From Biden to Boris, we’ve covered a whole host of ambitious (and otherwise) climate action plans on the #MaddyEco. Yesterday, Climate Action Tracker – taking into account all of these plans, in particular the fact that the world’s two biggest emitters (China and the USA) are now on board with global goals – had some good news.
Apparently, the UN Paris Climate Agreement targets are now ‘within reach’; we’re looking at a 2.1 degree celsius rise by 2100 – which is significantly closer to the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 degree target than the +3 degree trajectory we’ve been on previously.
Overall, 127 countries, responsible for circa 63% of emissions have adopted or are considering adopting net-zero targets. There’s a way to go yet – and 2030 targets will need to be seriously strong – but things are looking up.
On the ground, however, the impact of a climate that’s already changing continues. In Bolivia, for example, forest fires and an extended period of drought have seen the departments of Santa Cruz and Chuquisaca declare a state of disaster.
The big ideas
Have a look at the ideas and innovations from across the spectrum of politics, social justice and big business that caught my eye this week:
- The South African government has just funded 13 youth-led green projects covering climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity and ecosystems, and waste management.
- Homethings provides tiny effervescent tabs which, when put into glass spray bottles and topped up with tap water, create powerful, non-toxic and plastic-free cleaning solutions.
