Climate Change 2016 wrap up : second service



You came! Here's the second installment


Renewable Energy

 There was massive growth in the renewable energy sector.
More than 360 companies called upon the incoming US president not to pull out of the Paris Agreement in November 2016.

 The RE100 is an initiative by major global companies committing to use renewable energy in their operations and at some point in the future going 100% renewable. Such include Adobe, Apple, Bloomberg, BMW etc.

 Apple in fact is doing so well that it wants to sell the excess power generated from the solar panels on the roof of its complex in California.
Apple campus in Calif. - appleinsider
Renewables became more competitive as they became cheaper than coal and oil as a source of energy. The International Energy Agency released their World Energy Outlook which showed growth in renewables and a slump in coal. Wind and solar became cheaper.Renewables surpassed coal and oil in 2014 and continue to do so in 2016.

 The use of renewables coupled with energy efficiency is touted to be the way forward in terms of energy security and fulfilling development needs.

 Use of electric cars is also an up and coming idea because it produces zero emissions. Such cars would use electricity generated from renewables. Everyone knows about the Tesla model and car manufacturers such as Volkswagen are investing in the idea. Use of such cars would drastically reduce emissions from the transport sector.
The African Development Bank through the Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa committed to financing renewable energy projects in Africa.

 Google committed to 100% use of renewables in 2017 whereby they made deals with renewable energy companies which would add their power to the grid from where Google derives its energy. An example is the Lake Turkana Wind Project in Kenya and the El Romero Solar Farm in Chile
El -Romero Solar Farm in Chile - acciona energia

 Several cities have also set various dates for total commitment to use of 100% renewables. Reykjavik is a model city, deriving all its electricity and heat from renewable energy.

 The cities of Paris, Madrid, Athens and Mexico City also decided to ban the use of diesel cars by 2025. This was announced by the 4 who are members of the C40, a convention of mayors of megacities across the world.
India built the biggest solar farm in the world and there was massive investment in renewables by China as it cut back on coal.

 The nuclear fusion reactor in Germany is up and running.
According to IRENA, 13% of global power needs could be supplied by solar power in 2030. Solar power is the fastest growing renewable energy source and its cost will continue to fall as investments increase.  

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) held its meetings in Oslo, Nairobi and Bangkok, Nairobi and a get to know us symposium in Jamaica.
Green bonds are also becoming popular. Green bonds are bonds that are issued to raise finance for green projects such as afforestation, renewable energy etc. Poland has just issued the first one. Nigeria and France are to follow suit.

 There is also a campaign, a push for carbon neutrality whereby entities, companies, organizations, individuals are encouraged to know their carbon footprint and work towards being climate neutral / carbon neutral.

The pledge is taken by global companies with Adidas having the honor of going first. It basically involves reducing your emissions, that is live your life in such a way that you do not continue to contribute to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions released into the atmosphere. For example, go digital instead of using paper. Paper means trees are cut down which means that you reducetheir capacity to absorb CO2. Buy clothes that don’t involve use of fossil fuel derived energy. Walk or cycle instead of driving. 
And if you can’t stop all your emission releasing activities thencompensate by buying certified emission reductions from developing countries which cannot cut emissions by themselves because of cost. That simply means find a good project in the developing world and support it.

 The UNFCCC has partnered with CNNNow to champion this campaign.
There is also the issue of a carbon tax. A carbon tax makes it a bit more expensive to use non renewables in any business activity because one will be taxed for the consequent carbon pollution.

 Canada has set a good example by announcing an intended nationwide carbon price in 2018.                                                                                                 

There was also the biodiversity conference in Cancun Mexico. Oneof the topics discussed was protecting biodiversity from the harsh effects of climate change.
2016 is also well on course to be the hottest year in recorded history.

 Both the Arctic and Antarctic have warmed considerably which is alarming in terms of the water released from melting glaciers and sea ice. For the first time, there is now a shipping channel through the Arctic in summer.

 There is also a huge crack in one of the major ice shelves in the Antarctic which is caused by higher global temperatures.

 Think about the consequences of such melting

 Right, that’s the yearly round up.

Now onto…..                                                     
Outlook 2017
As the new administration in America settles in, we await to see the implications in the field of climate change
Countdown 2017!

 It is worthwhile to note that COP 22 adopted a call to action and that there is now a huge momentum which appears virtually unstoppable when it comes to the fight against climate change as we enter the year 2017.
COP 23 in Bonn, Germany is to be hosted by Fiji.

 The renewable energy sector will continue to grow by leaps and bounds as technology becomes more readily and easily available. This will make renewables the cheaper option.

 It is also likely that there’ll be more international cooperation as countries and industries share knowledge and help each other as well as influence a major transition to a low carbon economy.

It is important to raise awareness in the general public, to inform and educate correctly, that is with scientific facts. It is also just as important to appeal to the hearts, minds and consciences of people worldwide so as to create a general climate consensus.

 Another crucial thing is to expand inclusivity whereby all sectors, levels of societies and very importantly the youth and women are involved when it comes to making and influencing decisions in the planet’s future in regards to climate change.
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Now I want to thank you for being such an attentive class, remember you are the leaders of both today and tomorrow so I am equipping you with knowledge. This is the very same knowledge that the ancient Greek philosophers said is power.

 As one wise person said, all work and no play makes Jack and Jill a dull couple. So go out and have fun, enjoy the holidays, connect and spread the Christmas cheer.
Wintry folks may you have a snowy Christmas and the rest of us a Savannah Christmas!

 Say bye bye to 2016 in style

 And come back for the New Year refreshed and ready for new things.

 Remember, the new school term begins the second week of the New Year!


Cheers!

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