A digest of interesting news about climate change from around the world, compiled by us.
The Restoration Power of Beavers
NASA satellites reveal restoration power of Beavers. 'Beavers are one of the world’s most powerful ecosystem engineers, building new habitats by slowing water flow and reducing flooding, while also boosting biodiversity.' (Mongabay - Environmental Journalism and Education) >
EV Sales Volumes for first-half of 2023
Electric Vehicles World Sales Data Base, Stockholm, Sweden
Delivering Freight Decarbonisation
Strategies for reducing Australia’s transport emissions 'Freight makes up a considerable share of transport emissions, estimated by Climateworks to be just under 40 per cent of the transport total. This represents approximately 7 per cent of Australia’s total emissions.' (Climateworks Centre, Melbourne) >
A Circular Future for Solar
'By 2040 between 300,000 and 450,000 tonnes of solar panel waste are projected to be sent to landfill. New research shows that reuse and recycling could offer a solution.' Several Reports available: Characterising Material Stocks for PV Systems and Estimating Material Recovery Potential (2023); Managing End-of-Life Photovoltaic Systems in Australia: Key Findings from Installer Survey (2023); Enabling a Responsible Second-Hand Market for Photovoltaic Systems in Australia (2023); A circular economy for solar PV systems in Australia: Opportunities for reuse (2023) (Briefing note). (Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney) >
Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
Greenhouse Gas concentrations hit record high. Again. 'The abundance of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere once again reached a new record last year and there is no end in sight to the rising trend, according to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).' (World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland) >
Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts
Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (Summary): September 2022. (Australian Government) >
Plastic Production over the Last 70 Years
Plastic production has sharply increased over the last 70 years. In 1950, the world produced just two million tonnes. It now produces over 450 million tonnes.' (Our World In Data, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford) >
Global Plastic Waste
Global plastic waste set to almost triple by 2060, says OECD. '...without radical action to curb demand, increase product lifespans and improve waste management and recyclability, plastic pollution will rise in tandem with an almost threefold increase in plastics use driven by rising populations and incomes. The report estimates that almost two-thirds of plastic waste in 2060 will be from short-lived items such as packaging, low-cost products and textiles.' (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, France) >
Microplastic Particles Accumulated in Oceans
'In 2004, Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS and his team were the first to show that microplastic particles have accumulated in oceans since the 1960s and are now globally present in our seas.' (International Marine Litter Research Unit, University of Plymouth, U K) >
Green Alley Award
'Over the last ten years our goal has been the same: eliminate waste and minimize pressure on natural resources and ecosystems.' (Landbell Group) >