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California Forever: Silicon Valley billionaires are secretively planning a new utopian tech city

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:06:30 -0500

Silicon Valley billionaires - with some European investment - have bought up large swathes of land in California for a secretive new city project.

Silicon Valley billionaires behind a secretive $800 million (€740 million) land-buying spree in Northern California in the US have finally released some details about their plans for a new sustainable tech city - but they still must win over sceptical voters and local leaders first.

After years of ducking scrutiny, Jan Sramek, the former Goldman Sachs trader spearheading the effort, launched a website on Thursday about "California Forever".

The site billed the project as "a chance for a new community, good-paying local jobs, solar farms, and open space" in Solano, a rural county between San Francisco and Sacramento that is now home to 450,000 people.

He also began meeting with key politicians representing the area who have been trying unsuccessfully for years to find out who was behind the mysterious Flannery Associates LLC as it bought up huge swaths of land, making it the largest single landholder in the county.

An all-star roster of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and venture capitalists are backing the project, including philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman, and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen.

The New York Times first reported on the group's investors and plans.

Voters must approve any plans

California Forever, the parent company of Flannery, has purchased more than 202 square km of farmland in Solano County since 2018, largely in the southeastern portion of the county, with parcels stretching from Fairfield to Rio Vista.

According to the website, Sramek fell in love with the area over fishing trips and he and his wife recently purchased a home in the county for their growing family.

The project issued a poll to residents last month to gauge support for "a new city with tens of thousands of new homes," solar energy farms, and new parks funded entirely by the private sector.

But to build anything resembling a city on what is now farmland, the group must first convince Solano County voters to approve a ballot initiative to allow for urban uses on that land, a protection that has been in place since 1984.

Local and federal officials still have questions about the group's intentions.

Two area congressmen who sought for years to find out whether foreign adversaries or investors were behind the buying spree around a US Air Force base vital to national security and the local economy are furious that Flannery kept its identity hidden for so long.

The website says 97 per cent of its funding is from US investors and the rest are from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

"The FBI, the Department of Treasury, everyone has been doing work trying to figure out who these people are," US congressman Mike Thompson, who represents much of the county, said this week after meeting with Sramek.

Their secrecy has caused a "lot of problems, a lot of time, and a lot of expense".

The investment group said secrecy was required until enough land was purchased, in order to avoid short-term speculation, but that it is now ready to hear from Solano households via a mailed survey and creation of a community advisory board. Past surveys showed parents were most concerned about their children's future, the website said.

"Instead of watching our kids leave, we have the opportunity to build a new community that attracts new employers, creates good-paying local jobs, builds homes in walkable neighbourhoods, leads in environment stewardship, and fuels a growing tax base to serve the county at large," it said.

Need for more housing

California is in dire need of more housing, especially affordable homes for teachers, firefighters, service and hospitality workers. But cities and counties can't figure out where to build as established neighbourhoods argue against new homes that they say would congest their roads and spoil their quiet way of life.

In many ways, Solano County is ideal for development. It is 60 miles (96 kilometers) northeast of San Francisco and 35 miles (56 kilometers) southwest of California's capital city of Sacramento. Solano County homes are among the most affordable in the San Francisco Bay Area, with a median sales price of $600,000 last month.

But Princess Washington, mayor pro tempore of Suisun City, said residents deliberately decided to protect open space and keep the area around Travis Air Force Base free of encroachment given its significance.

She’s suspicious that the group’s real purpose is “to create a city for the elite” under the guise of more housing.

“Economic blight is everywhere. So why do you need to spend upwards of a billion dollars to create a brand new city when you have all these other things that can be achieved throughout the Bay Area?” she said.

Flannery further infuriated locals in May when it sued several landowners in court, accusing them of conspiring to fix prices for their properties. The company disclosed it had purchased or was under contract to buy about 140 properties for more than $800 million.

Then last week, residents began receiving a push poll gauging voter support for “a major new project” that would include “a new city with tens of thousands of new homes." The poll asked if they would be more likely to support the project if county residents were given priority and financial assistance to lease or purchase one of the new homes.

'He's not there yet'

Thompson, the congressman, was unimpressed after meeting with Sramek, saying that the developer was vague on details and failed to display an understanding or appreciation of the county or its values.

Asked how he would help residents finance new homes, Thompson said Sramek told him he planned to use “all of his knowledge as a finance guy” to generate savings. Development in California is convoluted, but Thompson said Sramek told him they're hoping for expedited permitting "because their project is so good and their intentions are so great.”

"He doesn’t have a plan, he’s not there yet," Thompson said.

Congressman John Garamendi, whose district includes Travis and immediate areas around it, said base and county officials reached out roughly five years ago for help in figuring out who was buying up land. Garamendi, who is scheduled to meet with Sramek Friday, was appalled to learn who was backing the project.

"You big wealthy Silicon Valley billionaires, you’re party to all of this. This is the kind of people you are? This is how you want to operate?" he said. "What they’ve managed to do is to totally poison the well".

Hoffman and Andreessen did not respond to emailed requests for comment, nor did Jobs through her business Emerson Collective.

Project developers said they will protect the military base and farmers who want to keep farming on their parcels can do so.

Flannery has purchased virtually all the land surrounding the small city of Rio Vista, said Mayor Ron Kott.

He suspects older people who make up half of the city's 10,000 residents won't appreciate the added congestion and noise, but others might like the improved medical care, nightlife, and shopping that a sophisticated city nearby might bring.

“If it’s done correctly, I think there’s a lot of opportunities for the county. Their tax revenue base will increase quite a bit. So there’s going to be a big windfall from that. Property values would probably go up around here as well even further. And so I think from those perspectives it’s good," Kott said.

"But again, I think you’re giving up a quality of lifestyle that’s kind of unique to this area".

Sustainable development goals: What are they and what do they mean for the planet?

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:05:45 -0500

Is sustainable development an oxymoron? Eight years on from the launch of the SDGs, little progress has been made.

The United Nations’ sustainable development goals declare lofty ambitions.

The 17 SDGs - and the hundreds of targets they encompass - aim to “free the human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet”.

From reducing social inequality to building new hospitals to rapid decarbonisation, the suite of objectives seek to “transform” the world for future generations.

In September 2015, leaders from 193 countries set out this agenda. By 2030, the UN wants to end hunger, grant all children a quality education for free, halve extreme poverty, and rapidly expand the rollout of renewable energy.

But eight years on from their launch, we are falling behind on several key indicators - especially when it comes to ‘healing the planet’.

So why are we falling behind - and what needs to change?

Are the SDGs on track?

No one would dispute that ending poverty and inequality are important goals. But progress is stalling in these key areas, warns UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

“Hunger has increased and is back at 2005 levels. Gender equality is some 300 years away. Just 26 people have the same wealth as half of the world’s population,” he said in April.

The SDG Progress Report released in April shows that just 12 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goal targets are on track.

The environmental picture is particularly dire.

The SDGs call for urgent action to tackle global heating, conserve the ocean, and encourage responsible consumption.

Yet concentrations of carbon dioxide are at their highest level in 2 million years, while more than one species in five is now threatened with extinction.

“Our war on nature is accelerating. Emissions continue to rise - unbelievably,” Gutterres said.

These failures can be partly attributed to a lack of funding - described by the UN as a “financing black hole” - driven by rampant global inflation.

Before the pandemic, the annual SDG funding gap was €2.3 trillion. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), that figure is now at least €3.7 trillion. Climate finance commitments in particular are far below promised levels, with loss and damage funding missing in action.

When it comes to enforcing SDG funding, the UN does not have a very big stick to wield. The SDGs are not legally binding.

According to research published in 2021, there is “little evidence” that governments are actively pursuing the SDGs.

“Our research has shown that the SDGs lack any sizeable impact on political systems,” said Frank Biermann, professor at Utrecht University and the lead author of the 2021 study.

Without legislative incentive or adequate funding, it’s difficult to convert high-minded talk into action.

Can the SDGs become a form of greenwashing?

Many of the SDGs articulate noble ambitions. But the risk is that they become a form of greenwashing, a Trojan horse for non-sustainable practices.

“Mere talk can backfire by conferring legitimacy on unsustainable behaviour, letting corporate leaders wave colourful SDG flags while prizing profits above all else,” Biermann wrote in an article for The Conversation.

The SDGs also exhibit “mainstream” thinking about the climate crisis, claims Professor Karl Johan Bonnedahl of Umeå University.

In short, this is the idea that we can continue to pursue rampant growth and save the planet at the same time.

“In the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, there is a commitment to achieve sustainable development ‘in its three dimensions - economic, social and environmental - in a balanced way,’” he said.

“But the idea of ‘balance’ is impossible here…there are conflicts between some of the goals.”

For example, building a massive road project might help a country reach goal 8 - which calls on governments to “sustain per capita economic growth.” But such an infrastructure project could also wreak havoc on a local ecosystem and increase emissions by encouraging driving.

Often, the countries that score highest on the SDG index - the ranking system marking countries on their overall SDG performance - have vast ecological footprints.

Finland, for example, tops the SDG Index. But Finnish people consume around 29.5 tonnes of stuff every year. We would need the material resources of four earths if everyone in the world consumed at this rate.

The country also emits 13 metric tons of carbon dioxide per capita per year - around 13 times the amount emitted by the average person in Africa.

So how can the country perform so well on the SDG index? Because it scores highly on the ‘development’ metrics even as it falls down on ‘sustainability’ ones.

This is not to say that the development goals like ending poverty and achieving gender equality aren’t vital too, of course. But when it comes to economics, the obsession with growth - baked into UN SDG 8, and throughout agenda 2030 - isn’t good for the planet.

Can development and sustainability coexist?

Gross Domestic Product is a measure of all the final goods and services produced in a country. It’s the metric by which many international organisations (including the UN) measure growth and development.

But GDP doesn’t take environmental impact into account. For example, pouring money into weaponry or fossil fuels would increase a country’s GDP. Indeed, US military expenditure accounts for 3 per cent of the country’s GDP.

But in a research paper published in March last year, Bonnedahl and co-authors describe GDP as ‘blind’ to the environment.

It’s a prime example of how ‘development’ and ‘sustainability’ aren’t always easy bedfellows.

“There is a phrase I like. It goes: sustainable development discourse is not always about sustainable development. It’s about sustaining development,” Bonnedahl said.

Bonnedahl and colleagues call for new SDGs which prioritise “strong sustainability” - taking into account ecological limits in terms of affluence and the growth of human population.

“The goals you choose aren’t neutral. They reflect particular values,” says Bonnedahl.

“So do we value saving the planet?”

Will North Macedonia be able to quit coal?

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:04:52 -0500

North Macedonia is bathed in sunlight, so, phasing out coal should be easy. But because of the energy crisis, the exact opposite is currently happening: ancient coal-fired power plants are blowing huge amounts of toxic emissions into the air and new lignite mines are even being opened up.

Despite a pledge to become the first coal-free country in the Western Balkans, North Macedonia has extended the closing date of its coal-fired power plants several times. Click on the video above to watch the report.

A cloud of thick smoke continuously escapes from the Bitola coal-fired power station. North Macedonia has two coal hubs - REK Bitola and REK Oslomej. 47 per cent of the country’s electricity is produced by burning dirty lignite.

The brown material is extracted from huge opencast pits close to the coal power stations built some 40 years ago. According to Pece Matevski, director of REK Bitola, another coal mine is expected to open: "Soon, we are going to open Zivojno. In the next 30 years we will have enough coal for the power plant to work and to function!"

Coal phase-out postponed from 2027 to 2030

North Macedonia intended to phase out coal by 2027. But the energy crisis has prompted the country of 2 million inhabitants to change its plans. It is now expected to quit coal by 2030.

In the capital, Skopje, Nevena Smilevska is an energy transformation campaigner at the NGO CEE Bankwatch. She is worried about the impact of further delays on the country’s potential accession to the European Union.

“The date of closure needs to remain 2030. It is very unlikely that we will be allowed to disregard the European Green Deal,” she explains.

“If the EU accession does happen, we will have to close the (coal) power plants before we accede,” Smilevska adds. "It does not make sense to get a grant for 'Just Transition' away from coal - and to open a new coal mine. This is unacceptable and would completely destroy the coal exit strategy."

The highest SO2 emissions in the Western Balkans

As lignite reserves (referred to as brown coal) are running out, the country has to import coal from neighbouring countries. A strong reliance on fossil fuels does not improve air quality.

In 2022, the Bitola coal plant had the highest SO2 and dust emissions in the Western Balkans region. 111.000 tons of SO2 were emitted - 17 times more than allowed.

Yet, the country’s average of 280 days of sunshine provides ideal conditions for the production of solar energy. 120 km away from Skopje, in North Macedonia’s oldest coal power plant, Oslomej, the production of energy is set to change. Solar power stations are being built on top of the opencast lignite mine.

Yet, the manager of the photovoltaic power plant has been waiting for its electricity to be fed to the grid for a year and a half.

“We are still waiting for some licences from authorities,” says Cedomir Arsouski.

However, the recent agreement reached at the COP28 could accelerate North Macedonia’s energy transition.

International lenders have announced they will finance a €3 billion plan to completely shut down the country's coal-fired power plants by 2030, and replace them with solar, hydro, wind and gas-powered units.

The goal is to ensure a ‘Just Transition’, deploying 1.7 gigawatts of renewable energy and multiplying energy storage capacities whilst upgrading grid connections.

Will North Macedonia’s green ambition be achieved this time? If the country succeeds to exit coal by 2030, it could be a role model for all of the Western Balkans region - and for some EU members too...

How Europe can support its food and drink industry to remain competitive and sustainable

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:03:17 -0500

From 6 to 9 June 2024, millions of EU citizens undertook the important task of electing the new 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who will shape the course of the EU over the next five years. It was noteworthy to see so many EU voters strongly engaged in these elections, leading to a considerable rise in overall voter turnout.

The European elections are a crucial moment for assessing and redefining the direction of the EU’s policies that affect every aspect of our businesses and lives, from environmental regulations to economic and social policies.

In our view, the outcome does send a strong signal that the EU should continue prioritising a sustainable, growth-oriented agenda to maintain the competitiveness of European businesses and advance environmental sustainability. However, at the same time we also see a strong call for policymakers to renew engagement with industry through deeper collaboration while focusing on the proper implementation of existing legislation.

What policy support does our sector need?

For many years, the European soft drinks sector has demonstrated leadership in promoting a more sustainable and healthier food and drink system in Europe and we remain committed to making a positive impact, as we outlined boldly in our 2024-2029 Manifesto.

We see the new EU legislative term as an opportunity to drive further progress through strengthened collaboration with policymakers to create a supportive regulatory framework. In our view, here’s what is essential to consider:

1. Ensuring Europe’s competitiveness is key to our sector’s sustainable growth

With more than 500 production facilities across Europe supporting over 1.8 million jobs, the European soft drink sector is a key player in the future of Europe. For every job in soft drinks production, another seven jobs are created in our value chain, in a range of sectors including agriculture, raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, marketing, transport, retail and catering.

We are a distinctive local sector that proudly supports thousands of European agricultural communities and businesses: we manufacture 97% of soft drinks within Europe and we source more than 85% of our ingredients from Europe as well.

Our contribution to the EU’s economy and society is nothing short of significant with our value chain estimated to be worth €242 billion annually. Therefore, staying a competitive sector is vital. To achieve this, policymakers should provide regulatory certainty and secure a strong single market at the heart of EU policy, with uniform implementation of EU food and environmental legislation. It is now time to prioritise the implementation of current legislation over new policies to provide businesses with legal predictability to incentivise investments.

In addition, ensuring new legislation is science-based and built upon thorough and high-quality impact assessments couldn’t be more important.

2. Supporting balanced diets through evidence-based policies and reliable EU-wide data

Our sector stands firmly committed to encouraging Europeans towards healthier lifestyles through our intensified efforts to reduce the average sugar content in our soft drinks, and not to market and advertise our beverages to children under 13. To support us in these actions, policymakers should promote balanced diets based on a multi-stakeholder approach and science-based policies that do not discriminate against ingredients approved as safe by health authorities, and which enable food innovation, such as low/no-calorie sweeteners. These ingredients provide a sweet taste with no or hardly any calories, making them an effective tool in helping consumers to manage their sugar intake.

It is also fundamental that policies are grounded in comparable, robust and EU-wide food and drink consumption data. Based on our own research, it is clear that existing food and drink consumption data is outdated and inappropriate to design effective policies. Establishing a robust and accurate dataset is critical to gain reliable insights into consumption patterns across Europe, thus ensuring informed decision-making.

3. Driving environmental sustainability

Our sector is taking concrete steps in environmental stewardship throughout our value chain with a particular focus on reducing our carbon footprint, protecting water resources, improving energy efficiency and achieving packaging circularity.

Greater strides in these areas are possible with the support of policymakers for a proper and harmonised implementation of key environmental laws. When it comes to packaging circularity, we also need support for well-designed collection systems and a stable supply of recycled materials, enabling beverage containers to be recycled into new beverage containers. Last but not least, it is necessary to prioritise water policies promoting the conservation and restoration of water resources and providing fair and equitable access to water for citizens and businesses.

As a sector known for our proactive and constructive approach, we stand ready to engage with all stakeholders, and are prepared to work hand in hand with policymakers to ensure a stable and enabling regulatory environment that helps us drive meaningful change.

Massive Attack outline how their upcoming gig will set the bar for low emission concerts

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:02:20 -0500

British trip hop collective Massive Attack are about to play their first performance in the UK in five years and to mark the occasion, they’re making the event as sustainable as possible.

Massive Attack are planning an all-day “Act 1.5” event in their hometown of Bristol next month (25 August) and the show aims to set the standard for the decarbonisation of live music.

“Act 1.5” coincides with the news from climate scientists that temperatures 1.5°C greater than their average have occurred for 12 consecutive months.

The band has billed it as a “large-scale climate action accelerator event” unlike any other – celebrating 25 years of climate activism.

Indeed, Massive Attack – helmed by Robert “3D” Del Naja and Grant “Daddy G” Marshall – talk the talk and walk the walk when it comes to the climate emergency, having commissioned a group of researchers to explore ways the emissions from touring could be reduced in 2019. This led to a ‘Super-Low Carbon Live Music’ roadmap report in 2021.

Now, they have shared details of their decarbonisation measures and how they plan on making the August gig a low emission event.

They include a pre-sale for people living in the local region; special trains and incentives for fans to travel by rail; 100% renewable energy powering the site and its operations; 100% plant-based foot outlets using local suppliers; reusable cups and compostable serveware; 100% compostable toilets, and many more.

“The ACT 1.5 event in August may be the last time we play Bristol, so we’ve put a lot of attention into making sure the experience is as rich as possible,” stated Robert Del Naja. “The show itself is a transgressive leap in our collaboration with Adam Curtis and United Visual Artists that we’re really excited to present.”

“The show production is pioneering in all aspects of decarbonisation and will create a blueprint for the way live shows can be produced,” he continued. “The scale of innovations and emissions reductions will speak for themselves. It’s a special moment for multiple reasons, and we cannot wait to see you all there.”

“The UK festival community uses in excess of 12 million litres of diesel annually,” said Steven Meersman, the Founding Director of ZENOBE Energy. “We are excited to collaborate with Massive Attack to deliver a truly zero emission live event together. Our Second Life Batteries will provide clean power to on-site equipment. At the same time, our first life batteries will power Newport Bus’ vehicles to provide a zero-emission way to get to and from the venue, continuing a long-standing partnership we have with the operator. This live music event will set a precedent for more carbon-free shows to take place in the years ahead.”

The band will be joined by Run The Jewel’s Killer Mike, as well as Lankum, Sam Morton with producer Richard Russell and Wild Bunch’s DJ Milo for their 25 August event at Clifton Downs, Bristol.

Here’s an itemised list of their plans for the August event:

48-hour pre-sale period for Bristol region postcodes.
5 x show special trains operating one hour after the Network Rail schedule is closed – with routes predicated on anonymised ticket holder postcode data.
Rail incentivisation scheme offering any ticket holder travelling outside Bristol wristband access to a VIP (VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS) bar and toilets.
Entire festival site and all operations powered by 100% renewable energy & battery.
Free show electric bus shuttles to and from both Bristol Temple Meads and Parkway.
No private vehicle car parks on or adjacent to festival site.
Meticulous spec’ing of energy and energy efficient equipment chosen to reduce overall demand.
100% plant-based food outlets, using localised food supply chain.
Reusable cup system on all bars, encouraging audience to bring their own reusables containers.
Food Waste prevention plan + Redistribution of any surplus food.
100% zero to landfill waste policy.
Food waste separation to be composted – all serve ware to be 100% compostable
Biomethane / Verified HVO (100% waste product/no virgin land use) vehicle waste removal.
100% compostable toilets.
All site infrastructure shared with an existing festival on the same site – no “new build” emissions.
Long wheelbase fully electric trucks to assist all build and battery movement.
Lighting 100% solar and electric battery
LED and low energy / efficient lighting prioritised for all stage production and artistic lighting.
All feasible Massive Attack tour routes taken by rail.
All ground transport 100% electric vehicle fleets.
All support acts encouraged to travel by rail
Supplier Transport 100% Electrified or 100% waste product – RFAS verified drop in HVO fuel. (the show will operate a refuelling tank on site for vehicle departures).
Advance prioritising fewest trucks, shortest journeys and lowest mileage. Prioritising lightweight, space efficient and local equipment.
The ACT1.5 show legacy measures include: Creation of a new, permanent climate resilient woodland of 19,150 native oak trees in James Wood, near Taunton – 44 miles from Bristol. The land comprises 85 acres of former farmland and unmanaged woodland and provides education, carbon capture, flood resilience and a rich area of biodiversity.
Development of power substation + feeder pillars to offer all festival, event, show and film production activities on Bristol Downs (plus new vehicle charging capacity) electrification via 100% renewable energy.

“This gig is seriously pulling out all the stops and has assembled excellent forward-thinking organisations and individuals to make this the lowest carbon event possible, setting a new green standard to aspire to,“ said Claire O’Neill, CEO of A Greener Future.

“It’s no small undertaking, and impressive to see what can be achieved when the people in charge really mean it.”

The “large-scale climate action accelerator event”will take place on 25 August at Clifton Downs in Bristol.

Children face unprecedented challenges by 2050, UNICEF report warns

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 20:01:11 -0500

‘The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World’, explores three megatrends young people face including climate disasters, demographic shifts and technological disparities that will dramatically reshape childhood by 2050.

“It is shocking that in the 21^st century, any child still goes hungry, uneducated, or without even the most basic healthcare,” UN Secretary António Guterres said in his World Children’s Day message.

“It is a stain on humanity’s conscience when children’s lives are caught in the grinding wheels of poverty or upended by disasters”.

Climate emergency threatens lives

In a stark warning the report reveals children will face eight times more exposure to extreme heatwaves and triple the risk of extreme river floods compared to the 2000s.

Following 2023’s record-breaking temperatures, projected climate hazards will disproportionately affect children based on their socioeconomic settings and access to resources.

“Children are experiencing a myriad of crises from climate shocks to online dangers, and these are set to intensity in the years to come,” warned UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

“Creating a better future in 2050 requires more than just imagination, it requires action. Decades of progress, particularly for girls, are under threat”.

Shifting demographics

The report also projects significant population changes, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia hosting the largest child populations by the 2050s.

While still high, Africa’s child population will drop below 40 per cent – down from 50 per cent in 2000s. East Asia and Western Europe’s data show a 17 per cent drop compared to 29 perc cent and 20 percent for those regions during the 2000s.

These demographic shifts create challenges, with some countries under pressure to expand services for large child populations, while others balance the needs of a growing elderly population.

Digital divide

While artificial intelligence and frontier technologies offer new opportunities, the report reveals the digital gap remains stark: In 2024 over 95 percent of people in high-income countries have internet access compared to merely 26 percent in low-income countries.

The report notes that youth in developing countries particularly struggle to access digital skills, impacting their educational and workplace prospects.

Signs of hope

Despite these concerns, some positive trends have emerged. Life expectancy at birth continues to rise, and nearly 96 per cent of children globally are expected to receive primary education by the 2050s.

Increased investment in education and public health, and more stringent environmental protection could narrow the gender gap and reduce exposure to environmental hazards, the report reveals.

UNICEF recommends urgent investment in education, services and sustainable and resilient cities for children.

The agency aims to boost climate resilience in infrastructure, technology, essential services and social support systems as well as delivering connectivity and safe technology design for all children.

“The decisions that world leaders make today – or fail to make – define the world children will inherit, Ms. Russell emphasised.

The Philippines brace for more storms amid devastating typhoon season

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:59:27 -0500

Typhoons Kristine and Leon caused widespread damage in the Philippines, leaving thousands of families and children without access to safe water and sanitation facilities.

The 11th and 12th tropical cyclones to hit the country this year affected at least 4.2 million individuals – approximately 1.3 million of them children – and displaced over 300,000.  

Worsening water and sanitation crisis

The recent typhoons have exacerbated pre-existing fragilities where access to safe water and sanitation services was already limited. In some communities, open defecation has been reported with facilities washed away, raising concerns about disease outbreaks.

“We can’t emphasise enough the importance of lifesaving supplies during and after an emergency,” said UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.

“We are working with our partners to provide water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to affected families and children to ensure their access to critical measures against the spread of diseases,” she stressed.

Since October 31, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and partners have distributed 2,950 hygiene and water kits to families in the hardest-hit provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay in the Bicol Region.

An additional 350 kits will be delivered in the coming days through partnerships with Action Against Hunger and Plan International Pilipinas.

Education disrupted

The Department of Education estimates that at least 500 schools in the Bicol Region need urgent assistance, with the recent typhoons disrupting learning for 20 million children nationwide.

“UNICEF strongly urges that schools remain dedicated to education and not used as evacuation centres so that children continue to have a stable learning environment,” said UNICEF Philippines Education Chief, Akihiro Fushimi.

In collaboration with local education authorities, UNICEF is set to provide educational supplies to 14,594 learners and 765 teachers in 25 schools and five Community Development Centres.

“Ensuring that children’s learning is not disrupted is a priority for UNICEF,” Mr. Fushimi further emphasised, highlighting the importance of providing children with a sense of normalcy amid the chaos.

A season of uncertainty

The Philippines, already Southeast Asia’s most disaster-prone country, faces increasingly frequent and severe weather events due to climate change.

With storms Marce and Nika impacting many of the same regions last weekend and a new weather system forming that could become Tropical Storm Ofel, recovery efforts are under immense strain.

Despite these challenges, the government has ramped up its response, while UNICEF and its partners continue to support communities with critical resources and interventions.

UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González recently explained in a blog on the growing risk posed by natural hazards for UN News: “As we see, the exposure to disasters and the vulnerability to climate change have compelled Filipinos to cultivate a unique sense of resilience. The ‘saving lives’ spirit is widely spread within local communities.”

“As Filipinos frequently say, ‘as long as there is life, there is hope,’” he added.

COP29: ‘Now is the time to fast-track, not backtrack’ on the path to net-zero

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:57:52 -0500

“We need a massive global effort to steer our world onto a path to safety; you are out in the front…helping consumers, investors and regulators understand what credible net-zero looks like,” said the Secretary-General.

As violent weather inflicts human tragedy and economic destruction worldwide and with efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius slipping away, Mr. Guterres convened the high-level meeting of non-State actors to spotlight their actions and strategies since 2022, in line with key recommendations issued in a report he launched at COP27 in Shram-el-Sheikh.

‘The path to safety’

The report, Integrity Matters, set out 10 recommendations that serve as a “how-to” guide for credible, accountable net-zero pledges. They detail what non-State actors need to consider at each stage of their progress towards achieving net-zero ambitions and tackling the climate crisis.

Put simply, net zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount that is removed from the atmosphere. Reaching this goal requires cooperation between businesses and financial institutions, and other entities working alongside governments.

UNFCCC/Kiara Worth

UN Secretary-General António Guterres pictured onscreen at the COP29 High-Level event: Implementation of the report “Integrity Matters” by the High-level Expert Group on the Net-Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities (HLEG).

‘Fast-track, not backtrack’

On Thursday, the Secretary-General thanked the non-State actors for taking the lead in the global efforts towards the net-zero goal, but said: “Now, we need others to follow.”

He first urged all non-State actors to create robust, accountable transition plans by COP30 next year. The plans must be consistent with limiting global temperature rise to 1.5C, and chart a course to net zero by 2050, through milestones in 2025, 2030, 2035, and beyond.

“They must chart a course to fossil fuel phase-out – based in the science. They must disclose policies on lobbying and policy engagement. And they must commit to deep decarbonization across the entire value chain,” said Mr. Guterres

He also stressed that all such plans must not rely on dubious offsets, including for so-called Scope 3 emissions, or indirect emissions, such as those produced by purchased goods and services, business travel or waste disposal.

“Now is the time to fast-track, not backtrack; the time for ambition and transparency. Not greenwashing,” he stated.

Work together with governments

Mr. Guterres called for moving from voluntary pledges to mandatory rules. “The future of humanity is at stake. Action cannot be optional. Disclosing credible transition plans, that align with 1.5 degrees must be mandatory for corporates and financial institutions.”

The UN chief also urged businesses, financial institutions, cities, regions and more, to work with governments on their national climate action plans, or NDCs, due by COP30.

“Help governments ensure that they provide policy and regulatory certainty on a 1.5[C]-aligned future. We must make sure that governments facilitate the work of other actors in this regard, and not that they complicate the work of other actors in compliance with the 1.5[C] aligned future,” said the UN chief.

Later in the day, Mr. Guterres is expected to meet with a group of climate scientists and civil society actors, including young climate activists.

Want to know more? Check out our special events page, where you can find all our coverage of COP29, including stories and videos, explainers and our newsletter.

‘Breaking point’ reached on climate, while ‘outdated’ global system needs urgent reform: Guterres

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:56:48 -0500

Speaking at the G20 Summit – a forum that brings together 19 countries and the European Union, accounting for 85 percent of the world economy – Mr. Guterres delivered a stark assessment.

“Our climate is at a breaking point,” he told the gathering of industrial powers. “Unless we limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, spiraling disasters will devastate every economy,” he told world leaders at the Brazil hosted summit.

Critical role on climate

In relation to COP29 which continues in Baku, Mr. Guterres stressed that “failure is not an option” warning of irreversible tipping points.

The success of the UN Climate Conference is largely in the hands of G20 members: “The G20 is responsible for 80 percent of global emissions. So, we need you out front,” he said, calling for emission cuts of nine percent annually this decade.

The Secretary General welcomed recent climate commitments from Brazil and the United Kingdom, while announcing a new Global initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, partnering with Brazil and UNESCO to combat climate disinformation.

“The preservation of the Amazon is a case in point,” Mr. Guterres noted, linking Brazil’s hosting of COP30 in a year’s time to the urgent need for climate finance agreements at COP29. “We must succeed in Baku, build trust and incentivize the preparation of high ambition national climate plans next year”.

UN Photo/Gustavo Stephan

Secretary-General António Guterres (4th left) in a group photo with the participants of the G20 Summit taking place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Global governance in crisis

The climate crisis, Mr. Guterres stressed, is compounded by challenges to global institutions. The Secretary-General pointed to the mounting global challenges, emphasising a deepening crisis in international cooperation.

“We face a global governance deficit and global trust deficit. Poverty, inequalities and the climate crisis are getting worse, and peace is getting further out of reach,” he stated.

His remarks come at a critical juncture following the recent UN Summit of the Future, which adopted the Pact for the Future aimed at strengthening multilateralism and global governance mechanisms.

Reforms ‘must not become a mirage’

“As wars grind on, innocent people are paying a terrible price and the Security Council is unable to stop them,” he said, urging that “reform must be pursued with determination and not become a mirage”.

The UN chief challenged G20 nations to overhaul what he termed an “outdated and unfair” international financial architecture.

“The world looks to you to act on the Pact’s commitments to accelerate reform,” he told leaders, emphasising the need to give fair representation to developing countries and shield vulnerable economies from global shocks.

Path forward

As the two-day Summit draws to an end, world leaders are focusing on addressing challenges ahead of July’s major UN Financing for Development conference in Spain, COP29, and next year’s COP30 in Brazil.

The Secretary-General emphasised that the success of these upcoming meetings largely depends on G20 leadership and commitment to reform.

Mr. Guterres concluded that “we must make sure that we support the necessary reforms of global governance because they are absolutely essential to rebuild trust in today’s world”.

What’s desertification? Experts hopeful devastating trend can be reversed

Jacob Altizer — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 19:43:17 -0500

On 2 December, countries from around the world will meet in Riyadh under the auspices of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, (UNCCD) to discuss how to turn the corner from degradation to regeneration.

Here are five things you need to know about desertification and why the world needs to stop treating the planet like dirt to protect the productive land which supports life on Earth.

No life without land

It is perhaps to state the obvious, but without healthy land there can be no life. It feeds, clothes and shelters humanity.

A member of an indigenous group in the Amazon, in Brazil, works to reforest the land.

It provides jobs, sustains livelihoods and is the bedrock of local, national and global economies. It helps to regulate climate and is essential for biodiversity.

Despite its importance to life as we know it, up to 40 per cent of the world’s land is degraded, affecting around 3.2 billion people; that’s almost half of the global population.

From deforested mountains in Haiti, to the gradual disappearance of Lake Chad in the Sahel and the drying up of productive lands in Georgia in eastern Europe, land degradation affects all parts of the world.

It is not an exaggeration to say our very future is at stake if our land does not stay healthy.

Degraded land

Desertification, the process by which land is degraded in typically dry areas, results from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities, such as over-farming or deforestation.

100 million hectares (or one million square kilometres), that’s the size of a country like Egypt, of healthy and productive land is lost each year.

The soils on these lands which can take hundreds of years to form are being depleted, often by extreme weather.

Droughts are hitting harder and more often, three out of four people in the world are projected to face water scarcity by 2050.

Temperatures are increasing due to climate change further driving extreme weather events, including droughts and floods, adding to the challenge of keeping land productive.

Land loss and climate

There is clear evidence that land degradation is interconnected with broader environmental challenges like climate change.

A man looks across a desert in Mauritania.

Land ecosystems absorb one-third of human CO₂ emissions, the gas that is driving climate change. However, poor land management threatens this critical capacity, further compromising efforts to slow down the release of these harmful gasses.

Deforestation, which contributes to desertification, is on the rise, with only 60 per cent of the world's forests still intact, falling below what the UN calls the “safe target of 75 per cent.”

What needs to be done? – the ‘moonshot moment’

The good news is that humankind has the knowhow and power to bring land back to life, turning degradation into restoration.

Robust economies and resilient communities can be cultivated as the impacts of devastating droughts and destructive floods are tackled.

A community in Mexico comes together to work on improving their lands.

Crucially, it is the people who depend on land who should have the biggest say in how decisions are made.

UNCCD says that to “deliver a moonshot moment for land,” 1.5 billion hectares of degraded lands need to be restored by 2030.

And this is happening already with farmers adopting new techniques in Burkina Faso, environmentalists in Uzbekistan planting trees to eliminate salt and dust emissions and activists protecting the Philippines capital, Manila, from extreme weather by regenerating natural barriers.

What can be achieved in Riyadh

Policy makers, experts, the private and civil society sectors as well as youth will come together in Riyadh with a series of goals, including:

Accelerate restoration of degraded land by 2030 and beyond
Boost resilience to intensifying droughts and sand and dust storms
Restore soil health and scale up nature-positive food production
Secure land rights and promote equity for sustainable land stewardship
Ensure that land continues to provide climate and biodiversity solutions
Unlock economic opportunities, including decent land-based jobs for youth