How to address climate change with existing tools

This month we learned that the earth has surpassed 1.5 degrees of warming for the first time over 12 months, in large part because of the hottest January on record. Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is a key goal for nations and this milestone underscores the shrinking window to address climate change. In addition to a rapid transition to renewable energy, the following actions should be considered:   1. Create new long-term funding solutions for sustainable infrastructure that can bring together private and public funding, such as through a national infrastructure bank. 2. Green all industry, not just the energy sector. Basic materials such as steel and concrete have an enormous environmental impact. Green alternatives are needed to reduce the carbon footprint of roads and bridges - and of wind turbines and EVs. 3. Ensure existing infrastructure is resilient to the impacts of climate change and extreme weather. Now is the time to make these updates, not after the next natural disaster. 4. Prioritize water. Drought is a global crisis - it leads to famine, mass migration and geopolitical instability. Polluted water supplies compound the problem. Action on water could be a key point of collaboration between the U.S. and China. 5. Adopt an "all of the above" energy policy while still addressing climate and driving progress on renewables. We may be on the right track toward decarbonization, but existing energy sources, including oil and gas, will be with us for some time helping provide a necessary backup to intermittent renewable power.   https://lnkd.in/gDMZ7RZJ

Carbon dioxide removal solutions 🌎 The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stresses the urgency of achieving net-zero emissions promptly to counteract the escalating global temperatures. Net-zero is a state where the emissions caused by human activities are balanced by the amount of emissions removed from the atmosphere. To achieve this equilibrium, it's essential not only to reduce emissions rapidly and substantially but also to intensify efforts to extract the residual CO2 and securely store it. Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is an approach distinct from methods that reduce emissions. The IPCC defines CDR as activities that extract CO2 from the atmosphere and store it long-term in geological, terrestrial, or oceanic reservoirs, or within products. This includes both the enhancement of natural processes by human intervention and the development of new methods, but it doesn't include the natural absorption of CO2 without direct human influence. According to the IPCC, to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement, it's necessary to remove 6-10 gigatons of CO2 annually by 2050. Currently, the global capacity for CDR is approximately 2 gigatons annually, primarily through Nature-Based Removals (NBR). This leaves a significant gap that needs to be filled to reach net-zero targets. No single CDR solution is enough to achieve the necessary removals alone; a varied portfolio is required, with each method's potential influenced by specific external factors such as the availability of biomass, renewable energy, and land. Today, less durable solutions, many of which are nature-based like afforestation and grassland management, provide cost-effective ways to remove CO2 but might not offer long-term storage. However, these methods, including blue-carbon management, bring significant co-benefits like biodiversity protection and are likely to remain important. Over time, a shift towards more durable, technology-based removals (TBR) will be necessary. Adopting a variety of removal solutions allows for a distribution of early investment risks and broadens the base of stakeholders. This diversity is not only practical in spreading economic and technological risks but also beneficial in utilizing lower-cost methods while more technologically advanced solutions mature. An integrated, diverse approach to carbon dioxide removal is critical in achieving the net-zero emissions target, requiring a balance of enhanced natural processes and innovative technologies to effectively and sustainably reduce the global. Source:  Carbon removals: How to scale a new gigaton industry (McKinsey & Company) #sustainability #sustainable #climatechange #climateaction #carbonemissions #carbonremoval #esg #biodiversity #parisagreement

AI and technology have the potential to play a significant role in addressing climate change. What do you think? Here are some ways in which AI and technology can help manage the impacts of climate change: Monitoring and Prediction: * Satellite Imaging: AI-powered analysis of satellite images can track deforestation, monitor changes in land use, and assess the health of ecosystems. * Climate Modeling: Advanced AI algorithms can improve the accuracy of climate models, allowing for better predictions of future climate patterns and extreme weather events. * Early Warning Systems: AI-driven systems can analyze vast amounts of data to provide early warnings of natural disasters like floods, droughts, and wildfires, allowing for timely evacuations and preparedness measures. Mitigation: * Renewable Energy Optimization: AI can optimize the operation of renewable energy systems like solar and wind farms, maximizing their efficiency and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. * Energy Efficiency: AI-powered smart grids can optimize energy distribution, reduce energy consumption, and identify inefficiencies in energy systems. * Carbon Capture and Storage: AI can help develop more efficient and cost-effective methods for capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions. * Sustainable Agriculture: AI can optimize agricultural practices, reducing the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides, and improving crop yields. Adaptation: * Urban Planning: AI can help design cities that are more resilient to climate change, optimizing infrastructure and land use to minimize the impact of extreme weather events. * Water Management: AI can optimize water distribution and usage, helping to manage water scarcity and prevent water shortages. * Disaster Response: AI can aid in disaster response efforts by analyzing data to identify areas most affected and coordinating relief efforts. Challenges and Considerations: * Data Quality and Accessibility: AI models rely on high-quality and accurate data, which can be challenging to obtain, especially in developing countries. * Ethical Considerations: AI systems must be developed and used ethically, ensuring that they do not exacerbate existing inequalities or create new ones. * Infrastructure and Expertise: Implementing AI solutions requires significant investment in infrastructure and the development of skilled AI professionals. While AI and technology offer promising solutions to address climate change, it is important to recognize that they are not a silver bullet. A comprehensive approach that combines technological solutions with policy changes, behavioral changes, and international cooperation is essential to effectively address this global challenge. #Ai #Technology via @tiatavee #Innovation

Dealing with increasing number of extreme meteorological events is bound to become a common challenge in the future. The consequences of climate change such as heat waves, droughts, or other extreme events will require action across multiple fronts. Last June was the hottest declared month globally, you all must have felt it! To address these pressing issues, governments should consider implementing the following urgent actions and regulations: For the short-term: Focus on response and adaptation measures: Develop and implement plans for dealing with the impacts of climate change that are already unavoidable. This could include early warning systems for heat waves, adjusted working schedules, public cooling centers, emergency services prepared for heat-related illnesses, and infrastructure designed to cope with higher temperatures. For the longer-term – many measures should be considered: Promote renewable energy: Make substantial investments in renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Regulations that incentivize both large-scale renewable projects and smaller-scale, residential solar installations could be beneficial. Enhance energy efficiency: Implement stringent energy efficiency standards for buildings, transportation, and industry. This could involve regulations for better-insulated buildings, more fuel-efficient cars, and more efficient industrial processes, not only to decrease greenhouse gases, but also to improve cost competitiveness Sustainable urban planning: Promote the development of green spaces and the use of light-colored surfaces in urban areas to reduce the heat island effect. Water conservation: Implement regulations to conserve water, including incentives for using water-saving appliances and fixtures, rules on water usage for landscaping, and promotion of water recycling. Carbon pricing: Implement carbon pricing mechanisms, such as a carbon tax or cap-and-trade system, to provide an economic incentive for businesses to reduce their carbon emissions. It will be much cheaper to price carbon/ greenhouse gases now rather than to deal with climate change effects later We can have many solutions but at the end what will work is to have them integrated in one. Otherwise we plug holes and create a problem while fixing another. Prof. Dr. Torsten Henzelmann Vatche Kourkejian Mario Sanchez Filippo Ghizzoni Dragos Fundulea Chris Petrov Alejandro Longueira Hussein Khalife #rolandberger #greenertogether

90seconds Nature Masterclass with Anna. Today: Nature-based Solutions! Nature..-What❓Lets dive right in! Nature-based Solutions (NbS) finally get the attention they deserve for combating climate change & achieving the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target. They can provide 37% of climate change mitigation until 2030, but only 1.5% of all public international climate finance has gone to support them. So what are they? NbS involve the protection, restoration, & sustainable management of ecosystems. Thereby leveraging nature's ability to capture & store carbon dioxide through processes such as photosynthesis. What are additional benefits? 👉 Preserving biodiversity 👉 Enhancing ecosystem resilience 👉 Providing valuable ecosystem services to humans What are concrete examples? 🐠 Seagrass meadows & coral reefs: Seagrass under the sea can store a lot of CO₂, even more than some forests, & help create homes for sea life. Fixing coral reefs is also crucial because they are vital marine ecosystems that help absorb carbon from the atmosphere. 🌱 Mangrove & peatland restoration: On coasts, planting mangroves helps capture CO₂, their roots give fish homes & protect coastlines. Making dry peatlands wet again is important for stopping CO₂ from getting into the air, which helps fight climate change. 🌳 Reforestation: Planting new trees or using forests wisely stores carbon. This includes creating forests with a mix of tree types that are native & can handle climate changes protecting areas. As well as protecting old growth forests & stop cutting them. Putting plants on buildings and roofs also helps. 🚜 Regenerative agriculture: In farming, there are many ways to help store more carbon, like changing what crops are grown, using less fertilizer, planting trees on farms, & adding biochar to soil. These steps help take in & reduce CO₂. We must understand: Nature is our best ally in the climate crisis! Nature based solutions are scientific proven & cost effective ways to help our climate, but biodiversity & people too. So time to invest more in Nature! 90 seconds… did I manage? #90secondmasterclass #nature #naturebasedsolutions

How do we blend climate mitigation and adaptation strategies? Can be hard to find approaches that bring the two together. Good read from WRI that highlights five ways this could happen. Any others we can add to this list? 1. Protect Coastal Wetlands - Coastal ecosystems serve as natural water filtration systems and marine habitats, protecting against rising sea levels and floods, storms, etc. while also sequestering tons of carbon. "Increasing protected coastal wetlands and recovering about 40% of the ecosystem’s global coverage by 2050 could mitigate one gigaton of CO2 per year — over three years of emissions. " 2. Promote the Benefits of Sustainable Agroforestry - Agroforestry methods (integrating trees or shrubs with crops and livestock) can sequester 5-10X more carbon than treeless areas of the equal size. Farmers also use less land in the process and increase their income. "Expanding the use of this method to 554 million acres globally, estimated to require an investment of $41.6 billion, could help farmers realize $699 billion in financial gains from revenue diversification." 3. Decentralize Energy Distribution - Decentralized systems (e.g. powered by renewable energy with shorter transmission lines and smaller distribution areas) are more climate-resilient. "In the event of a disaster, a community with its own decentralized energy supply isn’t affected by power outages in other areas. Smaller, more manageable power sources can also recover from disasters more rapidly." 4. Secure Indigenous Peoples’ Land Rights - Indigenous and local communities manage almost 50% of land on the planet (~2.5 BN people rely on this land as well). Places where indigenous people have legal rights to their land have at least two times lower deforestation rates. Beyond these outcomes, these populations have managed these lands for generations, giving them rare expertise to adapt to changes in climate, weather, etc. 5. Improve Mass Transit - We need resilient, low-carbon mass transit. Transportation, namely road transport, is a massive GHG emitter, and is also highly vulnerable to increasing temperatures, storms, etc. Disruptions to mass transit can have a disproportionate effect on low-income communities as well. "Expanding urban public transportation by 40% by 2050 could decrease the projected number of cars on the road and avoid 6.6 gigatons of carbon emissions. Increased public transportation also has the added benefits of relieving traffic congestion, reducing accidents and fatalities, and improving air quality."

What if the Solution to Climate Change is Rooted in Forests? 🌳🌍 Forests are more than just trees—they are nature’s most powerful tool for carbon capture and sustainability. From renewable energy to eco-friendly buildings and sustainable products, forests play a key role in shaping a greener future. But are we maximizing their potential? 🔬 How Forests Drive Decarbonization: ✅ Carbon Storage: Trees absorb and lock CO₂, reducing atmospheric carbon levels. ✅ Renewable Energy: Biomass energy can replace fossil fuels, cutting emissions. ✅ Sustainable Materials: Wood-based products replace plastics, lowering pollution. ✅ Green Buildings: Eco-friendly wood construction reduces reliance on concrete & steel. ✅ Recycling Power: Wood and paper products are among the most recycled materials, extending carbon storage. 🌱 Forests aren’t just ecosystems—they are climate solutions waiting to be optimized. 💡 How can we better use forests for a sustainable future? Let’s discuss! 👇 #forest #climate

In a The World Bank blog, German Caruso and Inés de Marcos introduce the Climate Effects Navigator Toolkit (CLIENT), a new interactive platform that combines climate and human capital data to analyze the long-term effects of disasters on health, education, and livelihoods. Key features: 📊 Tracks six hazard types (e.g. droughts, floods, heatwaves, hurricanes) over nearly five decades. Users can tweak thresholds, timeframes, and measure by land or population to analyze exposure, frequency, and severity at subnational levels. 🧍Uses census microdata to show who’s most affected. Users can explore how disasters impact school attendance, employment, electricity access, and more, before and after events, to highlight vulnerable groups like children or underserved households. ⚙ Overlays World Bank project data with climate-affected areas, helping identify where current initiatives are helping, and where gaps remain, enabling better targeting of climate-smart investments. 🔍 Integrates almost five decades of climate data across 38,000+ subnational regions and harmonizes climate records, census data, population stats, and administrative boundaries into a flexible toolkit with over 300 customizable parameters. 🗒️ Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/gGsURKjD 🖥️ Try the toolkit: https://lnkd.in/gUJB3Kkc 💻 Check out the Climate Change Knowledge Portal: https://lnkd.in/gw2eThqb