Fraction of money earmarked for COVID-19 recovery could boost climate efforts
Global stimulus plans for economic recovery after the pandemic could easily cover climate-friendly policies, suggests new study.
15 October 2020
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China going carbon neutral before 2060 would lower warming projections by around 0.2 to 0.3 degrees C
If China were to achieve its announced goal of achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, it would lower global warming projections by around 0.2 to 0.3°C, the biggest single reduction ever estimated by the Climate Action Tracker.
23 September 2020
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Coal Phase Out
Coal is the most carbon intensive fossil fuel and phasing it out is a key step to achieve the emissions reductions needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C, as enshrined in the Paris Agreement. Most emissions from coal are in the electricity sector and, as we already have the technologies that can replace coal, phase out is a relatively cheap and easy option to reduce emissions. Our research shows coal needs to be phased out globally by 2040 to meet the commitments made in Paris.
1.5°C - key facts
Since 2009 over a hundred Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and many others have been calling for limiting global temperature rise to below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Placing the 1.5°C limit alongside the legally binding goal to hold global temperatures “well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” in the Paris Agreement was a major victory for vulnerable countries. This page is an information pool for material around the 1.5°C temperature limit.
Resource page
Loss and Damage
Loss and Damage refers to the impacts of climate change that can no longer be avoided through adaptation or mitigation. It is one of the key issues for vulnerable countries, who have contributed the least to climate change.They call on the developed world to provide support to cope with Loss and Damage, which otherwise threatens their economies, cultures and the lives of their people.
This page provides background material and key resources, including scientific studies and briefing material and blogs with updates on the policy process under the UNFCCC and under the IPCC.
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Consultations in the time of Covid-19: small islands unhindered in stepping up climate ambition
Despite the compounding challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, its economic fallout and a slew of tropical storms, small island nations still prioritise fighting the existential threat of climate change. They are pressing on with strengthening their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, which governments are expected to communicate by the end of 2020.
05 October 2020
International aviation emissions reduction plan free falling in response to COVID-19
Despite a bumpy 2020, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) is finally poised to take off in 2021. But will it actually reach its destination? Worse yet, given the impetus for a green recovery from the pandemic, is it sending the wrong signal? More importantly, what can Small Island nations do to help CORSIA get back on track?
01 October 2020
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South Korea pursues Vietnamese coal plant, drawing international criticismClimate Home News
A South Korean majority state-owned utility has approved investment in a coal power station project in Vietnam, undermining the government’s “green new deal” rhetoric. Climate Analytics chief executive Bill Hare said: “Vietnam is in the process of gradually moving away from coal and learning how it can take advantage of its renewable resources. The Korean government should not be discouraging that. It should be helping to accelerate that.”
06 October 2020
China pledge and Biden win could move climate goals into view, scientists sayThomson Reuters Foundation
If a Biden-promised U.S. net-zero pledge comes on top of new EU and China commitments, "there's real hope" climate goals can be met, experts say
23 September 2020
BREAKING: NEW ASSESSMENT DECLARES CANADA’S CLIMATE PLAN ‘INSUFFICIENT’ AS THRONE SPEECH DAY DAWNSThe Energy Mix
With the Trudeau government just hours away from tabling its long-awaited Speech from the Throne, the international Climate Action Tracker is branding the country’s carbon reduction efforts “insufficient” and consistent with a 3.0°C world, with “little support” for green recovery measures to date.
23 September 2020
Publications
Governments around the globe are responding to the economic crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic with unprecedented economic recovery packages. This study shines a light on the opportunity for these investments to support a green recovery by inventorying and classifying the latest information on governments' fiscal stimulus plans and comparing the size of these measures to estimates of low-carbon energy investment needs compatible with the Paris climate agreement.
Every country has an important role to play in increasing the ambition of domestic climate action in response to our collective climate crisis. This report looks at the main mechanisms and drivers for the uptake of climate policies beyond just the borders of the country implementing them.