In August, the Korean Constitutional Court ruled a provision of the country’s climate law unconstitutional. The verdict, the first of its kind in Asia, will have huge implications for the region, where similar climate litigation cases are underway. Earth.Org spoke with some of the young activists involved in the case and the attorney who represented them about their four-year court battle and the significance of their efforts for South Korea and the region.

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Young activists and environmental groups fighting for a better planet across Asia now have a success story to look up to. In August, a top court in South Korea ruled the country’s measures to fight climate change insufficient for protecting the rights of its citizens, marking the end of a four-year legal battle and Asia’s first climate litigation ruling of its kind.

The implications are huge, as many legal experts have pointed out. But, most importantly, the courageous acts and perseverance demonstrated by the young plaintiffs prove that people’s voice matters – and it can have a remarkable impact.

‘Unconstitutional’

On August 29, the South Korean Constitutional Court declared a provision of the country’s climate law unconstitutional. The court unanimously ruled that Article 8, Paragraph 1 of the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth is not in conformity with the Constitution. It gave the government until February 28, 2026 to amend the law.

The legislation in question contains a series of key policies aimed at addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development, including legally binding emissions reduction targets, renewable energy promotion, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation.

Article 8, Section 1 of the Framework prescribes an emissions reduction target of “not less than 35%” compared to 2018 levels to be reached by decade’s end. However, the framework does not set any legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2031. This absence means the government cannot guarantee the protection of future generations, a right engrained in its Constitution, the court ruled. However, it dismissed other claims challenging the Carbon Neutrality Basic Plan and the enforcement decrees of the Framework Act on Carbon Neutrality and Green Growth. 

Attorney Sejong Youn, who represented the case, said the ruling of unconstitutionality “has binding authority over all state institutions by law, and it is the duty of  the National Assembly and the government as mandated by law.”

“The core reason for the unconstitutionality is the regulation of reduction targets that impose an excessive burden without considering the rights of future generations,” he added.

Young activists wept for joy on the court steps following the verdict. In a joint statement, the plaintiffs said the ruling represented “meaningful progress in protecting everyone’s rights beyond the climate crisis” and marked an “achievement for all those who have been excluded from the national climate response process while confronting the climate crisis.”

In a statement issued shortly after the verdict, the government said it “respected” the decision and it plans to “faithfully implement follow-up measures.”

The Children Behind It All

Nineteen young activists first brought the case to the court in March 2020. They were part of youth environmental organization Youth 4 Climate Action, a group spearheading the Korean segment of the global school climate strike movement, and aged between 14 and 19 at the time of the filing.

Hyunjung Yoon was one of them. She was only 15 when she joined the Youth Climate Litigation as a plaintiff, motivated by the need to “connect with more people” sharing her concerns about the climate crisis.

“I first came face to face with the severity of the climate crisis in the summer of 2019,” Yoon told Earth.Org in an email interview in September. “I happened to watch a documentary about the climate crisis. I was shocked because it was so different from what I had learned about global warming in school. I used to think that global warming was something that would happen in 100 years, that I didn’t need to worry about it, and that it only affected polar bears. But the documentary told me that we have less than 10 years to go, and that meant I couldn’t escape the effects of the climate crisis.”

The eye-opening documentary marked a turning point in the young girl’s life. She became vegan and started picking up trash, but quickly realised that collective action – and not individual practices – was the only way to ignite much needed policy change.

“I looked for something I could do, and when I found out that youths like me were protesting in Korea, I decided to protest in Ulsan, where I live. I picked up boxes from the recycling bin, wrote down what I wanted to say with crayons and paints, and started picketing in front of my school, in front of the city hall, and in front of the park,” she explained. Discussions with the superintendent, city councillors, and the vice mayor in her community all went unheard, she said. “[T]hey weren’t interested in addressing the climate crisis, they just took pictures with me and posted them on Facebook.”

Borim Kim recalled a similar feeling of hopelessness when trying to “spread the word” on climate change. The young activist has been leading Youth 4 Climate Action and working on the litigation since late 2019.

“[W]e have long demanded that policymakers of government, legislative and executive, enact laws to stop the climate crisis,” Kim told Earth.Org in an email interview in September. “Sometimes we picketed in the streets, sometimes we stood to spread the word, sometimes we skipped school and took to the streets, sometimes we organized walkouts led by hundreds of youth. We met with policymakers in person to demand that they reduce fossil fuels, create better-oriented greenhouse gas reduction plans, and secure social safety nets. But the changes were always too small, and relying on their voluntary will was unlikely to solve the problem to the point where we would be safe enough.”

Inspired by climate litigation cases underway around the world, the group began considering doing something similar in their home country, an unprecedented move, and one that many lawyers at first discouraged, Kim said.

“[W]hen we were looking into the possibility of filing a constitutional petition in [2019], we were told that it would be impossible, that it would be difficult to be recognized as a plaintiff, and we were worried that the Constitutional Court would even take up the case because there was no such case in Asia, let alone Korea,” the activist recalled.

A long search for counsels to represent them in the legal claim eventually led to Attorney Youn. He is the director of Plan 1.5, a Seoul-based non-profit that “focuses on aligning the Government’s climate policies with the Paris Agreement climate target” by providing legal support to civil society groups going after big polluters.

“[W]hen we met [the plaintiffs], it did not take long to understand that this is not something we can say no to just because it was a difficult case,” Youn told Earth.Org in September. “It was challenging in the legal sense, but all of the fact and the arguments were undeniably legitimate.”

Refining the lawsuit took “a little over a year and a half,” Kim recalled, adding that lawyers and media partners were involved in the process.

“The lawyers we met in the process of creating the campaign believed in the possibility of change, and naturally, the discussion about whether climate litigation was possible in Korea began,” she said. “We realized that while there are many different types of judicial actions we could take, we could clearly argue that the fact that the country’s emissions reductions were not properly set and implemented violated our fundamental rights. I didn’t think a constitutional challenge was a sure thing, but I also didn’t think it was a lost cause.”

The team referred back to previous climate litigation in the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, and the United States, though it had to find a way to create a case in line with the Korean context – something that was never attempted before, Kim said.

“We spent a lot of time organizing and researching the history of the Constitutional Court, the justices’ precedents, and so on, which often coincided with the time I spent outside of the courtroom building the campaign, and it was exciting to see the potential for change that a constitutional complaint could create in the face of no change,” the activist said, recalling the hardships of familiarizing with legal and bureaucratic processes paired with the excitement of seeing the case take shape.

“We were really happy when the case was referred to the court shortly after we filed it. It felt like the case was really starting to take off,” she told Earth.Org. Their claim was later combined with three additional lawsuits filed by civil society groups, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 255.

‘Only the Beginning’

According to Attorney Youn, the ruling “opens up important opportunity to enhance the overall climate action in Korea” and will likely “trigger a broader and stronger trend of judicial victories on climate change.”

Pointing at the anti-dictatorship and democracy movements of the 1980s, and at the civil, labor, and gender rights movements in the 1990s and 2000s, Youn said he is hopeful that the South Korean civil society will once again succeed in leading and pushing for change, this time in the name of climate justice.

For the young plaintiffs, the verdict is only the beginning.

“The Constitutional Court’s ruling was necessary because we need to strengthen our national climate action to a level that protects our fundamental rights,” said Yoon. “Now that the ruling has given us more opportunities to improve our climate response, we will work to move beyond the ways in which we have failed. We still have opportunities to reduce the risks of the climate crisis, and there are things we can do. I want to continue this movement for as long as I can.”

Kim echoed a similar sentiment. He told Earth.Org that while “the ball is now in the court of legislation and administration” to ensure the law is amended accordingly, Youth 4 Climate Action’s efforts to raise public awareness on the climate crisis will continue.

“We will work to ensure that we do not repeat the failed approach of the past, where national reductions are made in a way that removes the context of people’s lives,” the activist said, adding that “only a climate movement organized in this way can make a difference.”

The case’s impact on public opinion in South Korea has been huge, as demonstrated by the more than 30,000 people that took to the streets in Seoul days after the verdict to demand more action on climate change.

They marched under the slogan “Let’s Change the World, Not the Climate,” which is representative of what the ruling may signify not just for South Korea but also for Asia, where similar cases are under way.

“South Korea’s Constitutional Court has sent an unequivocal message that climate action is a legal duty,” said Co-Director of the Climate Litigation Network Sarah Mead. “As the first ruling of its kind in Asia, this hugely significant victory will have a positive ripple effect throughout the region and provide further support to the dozens of similar cases that are currently pending across the world.”

Japan, where climate litigation is still a novelty, last month saw a group of young activists file its first-ever youth climate lawsuit. The 16 plaintiffs, aged between 15 and 29, argue that 10 major Japanese thermal power companies contribute to climate change and thus infringe upon some fundamental human rights.

In Taiwan, a climate litigation case is awaiting resolution in its Constitutional Court. The lawsuit was filed in 2021 by Greenpeace East Asia, the Environmental Jurists Association, and four individual plaintiffs, who accuse Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs’ (MOEA) Regulation for Large Power Consumers of being unambitious and in breach of the country’s climate laws. According to the regulation, high electricity users are obliged to shift 10% of their contracted capacity to renewable energy.

In Indonesia, 14 individuals have lodged a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, alleging that the government is infringing on their constitutional rights by not implementing adequate mitigation and adaptation measures as well as measures to limit the temperatures rise to below 1.5C, as set in the legally binding Paris Agreement. The plaintiffs, aged between 7 and 59, claim to have faced “life-threatening hazards, reduced physical and mental well-being, increased health risks, food and water insecurity, along with disruption to their education and livelihoods” because of climate change.

For the two young Korean activists, there is no doubt that the South Korean case will have a snowball effect.

“We hope that seeing change happen in South Korea will inspire others who are pursuing similar judicial action for climate justice,” said Kim. “In fact, our case was built on the victories of other countries that came before us, so we’re hopeful that there will be examples of change that will be even better than ours.”

“Young climate activists around the world are building their own movements in different environments, but I believe we are in this together,” said Yoon. “Without the victories of other climate lawsuits in the Netherlands, Germany, Montana, and elsewhere, the victory of the Korean climate lawsuit would not have been possible.”

Featured image: Youth4ClimateAction.

You might also like: Explainer: Climate Litigation – Trends and Impact

The post Meet South Korea’s Young Activists Spearheading Climate Action in Asia appeared first on Earth.Org.

Picture this: A creature, small yet striking, wrapped in russet fur so vivid it could ignite the darkest of forests with its fiery charm. Its eyes, framed by a mask of darkness, hold a centuries-old mystery as if they have witnessed the dance of shadows and light in these dense woodlands since time immemorial. But don’t be deceived by its captivating appearance alone. The red panda boasts a myriad of extraordinary traits that place it in a league of its own in the animal kingdom.

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The red panda, often described as the “fire fox,” is a captivating and enigmatic creature that roams the dense forests of Asia. Its striking russet fur, masked face, and bushy tail exude a charm that captivates wildlife enthusiasts and casual observers alike. Beyond its adorable appearance, the red panda boasts unique characteristics that make it a fascinating species in the animal kingdom.

These charming creatures, scientifically known as Ailurus fulgens, inhabit the Eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. They are small mammals, roughly the size of a house cat, weighing 7 to 14 pounds (3.2-6.6kg). But it is their vivid reddish-brown fur that immediately draws attention. This fur is excellent camouflage in its lush, mountainous habitat, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the dense foliage.

One of the most distinctive features of the red panda is its expressive facial markings. With dark fur surrounding their eyes, resembling a mask, and white fur on their cheeks, they appear to be perpetually ready for a masquerade ball. This facial pattern not only adds to their cuteness but also helps reduce glare from the sun, enabling them to see more clearly in their forested environment. Furthermore, their partially retractable claws and flexible ankles allow them to climb trees with agility, an essential skill for hunting and escaping predators.

The red panda, often described as the “fire fox,” is a captivating and enigmatic creature that roams the dense forests of Asia. Its striking russet fur, masked face, and bushy tail exude a charm that captivates wildlife enthusiasts and casual observers alike. Beyond its adorable appearance, the red panda boasts unique characteristics that make it a fascinating species in the animal kingdom.

These charming creatures, scientifically known as Ailurus fulgens, inhabit the Eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. They are small mammals, roughly the size of a house cat, weighing 7 to 14 pounds (3.2-6.6kg). But it is their vivid reddish-brown fur that immediately draws attention. This fur is excellent camouflage in its lush, mountainous habitat, allowing it to blend seamlessly into the dense foliage.

One of the most distinctive features of the red panda is its expressive facial markings. With dark fur surrounding their eyes, resembling a mask, and white fur on their cheeks, they appear to be perpetually ready for a masquerade ball. This facial pattern not only adds to their cuteness but also helps reduce glare from the sun, enabling them to see more clearly in their forested environment. Furthermore, their partially retractable claws and flexible ankles allow them to climb trees with agility, an essential skill for hunting and escaping predators.

Red pandas primarily lead solitary lives, with only brief encounters during the breeding season. Their diet mainly consists of bamboo, leaves, berries, fruits, and occasionally small rodents or insects. This dietary preference aligns them with their distant relatives, the giant pandas, and they even share a habitat with them in certain regions.

You might also like: EO’s Endangered Species Spotlight: The Red Panda

Why Are Red Pandas Disappearing?

As enchanting as these creatures are, the red panda’s existence hangs in the balance. Their conservation status is currently precarious, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listing them as Endangered. 

Did you know that the population of red pandas across the globe has plummeted by a shocking 50% in just two decades? It is heartbreaking that as few as 2,500 of these adorable creatures may be left in the wild. The biggest threat to their survival is habitat loss, devastating their natural homes, driven by human activities such as deforestation, agriculture, and infrastructure development. This loss of habitat disrupts their already limited range and makes it challenging for them to find sufficient food and suitable mates.

Another grave concern is poaching. Unfortunately, the striking fur of red pandas is a target for illegal wildlife trade. These animals are often captured and sold as pets, or their pelts are traded on the black market. According to the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of Nepal, 90% of incidents related to wildlife crime in the country are not reported. Such activities further diminish their dwindling populations and pose a severe risk for long-term survival.

Conservation Efforts

In recent years, conservation efforts to protect the endangered red panda have gained significant momentum. Multiple stakeholders, including organisations, governments, and local communities, have proactively protected red panda populations and their natural habitats. These initiatives encompass a wide range of strategies. 

One pivotal approach involves establishing and maintaining protected areas and national parks in regions where red pandas are found. These sanctuaries offer a secure haven, shielding red pandas from habitat degradation and poaching threats. Notable examples include India’s Singalila National Park and China’s Wolong National Nature Reserve.

To counteract habitat deterioration, conservationists are diligently working on habitat restoration projects. These endeavors encompass reforestation efforts, bamboo planting (a primary food source for red pandas), and the creation of wildlife corridors that link fragmented habitats, allowing red pandas to move between areas with greater safety.

The battle against illegal hunting and the illicit trade in red panda pelts is waged by anti-poaching teams and wildlife law enforcement agencies. Their endeavors center on the rigorous enforcement of wildlife protection laws, incorporating stringent penalties for poachers and traffickers to deter these unlawful activities.

Public awareness campaigns and educational programs are vital in enlightening individuals about the significance of red panda conservation. These initiatives aim to diminish the demand for red panda products, promote responsible tourism practices, and garner support for ongoing conservation endeavours.

Since the red panda’s range spans several nations, international collaboration is indispensable in red panda conservation. Organisations like the Red Panda Network are instrumental in coordinating and supporting these transboundary efforts. They collaborated with the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation of Nepal to create the world’s inaugural community-based protocol for conducting field surveys and monitoring red pandas. Also, their efforts involve working with local community groups to create wildlife corridors, training “forest guardians” to increase awareness about red pandas, and partnering with villagers to establish protected areas.

Climate change poses a formidable threat to red panda habitats. Consequently, conservationists advocate for comprehensive climate change mitigation measures, as stabilising climate conditions is essential for the long-term survival of red pandas and the bamboo forests they depend upon. Furthermore, corporate partnerships have emerged as a valuable resource supporting red panda conservation. Corporations and businesses are increasingly joining these efforts through fundraising, awareness campaigns, and corporate social responsibility initiatives.

Ultimately, the red panda’s fate rests in humanity’s hands. The choice to protect and conserve this unique species reflects our commitment to preserving the rich biodiversity of our planet. By safeguarding their habitats, cracking down on illegal trade, and supporting conservation efforts, we can ensure that the red panda continues to enchant future generations with its captivating presence in the forests of Asia. In doing so, we protect a remarkable species and acknowledge our shared responsibility as stewards of the natural world. The red panda’s survival symbolizes our capacity to coexist harmoniously with the incredible diversity of life surrounding us, reminding us that our actions today determine the legacy we leave for tomorrow.

“The red panda’s struggle for survival mirrors our own, for we are all interconnected threads in the fabric of life. Protecting one species means preserving the entire tapestry of biodiversity.” — Dr. Jane Goodall

You might also like: 10 of the World’s Most Endangered Animals in 2024

The post The Untold Story of Red Pandas appeared first on Earth.Org.

This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including new controversies surrounding the European Union’s anti-deforestation law and a new report unveiling the killing of nearly 200 land and environmental defenders in 2023.

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1. Nearly 200 Land and Environmental Defenders Killed in 2023, Mostly in Latin America, Global Witness Report Reveals

196 defenders were murdered in 2023 while exercising their right to protect their lands and the environment, a new report has revealed, adding that the number of casualties is likely much higher.

This brings the total number of killings to 2,106 since Global Witness began reporting data in 2012, the environmental watchdog group said in its latest report published Tuesday.

Latin America made up 85% of all killings last year. Weak legal protections, high levels of corruption, and intense conflicts over land and resource exploitation make the region one of the most dangerous to operate in for environmental defenders.

Colombia topped the list of the deadliest countries for environmental defenders for the second year in a row with 79 murders – 40% of the total. In 2022, 60 defenders were killed in the country, which is preparing to host the year’s most important biodiversity meeting next month.

In neighbouring Brazil, home to the world’s largest rainforest, 25 defenders were murdered, while Mexico and Honduras each saw 18 killings. The latter has the largest per capita killing rate.

“Every killing leaves the world more vulnerable to the climate, biodiversity and pollution crises,” the report read. 

Read more here.

2. Tens of Thousands in Seoul Protest Government’s Climate Inaction Following Landmark Court Victory

More than 30,000 people took to the streets in South Korea’s capital Seoul on Saturday demanding more action on climate change, days after a top court ruled that the government’s climate policies violate fundamental human rights.

Protesters from all walks of life marched in Seoul’s Gangnam District under the slogan “Let’s Change the World, Not the Climate,” many holding handmade cardboard banners reading “Climate Justice” and “Change Now.” In a joint statement seen by The Korea Times, 611 civic and environmental groups said they were marching to “address the climate disaster and global injustice, and to protect a life of equality and dignity.”

The protest came just little over a week after a group of young climate activists scored a landmark victory at the Constitutional Court of Korea. The court late last month ruled that the government’s measures to fight climate change are insufficient for protecting the rights of its citizens. It was Asia’s first climate litigation ruling of its kind.

Read more here.

3. Italy’s Marmolada Glacier Set to Disappear By 2040 As Temperatures Rise, Researchers Warn

The Marmolada glacier, the highest glacier of the Dolomites and an UNESCO World Heritage site, is disappearing and could melt away completely by as early as 2040.

The 3,343-meter glacier, located in the Alps mountain range in northeastern Italy and also known as the “Queen of the Dolomites,” is disappearing at a rate of between 7 and 10 centimeters a day, a recent assessment has revealed. It lost around 50% of its original surface in the past century and another 50% in the past decade. Since 2019, the glacier shrank by an additional 70 hectares or the equivalent of 98 football pitches.

Scientists have repeatedly warned that the largest glaciers in the Alps, namely the Adamello and Forni, are experiencing similar challenges. The Forni Glacier is losing ice at a rate comparable to that of the Marmolada. Meanwhile, long-term measurements of the 3,539-meter Adamello indicate that its current surface is primarily composed of snowfall from the 1980s, highlighting the significant and ongoing decline in glacial mass.

Read more here.

4. ‘From the City to the Countryside’: Greenpeace Raises Alarm After Microplastic Found in 85% of Hong Kong Wild Mammal Feces Samples

A new study published Monday revealed the presence of microplastics in the feces of five wild mammals – buffalo, boar, macaque, porcupine, and cattle – with the latter having the highest concentration. Greenpeace collaborated with research teams from universities in Hong Kong and Taipei to collect 100 samples of feces in Hong Kong’s countryside between June and August 2022. They found a total of 2,503 microplastics pieces in 85% of the 100 samples collected.

The Greenpeace investigation revealed that microplastics commonly found in single-use plastic packaging, takeaway containers, and disposable utensils – also known as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) – were the predominant types mammals ingested.

“The findings of this study are important, proving that wild animals can ingest microplastics in the countryside, where it is away from urban areas and human activities,” said Christelle Not, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong.

Previous Greenpeace research conducted in 2021 confirmed the presence of microplastics in many of Hong Kong’s countryside streams, though Monday’s study marks the first evidence of microplastics reaching wild animals.

Read more here.

5. Brazil Urges EU to Postpone and Reassess ‘Unilateral’ Anti-Deforestation Law Over Fears It Will Affect Trade Relations

In a letter to the European Commission seen by Reuters, the Brazilian government said the law was an “unilateral and punitive instrument” that discriminates against countries whose economies rely on forest resources such as Brazil.

“Brazil is one of the main suppliers to the EU of most of the products covered by the legislation, which correspond to more than 30% of our exports to the community bloc,” the letter, signed by the Minister of Agriculture Carlos Fávaro and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, said. “In order to avoid impact on our trade relations, we request that the EU not implement the EUDR (EU Deforestation-free Regulation) at the end of 2024 and urgently reassess its approach to the issue.”

Government calculations suggest the legislation could affect some $15 billion-worth of exports. According to Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade figures, as reported by Reuters, Brazil’s exports of products covered by the EUDR in 2023 amounted to $46.2 billion.

In April, European Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius said the law will come into force at the end of 2024 as initially planned in response to calls by an Austria-led coalition of 20 of the 27 EU member states to review the law. They argued that the new rules would hurt European farmers, who are also subject to the new rules.

Read more here.

The post Week in Review: Top Climate News for September 9-13, 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.

In eastern Asia, dead palms lay forgotten in fields, waiting to become a beacon of sustainable energy. Fortunately, researchers are taking advantage of these found materials, discovering ways they could revolutionize biomass power generation. The promising findings are cursory steps in reducing the need for virgin materials and eliminating the negative side effects of biofuel production.

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Malaysia and Japan’s Palm Experiments

Researchers in Malaysia and Japan are trying to renew biomass energy with felled palm trees. The concept has been in development since 2018, and operations are currently unfolding in southern Malaysia, in the town of Kluang. Although trees, particularly palms, appear to be a promising source of biomass feedstock, they are burdened with impurities that render them less suitable for processing.

The partnering universities put dead palm trunks into a machine, grinding them down into fiber piles within seconds. Their machine would remove impurities in the process, shaping the powder into pellets for boilers.

From a reduction perspective, Asian palms have a distinct advantage over other biomass feedstocks. Their water content is between 70-80%, making them soft and easier to mulch. Additionally, they contain tons of sap, which opens the door for more sustainable applications, such as green aviation fuels. Any unused materials can be repurposed as fertilizer, assisting local agriculture.

The studies clarify that biofuel is not the only application for dead palms. Furniture makers could lower deforestation rates by crafting pieces from these sturdy trunks. A wood board company sent its palm-originated boards to 15 furniture makers to test on a variety of pieces. Japan has successfully manufactured and sold palm-based items since 2022, demonstrating their commercial potential.

Better Biomass

Biofuels and biomass production may become more prevalent renewable energy generators on the planet. However, several problems keep them from reaching their full potential. The palm tree research provides a glimpse into what needs repairing within the biomass sector to make it more sustainable and circular.

Should trees remain in groves to support healthy soils and encourage new growth? While this is the logic for many plant varieties, decomposing palms may invite more harm than good. In their wake, termites and other unwelcome fungi flourish. Additionally, each tree releases 1.3 tons of greenhouse gasses as it dies, making it more impactful to repurpose them before they do.

One issue these experts solve is palm oil’s negative environmental impact. It is among the most hot-button topics in sustainability as the world’s most used vegetable-based oil. Malaysia and Indonesia are top users of the product, making the research’s impact more meaningful. Naturally, this outfit requires swaths of palm groves, which have overtaken countless acres of land and destroyed other forests to make room for this profitable venture.

The land needed to meet global palm oil demand increased tenfold between 1970 and 2020, totaling 30 million hectares. This is more than any other vegetable oil crop, including soybeans, sunflowers and coconuts. Extracting necessary resources from these dead palms is a sustainable option for the palm oil and biomass market. 

More on the topic: The Challenges of Sustainable Palm Oil Production and Consumption

Palm Tree Progress

The research provides an optimistic perspective on the future of palm oil and environmental rehabilitation. But what do stakeholders need to make it commercially viable?

Palm tree recycling looks good on paper, but it is never sustainable to transport heavy trees long distances to recycling plants. Machinery is also resource-intensive. The equipment required for oil palm field cultivation accounts for 96.08% of its energy. The damage caused at this phase would make a life cycle analysis for these materials look unsustainable. Even for recycled palm trees, the entire value chain and all scopes of emissions would need to be accounted for.

The circular mindset of tree recycling will need to be paired with technological shifts, like electrification or lean processing practices to reduce waste and energy consumption.

These experts and biotechnologists can only see their vision come to life by partnering with oil extractors and grove managers. A compelling pitch must incentivize them to dispose of their waste ethically. If they hand their products to recyclers, then they could get low- to no-cost resources in return. 

The setup is probable because it benefits all parties by appealing to corporate interests. Dead palm recycling stakeholders can convince them further by suggesting it will help adhere to environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks with minimal effort.

Commercial and Consumer Impact

The implications of the palm oil research will change how people purchase palm-based products. Sustainable certifications and labels are one of the most critical components of any corporate social responsibility strategy, so it will not be long before these materials receive similar third-party checks. An external evaluation will prove palm materials are properly recycled and grown in ethical operations, akin to the responsibilities of the Forest Stewardship Council. 

As these guidelines become clarified, eco-friendly palm wood could be used to make carbon-friendly flooring, food products, biofuel pellets or construction materials. Eventually, a sustainable offering will be created to combat palm products made from environmentally destructive sources. 

However, the most significant impact will be on cost-effective, accessible biomass feedstocks. Boilers and stoves could now accept palm products when it was a challenge before because of impurities. There were few examples of manufacturing outfits producing palm-based biomass products at scale, and many default to compressed wood or other options. 

Buyers from all perspectives will also feel a reduction in climate anxiety and the weight of individual responsibility. Researchers show workers harvested only 10% of fresh fruit bunches from Malaysian palms. Typically, the remainder contributes to palm groves’ carbon footprints as they die, as milling equipment and operations remain inefficient. When companies recycle dead palms and get more out of each tree, consumers will feel less guilty about these items.

Dead Plant Research Is on Fire

Malaysia and Japan could see palm tree recycling facilities operate in the coming years. The advancement inspires corporations to find accessible implementations to boost sustainability in one of the most toxic sectors.

It also alleviates the burden on businesses and individual consumers, who fear their adverse climate impact of palm oil. These efforts should catalyze further creative ideation in the biomass and biofuel world to reduce overfarming and deforestation.

The post From Dead Palms to Sustainable Energy Solutions: How Asia Is Maximizing Biomass Fuel appeared first on Earth.Org.

A total of 2,503 microplastics pieces were found in 85% of the 100 samples collected in several countryside areas across Hong Kong between June and August 2022.

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It’s no secret that Hong Kong faces a plastic problem. However, researchers have now discovered evidence that plastic pollution has extended beyond the city, affecting the countryside and the wildlife that inhabits it.

A new study published Monday revealed the presence of microplastics in the feces of five wild mammals – buffalo, boar, macaque, porcupine, and cattle – with the latter having the highest concentration. Greenpeace collaborated with research teams from universities in Hong Kong and Taipei to collect 100 samples of feces in Hong Kong’s countryside between June and August 2022. They found a total of 2,503 microplastics pieces in 85% of the 100 samples collected.

Microplastics are fragments of plastic smaller than 5 millimeters and larger than 1 micron (one thousandth of a millimetre) in length. Common examples include materials such as glitter, microbeads and fragments from larger pieces of plastic debris, as well as from items of clothing. 

According to the United Nations, more than 51 trillion microplastic particles litter the world’s seas, a quantity that outnumbers the stars in our galaxy by 500 times. Since microplastics became a pressing topic among environmental researchers at the beginning of the 21st century, these tiny, toxic particles of plastic have been thoroughly studied. Researchers have found them pretty much everywhere, from inside marine creatures to food and water as well as, not surprisingly, even in human blood.

The Greenpeace investigation revealed that microplastics commonly found in single-use plastic packaging, takeaway containers, and disposable utensils – also known as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) – were the predominant types mammals ingested.

“The findings of this study are important, proving that wild animals can ingest microplastics in the countryside, where it is away from urban areas and human activities,” said Christelle Not, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Hong Kong.

Previous Greenpeace research conducted in 2021 confirmed the presence of microplastics in many of Hong Kong’s countryside streams, though Monday’s study marks the first evidence of microplastics reaching wild animals.

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues affecting Hong Kong. In 2022, plastic made up 21% of the territory’s municipal solid waste, second only to food waste. The city’s beaches and waterways are drowning in plastic, and microplastic levels in the sea are 40% higher than the global average.

The lack of an efficient recycling infrastructure is a major contributing factor in the plastic crisis in Hong Kong. In 2022, less than 13% of Hong Kong’s nearly one million tonnes of plastic waste was recycled. Hong Kong’s consumerism and spending cultures are also considered among the unhealthiest in the world. And with excessive consumption comes excessive waste. According to Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department (EPD), Hongkongers throw away an average of 1.5 kilograms per person per day.

More on the topic: Investigation Reveals Plastic in Hong Kong Recycling Bins Sent to Landfills

In April, the government implemented the first phase of a plastic ban, which targets all Expanded Polystyrene tableware, as well as plastic straws, stirrers, forks, knifes, spoons and plates. However, environmental groups worry that several exceptions and the lack of a clear timeline for the implementation of the second phase might compromise the ban’s effectiveness.

“Microplastics are difficult to clean up, leading to their accumulation in the environment and increasing the risk of contaminating the food chain. The government should not allow corporates to produce plastic without proper regulation; otherwise, the entire ecosystem will struggle to escape the plastic pollution,” said Leanne Tam, a Greenpeace Campaigner.

The NGO is calling on the government and corporates to “take the lead” in developing effective plastic reduction policies both on a local level – such as developing a reusable tableware rental system – and globally, by supporting the implementation of a Global Plastics Treaty.

In March 2022, the United Nations Environment Assembly adopted Resolution 5/14, agreeing to adopt a legally binding Treaty by the end of 2024. Since then, four of five Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) sessions have been held with the last one scheduled to take place in Busan, South Korea, this November.

The most recent session, held in April in Ottawa, Canada, saw the completion of some work, including developing a list of products and chemicals of concern, and standard design requirements to improve recycling capabilities. However, despite calls by several nations, talks did not address the need to reduce production of primary plastic polymers (new plastics). This was likely due to the influence of nearly 200 fossil fuel lobbyists present at the talks, a 37% increase from the third meeting. 

“The world is burning, and member states are wasting time and opportunity. We saw some progress… However, compromises were made on the outcome which disregarded plastic production cuts, further distancing us from reaching a treaty that science requires, and justice demands,” Graham Forbes, Greenpeace Head of Delegation to the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations and Global Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace USA, said in April.

Humans now generate nearly 300 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, 60% of which end up in our natural environment. If that wasn’t enough, plastic production is expected to increase from today’s 300 million metric tonnes to 33 billion metric tonnes per year by 2050.

Featured image: JJ Tsui/Greenpeace East Asia.

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Protesters gathered in Seoul’s Gangnam District, which hosts numerous corporate offices and tech companies, as temperatures soared past 30C amid an unusual early autumn heatwave.

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More than 30,000 people took to the streets in South Korea’s capital Seoul on Saturday demanding more action on climate change, days after a top court ruled that the government’s climate policies violate fundamental human rights.

Protesters from all walks of life marched in Seoul’s Gangnam District under the slogan “Let’s Change the World, Not the Climate,” many holding handmade cardboard banners reading “Climate Justice” and “Change Now.”

Demonstrators interviewed by several media outlets said they were frustrated at their government inaction and worried about their future. In a joint statement seen by The Korea Times, 611 civic and environmental groups said they were marching to “address the climate disaster and global injustice, and to protect a life of equality and dignity.”

“There is no place for people’s livelihoods in efforts to increase electricity demand for economic growth or to expand nuclear risks and greenhouse gases,” the statement read.

South Korea is placed in a unique position in terms of nuclear energy policies due to its drastic transition in recent years. In 2017, the newly elected left-wing president Moon Jae-In announced a gradual phase-out of nuclear power plants over the next 45 years. However, the current president, right-wing Yoon Seok-Yeol, reversed plans to continue building new nuclear power plants and operating the plants that were set to be shut down since his election in 2022.

As of 2022, nuclear accounted for 16% of the country’s energy mix, while all three major fossil fuels combined – coal, natural gas, and oil – made up more than 80% of the total.

Speaking with Reuters, Kim Eun-Jung from the 907 Climate Justice March Committee, the protest’s organizers, said their goal was to “raise our voices” to big polluting corporations driving global warming.

“This year, we are holding the event in Gangnam, specifically because many large corporations, which bear significant responsibility for the climate crisis through carbon emissions, are concentrated here,” she said.

On Saturday, temperatures soared past 30C amid an unusual early autumn heatwave. The country just experienced its highest average summertime temperature since records began half a century ago –nearly 2C higher than the historic average, the Korea Meteorological Administration confirmed last week.

Temperatures in South Korea rose by 0.23C (32.41F) per decade between 1954-1999 and by 0.5C between 2001 and 2010, according to a 2021 report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Between 2000 and 2020, the country has seen a 0.6C (33.08F) increase in annual temperatures.

More on the topic: How Climate Change Is Unfolding in South Korea

The protest came just little over a week after a group of young climate activists scored a landmark victory at the Constitutional Court of Korea. The court late last month ruled that the government’s measures to fight climate change are insufficient for protecting the rights of its citizens. It was Asia’s first climate litigation ruling of its kind.

Currently, South Korea does not have any legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions between 2031 and 2049. This absence means the government cannot guarantee the protection of future generations, a right engrained in its constitution, the court ruled.

Featured image: 350.org/Flickr.

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This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including new data confirming summer 2024 as the hottest on record and worrisome rise in wildfires in Brazil.

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1. Record-Breaking Summer Signals 2024 Could Be the Hottest Year Ever, European Scientists Say

This year is well on track to be the hottest on record after a record-breaking summer and the highest year-to-date global average temperature, European scientists confirmed on Friday.

The global-average temperature between June and August was the highest in the Copernicus Climate Change Service’s (C3S) ERA5 dataset at 0.69C above the 1991-2020 average for the same period and 0.03C higher than the previous record set last year.

According to C3S, a service operated by the EU’s Copernicus Earth observation programme, July was the second-hottest on record, just 0.04C shy than the average temperature in July 2023. However, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) later found it to be the hottest on record. July also saw two back-to-back record-breaking daily temperatures.

Between January and August, the global-average temperature anomaly was 0.70C above the 1991-2020 average, 0.23C warmer than the previous highest anomaly recorded in 2023. For 2024 not to be warmer than 2023, the anomaly for the remaining months of the year would need to decrease by at least 0.30C – a highly unlikely scenario, said C3S.

Read more here.

2. Bangladesh Floods Leave 71 Dead As UNICEF Warns of ‘Unprecedented’ Challenges

The floods, the worst in 34 years for the region, have affected an estimated 5.9 million people – including more than 2 million children – and left at least 71 dead as of Tuesday. More than half a million people were displaced, with thousands currently at evacuation shelters.

Speaking from the southeastern district of Feni, the epicenter of the flooding, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Bangladesh Emma Brigham on Monday talked about “unprecedented times” in the country as she appealed for support.

“Bangladesh is a country that is normally very good at dealing with cyclones, with flooding, they happen all too frequently. But this case is different. It’s happened in an area that doesn’t normally suffer from cyclones and flooding so the preparedness levels were not what they should’ve been amongst communities,” Bringham told CNN.

Read more here.

3. Drought-Stricken Brazil Sees 80% Yearly Rise in Wildfires in 2024 As Toxic Smoke Spreads Across the Country

Wildfires in drought-stricken Brazil have surged to the highest level since 2010 in August as government figures suggested criminal actions were behind the spike.

Last week, environment minister Marina Silva said during an emergency meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva that the country was “at war” with fire, adding that the historic surge in blazes was “unusual” and was being investigated by federal police.

The biome has recorded 38,266 fire hotspots last month, more than double compared to the same time last year according to data from Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). More than 80% of them were concentrated in the states of Para (36%), Amazonas (29%) and Mato Grosso (16%).

Read more here.

4. Italy’s Southern Islands Drought Made 50% More Likely By Climate Change, Study Finds

The “extreme” drought affecting two major Italian islands was made 50% more likely by climate change and exacerbated further by the region’s ageing water infrastructure, a new attribution study has revealed.

In Sicily and Sardinia – the two largest islands in the Mediterranean, home to 5 and 1.6 million people, respectively – a year of “exceptionally low rainfall and persistent heat” have created the perfect conditions for the exceptional droughts, among the worst on record. In July, both islands were in a state of emergency as bone-dry conditions led to devastating wildfires that destroyed farmland and forests. Sicily accounted for 45% of wildfires so far this year; Sardinia for 10%.

Conducted by World Weather Attribution (WWA), an academic collaboration studying extreme event attribution, and published Wednesday, the analysis revealed that without human-driven warming, the droughts on both islands would not have been classified as “extreme.”

Read more here.

5. Super Typhoon Yagi Nears Southern China After Killing At Least 17 in the Philippines

Yagi intensified into a Super Typhoon on Wednesday night local time and is currently the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, with sustained wind speeds of 210 km/h (130 mph). It is expected to make a rare landfall as a super typhoon in Hainan in the evening of Friday. Between 1949 and 2023, of the 106 typhoons which made landfall in Hainan, only 9 were classified as super typhoons.

Typhoon Yagi formed as a tropical storm on Sunday in the western Philippine Sea. It crossed the islands, dumping 25cm (10 inches) of rain on the northern city of Luzon before moving westward toward the South China Sea. Yagi’s torrential rainfall led to floods and landslides in the northern part of the archipelago, killing at least 13 people.

Typhoons – also known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific – are a rather common weather phenomenon, though there has been a significant increase in their intensity in recent decades, which scientific observations link to anthropogenic climate change. 

Read more here.

The post Week in Review: Top Climate News for September 2-6, 2024 appeared first on Earth.Org.

Super Typhoon Yagi is currently the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, with sustained wind speeds of 210 km/h (130 mph).

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Hong Kong and China’s southern provinces and cities on Thursday braced for the arrival of Super Typhoon Yagi, which is expected to bring strong winds and torrential rainfall to the region today and tomorrow.

Yagi intensified into a Super Typhoon on Wednesday night local time and is currently the equivalent of a Category 4 Atlantic hurricane, with sustained wind speeds of 210 km/h (130 mph). It is expected to make a rare landfall as a super typhoon in Hainan in the evening of Friday. Between 1949 and 2023, of the 106 typhoons which made landfall in Hainan, only 9 were classified as super typhoons.

Typhoon Yagi formed as a tropical storm on Sunday in the western Philippine Sea. It crossed the islands, dumping 25cm (10 inches) of rain on the northern city of Luzon before moving westward toward the South China Sea.

Yagi’s torrential rainfall led to floods and landslides in the northern part of the archipelago, killing at least 13 people.

Typhoon Classification

Hong Kong, China, Japan and the Philippines classify tropical cyclones into six categories, albeit with small variations. Hong Kong, for example, refers to them simply as “Typhoons” when wind speed does not exceed 149 km/h (92.6 mph), after which they become “Severe Typhoons” (TS). Only when the speed is 185 km/h or above (>115 mph), they take the name of “Super Typhoons” (SuperT).

Hong Kong also relies on a set of numeric warming signals to indicate the threat or effects of a typhoon, with the lowest level (T1 or “standby signal”) issued when a tropical cyclone approaches within 800 kilometres (497 miles) of the territory and poses a threat of deteriorating conditions. According to the strong winds range, the warning can increase to a T3 (Strong Wind), T8 (Gale or Storm), T9 (Increasing Gale or Storm) and T10 (Hurricane).

In its latest bulletin, the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) said the “mature storm” will skirt around 300 kilometres to the southwest of the territory tonight and tomorrow morning and that it “will consider” issuing the Gale or Storm Signal, No. 8 between 4pm and 7pm local time on Thursday.

Climate Crisis

Typhoons – also known as hurricanes in the North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific and cyclones in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific – are a rather common weather phenomenon, though there has been a significant increase in their intensity in recent decades, which scientific observations link to anthropogenic climate change. 

These abnormal trends are attributed largely to the increased ocean temperatures. As ocean surfaces warm, so does the air above it, causing water to be carried up to high altitudes to form clouds, while leaving a low pressure zone beneath causing more air to rush in. As these systems build up, thunderstorms are formed. In the absence of strong winds to disrupt it, the system can intensify into a typhoon.

While the number of typhoons is not necessarily increasing, those that do form are becoming more destructive – generating heavier rain and a higher storm surge.

More on the topic: What Are Tropical Cyclones? Hurricanes and Typhoons, And Their Link to Climate Change, Explained

The world’s seas have been exceptionally warm for more than a year. The average sea surface temperature last month reached 20.88C, the second-highest value on record and only 0.01C shy of the value recorded in July 2023. This put an end to a 15-month period of record-breaking sea surface temperatures. The latest temperature trends makes it “increasingly likely” that 2024 will be the warmest year yet, beating last year, according to the EU weather agency Copernicus.

“Fossil fuel-driven warming is ushering in a new era of bigger, deadlier typhoons,” said Ben Clarke, Researcher at the London Imperial College’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. Clarke was part of a team of researchers at World Weather Attribution (WWA) that last month published a study on Typhoon Gaemi, which battered the Philippines, Taiwan and eastern China in July. They found that the typhoon, which left more than 100 people dead, was intensified by fossil fuel-driven global warming.

Gaemi saw sustained winds peak at 233 km/h (145 mph), the equivalent of a Category 4 hurricane. According to the attribution analysis, the winds were about 9 mph (14 km/h) or 7% more intense due to human-made climate change.

Featured image: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

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Authorities and humanitarian organization are now focusing on preventing the spread of waterborne diseases, a very common aftermath of floods, with cases of diarrhea and pneumonia already reported in some affected areas.

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Bangladesh is facing “unprecedented” challenges as it deals with the aftermath of deadly floods that affected the eastern part of the country.

The floods have affected an estimated 5.9 million people – including more than 2 million children – and left at least 71 dead as of Tuesday. More than half a million people were displaced, with thousands currently at evacuation shelters.

The flash floods, triggered by heavy rainfall and upstream water flows from India, have had a devastating impact on communities across 11 districts in the eastern regions of the country. Noakhali, Cumilla, Laxipur, Feni, Chattogram, and Moulvibazar were among the worst-hit districts.

These are the worst floods in 34 years to affect this part of Bangladesh.

Around 7,000 schools have been impacted by the floods, affecting 1.7 million primary students across the flood-hit districts.

Nearly 300,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed by floodwaters, while initial fisheries and livestock losses amounted to US$122 million and $34 million, respectively. Major rivers in the Chattogram and Sylhet are “flowing well above danger levels,” further exacerbating the situation, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Speaking from the southeastern district of Feni, the epicenter of the flooding, UNICEF Deputy Representative to Bangladesh Emma Brigham on Monday talked about “unprecedented times” in the country as she appealed for support.

“Bangladesh is a country that is normally very good at dealing with cyclones, with flooding, they happen all too frequently. But this case is different. It’s happened in an area that doesn’t normally suffer from cyclones and flooding so the preparedness levels were not what they should’ve been amongst communities,” Bringham told CNN.

UNICEF has been providing supplies to more than 850,000 people, including 3.7 million water purification tablets, dehydration salt, hygiene kits, and critical medicines, she said.

Authorities and humanitarian organization are now focusing on preventing the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery and hepatitis A, a very common aftermath of floods that can arise from contaminated floodwater and poor sanitation.

Speaking from a shelter in Noakhali that is housing around 1,000 families, Deepika Sharma, Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF Bangladesh said there had already been numerous cases of diarrhea and pneumonia and there was an “impending danger” of other disease outbreaks. She added that many children in the area were malnourished owing to a lack of clean water and food for “at least” the past week.

As of Tuesday, most communities in Feni had been reached by rescue teams but UNICEF estimates that about 50% of households in the Noakhali district south of Feni were still cut out.

Damaged communication lines and widespread electricity outages have complicated rescue efforts and the coordination of all parties on the ground, said Bringham.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change, which increases the frequency, severity and unpredictability of cyclones, floods and other extreme weather events. The climate crisis is disproportionately affecting Asia. Last year, the continent was hit by a total of 79 water hazard-related disasters, which resulted in more than 2,000 fatalities and directly affected 9 million people. 

Featured image: UN Women Asia and the Pacific/Flickr.

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This weekly round-up brings you key climate news from the past seven days, including the landmark victory of a group of South Korean young climate activists and a new study warning of a “new era of bigger, deadlier typhoons.”

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1. South Korean Youth Score Historic Climate Victory, Setting Important Precedent for Climate Litigation in Asia

A top court in South Korea on Thursday ruled the country’s measures to fight climate change insufficient for protecting the rights of its citizens in Asia’s first climate litigation ruling of its kind.

Currently, South Korea does not have any legally binding targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions between 2031 and 2049. This absence means the government cannot guarantee the protection of future generations, a right engrained in its constitution, the Constitutional Court of Korea ruled.

“Future generations will be more exposed to the impact of climate change, but their participation in today’s democratic political process is limited,” the court said, as reported by The New York Times. “So the legislators have the duty and responsibility to make concrete laws for mid- and long-term greenhouse gas reduction plans.”

The ruling is the first of its kind in Asia. Experts say the landmark decision sets an important precedent for the region, as similar cases are under way.

Read more here.

2. UN Chief Issues Climate ‘SOS’ For Pacific Islands Worst Hit By Ocean Warming, Sea Level Rise

Pacific islands should be provided with a “greater voice on the global stage” as climate change and sea level rise driven by reckless actions from industrialized nations threaten their existence, António Guterres said on Monday.

Addressing reporters on the sidelines of the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, the UN Secretary-General warned of the imminent threat of sea level rise in the Pacific. Guterres highlighted the findings of two UN reports, which show that the South West Pacific is worst hit by rising sea levels, with some areas at risk of disappearing by the end of the century. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the average annual increase was “significantly higher” in two measurement areas of the Pacific north and east of Australia compared to the global average rate rise of 3.4 millimetres a year over the past 30 years.

“I am in Tonga to issue a global SOS – Save Our Seas – on rising sea levels,” Guterres said. “Around the world, rising seas have unparallelled power to cause havoc to coastal cities and ravage coastal economies. Rising seas are a crisis entirely of humanity’s making. The world must act, and answer the SOS before it is too late.”

Read more here.

3. Typhoon Gaemi Intensified By Climate Change As Scientists Warn of A New Era of ‘Bigger, Deadlier’ Typhoons

A typhoon that swept across the Philippines, Taiwan and China’s Hunan province in late July, killing more than 100 people, was intensified by fossil fuel-driven global warming, a new analysis has found.

World Weather Attribution (WWA), an academic collaboration studying extreme event attribution, said on Thursday that Gaemi’s winds were about 9 mph (14 km/h) or 7% more intense due to human-made climate change. The study also determined that the warm sea surface temperatures that fuelled Gaemi would have been “virtually impossible” without anthropogenic climate change.

“Fossil fuel-driven warming is ushering in a new era of bigger, deadlier typhoons,” said Ben Clarke, Researcher at the London Imperial College’s Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. Clarke also warned that Asia will become increasingly inhospitable and dangerous “until fossil fuels are replaced with renewable energy.”

Read more here.

4. Green Groups Sue European Commission Over Insufficient Emission Reduction Targets

In a statement published Tuesday, CAN Europe and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) announced they had submitted the final written arguments to the General Court of the European Union after the lawsuit was formally filed before the court earlier this year. The two groups accuse the bloc of failing to conduct essential assessments when setting climate targets for sectors including buildings, agriculture, waste, small industry, and transport, which together account for 57% of the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The lawsuit, brought against the European Commission, follows a previous attempt by CAN Europe to sue the bloc for its climate targets, which was ultimately not admitted. An oral hearing is expected in the first half of 2025.

“We have to use all available channels to push the European Commission to bring the EU’s climate ambition on track with its fair share for the 1.5C goal of the Paris agreement. The EU has to ramp up emissions reduction and achieve at least a 65% cut by 2030 if it wants to be a credible actor,” said Sven Harmeling, head of climate at CAN Europe.

Read more here.

5. Environmental Groups Defend Kamala Harris Amid Silence on Climate Crisis at DNC

The absence of any serious mention of climate change at the Democratic National Convention, least of all from presidential candidate Kamala Harris in her closing speech on Thursday, did not go unnoticed. In fact, since Harris ascended the 2024 Democratic ticket, she has been mostly quiet on the issue, offering no hints on her climate plan if she wins November’s election. Amid the silence, one of Harris’s advisors was being quoted as saying at the DNC’s Environmental & Climate Crisis Council that she is committed to “bold action” on climate.

However, environmental groups have come forward in recent days to defend Harris, with a coalition of climate groups last week announcing a $55 million advertising campaign in “at least six swing states” in support of her campaign. This marks a drastic change in approach compared to the last presidential campaign, when environmentalists obsessively scrutinized every aspect of Biden’s climate agenda.

Many groups have openly stated they do not want to sabotage Harris’s campaign as they fight to keep her climate denier counterpart, Republican nominee Donald Trump, out of the White House. Others have hinted they are “not worried” about Harris’s climate agenda, arguing her past decisions holds promise for bold action if she wins the election.

Read more here.

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