Sustainability Notice #30 (27 February - 5 March)

World:

High seas treaty: historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN (Source)

It has been almost two decades in the making, but late on Saturday night in New York, after days of gruelling round-the-clock talks, UN member states finally agreed on a treaty to protect the high seas.

Thunberg, Indigenous protesters block Norway energy ministry over wind farms (Source)

Environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg and hundreds of other activists on Monday blocked entrances to Norway's energy ministry, protesting against wind turbines built on land traditionally used by Indigenous Sami reindeer herders.

Government of Canada to require suppliers to disclose emissions, set GHG reduction targets (Source)

Large suppliers to the Government of Canada will be compelled to disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and set targets to reduce them, starting April 1, 2023, according to new standards released.

New disease caused by plastics discovered in seabirds (Source)

The birds identified as having the disease, named plasticosis, have scarred digestive tracts from ingesting waste, scientists at the Natural History Museum in London say. It is the first recorded instance of specifically plastic-induced fibrosis in wild animals, researchers say.

Unusually heavy snowfall on US west coast is ‘once-in-a-generation’ event (Source)

The west coast of the US, from Oregon to the mountains of California and the golf courses of Phoenix, has received nearly unprecedented levels of snowfall this week in what officials are calling a “once-in-a-generation” event.

‘Everyone should be concerned’: Antarctic sea ice reaches lowest levels ever recorded (Source)

With the continent holding enough ice to raise sea levels by many metres if it was to melt, polar scientists are scrambling for answers.

‘Very precarious’: Europe faces growing water crisis as winter drought worsens (Source)

After its driest summer in 500 years, much of Europe is in the grip of a winter drought driven by climate breakdown that is prompting growing concern among governments over the water security for homes, farmers and factories across the continent.

Bristol Somali Youth Voice inspires climate chats through cycling (Source)

Young city people are being encouraged to join the conversation around climate change by going cycling. Bristol Somali Youth Voice (BSYV), based in Easton, works with young people, mainly from minority ethnic communities, and wants to make them "part of the climate change dialogue".

Business:

Portugal's shoemakers rethink business models, recycle in green push (Source)

The factory worker grabbed a handful of worn-out shoes and fed them into roaring machines that chopped and crushed and transformed them into "eco-rubber" - part of a green push in Portugal's footwear industry. The rubber is then transformed into recycled soles and other products sold by Bolflex - one of 120 Portuguese shoemakers that signed a pact on Friday to cut the sector's emissions by half by 2030 - and its clients.

Germany asks EU for wiggle room on combustion engine phaseout (Source)

Germany has asked the European Union to propose rules allowing combustion-engine cars that run on CO2-neutral fuels to be sold in Europe after 2035, the date by which the EU has agreed all new cars should have zero emissions.

BCG launches climate & sustainability policy and regulation center (Source)

Boston Consulting Group (BCG) announced today the launch of its global Center for Climate & Sustainability Policy & Regulation, aimed at supporting clients navigate the rapidly transforming climate and sustainability-related regulatory landscape.

BMW launches pilot hydrogen fuel cell-powered car fleet (Source)

BMW Group announced the launch of the BMW iX5 Hydrogen pilot vehicles, a fleet of demonstration cars powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The fleet will go into service this year, deployed internationally for demonstration and trial purposes.

Green flights not in easy reach, warn scientists (Source)

You may be hoping that guilt-free flying is just around the corner, but scientists warn it is still a long way off. Plans for climate-friendly flying rest on creating greener jet fuels that have less impact on the environment. Switching to sustainable fuel is also key to the government's aim to reach "jet zero" flying by 2050. But the Royal Society concludes there is currently no single, clear alternative to traditional fuel.

Researches:

Global energy-related CO2 emissions edged up to record high in 2022 – IEA (Source)

Global energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide hit a record high last year, although more clean technology such as solar power and electric vehicles helped limit the impact of increased coal and oil use, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday.

Plastic consumption on course to nearly double by 2050 – research (Source)

Plastic use in G20 countries is on course to nearly double by the middle of the century unless a comprehensive and legally binding global treaty to curb consumption is drawn up, according to research published on Monday.