news
Each week we share news and social media updates related to our “The 10 Ways to Save Our Planet” list.
1. Act Now
Adam Bandt urges Australians to ‘embrace’ civil disobedience and join climate protests
(theguardian.com)
Australian Greens leader Adam Bandt has urged Australians to embrace civil disobedience and join climate protests, saying the country is in a “climate emergency”. Bandt made the comments in a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, where he also called for a new climate policy that would phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
2. Build Political Will
Spain is our Green Country of the Month – but its environmental ambitions hang in the balance
(euronews.com)
Spain has been making swift progress on its goal of decarbonization. The country will likely generate half of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of this year, and is currently on track to stop using coal power plants by 2025, 5 years earlier than their pledged date. Spain also has the largest train network in Europe, large segments of which can be traveled on for free.
Unfortunately… this impressive progress may soon stall. Spain’s recent general election failed to produce a coalition government, and in the race to secure a parliamentary majority, the frequently climate change denying Vox party will likely play a kingmaker role.
❌ EU nominates Wopke Hoekstra as top climate diplomat
(climatechangenews.com)
Members from other groups have already expressed scepticism. Centrist French member Pascal Canfin said that his confirmation was “not a done deal” and “he will have to prove that he is the right man”.
Left-wing Dutch member Mohammed Chamim told Euractiv: “I was not very enthusiastic upon hearing about Hoekstra’s nomination. He has never shown any interest or ambition regarding climate policy before.”
The date of the hearing has not yet been set. If rejected by the European parliament, the Dutch government will have to nominate another candidate.
3. Eliminate Fossil Fuels
EU’s use of fossil fuels for electricity falls 17% to ‘record low’ in first half of 2023
(carbonbrief.org)
The EU’s use of fossil fuels for electricity fell by 17% in the first half of 2023, reaching a record low. This was driven by a number of factors, including the rise of renewable energy, a decline in energy use due to the war in Ukraine, and the EU’s subsequent plan to phase out Russian gas..
In Historic Vote, California Becomes Largest Economy In World To Call For Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
(cleantechnica.com)
The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is a proposed international agreement that would aim to phase out the production and use of fossil fuels. The treaty is being supported by a growing number of nations and governments, including the State of California. The resolution passed the State Assembly with a vote of 43-26, despite opposition from oil and gas lobbyists.
4. Speed up renewable energy
5. Shift towards sustainable transportation
$15.5 Billion to Support a Strong & Just Transition to Electric Vehicles, Retooling Existing Plants, & Rehiring Existing Workers
(cleantechnica.com)
The US Department of Energy has announced a $15.5 billion program that will support the production of light-, medium-, and heavy-duty electrified vehicles and components. The program will also support commercial facilities for vehicle assembly, component assembly, and related vehicle part manufacturing. The DOE will prioritize projects that commit to pay high wages for production workers and maintain collective bargaining agreements.
6. Adopt planet-friendly agricultural practices
7. Eat a more climate friendly diet
How a mere 12% of Americans eat half the nation’s beef, creating significant health and environmental impacts
(news.tulane.edu)
The study, published in the journal “Nature Food”, analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to track beef consumption patterns in the United States from 1999 to 2018. The researchers found that the top 12% of beef consumers ate an average of 100 pounds of beef per year, while the bottom 88% of consumers ate an average of 20 pounds of beef per year. The beef industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and deforestation.
8. Create sustainable cities and buildings
9. Protect and restore our environment
10. Ensure global warming stays below dangerous limits
The summer food went weird: searing heat reshapes US food production
(theguardian.com)
As extreme heat scorched the oceans, land and skies, it affected our food system underwater, on the ground and in the air. But the ways that it did so were unpredictable – not every crop suffered, though many certainly struggled, and not every region was affected equally. If there was any takeaway, it may have been that previous scientific models for extreme heat failed to capture the full scope of what heatwaves of this magnitude could cause – and that farmers, fishers and pollinators should be prepared to adapt to an uncertain future.
Also from The Guardian, we recommend reading the following article in full if you want a comprehensive overview of recent weather trends, and how they stack up against climate predictions:
Link of the week
UN supplied climate action graphics and posters to share:
From Social Media
About Us
We are a weekly Substack newsletter focusing on:
Progress in the fight against climate change,
Opportunities for individuals to make a difference.
Please follow, subscribe & share
Follow our WeCanFixClimateChange list on Twitter.
Thanks for reading We Can Fix Climate Change! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support our work.
Read the full post at Substack - WCFCC.
