Report on Climate Change and Health: Emphasizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Importance of Addressing Climate Change for Health

Climate change is recognized as a critical global public health challenge, directly impacting environmental conditions and social determinants of health such as clean air, safe water, food security, and livelihoods. The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies climate change as a fundamental threat to human health and highlights its pressure on health systems worldwide. Research indicates that 1 in 12 hospitals globally face high risks of shutdown due to climate hazards, demonstrating vulnerability in health infrastructure.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that 3.6 billion people live in areas highly susceptible to climate change, exposing vast populations to health risks including increased illness and mortality. The Lancet Countdown reports intensifying health risks from heat exposure, extreme weather, and infectious diseases.

Without urgent action, WHO estimates approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year between 2030 and 2050 due to malnutrition, malaria, diarrheal diseases, and heat stress. Climate change acts as a “threat multiplier,” undermining progress in global health and development, and stressing health systems.

“Climate change is an unavoidable reality that challenges public health, threatens historic health achievements, and adds pressure on already overwhelmed systems. Protecting lives, reducing inequalities, and bolstering the resilience of health systems are ethical and democratic imperatives.”

– COP30 Special Report on Health and Climate Change by the Ministry of Health of Brazil and the WHO

2. Climate Change and Health: Key Impacts

Climate change affects health through multiple interconnected pathways, influencing both direct health outcomes and underlying determinants:

• Heat and Extreme Weather: Increased temperatures and frequent heatwaves, floods, storms, and wildfires lead to higher mortality, injuries, and health emergencies. Heat stress is a leading cause of climate-related deaths, especially among older populations.
• Air Pollution: Fossil fuel combustion and wildfires worsen air quality, increasing respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and cancers. Climate mitigation offers health co-benefits through cleaner air.
• Food and Water Security: Disruptions in agriculture and water systems affect food availability and quality, contributing to malnutrition and food insecurity. Changing rainfall patterns increase water scarcity and waterborne diseases.
• Infectious Diseases: Altered temperature and precipitation patterns change the distribution of vector-borne and waterborne diseases like malaria, dengue, and cholera.
• Mental Health: Climate disasters and environmental degradation contribute to anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and other mental health issues, compounded by social disruption and displacement.

These impacts are interconnected, creating complex risks for individuals and health systems.

Source: WHO

2.1 Impacts on Health Systems

Climate change strains health systems by damaging infrastructure, disrupting services, and increasing healthcare demand. Extreme heat causes hospital overcrowding and worsens patient outcomes. The health workforce faces reduced productivity and higher occupational risks. These pressures threaten progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and highlight the need for climate-resilient, sustainable health infrastructure.

3. Inequality and Vulnerability in Climate-Health Impacts

Health impacts of climate change are unevenly distributed, disproportionately affecting those least responsible for emissions:

• Low-income countries, small island developing states, and fragile contexts face the greatest risks due to limited resources and weaker health infrastructure. One billion people in low- and lower-middle-income countries rely on healthcare facilities with unreliable or no electricity.
• Vulnerable populations including children, elderly, migrants, and those with pre-existing conditions are more exposed to climate-sensitive health risks.

Factors Shaping Vulnerability and Risk:

Vulnerability depends on exposure to climate hazards, sensitivity of populations and systems, and capacity to adapt and respond, explaining differing health outcomes across regions.

Source: Adapted from Springer Nature Article on Climate Vulnerability (2026)

4. Human Rights-Based Approach to Climate Change and Health

Climate change is also a human rights issue, affecting rights to health, life, food, water, housing, development, and a clean environment. The UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly affirm the importance of a healthy environment for full enjoyment of human rights.

A human rights-based approach includes:

• Right to Health and Underlying Conditions: Extends beyond healthcare access to include clean air, safe water, adequate food, and a healthy environment. Climate change impacts physical and mental health, including anxiety and trauma.
• Access to Participation, Information, and Justice: Emphasizes community engagement in climate and health policy for inclusive and equitable responses.
• Translating Commitments into Implementation: Requires states to respect, protect, and fulfill health rights through mitigation, adaptation, information access, participation, accountability, resource allocation, and monitoring.

This approach prioritizes equity, participation, accountability, and non-discrimination, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

4.1 Human Rights Instruments Addressing Climate and Health

Human rights mechanisms in Geneva, including the Human Rights Council, Special Procedures, and Treaty Bodies, play pivotal roles in addressing climate-related health impacts and clarifying state obligations.

• Human Rights Treaty Bodies: Committees monitor treaty implementation and have issued statements and recommendations linking climate change, health, and human rights. Examples include:
  • Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – General Comment No. 27 (2025) on environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
  • Committee on the Rights of the Child – General Comment No. 26 (2023) on children’s rights and environment with focus on climate change.
• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Highlights climate change as a profound threat to the right to health, presenting analytical studies and facilitating policy guidance.
• Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council: Independent experts produce reports on issues such as clean air, fossil fuel phase-out, and health rights, emphasizing the intersection of climate and health.

“Limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels is essential. Protecting the right to health requires rights-based, effective, participatory climate mitigation and adaptation benefiting vulnerable populations.”

– Analytical study on climate change and the right to health (A/HRC/32/23)

5. Climate Action as an Opportunity for Health Improvement

Climate action offers significant public health and economic benefits through mitigation and adaptation measures that deliver health co-benefits:

• Improving Air Quality: Reducing emissions improves air quality, potentially preventing around 7 million premature deaths annually (WHO), decreasing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
• Promoting Healthier Diets: Sustainable food systems support nutrition and reduce environmental pressures.
• Encouraging Active Mobility: Urban policies promoting walking and cycling reduce emissions and improve physical and mental health.
• Strengthening Health Systems: Investing in climate-resilient, sustainable health infrastructure improves preparedness and care continuity.

Economic benefits include reduced healthcare costs and increased productivity. Studies show health benefits of mitigation can match or exceed climate action costs. For example, investments in resilient energy for healthcare could avert thousands of deaths and generate significant economic returns in countries like Tanzania and Pakistan.

These findings underscore climate action as both an environmental necessity and a public health opportunity, requiring integrated, equitable, and human rights-aligned approaches consistent with SDGs 3, 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and 13.

6. Global Initiatives Addressing Climate Change and Health

International initiatives focus on strengthening health systems, mobilizing finance, generating evidence, and integrating health into climate governance:

6.1 Alliance for Transformative Action on Climate and Health (ATACH)

ATACH supports over 100 countries in building climate-resilient, low-carbon health systems, translating COP26 commitments into action. It facilitates:

• Development of national adaptation plans and vulnerability assessments
• Access to climate finance for health
• Integration of climate and health policies

Five thematic working groups address financing, resilience, low-carbon systems, supply chains, and nutrition.

6.2 Belém Health Action Plan (BHAP) at COP30

BHAP places health at the center of climate adaptation, focusing on:

• Strengthening system flexibility and resilience
• Advancing health equity
• Scaling up climate-health finance
• Investing in evaluation systems
• Accelerating mitigation to protect health

Supported by the Climate and Health Funders Coalition, BHAP provides a framework for health-centered climate action.

6.3 Children’s Environmental Health Collaborative

Launched by UNICEF, UNEP, and the World Bank, this initiative protects children’s health from climate and environmental risks by:

• Advocating for policy change prioritizing children’s environmental health
• Strengthening evidence and data sharing
• Catalyzing implementation linking global dialogue with country action

6.4 COP28 Declaration on Climate and Health

Adopted by over 120 countries, the Declaration commits to:

• Strengthening climate-resilient health systems
• Reducing health sector emissions
• Integrating health into climate policies
• Improving preparedness for climate-related health risks

The Declaration mobilized over $1 billion for climate and health action and established the first Health Day at a COP.

6.5 UNICEF Healthy Environments for Healthy Children Initiative

This initiative aims to prevent 26% of deaths in children under five by addressing environmental risks, supporting integration of climate considerations into health, education, and community programs. Key actions include:

1. Mobilizing collective action
2. Enhancing primary health care
3. Improving resilience in health facilities
4. Integrating climate and environmental education
5. Empowering children and youth as agents of change

6.6 Global Action Plan on Climate Change and Health (2025-2028)

Adopted by WHO Member States, the plan prioritizes:

• Integrating health into climate policies
• Strengthening evidence base
• Advancing adaptation and mitigation
• Ensuring climate-resilient, sustainable health systems

6.7 Global Climate and Health Alliance

A network of over 200 organizations and 46 million health professionals advocating for health-centered climate action by:

• Mobilizing the climate and health community
• Influencing policy and legal frameworks
• Advocating equitable fossil fuel phase-out
• Strengthening research and evidence
• Engaging the public on health risks

6.8 World Economic Forum (WEF) Climate and Health Initiative

WEF addresses systemic climate-health impacts across economies, focusing on:

• Strengthening workforce resilience
• Generating economic and health impact evidence
• Assessing and supporting adaptation strategies
• Mobilizing finance and partnerships
• Facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration

7. Role of Geneva in Climate Change and Health

7.1 International Geneva

Geneva hosts UN entities, international organizations, research institutions, and civil society, providing a platform for norm-setting, scientific assessment, policy coordination, and dialogue on climate and health.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

FAO addresses climate-health links through agrifood systems, food security, and nutrition, promoting resilient, sustainable, health-sensitive food systems and participating in the Quadripartite One Health collaboration.

Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

The Global Fund integrates climate considerations into health programs, supporting climate-resilient health systems and financing through initiatives like the Climate and Health Catalytic Fund.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

ICRC addresses the “triple threat” of climate change, conflict, and health emergencies, strengthening resilience in fragile settings.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

IPCC provides scientific evidence on climate impacts on health, emphasizing climate change as a risk multiplier and the need for integrated approaches.

International Labour Organization (ILO)

ILO focuses on occupational health risks from climate change, promoting safe, climate-resilient work environments.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

MSF delivers medical assistance in climate-affected contexts and advocates for attention to climate-health impacts.

Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

OHCHR advances a human rights-based approach to climate and health, promoting accountability and equity.

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

UNDP supports integration of climate and health into development planning and adaptation strategies.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

UNEP advances environmental health dimensions, including pollution and ecosystem degradation, supporting integrated climate-health responses.

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

UNICEF addresses disproportionate climate impacts on children’s health and supports child-centered climate-health initiatives.

World Economic Forum (WEF)

WEF promotes economic perspectives on climate-health risks, mobilizing investment and collaboration.

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO leads global climate and health efforts, providing guidance and supporting climate-resilient health systems through initiatives like the WHO Global Strategy on Health, Environment and Climate Change.

WHO-WMO Joint Climate and Health Programme

This programme strengthens climate-informed health decision-making by linking meteorological services with health authorities, including early warning systems for climate-related health risks.

7.2 Swiss and Geneva-based Initiatives

Switzerland and Geneva host academic, policy, and research actors advancing the climate-health agenda:

Climate Action Accelerator (CAA)

CAA supports climate-smart healthcare models and decarbonization roadmaps in multiple countries, providing tools for vulnerability assessments and implementation support.

Geneva Graduate Institute

The Institute conducts research and policy analysis on climate, health, and development, hosting centers focused on global health governance and sustainability.

Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH)

Swiss TPH researches climate-related health impacts, including vector-borne diseases and heat-related health risks, supporting surveillance and adaptation strategies globally.

University of Geneva

The University offers interdisciplinary education and research on planetary health and climate-health linkages, training professionals for integrated climate and health responses.

8. Conclusion

Addressing climate change is essential for protecting global health and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Integrated, equitable, and human rights-based approaches are critical to strengthening health systems, reducing vulnerabilities, and leveraging climate action as an opportunity to improve public health and sustainable development worldwide.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – The article focuses extensively on health impacts of climate change, including increased mortality, disease burden, and health system resilience.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation – Climate change impacts on water security and waterborne diseases are discussed.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The article highlights the importance of resilient energy access in healthcare facilities.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Unequal distribution of climate health impacts on vulnerable populations and low-income countries is emphasized.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – Central to the article, focusing on mitigation, adaptation, and integration of health into climate policies.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – Through the human rights-based approach to climate and health, including access to justice and participation.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article describes numerous global partnerships and initiatives addressing climate and health.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

1. SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
   • Target 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection and access to quality essential health-care services.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries for early warning, risk reduction, and management of health risks.
2. SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)
   • Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water.
   • Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene.
3. SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
   • Target 7.1: Ensure universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services.
4. SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities)
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.
5. SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
6. SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)
   • Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.
7. SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

• Health System Resilience Indicators: Number of hospitals at risk of climate hazards; capacity of health systems to respond to climate-related health emergencies.
• Mortality and Morbidity Rates: Additional deaths per year due to climate-related causes (e.g., 250,000 additional deaths between 2030-2050); incidence of climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria, dengue, diarrhoeal diseases.
• Access to Services: Proportion of healthcare facilities with reliable access to electricity; access to clean air, safe water, and adequate food.
• Climate Finance Mobilization: Amount of climate and health finance mobilized (e.g., over $1 billion commitments at COP28).
• Participation and Equity Metrics: Inclusion of vulnerable populations in climate-health policies; measures of health equity and reduction of inequalities.
• Emission Reduction Indicators: Reduction in emissions from the health sector; progress in phasing out fossil fuels.
• Early Warning Systems: Implementation and effectiveness of climate-informed health early warning systems (e.g., heat health information networks).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: genevaenvironmentnetwork.org

Report on the Peak Cluster De-Carbonisation Project and Community Response

Introduction

A major £28.6 million de-carbonisation initiative, known as the Peak Cluster project, is proposed in the Peak District. This project aims to capture carbon dioxide emissions from three cement and lime production plants and transport the captured CO₂ via pipeline to a storage facility beneath the Irish Sea.

Project Overview and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Alignment

The Peak Cluster project aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly:

• SDG 13: Climate Action – by capturing and storing three million tonnes of CO₂ annually, the project aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure – through the implementation of advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – with commitments to restore land post-construction and enhance biodiversity.

Community Concerns and Environmental Impact

Despite the environmental benefits, local residents and campaigners have expressed concerns regarding the project’s impact on the Peak District’s landscape and visitor experience.

• Visual and Environmental Impact: Residents fear the construction phase, which will last several years, will industrialise the countryside, affecting millions of annual visitors and spoiling the natural beauty of the area.
• Preservation of Natural Habitats: There is apprehension about potential damage to local ecosystems during pipeline installation.
• Technological Uncertainty: Some campaigners question the reliability of CCS technology and advocate for exploring alternative carbon capture and reuse technologies.

Project Details and Technical Aspects

1. Sites Involved: The project targets three key sites—Tunstead Quarry near Buxton, Hope in Derbyshire, and Cauldon in Staffordshire—which collectively produce up to 40% of the UK’s cement and lime.
2. Carbon Capture Process: CO₂ emissions generated during cement and lime manufacturing will be captured at source.
3. Transportation and Storage: Captured CO₂ will be transferred through a pipeline running across Derbyshire and Cheshire to the Wirral, then stored in a depleted gas reservoir under the East Irish Sea.
4. Storage Capacity: The reservoir can safely store approximately 1 billion tonnes of CO₂, sufficient for around 330 years of emissions from the involved plants.

Stakeholder Engagement and Environmental Safeguards

• The project team will collaborate with environmental experts, including Natural England and the Environment Agency, to minimize ecological disruption during construction.
• Post-installation, the land above the pipeline will be restored to its original condition.
• Commitments include working with local groups to enhance biodiversity, aiming to leave habitats in a better state than before the project commenced.

Official Position and Regulatory Framework

The Peak District National Park Authority has acknowledged the project’s national significance and noted that the government will make the final decision rather than local planners. The authority also highlighted that the installation will have a significant visual impact during its operational lifetime, though this is not considered a permanent landscape alteration.

Community Voices

• Local Resident Concerns: Laura Stark from Castleton expressed worries about the project’s effect on tourism and the natural sanctuary the Peak District provides for residents.
• Alternative Perspectives: Laura Beveridge-Muircroft from the Wirral, representing Action Against Carbon Capture and Storage, advocates for government scrutiny and exploration of alternative carbon capture technologies that focus on carbon reuse and energy generation.

Conclusion

The Peak Cluster project represents a significant effort towards achieving SDG 13 (Climate Action) by aiming to drastically reduce industrial carbon emissions. However, balancing environmental sustainability with community concerns and preserving the natural landscape remains a critical challenge. Ongoing stakeholder engagement and adherence to environmental safeguards will be essential for the project’s success and alignment with the broader Sustainable Development Goals.

Additional Information

• Peak Cluster Official Website
• Related topics include the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, carbon dioxide, and Derbyshire.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article discusses a £28.6m de-carbonisation project aimed at capturing and storing carbon dioxide emissions from cement and lime plants, directly addressing climate change mitigation.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The project involves innovative carbon capture and storage technology and infrastructure development (pipeline and storage facilities).
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Concerns about the environmental and visual impact on the Peak District, a natural landscape, relate to protecting terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The project impacts local communities, including concerns about industrialization of countryside and effects on tourism and residents’ quality of life.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning – the project aims to contribute to net zero goals by capturing 3 million tonnes of CO₂ annually.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean technologies – the project uses carbon capture and storage technology.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services – the project commits to working with local groups to boost biodiversity and restore habitats post-construction.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage – concerns about visual impact and preservation of the Peak District landscape are relevant here.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for SDG 13.2
   • Amount of carbon dioxide captured and prevented from entering the atmosphere (3 million tonnes of CO₂ annually).
   • Capacity of carbon storage (1 billion tonnes of CO₂ storage capacity under the Irish Sea).
2. Indicator for SDG 9.4
   • Implementation and operational status of carbon capture and storage infrastructure (pipeline installation and storage facility operation).
   • Independent environmental assessments and compliance with regulatory bodies such as Natural England and the Environment Agency.
3. Indicator for SDG 15.1
   • Measures of biodiversity improvement and habitat restoration post-construction as committed by the project.
4. Indicator for SDG 11.4
   • Assessment of visual and environmental impact on the Peak District landscape during and after construction.
   • Community feedback and stakeholder engagement outcomes regarding the preservation of natural heritage.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: bbc.co.uk

Report on Carbon Capture and Carbon Removal Technologies in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

Carbon capture and carbon removal technologies are increasingly recognized as critical components in global energy innovation. Governments and investors are prioritizing these technologies to reduce emissions from industrial processes and the atmosphere, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This report summarizes key findings from the International Energy Agency’s State of Energy Innovation 2026 report.

Carbon Capture Gains Policy Momentum

Government Strategies and Policy Support

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies are increasingly integrated into government strategies aimed at decarbonizing heavy industry and existing energy infrastructure. This development supports SDG 9 by fostering innovation and infrastructure modernization, and SDG 13 by mitigating climate change impacts.

Policy frameworks are expanding globally to address sectors where electrification or fuel switching is challenging. For example, Denmark launched a carbon capture and storage fund in 2025 with a budget of approximately $4.2 billion. This fund provides 15-year contracts covering CO2 capture, transport, and permanent storage, applicable to emissions from fossil fuels, biomass, or atmospheric sources.

Challenges and Progress

• A recent government tender in Denmark attracted only two bids from an initial pool of ten, highlighting policy design challenges in complex environments.
• Despite this, the initiative is considered partial progress toward achieving SDG 13 targets.

Carbon capture technologies are advancing through the innovation pipeline, moving from early research stages to large-scale demonstration projects. Several “first-of-a-kind” commercial initiatives are underway to validate the technical and commercial viability of large carbon management projects.

However, the report notes a 20% decline in reliance on certain large-scale CCUS applications currently under construction, indicating ongoing challenges.

Financing and Deployment

The primary obstacle for developers is securing financing to transition from pilot projects to full commercial deployment, a challenge common to many large energy technologies. This “missing middle” financing gap exists because projects are:

1. Too costly for venture capital alone
2. Considered too risky for traditional lenders

To address this, governments are increasingly providing support through:

• Joint ventures with industrial partners
• Long-term offtake agreements
• Direct funding mechanisms

These measures help bridge the financing gap and accelerate project construction, contributing to SDG 9 and SDG 13.

Carbon Removal Emerges as a Fast-Growing Sector

Rising Interest and Investment

Alongside industrial carbon capture, carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are gaining rapid interest. These technologies focus on removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere through methods such as direct air capture and engineered storage, supporting SDG 13 by enhancing climate mitigation efforts.

The IEA report identifies carbon removal as part of a new wave of emerging energy technologies attracting significant venture capital investment. Since 2021, seven sectors—including carbon dioxide removal, nuclear technologies, and next-generation geothermal—have compensated for previous declines in funding for electric vehicles.

Investment Trends and Startup Activity

• In the late 2010s, emerging sectors accounted for less than 5% of energy venture capital investment.
• By 2025, these sectors represented approximately one-third of total energy venture capital, reflecting investor confidence in technologies essential for deep decarbonization.
• Nearly 400 companies have been founded in these emerging technology areas over the past decade, with over 60% established after 2020.
• Despite rapid growth, 2025 saw a decline in startups receiving initial funding, indicating potential market adjustments.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

The expansion of carbon removal technologies directly supports:

• SDG 7: By promoting clean energy innovations.
• SDG 9: Through fostering industrial innovation and infrastructure development.
• SDG 13: By enabling significant reductions in atmospheric CO2 concentrations.

Conclusion

Carbon capture and carbon removal technologies are gaining critical momentum supported by government policies and increasing venture capital investment. These technologies are vital to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals related to clean energy, innovation, and climate action. Continued focus on overcoming financing challenges and scaling commercial deployment will be essential to maximize their impact on global decarbonization efforts.

For further information, see the related article: SMI Urges Dedicated Fund To Close CCS Financing Gap.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses innovations in carbon capture and carbon removal technologies, which are part of clean energy solutions.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Focus on energy innovation, development of new technologies, and infrastructure for carbon capture and storage.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Directly related to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change through carbon capture and removal.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
2. SDG 9
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
   • Target 9.b: Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in clean energy technologies.
3. SDG 13
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicators related to carbon capture and storage (CCUS) deployment:
   • Number and scale of carbon capture projects implemented (e.g., Denmark’s CCS fund and contracts).
   • Amount of CO2 captured, transported, and permanently stored (from fossil fuels, biomass, or atmospheric sources).
2. Indicators related to innovation and financing:
   • Venture capital investment amounts in emerging clean energy technologies including carbon removal.
   • Number of startups founded and receiving funding in carbon capture and removal sectors.
   • Progression of technologies from pilot to commercial scale (e.g., “first-of-a-kind” projects).
3. Policy support indicators:
   • Government budgets and contracts supporting carbon capture and removal projects.
   • Policy design effectiveness measured by tender participation and project initiation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: carbonherald.com

Innovative Solar-Powered Chemical Reaction Advances Sustainable Manufacturing

Introduction

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a novel method to harness solar energy for driving olefin epoxidation, a critical chemical reaction widely used in manufacturing industries such as textiles, plastics, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. This breakthrough aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by reducing energy consumption, eliminating harmful byproducts, and minimizing carbon emissions.

Background: Challenges in Olefin Epoxidation

• Olefin epoxidation produces epoxide chemicals essential for multiple industries.
• Current industrial processes rely on harsh peroxides that are difficult to dispose of safely and generate carbon dioxide emissions.
• Using water as an oxidant is environmentally preferable but requires high temperatures to break strong H–O–H bonds, leading to high energy use and increased CO2 emissions.

A greener alternative is necessary to significantly reduce the chemical manufacturing industry’s carbon footprint, supporting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Research Innovation: Plasmonic Chemistry Using Solar Energy

Professor Prashant Jain’s research group specializes in plasmonic chemistry, a process that uses solar energy to enhance chemical reactions. Their recent study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, demonstrates the application of this technique to epoxidation reactions, potentially revolutionizing chemical manufacturing and electrochemistry.

Key Features of the New Method

1. Use of light-absorbing “antenna” catalysts composed of gold nanoparticles and manganese oxide nanowire electrodes.
2. Combination of electrical energy and visible-light photons to break water’s H–O–H bonds at ambient temperature.
3. Elimination of the need for high-temperature heating, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.

Mechanism of Action

Visible light photons from laboratory lasers are absorbed by the nanoparticles, generating strong electric fields and energetic charge carriers. These weaken the O–H bonds in water and the double bonds in styrene, enabling oxygen atoms to be extracted from water and incorporated into epoxide molecules through a light-catalyzed reaction.

Implications for Sustainable Development

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): Utilizes solar energy to drive chemical reactions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): Introduces innovative catalytic technology that can transform industrial chemical processes.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Minimizes hazardous waste by replacing harsh peroxides with water as an oxidant.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Lowers carbon emissions associated with chemical manufacturing.

Challenges and Future Directions

While the laboratory-scale demonstration is promising, scaling this technology for industrial application presents challenges:

• Replacing laboratory lasers with scalable, energy-efficient light sources.
• Enhancing control over light-driven reactions to prevent overoxidation.
• Engineering large-scale, light-accessible electrolyzer systems to replicate lab-scale efficiency.

Funding and Collaborations

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation, the São Paulo Research Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Energy. Collaborators include Susana Inés Córdoba de Torresi from the Universidade de São Paulo and George Schatz from Northwestern University.

Contact Information and Access to Publication

• Contact: Professor Prashant Jain
• Phone: 217-333-3417
• Email: jain@illinois.edu
• Research Paper: Plasmon-assisted electrochemical epoxidation using water as an oxidant

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses using solar energy and visible light photons to power chemical reactions, promoting renewable energy use.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The research advances industrial chemical manufacturing by introducing greener, energy-efficient processes.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The new method reduces harsh oxidizing byproducts and carbon emissions, promoting sustainable industrial processes.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Minimizing carbon emissions in chemical manufacturing contributes to climate change mitigation.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: Achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for SDG 7.2:
   • Proportion of renewable energy in total final energy consumption — implied by the use of solar energy and visible light photons to power chemical reactions.
2. Indicator for SDG 9.4:
   • CO2 emission per unit of value added — implied by the reduction of carbon emissions in chemical manufacturing processes.
   • Adoption rate of clean and environmentally sound technologies in industry — implied by the introduction of plasmonic chemistry and light-driven electrochemical processes.
3. Indicators for SDG 12.4 and 12.5:
   • Amount of hazardous waste generated and managed safely — implied by elimination of harsh oxidizing byproducts and safer oxidants.
   • Waste generation per unit of production — implied by reduction of harmful chemical waste.
4. Indicator for SDG 13.2:
   • Number of policies integrating climate change measures — implied by research contributing to climate action through cleaner industrial processes.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.illinois.edu

Climate Change Report 2025-2026: Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Earth’s Energy Imbalance and Climate Dynamics

Recent studies have highlighted significant disruptions in Earth’s energy balance, a critical factor influencing global climate. The transition from a rare three-year La Niña (2020-2022) to El Niño conditions (2023-2024) has accelerated Earth’s energy uptake and temperature rise. This phenomenon directly impacts SDG 13: Climate Action by exacerbating climate variability and extreme weather events.

Declining polar ice, which plays a vital role in reflecting sunlight, has further disturbed this balance. The reduction in sea ice exposes dark ocean surfaces that absorb more sunlight, creating a feedback loop that accelerates warming. Notably, 2025 recorded the lowest Arctic winter sea ice peak and the third-lowest Antarctic minimum extent, posing risks to marine ecosystems and coastal communities, thereby affecting SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Air Pollution and Its Dual Impact

Sulfate aerosol pollution from coal combustion and shipping has masked some greenhouse gas warming by reflecting sunlight, creating a temporary cooling effect. However, this pollution is responsible for approximately 8 million deaths annually due to lung diseases, highlighting a critical public health challenge linked to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Recent reductions in sulfate aerosols, particularly through China’s air quality initiatives and international shipping regulations, have decreased sulfur emissions by 40% over 20 years and 85% from large ships since 2020. While this reduction has contributed to a 0.13°C increase in global temperatures, it represents progress towards cleaner air and healthier populations, advancing SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Accelerated Global Warming and Extreme Weather

Overall, human activities are warming the planet at an unprecedented rate of approximately 0.27°C per decade. This accelerated warming fuels extreme weather events such as flash floods, heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and coastal flooding, which threaten human lives, infrastructure, and economies. These impacts underscore the urgency of implementing SDG 13: Climate Action and integrating resilience into development planning.

Predictions and Challenges for 2026

Temperature Outlook and Climate Variability

Climate models forecast that 2026 will be as warm as 2025, contingent on a 60% likelihood of a Pacific El Niño event. Despite regional cold spells, global temperatures remain elevated, with January 2026 ranking as the fifth-warmest on record. These trends emphasize the need for sustained climate monitoring and adaptive strategies aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action.

Energy Demand and Renewable Transition

Global economic growth projected at 3.3% in 2026 is expected to increase electricity demand by approximately 3.6% annually through 2030. Although renewable energy usage is expanding rapidly, it is insufficient to meet rising demand, leading to continued reliance on fossil fuels. This trajectory poses challenges to achieving SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

Environmental Risks and Tipping Points

The continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions and the declining capacity of oceans and land to absorb carbon dioxide heighten the risk of crossing critical climate tipping points. Potential consequences include glacier loss, disruption of Atlantic Ocean circulation, permafrost thaw, and coral reef degradation, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services essential to SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land.

Recommendations for Sustainable Development

1. Accelerate Decarbonization: Implement policies to reduce fossil fuel dependence and promote renewable energy to meet SDG 7 and mitigate climate change impacts under SDG 13.
2. Enhance Air Quality Measures: Continue reducing air pollutants to improve public health outcomes in line with SDG 3 and urban sustainability goals of SDG 11.
3. Strengthen Climate Resilience: Develop adaptive infrastructure and disaster risk reduction strategies to protect vulnerable populations, supporting SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 11.
4. Protect Ecosystems: Preserve polar ice, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services critical to SDG 14 and SDG 15.
5. Promote Global Cooperation: Foster international collaboration for climate action and sustainable development to achieve the integrated objectives of the SDGs.

Conclusion

The year 2025 marked a significant milestone in global warming, with human-induced factors accelerating climate change and its associated risks. The projections for 2026 indicate continued challenges in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. Addressing these issues through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals is imperative to safeguard planetary health and human well-being for current and future generations.

Source: Adapted from Michael Wysession, Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis. Original article published by The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action – The article discusses global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change impacts such as extreme weather events and melting polar ice.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Air pollution from sulfate aerosols causing about 8 million deaths annually is highlighted, linking to health impacts.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – The article mentions global electricity demand growth, renewable energy use, and fossil fuel consumption.
4. SDG 14: Life Below Water – Declining sea ice and warming oceans affecting marine ecosystems are discussed.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land – The article refers to land’s decreasing ability to absorb carbon dioxide and risks to glaciers, permafrost, and coral reefs.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
4. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Global average temperature increase (0.5 F / 0.27 C per decade warming rate).
   • Frequency and intensity of extreme weather events (flash floods, heat waves, droughts, wildfires, coastal flooding).
   • Greenhouse gas emissions levels and trends (e.g., fossil fuel CO2 emissions, sulfate aerosol pollution reductions).
   • Sea ice extent and minimum levels (Arctic and Antarctic sea ice records).
2. SDG 3 Indicators
   • Number of deaths caused by air pollution (8 million deaths per year from lung diseases due to sulfate aerosols).
3. SDG 7 Indicators
   • Share of renewable energy in total electricity generation.
   • Growth rate of electricity demand (3.6% per year through 2030).
   • Reduction in sulfur emissions from shipping (85% reduction since 2020).
4. SDG 14 and 15 Indicators
   • Extent of sea ice and health of marine ecosystems.
   • Carbon absorption capacity of ocean and land.
   • Indicators related to glacier mass, permafrost thawing, and coral reef health.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: fortune.com

Report on the Repeal of the Endangerment Finding for Greenhouse Gases and Its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

On February 12, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the repeal of the Endangerment Finding for Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), a pivotal federal climate policy established in 2009. This repeal represents the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history and has significant implications for climate action and sustainable development.

Background: The Endangerment Finding and Federal GHG Regulation

The Endangerment Finding, based on the 2007 Supreme Court decision in Massachusetts v. EPA, classified GHGs as air pollutants under the Clean Air Act, mandating EPA regulation of emissions from motor vehicles and stationary sources such as power plants and oil and gas operations.

Key Elements of the Endangerment Finding

1. Recognition of six GHGs, including carbon dioxide and methane, as threats to public health and welfare.
2. Obligation for EPA to regulate emissions from new motor vehicles under Section 202(a) of the Clean Air Act.
3. Extension of regulatory authority to stationary sources under Section 111 of the Clean Air Act.
4. Implementation of regulations on power plants and methane emissions from oil and gas industries.

Scientific Basis Supporting the Finding

• Evidence of rising GHG concentrations causing climate warming, sea level rise, ocean acidification, and altered precipitation patterns.
• Demonstrated adverse effects on human health and welfare.
• Scientific consensus reinforced by reports from the National Academies, the Fifth National Climate Assessment, and the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report.

Legal Justifications for the Repeal

Claim of Lack of Statutory Authority

• References to recent Supreme Court cases (West Virginia v. EPA and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo) invoking the “major questions doctrine”.
• Argument that the Clean Air Act does not explicitly authorize EPA to regulate GHG emissions from vehicles or shift electricity generation.
• Legal challenges anticipated, including lawsuits by states and advocacy groups.

Claim that Vehicle GHG Emissions Are Insignificant

• Administration’s assertion that eliminating all vehicle GHG emissions would have a negligible impact on global climate metrics.
• Counterarguments highlight that transportation accounts for 30% of U.S. GHG emissions and is the fastest growing sector.
• Emissions impacts are cumulative globally, making incremental regulation essential.

Scientific Stance in the Repeal

• The repeal does not dispute the underlying climate science.
• Previous attempts to question climate science via the Department of Energy’s Climate Working Group were legally and scientifically challenged.
• EPA’s repeal focuses on legal and regulatory grounds rather than scientific denial.

Implications of the Repeal for Sustainable Development Goals

The repeal affects multiple SDGs, notably:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Increased GHG emissions threaten public health through climate-related impacts.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy – Deregulation may hinder progress toward clean energy transitions.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Regulatory uncertainty may disrupt long-term investments and technological innovation.
• SDG 13: Climate Action – The repeal undermines federal climate mitigation efforts critical to meeting global climate targets.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – Climate change impacts ecosystems and biodiversity, which are exacerbated by increased emissions.

Regulatory Uncertainty and Economic Impact

1. Removal of federal GHG regulation creates a regulatory vacuum likely to be filled by lawsuits and state-level actions, causing inconsistency.
2. Investors face uncertainty impacting decisions on vehicle manufacturing, industrial facilities, and energy infrastructure.
3. Potential for fragmented state regulations complicates compliance for industries operating nationally.
4. Risk of federal public nuisance lawsuits increases without Clean Air Act protections.

Industry Responses

• Automotive companies express concern over regulatory instability and market fragmentation.
• Electric power industry warns of unpredictable outcomes from litigation-based regulation.
• Oil and gas industry supports some methane regulations to maintain international trade relations, especially with the EU.

Broader Context of Deregulation

The repeal is part of a broader deregulatory agenda aimed at reducing federal environmental regulations, which includes:

• Loosening air pollution controls on coal and oil power plants.
• Reducing Clean Water Act jurisdiction over wetlands and streams.
• Rolling back incentives and implementation of renewable energy and clean technology programs.

This approach conflicts with the SDGs’ emphasis on environmental protection, sustainable industrialization, and climate resilience.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The repeal of the Endangerment Finding poses significant challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to climate action, health, and sustainable industry. Regulatory certainty and science-based policies are essential to:

• Enable effective climate mitigation and adaptation strategies (SDG 13).
• Protect public health and ecosystems (SDGs 3 and 15).
• Foster innovation and sustainable economic growth (SDG 9).
• Support the transition to clean and affordable energy (SDG 7).

Legislative action by the U.S. Congress to establish clear and specific GHG regulations could provide a stable framework to advance these goals. Until then, legal disputes and policy uncertainty will likely continue, impacting the United States’ role in global climate leadership and sustainable development.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses heavily on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions regulation and climate change policies in the United States.
   • The repeal of the Endangerment Finding directly impacts efforts to mitigate climate change.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The Endangerment Finding identified GHGs as threats to public health and welfare.
   • Climate change impacts such as rising sea levels and air pollution affect human health.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses regulation of emissions from power plants and oil and gas operations, affecting energy production and consumption.
   • It also mentions renewable energy rollbacks and challenges in clean energy investments.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Uncertainty in regulations affects industrial investments and innovation in cleaner technologies.
   • Legal and regulatory instability impacts infrastructure planning and development.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Regulations on emissions from vehicles and industrial sources relate to sustainable production and consumption patterns.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article references international trade relations, such as U.S. LNG exports to the EU, linking climate policy to global partnerships.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.
6. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.11: Significantly increase the exports of developing countries, in particular with a view to doubling the least developed countries’ share of global exports.
   • Target 17.16: Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators related to SDG 13 (Climate Action)
   • Indicator 13.2.2: Total greenhouse gas emissions per year (the article references U.S. GHG emissions data and inventories).
   • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters related to climate change (implied through discussion of climate impacts).
2. Indicators related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)
   • Indicator 3.9.1: Mortality rate attributed to household and ambient air pollution (implied by the discussion of air pollution and health impacts from GHGs and other pollutants).
3. Indicators related to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
   • Indicator 7.2.1: Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption (implied by references to renewable energy rollbacks and clean energy investments).
   • Indicator 7.a.1: International financial flows to developing countries in support of clean energy research and development (implied by international trade and cooperation references).
4. Indicators related to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure)
   • Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added (industry sector) (implied by discussion of industrial emissions and regulatory impacts).
5. Indicators related to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
   • Indicator 12.4.2: Hazardous waste generated per capita and proportion of hazardous waste treated, by type of treatment (implied through regulation of pollutants and emissions).
6. Indicators related to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)
   • Indicator 17.11.1: Developing countries’ and least developed countries’ share of global exports (implied by discussion of U.S.-EU LNG trade relations).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: brookings.edu

Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. Launches Climate Change Adaptation Workshop

Workshop Overview and Objectives

The Centre for Enterprise Development Inc. (CED) officially commenced a three-day Climate Change Adaptation Workshop on 24th February, aimed at enhancing the capacity of local community groups to effectively address climate risks. This initiative is part of the Unlocking Opportunities Through Climate Change Initiatives (UOCCI) Project, funded by the Organization of American States (OAS) Development Cooperation Fund (DCF), and is held at the SVG Teachers Cooperative Credit Union Conference Room.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The workshop strongly supports multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including:

1. SDG 13: Climate Action – by increasing awareness and building adaptive capacity to climate change.
2. SDG 1: No Poverty – by addressing vulnerabilities that perpetuate poverty cycles.
3. SDG 5: Gender Equality – through targeted support and inclusion of women in climate adaptation strategies.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – by promoting climate-smart business practices and economic opportunities.
5. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – by focusing on underserved and vulnerable communities.

Workshop Content and Participation

The workshop convenes members from community groups and organizations nationwide to address critical gaps in local climate preparedness. The comprehensive program includes:

• Raising awareness of national climate risks and vulnerabilities.
• Providing practical tools for risk assessment and adaptation planning.
• Promoting climate-smart business practices.
• Fostering cross-sector collaboration for integrated climate strategies.

Keynote Remarks and Call to Action

Miss Keisha Phillips, Training and Education Coordinator of CED and UOCCI Project Coordinator, emphasized the urgency of the initiative:

“Without proper training, these groups remain highly exposed to climate risks, which further entrenches cycles of poverty, inequality, and vulnerability. This project aims to address this gap by providing essential climate change knowledge and practical adaptation strategies.”

She further urged collective participation, stating:

“The success of this project relies not just on us at the CED organizing workshops like this. It will only be successful if we collectively participate and integrate as community groups, women, youth, and stakeholder agencies – both public and private. I urge everyone to become involved in these activities where we train vulnerable groups and people on the impact of climate change.”

Educational Approach and Facilitation

The workshop establishes a foundational understanding of climate change science and its impacts at global, regional, and local levels. Participants engage with key concepts and critically reflect on the intersection of climate risks with livelihoods, social equity, and development priorities in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Caribbean.

The sessions are facilitated by Mrs. Nyasha Antrobus-Cyrus, a Climate Change and Hazards Management Specialist.

Project Framework and Long-Term Goals

The three-year UOCCI Project (2024-2027), funded by the OAS Development Cooperation Fund, is designed to:

• Support and recognize the contributions of women and underserved communities.
• Create an inclusive and effective approach to climate action benefiting all stakeholders.
• Reduce the impacts of climate change while enhancing livelihoods.
• Increase economic opportunities for women and vulnerable populations.

This aligns with the broader agenda of achieving sustainable development through climate resilience and social inclusion.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 1: No Poverty – The article highlights the connection between climate risks and cycles of poverty and vulnerability.
2. SDG 5: Gender Equality – The project emphasizes supporting women and underserved communities, promoting inclusivity in climate action.
3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The initiative aims to increase economic opportunities for women and vulnerable communities.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action – The core focus of the workshop is climate change adaptation, risk assessment, and promoting climate-smart practices.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The project fosters cross-sector collaboration among community groups, public and private stakeholders.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 1 – Target 1.5: Build resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters.
2. SDG 5 – Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women.
3. SDG 8 – Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation.
4. SDG 13 – Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
5. SDG 17 – Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

• Indicator for SDG 1.5: Number of people affected by climate-related disasters; level of resilience in vulnerable communities.
• Indicator for SDG 5.b: Proportion of women participating in climate change adaptation training and decision-making processes.
• Indicator for SDG 8.3: Number of climate-smart businesses or economic opportunities created for women and vulnerable groups.
• Indicator for SDG 13.1: Number of local community groups equipped with climate risk assessment and adaptation planning tools.
• Indicator for SDG 17.17: Number and diversity of partnerships formed between community groups, public and private sectors.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: stvincenttimes.com

Report on Human-Induced Climate Change Amplification of the 2024 Valencia Catastrophic Flash Flood

Introduction

Global warming significantly impacts the hydrological cycle, leading to increased frequency and intensity of heavy rainfall events worldwide. In October 2024, Valencia, Spain, experienced unprecedented rainfall, with accumulations surpassing annual averages within hours and breaking national records for one-hour rainfall intensity. This event resulted in 230 fatalities and extensive socio-economic damages, underscoring the urgent need to understand the role of anthropogenic climate change (ACC) in such extreme weather phenomena.

This report employs a physical-based attribution study using a kilometer-scale pseudo-global warming (PGW) storyline approach to assess ACC’s contribution to the Valencia flash flood. The study integrates thermodynamic and dynamic atmospheric components to provide a comprehensive analysis of the event’s intensification under present-day climate conditions compared to pre-industrial climate scenarios.

Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 13: Climate Action – The study highlights the critical impact of human-induced climate change on extreme weather events, emphasizing the necessity for urgent climate action to mitigate further risks.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – Findings underscore the importance of improved urban planning and adaptation strategies to enhance resilience against hydrometeorological extremes.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being – Addressing the increasing risks of flash floods is vital to protect human lives and reduce fatalities associated with climate-induced disasters.

Methodology

Data and Simulation Approach

1. Utilized simulations from 15 CMIP6 Global Climate Models (GCMs) to derive climate perturbation signals representing the difference between pre-industrial (1850–1879) and present-day (2009–2038) climate conditions.
2. Applied the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model with 1-km horizontal grid spacing to simulate the extreme rainfall event under factual (present-day) and counterfactual (pre-industrial-like) climate scenarios.
3. Implemented the Pseudo-Global Warming (PGW) storyline approach to modify initial and boundary conditions, focusing on thermodynamic variables such as air temperature and humidity, while maintaining large-scale circulation patterns.
4. Validated simulations against extensive hourly precipitation observations from 256 weather stations in the Valencia region.

Assessment Metrics

• Rainfall intensity and spatial extent analysis using hourly and 6-hour accumulated precipitation data.
• Evaluation of atmospheric moisture content and fluxes, including precipitable water (PW) and water vapor flux (WVFlux).
• Investigation of physical mechanisms controlling extreme rainfall, such as convective available potential energy (CAPE), diabatic heating, updraft velocities, and cloud microphysics (graupel concentration).
• Statistical significance assessed via Mann–Whitney U test at 99% confidence level.

Results

Rainfall Intensity and Spatial Extent

• Present-day climate conditions led to a 20% per °C increase in 1-hour rainfall intensity, exceeding the Clausius-Clapeyron scaling of 7% per °C.
• The 6-hour rainfall rate intensified by 21%, with the area experiencing rainfall above 180 mm increasing by 55% compared to pre-industrial conditions.
• Total rainfall volume within the Jucar River catchment increased by 19%, indicating amplified hydrological impacts.
• Simulations demonstrated a larger and more intense precipitation core under present-day climate, with significant increases in extreme precipitation thresholds (90th, 95th, 99th percentiles).

Atmospheric Moisture Content and Fluxes

• Enhanced atmospheric moisture due to warmer sea surface temperatures increased precipitable water by approximately 12% and water vapor flux by 8.5% in the present-day climate.
• Increased moisture availability elevated Most Unstable Convective Available Potential Energy (MUCAPE) by 22%, promoting stronger convective instability.
• Stronger moisture transport processes fueled the convective storm, intensifying rainfall rates and spatial coverage.

Physical Mechanisms Driving Extreme Rainfall

• Anthropogenic climate change intensified latent heat release (diabatic heating) by nearly 30%, reinforcing atmospheric convection.
• Maximum updraft speeds increased by approximately 12%, indicating more vigorous vertical motions within convective storms.
• Cloud microphysics altered with a 32% increase in graupel concentration, contributing to enhanced precipitation efficiency and heavier rainfall.
• Warmer cloud layers facilitated warm rain processes, further increasing precipitation intensity and efficiency by 12.6%.

Discussion

The study confirms that anthropogenic climate change has substantially amplified the intensity and spatial extent of the October 2024 Valencia flash flood. Enhanced moisture content and atmospheric instability, driven by warmer sea surface temperatures, have intensified convective storm dynamics beyond traditional thermodynamic expectations. These findings align with global trends of increasing hydrometeorological extremes and highlight the urgent need for effective adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Urgent implementation of climate mitigation policies is essential to limit further warming and reduce the frequency of extreme precipitation events.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Improved urban planning and infrastructure resilience are critical to manage increased flash flood risks and protect communities.
   • Development of early warning systems and emergency preparedness can reduce fatalities and economic losses.
3. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Reducing exposure to climate-induced disasters supports public health and safety.

Conclusions

This attribution study demonstrates that human-induced climate change has significantly intensified the dynamics of the 2024 Valencia catastrophic flash flood by increasing atmospheric moisture, convective instability, and precipitation efficiency. The event exemplifies the growing risks posed by climate change to Mediterranean regions, necessitating accelerated climate adaptation and urban resilience efforts to safeguard lives and sustainable development.

Recommendations

• Integrate climate change projections into urban and regional planning to enhance flood risk management.
• Invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions to mitigate flood impacts.
• Strengthen early warning systems and community awareness programs to improve disaster preparedness.
• Advance research on sub-daily scale precipitation processes to better predict and manage flash floods.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses on the impact of anthropogenic climate change on extreme weather events, specifically the intensification of heavy rainfall and flash floods in Valencia, Spain.
   • It highlights the urgent need for adaptation strategies and improved urban planning to mitigate risks associated with climate change-induced hydrometeorological extremes.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article discusses the devastating flash floods in an urban and metropolitan area (Valencia), emphasizing the need for urban resilience and planning to reduce disaster risks.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The study addresses hydrological impacts of extreme rainfall events, which affect water management and flood control.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • There is an emphasis on the need for improved infrastructure and adaptation strategies to handle increased flood risks.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, including water-related disasters.
   • Target 11.b: Increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems to reduce the impact of floods and droughts.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Rainfall Intensity and Frequency
   • 1-hour and 6-hour rainfall intensity measurements (e.g., mm/hour, mm/6 hours) are used to quantify extreme precipitation events.
   • Rainfall accumulation exceeding thresholds such as 180 mm (red warning threshold) and percentile-based thresholds (90th, 95th, 99th percentiles) are indicators of extreme rainfall events.
2. Flood Impact Metrics
   • Number of fatalities (230 fatalities in the Valencia event) and economic losses (billions of euros) as indicators of disaster impact.
   • Spatial extent of rainfall and affected areas (percentage increase in area exceeding rainfall thresholds).
3. Atmospheric and Hydrological Variables
   • Most Unstable Convective Available Potential Energy (MUCAPE) as an indicator of atmospheric instability related to convective storms.
   • Precipitable Water (PW) and Water Vapor Flux (WVFlux) as indicators of atmospheric moisture content and transport.
   • Diabatic heating, updraft speed, graupel concentration, and precipitation efficiency as physical process indicators influencing rainfall intensity.
4. Climate Change Attribution Metrics
   • Percentage increase in rainfall intensity and area per degree Celsius warming (e.g., % increase per °C).
   • Comparison of factual (present-day) vs. counterfactual (pre-industrial-like) climate simulations to attribute changes to anthropogenic climate change.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: nature.com

Gevo’s Strategic Focus on Sustainable Development Goals through Renewable Fuels

Overview of Business Lines Aligned with SDGs

Gevo (NASDAQ: GEVO) presented its current asset base, near-term earnings priorities, and long-term plans to scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production during a virtual investor conference. The presentation, led by Eric Frey, Vice President of Finance and Strategy, emphasized the company’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), industry innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), responsible consumption and production (SDG 12), and climate action (SDG 13).

Gevo’s activities focus on converting renewable, biomass-based carbon resources into “drop-in” fuels and chemicals compatible with existing engines and infrastructure, thereby reducing carbon footprints compared to fossil-derived products. The company prioritizes domestic renewable feedstocks to support sustainable industrial development.

1. Gevo Fuels: Operates an ethanol plant producing ethanol and carbon dioxide, with a development pipeline focused on alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel technology, advancing clean energy solutions.
2. Gevo RNG: Converts dairy manure in Iowa into renewable natural gas (RNG) through methane capture and pipeline injection, supporting SDG 12 and SDG 13 by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Verity: A cloud-based track-and-trace software platform providing auditable chain of custody and emissions data across agricultural and biofuel supply chains, enhancing transparency and sustainability reporting.
4. Gevo Chem: Research and development aimed at improving ATJ technology to reduce operating expenses by 20-30%, promoting innovation and sustainable industrial processes.

Leadership Transition Supporting Sustainable Growth

Gevo announced a leadership transition with CEO Pat Gruber planning retirement and Paul Bloom, PhD in chemistry and experienced in sustainable industrial operations, set to become CEO. This change supports the company’s strategic focus on innovation and sustainability aligned with SDG 9 and SDG 13.

North Dakota Acquisition and Carbon Capture Initiatives

Gevo completed a transformative acquisition of a North Dakota ethanol plant with 500 acres, featuring one of only three ethanol plants globally with wholly owned carbon capture technology. This facility captures concentrated fermentation CO₂ and injects it underground for long-term storage, directly contributing to climate action (SDG 13) and responsible production (SDG 12).

The site serves as both a revenue and margin engine and a platform for future ATJ deployment, demonstrating scalable sustainable infrastructure development (SDG 9).

Financial Performance and EBITDA Growth Strategies

Gevo reported $6.7 million EBITDA in the last quarter, targeting approximately $40 million annualized EBITDA within several quarters by optimizing carbon accounting and sales without significant capital expenditure. Further EBITDA growth to about $110 million is anticipated by maximizing the North Dakota asset’s carbon storage capacity and increasing production volumes.

• Utilization of 1 million tons per year of pore space for CO₂ storage supports carbon sequestration efforts aligned with SDG 13.
• Incremental production increases and carbon monetization enhance economic sustainability.

Alcohol-to-Jet (ATJ30) Project: Advancing Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Gevo’s ATJ technology aims to increase jet fuel supply with a lower carbon footprint, addressing the challenge of electrifying aviation and rising jet fuel demand. The process yields approximately 90% jet fuel, significantly higher than traditional refinery outputs.

Key economic and development highlights include:

• Production cost of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) estimated at $3 to $4 per gallon, with additional value from low-carbon attributes, supporting affordable and clean energy (SDG 7).
• Planned commercial-scale ATJ facility in North Dakota with a $500 million investment and projected $150 million EBITDA, demonstrating sustainable industrial innovation (SDG 9).
• Integration of corn-to-ethanol and ethanol-to-jet processes to reduce carbon footprint and improve energy efficiency, including renewable power use.
• Targeted final investment decision (FID) in the second half of 2026, with construction expected to take 2 to 3 years.

Gevo’s approach supports climate action (SDG 13) by providing scalable, low-carbon aviation fuel alternatives and fostering sustainable industrial growth.

Verity Software and Bushel Integration: Enhancing Supply Chain Transparency

Verity is essential for verifying low-carbon claims of biofuels by tracking data from farms through processing to end customers while maintaining confidentiality. The recent integration with Bushel, a widely adopted platform among farms and grain elevators, aims to scale Verity as a plugin, enhancing sustainable supply chain management aligned with SDG 12.

Gevo is generating software-as-a-service revenue from Verity, with potential for significant growth as sustainability reporting demands increase.

Capital Allocation and Growth Priorities

Gevo’s capital allocation strategy prioritizes:

• Optimizing existing assets to expand EBITDA without major new capital expenditures.
• Investing modest self-funded capital to debottleneck operations and improve carbon economics.
• Pursuing larger-scale growth through financing and construction of commercial ATJ facilities for replication, supporting sustainable industrialization (SDG 9) and climate action (SDG 13).

About Gevo

Gevo, Inc. (NASDAQ: GEVO) is a renewable chemicals and biofuels company dedicated to developing and producing low-carbon alternatives to petroleum-based products. The company’s core technology converts fermentable sugars into isobutanol, which is further processed into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel.

Gevo’s integrated biorefinery model combines fermentation, recovery, and downstream processing to deliver scalable, drop-in replacements for conventional fossil-derived hydrocarbons, directly contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Primary products include isobutanol and hydrocarbon fuels meeting ASTM specifications for aviation and road transport, supporting the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Gevo’s focus on renewable, biomass-based fuels and renewable natural gas aligns with increasing access to clean energy sources.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Development of advanced biofuel technologies (alcohol-to-jet fuel), carbon capture, and integration of cloud-based tracking software reflect innovation and infrastructure improvements.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Use of renewable feedstocks, carbon capture, and efforts to reduce carbon footprint support sustainable production and consumption patterns.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Carbon capture and storage, production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with lower carbon emissions, and tracking emissions data contribute to climate change mitigation.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Utilization of agricultural residues and manure for renewable natural gas supports sustainable land use and reduces environmental impact.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities of industrial sectors.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Target 12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.
5. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce degradation of natural habitats.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. SDG 7 Indicators
   • Proportion of energy from renewable sources in total final energy consumption (implied by Gevo’s production of renewable fuels and renewable natural gas).
   • Installed renewable energy generation capacity (implied by the scale-up of sustainable aviation fuel production and renewable natural gas operations).
2. SDG 9 Indicators
   • Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP (implied by Gevo Chem’s R&D efforts to improve ATJ technology).
   • Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP (implied by the ethanol and jet fuel production facilities).
3. SDG 12 Indicators
   • Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP (implied by use of renewable feedstocks and efficient resource use).
   • Carbon footprint reduction metrics (implied by carbon capture and emissions tracking via Verity software).
4. SDG 13 Indicators
   • Greenhouse gas emissions per unit of value added (implied by efforts to reduce carbon footprint and capture CO2).
   • Number of countries with integrated climate change measures (implied by collaboration with U.S. Department of Energy and government loan programs).
5. SDG 15 Indicators
   • Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area (implied by use of agricultural residues and manure for renewable natural gas, reducing waste and land degradation).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: marketbeat.com

Climate Change and Sustainable Development: A Global Report

Introduction: The Escalating Climate Crisis

Over the past decade, there has been a rapid increase in extreme weather events and long-term regional climate shifts disrupting economic activity, ecosystems, public health, and daily life worldwide. The accelerated emissions of greenhouse gases have significantly altered the planet’s climate, creating the global crisis known as climate change.

In the United States, extreme weather phenomena such as brutal heatwaves in the Southwest, devastating fires in California, and dramatic cold spells in Texas highlight the urgent threat climate change poses to national safety and prosperity.

Climate Change and Its Impact on Society

1. Public Health and Anxiety: A significant proportion of Americans, particularly Generation Z, report anxiety about climate change. A 2024 survey revealed that 85% of young adults aged 16 to 25 experience moderate or higher worry about climate change, with 38.3% stating it negatively affects their daily lives.
2. Governmental Challenges: Political denial of anthropogenic climate change and withdrawal from global emissions treaties have hindered progress. Additionally, global inequalities mean that poorer countries are least equipped to handle harsh and unpredictable climate conditions.

Progress Towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Despite challenges, progress aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is evident:

• SDG 13 – Climate Action: Efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions have led to more moderate warming forecasts, with projections now under 2.5°C by 2100 compared to earlier, more severe predictions.
• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: The expansion of renewable energy sources and the growing market for electric vehicles demonstrate technological advancements reducing carbon footprints.
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities: Recognition of global inequalities in climate resilience emphasizes the need for equitable climate policies and support for vulnerable nations.

International Cooperation and Policy Reforms

Worldwide efforts have contributed to tangible climate progress:

1. Hundreds of countries have implemented domestic policy reforms targeting emissions reductions.
2. Global per capita emissions peaked in 2012, indicating a turning point in emissions trends.
3. International treaties such as the Paris Climate Accords, despite their limitations, have driven significant reforms.

Technological Innovations Supporting Sustainability

• Renewable energy technologies are now often less expensive than fossil fuel alternatives, promoting cleaner energy generation.
• The rapid growth of electric vehicle markets exemplifies the potential for sustainable transportation solutions.

Addressing Climate Anxiety and Media Influence

While media coverage often emphasizes negative climate narratives, fostering anxiety and hopelessness, it is crucial to balance awareness with optimism. Recognizing positive developments in technology, policy, and international cooperation can empower society to take motivated action.

Conclusion: Moving Forward with Hope and Action

The global climate crisis demands comprehensive attention and commitment. Although significant challenges remain, adopting a positive perspective aligned with the SDGs can alleviate climate anxiety and promote effective climate action. Every fraction of a degree of warming prevented contributes to a sustainable future.

Contact Information

Willem DeGood, Opinion Analyst, Traverse City, MI
Email: whdegood@umich.edu

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses heavily on climate change, its impacts, and efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • It discusses public health threats caused by climate change, such as heatwaves and mental health issues like climate anxiety.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article highlights renewable energy and electric vehicles as sustainable technologies reducing emissions.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • It mentions global inequalities affecting poorer countries’ ability to cope with climate impacts.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Implied through discussions on reducing emissions and shifting to sustainable technologies.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.4: Reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity for early warning, risk reduction, and management of health risks.
3. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   • Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of income or status.
5. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicators for SDG 13
   • Greenhouse gas emissions per capita (implied by references to emissions data and treaties).
   • Number and severity of climate-related disasters (heatwaves, fires, cold spells).
   • Progress in policy reforms and international agreements (e.g., Paris Agreement participation).
2. Indicators for SDG 3
   • Prevalence of climate-related health issues and mental health conditions such as climate anxiety.
   • Mortality and morbidity rates linked to extreme weather events.
3. Indicators for SDG 7
   • Share of renewable energy in total energy consumption.
   • Market penetration rates of electric vehicles.
   • Cost trends of renewable energy projects compared to fossil fuels.
4. Indicators for SDG 10
   • Capacity and resilience of poorer countries to adapt to climate change impacts.
5. Indicators for SDG 12
   • Efficiency in resource use and reduction in emissions from production and consumption.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: michigandaily.com

Report on Climate Change Framing in U.S. Agricultural Media with Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Introduction

Agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 10.5% of total U.S. emissions in 2022, highlighting its critical role in climate change mitigation efforts (USDA Economic Research Service, 2025). The sector is also highly vulnerable to climate variability, affecting water availability, crop yields, and competitiveness. Addressing these challenges requires integrated mitigation and adaptation strategies, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

U.S. initiatives such as the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities (now Advancing Markets for Producers) promote sustainable agricultural practices. However, barriers to adoption persist, including skepticism about anthropogenic climate change among farmers, influenced by political affiliations. Given farmers’ direct exposure to climate variability, access to credible, relevant climate information is essential for effective adaptation and mitigation, supporting SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Media framing significantly shapes public and farmer perceptions of climate change. Agricultural media serve as vital knowledge brokers, translating climate science into actionable information relevant to farming practices. This study examines how U.S. agricultural news websites frame climate change, focusing on threat and efficacy messages and psychological distance, employing Large Language Model (LLM)-assisted content analysis.

Literature Review

Agricultural Media and Climate Change

Agricultural media, including magazines, newspapers, radio, and digital platforms, are primary information sources for farmers, who trust these outlets more than mainstream media. These media play a crucial role in disseminating climate change information tailored to farming communities, thereby supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger).

Studies in Europe and North America reveal that agricultural media often frame climate change in economic and agronomic terms, emphasizing practical impacts and actionable responses rather than catastrophic narratives. U.S. agricultural media show similar patterns but with limited explicit attribution of climate change to human activity.

Media Framing, Efficacy, and Psychological Distance

Framing theory explains how media select and emphasize aspects of climate change to influence public understanding. Threat and efficacy are central frames: fear appeals can motivate action if paired with efficacy messages that provide concrete solutions. This aligns with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by promoting adaptive behaviors that reduce health risks from climate change.

Psychological distance—temporal, spatial, social, and hypothetical—affects risk perception and engagement. Reducing psychological distance by emphasizing local, immediate impacts and relatable actors enhances motivation to act, supporting SDG 13 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Study Objectives

1. Assess the frequency and co-occurrence of threat and efficacy frames in U.S. agricultural news websites.
2. Analyze the types of threat and efficacy messages, hypothesizing a greater emphasis on positive efficacy.
3. Examine psychological distance framing across temporal, spatial, social, and hypothetical dimensions.
4. Investigate trends in framing patterns over a ten-year period (2014–2023).

Methodology

Data Collection

• Sampled 2,662 climate change-related articles from three U.S. agricultural news websites: AGweek, AgUpdate, and AgriNews.
• Articles published between 2014 and 2023, identified using the keyword “climate change.”
• Focus on textual content; multimedia elements excluded.

LLM-Assisted Content Analysis

• Developed a detailed codebook based on prior research, covering threat, efficacy, and psychological distance frames.
• Used GPT-5 for automated coding, validated against human coders to ensure reliability (Cohen’s Kappa > 0.70 for most codes).
• Iterative refinement of coding definitions to enhance accuracy and interpretive depth.

Variables and Measurements

1. Threat Frames: Negative consequences of climate change across economy, environment, public health, and agriculture.
2. Efficacy Frames: Internal efficacy (self-efficacy), response efficacy, external efficacy, action/policy impacts, and types of actions (mitigation/adaptation).
3. Psychological Distance: Temporal (past, present, future), spatial (local, non-local), social (farmer, scientific, government, industry, nonprofit sources), and hypothetical (scientific certainty/uncertainty, anthropogenic cause).

Results

Threat and Efficacy Framing

• Efficacy frames dominated, appearing in 85.76% of articles, while threat frames appeared in 46.28%.
• Articles exclusively emphasizing efficacy were more common than those emphasizing threat alone.
• Positive efficacy frames (78.59%) far outweighed negative efficacy frames (29.86%).
• Positive external efficacy and response efficacy were the most frequent, highlighting confidence in institutional and policy responses.
• Threat frames most frequently addressed environmental (78.90%) and agricultural (70.05%) impacts, with economic (42.61%) and public health (10.88%) less emphasized.

Psychological Distance Framing

• Climate change was framed as psychologically close in terms of scientific certainty (38.88% certainty vs. 8.30% uncertainty), temporal proximity (48.76% present impacts), and spatial proximity (65.36% local impacts).
• Social distance remained greater, with scientific (52.37%) and government (48.01%) sources cited more than farmers (19.80%).
• Anthropogenic causes were explicitly mentioned in only 5.60% of articles.

Trends Over Time

• Threat-related coverage declined significantly, especially regarding economic and environmental impacts.
• Efficacy-related coverage increased, including positive internal and external efficacy and discussions of mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Use of farmer sources increased, while reliance on scientific, government, and nonprofit sources declined.
• Local framing increased steadily, reinforcing psychological proximity.
• Coverage peaks aligned with major climate policy events and political administrations prioritizing climate action.

Discussion

The findings reveal that U.S. agricultural media prioritize efficacy-oriented and psychologically proximate framing of climate change, supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action) by promoting actionable knowledge and adaptation strategies. This pragmatic approach contrasts with mainstream media’s focus on threats and aligns with farmers’ practical decision-making needs, contributing to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

Positive external and response efficacy frames foster hope and confidence in institutional actions, essential for motivating sustainable agricultural practices. However, the underrepresentation of self-efficacy and farmer voices suggests a gap in empowering individual farmers, which is critical for achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Emphasizing local and present-day impacts reduces psychological distance, enhancing engagement and relevance. The limited explicit discussion of anthropogenic causes reflects the political sensitivity of climate change in the U.S., particularly among the predominantly Republican farming community, highlighting the need for careful communication strategies that maintain inclusivity and avoid polarization.

Limitations

• Inability to distinguish between news and opinion content may affect interpretation.
• Presence-based coding does not assess frame dominance or salience within articles.
• Geographic coding based on place names may misclassify local relevance.
• LLM-assisted coding, while reliable, may still produce occasional errors requiring ongoing refinement.

Conclusion

This study underscores the distinctive role of agricultural media as knowledge brokers in climate change communication, emphasizing efficacy and proximity to engage farming audiences effectively. These framing strategies support multiple SDGs by promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, informed decision-making, and sustainable development. The application of LLM-assisted content analysis demonstrates a promising methodological advancement for large-scale, theory-driven media research.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): By framing climate change impacts and adaptation strategies relevant to agriculture, the media support food security and sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Coverage includes public health implications, albeit limited, linking climate action to health outcomes.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Agricultural media function as informal education platforms, enhancing farmers’ knowledge and capacity for climate action.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Emphasis on sustainable farming practices encourages responsible resource use.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): The predominant focus on efficacy and local impacts promotes mitigation and adaptation efforts critical for climate resilience.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Highlighting environmental impacts and adaptation supports ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity conservation.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • The article discusses agriculture’s role in food production and its vulnerability to climate change impacts such as crop yields and water availability.
   • Focus on sustainable agricultural practices and adaptation to maintain productivity.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article centers on climate change mitigation and adaptation in the agricultural sector.
   • Emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and enhancing resilience to climate variability.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Promotion of climate-smart agriculture and sustainable farming practices.
   • Focus on efficient use of resources and reducing environmental impacts.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Environmental impacts of climate change on agriculture and ecosystems are highlighted.
   • Discussion of adaptation strategies that may benefit land and biodiversity conservation.
5. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Public health impacts of climate change are mentioned, though less emphasized.

2. Specific Targets Under Identified SDGs

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger
   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought, and floods.
5. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.9: Reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Agriculture
   • Percentage contribution of agriculture to total greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., 10.5% of US emissions in 2022).
   • Indicators measuring reductions in GHG emissions through mitigation practices.
2. Adoption of Sustainable Agricultural Practices
   • Proportion of farmers adopting climate-smart agriculture practices (mitigation and adaptation strategies).
   • Frequency and coverage of climate-smart practices in agricultural media as a proxy for awareness and knowledge dissemination.
3. Resilience and Adaptation Capacity
   • Measures of farmers’ access to credible climate information and their perceived efficacy in adopting adaptation measures.
   • Indicators of productivity and economic viability under climate variability.
4. Psychological Distance and Awareness
   • Indicators related to public and farmer perceptions of climate change proximity (temporal, spatial, social, and hypothetical distance).
   • Levels of scientific certainty and acceptance of anthropogenic climate change among farmers and the public.
5. Media Coverage and Communication
   • Frequency and framing of climate change topics in agricultural media (threat vs. efficacy frames).
   • Use of sources (scientific, government, farmer) in media coverage as indicators of information flow and trust.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: frontiersin.org

Innovative Electrode Technology for CO₂ Capture and Conversion: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

Exhaust gases from residential furnaces, fireplaces, and industrial facilities emit carbon dioxide (CO₂), contributing significantly to air pollution and climate change. Addressing this issue aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Recent research published in ACS Energy Letters presents a novel electrode designed to capture CO₂ directly from the air and convert it into formic acid, a valuable chemical. This advancement supports SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting sustainable industrial processes.

Challenges in CO₂ Conversion

While natural processes like photosynthesis capture CO₂, transforming captured carbon dioxide into useful products remains challenging. This step is critical for the widespread adoption of carbon capture technologies, contributing to SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Industrial exhaust typically contains CO₂ mixed with nitrogen and oxygen, complicating conversion efforts. Existing technologies require CO₂ to be pre-separated and concentrated, limiting practical application. The research team, including Donglai Pan, Myoung Hwan Oh, and Wonyong Choi, aimed to develop a system capable of operating under realistic flue gas conditions, directly converting low concentrations of CO₂ into valuable chemicals.

Design and Functionality of the Three-Layer Electrode

1. CO₂ Capture Layer: Material designed to trap carbon dioxide efficiently.
2. Gas-Permeable Carbon Paper: Allows gas flow through the electrode.
3. Catalytic Layer: Composed of tin(IV) oxide, facilitates the conversion of CO₂ into formic acid.

This integrated design enables simultaneous capture and conversion of CO₂, streamlining the process and enhancing efficiency. The production of formic acid supports SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by enabling sustainable industrial applications.

Performance Under Real-World Conditions

• Laboratory Testing: The electrode demonstrated approximately 40% higher efficiency than existing electrodes when exposed to pure CO₂.
• Simulated Flue Gas Testing: Under a gas mixture of 15% CO₂, 8% oxygen, and 77% nitrogen, the electrode maintained substantial formic acid production, outperforming other technologies.
• Ambient Air Operation: The system effectively captured and converted CO₂ at atmospheric concentrations, indicating potential for broad environmental applications.

This technology offers a promising pathway for integrating carbon capture and utilization into industrial processes, directly contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure). Furthermore, the approach could be adapted to capture other greenhouse gases such as methane, expanding its impact on global greenhouse gas reduction efforts.

Conclusion and Future Perspectives

The development of this three-layer electrode represents a significant advancement toward sustainable carbon management, aligning with multiple Sustainable Development Goals. By combining CO₂ capture and conversion in a single device, the technology simplifies processes and enhances practicality for industrial application. Continued innovation and adaptation of this technology could accelerate progress toward a low-carbon economy and support global climate targets.

Funding for this research was provided by the National Research Foundation of Korea.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses on reducing carbon dioxide emissions, a major contributor to climate change.
   • The development of technology to capture and convert CO₂ directly from the air aligns with efforts to mitigate climate change impacts.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article discusses innovative electrode technology designed to improve carbon capture and conversion processes.
   • This reflects advancements in sustainable industrial technologies and infrastructure.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • By converting CO₂ into formic acid, a useful chemical, the technology promotes resource efficiency and sustainable production.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.5: Substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
   • Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Efficiency of CO₂ Capture and Conversion
   • The article mentions the electrode’s performance, such as 40% higher efficiency compared to existing technologies, which can serve as an indicator of technological advancement and effectiveness.
2. Amount of CO₂ Captured and Converted
   • The quantity of formic acid produced from captured CO₂ under realistic flue gas conditions is an indicator of successful carbon utilization.
3. Adaptability to Real-World Conditions
   • The ability of the electrode to operate under ambient air conditions and with mixed gases indicates practical applicability, which can be measured by operational stability and output under such conditions.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: sciencedaily.com

SLB Reports Financial Loss in Carbon Capture Project Highlighting CCS Challenges

Global energy services company SLB has reported a significant financial loss related to one of its carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. This development underscores the commercial and execution risks associated with large-scale CCS deployment, a critical technology aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Financial Impact and Project Background

In its fourth-quarter financial results, SLB disclosed a “significant loss” on a project developed by SLB Capturi, a joint venture between SLB (holding 80%) and Aker Carbon Capture (holding 20%). The impairment led to a goodwill write-down of approximately $210 million related to this business unit.

SLB Capturi focuses on delivering carbon capture solutions for hard-to-abate sectors such as:

• Cement production
• Waste-to-energy
• Gas-to-power
• Biogenic emissions

This initiative supports SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting cleaner industrial processes and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Operational Progress Continues Despite Financial Setback

Despite the financial impairment, SLB Capturi is actively expanding its project portfolio across Europe, demonstrating commitment to advancing sustainable industrial practices.

Key Projects Supporting SDGs

1. Denmark – Ørsted’s Bioenergy Facilities
   SLB Capturi is delivering five modular capture units at Ørsted’s bioenergy plants in Kalundborg, aiming to remove up to 500,000 tons of CO2 annually. This project contributes directly to SDG 13 (Climate Action) by mitigating carbon emissions from renewable energy sources.
2. Norway – Brevik Cement Plant
   Completion of the world’s first full-scale carbon capture facility integrated into a cement plant enables Heidelberg Materials to capture up to 400,000 tons of CO2 per year. This supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13.
3. Norway – Hafslund Celsio Waste-to-Energy Plant
   Deployment of capture technology with a capacity of approximately 350,000 tons of CO2 annually enhances sustainable waste management practices, aligning with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13.
4. Netherlands – Twence Waste-to-Energy Facility
   Commissioning of a carbon capture system at Twence’s facility in Hengelo designed to capture around 100,000 tons of CO2 per year further supports circular economy principles and SDG 12.

Sector Challenges and Future Outlook

While the impairment highlights the financial hurdles in scaling CCS infrastructure, SLB’s expanding project footprint indicates ongoing momentum in commercial deployment. Industry experts note that many CCS projects remain first-of-a-kind developments with elevated technical complexity and cost risks.

This dual reality reflects the broader challenges faced by the CCS sector, including:

• Cost control difficulties
• Delivery and execution risks
• Long-term commercial viability concerns

Addressing these challenges is essential for achieving the SDGs related to climate action and sustainable industry transformation.

Additional Resources

• SLB Capturi and JGC to Expand Carbon Capture in Asia and Middle East
• SLB Wins Contract to Support Carbon Storage for UK East Coast Cluster

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects aimed at reducing emissions from energy-intensive sectors, contributing to cleaner energy solutions.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Focus on deploying innovative carbon capture technologies and infrastructure in cement, waste-to-energy, and bioenergy sectors.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Efforts to reduce CO2 emissions through CCS projects directly support climate mitigation actions.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • By targeting emissions from waste-to-energy plants and cement production, the projects promote sustainable industrial processes.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • Target 7.a: Enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.4: Achieve environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. CO2 Capture Capacity (tons per year)
   • The article specifies CO2 capture capacities for various projects, e.g., 500,000 tons annually at Ørsted’s bioenergy facilities, 400,000 tons at the Brevik cement plant, 350,000 tons at Hafslund Celsio’s waste-to-energy plant, and 100,000 tons at Twence’s facility. These figures serve as quantitative indicators of progress.
2. Number and Scale of Operational CCS Projects
   • Expansion of project portfolios and commissioning of new capture units indicate progress in deployment and infrastructure development.
3. Financial Performance and Investment in CCS
   • Financial losses and impairments highlight commercial risks and can be used as indicators of economic viability and investment trends in CCS technologies.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: carbonherald.com

Report on Climate Change Adaptation Intentions of Private Forest Owners in Canada with Emphasis on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

Private forests, constituting 20% of the global forest area, are vital for climate change mitigation and adaptation, directly contributing to SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land). This study examines the adaptation intentions of Canadian private forest owners following the unprecedented 2023 wildfire season. Results indicate one of the highest global levels of adaptation intention, identified through a Bayesian statistical analysis of 179 covariates. A significant mismatch exists between adaptation intentions and current policy instruments. Effective support is found to be the provision of detailed, locally relevant climate impact information and technical assistance rather than traditional financial incentives. These findings highlight an opportunity to engage motivated private forest owners in establishing a long-term social-ecological observatory for adaptive forest management, aligning with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Introduction

Forests are the largest terrestrial carbon sink, playing a crucial role in achieving SDG 13 and SDG 15 by mitigating climate change and preserving biodiversity. However, forests face climate-related challenges such as droughts, pest outbreaks, and wildfires, threatening their adaptive capacity. Adaptive forest management, including climate-smart forestry and functional network approaches, is essential for enhancing forest resilience.

Research has predominantly focused on publicly managed forests, neglecting private forests that cover about 20% of global forest land. In Canada, private forests represent 13% of forest lands and contribute significantly to the national wood supply, underscoring their importance for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 15.

This study uniquely differentiates six specific adaptive forest management strategies and applies protection motivation theory to understand private forest owners’ adaptation intentions, integrating social, psychological, and economic perspectives.

Results and Discussion

Unprecedented Adaptation Intentions Among Canadian Private Forest Owners

Among 611 surveyed Canadian private forest owners, 92.1% expressed willingness to adopt at least one adaptation strategy within ten years, a rate substantially higher than reported in other countries. This reflects strong commitment towards SDG 13 and SDG 15.

1. Most favored strategies include decreasing stand density (54.1%) and adopting multiple strategies simultaneously (73.8%).
2. Least favored is prescribed burning and fuel reduction, due to concerns over timber production and landscape aesthetics.
3. The laissez-faire approach, requiring minimal intervention, is also popular but does not imply cessation of forest management.

Influence of Ownership Motivations and Risk Perception

Adaptation intentions are shaped by diverse ownership motivations and perceptions of future changes in tree species composition, highlighting the importance of subjective climate risk awareness. This aligns with SDG 13 and SDG 15 by promoting proactive ecosystem management.

• Species replacement and diversification strategies are linked to non-commercial ecosystem services such as aesthetic value and biodiversity conservation.
• Traditional timber and maple syrup production motivate strategies like decreased stand density and more frequent logging.
• Barriers to adaptation include limited know-how, uncertainty about effectiveness, and insufficient manpower.

Policy Support for Private Forest Adaptation

Current Canadian forest policies provide limited support for private forest adaptation, with less than 10% of regulations or programs explicitly addressing climate adaptation. This gap challenges the achievement of SDG 13 and SDG 15.

1. Federal policies favor partnerships and voluntary programs over regulatory measures, with limited focus on private forests.
2. Provincial support varies, with some provinces offering no assistance, leaving millions of hectares vulnerable.
3. Financial incentives such as tax reductions are less effective drivers of adaptation than technical assistance and information provision.
4. Certification systems mainly promote timber-focused strategies, neglecting broader adaptation approaches.

Implications for Policy Formulations

Extreme climate events underscore the urgent need for effective adaptation strategies in private forests, crucial for SDG 13 and SDG 15. The study reveals a paradox of high adaptation willingness among private forest owners contrasted with insufficient institutional support.

• Policies should emphasize co-benefits of adaptation for diverse ecosystem services beyond climate risk reduction, supporting SDG 15.
• Technical assistance and capacity-building are key to enabling multiple adaptation strategies simultaneously.
• Engaging private forest owners in participatory policy-making can improve governance and implementation, advancing SDG 17.
• Adaptive forest management approaches align with climate-smart forestry principles, balancing biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.

Addressing representativeness and data gaps is essential for informed policy development, supporting SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Methods

Survey Structure and Data Collection

1. The survey included six sections covering forest information, management changes, climate change knowledge, adaptation intentions, forestry sector relations, and socio-demographics.
2. Based on protection motivation theory, the questionnaire used 7-point Likert scales to capture threat appraisal, coping appraisal, and personal stakes.
3. Data were collected online from January to May 2022, with dissemination through 183 forest owners’ organizations across Canada.
4. Quality control excluded incomplete or low-quality responses, resulting in 611 usable responses.

Statistical Analyses

1. Bayesian generalized linear models identified key variables influencing adaptation intentions for each strategy.
2. A joint item response model assessed willingness across all adaptation strategies, accounting for correlations.
3. Marginal effects quantified relationships between covariates and adaptation willingness.
4. Analysis of motives for non-adaptation was conducted on respondents unwilling to adapt.
5. Forest policies and programs were reviewed for support of private forest adaptation.

Conclusion

This study highlights the critical role of private forest owners in climate change adaptation, directly supporting SDG 13 and SDG 15. Despite high adaptation intentions, institutional support remains inadequate, emphasizing the need for policy realignment towards information provision, technical assistance, and inclusive governance (SDG 17). Leveraging motivated private forest owners offers a pathway to sustainable forest management that benefits biodiversity, climate mitigation, and local communities, contributing to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses on climate change adaptation and mitigation in private forests, emphasizing the role of private forest owners in adapting forest management practices to climate change impacts such as wildfires, droughts, and pest outbreaks.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Forests as terrestrial ecosystems are central to the article, highlighting forest resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management, and ecosystem services.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article discusses sustainable forest management practices, including timber production and non-timber ecosystem services, which relate to sustainable consumption and production patterns.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The article mentions the importance of governance, coordination among forest managers, and partnerships between government, NGOs, and private forest owners to support adaptation strategies.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.
   • Target 15.2: Promote sustainable forest management, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, and protect threatened species.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private, and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Indicators Related to Adaptation Intentions and Implementation
   • Percentage of private forest owners willing to implement at least one adaptation strategy (e.g., 92.1% willingness reported in the study).
   • Number and types of adaptation strategies intended or implemented by private forest owners (e.g., decreased stand density, species diversification, species replacement, prescribed burning).
   • Extent of adoption of multiple adaptation strategies simultaneously (e.g., 73.8% intend to implement two or more strategies).
2. Indicators Related to Policy and Institutional Support
   • Number of federal and provincial regulations, voluntary programs, and certification systems explicitly supporting climate change adaptation in private forests (e.g., only 9 out of 100 identified documents address climate change adaptation).
   • Allocation of funding and resources towards technical assistance and information provision versus financial incentives.
3. Indicators Related to Forest Ecosystem Services and Resilience
   • Changes in forest ecosystem services such as timber production, biodiversity conservation, and aesthetic values as influenced by adaptation strategies.
   • Forest vulnerability and resilience metrics, including incidence and impact of climate-related disturbances (wildfires, droughts, pest outbreaks).
4. Indicators Related to Social and Psychological Factors
   • Measures of threat appraisal, coping appraisal, and personal stakes based on protection motivation theory to assess motivation to adapt.
   • Perceptions of climate change impacts and future changes in tree species composition among private forest owners.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Relevant to the Article

Source: nature.com

Hainan Free Trade Port Advances Carbon Capture and Liquefaction Technology

Introduction

China’s Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) has made a significant technological breakthrough in its commitment to green and low-carbon development, aligning closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Carbon Capture and Liquefaction Facility in Chengmai

The carbon capture and liquefaction facility operated by China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) in Chengmai County, southern Hainan Province, has commenced operations and is functioning smoothly. This development marks a crucial milestone in the industrialization of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology within the region.

Technological Achievements and Environmental Impact

1. Carbon Capture and Liquefaction Process
   • The facility captures, purifies, and liquefies carbon dioxide from associated gas in oilfields.
   • It currently produces over 100 tonnes of liquid carbon dioxide daily.
2. Advancements in Carbon Storage
   • CNPC is exploring advanced carbon storage technologies to enhance CCUS industrialization.
   • Continuous optimization of the capture process and comprehensive monitoring systems ensure long-term stable carbon dioxide storage.
3. Environmental and Economic Benefits
   • 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide have been stored through pilot experiments.
   • Oil and gas production increased by 150,000 tonnes concurrently.
   • This carbon storage is equivalent to offsetting the annual carbon emissions of 150,000 cars.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: The project supports the development of a safe, low-carbon energy system in Hainan FTP.
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The industrialization of CCUS technology demonstrates innovation and infrastructure advancement.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: By capturing and storing significant amounts of carbon dioxide, the facility contributes directly to climate change mitigation efforts.
• SDG 15 – Life on Land: The initiative supports the construction of a world-class ecological civilization pilot zone, promoting sustainable land use and ecosystem preservation.

Conclusion

The successful operation of the carbon capture and liquefaction facility in Hainan FTP represents a vital step towards sustainable industrial development and ecological civilization. It provides robust scientific and industrial support for the region’s green transformation, exemplifying practical implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses the development of a low-carbon energy system through carbon capture and storage technologies, contributing to clean energy solutions.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The technological breakthrough in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) represents innovation in industrial processes and infrastructure.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The carbon capture and liquefaction facility directly addresses climate change mitigation by reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
4. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • By contributing to ecological civilization and reducing carbon emissions, the project supports ecosystem preservation and sustainable land use.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 7 – Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article’s focus on low-carbon energy systems aligns with increasing clean energy sources.
2. SDG 9 – Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors.
   • The breakthrough in CCUS technology and industrialization reflects progress towards this target.
3. SDG 13 – Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • The facility’s operation and carbon storage contribute to climate action strategies.
4. SDG 15 – Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil.
   • While not explicitly mentioned, the ecological civilization pilot zone implies sustainable land management.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Indicator for SDG 7.2: Proportion of energy from renewable sources.
   • Implied through the development of a low-carbon energy system.
2. Indicator for SDG 9.5: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP; number of patents related to clean technologies.
   • Implied by the technological breakthrough and industrialization of CCUS.
3. Indicator for SDG 13.2: Greenhouse gas emissions per capita; carbon dioxide stored or reduced.
   • The article explicitly mentions storing 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and offsetting emissions equivalent to 150,000 cars annually.
4. Indicator for SDG 15.3: Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.
   • Implied by the goal of establishing an ecological civilization pilot zone.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.cgtn.com

The Shift Toward Sustainable Logistics and the SDGs

Global trade, a key driver of economic growth, is increasingly aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promote environmental sustainability. The logistics industry, historically a significant contributor to carbon emissions, is undergoing a transformation to meet these global objectives. This shift supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action) by integrating sustainability into core business strategies.

• Investment in energy-efficient fleets and eco-friendly packaging
• Implementation of smarter supply chain management systems
• Recognition of sustainability as a pathway to operational savings and enhanced trade performance

Green Innovations in Transportation Supporting SDGs

The transportation sector, central to international logistics, is adopting innovative solutions that contribute to several SDGs, including SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Key advancements include:

1. Use of cleaner fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), biofuels, and hydrogen-powered vessels
2. Adoption of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions
3. Deployment of electric and hybrid trucks for short and medium-distance transport
4. Expansion of rail networks to promote energy-efficient freight movement
5. Investment in renewable-powered infrastructure like solar energy for warehouses and charging stations

These initiatives not only reduce emissions but also enhance economic resilience by lowering dependency on fossil fuels, aligning with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

The Role of Digitalization in Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

Digital transformation is a critical enabler of sustainable logistics, advancing SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Technologies applied include:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) for route optimization and fuel consumption monitoring
• Predictive analytics to forecast demand, reduce overproduction, and minimize unnecessary shipments
• Blockchain technology to enhance transparency and accountability across global supply chains

Through these technologies, logistics firms improve environmental outcomes while optimizing operational efficiency, supporting SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Economic Opportunities in Sustainable Logistics

Contrary to common perceptions, sustainable logistics presents significant economic benefits, contributing to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Key advantages include:

• Cost savings from efficient energy use and waste reduction
• Enhanced brand value and stronger trade relationships due to environmental responsibility
• Access to new markets through government incentives, tax benefits, and funding for green technologies
• Risk reduction and leadership positioning in a sustainability-driven trade environment

Building a Resilient and Responsible Future Aligned with SDGs

The transition to sustainable logistics strengthens global supply chain resilience and supports multiple SDGs, including SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Important aspects include:

1. Reducing reliance on carbon-intensive transport and fossil fuels
2. Encouraging regional production and shorter supply routes to lower emissions and improve reliability
3. Fostering collaboration among governments, corporations, and technology providers for policy development and infrastructure innovation

These collaborative efforts are essential for an effective transition to a low-carbon global trade system, advancing SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Conclusion: Sustainability as a Driver of Global Trade Innovation

The future of global logistics is defined by the integration of sustainability and profitability, directly supporting the achievement of the SDGs. Innovations such as carbon-neutral shipping and AI-powered route optimization are transforming the movement of goods worldwide. This evolution not only reduces the carbon footprint but also creates a smarter, more resilient, and profitable global trade ecosystem for future generations, embodying the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goals.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The article discusses innovations in transportation and digitalization such as AI, IoT, blockchain, and renewable-powered infrastructure, which align with building resilient infrastructure and fostering innovation.
2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Focus on sustainable packaging, reducing waste, optimizing routes, and preventing overproduction aligns with ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.
3. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Efforts to reduce carbon emissions through cleaner fuels, energy-efficient fleets, and renewable energy use correspond with taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
4. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   • The article highlights how sustainability enhances profitability and competitiveness, supporting sustained economic growth and productive employment.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • Emphasis on collaboration among governments, corporations, and technology providers reflects strengthening global partnerships for sustainable development.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 9
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
2. SDG 12
   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse.
3. SDG 13
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
4. SDG 8
   • Target 8.4: Improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavor to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.
5. SDG 17
   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Carbon Emissions Reduction
   • Implied measurement of reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from logistics operations, including shipping, aviation, and land transport.
2. Energy Efficiency Metrics
   • Indicators related to the adoption of energy-efficient fleets, renewable energy use in warehouses, and fuel consumption optimization.
3. Waste Reduction and Recycling Rates
   • Measurement of waste generation and recycling efforts in packaging and supply chain management.
4. Adoption of Sustainable Technologies
   • Tracking the implementation of AI, IoT, blockchain, and other digital tools that optimize logistics and reduce environmental impact.
5. Economic Performance Indicators
   • Profitability and cost savings resulting from sustainable logistics practices.
6. Partnerships and Collaboration Metrics
   • Number and effectiveness of collaborations among governments, corporations, and technology providers to promote sustainable logistics.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: globaltrademag.com

Report on Carbon Capture Technology Development in Alberta’s Oilsands

Introduction

A U.S.-based carbon capture startup, Mantel Capture, is advancing a commercial-scale carbon capture project in Alberta’s oilsands. This initiative aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Project Overview

1. Location and Technology: Alberta is identified as an ideal location due to its policy environment and industrial expertise. Mantel Capture’s technology is designed to capture 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually from a steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) oilsands producer.
2. Energy Efficiency: Unlike traditional carbon capture projects that consume significant energy, Mantel’s system utilizes the 150,000 tonnes of high-pressure steam generated to support oilsands operations, enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability.
3. Support and Development: The project is supported by Alberta Innovates, a provincial Crown corporation, and builds upon a prior demonstration project at Kruger Inc.’s Wayagamack pulp and paper mill in Quebec, which captures 2,000 tonnes of CO2 and generates steam for mill operations.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy: The project promotes clean energy use by integrating steam generation with carbon capture, reducing fossil fuel emissions.
• SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Mantel’s modular carbon capture technology can be adapted to various industrial sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals, and power generation, fostering innovation and sustainable industrialization.
• SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production: By improving the efficiency of carbon capture and utilizing by-product steam, the project supports responsible industrial processes and resource use.
• SDG 13 – Climate Action: The initiative directly contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, addressing climate change mitigation.

Policy and Workforce Advantages in Alberta

• Policy Environment: Alberta benefits from robust policy support, including carbon pricing and tax incentives, which encourage investment in carbon capture technologies.
• Skilled Workforce: The province’s oil and gas industry workforce possesses relevant skills in subsurface sequestration and chemical processing equipment, facilitating technology adoption and operational efficiency.

Relation to Broader Carbon Capture Initiatives

Mantel Capture is not currently part of the Pathways Alliance, a consortium of major Canadian oilsands companies planning one of the world’s largest carbon capture projects. The Pathways project aims to capture emissions from over 20 oilsands facilities and transport CO2 via a 400-kilometre pipeline to an underground storage hub in Cold Lake, Alberta.

This project is supported by a recent memorandum of understanding between the Alberta and federal governments, linking it to the development of a new West Coast bitumen pipeline. Mantel’s CEO, Cameron Halliday, supports Pathways as critical infrastructure that will enable further carbon capture developments.

Future Vision and Industry Impact

• Mantel Capture envisions carbon capture technology becoming a standard component of all new industrial plants, similar to existing pollution control technologies for sulphur dioxide.
• The goal is to integrate carbon capture seamlessly into industrial operations, making it a routine and economically viable practice that supports sustainable industrial growth and climate goals.

Conclusion

The development of Mantel Capture’s carbon capture project in Alberta represents a significant step toward achieving multiple Sustainable Development Goals by reducing emissions, promoting clean energy, and fostering innovation in industrial processes. Alberta’s supportive policies and skilled workforce create a conducive environment for scaling carbon capture technologies, contributing to Canada’s leadership in climate action and sustainable development.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article discusses energy-efficient carbon capture technology that harnesses steam generated in industrial processes, contributing to cleaner energy use.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • The development and deployment of innovative carbon capture technology and infrastructure in Alberta’s oilsands and other industrial plants is highlighted.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article emphasizes reducing emissions from industrial production processes, promoting sustainable industrial practices.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The core focus is on reducing carbon dioxide emissions through carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to mitigate climate change.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
   • The article’s mention of energy-efficient carbon capture technology aligns with improving energy efficiency in industrial processes.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
   • The modular carbon capture technology that can be added to various industrial plants supports this target.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
   • Reducing emissions and reusing steam in oilsands operations reflects efficient resource use.
4. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
   • The article highlights policy support including carbon pricing and tax incentives in Alberta, showing integration of climate action in policy.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation.
   • Reference to skilled workforce and knowledge transfer in carbon capture technology relates to capacity building.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for SDG 7.3:
   • Energy intensity measured in terms of energy consumption per unit of industrial output could be implied by the article’s focus on energy-efficient carbon capture technology.
2. Indicator for SDG 9.4:
   • Proportion of industries using clean and environmentally sound technologies; the deployment of Mantel’s modular carbon capture equipment across various industries is an implied measure.
3. Indicator for SDG 12.2:
   • Material footprint and resource use efficiency; the reuse of high-pressure steam in oilsands operations suggests improved resource efficiency.
4. Indicators for SDG 13.2 and 13.3:
   • Carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP or per capita; the project’s goal to capture 60,000 tonnes of CO2 annually is a direct measure of emissions reduction.
   • Number of policies and incentives implemented to reduce emissions, as referenced by carbon pricing and tax incentives in Alberta.
   • Capacity-building indicators such as number of trained personnel in carbon capture technologies, implied by the mention of skilled workforce transferability.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: cbc.ca

In addition, coal-dependent power grids are at an increasingly higher risk due to extreme heat, whereas droughts put hydropower reliability into question. Experts estimate that trillions of dollars in investments will be needed to build resilient systems with the ability to support sustainable development.

SDG Impact: The article is directly linked to SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), in addition to enhancing climate adaptation as outlined in SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Current industrial agriculture is greatly dependent on chemical fertilizer, crop monoculture, and deforestation practices, which strongly promote climate change and undermine ecological systems. Additionally, fossil fuel mining and burning have remained critical contributors to global warming and have especially impacted impoverished communities. The report underlines both practices to be not only environmentally unsustainable but financially deceptive, since their accurate financial price remains largely outside market prices.

"The UN encourages countries to rethink subsidies, invest in renewable energy, think sustainably in agriculture, and make decisions informed by the true cost of production relative to our environment and society," says Matalino. "Unless these cost issues are addressed, they will undermine our efforts towards sustainability globally," adds Rhonda DVD Moore.

SDG Impact: This article is very relevant to SDG 13: Climate Action because of its emphasis on urgency in lowering emissions, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production because of its focus on sustainable systems, SDG 2: Zero Hunger because of its focus on food systems, and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being because of health effects related to pollution and degradation of environment.

We identified 24 sustainability trends that professionals must watch closely in 2026, and should actually already monitor closely now.

In the video below you can see the trends as they were forecasted for 2025.

24 Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2026

Sustainability Trend 1. Sustainability Disclosure

With the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) coming into force, the demand for transparency is intensifying. Companies must refine their ESG reporting to meet investor expectations. Unilever’s “Future Fit Business Benchmark” provides a roadmap for integrating sustainability into long-term strategies, setting a new standard for disclosure.

Sustainability Trend 2. Biodiversity Impact

2026 will continue to see biodiversity take center stage as companies face increasing scrutiny over their environmental impact. Nestlé’s pledge to regenerate farmland exemplifies how biodiversity initiatives will drive corporate responsibility. Businesses must now factor ecosystems into their sustainability strategies or risk falling behind.

Sustainability Trend 3. Circular Economy Models

The shift toward circular economies is gaining speed as businesses prioritize waste reduction and resource efficiency. IKEA’s global refurbishment program is an example of how circular models are being implemented to prolong product lifecycles and cut waste, setting a template for other industries to follow.

Sustainability Trend 4. Sustainable Supply Chains

Transparency and ethical sourcing will continue to be critical for supply chains in 2026. H&M’s initiative to trace cotton back to sustainable sources highlights a growing trend toward greater accountability in sourcing. Ethical supply chains has become the norm as consumers demand eco-friendly and socially responsible products.

Sustainability Trend 5. Renewable Energy Investments

As the cost of renewable energy continues to drop, more companies will transition to green energy sources. Google’s commitment to 100% carbon-free energy by 2030 signals a larger trend. In 2026, expect significant investments in solar, wind, and other renewable sources as companies strive to meet net-zero goals. A search engine that already made that transition is Ecosia. There will also be further research done in order to recycle solar panels.

Sustainability Trend 6. Water Stewardship

Water scarcity is a growing concern, pushing companies to adopt stronger water management practices. Coca-Cola’s water replenishment initiative demonstrates how businesses are rethinking their water usage to mitigate risks and protect vital resources. Water stewardship will be a key area for companies, particularly in regions facing drought and scarcity.

Sustainability Trend 7. Social Equity

Sustainability strategies will increasingly incorporate social equity, ensuring fair treatment and opportunities for all stakeholders. Starbucks’ focus on racial equity and inclusivity highlights the importance of social issues within corporate sustainability frameworks. Despite a setback from larger companies, 2026 will see more businesses embracing equity as a core pillar of their ESG strategies.

Sustainability Trend 8. Stakeholder Engagement

Engaging all stakeholders – employees, customers, and communities – will be critical for building resilience in 2025. Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” program is an example of how businesses can involve customers in sustainability initiatives, fostering loyalty and shared responsibility. Stakeholder engagement will remain essential for brands seeking to build lasting relationships and a sustainable future. In 2026 this will continue to be key.

Sustainability Trend 9. Sustainable Finance

The rise of ESG-linked financial products, such as green bonds and sustainability-linked loans, is transforming the financial sector. BlackRock’s commitment to sustainable investing signals broader market shifts. In 2026, the intersection of finance and sustainability will deepen further, aligning capital with climate and social goals.

Sustainability Trend 10. Digital Transformation

AI, blockchain, and IoT are driving efficiency and accountability in sustainability efforts. Microsoft’s AI for Earth initiative exemplifies how technology is reshaping sustainability practices. In 2026, tech-driven solutions will continue to revolutionize industries, making them greener and more resilient, but at the same time also changing the job market completely.

Sustainability Trend 11. Climate Resilience Planning

Businesses are preparing for climate-related risks like extreme weather events. Citi’s climate stress tests are one example of how companies are planning for climate resilience, ensuring their operations and supply chains are future-proof. As climate risks escalate, resilience planning will be a critical element in corporate strategies.

Sustainability Trend 12. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

As decarbonization accelerates, carbon capture and storage technologies are becoming more widespread. Norway’s “Northern Lights” project highlights the role of CCS in reducing emissions. In 2026, more companies will explore this technology to meet ambitious climate targets.

Sustainability Trend 13. Sustainable Packaging

The shift from single-use plastics to biodegradable and reusable materials is transforming the packaging industry. Unilever’s pledge to cut virgin plastic use by 50% by 2025 already reflected a larger industry trend toward eco-friendly packaging. In 2026, expect innovative materials like algae-based packaging to gain prominence.

Sustainability Trend 14. Sustainable Aviation

The aviation industry is under pressure to decarbonize, with sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and electric aircraft development at the forefront. United Airlines’ investment in SAF is just one example of how the sector is transforming. Breakthroughs in electric aviation will be critical in reducing the industry’s carbon footprint in the coming years.

Sustainability Trend 15. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)

Businesses are increasingly turning to nature to solve environmental challenges. Microsoft’s investment in forest conservation for carbon removal demonstrates the growing adoption of nature-based solutions (NBS). In 2026, more companies will invest in restoring ecosystems as a cost-effective way to tackle climate and biodiversity issues.

Sustainability Trend 16. Product Life Extension

Durability and longevity are becoming key focuses as companies shift from consumption to longevity. Patagonia’s repair services and second-hand sales highlight the growing emphasis on extending product lifecycles. In 2026, product life extension will become a core strategy for reducing environmental impact.

Sustainability Trend 17. Urban Sustainability and Smart Cities

Cities are adopting smart technologies to enhance urban sustainability. Singapore’s “Smart Nation” initiative is a leading example of how urban centers are driving sustainability innovation. In 2026, expect more cities to follow this trend, becoming hubs for green technology. But a lot of smart cities also fail.

Sustainability Trend 18. Agroforestry and Regenerative Agriculture

Sustainable farming practices, like agroforestry and regenerative agriculture, are gaining momentum. Companies like General Mills and Danone are working with farmers to implement regenerative practices, improving soil health and carbon sequestration. These methods will continue to grow in 2026, transforming agriculture’s role in sustainability.

Sustainability Trend 19. Net-Zero Buildings

Buildings contribute significantly to global emissions, and the trend toward net-zero buildings is accelerating. The Bullitt Center in Seattle showcases how sustainable construction can reduce environmental impact. In 2026, net-zero building standards will become the norm, particularly in urban centers.

Sustainability Trend 20. Sustainable Fashion and Ethical Consumption

The fashion industry is evolving toward sustainable and ethical practices. Brands like Stella McCartney and the rise of second-hand marketplaces are leading this change. In 2026, more consumers will prioritize eco-friendly, long-lasting fashion, pushing brands to adopt transparent, ethical supply chains.

Sustainability Trend 21. Sustainable Agriculture in High-Demand Crops

The Mexican avocado industry, supplying over 80% of avocados consumed in the U.S., is launching a major sustainability initiative called “The Path to Sustainability.” This program aims to ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability while meeting growing demand. It outlines commitments across four key areas: water, biodiversity, climate, and deforestation. For instance, over 60% of Michoacán orchards already rely solely on rainfall, and a 2026 program will further strengthen efficient, sustainable water use. Additionally, the industry plans to achieve net-zero carbon emissions throughout its supply chain by 2035 and will restrict U.S. entry of avocados grown on recently deforested land.

Sustainability Trend 22. Integration of Digital Technologies for Environmental Sustainability

The intersection of digital technologies and environmental sustainability, often termed the “twin transition,” is gaining prominence. Initiatives like the European Green Deal promote harnessing digital technologies to support sustainability goals. This includes leveraging AI, IoT, and blockchain to optimize resource use, monitor environmental impact, and forecast risks.​

Sustainability Trend 23. Emphasis on Traditional Environmental Topics

Traditional environmental concerns such as pollution control, chemical stewardship, and waste management are regaining attention. Heightened awareness of substances like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is impacting regulatory frameworks and corporate practices. Companies are expected to proactively address these issues to ensure compliance and meet stakeholder expectations.​

Sustainability Trend 24. Advancements in Sustainable Construction

The construction industry is adopting sustainable practices through strategies like the use of mass timber (e.g., cross-laminated timber) for building structures, which offers a renewable alternative to traditional materials. Additionally, the development of hemp-based building materials, such as ‘hempcrete,’ provides eco-friendly options for insulation and construction. These innovations aim to reduce the environmental impact of construction activities.​

What are Sustainability Trends Exactly?

Sustainability Trends refer to emerging patterns, innovations, behaviors, and policy shifts that shape how societies, businesses, and governments reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency, and promote long-term ecological balance.

These trends typically focus on:

• Decarbonization: Transitioning to renewable energy (solar, wind, green hydrogen) and reducing CO₂ emissions across industries.
• Circular Economy: Designing products for reuse, repair, and recycling, minimizing waste and raw material consumption.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Promoting regenerative farming, reducing chemical inputs, and improving soil health.
• Green Finance: Redirecting investments toward ESG-compliant (Environmental, Social, Governance) projects and disincentivizing polluting industries.
• Climate Adaptation: Building resilient infrastructure, water management systems, and disaster-preparedness strategies in response to climate change.
• Sustainable Mobility: Expanding electric vehicle use, public transit, and low-emission logistics.
• Biodiversity Preservation: Protecting ecosystems, restoring habitats, and integrating nature-based solutions into urban and rural planning.
• Corporate Responsibility: Increasing transparency in supply chains, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder-driven governance.
• Tech for Sustainability: Using AI, IoT, and satellite data to monitor environmental impact, optimize resource use, and forecast risks.
• Behavioral Shifts: Changing consumer behavior toward low-impact lifestyles—plant-based diets, slow fashion, local purchasing.

These trends are dynamic. They evolve with technological breakthroughs, geopolitical pressures, regulatory updates, and shifting public values. Understanding them helps organizations future-proof strategies, comply with ESG frameworks, and drive systemic change.

The Path Forward in Sustainability Trends: Seizing Opportunities in Sustainability

Sustainability professionals face both challenges and opportunities in 2026 and beyond. Those who embrace these above mentioned 20 trends will not only enhance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance but will also lead the way in building a resilient and sustainable future.

From leveraging digital transformation to investing in biodiversity and renewable energy, businesses have the chance to innovate while reducing their environmental impact. The urgency of these trends cannot be overstated. Staying ahead of them will be the key to long-term success and global impact.

By acting now, companies can solidify their position as sustainability leaders, making a real difference for both the planet and their bottom line.

FAQ: Sustainability Trends in 2026

What are sustainability trends?

Sustainability trends are emerging developments in technology, regulation, consumer behavior, and corporate strategy that drive environmental and social responsibility. They shape how businesses reduce emissions, minimize waste, and build resilience in a changing world.

Why are sustainability trends important for 2026?

By 2026, companies face intense pressure from regulators, investors, and consumers to take real climate action. Staying ahead of sustainability trends allows businesses to meet compliance, manage risks, unlock innovation, and maintain market relevance.

What are the key sustainability trends to watch in 2026?

Here are 20 critical trends reshaping sustainability:

1. Sustainability Disclosure – Stricter reporting under CSRD and ESG expectations.
2. Biodiversity Impact – Nature protection becomes a core business metric.
3. Circular Economy Models – Reuse, refurbish, recycle across product lifecycles.
4. Sustainable Supply Chains – Transparency and ethical sourcing as new standards.
5. Renewable Energy Investments – Surge in solar, wind, and green hydrogen projects.
6. Water Stewardship – Corporate accountability for water use and restoration.
7. Social Equity – Integrating fairness, diversity, and inclusion into ESG goals.
8. Stakeholder Engagement – Empowering customers and communities in climate efforts.
9. Sustainable Finance – Growth of green bonds and ESG-aligned investments.
10. Digital Transformation – Using AI, blockchain, and IoT to drive sustainable innovation.
11. Climate Resilience Planning – Anticipating extreme weather and supply disruptions.
12. Carbon Capture & Storage – Technologies for permanent CO₂ removal.
13. Sustainable Packaging – Shift to compostable, recycled, and smart packaging.
14. Sustainable Aviation – Rise of electric planes and low-emission fuels.
15. Nature-Based Solutions – Restoring forests, wetlands, and ecosystems.
16. Product Life Extension – Prioritizing repairability and long-term durability.
17. Urban Sustainability – Smart cities focused on energy and mobility efficiency.
18. Agroforestry & Regenerative Farming – Agriculture that heals rather than harms.
19. Net-Zero Buildings – Low-carbon construction and energy self-sufficiency.
20. Sustainable Fashion – Ethical production and circular clothing models.

How do these trends affect business strategy?

These trends reshape business priorities—from supply chain transparency to investment strategies. Adapting early allows companies to future-proof operations, meet compliance, and enhance their ESG reputation. Sustainability is now a business imperative, not a side initiative.

What role does technology play in sustainability trends?

Technologies like AI, blockchain, and satellite monitoring enable real-time data tracking, emission reduction, resource optimization, and transparency. Companies leveraging digital tools will move faster and smarter on sustainability goals.

How can companies start integrating these trends?

Start by:

• Auditing current sustainability efforts.
• Aligning goals with top trends (e.g., CSRD compliance, biodiversity).
• Investing in technology and stakeholder collaboration.
• Embedding sustainability into core business functions.

Why act now instead of waiting until 2026?

Regulatory changes, shifting consumer expectations, and climate risks are accelerating. Companies that act now gain a competitive edge, avoid penalties, attract investment, and drive meaningful impact—both environmentally and financially.

Author: Figen Sekin  - I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I'm not writing, you'll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.

Why environmental management moved into the boardroom

Regulators treat hazardous waste and contaminated land far more strictly than a decade ago. In the United States, the EPA’s hazardous waste rules treat “remediation waste” from cleanups as part of the same legal framework that governs day-to-day waste, closing loopholes that once allowed contamination to sit unattended.

At the same time, environmental services have consolidated into a global industry. When Veolia announced its planned acquisition of U.S. hazardous waste group Clean Earth for about $3 billion in November 2025, it projected hazardous-waste earnings growth of at least 10% between 2024 and 2027.

The deal shows two realities:

• hazardous waste management is now a large, profitable business,
• regulators and investors expect companies to treat waste and contaminated sites as strategic issues, not as afterthoughts.

Environmental management solutions have evolved in response. The most effective models combine engineering, logistics, and compliance expertise under one umbrella, backed by rapid emergency response.

Waste management solutions, from cradle to grave

Modern waste management goes well beyond scheduled bin collections. Companies that generate industrial or hazardous waste must classify materials, store them safely, transport them using licensed haulers, and document every step to prove compliance. From hazardous waste disposal, contaminated soil handling, to remediation support to companies that cannot manage this complexity in-house.

To use HCI Environmental as an example, the company operates in that same space, focusing on hazardous and non-hazardous waste transportation and disposal, alongside emergency spill response. According to the company information, its teams collect, package, label, and transport waste streams ranging from solvents and paints to used oil under state and federal rules, then route them to licensed treatment or disposal facilities.

For clients, the benefit is straightforward: one provider designs the waste profile, supplies compliant containers, arranges transport, and produces a documentation trail for audits and inspections. When that same provider also handles cleanup, construction, and training, environmental management becomes an integrated part of operations rather than a patchwork of separate contractors.

Don’t forget, poor waste systems already impose huge hidden costs that robust environmental management could prevent as I show you in the below table which offers you an overview of global waste growth and cost pressures as gathered in the UNEP Global Waste Management Outlook 2024.

Hazardous material handling as risk control

Hazardous materials sit at the heart of environmental risk. Poor labeling, incomplete inventories, or informal disposal arrangements create exposure not only for the environment but also for employees and nearby communities.

Specialist consultancies now support the full hazardous materials lifecycle: waste characterization, packaging, storage, manifesting, transport, and final treatment or disposal. Companies like HCI Environmental positions itself squarely in this space, with services covering hazardous waste transportation and management, biohazard clean-up, and 24/7 emergency chemical spill response.

The practical work is often unglamorous but highly technical:

• segregating incompatible chemicals to avoid reactions during transport,
• stabilizing reactive or unknown wastes so they can move safely,
• clearing and decontaminating lab spaces or production lines,
• managing biohazard or medical waste streams and their associated documentation.

Training forms a critical part of these solutions. HCI Environmental, for example, supplements field services with OSHA training and K-12/higher education programs on hazardous materials and safety. This combination of hands-on work and education reduces the chance of improper storage or disposal that later turns into a remediation project.

Site remediation solutions for contaminated land

When spills, leaks, or legacy operations contaminate soil and groundwater, companies must remediate affected areas before they can safely reuse or sell the land. Traditional methods include excavation and off-site disposal, capping, and pump-and-treat systems for groundwater.

Recent research shows newer techniques. Chelator-assisted soil washing and chemical immobilization have emerged as practical options for stabilizing lead and other metals in contaminated soils, reducing their mobility and allowing more soil to remain on site. European technology networks also point to integrated solutions that combine conventional engineering with real-time data, so operators can remediate faster, minimize waste volumes, and meet ESG reporting expectations.

Companies often outsource remediation project management. Specialists coordinate site investigations, regulatory approvals, contractor selection, and fieldwork, ensuring that the chosen technology matches the contamination profile. Full-service environmental management firms that already know a client’s operations can design remediation plans that align with existing waste streams and treatment partners, avoiding unnecessary duplication.

Shooting range maintenance as an environmental issue

One of the most complex – and underestimated – environmental management challenges is shooting range maintenance as i spoke about in my introduction. Shooting ranges are one of the largest sources of lead contamination in the environment, second only to the battery industry.

Lead bullets fragment and weather in berms, bullet traps, and surrounding soils. If operators neglect routine shooting range maintenance, lead dust can spread through ventilation systems at indoor facilities or migrate into surrounding soils and water bodies at outdoor ranges. EPA guidance for outdoor shooting ranges stresses lead containment, regular reclamation of spent bullets, and careful waste handling to keep ranges compliant with environmental law.

Specialized firing range remediation companies describe a typical shooting range maintenance plan as far more involved than occasional sweeping. It usually includes:

• bullet trap and berm cleaning,
• HEPA-grade vacuuming and filter replacement,
• air-quality monitoring and ventilation checks,
• lead-contaminated soil management and stabilization where needed,
• packaging and shipping of collected lead and filters as hazardous waste.

HCI Environmental addresses this niche explicitly. In its own firing range guidance, the company recommends weekly, monthly, and quarterly cleaning schedules depending on range usage and describes shooting range maintenance as a combination of bullet trap cleaning, air-quality checks, equipment inspections, and compliant hazardous waste disposal. For operators, outsourcing this work to a full-service environmental management company reduces liability and consolidates waste streams under existing hazardous-waste transport contracts.

HCI Environmental as an integrated case study

HCI Environmental & Engineering Service is headquartered in Corona, California, and has provided environmental services across the United States for more than 25 years. The company markets itself as a full-service environmental management provider, combining general contracting with hazardous waste transportation and disposal, biohazard clean-up, mold and asbestos abatement, and 24/7 emergency spill response.

A typical client engagement can link multiple service areas:

• Routine hazardous waste management – inventorying, packaging, and transporting drums of chemicals, paints, and oils under hazardous waste regulations.
• Emergency spill response – dispatching hazmat teams to contain and clean chemical spills on roads, in warehouses, or at industrial sites, then documenting the cleanup for regulators.
• Facility decontamination and remediation – handling mold, asbestos, and lead abatement in buildings, along with decontamination after biohazard incidents.
• Shooting range maintenance – managing regular cleaning of firing ranges, lead recovery, and disposal of contaminated filters and debris as hazardous waste.

Because all of these services sit within one organization, clients deal with a single set of procedures and reporting formats. That consistency is valuable when auditors, insurers, or investors want a unified view of environmental performance.

What businesses should ask before choosing a provider?

Whether you run a manufacturing plant, a hospital network, a logistics hub, or a public shooting range, the questions to ask potential environmental management partners are similar:

1. Scope of services: Can the provider cover the full lifecycle, from waste characterization and transport to site remediation and emergency response? Or will you need multiple contractors?
2. Regulatory footprint: Does the company hold the permits and licenses required in every state or region where you operate? Ask for permit numbers, not general assurances.
3. Specialized capabilities: If you operate high-risk sites – such as labs, chemical warehouses, or shooting ranges – check that the provider has documented experience and clear procedures for those environments, including structured shooting range maintenance plans.
4. Training and culture: Look for a provider that invests in employee training and offers OSHA or equivalent programs for clients. That culture of safety tends to translate into better field practices.
5. Data and reporting: Ask how you will access manifests, certificates of disposal, air-quality data, and remediation progress reports. Integrated portals and standardized reporting reduce admin work and help with ESG disclosures.
6. Response times and capacity: For emergency scenarios, written response time guarantees and clear escalation paths matter as much as technical expertise.

The next phase of environmental management

The environmental services sector is moving into a data-rich, technology-driven phase. Sensors, drones, and satellite imagery now feed into risk assessments for large facilities and contaminated sites. Software platforms aggregate manifests, lab results, and inspection records into dashboards that boards and regulators can understand.

In that context, full-service environmental management companies such as HCI Environmental occupy a pivotal role. Their field crews, hazardous-waste logistics, remediation projects, and shooting range maintenance programs generate the underlying data that feeds compliance systems and ESG reporting.

For businesses, the lesson is clear. Choosing the right partner – one that can handle waste management, hazardous material handling, site remediation, and specialized niches under a single, accountable umbrella – has become a core part of operating safely and sustainably.

Author: Figen Sekin  - I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I'm not writing, you'll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.

Focusing on Soil Health Helps Colorado Farmers Adapt to

 Climate Changes

As vibrant as Miami is in diversity of cultures and culinary elements, there are problems with the amount of food that ends up as waste in the landfills. This problem affects the environment by contributing to greenhouse gas emissions of methane. Food also contaminates recyclable materials in recycling bins, which makes “as much as 70%” of its contents non-recyclable (Miami Herald, 2024).  Apart from the environmental effects, food waste leads to a waste of “… the resources used to produce, transport, process, and distribute it…” throughout Miami (Cole, C. 2023). This loss of food and its decomposition in landfills extends the ecological footprint of a resource that could have been avoided with the correct strategies and effective planning.

The food waste can be produced from different places, like restaurants, grocery stores, and households, each requiring specific strategies to be able to reduce it. However, the issues of food waste can be managed by the collective efforts of communities and organizations. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has done research to create a hierarchy of the best ways to reduce the impact of food waste; the preferred method being preventing it at all by buying what is necessary (Cole, C. 2023). The list created in the EPA’s research also mentions donating or upcycling food (creating new food from food that would otherwise be waste), feeding it to animals or leaving unharvested, composting, and applying to land. The least preferred way to deal with food waste is to send it down the drain, to the landfill, or to an incinerator. Even though some options might not be applicable to all households, other strategies like meal planning for the week, using up vegetables and fruits first, storing food properly, and repurposing leftovers and scraps into new recipes can help avoid food waste and help your pocket by saving money.

In Miami, different organizations and initiatives help reduce waste production. Organizations like Food Rescue US – South Florida help deliver fresh, usable food that would otherwise be thrown away to shelters, pantries, and food-insecure families. There are also initiatives in some grocery stores that reduce food waste by offering discounted prices on food close to expiration dates, food donations to food banks, and better inventory management (Fertile Earth Worm Farm 2023). Apart from organizations and grocery stores initiatives, apps like Too Good To Go help rescue food by partnering with local businesses to officer at a discounted price unsold food.

Food waste is a major problem harming both the environment and economy, but proactive community choices offer pathways to improvement. Through daily actions and support for organizations, Miami and other parts of the US can simultaneously meet social needs and reduce the climate impact of wasted food.

References

Circularity Assessment Protocol - MIAMI, FLORIDA. Ocean Conservancy. (n.d.). https://oceanconservancy.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Miami-Report-2021-12-22.pdf

 Editorial Board (2024, December). Garbage is an ‘existential threat’ to Miami-Dade. Our largest city shouldn’t end recycling | Opinion. Miami Herald. Retrieved 2025, from https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article297403196.html.

Cole, C. (2023). Lettuce Not Waste: New EPA Research Highlights Food Waste Contributions to Climate Change. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/lettuce-not-waste-new-epa-research-highlights-food-waste-contributions-climate

The Issue of Food Waste in Miami, FL United States: One Big Problem, Many Solutions. (2023, December). Fertile Earth Worm Farm. 2025, https://fertileearth.net/blogs/news/the-issue-of-food-waste-in-miami-fl-united-state-one-big-problem-many-solutions?srsltid=AfmBOopcehMp2TejqKHSlITvs8J5JqxqiHL2lKu2CO3bhgRHAXGgFv_j

As a student interested in sustainability, justice and our collective future, I have come to see that the climate crisis is not a single, uniform threat, it unfolds simultaneously in human lives and natural systems, demanding a multifaceted response. Two very different yet intertwined frontlines stood out to me during the Climate Communications and Wellness Posse sessions: the disproportionate burden climate change places women and girls, and the alarming bleaching of coral reefs across the globe. Together, they reveal how human justice and ecological stability and inseparable.

During the last four sessions, I learned how crucial it is to connect facts with empathy. We need to communicate climate issues not only thought data but through the human and emotional side behind them. The discussions about climate justice taught me that true communication involves compassion and clarity, making visible the inequalities and environmental losses that statistics often hide. Those lessons deeply shaped how I now view both social and ecological aspects of climate change.

Globally, women and girls face significantly greater vulnerability to climate change. The causes are complex, existing gender inequalities, reliance on natural resources, limited, higher poverty rates. For example, UN Women reports that climate change could push up to 158 million more women and girls into poverty by 2050 (UN Women, 2023). Rural women, in particular, often bear the burden of securing food, water, and even fuel when drought or flooding strike (United Nations, n.d.). Yet women are not merely passive victims, they are essential agents of climate adaptation and justice, though often excluded from leadership roles (UN Women, n.d.). Connecting these findings to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, Gender Equality, and SDG 13, Climate Action, shows how gender justice is intrinsic to effective climate responses.

On a completely different front, the world’s coral reefs, home to a quarter of marine species despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor, are under extreme heat stress. A recent global bleaching event that began in 2023 has already affected close to 84 percent of the world’s coral reef areas (NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 2025). Coral bleaching occurs when the unusually warm sea surface temperatures cause corals to expel the algae that give them color and nutrients, threatening reef survival. Similarly, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) notes that rising sea-surface temperature have led to the loss of 14 percent of corals since 2009 (UNEP, 2021). This reality links directly to SDG 14, Life Below Water, and again the SDG 13, remaining us, that climate action must include protecting ecosystems as much as human systems.

In my own student journey, I now see communication itself as an act of care. The Posse sessions reminded me that empathy is a bridge between awareness and action, between the women facing climate-induced poverty and the silent bleaching reefs that sustain so much life. Whether advocating for gender policies or for reef conservation, the same principles apply, we must care enough to act, therefore the importance of climate communications.

In short, climate actions are not just about the degrees of warming or bleaching thresholds, it is about who gets left behind and what happens to the very foundations of life. As a student committed to sustainability and justice, I believe our global future depends on recognizing both frontlines and acting them now.

Cited Work

1.              NOAA Coral Reef Watch. (2025). Current global bleaching: Status update & data submission. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. https://coralreefwatch.noaa.gov/satellite/research/coral_bleaching_report.php

2.              United Nations. (n.d.). Women, gender equality and climate change.https://www.un.org/womenwatch/feature/climate_change/

3.              UN Women. (n.d.). Why climate change matters for women. https://data.unwomen.org/features/why-climate-change-matters-women

4.              UN Women. (2023). Gendered analysis of the impact of climate change on poverty, productivity and food insecurity. https://data.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/documents/Publications/2023/Gender-Climate-technical-report.pdf

5.              United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021, October 5). Rising sea-surface temperatures driving the loss of 14 percent of corals since 2009. https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/rising-sea-surface-temperatures-driving-loss-14-percent-corals-2009

UN Women, an entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls worldwide, has found that “80% of people displaced by climate change are women.” This shows the gendered dimension of the crisis. This data is significant to women because extreme heat leads to higher rates of miscarriage, stillbirth, and chronic illness among women, especially in developing and low-income regions, as found by the Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center in 2023. As for Miami-Dade County, women who face the greatest danger include those working outdoors or in non-airconditioned spaces, such as vendors, governors, and service workers. In 2024, the Women's Fund Miami-Dade stated that “heat exposure during pregnancy can increase health risks for both mother and baby.” All of these findings work in conjunction to support the result that rising temperatures worsen gender inequities because women often handle unpaid caregiving while managing greater exposure to heat and fewer resources for adaptation. 

This may be frightening to many women, but, there is no need to lose hope or be afraid. There are many actions we can take both as a community and individually. At the community level, we can support the first in the world, Miami Dade’s Chief Heat Officer Initiative, which is focused on protecting susceptible populations through shade cooling centers and education (The Miami Foundation 2023). In addition, we can become advocates for gender inclusive resilience planning so that women, pregnant individuals, and outdoor workers are prioritized in emergency and city design.

 At the individual level, we can help plant trees to cool urban heat islands, reduce our energy use at home, and use public transportation such as the MetroRail. To have a more direct impact, we can volunteer at organizations that promote climate and health equity for women, such as The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade. Finally, we can take part in the education of others about how extreme heat affects women's health, especially in less fortunate communities. We should also encourage local leaders to integrate heat-health warnings and gender-specific data into county resilience strategies (Uejio et al., 2024)

Clearly, climate change affects women more severely than anyone else. The already existing gender inequalities become more potent as heat waves rise. But there is hope for our community. By putting women on a pedestal in climate conversations, shifting the focus from policy making to community resilience, Miami can become the model for a just, sustainable future with the values of SDG 13 and SDG 5. 

This crisis directly connects to SDG 14: Life Below Water, which urges us to conserve and sustainably use ocean resources. Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots, supporting thousands of marine species and providing food, income, and coastal protection for millions of people. Their collapse threatens not only marine ecosystems but also human livelihoods and cultural heritage. Experiencing the reef in person made me realize how much humans rely on these ecosystems, and how much we are impacted when they suffer.

The reef’s decline also intersects with SDG 13: Climate Action. Rising ocean temperatures are the primary driver of coral bleaching. The 2023–2024 summer brought record-breaking sea surface temperatures. Without rapid decarbonization, these bleaching events will become more frequent and severe. Seeing the reef’s vulnerability firsthand makes it clear that humans' failure to take actions seriously has direct consequences for ecosystems and for us (“Great Barrier Reef Records Largest Annual Coral Loss in 39 Years”).

Lets talk about SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Land-based pollution, overfishing, and tourism that is not sustainable make the reef worse. (“Great Barrier Reef Records Largest Annual Coral Loss in 39 Years”). Our choices, like the food we eat, how we travel, and how we consume, have ripple effects that reach even the most remote coral ecosystems. Agricultural runoff and plastic waste all contribute to the reef’s decline. Reflecting on this, I feel personally responsible. The impact of our actions is real, and addressing these issues requires both systemic change and individual accountability.

My family and I have been snorkeling many times over the years, and what really caught my attention was how different the reef looked back in 2017 compared to now. The changes were striking and made me realize firsthand the impact of coral loss. As mentioned earlier, coral reefs affect not just the environment but also life below water, climate action, and human consumption, to name a few. We often do not realize that humans are both part of the problem and part of the solution. We also lose out when ecosystems like this are harmed.

As leaders, students, and citizens, we must amplify these efforts. I believe we should shift from passive awareness to active storytelling. Let’s make coral loss personal and not just a headline, but a call to protect what remains. Climate action is about safeguarding the beauty, biodiversity, and balance of our planet. 

Living in Miami, it’s hard to ignore how the climate is changing around us. Some mornings the streets flood even when there’s no rain. Summers feel hotter every year, and hurricanes seem to form faster and hit harder. For many of us, climate change isn’t a faraway issue, it’s part of our daily reality.

That’s why Sustainable Development Goal 13: Climate Action matters so much here. Miami is on the frontlines of climate change, but it can also be at the forefront of climate solutions if we choose to act—together and locally.

The Rising Reality

Miami’s relationship with the ocean is complicated. We depend on it for tourism, recreation, and identity, yet it’s also what threatens our city’s future. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), sea levels in South Florida are projected to rise to 21 inches by 2050. That might not sound like much, but it’s enough to flood streets, damage homes, and disrupt lives.

Many neighborhoods already experience what locals call “sunny day flooding,” when high tides push seawater through drains and onto the roads. It happens in areas like Brickell, Miami Beach, and Shorecrest. It’s a quiet reminder that the problem isn’t coming, it’s already here.

Local Action, Real Impact

But Miami isn’t just a victim of climate change, it’s also a hub for innovation and resilience. Across the city, people and organizations are finding creative ways to adapt.

One great example is The CLEO Institute; a local nonprofit focused on climate education and advocacy. They hold workshops, youth summits, and community talks to help people understand the science behind climate change and what actions they can take. Their programs show how communication and awareness can drive real change.

Another inspiring initiative is the Miami-Dade County Climate Action Strategy, which includes goals to cut carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. From promoting electric buses to expanding tree canopy coverage, the city is taking steps toward a more sustainable future.

Beyond government programs, climate action can start with using our homes, schools, and neighborhoods. Small actions like conserving water, using public transport, or supporting local farmers can seem minor, but together they create a powerful wave of change.

Why Communication Matters

When it comes to climate change, how we talk about it matters just as much as what we do. For years, most climate conversations focused on fear and disaster. While the risks are real, people also need to feel that they can make a difference.

In Miami, storytelling is one of our strongest tools. Whether it’s a high school student posting about flooding in their neighborhood, a small business switching to solar power, or a family planting native trees in their yard, these stories spark awareness and build hope. They remind us that we’re not powerless.

Climate Action Is Wellness

Climate action isn’t only about protecting the planet—it’s also about protecting our health and well-being. Rising temperatures increase risks of heat exhaustion, asthma, and anxiety. When neighborhoods lose green spaces, people lose access to shade, recreation, and stress relief.

But when we plant trees, clean up beaches, and reduce pollution, we’re creating a healthier Miami for everyone. Taking care of our environment is, in many ways, self-care for the city.

A Call to Action for Miamians

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t need to be an expert to make a difference. Here are a few realistic ways people in Miami can act today:

1. Join a local cleanup. Groups like VolunteerCleanup.org host beach and park cleanups almost every weekend.
2. Use your voice. Talk about local climate issues on social media or attend city meetings about sustainability plans.
3. Support local change-makers. From farmers’ markets to sustainable startups, every dollar spent consciously counts.
4. Plant native trees. It cools the city, improves air quality, and adds beauty to our neighborhoods.

Final Thoughts

Miami is more than just a coastal city—it’s a symbol of what’s at stake and what’s possible. If we want to keep this place vibrant for future generations, we must protect it now. Climate action doesn’t have to be overwhelming; it can start with a single choice, a conversation, or a community effort. The ocean may be rising, but so is our awareness, creativity, and resilience. And that’s the kind of tide worth joining.

References:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). (2024). Sea Level Rise and Coastal Flooding Impacts.
• The CLEO Institute. (2025). Community Climate Education and Advocacy in Florida.

So, what is the “Greenbelt Law”? This law was enacted in 1959 to protect farmers and ranchers from rising property taxes caused by urban development. It allows agricultural land to be taxed based on its “use value” rather than its “market value.” In other words, the land is taxed according to its value for farming or ranching instead of what it could sell for as development property, leading to a significant reduction in property taxes. The law was originally intended to preserve agricultural land and support rural economies. However, today, many developers and wealthy landowners exploit this law by maintaining only minimal agricultural activity—such as keeping a few cows—just to qualify for the property tax reduction. This not only creates an unfair loophole but also contradicts our sustainability goals and efforts to build a more sustainable future.

Despite their long-standing role in agriculture, cattle are among the most unsustainable animals to raise. Aside from their high water consumption and tendency to overgraze, cows produce a gas called methane, which is released through their digestive process. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Over a twenty-year period, it traps about 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide, according to the EPA’s Understanding Global Warming Potentials. Although methane doesn’t stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, its short-term impact is far more significant.

By lowering property taxes for landowners who keep cattle, Florida Statute 193.461 unintentionally promotes one of the most ecologically damaging forms of land use. While the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12, and 13 encourage citizens to reduce their consumption of unsustainable foods—such as beef—due to their harmful environmental impact, the “Greenbelt” law encourages landowners to do the opposite by increasing cattle populations and production, creating a direct contradiction. 

Addressing this contradiction, Florida Statute 193.461 should be redefined. The practice of maintaining cattle as an “excuse” to receive lower property taxes is not only unsustainable but can also be very costly—ultimately going against the main goal of developers and wealthy landowners, which is to save money. One possible solution could be replacing cattle with crops, creating a win-win situation: sustainability goals would be met, and landowners could enjoy a productive outcome that requires less maintenance and funding.

Overall, there are many laws similar to the “Greenbelt” law that are outdated and contradict our current goals for sustainable development. These outdated policies should be carefully reviewed and revised to better reflect modern environmental priorities and the growing need for responsible land use. By updating them, we can ensure they no longer limit our ability to achieve today’s sustainability objectives and can instead support a future focused on environmental protection, economic balance, and long-term community well-being.

Works Cited

“EPA.” Understanding Global Warning Potentials, 16 January 2025, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/understanding-global-warming-potentials Accessed 26 October 2025.

“Florida Statutes.” The Florida Senate, 2019, https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2019/193.461 Accessed 26 october 2025.

This article explores how the future of engineering depends on merging innovation with environmental responsibility. It aims to raise awareness about how engineering disciplines, especially mechanical and aerospace fields, must evolve to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Through examples from NASA, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the United Nations, it highlights how young engineers can redefine progress by prioritizing sustainability in every design.

For decades, engineering has focused on optimization — improving performance, reducing cost, and maximizing output. But traditional models often overlooked the hidden costs: energy consumption, material waste, and carbon emissions. According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), sustainability must now be a core design criterion across every engineering field. This means integrating environmental impact into calculations from the earliest design stages, not as an afterthought once the system is already built.

In aerospace, this shift is already taking shape. The NASA Sustainable Flight Demonstrator Program seeks to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by up to 30 percent through new aerodynamic designs, advanced materials, and hybrid-electric propulsion. These technologies prove that engineering excellence and environmental responsibility can work together. As a future aerospace engineer, I find this idea deeply motivating: that the same curiosity that drives humanity toward the stars can also help preserve our home planet.

Mechanical and aerospace engineers have the tools to make global sustainability tangible. From renewable energy systems and recyclable materials to optimized propulsion and energy recovery mechanisms, we hold the power to build technologies that heal rather than harm. But innovation alone is not enough. Progress requires communication — sharing solutions, raising awareness, and inspiring collaboration across communities and industries.

According to the United Nations, sustainable industrialization is one of the keys to eradicating poverty and reducing environmental degradation. When engineers apply their creativity to global challenges like clean energy, transportation, and urban development, they become more than builders of machines — they become architects of a sustainable future.

Perhaps the next time someone looks at a jet, they will see more than just speed or power. They will see the reflection of a generation of engineers who chose to innovate responsibly, guided by conscience as much as by calculation. The world needs engines that not only move us forward, but also ensure that our planet can keep moving with us. The future of engineering begins not with invention, but with intention.

According to a statistic given during the Women’s Fund presentation, Climate Risks: Extreme Heat and Wellbeing in Miami-Dade County, our community undergoes roughly 25 days per year of "hazardous heat", days when the heat index is over 105°F. Scientists believe extreme heat causes more American fatalities than any other weather-related event. These numbers are not just numbers; they are lives disrupted, a disease exacerbated, and community vulnerability escalated. 

The Unequal Heat

Miami is unequal in many ways. The neighborhoods with older houses, fewer trees, and fewer nearby green spaces are much hotter compared to their wealthier neighbors. Many of them are neighborhoods that were redlined by a racist practice that kept people of color out of blocks based on ethnicity and race. Decades later, those neighborhoods are already living with the brunt of not just economic inequality, but inequality in higher temperatures and health risks. 

This taught me that climate change is not a science issue or emissions issue, but rather a justice issue; a matter of who gets to afford to live on the cooler, safer block, and who doesn't. The fight around climate change is a fight for justice, a fight for equity, and a fight for public health.

When Heat Becomes a Health Crisis

The effects of extreme heat on our bodies are alarming. It significantly increases the development of chronic conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, causes more hospitalizations, and, in some cases, leads to death. Outdoor occupations, such as construction workers or farm workers, for example, cannot refuse exposure or limit their exposure. According to statistics in Miami-Dade County, outdoor workers die from hyperthermia 35 times more than other people.

The more I learned about all of this, the more I realized how interconnected our health is, and then how interconnected our environment is. I also recognized that the 17 United Nations SDGs were interconnected in various ways. For example, SDG 13: Climate Action is related to protecting human wellness through SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Women on the Frontlines of the Heat Crisis

However, the most astonishing finding of the briefing was related to maternal health in extreme heat. Research out of the JAMA Network found exposure to heatwaves increases the risk of major pregnancy complications in pregnant women by as much as 27%, and by nearly 28% in third-trimester mothers. In Miami-Dade County, black mothers are almost five times as likely as white mothers to die from pregnancy-related complications. Climate change is exacerbating these inequities.

These statistics made me think of climate change differently—not just as an environmental concern, but as a human rights concern. Organizations dedicated to the work of The Women's Fund Miami-Dade give me hope for women’s health and increasing resilience within our communities, by way of data and advocacy. But the work is heavy, and we are still in the awareness stage. 

A Call for Climate Empathy

As students and as future leaders, we must make climate communication a reality. It is not just talking about sustainability, but taking that next step to connect to empathy-to real people, real health, and in real neighborhoods. Planting trees, supporting advocacy groups, and raising awareness about heat risk are all small things, but they all add up to a more just future altogether. Climate change is here, and it is changing our city and our lives. But where there is knowledge, there is action potential. Every thought, every column, and every action is part of a bigger movement to justice and health. In the end, I believe I have realized that the climate crisis is also a crisis of care. To care for the earth is to care about each other, for our neighbors, for our mothers, for workers, and for our communities as a whole. And perhaps through that empathy, we will find the courage to create a cooler, healthier Miami for all.

The China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is positioning itself as a key financier of climate-related projects, with the unveiling of plans to triple its climate financing over the next seven years.

The multilateral lender - set up as an alternative to the World Bank in 2016 - aims to increase allocation for climate-related funding to at least US$7 billion annually by 2030, roughly a three-fold increase from last year's US$2.6 billion.

Cumulatively, the AIIB says it will advance US$50 billion for climate change mitigation and adaptation by the end of this decade, mobilising capital to support its members' efforts to fight the consequences of global warming.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) was released on the sidelines of the bank's board of governors' meeting in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday - its first in-person annual gathering since 2019.

AIIB president Jin Liqun said the plan "outlines our ambition to bring capital, capacity and convening power to help our members in their efforts to address climate change", adding that it "builds on what is already a significant area of focus for our bank".

According to Jin, the CAP will build on the AIIB's 2020 pledge to stop bankrolling coal-powered projects and instead ramp up its investments in environmentally friendly schemes.

Climate change mitigation refers to any action taken by governments, businesses or people to reduce or prevent greenhouse gases, or to enhance carbon sinks that remove them from the atmosphere. These gases trap heat from the sun in our planet’s atmosphere, keeping it warm. 

Since the industrial era began, human activities have led to the release of dangerous levels of greenhouse gases, causing global warming and climate change. However, despite unequivocal research about the impact of our activities on the planet’s climate and growing awareness of the severe danger climate change poses to our societies, greenhouse gas emissions keep rising. If we can slow down the rise in greenhouse gases, we can slow down the pace of climate change and avoid its worst consequences.

Reducing greenhouse gases can be achieved by:

• Shifting away from fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are the biggest source of greenhouse gases, so transitioning to modern renewable energy sources like solar, wind and geothermal power, and advancing sustainable modes of transportation, is crucial.
• Improving energy efficiency: Using less energy overall – in buildings, industries, public and private spaces, energy generation and transmission, and transportation – helps reduce emissions. This can be achieved by using thermal comfort standards, better insulation and energy efficient appliances, and by improving building design, energy transmission systems and vehicles.
• Changing agricultural practices: Certain farming methods release high amounts of methane and nitrous oxide, which are potent greenhouse gases. Regenerative agricultural practices – including enhancing soil health, reducing livestock-related emissions, direct seeding techniques and using cover crops – support mitigation, improve resilience and decrease the cost burden on farmers.
• The sustainable management and conservation of forests: Forests act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and reducing the overall concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Measures to reduce deforestation and forest degradation are key for climate mitigation and generate multiple additional benefits such as biodiversity conservation and improved water cycles.
• Restoring and conserving critical ecosystems: In addition to forests, ecosystems such as wetlands, peatlands, and grasslands, as well as coastal biomes such as mangrove forests, also contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, while supporting biodiversity and enhancing climate resilience.
• Creating a supportive environment: Investments, policies and regulations that encourage emission reductions, such as incentives, carbon pricing and limits on emissions from key sectors are crucial to driving climate change mitigation.

What is the 1.5°C goal and why do we need to stick to it?

In 2015, 196 Parties to the UN Climate Convention in Paris adopted the Paris Agreement, a landmark international treaty, aimed at curbing global warming and addressing the effects of climate change. Its core ambition is to cap the rise in global average temperatures to well below 2°C above levels observed prior to the industrial era, while pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.

The 1.5°C goal is extremely important, especially for vulnerable communities already experiencing severe climate change impacts. Limiting warming below 1.5°C will translate into less extreme weather events and sea level rise, less stress on food production and water access, less biodiversity and ecosystem loss, and a lower chance of irreversible climate consequences.

To limit global warming to the critical threshold of 1.5°C, it is imperative for the world to undertake significant mitigation action. This requires a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent before 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by mid-century.

What are the policy instruments that countries can use to drive mitigation?

Everyone has a role to play in climate change mitigation, from individuals adopting sustainable habits and advocating for change to governments implementing regulations, providing incentives and facilitating investments. The private sector, particularly those businesses and companies responsible for causing high emissions, should take a leading role in innovating, funding and driving climate change mitigation solutions. 

International collaboration and technology transfer is also crucial given the global nature and size of the challenge. As the main platform for international cooperation on climate action, the Paris Agreement has set forth a series of responsibilities and policy tools for its signatories. One of the primary instruments for achieving the goals of the treaty is Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). These are the national climate pledges that each Party is required to develop and update every five years. NDCs articulate how each country will contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience.
 
While NDCs include short- to medium-term targets, long-term low emission development strategies (LT-LEDS) are policy tools under the Paris Agreement through which countries must show how they plan to achieve carbon neutrality by mid-century. These strategies define a long-term vision that gives coherence and direction to shorter-term national climate targets.

At the same time, the call for climate change mitigation has evolved into a call for reparative action, where high-income countries are urged to rectify past and ongoing contributions to the climate crisis. This approach reflects the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which advocates for climate justice, recognizing the unequal historical responsibility for the climate crisis, emphasizing that wealthier countries, having profited from high-emission activities, bear a greater obligation to lead in mitigating these impacts. This includes not only reducing their own emissions, but also supporting vulnerable countries in their transition to low-emission development pathways.

Another critical aspect is ensuring a just transition for workers and communities that depend on the fossil fuel industry and its many connected industries. This process must prioritize social equity and create alternative employment opportunities as part of the shift towards renewable energy and more sustainable practices.

For emerging economies, innovation and advancements in technology have now demonstrated that robust economic growth can be achieved with clean, sustainable energy sources. By integrating renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind and geothermal power into their growth strategies, these economies can reduce their emissions, enhance energy security and create new economic opportunities and jobs. This shift not only contributes to global mitigation efforts but also sets a precedent for sustainable development.

What are some of the challenges slowing down climate change mitigation efforts?

Mitigating climate change is fraught with complexities, including the global economy's deep-rooted dependency on fossil fuels and the accompanying challenge of eliminating fossil fuel subsidies. This reliance – and the vested interests that have a stake in maintaining it – presents a significant barrier to transitioning to sustainable energy sources.

The shift towards decarbonization and renewable energy is driving increased demand for critical minerals such as copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth metals. Since new mining projects can take up to 15 years to yield output, mineral supply chains could become a bottleneck for decarbonization efforts. In addition, these minerals are predominantly found in a few, mostly low-income countries, which could heighten supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical tensions.

Furthermore, due to the significant demand for these minerals and the urgency of the energy transition, the scaled-up investment in the sector has the potential to exacerbate environmental degradation, economic and governance risks, and social inequalities, affecting the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and workers. Addressing these concerns necessitates implementing social and environmental safeguards, embracing circular economy principles, and establishing and enforcing responsible policies and regulations.

Agriculture is currently the largest driver of deforestation worldwide. A transformation in our food systems to reverse the impact that agriculture has on forests and biodiversity is undoubtedly a complex challenge. But it is also an important opportunity. The latest IPCC report highlights that adaptation and mitigation options related to land, water and food offer the greatest potential in responding to the climate crisis. Shifting to regenerative agricultural practices will not only ensure a healthy, fair and stable food supply for the world’s population, but also help to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What are some examples of climate change mitigation?

In Mauritius, UNDP, with funding from the Green Climate Fund, has supported the government to install battery energy storage capacity that has enabled 50 MW of intermittent renewable energy to be connected to the grid, helping to avoid 81,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually. 

In Indonesia, UNDP has been working with the government for over a decade to support sustainable palm oil production. In 2019, the country adopted a National Action Plan on Sustainable Palm Oil, which was collaboratively developed by government, industry and civil society representatives. The plan increased the adoption of practices to minimize the adverse social and environmental effects of palm oil production and to protect forests. Since 2015, 37 million tonnes of direct greenhouse gas emissions have been avoided and 824,000 hectares of land with high conservation value have been protected.

In Moldova and Paraguay, UNDP has helped set up Green City Labs that are helping build more sustainable cities. This is achieved by implementing urban land use and mobility planning, prioritizing energy efficiency in residential buildings, introducing low-carbon public transport, implementing resource-efficient waste management, and switching to renewable energy sources. 

UNDP has supported the governments of Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Indonesia to implement results-based payments through the REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries) framework. These include payments for environmental services and community forest management programmes that channel international climate finance resources to local actors on the ground, specifically forest communities and Indigenous Peoples. 

UNDP is also supporting small island developing states like the Comoros to invest in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. Through the Africa Minigrids Program, solar minigrids will be installed in two priority communities, Grand Comore and Moheli, providing energy access through distributed renewable energy solutions to those hardest to reach.

And in South Africa, a UNDP initative to boost energy efficiency awareness among the general population and improve labelling standards has taken over commercial shopping malls.

What is UNDP’s role in supporting climate change mitigation?

UNDP aims to assist countries with their climate change mitigation efforts, guiding them towards sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient development. This support is in line with achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to affordable and clean energy (SDG7), sustainable cities and communities (SDG11), and climate action (SDG13). Specifically, UNDP’s offer of support includes developing and improving legislation and policy, standards and regulations, capacity building, knowledge dissemination, and financial mobilization for countries to pilot and scale-up mitigation solutions such as renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives and sustainable land-use practices. 

With financial support from the Global Environment Facility and the Green Climate Fund, UNDP has an active portfolio of 94 climate change mitigation projects in 69 countries. These initiatives are not only aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also at contributing to sustainable and resilient development pathways.

Abstract

Increasing temperatures and altered precipitation regimes associated with human-caused changes in the earth s climate are having substantial impacts on ecological systems and human well-being. Maintaining functioning ecosystems, the provision of ecosystem services, and healthy human populations into the future will require integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies. Adaptation strategies are actions that help human and natural systems accommodate changes. Mitigation strategies are actions that reduce anthropogenic influences on climate. Here, we provide an overview of what will likely be some of the most effective and most important mitigation and adaptation strategies for addressing climate change. In addition to describing the ways in which these strategies can address impacts to natural and human systems, we discuss the social considerations that we believe must be incorporated into the development and application of mitigation or adaptation strategies to address political situations, cultural differences, and economic limitations.

Although pressure for decarbonization remains unrelenting, this investment approach has clear limitations for commercial aviation – the business of flying aircraft with more than 100 seats. Battery-electric aviation and hydrogen propulsion remain long-term propositions unlikely to replace conventional propulsion at scale for decades in commercial aviation. Large-scale SAF implementations look like they will have serious economic and scalability challenges. Air New Zealand, for example, recently walked back from its commitment to cut emissions 29% by 2030 due to challenges in fleet availability and SAF capacity constraints.

Perhaps more alarming, airlines are starting to price in the costs of SAF policies. Lufthansa recently announced surcharges of up to €72 per ticket to cover part of the costs of increasing environmental requirements. The policies driving these price hikes are just getting started. Today, France mandates 1% SAF and EU ETS allowances trade at €65 a ton. By 2030, France’s SAF mandate will grow tenfold and EU ETS allowances are expected to more than double to €150 a ton. Expect more, larger price increases if the current policy trajectory continues.

All of this belies the underlying reality that commercial aviation’s medium-term future won’t scale or pencil out financially to “Net Zero 2050” (the goal to have all aviation emissions directly or indirectly mitigated by 2050). The airlines don’t control the most important levers and real progress will require dramatic changes to how aerospace dollars get invested. To get those dollars invested, policymakers need to change gears and focus on promoting the development of new aircraft with radically better fuel efficiency.

Aviation’s Current Sustainability Route

Commercial aviation realized a 52% decline in fuel burn per passenger mile (and therefore emissions) between 1980 and 2012 – much faster than the auto sector, where fuel burn only dropped 26%. These steady efficiency gains have made commercial aviation far more efficient than ground transportation in terms of both cost and carbon produced, with aviation moving people at the equivalent of 90-120 miles per gallon – the equivalent of electric cars. These advantages and others contributed to a more rapid rate of growth for aviation than ground transportation over the last 40 years.

The industry challenge looks different by type of aircraft. Small aircraft that serve mostly regional routes generate less than 10% of the industry’s emissions. It should benefit from the widespread adoption of hybrid-electric propulsion, which has the potential to reduce fuel burn and costs by up to 50% on regional routes. Although they will take longer to get into service, hydrogen and battery-powered aircraft developed could also eventually contribute to improved efficiency and reduced fuel burn.

Larger aircraft that serve primarily commercial aviation routes over 500 miles generate 90% or more of total emissions of the sector and have seen less innovation. Based on historical rates of improvement as depicted in the chart below, traditional tube and wing airframes using turbo-fan engines cannot meet the challenge of full decarbonization by 2050. Fuel represents around 25% of the typical airline’s cost bar and the industry consumes vast amounts of it. Unfortunately, the promising clean technologies for smaller aircraft—hybrid electric, electric, and hydrogen—do not scale easily to larger commercial aircraft.

In the absence of those new solutions for commercial aviation, policy support and investment have overwhelmingly favored the development of synthetic hydrocarbons, also called sustainable aviation fuels (SAF). These fuels promise to address all aviation emissions, not just those from regional flying. Commitments from airlines, including some of the world’s largest carriers, have led to global SAF offtakes to date totaling 14BN gallons. Figure 2 represents the typical plan you would see published by major airlines or industry groups (FAA, IATA) to reach NetZero 2050 for commercial aviation. Most of the projected carbon savings relevant to commercial aviation come from SAF assuming equipment-based improvements consistent with traditional rates of performance improvement. Yet, as we will see, without new equipment solutions, SAF solutions themselves become far less attractive and potentially unviable.

The Uncomfortable Economic Realities

SAF won’t come cheap. The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates the total cost of the industry’s projected Net-Zero 2050 route at $4.6T (the route illustrated above). Nearly 95% of that incremental cost will come from SAF and most of the cost will accrue to commercial aviation. The WEF doesn’t expect these new fuels will reach price parity to jet fuel. The remaining ~5% will come from investment in battery electric and hydrogen aircraft that address primarily the regional aviation markets. The $184BN of new investment per year for this route represents six times the industry’s expected profits of $30.5BN in 2024.

These challenges will impact the regional market differently than commercial aviation. The former should benefit from the widespread, medium-term adoption of hybrid-electric propulsion, which has the potential to reduce fuel burn and costs by up to 50% on regional routes. Hydrogen and battery-powered aircraft developments could also contribute to improved efficiency and reduced fuel burn in the long-term. The negative abatement costs (i.e., operators are accruing cost savings for every ton of CO2 they avoid) associated with these new equipment solutions and the reduction in need for fuel overall should help the regional segment of the aviation industry grow even as it pays for increased SAF penetration and radically reduces emissions.

Commercial aviation poses a much greater challenge. Theoretically, hydrogen, hybrid-electric and battery electric could contribute to more carbon efficient commercial aircraft. Practically, these technologies won’t have the weight, power or volume profiles to meet commercial aviation’s on-wing power needs in the medium term. The aerospace industry is making insufficient progress to manage this problem for larger commercial aircraft.

Yet, SAF programs will struggle to succeed without more fuel, and therefore carbon, efficient commercial aircraft. To understand why, look at the scale of the need, how SAF will increase airline costs and how higher costs will influence demand for air services. Commercial aviation uses about 100 billion gallons of fuel per year. Given the scale of the need, SAF will likely come from several different technologies, cost profiles, and feedstocks as seen below. These technologies are expected to cost 2-3 times their traditional substitutes.

These estimates may understate the impact on prices. Many SAF technologies rely on electricity for cost-efficient production. However, the electrification of the economy will likely dramatically accelerate the demand for power and put strains on existing transmission infrastructure. Many expect electricity prices to increase at the point of use over the next decade even if prices for some types of power fall at the point of generation. Indeed, recent reports say Microsoft has contracted green power at $0.10 to $0.14 cents per kwh. Not a problem for high value added data centers that sell Nvidia processing time to AI companies, but perhaps more challenging for synthetic fuel plants that sell to a price sensitive industry.

How high AI demand will push electricity prices remains unclear. The optimistic end of the range for 2050 SAF production assumes unprecedented breakthroughs in energy production efficiency: $0.02 per KwH production cost. This price is nearly two-thirds the cost of today's lowest-cost energy projects, a much lower fraction of the cost of renewable energy available today at scale and 20% or less of Microsoft’s contracted price noted above.

Prices will become increasingly challenging for airlines and governments to manage as volumes increase. Prices typically get set by costs of the marginal producer/technology. The higher SAF penetrates into aviation fuel markets, the more SAF production will need to rely on less attractive, higher cost technologies. This will push up the prices for key feedstocks and ultimately the price of SAF.

For governments, the size and cost of the subsidies required to support a mostly SAF led transition could cost hundreds of billions of dollars per year. If governments impose mandates, forcing airlines and consumers to pay the cost of increased prices, they could unravel the global economy by creating economic dislocation in the tourism industry, which contributes $8.8 trillion to world GDP (10.4% of the global economy), and other aviation dependent sectors. Combine this with the fact that higher fares disproportionately impact the least expensive seats on the aircraft, and you have a recipe for significant backlash from the traveling public.

Traditional airline economic modeling tells us that cost increases at this scale will lead to unprecedented demand destruction. Historically, about 25% of airline costs come from fuel. If SAF were to replace jet fuel at the prices above, fuel costs would increase to 40-50% of airline costs. The resulting increase in ticket costs means the industry could lose 9 trillion revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) in 2050—about the same total as all industry RPKs flown in 2019. In addition to the direct loss of revenue, this unprecedented cost pressure could cut industry margins by a third as airlines manage the transfer of SAF premiums to passengers. Higher exposure to fuel prices would also increase the volatility of cash flows forcing airlines to increase working capital to mitigate risk.

This scenario would cripple the investment case for the aviation industry AND the SAF industry lowering the amount of capital available to both sectors from investors and taxpayers needed to drive decarbonization. An impoverished aviation industry would have little capital to invest in the new, fuel-efficient aircraft already in production. As some government’s push back their climate goals and others do not, the commercial aviation industry could balkanize with different variants of aircraft for each region further increasing costs. SAF plants could become difficult to finance given this economic uncertainty and an unstable customer base.

In short, Net Zero 2050 looks upside down at the moment. The relatively small, regional sector should have good prospects for dramatic GHG reductions and growth based on significant innovation in multiple break-through, negative-abatement-cost technologies that should also make using SAF attractive. The larger commercial aviation sector, where most of the fuel is burned, has fewer prospects for breakthrough technologies and limited ability to absorb the economic premium associated with SAF as a result.

The Great Misallocation

How did the industry get itself into this position? The flow of capital should have followed the biggest financial opportunities with the biggest carbon footprint and prioritized projects with medium term payoffs while seeding longer-term opportunities. So far, that isn’t what has happened.

Nearly all “sustainable aviation” investment from private capital markets and airlines has been put toward SAF or short-haul aircraft technologies. Over the last eight years, nearly 70% of total venture investment in the sector has gone to electric, hybrid electric or hydrogen technologies that will help decarbonize regional aviation. Oddly, most of that investment has gone into battery electric or hydrogen technologies with longer-term payoff cycles, limited impact on industry passenger growth and limited reduction in medium-term GHG production. About 30% has gone into SAF investments that could help decarbonize both regional and commercial aviation.

Commercial aviation CVCs have a similar profile, with a higher emphasis on SAF, which reflects a pragmatic response to the pressure investors have put on airlines for sustainable flying. Surprisingly, investments in new commercial aircraft that could help solve the biggest part of the Net Zero challenge and unlock the value of existing SAF investments received almost no investment at all.

Given the scale of the crisis, it seems remarkable that Airbus and Boeing have no breakthrough airframe programs underway that will solve the industry’s sustainability and demand destruction issues. The last generation of narrowbody aircraft, the A320neo and 737MAX families, realized ~20% fuel savings largely based on advances in turbo-fan technology. However, the difficulties the LEAP and GTF engines have experienced demonstrate how challenging the OEMs will find it to maintain historical rates of improvement without changing the tube-and-wing airframe model they have relied on for the last six decades. Nevertheless, both have publicly stated their intention to release new narrowbody or widebody class aircraft based on tube and wing designs in the mid 2030s. Nearly all publicized Net Zero 2050 plans including those outlined in the charts above take for granted the OEMs will realize an additional 20% in efficiency improvements per historical trends, leaving unsolved the industry’s sustainability and demand destruction issues.

The OEM’s have begun exploration of more transformational concepts. Take Boeing’s advanced development program, the X66 Truss Braced Wing concept. It targets up to a 30% fuel efficiency improvement from airframe advancements, propulsion and materials, with additional efficiency coming mostly from open rotor engine technology. This reliance on engine efficiency is consistent with the industry’s strategy to date and may face challenges in implementation.

The sluggish response of the airframe OEMs to commercial aviation’s challenges has its roots in the complexity of designing and building new aircraft and the regulatory framework for certification that supports safety and other social objectives. Designing and manufacturing new passenger aircraft can require $10B or more of capital to develop and deep expertise to start and scale. Exacting safety standards and the complex nature of aerospace systems creates high capital and time requirements. (E.g., even a small aircraft like Joby’s eVTOL has taken years, $3.5B of invested capital and has yet to be certified to fly passengers.) The regulatory system demands manufacturers to complete nearly all capital investment in its manufacturing and engineering before their aircraft is certified for operation. Together, these factors mean airframe OEMs can release derivatives of existing aircraft for a much lower cost than developing a clean sheet aircraft.

These structural elements incent the current OEMs to limit product line breadth and create derivatives that stretch existing product lines across multiple use cases. In effect, this creates a financial bias towards product line consolidations and against airframe innovation. Mid-market aircraft represent a good example of how these incentives operate. Narrowbody aircraft typically have up to 200 seats and up to 3,000 miles of range powered by lighter engines with up to 34,000 pounds of thrust. Widebody aircraft typically have many more seats and often have a range of over 9,000 miles and heavy engines with 80,000 pounds of thrust or more. A mid-market aircraft would have more seats than a narrowbody and a range of 5,000 to 6,000 miles to fly over the Atlantic. This type of aircraft would save fuel, even if configured in a tube-and-wing design, for North Atlantic flights and other mid-range flying. However, OEMs could understandably find it hard to make the capital economics for developing a new, more efficient aircraft for the mid-range use case pencil out. That aircraft would cannibalize existing product lines and result in significantly higher capital costs than creating a new derivative of an existing aircraft. This puts into perspective why David Calhoun’s may have canceled Boeing’s New Midmarket Airplane project in 2020 and why the last mid-market aircraft, the Boeing 757, was launched over 40 years ago. Today, the existing OEM’s face an innovator’s dilemma accentuated by a set of regulatory incentives unique to aviation.

Given the limited support from the financial community and the OEMs, the aviation industry’s focus on SAF allows it to manage the risks of the transition without over-extending itself. Decades of crises, narrow margins, and an over-consolidated supply chain have made airlines cautious with respect to capital outlays. SAF investments allow the industry to trade capex for operating expense (opex) with the option to avoid that opex if the technology doesn’t pan-out. When that opex is low, airlines can experiment and innovate with smaller-scale partnerships and agreements with SAF companies or find the customer segments willing to fund the premium. These investments in SAF create signaling value that can facilitate larger investments from financial investors. If airlines want to make their CVC investments in SAF relevant they need to do the same with breakthrough commercial aircraft that make SAF economically affordable.

A New Policy Emphasis

Airlines’ primary mission remains safe, low cost transportation. That mission requires the industry to cut fuel consumption to reduce costs and thereby cut emissions. Yet, without more efficient commercial aircraft, SAF will increase fuel costs, shrink the market, undermine public support for decarbonization and kill off the investments that will make SAF available.

Creating policies that open up commercial aerospace to innovation via new competition would help. The military has done some of this in regional aviation with its Stratfi contract with Electra and its tanker contract with JetZero. (My venture capital firm DiamondStream is an investor in JetZero and I sit on the board.) However, military contracts, though helpful, can’t take the place of a broader commercial aerospace policy.

Policy needs to address competition and innovation at the same time. For example, accelerated depreciation on new, fuel efficient aircraft could increase demand for new aircraft. Without competition, existing competitors would benefit by increasing prices as demand increases whereas a competitive market might lead to larger supply increases. Similarly, providing research funding to established competitors can result in interesting findings that don’t turn into deployed products. Boeing and NASA spent close to 20 years and hundreds of millions of dollars researching blended wing body aircraft before Boeing dropped the concept. Whatever the financial merits of the decision, Boeing clearly faced significant disincentives to introduce a BWB aircraft given the potential for cannibalization of its existing wide-body offering. In addition to airframes, the current regulatory environment also protects current competitors at the expense of innovation at the supply chain level. An airframes policy could be the first step to a broader policy that helps mitigate some of the anti-competitive impact that regulatory policy has created within the commercial aerospace overall.

Ideas for radical improvements of airframes are available. Otto Aerospace claims a 60% reduction in fuel consumption from its airframe design that promotes laminar flow and Boeing’s Truss Wing aircraft has already been mentioned. Start-ups have launched multiple blended wing body (BWB) aircraft projects with similar step change improvements to fuel efficiency including: JetZero, Natilus and Outbound. At the higher end of the regional business, aircraft powered by hybrid electric systems could see deployment in the next decade.

Governments have helped make aviation the world’s safest business — they should make sure that stifling innovation is not its price. Catalyzing the development of 4-5 fuel-efficient, next generation aircraft projects with negative abatement costs with the goal of 1-2 successes might cost $50-100B. That looks cheap compared to $4-5T of SAF investments and like a bargain compared to the economic costs of shrinking the aviation industry and other related sectors like tourism.

Importantly, the negative abatement costs of these new aircraft don’t compete with SAF projects, they enable them. Investment cases for high capital cost technologies like SAF that depend on government mandates for adoption instead of core economics often struggle to raise funding. As noted above, the negative abatement costs new airframes provide can make SAF affordable and make investment in SAF facilities more financially rational. For example, hybrid-electric powered aircraft running all SAF can operate inter-island routes more cheaply than a turbo-prop version of the same aircraft using JetA.

As highly visible consumer businesses, airlines tend to take the heat for the lack of commercial aerospace innovation and occupy the best position to explain these issues to the public. Explaining the realities of decarbonizing to less expert audiences with strongly held views takes determination, patience and leadership. Many have and will continue to demonize the industry for speaking forthrightly on this issue.

Yet the airlines have little choice. Airbus and Boeing will develop SAF enabled, traditional aircraft with evolutionary improvements that don’t solve the problem. In doing so and consistent with their financial incentives, they will push de facto responsibility for decarbonization issues back to the airlines. It also will saddle governments and airlines with a choice between undermining the financial stability of the air transportation system by aggressively switching to SAF or slowing progress on climate goals. Airlines need to explain to their airframe partners, policymakers and the public the best path to solving these issues in the medium term are better airspace utilization, fleet renewal and policies that facilitate accelerated commercial aerospace innovation, even while they continue to seed and explore longer term solutions like SAF and hydrogen.

After all, what is the alternative? Massive capital investment in a SAF industry that will cause the core market for that technology to shrink dramatically and shrink tourism, one of the world’s largest sectors? An inconsistent regulatory regime around mandates that creates geographic aerospace silos out of a global industry and makes it less efficient? Do nothing and watch emissions grow?

The time to take action is now before policy drift creates a policy mess.

• Farmers often carry the heaviest burden to access the capital, technology and knowledge needed for the climate transition.
• All actors in the value chain, from brand owners to retailers to distributors to consumers, have a role in supporting farmers with this transition.
• Through initiatives like the First Movers Coalition for Food, companies and countries are coming together to show demand for sustainably produced foods and giving farmers the market confidence to transition.

Atmospheric river storms have wreaked havoc on the West Coast, and are getting bigger. These scientists chase them in the sky to predict where they will strike.

NASA Earth Observatory captured the image from its Landsat 8 satellite a day after the historic downpour. It showed parts of the eastern province of Valencia submerged in floodwaters. Meanwhile, the channel of the Turia river and the L'Albufera coastal wetlands were filled with the sediment-laden deluge.

An image of Valencia, Spain on Oct. 25, 2022, taken from NASA's Landsat 8 satellite.

Lauren Dauphin/NASA Earth Observatory

The flood was one of the deadliest weather events in modern Spanish history. Climate scientists say they see a clear connection between the flash flood and human-caused global warming, adding that climate change made this week's rainfall heavier and twice as likely.

Across Valencia, areas exceeded 11 inches of rain. One area that was particularly hard hit was the town of Chiva near Valencia, which accumulated nearly 20 inches in the span of 8 hours — the equivalent to what it usually receives in an entire year, according to Spain's meteorological agency.

Rescue teams are still searching for dozens of missing individuals, but their efforts, along with recovery operations, have been hindered by the wreckage left in the wake of the flood. Photos and videos from Valencia shows cars stacked on top of each other, streets filled with debris and people's belongings covered in brown mud.

Maria Isabel Albalat, the mayor of one of the impacted towns, Paiporta, said that many streets were still blocked, so rescuers could not fully access her town. She added that when they do get access to a location where one person has been reported dead, they end up discovering three or four bodies.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government will deploy 5,000 more troops and 5,000 additional police officers to the region. Meanwhile, local authorities are facing criticism for failing to respond sooner.

There had been some warnings to Valencia residents in the days leading up to the storm but the direct alert to people's cellphones — that typically comes from the regional government of Valencia — came the night of the flash floods just past 8 p.m. By that time, floodwaters had risen up to 6 feet in some areas. The phone alert also came during rush hour in Spain while most people were on their way home.

Case numbers had been rising for years before that, though. Now, a new study awaiting peer review suggests that climate change has likely played a significant role in the expansion of the disease from 1995 to 2014, according to an analysis presented in November at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference in New Orleans. Over that time period, climate change increased the caseload by roughly 20% across the 21 countries in the study — all places where dengue fever was already established, like Indonesia, India and Brazil.

The numbers could skyrocket with further climate change, even beyond the record-breaking case numbers from the past few years, says Erin Mordecai, an infectious disease expert at Stanford University and one of the authors of the new analysis.

"Many of the places in the study region are going to more than double their projected dengue incidence" if human-caused climate change continues to aggressively heat up the planet, she says. But the growth could be contained — not stopped, but at least minimized — if climate action keeps global temperatures in check, she stresses.

Dengue fever is the most common tropical disease in the world. In about a quarter of cases, it can drive painful fever and the sensation of aching joints and bones leads to its common name "breakbone fever." In a small percentage of cases — and most often when someone contracts the disease for a second time — it can be fatal.

Millions of cases of dengue fever play out every year worldwide. But there is currently no commonly available vaccine for adults, and little beyond palliative care to manage the disease once contracted.

Climate fingerprints on dengue fever

Dengue fever is spread between people by two species of mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti.

"Mosquitoes are exothermic," or cold-blooded, Mordecai explains. "So when the temperature gets warmer, everything that their body does speeds up."

Dengue fever is spread by two species of mosquito. Adult females of one of those species, Aedes albopictus, are examined under a microscope. Each species thrives under particular weather conditions. Climate change is expanding those ideal zones into many new parts of the world, increasing the number of cases.

Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

Mosquitoes grow faster. They more effectively replicate the virus in their guts. They even bite more aggressively as temperatures warm toward those ideal levels.

Previous research in laboratories showed that those species of mosquitoes thrived within a predictable temperature range. For Aedes albopictus, the ideal Goldilocks temperature was roughly 79 degrees Fahrenheit. For Aedes aegypti, it was slightly higher, a balmy 84 degrees.

There is a built-in limit, says Mordecai: Too far past those Goldilocks temperatures and mosquitoes suffer and start to die. And a dead mosquito can't spread disease.

The researchers could track changes in temperature over time in tandem with changes in reported disease cases. And using climate models, they could tease out how much of the temperature rise in each location could be blamed on human-caused climate change — a technique called attribution. Then, using sophisticated statistical techniques borrowed from economics, they could link the human-driven temperature increases with increased caseloads.

Similar strategies are now commonly used to diagnose human-caused climate change's fingerprint on extreme weather like heat waves or hurricanes. But the new analysis is one of the first to explicitly link climate change to changes in infectious disease cases.

"Understanding how much of the increase in disease can be attributed to climate can give us more confidence in our predictions for how infections are going to respond to future climate changes," says Marta Shocket, a disease ecologist at Lancaster University in the U.K. "And this can help us do better long-term planning for how we allocate different public health resources."

Overall, the researchers found that temperature conditions generally favor the expansion of the disease, especially in areas like highland Mexico, Bolivia and Brazil. Hotter areas, like Thailand and Cambodia, have seen growth as well, but smaller marginal increases because temperatures were already near the mosquitoes' upper limits.

They could also look into the future to see where risks might emerge — and how many cases could be in store in an even hotter future. Many parts of South America, particularly those that are at the cooler end of the mosquitoes' preferred temperature range now, could see their caseloads double by the middle of the century if warming continues on its current trajectory. Only Cambodia was projected to see a drop in cases.

"A lot of regions that are more temperate will become more suitable — and what's scary is that it happens to overlap a lot with really densely populated cities," says Jamie Caldwell, an infectious disease researcher at Princeton University who was not involved in the study.

A health worker dispenses insecticide with fogging machines to kill mosquitoes spreading dengue fever ahead of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Merida, Mexico. 2024 broke records for the number of dengue fever cases reported worldwide.

Hugo Borges/AFP via Getty Images

The study did not include countries where dengue fever is still rare, a category which includes the U.S. But the number of cases within U.S. borders has also risen sharply in recent years, in hot, humid regions like Florida and southern Texas. But in 2023, several cases of locally acquired dengue fever were reported for the first time in Southern California. More were identified this year in Los Angeles County.

When dengue caseloads are high in the rest of the world, it increases the chances the disease can make its way into new areas, like the U.S., says Katharine Walter, an epidemiologist at the University of Utah.

"The world is more connected than ever before, and country borders are artificial," she says. "Unchecked viral transmission doesn't stay in one place."

Public health efforts still matter — a lot

A hotter planet contributes to the expansion of the disease — but it is far from the only reason, says Benny Rice, a disease ecologist at Princeton University. Dengue fever, like other diseases spread by "vectors" like mosquitoes or ticks, is controlled by a vast array of factors.

Urbanization — particularly in unplanned developments like those springing up on the outskirts of cities worldwide — often creates mosquito havens, leading to a higher likelihood of disease outbreaks. Global travel also allows the disease to spread quickly and easily between regions. Other weather factors, like the frequency and intensity of rainfall or extreme weather, also influence the dynamics of dengue outbreaks.

In some ways, all that complexity represents opportunity, says Rice. He points out that even if climate change influences 20% of dengue cases — or even more — that leaves 80% of cases that could be reined in. "The public health interventions that have existed for years are more important than ever," he says — from efforts like aggressive efforts to curb mosquito populations to developing strong local networks of medical care.

Nonetheless, the study shows that "the climate really gives context for where and when outbreaks could occur," Caldwell says.

The analysis suggests dengue cases will continue to skyrocket as Earth's climate continues to warm. By the middle of the century, the number of cases could rise by 60% as more parts of the world enter the mosquito-friendly temperature zone.

But Mordecai says that points to a clear solution: alongside the other public health measures, any success at slowing Earth's warming by reducing planet-warming emissions will lessen the risks.

In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a couple reasons may explain why.

Technical weather terms in general are now more used in the news. Atmospheric rivers are a thriving area of research, more of which may be filtering into media coverage. And these storms are also expected to intensify and become more damaging as the climate warms – which means there's more attention on them.

What is an atmospheric river anyway?

Before we get into why we're hearing about them more, let's go over the basics of what an atmospheric river is.

These storms have always existed. They occur around the world, often on the west coasts of the mid-latitudes, where an ocean meets a landmass. They're long filaments of concentrated water vapor in the lower atmosphere occurring along with strong winds – and they're the primary way water is moved horizontally. In California, a normal winter might see five of these kinds of storms and as many as 20 could occur during wet winters. A typical one can be 300 miles wide, a mile deep and 1,000 miles long. When plotted on a map or looked down upon from a satellite in space they looked just like rivers.

For a long time, they were colloquially and scientifically referred to as things like the Pineapple Express or Rum Runner Express. Those turned out to be just a subset of atmospheric rivers however, ones that originated near Hawaii or in the Caribbean heading toward Europe. Not all ARs are particularly warm or begin in those locations.

"So the 'atmospheric river' term is the broader envelope," says Daniel Swain, climate scientist at the University of California.

The term was coined in a 1994 paper by two researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

"And it turns out that they are very comparable to terrestrial rivers in terms of how much water is moving in them," Swain said. "In fact, sometimes they're significantly greater even than some of the flow of the largest terrestrial rivers on earth," including the Mississippi or Amazon River.

How we talk about the weather has changed

Swain believes that one reason people are suddenly hearing about atmospheric rivers more is because those who communicate about weather to the public have made a shift to using terms that the scientific community uses.

"I think a lot of it probably has to do with the media landscape and the popularization of certain technical weather terms," he said, pointing to "bomb cyclone" and "bombogenesis" as other examples. These are formal, quantitatively defined meteorological terms, "and everyone assumes that's just some invention of the social media hype era."

In fact, he says, these seem to date back to the 1940s during World War II when meteorologists were advising Allied forces in the North Atlantic Theater.

Atmospheric river, he says, is similar.

"Instead of just making something up out of the ether," Swain says, "there's been an interest in what are actually meaningful, technically correct scientific terms to describe various weather phenomena, which I'm not so sure is a bad thing."

Scientists have done a lot to understand atmospheric rivers better

In recent years, ARs have been a blooming area of research, some of which is filtering into media coverage.

Marty Ralph, director of the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has been a pioneer in the field and is frequently cited in the press.

Researchers like Ralph have helped discover how important atmospheric rivers are, both for California but also for storms around the country and world. Back in 2004, the topic had fallen out of favor, says Ralph. But with new data collected by aircraft and satellites he showed researchers how to see the storms in a new way, allowing scientists to observe them from the inside and out.

"I sort of resurrected the topic after an early pullback," Ralph said.

This now-vibrant area of research has made some recent discoveries, says Ralph, including how to better predict their effects, how they impact both snowfall and snowmelt in the polar regions and links between AR intensity and climate change.

"Because a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor and water vapor is the fuel in atmospheric rivers, ARs can carry more water vapor," Ralph says. "And there are studies now that show we can expect to see somewhat more extreme ARs and more common, in some cases, just because of that."

The weather news in California has flipped from being about drought to being about storms

What may increase the impression that atmospheric rivers are a new thing is that for a good part of the past decade, California was in serious drought and wasn't getting them. Then in early 2023, multiple AR storms followed one after another, resulting in flooding around California and 22 deaths.

"In both cases, it's a story about atmospheric rivers, in one case a deficit of atmospheric rivers, not enough of them, and the other case overabundance – too many atmospheric rivers all at once," said Swain. "California water lives and dies by this."

Atmospheric rivers are at fault in more than 80 percent of flooding across the West. On average these storms cause $1 billion in damage each year.

A look at Google Trends, reveals an early blip of interest in atmospheric rivers in early 2011, hardly anything during the drought years of 2012-2016, then more blips in 2017, 2019 and 2021 coinciding with West Coast storms and flooding. And finally large spikes in interest in 2023 and 2024. So far this fall has only brought one AR to California, but it is a record-breaking one.

A major development for the future of atmospheric river research, says Ralph, is the possibility of improving our forecasting up to two weeks before a storm.

Legislation introduced on Wednesday by Senators Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) seeks to secure funding to increase airborne reconnaissance – using planes to fly through the storms – to learn more about atmospheric rivers.

"The more we sample these storms, the more accurate the forecasts become," said Ralph.

Felt around the country

Lest you think these storms are purely a West Coast phenomenon, researchers are increasingly appreciating ARs role in fueling and directing nor'easters, strong storms that impact the East Coast.

"It's quite possible that AR recon in the Gulf of Mexico and off the East Coast will actually be able to improve the forecast scale of the track and intensity of nor'easters," Ralph said, "which people in the East know full well, is a very important detail in order to determine if the big cities are impacted."

NPR audiences first heard about atmospheric rivers in 2013, when Jon Hamilton offered "Tips for Surviving a Mega Disaster."

After years of lobbying by island nations who fear they could simply disappear under rising sea waters, the U.N. General Assembly asked the International Court of Justice last year for an opinion on "the obligations of States in respect of climate change."

"We want the court to confirm that the conduct that has wrecked the climate is unlawful," Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, who is leading the legal team for the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, told The Associated Press.

In the decade up to 2023, sea levels have risen by a global average of around 4.3 centimeters (1.7 inches), with parts of the Pacific rising higher still. The world has also warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2.3 Fahrenheit) since pre-industrial times because of the burning of fossil fuels.

Vanuatu is one of a group of small states pushing for international legal intervention in the climate crisis.

"We live on the front lines of climate change impact. We are witnesses to the destruction of our lands, our livelihoods, our culture and our human rights," Vanuatu's climate change envoy Ralph Regenvanu told reporters ahead of the hearing.

Any decision by the court would be non-binding advice and unable to directly force wealthy nations into action to help struggling countries. Yet it would be more than just a powerful symbol since it could serve as the basis for other legal actions, including domestic lawsuits.

On Sunday, ahead of the hearing, advocacy groups will bring together environmental organizations from around the world. Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change — who first developed the idea of requesting an advisory opinion — together with World Youth for Climate Justice plan an afternoon of speeches, music and discussions.

From Monday, the Hague-based court will hear from 99 countries and more than a dozen intergovernmental organizations over two weeks. It's the largest lineup in the institution's nearly 80-year history.

Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas addresses the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September.

Richard Drew/AP

Last month at the United Nations' annual climate meeting, countries cobbled together an agreement on how rich countries can support poor countries in the face of climate disasters. Wealthy countries have agreed to pool together at least $300 billion a year by 2035 but the total is short of the $1.3 trillion that experts, and threatened nations, said is needed.

"For our generation and for the Pacific Islands, the climate crisis is an existential threat. It is a matter of survival, and the world's biggest economies are not taking this crisis seriously. We need the ICJ to protect the rights of people at the front lines," Vishal Prasad, of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change, told reporters in a briefing.

Fifteen judges from around the world will seek to answer two questions: What are countries obliged to do under international law to protect the climate and environment from human-caused greenhouse gas emissions? And what are the legal consequences for governments where their acts, or lack of action, have significantly harmed the climate and environment?

The second question makes particular reference to "small island developing States" likely to be hardest hit by climate change and to "members of "the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change."

The judges were even briefed on the science behind rising global temperatures by the U.N.'s climate change body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ahead of the hearings.

The case at the ICJ follows a number of rulings around the world ordering governments to do more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In May, a U.N. tribunal on maritime law said that carbon emissions qualify as marine pollution and countries must take steps to adapt to and mitigate their adverse effects.

That ruling came a month after Europe's highest human rights court said that countries must better protect their people from the consequences of climate change, in a landmark judgment that could have implications across the continent.

The ICJ's host country of The Netherlands made history when a court ruled in 2015 that protection from the potentially devastating effects of climate change is a human right and that the government has a duty to protect its citizens. The judgment was upheld in 2019 by the Dutch Supreme Court.

Thanks to the rapid growth of renewable energy, global emissions from fossil fuels could soon start to decline. The long-awaited peak is a key milestone in the effort to limit how hot the planet will get. Studies show emissions must peak and then rapidly decline to limit impacts like more intense heat waves and storms.

Many climate researchers speculated that annual emissions could fall in 2024, indicating global emissions had already peaked. But a new study finds emissions from burning fossil fuels are still likely to increase slightly this year, driven by growing demand for electricity.

Global leaders are currently discussing efforts to cut emissions at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. Despite countries' pledges to transition away from fossil fuels, global emissions have risen almost every year since the talks began. A decline in emissions could be a sign the negotiations are finally having an effect.

Even when emissions start to fall, the Earth will still be on track for extreme impacts from climate change. Any added greenhouse gases will keep warming the planet. Emissions would need to be cut roughly in half by 2035 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the key benchmark countries agreed to pursue in climate negotiations.

"We know that peaking is the start of the journey," says Neil Grant, a senior climate and energy analyst at Climate Analytics, a climate think tank.

"But peaking emissions would be a real sign of human agency. If we could say: look, we can turn the corner, that would highlight to me that we do have power and so it would be a hopeful thing for me."

Good news and bad news

The boom in renewable energy has largely been the result of economics: it's now generally cheaper to build a new solar project than a power plant that runs on coal or natural gas. Last year, countries deployed almost twice as much renewable energy capacity as the year before. China is leading the charge, accounting for around 60% of the new renewable energy capacity added worldwide in 2023.

The growing supply of solar and wind energy has begun to displace fossil fuels, but so far in 2024, it's been counteracted by a growing need for electricity. Economies are growing and airline and shipping traffic is on the rise. The increased use of artificial intelligence also requires intensive amounts of electricity to run data centers. Severe heat waves around the globe this year also raised the demand for air conditioning, a sign of how worsening climate impacts can make it even harder to cut emissions.

Much of this growing energy demand is being met with oil and natural gas. That means fossil fuel emissions are not yet dropping, despite the major expansion in renewable energy. As a result, global emissions are expected to rise by 0.8% in 2024, according to the Global Carbon Budget.

"Bad news: we are not declining yet," says Pierre Friedlingstein, one of the authors of the report and a professor at the University of Exeter.

"Good news: the growth rate is much lower than it was 10 years ago."

Emissions in the U.S. and the European Union have been declining for years, as those countries have shifted away from burning coal. In India, emissions are expected to grow by 4.6% this year, as the country industrializes and a growing middle class uses more energy. In China, emissions are expected to increase by only 0.2%, leading some to speculate the country's emissions will soon peak, ahead of the government's 2030 goal.

Peaking is only the beginning

While a peak in global emissions from burning fossil fuels may only be a few years away, it doesn't mean global temperatures will start falling. Countries will continue to add greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere, just at a slower rate. Those emissions will keep raising global temperatures. To stop temperatures from rising, greenhouse gas emissions need to fall to zero.

"At this point of peaking, your emissions are at the all-time high," Grant says. "That means that you're actually doing the most damage possible to the climate system per year. And so what matters most is how quickly you can get out of that high-damage zone."

It's like driving a car at dangerous speeds, Friedlingstein says. Hitting peak emissions is like taking your foot off the gas pedal.

"You still have to brake if you want to stop at some point, because there is a wall there and you're driving toward the wall," Friedlingstein says. "If you want to stop before the wall, you have to start braking."

At the COP29 climate summit, countries are negotiating new pledges to cut future emissions, in the hope of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Beyond that level, the world could see much more destructive storms and floods, as well as irreversible damage to ecosystems like coral reefs. Reaching that goal would require cutting emissions to zero by 2050, though countries' current pledges fall well short of that goal.

Still, a peak in emissions would mark an important turning point in global negotiations.

"We are still, to some extent, masters of our fates and we can control how much warming there is," Grant says.

Indigenous women of Amazonia speak to the media at a press conference during United Nations Climate Change Conference COP29.

Some Indigenous advocates at this year's international climate negotiations in Baku, Azerbaijan say the deals made fall short of what's needed to stave off the worst impacts of a warming planet, from sea level rise to catastrophic storms. COP29 ended with wealthy countries agreeing to help poorer nations with at least $300 billion annually to address global warming in a last-minute deal.

Advocates are now looking to next year's climate talks in Brazil, which some are calling the "Indigenous peoples" COP, to push for further inclusion in climate negotiations and support the global Indigenous movement.

This year, a group within COP known as the Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform came to Baku with a set of priorities, which included advocating for a formal seat at the negotiating table for climate initiatives. They also wanted more Indigenous knowledge incorporated into climate science and policies. Leaders also called for protecting the human rights of Indigenous people and to safeguard tribal nations feeling the most adverse effects of climate change.

"Broadly speaking, the COP outcomes failed on all four of those [priorities]," explains Graeme Reed, who is Anishinaabe from the Great Lakes region. He was the North American representative to what's called the Facilitative Working Group, which carries out the platform's climate priorities by advising state party representatives that are willing to listen. These representatives can then bring ideas up in formal negotiations.

Reed called the final agreement out of COP29 "drastically insufficient."

Janene Yazzie, who is Diné (Navajo), also expressed disappointment. She joined Reed in the Facilitative Working Group as a North American representative. She says, despite the outcome, it's important for Indigenous people to build solidarity during the talks.

"It's very important for us to be here [in Baku] to advocate for our people to hold the line for effective and meaningful climate action and to continue to fight for the ability to access available climate finance that exists on the global scale," Yazzie says.

The climate finance deal nearly didn't happen after some developing nations walked out of negotiations over the weekend. Still, some have called the $300 billion a step in the right direction. Among them, President Biden, who said in a statement that the agreement was "ambitious" and that the money will help "mobilize the level of finance – from all sources – that developing countries need to accelerate the transition to clean, sustainable economies, while opening up new markets for American-made electric vehicles, batteries and other products."

Indigenous participation

Around 170 Indigenous people from around the world traveled to Baku. Groups representing Indigenous people across national borders do not have an official role when it comes to negotiating climate policy at COP. But they can advise countries willing to hear them out.

Eriel Tchekwie Deranger is a member of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation in Alberta, Canada and the executive director of the nonprofit Indigenous Climate Action.

"[We have] to really hope that sort of sympathetic states will listen to our desires and needs," Deranger says. "It's been really difficult, to be honest."

Protesters demonstrate for Indigenous land rights and climate justice on day six at COP29 this November in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Indigenous organizations have become a growing part of COPs. But Deranger says participation was down this year. She points to Azerbaijan being so far away for many groups, expensive flights and concerns about the country's human rights record.

A recent analysis revealed that at least 1,773 fossil fuel lobbyists registered to attend COP29. Deranger said that far outnumbered Indigenous representation in Baku.

A just transition

Many Indigenous leaders at COP29 acknowledged the need for the renewable energy transition. However, many worry about mining for critical minerals that's needed for technologies that reduce climate pollution, like batteries, solar panels and electric vehicles. Mines are often on or near tribal lands. In the U.S., an analysis found more than 75% of lithium, copper and nickel reserves in the U.S. are located within 35 miles of Indigenous communities. Another study found that globally, 54% of all the minerals needed for the green energy transition are located on or near Indigenous lands.

Reed worries that the current demand for critical minerals legitimizes what he calls "sacrifice zones"— critical mineral sites near Indigenous and poor communities that can bring an increased risk of sexual violence for Native women, contaminate waterways and create more air pollution.

"We have all these technocrats who come to these gatherings, and they advance these solutions without really actually thinking about what is the future they're creating," Reed says. "For me, that future that they're creating is increasing inequity."

Not all tribal nations oppose mineral extraction on their territories. "Some want the mining, some don't want the mining," says David Kaimowitz, who's the chief program officer at the Tenure Facility, an organization that supports Indigenous people's land rights and forest management.

"I would say they want the right to decide what's going to happen in their ancestral territories, where their forefathers and foremothers are buried, where they hope to raise their grandchildren and their grandchildren's grandchildren," Kamowitz says.

Under international law, Indigenous people have the right to free, prior, and informed consent, which allows tribal nations to decide what's going to happen on their territories, such as mining, solar and hydroelectric projects.

Heavy trucks drive through a nickel mining area in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. A recdnt study found that globally, 54% of all the minerals needed for the green energy transition are located on or near Indigenous lands.

Hariandi Hafid/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

A Seat at the table

The 16th United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Colombia this fall formerly recognized Indigenous people for their expertise. Reed says that's a step in the right direction.

But getting "tangible decision-making participation" at the formal negotiations at COP, he says, is still a long shot given that negotiations happen between governments, nations and states.

Indigenous people, Kaimowitz says, have had some success raising awareness and significant funds outside the formal UN climate talks, such as a $1.7 billion commitment to protect Indigenous peoples rights and forests. This agreement came together during COP26 in Scotland in 2021 and was established by five governments and 25 public and philanthropic donors. According to the Forest Tenure Funders Group, nearly $1.3 billion has been distributed already.

A recent report by the group, found a majority of that money – over a billion dollars – has gone to consulting firms, governments and NGO's. Reed says the funds that actually go to Indigenous people are minuscule compared to what government and conservation organizations receive.

"While those things are good, and I appreciate the advocacy that Indigenous peoples have brought," explains Reed, "the underlying system is still deeply colonial and is still unwilling to share power."

Direct access to funds

The U.S. election also loomed over this year's COP. Indigenous advocates are concerned over whether President-elect Donald Trump will withdraw the U.S. again from the Paris Agreement, something he did during his first term. Trump has said he will likely withdraw the country again from an agreement that set a global goal to limit warming to certain levels.

Yazzie also worries Trump's second term will lead to fewer federal dollars for tribes in the U.S.— money that could address the effects of climate change such as sea level rise.

That's a concern Fawn Sharp shares. She's a Quinault Indian Nation tribal member and a board member of the Nature Conservancy Global. Her tribe is feeling the effects of sea-level rise in Washington state and needs funds to relocate to higher ground.

The tribe received $25 million to relocate some villages through the Biden administration. But Sharp says Quinault Nation needs $500 million more to move all the villages.

"We knew it was quite clear we're not going to see that coming out of the United States Congress any time soon," Sharp says. That's why, she says, they're looking internationally for partnerships "to move to higher ground, to restore our salmon habitat and build our ecosystems."

Looking to next year's COP

Brazil hosts next year's United Nations climate summit and already some are calling it the "Indigenous Peoples" COP.

That's because Brazil is where 305 ethnic groups and 1.7 million Indigenous people call home. Indigenous people are also included in government representation including establishing the Brazilian Ministry of Indigenous Peoples in 2023.

COP30 will mark the first time the climate summit will be held in the Amazon basin — home to the world's largest tropical rainforest which naturally stores planet-warming pollution. The Amazon continues to face significant challenges, including deforestation and human-caused climate change, which has brought increased temperatures and drought.

Deranger and Yazzie say they are already preparing for Brazil, where they plan to continue advocating for Indigenous rights and representation.

"Brazil's gonna definitely be the largest Indigenous participation in COP history," Yazzie says.

Some of the world’s top climate scientists have expressed their mounting hopelessness at the prospect of reaching 3°C by 2100. This hellish scenario, well in excess of the 1.5°C countries agreed to aim for when they signed the 2015 Paris agreement, would indeed spell disaster for much of life on Earth.

As a lecturer in sustainability, I often hear my anxious students bemoan the impossibility of building a way out of ecological collapse. However, the greatest danger is fatalism, and assuming, as Margaret Thatcher claimed, that “there is no alternative”.

There is a vast ocean of possibility for transforming the planet. Increasingly, cities are in the vanguard of forging more sustainable worlds.

Car-free futures

Since the early 1900s, the car has afforded a sense of freedom for some while infringing on the freedoms of others.

Cars, particularly SUVs, are a major source of air pollution and CO₂ emissions globally. Motorways and car parking spaces have transformed Earth’s terrain and monopolised public space. For those of us in industrialised societies, it is difficult to imagine life without cars.

Global sales of electric vehicles are projected to continue rising. Yet even these supposed solutions to an unsustainable transport sector require a lot of space and materials to make and maintain.

With cities set to host nearly 70% of all people by 2050, space and livability are key concerns. As such, cities across Europe and beyond are beginning to reclaim their streets.

Between 2019 and 2022, the number of low-emissions zones, areas that regulate the most polluting vehicles in order to improve air quality and help to protect public health, expanded by 40% in European cities. Research suggests that policies to restrict car use such as congestion charges and raised parking fees can further discourage their use. However, providing viable and accessible alternatives is also crucial: as such, many cities are also widening walkways, building bike lanes and making public transport cheaper and easier to access.

An estimated 80,000 cars used to pass daily through the centre of Pontevedra, a city in north-west Spain. Mayor Miguel Anxo Fernandez Lores instituted a ban on cars in 1999 and removed on-street parking spaces. The city has since drastically reduced air pollution and hasn’t had a vehicular death in over a decade.

Living cities

Cement and concrete are widely used to make major infrastructure such as roads, bridges, buildings and dams. The cement industry accounts for up to 9% of global emissions. Moreover, the open-pit quarrying of limestone, a key ingredient in cement, involves removing topsoil and vegetation which rips up ecosystems and biodiversity and increases flooding risks.

A burgeoning “depaving” movement originated in Portland, Oregon in 2008 and has removed concrete and asphalt from cities including Chicago, London and several cities across Canada, replacing it with plants and soil.

Depaving is an example of the wider urban rewilding movement which aims to restore natural habitats and expand green spaces in cities for social and ecological wellbeing.

Multispecies coexistence

A new report by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has documented an average 73% decline in the abundance of monitored wildlife populations globally since 1970. Despite such unfathomable losses, many cities are being transformed into oases of multispecies life.

Prized for their fur, beavers were hunted to extinction in the UK by the 16th century. Their water damming activities create homes for other species such as birds and invertebrates and help prevent flooding. Eurasian beavers have been thriving in Sweden, Norway and Germany since their reintroduction in the 1920s and 1960s, respectively.

In 2022, beavers were designated a protected species in England. In October 2023, London saw its first baby beaver in over 400 years.

Melbourne has launched a project to create a 18,000 square-metre garden in the city by 2028, with at least 20 local plant species for each square metre. An 8-kilometre long pollinator corridor is also being created to allow wildlife to travel between 200 interconnected gardens and further help local pollinators flourish.

Living alongside larger predators brings unique challenges. However, as with any functional relationship, respect is key for coexistence. Los Angeles and Mumbai are two major cities that are learning to live alongside mountain lions and leopards. Local officials have launched public education initiatives urging people to, for instance, maintain a safe distance from the animals and not walk alone outside at night. In cases where wildlife conflicts occur, such as between wolves and farmers who have lost livestock, non-lethal methods such as wolf-proof fences and guard dogs have been found to be more effective solutions than culls.

Environmental justice now

Cities, particularly in wealthy countries, are only a small part of the story.

At just over 500 years old, the modern capitalist system, imposed globally through European colonialism, is a relatively recent development. Despite its influence, the visionary author Ursula K. Le Guin reminded us that “any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings”.

Indigenous peoples numbering 476 million across 90 countries represent thousands of distinct cultures that persist as living proof of the enduring possibilities of radically different ways of living.

An online database tracks 4,189 environmental justice movements worldwide. From multi-tribe Indigenous Amazonian alliances keeping illegal miners at bay, to countless local communities and activist groups resisting the construction of new fossil fuel infrastructure. Over the last few years, these place-based struggles have either stopped, stalled or forced the suspension of at least one-quarter of planned extractive projects.

These examples demonstrate hope in action, and suggest that the radical changes required to avert climate and ecological breakdown are often a simple question of will and collective resolve.

Reality, like the future, is never fixed. Whether the world is 2, 3 or 4-degrees warmer by 2100 depends on actions taken today. The terrain ahead will be full of challenges. But, glimmers of a better world are already here.

1. Planetary health check shows Earth nearing many critical thresholds

2. Major cities are improving urban life while building climate resilience

Major cities are improving urban life while building climate crisis resilience.  Image: Open Street Map

For the interactive chart visit: https://www.wri.org/blog/2020/12/paris-agreement-progress-climate-action

way from coal to a surge of support for net-zero targets and a rising movement of youth activists from Uganda to India, culminating in Greta Thunberg being recognized as Time Magazine’s 2019 “Person of the Year.”

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership. They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.

The SDGs build on decades of work by countries and the UN, including the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs

• In June 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, more than 178 countries adopted Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action to build a global partnership for sustainable development to improve human lives and protect the environment.
• Member States unanimously adopted the Millennium Declaration at the Millennium Summit in September 2000 at UN Headquarters in New York. The Summit led to the elaboration of eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.
• The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development and the Plan of Implementation, adopted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa in 2002, reaffirmed the global community's commitments to poverty eradication and the environment, and built on Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration by including more emphasis on multilateral partnerships.
• At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012, Member States adopted the outcome document "The Future We Want" in which they decided, inter alia, to launch a process to develop a set of SDGs to build upon the MDGs and to establish the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The Rio +20 outcome also contained other measures for implementing sustainable development, including mandates for future programmes of work in development financing, small island developing states and more.
• In 2013, the General Assembly set up a 30-member Open Working Group to develop a proposal on the SDGs.
• In January 2015, the General Assembly began the negotiation process on the post-2015 development agenda. The process culminated in the subsequent adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with 17 SDGs at its core, at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015.
• 2015 was a landmark year for multilateralism and international policy shaping, with the adoption of several major agreements:
  • Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (March 2015)
  • Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development (July 2015)
  • Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 SDGs was adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015.
  • Paris Agreement on Climate Change (December 2015)
• Now, the annual High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development serves as the central UN platform for the follow-up and review of the SDGs.

Today, the Division for Sustainable Development Goals (DSDG) in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provides substantive support and capacity-building for the SDGs and their related thematic issues, including water, energy, climate, oceans, urbanization, transport, science and technology, the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR), partnerships and Small Island Developing States. DSDG plays a key role in the evaluation of UN systemwide implementation of the 2030 Agenda and on advocacy and outreach activities relating to the SDGs. In order to make the 2030 Agenda a reality, broad ownership of the SDGs must translate into a strong commitment by all stakeholders to implement the global goals. DSDG aims to help facilitate this engagement.

The recent announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center regarding a severe solar storm expected to supercharge the northern lights on Friday has drawn attention to both the marvels of nature and the potential risks associated with such events. This celestial spectacle, while awe-inspiring, also raises concerns about its impact on various aspects of life on Earth, particularly in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Firstly, the forecasted severe geomagnetic storm underscores the significance of Goal 13: Climate Action. Solar storms, driven by fluctuations in solar activity, remind us of the interconnectedness of Earth's systems and the urgency of addressing climate-related challenges. While the northern lights themselves are a natural wonder, the underlying solar events highlight the need for proactive measures to mitigate the broader impacts of climate change.

Furthermore, the potential disruption to communication and power grids due to strong geomagnetic storms underscores the importance of Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. In an increasingly interconnected world reliant on technology and communication networks, ensuring the resilience of infrastructure is paramount for sustainable development. Adequate investment in infrastructure and innovative technologies can help mitigate the risks posed by such natural phenomena.

Moreover, the mention of potential disruptions to satellites in space highlights the relevance of Goal 17: Partnerships. Collaborative efforts between space agencies, meteorological organizations, and governments are essential for monitoring and managing the impacts of space weather events. By fostering global partnerships and information-sharing mechanisms, we can better prepare for and respond to such challenges.

Lastly, the article serves as a reminder of the intricate relationship between human activities and the broader natural environment, emphasizing the importance of Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Responsible stewardship of resources and sustainable production practices can contribute to minimizing our ecological footprint and enhancing resilience to natural hazards.

In summary, while the anticipated display of the northern lights offers a moment of wonder and awe, it also prompts reflection on the imperative to address climate-related challenges, bolster infrastructure resilience, foster global partnerships, and promote responsible consumption and production practices in pursuit of sustainable development.

Severe solar storm expected to supercharge northern lights

on Friday

The Space Weather Prediction Center has issued its first "severe geomagnetic storm watch" since 2005. Auroras might be seen as far south as Alabama.

By Denise Chow and Evan Bush

A severe solar storm is expected to supercharge the northern lights on Friday, with forecasts indicating that auroras could be seen as far south in the United States as Alabama.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center said Thursday that a series of solar flares and eruptions from the sun could trigger severe geomagnetic storms and “spectacular displays of aurora” on Earth from Friday evening through the weekend.

It was the first severe geomagnetic storm watch the agency has issued since 2005.

“We have a rare event on our hands,” said Shawn Dahl, a service coordinator at the Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado. "We're a little concerned. We haven't seen this in a long time."

Because strong geomagnetic storms have the power to disrupt communications and power grids on Earth, as well as satellites in space, Dahl said satellite and grid operators have been notified to prepare.

He said forecasters predict the storm could arrive as soon as about 8 p.m. ET on Friday.

"We’re less certain on the timing of these events, because we’re talking about something for 93 million miles away," Dahl said, referring to the distance from the sun to the Earth.

A NASA spacecraft orbiting about 1 million miles from Earth, called the Advanced Composition Explorer, will help forecasters measure the solar wind and understand the timing and potential effects more precisely.

The northern lights, or aurora borealis, come from charged particles that spew from the sun during solar storms. The colorful displays are created when clouds of these energetic particles slam into Earth’s magnetic field and interact with the atoms and molecules in the planet’s upper atmosphere.

The northern lights typically light up the night sky at high latitudes, but during intense periods of solar activity, they can be spotted farther south than usual.

The Space Weather Prediction Center’s forecast said it’s possible that auroras on Friday night could be seen “as far south as Alabama and Northern California.”

The agency maintains an aurora dashboard that provides short-term forecasts of the northern lights. If conditions are clear, auroras are best viewed from locations that are dark and far from city lights.

As night descended on parts of Australia and Europe, early photos began to emerge of dramatically colorful skies.

Dahl said smartphones might even be able to capture imagery of the aurora at southern locations where the human eye can't see anything unusual.

According to the Space Weather Prediction Center, several “moderate to strong” solar flares have been detected since Wednesday morning. Solar flares unleash clouds of plasma and charged particles, called coronal mass ejections, into space. At least five flares and their associated coronal mass ejections appear to be directed at Earth, the center said.

“Additional solar eruptions could cause geomagnetic storm conditions to persist through the weekend,” it said in a statement.

When directed at Earth, this geomagnetic and solar radiation can induce currents on high-voltage transmission lines and cause problems for transformers on the power grid.

One of the most damaging geomagnetic storms occurred in 1989, when roughly 6 million people in Montreal, Canada, lost power for nine hours, according to NASA. Some parts of the northeastern U.S. and Sweden were also affected in that event.

In 2002, a coronal mass ejection knocked out 38 commercial satellites.

The sun goes through 11-year cycles from minimum to maximum activity. The current cycle, which began in late 2019, is predicted to peak with maximum activity in July 2025, according to NOAA and NASA forecasts.

This incident resonates particularly with several UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, and Goal 13: Climate Action. Tesla's Gigafactory represents a significant investment in clean energy technology, aligning with the aim of Goal 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. However, the expansion plans have faced opposition from environmental activists who argue that the factory's construction involves clearing acres of forest, raising concerns about its impact on biodiversity and local ecosystems.

Moreover, the protests raise questions about Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. While economic development projects like Tesla's Gigafactory can bring opportunities for job creation and infrastructure development, they must also ensure that communities have a say in decision-making processes and that development is carried out in a sustainable manner, balancing economic growth with environmental and social considerations.

Additionally, the clashes between protesters and authorities highlight the importance of Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Effective governance and access to justice for all are essential for resolving conflicts and addressing grievances in a fair and transparent manner. The involvement of police forces from neighboring states and national levels underscores the need for coordinated responses to maintain public order while upholding fundamental rights.

In summary, the events at Tesla's Gigafactory in Germany illustrate the intricate interplay between economic development, environmental conservation, social equity, and governance, highlighting the challenges and opportunities inherent in pursuing sustainable development goals.

Protesters attempt to storm Tesla’s factory in Germany

As many as 800 activists gathered outside Tesla’s factory near Berlin Friday to protest its expansion plans, and some of them clashed with police as they attempted to break into the plant.

“There are currently 800 activists on the Tesla Gigafactory site as part of the Disrupt Tesla Action Days,” Disrupt, a coalition of self-declared anti-capitalist groups that organized the protest, said in a statement on its website.

Police officials said in a press release Friday that, “people from the previous protest march ran through the forest towards the Tesla company premises. As they were in the immediate vicinity of the Deutsche Bahn railroad tracks at the time and partially entered them, rail traffic between Erkner and Fürstenwalde had to be temporarily stopped.”

Police also said they had prevented the group from entering the Tesla premises.

Ole Becker, a Disrupt spokesperson, told CNN: “It was a good day for activists. We saw a lot of police violence unfortunately,” he added. “I saw a lot of injured people… I have seen things today which I haven’t seen for many years.”

RELATED ARTICLETesla tells its German factory workers to stay home as more protests loom

Neither Tesla (TSLA) nor police in the German state of Brandenburg, where the plant is located, have responded to a CNN request for comment.

But Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in a post on X Friday: “Protesters did not manage to break through the fence line. There are still two intact fence lines all around (the factory).”

Disrupt argues that Musk’s plans to more than double the production capacity of Tesla’s only factory in Europe would damage the local environment.

The group says the expansion would require clearing swathes of the surrounding forest and would further strain local water supply. It has planned four days of protests, which started Wednesday.

Tesla shut the factory Friday to all employees in anticipation of crowds gathering outside in protest against the planned expansion.

A stoppage of the plant’s production lines this Friday was announced back in January, CNN affiliate RTL reported earlier this week, quoting a Tesla spokesperson. But with the protests “in mind,” the electric vehicle maker has decided that all other workers at the factory should also stay at home, RTL said.

In early March, Tesla was also forced to close the plant, that time for a week, after a high-voltage electricity pylon delivering power to the factory was set on fire. A group of far-left activists claimed responsibility for the arson attack.

Police in Brandenburg said Wednesday that they had prepared for “extensive” operations, noting that they would be supported by federal police and several other state police forces.

“Disruptive protests as well as criminal acts typical of this kind of gathering cannot be ruled out,” they said in a statement. “Consequently, the police are prepared for both a peaceful and non-peaceful outcome. If crimes are committed, the police will intervene resolutely.”

- CNN’s Chris Stern contributed to this report

This article covers the Governors initiative of reuducing the carbon footprint of hospitals. It has a few key points. The initiative is targetting hospitals as they are significant energy sinks that produce a fair bit of waste. The initiative wants to limit the waste production from hospitals. The initative also wants to implement sustainable practices that reduce greenhouse emissions. Finally, the initiative wants to increase the amount of people in leadership positions related to climate action at the state level.

Hochul launches climate action pilot for New York hospitals

Governor Kathy Hochul announced a pioneering climate action pilot program aimed at New York hospitals, marking a first-in-the-nation initiative. The voluntary program offers up to $1 million in premium credits to hospitals insured by the New York State Insurance Fund (NYSIF) that commit to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and bolstering their resilience against extreme weather events. This initiative is part of Hochul’s broader commitment to creating a sustainable future for New Yorkers, complemented by recent fiscal allocations in the FY 2025 budget to advance state climate goals.

During the announcement, NYSIF Executive Director and CEO Gaurav Vasisht highlighted the critical role of the healthcare sector in addressing the climate crisis. He pointed out the sector’s substantial greenhouse gas contributions and the public health challenges posed by rising temperatures, which have been linked to an increase in workplace injuries and illnesses.

The program not only incentivizes hospitals to reduce their environmental impact but also provides them with financial and strategic support to develop and implement comprehensive climate action plans. These plans are expected to cover both direct and indirect emissions, including those from the supply chain, and emphasize enhancing hospital resilience to climate-related disruptions. NYSIF will also offer risk control services to aid hospitals, particularly those in rural areas, in implementing effective climate strategies.

This article talks about the Bloomberg Philanthropies 200 million dollar committment to supporting mayors that are tacking climate change. The initative is aiming to increase the impact of local governments progress toward climate goals by empowering local officials. The funding is going to primarily be directed towards climate related initatives that are doing things like: reducing carbon emissions, increasing urban sustainability, and alleviating risks of extreme weather events. The article heavily emphasizes the importance of collaborating with local governments to increase effectiveness and address the right needs.

Bloomberg Philanthropies Announces $200 Million

Commitment to Support U.S. Mayors Taking on Climate

Change

This paper represents a synthesis of conceptual analyses, case study analyses, and practical thoughts on the application of convergence science in Arctic change studies. During a virtual workshop in 2020, a diverse, multi-national team of authors consisting of social scientists, engineers, earth system scientists, and ecologists came together to formulate broad, scientifically, and societally important questions on how the Arctic system in the Yamal Peninsula of Western Siberia responds to pressures of rapidly changing climate and increasing industrialization. The team “engineered” a novel approach for expert (representing a disciplinary domain) and non-expert (representatives of other disciplines) communication and at the workshop conclusion developed several convergence science questions of high appeal. Three of such questions are presented in this manuscript to illustrate how the search and identification of appropriate mechanistic linkages are critical to the development of system-level understanding of stressor impact propagation. The need to understand underlying disciplinary and cross-disciplinary mechanisms connecting Arctic system elements is viewed to be an inherent part of the convergence science approach. Through pursuit of such understanding, the approach naturally leads to other novel emerging questions, thereby stimulating further application of the process of integrative thinking.

1 Introduction

Given the drastic, rapid, and concurrent changes in the high latitudes and their impacts on global processes and peoples of the North, the Arctic represents a complex system that warrants urgent integration of research efforts. The necessity for integrative approaches addressing cumulative and compound effects of multiple drivers of changes has been highlighted in recent reports (AMAP, 2021; Arctic Council, 2016) emphasizing the need for the Arctic research community to step away from the relative comfort of disciplinary silos and move toward the development of holistic system views and novel paradigms.

Arctic research demands convergence science.

How can convergence science be construed? In contrast to the plain meaning of its etymon (the Latin convergere) to “incline together,” convergence research as a novel type of scientific endeavor encompasses not just passive integration of knowledge or a cascade of boundary conditions from one disciplinary group to another. On the contrary, it calls for the identification of fruitful research areas of opportunity to foster the emergence of new views, scientific principles, and even disciplines—the process in which diverse participants operate with a common language and reference points (Sharp & Langer, 2011; Thompson et al., 2023). In theory, a true application of the convergence science approach, individual disciplines and traditional concepts intersect, fuse, and cross-pollinate to gain novel insights and to understand emergent complexity, while accelerating solutions to big, complex problems (Stokols et al., 2008).

How can convergence science approach be implemented, given the various cognitive and social barriers (Wagner et al., 2011) associated with the number of and relative separation among the disciplines? In practice, convergence science enhances research through interdisciplinary teams of scientists and stakeholders working together to push the scope of scientific inquiry beyond the typical boundaries of their respective fields, to foster mutual learning and novel collaborations, and develop a transdisciplinary language and knowledge consolidation to solve specific problems and respond to demands from society. For the purposes of this paper, we use the definition of transdisciplinary research offered by Rosenfield (1992) (“researchers work jointly using shared conceptual framework drawing together disciplinary-specific theories, concepts, and approaches to address common problem”) and view it as a required element of convergence science (Thompson et al., 2023) that focuses on big, complex socially-relevant problems. The implementation is not without challenges and tensions: identifying disciplines needed to address complex system-level problems, selecting compelling questions that will emerge as research foci, and integration and application of diverse methodologies require “engineering of communication” among experts and distillation of integrative perspectives.

The central objective of this paper is to illustrate finely grained objectives and processes of convergence science, moving away from the “generalist,” broad contemplation level, to the application of the concept to specific Arctic stressors and mechanisms they imply. We seek to showcase how this approach allows the identification of linkages critical to the development of system-level understanding of stressor impact propagation. In the process of developing that understanding, we uncover knowledge gaps falling within the scope of both interdisciplinary and discipline-specific research. Concurrently, this paper also aims to demonstrate how a diverse group of author-scientists, who were trained largely within the niche of their single discipline, can through integrative thinking advance questions and understandings in ways that cannot be achieved with studies in their “host” disciplines alone.

To provide an intuitive application of the concept, we use the Yamal peninsula in the Western Siberia (Russia) as a case study region for this synthesis, as evidence indicates increasingly intertwined processes caused by multiple stressors on the abiotic, biotic, and socioeconomic systems over the past four decades. Combining responses to these multiple drivers of change, Yamal is a vivid illustration of the need for convergent scientific understanding of Arctic change. Three representative convergence science threads are developed in this paper.

2 Facets of Convergence Science of Arctic Change

The Arctic is subject to several types of novel stressors that evince multiple levels of interaction with its environment and inhabitants. Here, we focus on two specific stressors that likely incorporate the larger fraction of unknowns and concerns across scientific and stakeholder groups and therefore constitute immediate research needs: climate change and industrialization. We explore how convergence science can trace the effects of stressor impacts across systems and may support genuine synthesis and shared understanding across disciplines.

2.1 Climate Change

Decadal changes in temperature of the near-surface atmosphere in the Arctic have profound implications for the loss of snow and ice and thus their feedback to regional and global climate (Hinzman et al., 2013). Surface temperature changes are related to the air energy content (Graversen et al., 2008), which is an approximation of air heat content (i.e., the sum of enthalpy and latent heat, which are the respective functions of air temperature and humidity) (Pielke et al., 2004). Due to profound effects of the latter on the various dynamics, we use heat content as the metric of “environmental conditions.” We consider this climactic driver a primary forcing factor of change in the abiotic, biotic, and human systems.

An increase in near-surface heat can be conveyed via weather, event-scale impacts due to heat waves characterized by peak temperature and humidity as well as duration above a threshold. Gradual increase in the warming and duration of the above-freezing period leads to climate-scale changes, such as the timing of season onset and termination, their average heat content and duration. We consider changes for both types as external, that is, without accounting for how the Arctic land-surface will feedback to them. Even with this simplified view, we can distinguish two concepts. First (a), there can be temporal persistence of processes triggered by both pulse-scale and climate-scale changes (e.g., a brief heat wave may trigger an over-a-threshold behavior with long-term consequences; likewise, gradual changes in annual seasonalities may cause incremental but continuous changes in the Arctic system under consideration). Second (b), the impacts of heat content changes are often overlapping, and may lead to multiple feed-forward and feedback loops in the systems of impact, among which we target those that have longer-term implications. Arguably, mechanistic, process-level understanding of linkages generated in (a) and (b) constitute the core of Arctic climate change impacts that are of interest to science and society (Hinzman et al., 2013; Meier et al., 2014; Overland et al., 2016; Walsh et al., 2020). We consider the complexity of relevant pathways by using both temporal scales associated with an increase in the atmospheric heat content and consider questions that require a convergence science approach.

2.2 Industrialization

The second stressor about which we are concerned is industrial development. Globally, industrialization is defined as a period of social and economic change during which people's means of gaining subsistence shifts to minimize human drudgery and improve predictability of resource availability via systematization and simplification of processes, an extensive division of labor, substitution of mechanical for human energy, and replacement of small, localized, and uncertain sources of supply by large, networked and controllable ones (Shimkin, 1952). Industrialization is a complex phenomenon with many regional and temporal elements that result in particular histories and complex constellations of identities and socio-political groupings. Industrialization is also an accelerator of acculturation that has affected every society across the globe, as people in less industrialized societies borrow or adapt to features of more industrialized cultures. Industrial societies have all experienced dramatic increases in the per capita production of food, services and goods through the mechanization of manufacturing and agriculture. Industrialization depends on the social systems that provide labor (Robertson, 1991). A social system consists of individual human beings interacting with one another within certain continuing associations and institutions.

Russian industrialization of the Arctic is characterized by large-scale operations associated with the exploitation of non-renewable resources, and the construction of cities built around extraction cites and transportation networks (Zamyatina, 2023). This was accompanied by a large-scale influx of workforce who settled first temporarily, then permanently in such cities (Bolotova & Stammler, 2010). Alongside the development of non-renewable resources, indigenous peoples across Siberia, the Russian Arctic, and the Far East were incorporated into the state agricultural system, first through trading cooperatives linked to state procurement agencies, and then in the 1930s into collective farms (kolkhoz), and 1960s state farms (sovkhoz and gospromkhoz) for exploitation of renewable resources (mainly reindeer, fish, and fur) (Ziker, 2002). Oil and gas resource development, intensifying after the breakup of the USSR, is more distributed and reliant on the construction of linear infrastructures, such as pipelines, and exploitation of shift-worker regimes, rather than construction of industrial cities (Saxinger, 2016). Although recent expansion of oil/gas and mining associated infrastructure in the arctic has mostly occurred in Russia, there are also significant developments in the US and Canada (Bartsch et al., 2021).

3 Arctic Microcosm—Yamal, Western Siberia

We regard the Yamal Peninsula as a natural laboratory with Pan-Arctic explanatory relevance, because of the concentration of a large variety of pertinent components in the earth and social-ecological systems. These characteristics of the Arctic environment include various types of the permafrost, abundance of water, sharp changes in vegetation forms, snow and ice seasonalities, migrating animals (reindeer and birds), the high sensitivity of natural systems to climate change as well as the presence of relevant socio-economic-cultural aspects such as strong indigenous culture and livelihood, industrial development, a large non-indigenous population, and affluence of the region because of the natural resource extraction industries. These same features can be found in other regions of the Arctic such as Alaska, Arctic Canada and Fennoscandia. However, only in Yamal do they occur in such a high density, which makes this region exemplary and suitable for the development of convergence science frameworks.

3.1 Eco-Gradient

The Yamal Peninsula, West Siberia, Russia represents a microcosm of the changing Arctic, where the two novel stressors described in Section 2 interact with a dynamic social ecological system. The peninsula is a clearly bounded natural laboratory with a biogeographic gradient from the forest-tundra ecotone to the high Arctic (Figures S1a–S1c in Supporting Information S1) and extends over 700 km south-north (240 km east-west) from the northern terminus of the Polar Urals to the Kara sea, presenting four of the five Arctic bioclimatic subzones, from subzones E, D, and C in the main land of the peninsula, to subzone B in the adjacent Belyi Island (Walker et al., 2005). Yamal is predominantly underlain by the continuous and in the south by discontinuous permafrost (Figure S1b in Supporting Information S1). Yamal evinces variation in both plant and animal communities along a latitudinal gradient. For vegetation, there is a general decrease in productivity, height and biodiversity of plant types; and there is an increase in the ratio of mosses to vascular plants from south to north (Walker et al., 2009). There is also a decreasing number of animal species from south to north (Ryzhanovsky et al., 2016). These plant and animal gradients mirror those seen elsewhere in the Arctic across bioclimatic subzones.

3.2 Rapid Climate Change

The region is a hotspot of surface air temperature warming: June–July warming over the period 1991–2020 has led to an increase of +1.32°C as compared to the climate normal period of 1961–1990, or +2.02°C, relative to preindustrial levels (1850–1900), far exceeding the range of natural climate variability (Hantemirov et al., 2022). Mean annual temperature changes from 1961 to 1990 to 1991–2020 are about +1.5°C (Malkova et al., 2022). There is a positive trend in liquid precipitation (mean total annual is 390 mm, 2000–2019), accompanied by a decrease in snowfall (mean total is 223 mm), and an increased likelihood of rain-on-snow events (Forbes et al., 2016). Rapid warming increases the vulnerability of the permafrost to thawing (Malkova et al., 2022; Shpolyanskaya et al., 2022). Borehole measurements indicate one of the fastest warming rates of ground temperatures across the Arctic regions with continuous permafrost (Biskaborn et al., 2019), although this can vary with the type of landscape (Kaverin et al., 2017). As in much of the Arctic, warming has been linked to an increase in height and abundance of tall shrubs and a shift of the forest-tundra ecotone in the southern half of the peninsula (Frost & Epstein, 2014; Hantemirov et al., 2008; Mazepa, 2005; Shiyatov et al., 2007).

Considerably less data have been published to date concerning responses of terrestrial fauna in Yamal to climate change. However, studies do suggest that animal species' ranges have shifted northward with climate change, leading to the “borealization” of small rodent and bird (Sokolov et al., 2012) communities, and expansion of breeding ranges of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes L.) and hooded crows (Corvus cornix L.) (Sokolov, Sokolov, & Dixon, 2016). These have important consequences for food web structure and functioning (Ims et al., 2013a, 2013b).

3.3 The Built Environment

The built environment on Yamal includes towns and villages developed over the last 90 years, as well as a network of trading posts (faktoria), industrial extraction sites, and slaughterhouses. Linear infrastructures include a railway, and some short concrete roads. Long distance roads are maintained as ice-roads during the winter season. Industrial development has increased rapidly since the 1990s (Stammler, 2011). The largest industrial facilities situated in Yamal are Bovanenkovo, Sabetta, Noviy Port and Kharasavey, with several thousand workers each. The footprint of infrastructure and urban development in Yamal is not large in a spatial context, but much of the new infrastructure is linear and connects previously remote and relatively isolated communities (Kumpula et al., 2012). The 572 km Obskaya–Bovanenkovo railway (Figures S1b–S1c in Supporting Information S1), completed in 2011, is the world's northernmost railway (Terekhina & Volkovitskiy, 2020). Industrial activity brings large numbers of shift workers, commuting between urban centers in Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (YaNAO) and other cities of Russia and fly-in/fly-out settlements, such as Sabetta and Bovanenkovo. Industrial commuters, thus now outnumber the permanent population of native villages. Important for this paper are new stressors associated with industrialization, specifically the growing presence of industrial activities, such as construction in previously hard-to-access places, maintenance and transport of equipment and supplies for the gas industry, resulting in the continued development of infrastructure in the tundra. The challenge of complex, intertwined natural, social, and built environments on Yamal exemplifies why convergent science is necessary to tackle associated research questions.

3.4 Social System

Within this rapidly changing natural environment on Yamal is a complex social system including indigenous Nenets families living as nomadic reindeer herders and semi-nomadic fishermen, small majority-indigenous villages, and shift workers at infrastructure facilities. The number of permanent residents in Yamal is ca. 17,000 people, and almost 13,000 of them are indigenous peoples (mainly Nenets). The official number of shift workers is 25,000, but we assume that this data is underestimated (Loginov et al., 2020). Approximately 5,500 indigenous people engage in reindeer herding and fishing in the tundra, in a fully nomadic lifestyle with yearly migrations on reindeer sledges of up to 1,200 km (Terekhina & Volkovitsky, 2023). Yamal is one of the few places on the planet where people maintain the kind of nomadic pastoralism where moving is the norm rather than the exception. From the 1960s to present, the domestic reindeer population has grown from between 103,100 and 175,300 in 1990 (Makeev et al., 2014) to approximately 225,000 today (Terekhina & Volkovitsky, 2023). Previous studies (Forbes et al., 2009; Stammler, 2005) argued for strong resilience of reindeer herding lifeways within Yamal socio-ecological systems.

Today, independent households privately manage 80–90% of domestic reindeer in Yamal, while the rest of the herds belongs to a municipal enterprise (one former collective soviet “sovkhoz” that still remained in 2021). While the herding families spend most of their time migrating, most tundra people are registered in one of the villages of Yamalskiy district and children attend school there: Yar-Sale (the district center), Salemal, Syunai-Sale, Panayevsk, Novyi Port, Mys Kamenniy, and Seyakha (Figure S1c in Supporting Information S1). These villages contain core social institutions and infrastructure including administrators, schools, and clinics (Stammler, 2005; Ziker, 2002). Villagers maintain social and cultural relations with their nomadic relatives (Liarskaya, 2016; Volzhanina, 2017). Larger municipalities, such as Salekhard (the capital of YaNAO), have more complex social organization and infrastructure and indigenous leaders (natsional'naia intelligentsia) often reside there.

Beyond the growing development of infrastructure in the tundra, industrialization of Yamal has affected indigenous peoples living in Yamal in other profound ways such as through improved connectivity (expanded cellular network coverage (Stammler, 2009; Stammler, 2016), abundance of government sponsored satellite phones provided for the tundra families, transportation options and government sponsored train tickets) as well as expanded options for goods delivery, fuel supply, healthcare, veterinary services, and selling reindeer meat and fish to shift workers, etc.

Rapid climate change is increasingly impacting reindeer herders (Stammler & Ivanova, 2020). One type of event, rain-on-snow, leads to icing on pastures and inaccessibility of forage for reindeer in winter (Bartsch et al., 2010; Forbes et al., 2016; Sokolov, Sokolova, et al., 2016; Volkovitskiy & Terekhina, 2020). The most prominent of these entailed a loss of approximately 60,000 reindeer on the south Yamal Peninsula during the 2013–2014 winter. In 2018/2019, herds experienced local icings. In the winter of 2020–2021, up to 15,000 domestic and an unknown number of wild reindeer perished in northern Yamal, despite supplemental feed delivered to tundra by the regional authorities using specially chartered aircrafts. A convergent science approach lends itself to understanding the trade offs for various strategies that Nenets reindeer herders employ for dealing with these increasing climatic challenges.

4 Convergence Science Method

The research questions considered here are examples of multi-disciplinary convergence science questions, which resulted from a multi-stage brainstorming process undertaken by the author group. We pose it as an example of “engineering” an approach to facilitate effective and productive communications and generate a convergence science approach to research. This method, while not without its shortcomings, illustrates the value of an explicit structure for interactions within a heterogeneous expert group to yield integrative thinking—a prerequisite for the development of convergence science. We believe this method may be applicable to any group seeking to generate broad, important questions that rest on pillars of disciplinary knowledge. We describe it below, starting with an outline of our strategically structured workshop and “rules” of discussions that led to drafting convergence science questions, some of which are presented in this article.

In March of 2020, the rapidly evolving COVID-19 epidemic resulted in travel restrictions that disrupted plans of our team for an in-person meeting. We thus organized an online workshop. We set the goal of identifying high impact convergence science questions that spanned the breadth of disciplines represented by the group in social, natural, and built-environment systems. Specifically, we consisted of social scientists (4), engineers (4), earth system scientists (7), and ecologists (12) from across Russia (11), Europe (4), Middle East (1), and the US (11) and one logistical issue limiting our day-to-day interactions was that the team members were separated by as many as 11 time zones. Beyond discipline and space boundaries, we were scholars of various cultural identities and, described broadly, the team consisted of North Americans of European, Russian, and Asian descent, Western Europeans, Asians, and Russians. While the workshop team did not include non-scholar participants, several co-authors had conducted long-term studies (for more than a decade) in the communities of Yamal and developed broad social networks that included indigenous reindeer herders, public organizations of indigenous peoples of Yamal, leaders of reindeer herding communities as well as various Yamal government departments. These stakeholder groups therefore furnished information input for the exemplary research questions of this manuscript—as mediated by our co-author experts who provided the necessary competence for translating the knowledge and needs of the non-scholar stakeholders into a culturally appropriate discourse during the convergence science process. The topics encompassed climate change, reindeer herding management, burgeoning industrial development, and others.

Our key challenge was to find the grounds for science questions that emerge far beyond the disciplinary expertise of any single group member or subset of the larger group. This required systematic efforts that would push workshop discussions out of disciplinary silos and concentrate them on the development of views and questions in which no single expert group could claim dominant expertise. As a result, we structured the workshop to start within our disciplinary comfort zones, then to gradually integrate disciplines in a hierarchical manner, to culminate in a drawn diagram of connections between elements of the Arctic system from which we could distill high-impact convergence science questions (Figure 1). Our goal at each phase of the workshop was to identify critical elements within multiple disciplines (such as reindeer, arctic fox, herders, permafrost, shrubs, etc.), and then determine connections among these elements defined by explicit mechanisms—even if they remained elusive or unknown due to missing expertise in the team. The focus on elements connected by mechanisms kept all discussions grounded in practical rather than abstract terms. This facilitated discussions in which element-mechanism interconnections would be converted into concrete research objectives driven by testable science hypotheses and questions. The workshop participants also regulated discussions to prevent their swaying toward non-actionable science (i.e., too remote from team's expertise or too uncertain due to current inability to observe or measure relevant processes). This prevention emerged as a social norm during workshop discussions by the participants, rather than imposed as a “rule of the conduct” (which would have probably limited brainstorming and original thinking by individuals to some extent).

We began with recorded 15-min expert presentations (Figure 1, “EP” elements at the base of the workshop pyramid) by select members to present key disciplinary questions to non-experts of the discipline (i.e., representatives of other disciplines). Presentations were grouped into four “themes” combining similar fields: Theme I—“Arctic climate, weather, hydrology, permafrost, landscape vegetation,” Theme II—“Herbivory, predator-prey interactions, birds,” Theme III—“Plants, productivity, nutrients, dendrochronology, paleo-botany, ontology, ecology,” and Theme IV—“Social anthropology: human-environment interactions, reindeer herding in Yamal.” These expert summaries were foundational for building a collective language of communication among the participant scientists. Overall, we had 11 expert presentations within the context of the four Themes. Indeed, the act of summarizing key disciplinary questions in a language that non-experts could understand forced each expert to break down those questions to their most fundamental and important elements. This allowed each to step into the shoes of the other participants–to consider the question, “why is this important to others?” That in itself turned out to be an important key to our convergence science approach, one challenged to integrate ideas from vastly different disciplines.

The first challenge for each participant was to identify one mechanistic linkage between two elements of high scientific interest drawn from different presentations within each theme. By initially bridging related disciplines, these linkages formed the foundation for the gradual building of cross-disciplinary networks. Two such example linkages could be: shrubs (element 1) elevate winter soil temperature (element 2) by trapping snow (mechanism); linear infrastructure (element 1) increases fox abundance (element 2) via human-discarded food subsidies (mechanism). It was critical to keep linkages transparent and formulaic, avoiding abstraction or grouping of concepts. Thereby, when linkages were later connected into networks crossing disciplines, they could represent manageably sized research questions containing measurable elements and mechanisms.

Within the subsequent breakout groups corresponding to geographic regions of the team (Figure 1, “B” elements), each group discussed the individual linkage choices, and attempted to modify and distill two top linkages that crossed disciplines (within themes) and appeared to present opportunities for novel science. For example, while the effect of shrubs on snow retention has been well studied in the plant and biophysical sciences, the effect of shrub distributions (element 1) on ptarmigan population structure (element 2) via landscape snow redistribution (mechanism) is more likely approaching novel scientific territory by bridging related biological and biophysical disciplines. Most groups also opted to create thematic network diagrams to gain a more holistic understanding of the emerging science in preparation for later integration across themes. In a desire to avoid established questions of disciplinary interest and facilitate our forging into novel convergence science territory—in which no group member could claim expertise—we chose to have each breakout session led by a non-expert of the theme, while thematic experts were assigned rapporteur roles and were directed to express their opinions last.

Our next challenge was to consolidate the regional consensuses on linkages that were identified to have potentially novel science. We worked through two full-group meetings (Figure 1, “G” elements) to debate and edit the 12 linkages from two Themes identified by the breakout groups, and ultimately integrate them into two “spaghetti diagrams” (an example of one is in Figure 2a). This step required the identification of missing links, especially between science themes, thereby expanding the emerging convergence science pathways. During this integration process, the team also contextualized the developed spaghetti diagrams from a regional perspective: we explicitly considered the question of what makes Yamal a scientifically appealing place to study questions of interest (Figure S1 in Supporting Information S1). At this stage we also filtered out what was viewed as apparently non-actionable science (still, this was done in a conservative fashion to minimize a disregard for high-risk, high-yield research areas).

After synthesizing pairs of Themes, we divided again into regional breakout groups tasked to “distill” the two spaghetti diagrams (Figure 1, “D” elements). Distillation entailed applying “Occam's razor” to diagrams overpopulated with elements, and highlighting key linkages leading to apparently novel convergence science (Figure 2a). We again made a concerted effort to avoid the tendency for abstraction, and maintain networks made of observable elements connected by explicitly hypothesized mechanisms. At this stage we began to formulate higher-level science questions that could be informed by an integrated study across a trans-disciplinary chain of elements.

Our final challenge via full-group discussions was to integrate the distilled spaghetti diagrams into a single unified network diagram and identify high-impact and actionable convergence science questions that arise from that network (Figure 2b)—a process that we referred to as “The Great Spaghetti Cook-Off” (Figure 1, the top of the workshop pyramid). Prior to this meeting, the distilled spaghetti diagrams were integrated into a single network containing all of the elements and their connecting arrows (as presented in group distillations), with elements color-coded by themes, ready for live editing during the full-group meeting. First, the full group debated and refined the network structure and labels. Then, we divided into three sub-groups, each of which was tasked over 45 min to develop two science Threads—a sub-network of five elements connected by mechanistic linkages within the integrated spaghetti diagram. Each Thread was to represent elements and processes of high scientific interest, with perceived strong mechanistic interactions between elements from different disciplines. We then reconvened as a full group to discuss and refine the Threads, ensure their mutual distinction, and critically re-evaluate the elements and mechanisms that had not been assigned to any Thread. Our final product was a cohesive network diagram with six color-coded Threads (Figure 2b). At the workshop closure, by tracing mechanistic pathways in each of the Threads, our team thus drafted tractable convergence-science questions of highest interest that were best informed by cohesive inputs from multiple disciplinary studies. We felt that these questions, by the nature of their construction through our workshop design, necessarily forged into novel scientific territory, successfully producing convergence science objectives.

Our convergence science questions were further refined in post-workshop activities led by team sub-groups, whose composition continued to represent diverse areas of expertise. For each Thread and its corresponding science question, the sub-groups were tasked to refine and detail hypothesized conceptual models of mechanistic pathways connecting Arctic stressors to their direct impacts. They were also called to consider effects exerted on elements of natural, social, and built-environment systems, as well as triggered responses and adaptive strategies. Three examples of such convergence science questions are provided in the next section.

Overall, the described method proved successful as a foundation for the convergence science questions presented here and for a subsequently funded grant proposal (through the National Science Foundation “Navigating the New Arctic” program). In addition, the group members found the process highly stimulating, enhancing cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary connectivity, broadening each of our knowledge bases, and improving understanding of how each of our research foci fits into a broader picture of Arctic processes.

5 Convergence Science Threads

During a workshop in 2020 and subsequent synthesis activities, the authors co-developed several convergence science questions whose causal mechanisms were perceived to be of high priority to understand. The objective for the selected three research threads below is to illustrate how a given question relating a certain stressor (i.e., climate change and industrialization) and an Arctic system agent(s) (e.g., reindeer, herders, tall shrubs) can be addressed via the development of a holistic view of system interactions and their spatial and temporal scales. Specifically, we illustrate how the integration of disciplinary knowledge of processes and the relevant linkages can lead to conceptual models of interactions in a network of interlinked elements. Such models can then serve to identify specific causal connections that can be addressed in research to further our understanding of overarching mechanisms. We also formulate Emerging Questions (denoted as EQ) that are important for the overarching research thread question and currently represent knowledge gaps.

Research question 1.How does expansion of increasing human presence and the built environment impact animals?

The growing presence of an indigenous population (with their reindeer) and newcomers (with their infrastructure) has complex impacts on local animal species (Figure 3). For example, food subsidies grow following an increased number of reindeer (Ehrich et al., 2017; Sokolov, Sokolova, et al., 2016). Additionally, more people in tundra potentially means an increase in food waste and anthropogenic food subsidies. On the other hand, domestic dogs can prevent endemic mammalian scavengers from accessing subsidies in settlements of hydrocarbon extraction fields.

Infrastructure can reduce and fragment natural habitats, but at the same time can create new habitats for some species. This may benefit generalist predators, such as corvids and foxes and alter predator-prey relationships, potentially leading to an increased predation pressure on wild prey species, such as ground-nesting birds and rodents. This can also lead to a discussion of the context of arctic fox in relation to reindeer (Terekhina et al., 2021). Effects are further complicated by climate-related phenomena, such as prolonged winters (late springs) leading to delay in arrival of migratory birds, another important fox food source. This highlights the complexity of relationships between infrastructure and increased human presence on the one hand, and wildlife on the other.

The Obskaya-Bovanenkovo railroad (Figure S1b in Supporting Information S1) presents an example of how infrastructure development impacts wildlife on Yamal (Sokolov et al., 2017). The railroad extends from the forest tundra in the south to the high Arctic in the north and crosses numerous rivers. Bridges associated with the railroad have allowed the expansion of new species into the Arctic zone. Ravens and gyrfalcons did not breed in Yamal outside of forested areas and rocky cliffs prior to 2011, when the railroad was constructed. Bridges associated with the railroad provide elevated nesting sites previously unavailable to ravens. Gyrfalcons followed the ravens northward, utilized their nests, and flourished. This led to the first documented gyrfalcon breeding in Yamal, where the flat landscape does not provide sufficiently high natural rock cliffs or tall trees for this species to breed. Expansion of this top predator along the Yamal railroad potentially has an impact on prey populations too, especially ptarmigans. The raven population, which preys on nests of numerous birds, could likewise have a negative effect on avian species, such as grouse and waders (Henden et al., 2021; Rød-Eriksen et al., 2020).

EQ (Emerging Question): How does human activity modify top-down control of trophic interactions in tundra food webs? How does climate change impact the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystem dynamics?

Research question 2.How do warmer winters and seasonal shifts transform human and reindeer lives in the tundra?

Changing seasonality of winters affects both reindeer herding and systems that provide services to communities in the region. We hypothesize that warm spells throughout winter make mobility and transportation on Yamal more difficult. The start of the winter season with snow and ice determines the pace of reindeer herders' migration and camp movement to meat processing facilities where herders get their main yearly income. These migratory patterns, where timing is key, are such that some rivers need to be solidly frozen to be crossed with camps and herds. Research question 2 explores how warmer winters and seasonal shifts affect both reindeer herding and mechanized transportation (Figure 4).

Unpredictable winter seasonality results in bottlenecks for larger households during autumn and spring Nenets migration schedules. These delays create herbivory pressure along transit routes on both sides of the major water bodies, where nomads are “stuck” waiting for the ice. This, in turn, can lead to conflicts. Smaller private herders that rely on these pastures for their winter grazing close to villages (Yar-Sale, Ports-Yakha, Salemal, Panaevsk) complain that big herds that are supposed to go to the other side of the wide Ob’ River destroy their winter grazing areas. Now, more Nenets aim to leave the peninsula for winter, as they are not satisfied with tundra pastures during winter. This leads to a higher concentration of herds waiting on the banks to cross rivers, resulting in high pressure on pastures. EQ: What is the role of concentrated urine and defecation resulting from concentration of herds? What are the resulting changes in biomass of plant communities and how are they altered, potentially reducing, or improving overall pasture quality?

On the other hand, herders report that some of this grazing pressure will be “taken back by nature” (Russian: priroda voz'met svoyo), when large iced-covered patches of pastures caused by rain-on-snow (ROS) events become inaccessible for longer periods. EQ: To what extent does ROS allow the pastures in those areas to recover, by reducing the density of animals grazing and moderating the negative impact of trampling?

The most obvious disturbance for herding migration patterns and danger for nomadism as a livelihood as well as for herding as an economy is the impact of the increased frequency of ROS events and thaws (Serreze et al., 2021; Stammler & Ivanova, 2020). Recent publications have already shown these tremendous impacts (Forbes et al., 2016), and how herders respond to them (Golovnev, 2017; Stammler & Ivanova, 2020). These events do not necessarily increase competition among herders for scarce resources. A smart Nenets strategy relies on the animals' autonomous survival skills in the times of crises (Stépanoff et al., 2017). In Yamal, this is known as free grazing, where herders release their herds to roam freely, refrain from any herd control, and hope that the animals find pastures somewhere, even if it results in mixing with other herds. When a herd moves on their own, the owners can avoid direct confrontation with other herders by arguing that the herds are not driven by the people on purpose. EQ: Given increasing controversy about supplemental feeding in Fennoscandia (Horstkotte et al., 2021; Pekkarinen et al., 2021), how might a switch to intensive supplemental feeding change dependencies on state subsidies and affect reindeer health on Yamal? Would supplemental feed help vegetation recovery or reduce reindeer mortality? What combination of meteorological events leads to an ice crust critical for winter reindeer grazing?

Early winter road melting in spring means the danger of winter roads collapsing under big trucks that carry heavy loads. In extreme years, some winter roads do not open. For example, in 2019–20, the winter road from Salekhard, the district center, to Yar-Sale, the administrative center of the Yamal Peninsula, remained closed leading to increasing prices of all goods in the village. Reindeer herders responded to these pressures by purchasing more in Nadym, a town in the forest zone in the area of winter campsites and transporting goods on snowmobiles to the Peninsula. Some even took it as a business opportunity and hauled barrels of petrol from Nadym for sale in Yar-Sale. Not every family has the opportunity for such plastic responses to weather.

EQ: What is the effect of such events on equality of access to mobility and goods for the residents of remote villages lacking the formally established communications? How much warming will it take to cause a shift in the kind of transportation that is needed in winter along the Ob’ River?

Research question 3.How does summer heat affect reindeer herding?

Increased heat content in the atmosphere during snow-free summers in particular has significant impacts on reindeer due to the higher rate of biotic and human activities during this season (Figure 5). We hypothesize that the increased summer heat alters reindeer migratory patterns via impacts on landscape fragmentation by novel processes (shrubification, permafrost wasting, fire, and shifts in vegetation composition) that affect foraging, disease, insect harassment, and mobility. We additionally hypothesize that landscape constraints interact with socially negotiated access to migration routes of herding groups, leading to reduced flexibility in adaptation choices.

The direct implications of weather-scale change in the atmospheric heat content are well-characterized (Figure 5, “Reindeer heat stress”): reindeer have poor tolerance for high ambient temperatures and they avoid overheating through reduced metabolism and foraging only during night hours (Klokov & Mikhailov, 2019), often leading to animal weight loss. Furthermore, according to the Nenets, extreme summer heat leads to calves' lung disease (pers. comm.). Less apparent effects of heatwaves are due to the acceleration of frozen ground thaw (Figure 5, “Soil thaw; wet substrate”), which may create conditions of foraging in high wetness conditions. In combination with high temperatures and reduced mobility, this may force the herd to stay in trampled, boggy grazing pastures, that is, favorable conditions for hoof bacterial infections via scratches or wounds (Riseth et al., 2020). Heat waves are also associated with weather patterns during which low, calm winds can promote animal stress due to mosquito, warble flies, and nose bot flies harassment that inhibit reindeer foraging (“Low wind conditions”). Hagemoen and Reimers (2002) argued that the resultant decrease in feeding and resting and increase in demanding activities may compromise reindeer physical fitness, with possible consequences for winter survival. Excess summer heat therefore affects reindeer and nomads by reducing their mobility, with at least three negative effects: inhibiting efficient foraging to develop fat stores needed for winter survival (Nilssen et al., 1984); by increasing the spread of pathogens among dense, stationary reindeer; and by reducing the survival rate of calves in winter.

EQ: How will the continued increase in summer heat affect reindeer health, body conditions and their winter survival? Is there a particular migration or pasturing pattern that is more conducive to hoof infections (e.g., a rapid south-north migration on partially thawed surface vs. summer pasturing phase on warmer but wet soil)? Can these local, landscape-niche level effects of thaw feedback onto nomad migration patterns?

Furthermore, hot weather increases flammability of vegetation, making tundra (summer pastures) and boreal forest (winter pastures) more susceptible to ignition (Figure 5, “Tundra and forest fire”). Tundra fire has been observed to increase in the Arctic (Witze, 2020), likely due to the combination of lightning activity and frequent dry tundra conditions (He et al., 2022). Studies in Siberia are infrequent but indicate massive fires in the forest areas of mixed genesis, citing anthropogenic impacts (Moskovchenko et al., 2020). Fires can increase ecosystem productivity in tundra ecosystems, and may promote biodiversity (Heim et al., 2022) and active recruitment of shrub species (Myers-Smith et al., 2011) that can partly offset the fire depletion of biomass. However, fires also lead to the loss of slowly growing, energy-rich lichen—the preferred, if not dominant, winter nutritional element of reindeer (Turunen et al., 2009), highlighting specifically the vulnerability of winter reindeer pastures.

EQ: Can the loss of lichen due to the changing fire regime in the forest and tundra place additional pressures on the mobility of nomads and reindeer and social negotiations among herders, during both summer and winter periods? Can fire patchiness in the landscape impose violations of traditional reindeer foraging boundaries? Can the patchiness of fires impact the size of grazing herds as larger herds need larger pastures not impacted by fires?

Wind is one of the key determinants of mosquito relief (Skarin et al., 2004) and heat stress relief and higher coastal winds in Yamal are a strong enough feature of attraction for the migrating nomads. Coastal areas also have herbaceous plants of higher nutritious content that are forage for the reindeer. EQ: Will productivity of forbs in northern coastal areas increase with summer warming?

The effects of long-term, climate-scale changes in the atmospheric heat content are less understood, as they may initiate and convey processes that evolve over similarly long time scales (Ims, Jepsen, et al., 2013). Warmer summers, a deepening of the soil active layer due to the increased permafrost thaw, and the lengthening of the phenological period of photosynthesis have facilitated the growth of tall, woody shrub vegetation in tundra, though the main areas of growth cluster around water tracks and more severe active layer erosion (Elmendorf et al., 2012; Myers-Smith et al., 2011) (Figure 5, “Tall shrub expansion”). Studies in Fennoscandia showed that reindeer foraging can hold back shrubification of tundra (Horstkotte et al., 2017) but once sufficiently mature, shrubs may create localized impacts on herding practices. Herders typically avoid guiding reindeer through tall shrub thickets, so as to avoid reindeer feet and hoof injuries and excessive insect harassment, but they may also choose winter campsites in proximity to these thickets, which are a source of firewood and auxiliary subsistence material.

EQ: Can choices of pasture areas feed back onto the regional-scale vegetation cover by limiting shrub spread or mediating their distribution, for example, due to increased animal nitrogen enrichment via excreta? Overall, will the direct impacts of high ambient temperatures on reindeer and the indirect implications stemming from heat-induced changes in landscape lead to shifts in nomadic reindeer herding practices?

6 Discussion and Conclusions

The objective of this paper is to illustrate how convergence science—an approach that has seen increasing in interest over the past decade across a spectrum of disciplines (Thompson et al., 2023)—can be applied to the terrestrial Arctic system. While there has been general understanding that a convergence science approach bringing together earth systems scientists, social scientists, ecologists, and the affected stakeholders is needed, and science funding bodies over the world have recognized this and committed enormous resources to it (e.g., the US National Science Foundation's Navigating the New Arctic initiative), there are shockingly few publications on how to “do” convergence science, and none focused on studying the terrestrial Arctic system.

This paper presents a framework for breaking down disciplinary silos in bringing together social scientists, natural scientists, and engineers, and integrating the knowledge of non-scholar stakeholders. Our team, representing vastly different disciplines, countries, and cultural identities, came together to focus attention on climate change and industrialization and their impacts on the Yamal Peninsula of Arctic Siberia. This paper relays our process of design of convergence science questions and lessons learned during a hierarchically designed workshop in March 2020 that began with disciplinary perceptions of importance of Arctic system elements, and progressively integrated these views via specifically structured discussions into a unified network model. The latter served as a basis for the development of several convergence science questions, three of which were used as examples in this paper, aiming to showcase the identification of linkages critical to generating system-level understandings of stressor impact propagation. Overall, the discussed approach provides a foundation of value to a very wide audience—not just researchers and stakeholders interested in Arctic climate change or even climate change in general, but many interested in the convergence science thinking.

The exemplified convergent science approach has identified research questions that are broad in nature. As illustrated in their discussions, they do not have direct and immediate answers and cannot be fully addressed within a single disciplinary study because of numerous linkages conveyed as feed-forward connections between stressors, processes, and effects, and feedback mechanisms that are expressed as adaptive adjustments or strategies exhibited by Arctic elements. Nonetheless, because these questions were the result of integration, they can also be “differentiated,” that is, parsed into material links and tangible inquiries of disciplinary and interdisciplinary nature. While we present Yamal as a case-study region, many of the elements and their mechanistic connections presented here are broadly representative of the Arctic, and we believe our methodology for the discovery of convergence science can be applied to integrate disciplines in other systems of high complexity.

Even though not demonstrated in this paper explicitly, the process of mapping tangible questions onto a space of practical implementation is the next vital stage of the convergent science process. The illustrated development of question formulation is already tremendously useful for setting priorities among study elements and contemplating about the issues of research feasibility. But it is in the implementation stage that the research team may appreciate their gaps in expertise, methodology, and instrumentation. The team may further feel compelled to formulate additional—what we call here “emerging questions” (EQs), which can enrich and expand the scope of the overarching research thread. EQs are current knowledge gaps and stimulate a recursive (and iterative) assessment of thread linkages and content, particularly as new data and analyses start coming in to provide novel insights. It is also at that stage of the convergence science process that the relative importance of thread elements and their interactions and relevant mechanisms are re-assessed and convergence science questions are further scrutinized. Overall, a traversal of the entire convergent science pathway may characterize it not as an ultimately terminal endeavor, but as a learning process with ever-expanding dimensions of scientific inquiry.

Acknowledgments

V. Ivanov, P. Ungar, A. Sheshukov, D. Liu, and J. Wang acknowledge the support by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Navigating the New Arctic Program Track-II team planning Grant 1928014, 1927793, 1928020, 1928040, 1928061 and Track-I Grant 2126792 (Ivanov), 2126796 (Ungar), 2126794 (Ziker), 2126793 (Sheshukov), 2126797 (Wang), 2126798 (Liu), and 2126795 (Heskel). Additionally, Ivanov, Wang, Sheshukov, and Liu acknowledge the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) Grant 1725654, 1724633, 1724633, and 1724868. A. Sokolov, N. Sokolova, O. Pokrovskaya, P. Orekhov, A. Terekhina, A. Volkovitskiy, S. Abdulmanova, and I. Fufachev (all co-authors from Yamal) were supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation program, Grant 122021000089-9. V. Valdayskikh was supported by the state task of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, project no. FEUZ 2024-0011.

Extreme storm surges, rainfall or river discharge can cause flooding. When these events happen at the same time, even more severe flooding may follow. Climate change could affect the odds that drivers of flooding coincide, potentially leading to larger flood risk. However, few scientists have tried to compute such changes, using only a few different computer models of our climate. Here, we use a much larger set of climate models to compute how the odds that an extreme storm surge coincides with extreme precipitation could change in the future. We find that at the coasts of northwestern Europe, those odds will increase, whereas in southwestern Europe, they will mostly decrease. On average, the changes will be as large as 36%–49% of the current odds, depending on whether the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere will increase by a medium or a large amount. When we use smaller sets of climate models for our calculations, we get substantially different results in some cases. In conclusion, by using a larger set of climate models than previous studies, we have made more robust computations of how the odds that extreme storm surges and precipitation coincide will change in Europe.

Tropical cyclones (TCs) that intensify close to the coast pose a major socio-economic threat and are a substantial challenge from an operational standpoint. Therefore understanding historical trends in nearshore storm intensification and how they may change in future is of considerable significance. Despite this, few studies examined this key aspect of TCs at the global scale. Here we show, using an analysis of observations and atmospheric reanalyses, that the mean TC intensification rate has increased significantly over the period 1979–2020 primarily aided by increases in relative humidity and decreases in vertical wind shear. Further, high-resolution climate models, which explicitly resolve TCs, suggest that nearshore TC intensification will continue to increase in future. These increases in coastal TC intensification rates can mainly be attributed to stronger projected decreases in vertical wind shear. To better understand wind shear projections, a suite of idealized numerical experiments with an intermediate complexity model were conducted. The experiments indicate that enhanced warming in the upper-troposphere and changing heating patterns are likely responsible.