Environmental Sustainability Goals

#Economics 101 by Yayo Herrero (Anthropologist, Social Educator & Agricultural Engineer). She is one of the most influential researchers in the ecofeminist and ecosocialist field at the European level and is my great reference in Spain for ecosocial issues. "What is happening is that we have had several centuries of a capitalist economy. A capitalist economy, which is not only a mode of production, not only a mode of economic organisation, but also produces a type of person, creates a kind of culture. What happens is that this economic model, in its theory, in its definition, in practice, what is studied, the equations that are studied in their textbooks when they are being studied in the faculties, what they defend is precisely that only that which can only be expressed in monetary terms has economic value. In such a hypertrophied #economy, if only that which can be expressed in price has economic value, everything that cannot be expressed in price ceases to form part of the field of economic study and ceases to form part of the field of the study of value. Therefore, the assets disappear from economics. What are ‘assets’? They are all those natural cycles that are perpetuated, all those minerals in the earth's crust, but also people's bodies are a valuable asset. People are one of the most significant sources of energy in the way we interact with nature and with each other to sustain life daily. The work that housewives do inside the home, being available to provide goods and services daily, and it is a job done 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, does not count and has no value. A classical economist, Pigou, made a joke: "It would be enough for every Englishman (he was speaking in Victorian England) to marry his housekeeper for the GDP to fall suddenly." Of course, if the housekeepers were paid, the economic value of that work would count in the system's accounts. But when the wife starts doing for free what she used to do as a worker, that directly disappears from the system's accounts; it is the same contribution, but it is already invisible. It is precisely the same with nature; without photosynthesis or pollination, there is no agriculture, no harvest, and without harvest, there is no humanity. But this pollination or photosynthesis, having no economic value, directly disappears. And when climate change or pollution wipes out, for example, bee populations or hinders the possibility of photosynthesis, the economy is not even aware of this because it has no way of measuring it. The twist is that, not only do we have an economic system that does not count essential elements to sustain #life, but the most serious thing is that it even counts destruction as if it were wealth. For instance, a polluted river generates significantly more economic value than a clean one, as it requires substantial investment in decontamination. This involves purifying the water, hiring specialised services, and conducting thorough analyses."

The impact of climate change on the SDGs 🌎 The latest State of the Global Climate 2024 report from WMO provides a clear assessment of how accelerating climate change is affecting global stability. With 2024 recorded as the hottest year on record—1.55°C above pre-industrial levels—the implications extend far beyond temperature increases. The findings highlight the direct and systemic risks climate change poses to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Rising temperatures, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and glacial melt are driving widespread environmental and socio-economic disruptions. These changes are not occurring in isolation; they are interconnected, amplifying existing challenges related to food security (SDG 2), water availability (SDG 6), economic resilience (SDG 8), and biodiversity loss (SDGs 14 & 15). Ocean changes are among the most critical risks. Increasing ocean temperatures and acidification are disrupting marine ecosystems, reducing fish stocks, and weakening the ocean’s ability to act as a carbon sink. This has significant consequences for coastal communities, food security, and global supply chains. Glacial loss and sea-level rise are reshaping landscapes, affecting infrastructure, water resources, and human settlements. Coastal erosion, land degradation, and increased flooding threaten urban development (SDG 11), economic productivity (SDG 9), and disaster resilience (SDG 13). These impacts also contribute to population displacement, further straining social and economic systems. The increase in extreme weather events, from heatwaves to hurricanes, is exacerbating global inequality. Agricultural losses, infrastructure damage, and rising adaptation costs are disproportionately affecting developing regions, slowing progress toward economic stability, sustainable production, and resource security (SDGs 8 & 12). The WMO report emphasizes that while exceeding 1.5°C in a single year does not mean the Paris Agreement target has been breached, the trend underscores the urgency of reducing emissions and strengthening adaptation strategies. Without immediate action, climate risks will continue to escalate, undermining progress toward the SDGs and increasing long-term economic and environmental costs. Addressing these challenges requires systemic policy shifts, investment in climate resilience, and cross-sector collaboration. As climate change intensifies, integrating sustainability into decision-making at all levels will be essential to mitigating risks and safeguarding global development objectives. Source: State of the Global Climate 2024 #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #sdgs

📣 Major democratic states are fighting back against the anti-science, anti-climate wave coming from Washington! Despite the Trump Administration's shelving of the SEC climate rule, withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, and persecution of virtually anything sustainability-related, a number of influential states are stepping up. New bills put forward in New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Illinois are following the model of California's SB253 in requiring emissions reporting. These bills also have a much better chance of getting through than the SEC rule did of being enforced on a national level. The chaos at a national level is dispiriting, but these bills, as well as the ones in California, cast a strong net for emissions reporting. Very few major companies will manage to avoid conducting business in these states, meaning that even though they are state-level, they have the potential for national impact. The team and I put together a comparison of these four new rules to show what they cover, when they would come in, and what they mean for businesses. I hope you find it helpful! #climate #sustainability #esg #esgreporting #sustainabilitystandards #emissions #america #scope3

When Dutch Grand Prix organizers announced in 2019 the goal of going car-free, they were ridiculed: "That's impossible!” decried critics. But they’ve made the impossible possible in Zandvoort, shifting behaviour with a bold vision, targeted investment, and effective cooperation. While an F1 race is an unlikely place for a sustainable transport revolution, the event’s 110,000 daily attendees were prohibited from arriving by car. Instead, organizers executed an integrated mobility plan; resulting in 98% of fans traveling by foot, bike or public transport. By strictly applying the STOMP principles: Stappen (Walking), Trappen (Cycling), OV (Public Transport), Mobility as a Service, and Private Cars, the comprehensive and flexible strategy could be adjusted each day in response to changing weather, demand, and other external factors. Given the coastal setting, planners were worried fans would hesitate to cycle long distances in wind and rain. But they were pleasantly surprised, and pedaling through the dunes to the 45,000 popup parking spaces has become a social and enjoyable part of the race day experience. The Dutch Grand Prix’s success is attracting attention and inspiring other big events like music festivals and sport competitions. The Paris Olympic Organizing Committee visited Zandvoort in 2023 to investigate how they could apply this aspirational model during the 2024 Games. With the target of 100% sustainable mode share within reach by next year, what began as an idealistic dream has become a concrete blueprint that can be replicated everywhere. After all, changing the world always seems impossible until you roll up your sleeves and make it happen.

Very happy to have a new paper published in Nature, on the implications of ending poverty on GHG emissions and climate change. There is much discussion on the potential trade-offs between development and global climate objectives, and we hope to inform this discussion with detailed analysis based on the latest data. In the paper, we quantify the GHG emissions "needed" to eradicated extreme poverty, in various scenarios. The key difference with previous work is that we do not only count additional emissions from higher consumption of the people currently living in poverty. Instead, we count the emissions from the economic growth needed to end poverty. It's more realistic, because extreme poverty won't be eradicated without economic growth, and it also leads to higher emissions. But less than most people would expect... The good news indeed is that even with historical trends and patterns --- an implausibly conservative assumption at this point --- the economic growth needed to eradicate extreme poverty would increase global GHG emissions by less than 5 percent. Eradicating extreme poverty can thus safely be considered an absolute priority. If we replicate the best historical performance on energy and carbon intensity and on inequality, a reasonable objective, the needed emissions are even smaller, only around 0.5%. And with today's technologies, we can do much better. For instance, solar panels are the best options to bring electricity to rural communities living in poverty, e-mobility is the least-cost option for the 2- and 3-wheelers that are key for poor people, and climate-smart agriculture can increase yields and reduce emissions at the same time! The robust conclusion is that, in all cases, the economic growth needed to end extreme poverty would not change the scale of the challenge to stop climate change. In the worst case, richer countries would need to increase their decarbonization efforts by a negligible 0.28% to compensate for the emissions needed to improve the lives of the poorest people in the world. But ending extreme poverty cannot be the end goal, and we explore higher poverty lines. We find that providing middle-class standards of living to everyone will require much more growth. Achieving this goal while reducing net emissions to zero to stabilize climate change will require radical changes in development patterns. This is where the challenge lies for the next few decades, and identifying these development paths is the goal of the World Bank's Country Climate and Development Reports (more on this soon!). Thanks to Daniel Gerszon Mahler and Philip Wollburg for the great collaboration. See the full paper on https://lnkd.in/erVx9XrC.

When in Doubt, Just Delete It? Corporate Climate Silence is Getting Louder 🌍🚨 According to a recent Financial Times investigation by Attracta Mooney and Susannah Savage, major U.S. corporations are quietly erasing climate commitments from public view. The report reveals that companies like Walmart, KraftHeinz, Meta, Ford Motor Company, and American Airlines have scrubbed or softened references to climate change from their websites. In some cases, bold pledges—like cutting emissions by 50% by 2030—have disappeared entirely. This isn’t happening in a vacuum. With political attacks on environmental policies intensifying, many companies are opting for "greenhushing"—downplaying or omitting sustainability efforts to avoid controversy. But of course, this makes perfect sense. After all, the election of Donald Trump has fundamentally altered the science of climate change and carbon emissions, right? Surely, CO₂ molecules now behave differently depending on who occupies the White House. 🤔🌱💨 (Okay, sarcasm over.) Here’s the real issue: erasing climate commitments doesn’t erase climate risks. 🔹 Investors are watching. The push for transparency in ESG reporting isn’t just about optics—it’s about long-term financial stability. Weakening climate targets today could mean increased regulatory scrutiny, shareholder activism, or even capital flight tomorrow. 🔹 Customers care. Greenwashing is bad. But greenhushing? It sends the message that a company’s commitment to sustainability is only as strong as the political winds allow. That’s a fast way to lose trust. 🔹 Employees are paying attention. Younger talent, in particular, prioritises sustainability. A quiet retreat on climate commitments could hurt not just a company’s brand, but also its ability to attract and retain top talent. Beyond the immediate reputational risks, this entire approach is staggeringly shortsighted. Climate change isn’t a PR issue—it’s a physical reality that will disrupt supply chains, displace populations, and drive economic instability. Pretending otherwise doesn’t change the science, it only delays the inevitable reckoning. And at its core, this is deeply disappointing. Corporate leadership isn’t just retreating from climate action; it’s demonstrating a complete moral failure. If a company’s sustainability strategy evaporates the moment political pressure rises, was it ever real in the first place? 🌎💔 What do you think? Are we entering an era where businesses retreat on sustainability—not just in words, but in actions too? 🔗 Full article here: https://lnkd.in/egngPgqw #ClimateRisk #ESG #CorporateResponsibility #Greenhushing #Sustainability

Last week I had the honour and privilege to meet with our long time supporter, Vice President and Fauna & Flora friend Sir David Attenborough and the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy. This was at the invitation of the Foreign Secretary to discuss the new government’s foreign policy ambitions for global leadership in encouraging international action on nature and climate. This was a wide-ranging discussion from the deep ocean, high seas and coastlines, to the temperate and tropical forests, grasslands and mountains. We are eager to support the work of this new Government through our efforts and to give voice and visibility to the local and community-based partners we work with worldwide who are most affected by climate change and biodiversity loss.    As the UK Government's nature and climate international policies evolve, here are five areas where I think they, and indeed other governments, can have a real and lasting impact as we go into the Biodiversity Summit (CoP16) and the next climate CoP29.   1.    Leadership in Nature Protection: The UK government has an opportunity to lead globally by focusing on proactive protection, restoration, and investment in nature, prioritising the improvement of natural resources for long-term benefits to people and the planet, while restoring marine and terrestrial ecosystems to mitigate climate change, enhance resilience, and protect vulnerable communities.   2.    The Ocean as a Climate Solution: The ocean plays a crucial role in combating climate change and promoting sustainable development. The UK must continue to support and invest in ocean-based climate solutions, such as coastal ecosystem restoration, which provide "no regrets" benefits for both nature and local communities.   3.    Nature Finance: Funds flowing to locally led approaches is the only route to legitimacy and sustainability in conservation, because local people, organisations and individuals are best suited to identify and implement appropriate conservation actions, and should be enabled, equipped, and funded to do so. The UK should seek opportunities and establish incentives for more effective and efficient funding systems.   4.    Private Sector's Role in Sustainability: Business will be essential for scaling solutions to climate and nature challenges. The UK government should create incentives for sustainable investments and encourage philanthropy, while pushing for transparency, responsible supply chains, and integrity in nature markets like carbon and biodiversity credits.   5.    Locally-Led Climate Adaptation: Climate change impacts are felt locally, and solutions must be driven by local communities. Top-down approaches are insufficient; instead, there must be support for locally-led adaptation and recovery efforts, with innovative funding that shares risks and encourages bold investments in nature.   #SavingNatureTogether Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Time is rapidly running out to prevent exceeding 1.5°C of human-caused global warming since the preindustrial era—a critical threshold stated in the #parisagreement Most pathways that aim to keep warming below 1.5°C now involve a temporary "overshoot," where temperatures exceed this limit before being brought back down through #carbondioxide removal from the atmosphere (IPCC) However, a new study published in Nature reveals significant uncertainties and risks associated with this approach, notably: ▶️ Even pathways designed to limit warming to 1.5°C carry a notable risk of exceeding 2°C due to climate system uncertainties. ▶️ To reverse a temporary overshoot, we may need to remove hundreds of billions of tonnes of CO₂ by 2100—a scale that challenges our current technological and economic capacities. ▶️ Overshooting 1.5°C, even temporarily, can lead to irreversible consequences such as accelerated sea-level rise and loss of ecosystems, aligning with warnings from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The study suggests adopting "peak and decline" strategies that focus on rapid emissions reductions to minimize peak warming and developing sustainable CO₂ removal methods to reduce temperatures over time. What Can We Do? ✅ Immediate and substantial cuts in #greenhousegasemissions are essential. ✅ Scaling up CO₂ Removal Technologies can help hedge against higher-than-expected warming. ✅ Governments, businesses, and organizations must work together to implement sustainable solutions. This research underscores the urgency of proactive measures. Relying on future technological fixes for carbon removal is not enough; we must act now to reduce emissions and prevent irreversible damage to our planet. Read the article here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eXn-yC4j

“Ireland remains a laggard within the EU in terms of climate policy implementation. To date, we have been ineffective in achieving our climate targets because of both policy misalignment and prioritisation of corporate interests over the public good. From energy to agriculture, from expanding data centres to intensifying meat and dairy production, we are not on track to meet our emissions targets because policies continue to incentivise carbon-intensive growth and private sector profits rather than investing in the needs of communities… To balance the interests of multiple and sometimes conflicting stakeholders, the State has often engaged in decisions, actions, and policies that are systematically in conflict – a documented phenomenon known in social science as ‘organised hypocrisy’… Ecologically, we hold the dubious distinction of being the country in the world with the worst wetlands depletion of any nation in the world and the worst level of destruction of our native forests. Further, the country is not on track to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement and is facing fines totalling millions of euros as a result… A reorientation of our economic and social systems toward public investments to support more local, regenerative, and community-focused production of food, energy, and other necessities is essential. A focus on regenerative (rather than extractive) investments in people and communities will not only improve human wellbeing and restore social cohesion but also bring back ecological health of our land and water… While the business-as-usual, organised hypocrisy approach has achieved gains for some Irish people in the past, for a healthy and stable future there is an urgent need and a current window of opportunity for Ireland to demonstrate climate justice leadership by focusing on policy alignment and public community investments.” Great piece and call to action from Jennie C. Stephens and Orla Kelly PhD. Ireland has an incredible opportunity, and responsibility, to lead on delivering a climate transition centred on justice. But our current approach risks business-as-usual and sustainability-as-usual. https://lnkd.in/eEUEiiPy

NEW ANALYSIS: Meeting European climate goals will require a stark contraction in fossil gas use. But in many countries gas grid planning is based on the assumption of infinite gas grid use. Despite the substantial implications for gas grid users and infrastructure, current grid planning does not adequately reflect this new reality. This misalignment poses a substantial barrier to the transition towards a sustainable energy system and underscores the need for more holistic planning. Alignment of energy infrastructure planning with other planning processes could better support climate and social goals. Regulations regarding heat planning, for instance, have significant consequences for gas grid infrastructure development, heating appliance regulations and consumer burdens. Infrastructure planning processes also do not yet address the support needed to ensure vulnerable energy users are able to fully participate in the transition to cleaner, more efficient technologies. Our study provides comprehensive information on the current state of the gas grid, its development, and the regulatory framework in selected European countries, and identifies current regulatory barriers for the phase-out of fossil gas. It concludes with recommendations on how Member States could better align energy infrastructure planning with the attainment of national and EU climate targets: - Adopt a national phase-out target and give energy regulators a net zero mandate. - Make the regulatory framework fit for the gas phase-out. - Adopt integrated heat and grid planning. - Plan future gas infrastructure based on realistic assumptions about future availability of zero-carbon heating technologies. - Track and collect harmonised data at the EU level. - Protect vulnerable customers. More in our Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) & Oeko-Institut e.V. report released today.