardian reports that a new study published in the journal Science warns that global warming is dramatically altering ocean ecosystems and could trigger the worst marine extinction event in tens of millions of years. Rising temperatures and oxygen depletion have scientists worried about a resurgence of "mass extinction" mechanisms. The burning of fossil fuels is steadily increasing global sea temperatures, reducing ocean oxygen levels, and acidifying the waters as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Since the 1960s, the amount of ocean water completely depleted of oxygen has tripled, making it inhospitable to life. Furthermore, ocean acidification is making it difficult for aquatic organisms such as clams, mussels, and shrimp to produce their shells properly. Research suggests that these changes signal the possibility of a historic mass extinction event on Earth. Researchers say the pressures of rising temperatures and oxygen depletion are reminiscent of the mass extinction event known as the Great Dying, which occurred at the end of the Permian period approximately 250 million years ago and killed up to 96% of all marine animals on Earth. Justin Penn, a climate scientist at Princeton University and co-author of the study, said: "Even if the current extent of species loss is different from the end-Permian mass extinction, the mechanisms of species loss are the same." Penn said: "The future of marine life depends largely on how we deal with greenhouse gases now. In the foreseeable future, the ocean may face two very different

2022-05-04

Coal-fired power generation grew to a record high in 2021; US energy think tank warns of difficulties in limiting global warming to 1.5°C

The Guardian reports that a recently released report indicates that while the global capacity of coal-fired power plants under construction declined last year (2021), coal use and the number of planned coal plants worldwide remain too high to keep global warming within safe limits. Coal-fired power plant capacity under construction hits a new low, while power generation growth reaches a record high. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, coal use appeared to be on a long-term downward trend. However, after lockdowns and economic turmoil, new coal-fired power plant projects increased worldwide in 2020, particularly in China. According to a report released on the 26th by the US energy think tank Global Energy Monitor, total coal-fired power capacity under construction fell again sharply last year, by approximately 13% (from 525 GW to 457 GW), setting a new record low for plants under construction. Furthermore, the number of countries planning new coal-fired power plants has also declined, from 41 at the beginning of 2021 to 34. At the same time, the slowdown in the phasing out of old coal-fired power plants has significantly reduced the effectiveness of coal reduction. Last year, the installed capacity of coal-fired power plants retired was about 25GW, roughly equivalent to the capacity newly put into production in China. In addition, global coal-fired power generation grew by 9% last year, reaching a record high, exceeding the 4% decline at the beginning of the epidemic in 2020. Ignoring the latest warnings from the IPCC, coal-fired power plants around the world continue to operate. Although countries at the 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in November last year

2022-05-03

Reducing Urban Transport Carbon Emissions: Europe's 12 Most Effective Car-Reduction Measures

To improve residents' health, achieve climate goals, and create more livable cities, reducing car use in cities has become a top priority worldwide. But what measures actually help reduce car use in cities? Local city-led measures that combine both soft and hard measures are most effective. The Guardian reports that the Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies in Sweden, in collaboration with the Baden-Württemberg State Transport Authority in Germany, reviewed nearly 800 peer-reviewed reports and case studies from across Europe since 2010. Using real-world data, they identified the 12 most effective car reduction measures tested in European cities. The study found that over 75% of innovative measures that successfully reduced car use were led by local city governments—particularly the most effective ones, such as city entry fees, parking and traffic controls, and restricted zones. The study also suggests that single measures alone are ineffective. The most successful cities often combine several policy tools, using both soft and hard measures, including incentives for sustainable travel and pricing or restrictions on driving and parking. The authors of this study say that the 12 most effective measures in European cities have not only successfully reduced car use, but also improved the quality of life and sustainable transportation concepts of citizens.

2022-04-22

Less than 30% of industrial waste plastics are recycled; the EPA is targeting the tech industry for improvement.

The country produces 240,000 metric tons of industrial plastic waste each year, of which only about 28% is reused. The Environmental Protection Administration is promoting industrial plastic recycling and held a press conference today (19) to promote the "resource recycling and recycling industry chain". It will first target the electronic components manufacturing industry and call on the upstream, midstream and downstream industries to improve resource recycling efficiency. The technology industry's waste plastics are diverse in form, and some items have only been incinerated in the past. The Environmental Protection Administration said that in the future, it will first focus on the technology industry and hope to increase the current plastic recycling rate of more than 65% to 75%, which is equivalent to an increase of 3,000 metric tons of recycling. Major companies such as TSMC and ASE have both called for the goal of nearly 100% waste plastic recycling. Industrial waste plastic recycling: TSMC regulates suppliers and ASE establishes a resource recycling center. The amount of waste plastics generated by domestic people's livelihood and industry is similar, but the industry is more common in composite materials, and the recycling and reuse process is relatively complicated. In terms of source management of plastic waste, the semiconductor giant TSMC has formulated a "White Paper on Supplier Material Packaging Specifications" to stipulate that all supplier packaging materials must comply with the company's recycling specifications, and cooperate with recycling companies to implement classification. Last year, 8,000 metric tons of plastic were recycled, and the resource recovery rate reached 66%. The future goal is to move towards 95%. TSMC's first "Zero Waste Manufacturing Center" in Central Taiwan Science Park will also begin operations next year. ASE will send plastic waste of different materials, sizes, and types scattered across different factories to its newly established "Circular Resource Recycling Center". After being concentrated, classified, crushed, and compressed, they will be sent to recycling companies. ASE currently has a total of 100 million plastics.

2022-04-19

The National Development Council approved a resource recycling plan, aiming to reduce the use of disposable items by 125 million by 2027.

Yesterday (the 18th), the National Development Council (NDC) approved the draft "Reduction, Recycling, and Resource Circulation Promotion Plan" of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA), Executive Yuan. The plan calls for an investment of over NT$3.9 billion between 2023 and 2027 to improve the circular economy industry chain and strengthen source reduction. This is expected to reduce the use of 125 million disposable items and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5.6 million metric tons of CO2e. The NDC emphasized that these actions are "a small step on the path to net zero" within the "Resource Circulation" plan, one of the 12 strategies for the 2050 net-zero pathway. The NDC approved the EPA's resource circulation plan, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 5.6 million tons over five years. The NDC released the 2050 net-zero pathway in March of this year and held its 97th committee meeting yesterday (the 18th). NDC Chairman Gong Mingxin stated that the net-zero pathway is a top priority and urged relevant ministries and agencies to develop action plans based on the net-zero carbon emissions pathway and to plan early on as a priority for the next phase of public construction. The Net Zero Path has formulated 12 key strategies, one of which is "resource recycling". The Environmental Protection Administration proposed a draft of the "Reduction, Recycling and Resource Recycling Promotion Plan", a major public construction project, which was reviewed and approved by the National Development Council yesterday. The entire plan will be submitted to the Executive Yuan for approval. Lai Yingying, Director of the Waste Management Division of the Environmental Protection Administration, said that the plan aims to reduce carbon emissions by approximately 5.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) by 2027, reduce the use of 125 million disposable products, and remove 32,000 metric tons of household asbestos, etc., in order to maximize material recycling and minimize environmental impact. Source: Environmental Information

2022-04-19

Global methane emissions hit a record high in 2021; scientists say the energy sector is a key area for emissions reduction

The New York Times reported that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on the 7th that the increase in methane levels in the atmosphere last year was the largest since measurements began 40 years ago, exacerbating concerns about greenhouse gas releases from oil and gas operations. Methane emissions set a new record in 2021, hitting a new high for two consecutive years. Methane levels in the atmosphere are not as high as carbon dioxide, but its short-term impact on global warming is even greater than that of carbon dioxide. Large amounts of methane continue to enter the air from oil wells and pipelines, or through unintentional leaks. Other sources include livestock, landfills, and the decay of organic matter in wetlands. According to a preliminary analysis by NOAA, atmospheric methane concentrations have been steadily rising over the past 15 years or so, reaching a record high in 2021. The previous record annual increase in methane levels was set in 2020. "Our data shows that global emissions are rapidly moving in the wrong direction," said NOAA Administrator Richard W. Spinrad. "Reducing methane emissions is an important way to mitigate the impact of climate change in the short term and quickly reduce the rate of warming." Overall, carbon dioxide contributes much more to global warming. The analysis released by NOAA on the 7th showed that carbon dioxide concentrations continued to rise rapidly in 2021. In addition, over the past 10 years, the rate of increase in carbon dioxide concentrations has reached the level at which monitoring began.

2022-04-18

Liren's bio-based bags for fruits and vegetables are working to reduce plastic consumption, hoping to ease restrictions on the use of recycled plastic in food packaging.

In addition to packaging vegetables, how else can food packaging reduce plastic? In 2017, organic distributor Li Ren Company developed "compostable biomass packaging" for packaging fruits and vegetables, and adopted the method of self-recycling and self-composting. So far, it has reached the third generation of biomass bags, reducing 3.5 million packages, but the recycling rate is still not ideal. In addition to developing multiple applications, such as the "compostable biomass flower pots" that can be seen in Li Ren stores recently, Li Ren also expressed the hope that regulations will be relaxed, referring to foreign cases, to allow food packaging to add recycled plastic. "If it can really be recycled, we can't say that plastic is guilty, but at least it can be used effectively." Li Ren starts to reduce plastic packaging for product packaging, reducing nearly 40 million plastic packaging materials in 6 years. Li Ren Company said yesterday (14) that it has gradually reduced the use of plastic packaging materials for its products since 2016, and has currently reduced the use of more than 38 million plastic packaging materials. Li Ren Company's product development manager Zhou Yuying pointed out that Li Ren has been connecting with manufacturers to improve the use of plastic packaging materials from the source since 2016. It has currently cooperated with 40 manufacturers to "reduce plastic" for its 186 products. Because food packaging involves food safety regulations, Li Ren Company took the lead in reducing plastic from textiles and daily necessities. Taking outer packaging as an example, paper packaging or glass bottles are preferred to replace plastic; in addition, the plastic coating of paper boxes and shrink film on packaging materials are also removed; for product accessories, paper rings are used to replace plastic hooks, plastic lids of cans are removed, and plastic spoons and straws are not provided. However, there are more aspects to consider when it comes to food packaging. Zhou Yuying pointed out that if sealed packaging cannot be achieved, the probability of product spoilage will increase.

2022-04-15

Google announces sustainable action in Taiwan, launching carbon footprint calculation feature on Google Maps

Yesterday (14th), Google Taiwan announced its investment in the "Google Smart Taiwan Project" in Taiwan. This year, for the first time, it added the area of "Promoting Environmental Sustainability". In addition to the continued use of local renewable energy, it also hopes to drive the supply chain to practice sustainability and provide consumers with more low-carbon living options through technology. Google Taiwan General Manager Lin Yafang revealed that in the future, Google Maps will launch a carbon footprint calculation function to provide users with "minimum carbon emission" transportation routes. In 2007, Google became the world's first large-scale carbon neutral enterprise. In 2017, it further achieved the goal of using 100% renewable energy, and the amount of green electricity purchased exceeded the electricity consumption of its global data centers and operating bases. However, procurement alone cannot guarantee the continuous use of green electricity during periods of low green electricity generation. Therefore, Google has made a bold promise to achieve "all-weather use of renewable energy" and practice carbon-free operations by 2030. Taiwan's bases also want to achieve net zero and integrate smart technology to assist energy conservation. This carbon reduction action is of course inseparable from Taiwan. Lin Yafang, General Manager of Google Taiwan, said that in recent years, Google's scale in Taiwan has continued to grow. It not only has a global data center, but also has the largest hardware R&D base outside of the US headquarters. Therefore, this year's "Google Smart Taiwan Plan" has added the "Promoting Environmental Sustainability" area. Whether it is its own offices, data centers, or supply chain partners, all aim for net zero emissions. Jian Guofeng, Senior Director of Device Management at Google Taiwan, explained,

2022-04-15

Sweden, a world first, includes the carbon footprint of imported goods in its emissions reduction responsibilities

The European Geosciences Union estimates that about 22% of global carbon dioxide emissions come from goods produced and consumed across borders. In view of this, political parties in Sweden recently agreed to include carbon emissions caused by consumption in climate targets, becoming the first country in the world to include overseas carbon emissions in domestic reporting. Solving the problem of transnational carbon emissions Sweden’s climate targets have added “consumption emissions” National climate targets mainly report carbon emissions generated within a country’s territory. For example, Sweden has used this data to write its 2045 net zero emissions target into law, making it one of the most active countries in Europe to reduce emissions. Climate Home reported that in order to strengthen climate ambition, the Swedish Parliament’s Environment Committee agreed on April 7 to include “consumption-based carbon emissions” in the national climate targets, that is, to include carbon pollution from overseas imported products. Karin Lexén, secretary general of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, said: "Including consumption emissions in Sweden's emissions targets is of historic significance and is a goal that many organizations have been pursuing for a long time." Greta Thunberg, a young climate activist in Stockholm, has long advocated that wealthy countries should take responsibility for emissions reductions based on their consumption carbon emissions and reduce emissions. The Environment Committee's recommendations are still to be adopted, and other details, such as how to take into account Sweden's exports and international shipping carbon emissions, also need to be worked out. Due to the lack of international standard calculation methods, consumption-based carbon emissions calculations are not

2022-04-14

Microplastics found in living human lungs for the first time, particularly in plastic bottles

Scientists say microplastic pollution is now ubiquitous on Earth, making human exposure unavoidable. Concerns are growing about the health risks of microplastics. The Guardian reported that for the first time, microplastics have been found deep within the lungs of living people, with these particles detected in nearly all samples. Microplastics found deep within the lungs of living people, with PP and PET being the most abundant. A research team obtained tissue samples from 13 patients undergoing surgery and found microplastics in 11 of them. The most common types of microplastics found were polypropylene (PP), used in plastic packaging and tubing, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the raw material for plastic bottles. Two previous studies have found high levels of microplastics in lung tissue collected during autopsies. It's known that people inhale and ingest these tiny plastic particles, and that workers exposed to high levels of microplastics can develop illnesses. In March of this year (2022), microplastics were detected in human blood for the first time, indicating that microplastic particles can travel throughout the body and potentially lodge in organs, leaving their health effects unclear. But what worries researchers is that studies have shown that microplastics can damage human cells in the laboratory, and that fine particles of air pollution do enter the human body and cause millions of premature deaths each year. Laura Sadofsky, a senior author of the new study and a scholar at Hull York Medical School in the UK, said: "We didn't expect to find the most microplastics in the deep lungs, and the size of these plastic particles is also surprising.

2022-04-12

Stop using fashion as an excuse: EU plans to include durability and recyclability in product regulations

The European Commission has called for fast fashion to become a thing of the past by 2030. The EU recently announced a significant expansion of its ecodesign product regulations, initially targeting textiles, but potentially extending them to all product categories. Fast fashion is becoming increasingly obsolete. The EU plans to incorporate durability and recyclability into its product regulations. As part of its plan to combat disposable consumption, the EU is also requiring major companies to disclose how much unsold goods they send to landfill. The EU's ecodesign regulations, originally designed to target energy efficiency for specific consumer products like toasters and washing machines, will also include durability and recyclability. For example, manufacturers may be required to use a certain percentage of recycled content in their products or prohibit the use of difficult-to-recycle raw materials. "The things we use every day must last," Frans Timmermans, the European Commission vice president responsible for the European Green Deal, told reporters. "If a product breaks, it must be repairable. Smartphones shouldn't live up to their 'smart' name," he said, holding up his own phone. He found it annoying that he couldn't replace the battery himself, so he had to call a specialist for repairs. He added, "The same goes for clothes. They should be able to be washed in water at least three times and still be wearable. They should also be recyclable." (European Union Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius)

2022-04-11

In East Asia's first, FamilyMart will introduce reusable cups at all 400 of its stores. Greenpeace urges other businesses to follow suit.

FamilyMart, which sells more than 100 million cups of coffee annually, announced today (31) that its 400 stores will introduce recycling cups on a large scale. Greenpeace said this may be the first case for a chain convenience store in East Asia. Disposable plastic packaging is a major cause of marine pollution. According to Greenpeace's estimates, about 2 billion beverage cups are used in Taiwan each year. The Environmental Protection Agency announced the latest plastic restriction regulations in December last year (2021), banning the use of polystyrene beverage cups from July this year, and requiring large beverage chain operators to install recycling cups in at least 5% of their stores by 2023. Greenpeace Project Director Zhang Kaiting pointed out that FamilyMart, which sells more than 100 million cups of coffee annually, was the first to respond to the Environmental Protection Agency's new plastic reduction policy and introduced the recycling cup service a year in advance, which not only helps reduce disposable packaging, but also promotes daily plastic reduction in the hands of every consumer. Greenpeace stated in a press release that it has been advocating for Taiwan's retail and mass-market channels to formulate plastic reduction plans since 2019. FamilyMart responded by launching a "Circular Cup Pilot Program" in the Calligraphy Greenway shopping district in Taichung, setting up recycling cup rental machines in stores, and reducing the use of more than 1,500 disposable packages in four months. Greenpeace pointed out that FamilyMart's expansion of the circular cup model proves that a sustainable business model is feasible. Greenpeace called on the leading convenience store 7-Eleven and other chain distributors and coffee companies to speed up their follow-up so that Taiwan's recycling model can make greater progress. Zhang Kaiting also emphasized that Greenpeace will continue to advocate for FamilyMart, PX and other convenience stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets to formulate a comprehensive

2022-03-31

Singapore surpasses Taiwan in annual sustainability think tank ranking: 80% of Taiwanese companies fail to conduct carbon footprint audits

The disclosure of corporate sustainability information has been progressing rapidly, but a recent sustainability evaluation of 100 companies in Asia Pacific shows that Singaporean companies have overtaken Taiwan to take first place, while Taiwan has fallen to second place. The CSRone Sustainability Think Tank and the Xinyi College of National Chengchi University released the 2022 "Taiwan and Asia Pacific Sustainability Report Status and Trends" report, pointing out that while the international carbon market consensus is gradually taking shape, more than 80% of Taiwanese companies have not conducted carbon footprint audits. The research team reminded companies that they must speed up the implementation of carbon reduction, otherwise they may not be able to receive international orders in the future. The Asia Pacific "Sustainability Temperature Index" is released, and Taiwan has been overtaken by Singapore for the first time. The 2022 "Taiwan and Asia Pacific Sustainability Report Status and Trends" evaluation covers ten Asia Pacific countries including Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia, and analyzes the top ten companies in each country. The research team started from the ESG (environment, society, and corporate governance) perspective, using eight sustainability issues such as energy conservation and carbon reduction, employee care, and social investment [1] as analysis indicators, and evaluated the degree of investment in sustainability through the information disclosed by companies on the Internet. In addition, due to the growing trend of net-zero carbon emissions internationally, the research team has set four indicators to understand the response and disclosure of companies on the "carbon issue". Chen Houru, Vice President of Operations at CSRone Sustainable Think Tank, pointed out that the report collected 685 sustainability reports published by Taiwanese companies, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, etc., and conducted an in-depth analysis of 653 reports issued by companies. The analysis results show that as of December 2021,

2022-03-28

Is the oil industry's lifeline failing? UN launches plastic reduction negotiations to end our collective addiction to plastic.

Climate Home reports that the fossil fuel industry is trying to use plastic production as a last hope for survival, but the outlook may not be optimistic. As energy demand for oil and gas declines, fossil fuel companies see plastic as a "lifeline" At the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) earlier this month (March), governments reached a consensus on the scope of negotiations for a legally binding plastics treaty. The treaty is likely to reduce the production of plastics while encouraging recycling and waste reduction measures. In order to prevent climate change, the demand for oil and gas for energy will decline rapidly in the next few decades, and oil companies had hoped that the demand for plastic products could make up for this shortfall to some extent. Until recently, the website of the fossil fuel company BP stated that "the close relationship between economic development and plastic use means that the demand for oil as a plastic raw material will continue to grow over the next decade." But shortly after the signing of the plastics agreement, the article was removed and can only be viewed through the web backup tool. Krista Halttunen, a scholar at Imperial College London who studies oil company strategy, said these companies are facing an "existential crisis" as demand for energy products decreases, and they see plastics as a "lifeline"... "In a decarbonized future, this will be the business that keeps them alive." Politicians use plastics to justify oil production projects. Recently, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

2022-03-23

Study reveals millions of plastic particles from the UK have entered the North Sea and are drifting towards the Netherlands. NGOs urge source reduction.

The Plastic Soup Foundation, a marine conservation organization, has published a study stating that wastewater treatment plants on the UK's east coast are releasing millions of plastic particles, polluting the North Sea and even drifting to the Dutch coast. The report warns that the plastics industry is slow to transform and that millions of plastic particles are entering the ocean. British wastewater treatment plants use black plastic particles called "bio beads" (or nurdles) to filter water, but sewage overflows and heavy rain can wash them into waterways and into the sea. The study found that wastewater treatment plants in Ipswich, Hull, and Grimsby are the most likely sources of plastic. Once plastic particles enter the sea, they can be carried by storms, wind, and tides to the coast of the Western Scheldt in southwestern Netherlands. The report warns that the plastics industry is failing to take adequate precautions to prevent the release of millions of plastic particles into the ocean. "Plastic pollution levels are reaching new highs, and relying solely on government plastic policies is not enough," said Oskar de Roos, a plastics expert at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Netherlands. "The plastics industry is moving too slowly towards a circular economy, and pollution from nanoplastic particles is the most direct consequence." Biobeads are plastic particles used to produce plastic products. They can be made from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and other plastic materials. They can have a negative impact on ecosystems, wildlife, and the environment.

2022-03-15

Can artificial whale droppings rebuild marine ecology Scientists will launch experiments next month

The Guardian reported that an international scientific team is planning to spread artificial whale feces on the surface of the Indian Ocean in an attempt to rebuild the marine ecosystem. As nutrients in the ocean become increasingly scarce, scientists are looking for solutions. The purpose of this fecal experiment is simple: to explore whether it is possible to rebuild nutrient-deficient marine ecosystems, restore dwindling fish populations, and address the climate crisis. "Whales typically feed on tiny crustaceans called krill at about 300 meters below sea level," said Sir David King, former chief scientific adviser to the UK government and one of the leaders of the project. "At this depth, the pressure on their backs is so great that they can't defecate. So, they defecate when they surface for air, creating floating fecal beds (on the surface). When sunlight hits them, phytoplankton grows, providing food for fish." King is also the director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge. The problem is that the number of whales on Earth is only about 5% of what it was 400 years ago. Whaling has severely decimated the world's largest marine mammals, leaving the oceans deprived of the whale excrement that provides nutrition to fish. "We need a way to reconstruct the past state," King said. The marine biomass regeneration project, based on rice husks, is expected to be launched next month to solve this problem.

2022-03-15

IEA reveals dark statistics on methane emissions: Energy sector emissions 70% higher than official figures

The International Energy Agency (IEA) said on February 23rd that actual emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from the global energy industry are 70% higher than official data, with the coal industry being the largest single source of emissions. The coal industry's methane emissions problem is serious, surpassing oil and gas. The IEA's 2022 Global Methane Tracker report points out that the world needs to strengthen monitoring and policy actions to reduce emissions of polluting gases. This is the first time that the coal industry has been recorded as having a significant methane emissions problem, surpassing other fossil fuel industries at 42 million metric tons, followed by oil and gas at 41 million metric tons and 39 million metric tons respectively. The report helps each country estimate its overall emissions for the first time and observes signs of progress in controlling methane emissions. "Methane emissions from the energy sector grew by less than 5% last year," the IEA said. "They did not return to 2019 levels and lagged slightly behind the growth in overall energy use, suggesting that some emission reduction efforts may be effective." At the 26th United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) held in Glasgow, UK last year, more than 100 countries joined the Global Methane Pledge, led by the United States and the European Union, with the goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 compared to 2020 levels. 40% of anthropogenic methane emissions come from the energy sector. Methane leaks exacerbate environmental problems. Methane is second only to carbon dioxide.

2022-03-09

The United Nations has launched negotiations on a "plastic reduction treaty," which is expected to become the most important green agreement since the Paris Agreement.

Last week, representatives from 175 countries around the world reached an agreement at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5) to begin negotiations on a global treaty to address the exploding growth of plastic pollution. Countries will develop a comprehensive, legally binding treaty to improve recycling and clean up global plastic waste, as well as limit plastic production. Measures such as bans on single-use plastics may also be on the agenda. Most significant environmental agreement since the 2015 Paris Agreement: According to the UN Environment Assembly, this global plastics treaty will be the most significant environmental agreement since the 2015 Paris Agreement. Negotiators will participate in the first of several rounds this year to gradually finalize the treaty's details, with the goal of completing the agreement by 2024. Any treaty imposing restrictions on the production, use, or design of plastics would affect oil and chemical companies that produce the raw materials used to make plastics, as well as consumer goods giants that sell thousands of single-use packaging products. The treaty would also impact the economies of major plastic-producing countries, including the United States, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Japan. The sheer volume of plastic produced worldwide is simply incalculable. According to one assessment, the total amount of plastic ever produced is greater than the weight of all land and marine animals combined. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) estimates that only 9% of it is recycled, with the vast majority designed to be used only once (the recycling symbol does not guarantee that it will be recycled).

2022-03-08

Antarctic sea ice reaches record low, a sign of climate change impacts. Scientists outline possible causes.

Analysis of the latest satellite imagery shows that sea ice around Antarctica has reached a 40-year low. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, as of February 22, the ice cover around the Antarctic coast was approximately 1.94 million square kilometers, breaking the previous record low of 2.11 million square kilometers set in early March 2017. Antarctic sea ice reaches a new low; warming oceans are only one factor. Marilyn N. Raphael, a geography professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, who studies Antarctic sea ice, said warming ocean temperatures may be one factor, "but we will be working hard in the coming months to identify other factors." Antarctic sea ice extent varies significantly from year to year, but has averaged very small increases since satellite observations began in the late 1970s. In contrast, the Arctic, which is warming three times faster than other regions, has seen its sea ice extent decrease by more than 10% per decade during the same period. The two regions face starkly different situations. The North Pole and the Polar Circle cover the Arctic Ocean and are surrounded by land. In the Southern Hemisphere, the South Pole and the Arctic Circle are covered by the Antarctic continent and surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Although the rapid warming of the Arctic is the main reason for the shrinking of local sea ice, the impact of climate change on Antarctic sea ice is not so clear. Is global warming causing the reduction of Antarctic sea ice? Scholars: The relationship between the two is not yet clear.

2022-03-04

News