The New York Times (behind a paywall) wrote: “Five dry words — ‘transitioning away from fossil fuels’ — led to a bitter diplomatic spat Tuesday. . . . A handful of petrostates, led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, ensured that a United Nations General Assembly resolution on climate change steered clear of such language, despite established scientific consensus that the continued burning of coal, oil and gas is rapidly heating up the planet. . . . It demonstrates how a handful of countries, with their own economic and political interests, can stymie global action on slowing down dangerous levels of global warming.” The General Assembly resolution is not binding, but, the NYT goes on, “words carry meaning and precedence in diplomacy. And the fight to excise that critical phrase on a transition from fossil fuels is part of a concerted yearlong diplomatic campaign by Saudi Arabia to make countries distance themselves from a commitment made last year at the global climate talks in Dubai to move away from oil, gas and coal.” In the end, at COP29 Parties could not come to an agreement to include clear references to transition away from fossil fuels. Furthermore, the G20 communiqué from Rio de Janeiro on November 19th also failed to deliver a strong commitment on fossil fuel phase-out. No doubt, with Donald Trump’s new administration starting in January, these petrostates will have an ally. With climate disaster after disaster, day after day, what? Me worry?
Culture is a key element in the concept of sustainable development as it frames people’s relationships and attitudes towards the built and the natural worlds. To better understand some of the linkages between culture and environmental issues, check out the blog this week on how theatre, music and film are helping us unlock new solutions to the world’s plastics problem.
In planning travel over the upcoming weeks, here is some useful ideas to help you along:
- Lonely Planet’s train expert provides his top 5 rail journeys in Europe for 2024.
- Forbes website describes 5 New European Trains: A Revolution In High-Speed & Night Trains. The European rail revolution continues, with new high-speed trains and new night train service between major cities [note, you are allowed 4 free viewings].
- National Geographic provides 6 of the best autumn hikes in Europe.
- For those who want to combine hiking with food and wine, check out the Hedonistic Hiking website.
- Check out the blog on how Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE is taking sustainability seriously.
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013), a British stateswoman and Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990, had a clear view on climate change back in1988: “For generations, we have assumed that the efforts of mankind would leave the fundamental equilibrium of the world’s systems and atmosphere stable. But it is possible that with all these enormous changes (population, agricultural, use of fossil fuels) concentrated into such a short period of time, we have unwittingly begun a massive experiment with the system of this planet itself.”
EiD welcomes your views about this week’s selection of posts on the zero-carbon energy transition:
- New EEA briefing on first state of play on national surveillance for heat-related health impacts
- Data centres are threatening the very energy transition on which so many governments have staked everything
- Pioneering the use of theatre, music and visual arts to research issues around plastic pollution
- Cycling can have real impact in our race to zero emissions
- Europe has an opportunity to leverage AI to optimise its energy systems to ensure a more sustainable approach to using its limited resources
- Europe’s building sector off track: social, economic and climate targets at risk
- Where is the urgency for action on climate change? There is a gravely mistaken believe which grossly under appreciates the era of global death and human misery
- Earth’s axis tilted noticeably over two decades. Here’s why
Please send your comments on any of the posts. Please recommend EiD to your friends and colleagues
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Energy in Demand - Sustainable Energy - Rod Janssen 