A fundamental and long term change

Dear Stubborn Optimist,

We live in epoch defining times. This is the decade that energy shifts firmly, forever away from fossil fuels. We’ve covered the exponential shifts to renewables previously, but this week we learned that thanks to a series of massive investments in - and deployment of - renewables in China, emissions there are set to enter a structural decline from next year.

This turning point is the fruit of a fundamental and long term change that’s been in the making for years. We celebrate it. Changes to our energy system are happening everywhere. From Nigeria where the President decided to end a fossil fuel subsidy and invest the money into “public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions,” to Uruguay, Portugal, Denmark, Indonesia and Namibia: renewables are not just the future but the now. 

In turbulent times that’s good news for just about everyone. Setting the health benefits aside for a moment, look at this brilliant graph from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) on the volatility costs for drivers of electric vans vs. fossil powered combustion ones.

So, what about the UN-Environment Program Production Gap report, recently released, showing that top fossil fuel producers plan even more extraction despite their climate promises? And the new annual UN Climate Change Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Synthesis report analysing climate plans of the 195 Parties to the Paris Agreement? It points to a 9% increase in emissions, far short of the 43% decrease we need to limit warming in line with the science. These findings are sobering indeed, and should be a wake up call to all leaders ahead of their responsibilities at COP. And, the news from China, along with continuing cost reductions for renewables - even as policies and financial support for fossil fuels remain high - shows how new investments in fossils today are bound to become stranded assets tomorrow. Understanding that could very quickly change the shape of national climate plans. 

On the subject of tomorrow, last week’s Earthshot Prize ceremony in Singapore was a feast of enthusiasm, creativity and ingenuity for the future - an awe-inspiring celebration of the best of the human spirit. Adith Moorthy from Karnataka, won the coveted prize for climate with his innovative project Boomitra, which helps struggling farmers restore their soil with cutting edge technology and regenerative agricultural practices. Crucially, Boomitra ensures farmers get paid for this work through verified carbon credits. Find out more about Boomitra and Moorthy’s story here.  

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In this week's email newsletter you’ll find: 

📌 Food and farming: high on the agenda for the first time at COP28

📌 This week on Outrage + Optimism: our episode this week drops on Friday 17 November.

📌 The verdict from Systems Change Lab, which has just released its State of Climate Action 2023 report.

📌 The World Meteorological Organization’s latest report is a fascinating look at the link between climate and health

Taking care of our health is taking care of the climate (and vice versa), because the two are deeply interlinked. So in the run up to one of the busiest and most stressful conferences for the climate community, don’t forget to take care of your health. Resting and regenerating so we can be ready for the hard work ahead is climate action.

Thank you for reading our newsletter.

With stubborn optimism,

The Outrage + Optimism team.

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