In an age of climate chaos and economic crisis, the ideas of the father of ecological economics that inspired a movement to live within our means are increasingly essential

Herman Daly became convinced that economics should no longer prioritize the efficiency of this one-way process but instead focus on the “optimal” scale of an economy that the Earth can sustain. Today, the imprint of his career can be found far and wide, including measures of the Genuine Progress Indicator of an economy, new Doughnut … Continue reading In an age of climate chaos and economic crisis, the ideas of the father of ecological economics that inspired a movement to live within our means are increasingly essential →

Children and young people are a big part of COP27

Aoife Daly, Lecturer in Law at University College Cork writes on the Conversation website about how young people are playing an increasingly important role at the UN climate summit this year. COP27: how young climate activists are changing international human rights law World leaders and climate scientists aren’t the only ones who have gathered … Continue reading Children and young people are a big part of COP27 →

While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay?

Loss and damage has been at the heart of much media reporting about the upcoming Cop27 climate talks in Egypt in November. With many disasters recently, such as the flooding in Pakistan, the importance of loss and damage compensation gains attention. Isabella Kaminski writes on the Climate Change News about the challenges involved. She notes that … Continue reading While “loss and damage” is gaining more attention ahead of COP27, who’s going to pay? →

“Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability

With carefully designed debt-for-climate swaps and support from international institutions, developing countries could expand their finance for desperately needed climate mitigation and adaptation actions and remove some of their heavy debt burden. Soyoung Oh, Junior Research Fellow, The Fletcher School at Tufts University discusses her views in an article on The Conversation website. How … Continue reading “Debt-for-climate swaps” to help low- and middle-income countries lower their vulnerability →

A citizens panel learned how to eliminate carbon emissions from homes and helped design solutions they thought would work for owner-occupiers

Jacob Ainscough, Senior Research Associate in Environmental Governance, Lancaster University and Rebecca Willis, Professor in Energy and Climate Governance, Lancaster Environment Centre at Lancaster University write on The Conversation website about the views of tenants in a study they undertook. A panel was set up. Participants spent 25 hours over seven sessions, both online and … Continue reading A citizens panel learned how to eliminate carbon emissions from homes and helped design solutions they thought would work for owner-occupiers →

New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future

The Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) recently released a briefing titled “International Investment Governance and Achieving a Just Zero-Carbon Future,” available in both English and French. The briefing discusses how the current international investment regime is hostile to states’ ability to address the climate crisis and will deter, delay or water down states’ climate-related … Continue reading New report on overhauling investment governance for a just zero-carbon future →

EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation

As part of a major reform of the EU’s anti-pollution legislation, the European Commission said it planned to tighten air quality standards, including on one of the most dangerous pollutants, fine particulate matter. Jennifer Rankin discusses latest developments in an article on The Guardian website. EU plans tighter controls on pollution as doctors call … Continue reading EU planning major reform of its anti-pollution legislation →

New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption

GHG emissions and energy consumption rose in 2021 due mostly to Europe’s post-pandemic recovery, according to the latest ‘Trends and Projections’ report published this week by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Most EU Member States successfully achieved the EU’s 2020 climate and energy targets and are now turning their sights toward climate neutrality while also … Continue reading New EEA report on progress in EU reducing GHG emissions and energy consumption →

Can COP 27 help close the emissions gap?

The window to reign in climate-wrecking emissions and limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is fast closing, says a new UN report. Societal transformation may be the only way to avoid a coming calamity. Stuart Braun discusses the recent report in an article on the Deutsche Welle website. Climate crisis: Widening emissions gap threatens … Continue reading Can COP 27 help close the emissions gap? →

Twenty high risk countries threatening to halt debt payments

The countries want their collective $685 billion in debts forgiven so the money can be invested in climate projects. Lisa Friedman discusses latest developments in an article on The New York Times website. 20 Nations at High Risk From Global Warming Might Halt Debt Payments Twenty countries most vulnerable to climate change are considering … Continue reading Twenty high risk countries threatening to halt debt payments →