.png)
Compiled by Ms. Purnima Joshi
As COP26 entered its second week it brought to the fore yet again the thorny issues of climate change adaptation, mitigation and funds for loss and damage to the most vulnerable countries and regions. Some of the highlights covered here are: UK announced that forty-six countries pledged to close their coal power plants, with richer countries committing to doing so in the 2030s; UK also committed to support some of the poorest countries in the world with 290 million pounds; the ADB joined hands with UK Government and the Nordic Development Fund to launch the Community Resilience Partnership Program (CRPP); the economic threat of climate hazards were voiced by a Singapore-based report; ADB-managed platform pledged to mobilise additional USD 7.0 Bn; estimates projected that 170 million people across six regions will be subjected to internal migration by 2050; there were protest rallies in Australia against its climate policy; forestry-based carbon credit trading faced hurdles in Asia despite COP26 pledge by global leaders to halt deforestation.
And there’s lots more in this issue, so do read on.
COP26
ASEAN risks losing 35% GDP by 2050 from climate change
Openaccessgovernment.org, 3 Nov 2021
A COP26 report by NTU Singapore and University of Glasgow outlines the economic threat of climate hazards at ASEAN, highlighting the impact of weather extremes in the region
COP26 : Partners pledge USD 665 million for ASEAN green recovery
The Asset, 4 Nov 2021
ADB-managed platform to mobilize additional USD7Bn. For low-carbon infrastructure projects in the region
Bending the Asia-Pacific coal curve is critical to taming climate change. COP26 is making progress.
Atlantic Council, 4 Nov 2021
On the fourth day of the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), host United Kingdom, which has already almost entirely phased out its coal power fleet, announced that forty-six countries had pledged to close their coal power plants, with richer
countries committing to doing so in the 2030s and
developing countries in the 2040s.
Let’s talk about climate change and the IT channel supply chain
Channel Asia, 5 Nov 2021
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference – known as COP26 – kicked off on 31 October, bringing to the fore, yet again, the sometimes-thorny topic of climate change mitigation and the role that curbing carbon emissions can play in it.
New Zealand's Ardern says COP26 'make or break' for climate
The Straits Times, 6 Nov 2021
Ms Jacinda Ardern has warned the Glasgow climate summit is "make or break" in the fight to curb global warming, saying the world is now paying the price for decades of procrastination.
Forestry-backed carbon credit trading faces hurdles in Asia despite COP26 pledge by global leaders to halt deforestation, says WWF-Hong Kong
SCMP, 7 Nov 2021
The trading of carbon credits backed by forestry projects faces barriers in Asia despite the recent launch of a voluntary carbon exchange in Singapore and pledges by world leaders to halt deforestation at COP26.
CoP26: Contradictions dominate first Glasgow draft, fossil fuel cut not considered
Downtoearth.org.in, 8 Nov 2021
The presidency of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (CoP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has identified global Net Zero as one of the “possible elements” for inclusion under Glasgow outcome, likely called Glasgow breakthroughs.
Climate crisis: How significant is India’s net-zero pledge?
AlJazeera, 9 Nov 2021
It’s arguably the biggest surprise so far of COP26. After refusing to set targets for net-zero carbon emissions, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the stage at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland last week and said his country would turn net zero by 2070.
COP26: Australia Commits More Climate Financing for Pacific and Southeast Asia. It’s Not Enough.
GlobalCitizen, 9 Nov 2021
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has pledged half a billion dollars more to help the Pacific and Southeast Asia address the climate crisis, acknowledging during his final announcement at COP26 that there was “no greater threat to our Pacific family than climate change.”
World heading for 2.4C of warming after latest climate pledges -analysts
Reuters, 9 Nov 2021
New national pledges to tackle climate change this decade would lead to around 2.4 degrees Celsius of global warming this century, far above safe levels, analysts predict.
Climate change brings irreversible harm to poor countries. At COP26, rich ones face pressure to foot the bill.
Washington Post, 9 Nov 2021
The seasons are strange now in Beverly Longid’s home of Cordillera, in the Philippines. The crops don’t ripen at the usual times. The sun beats down hotter than ever before. The springs she always relied on for water have run dry.
Obama tells COP26 to help poor nations, chides China and Russia
CNA, 9 Nov 2021
Former US president Barack Obama called on Monday (Nov 8) for rich nations to end years of deadlock with developing countries over cash for climate change, and criticised China and Russia for their "lack of urgency" in curbing emissions.
Japan, once a leader on climate, under fire for coal use at COP26
CNA, 9 Nov 2021
More than 20 countries agreed to phase out coal power at the UN climate talks in Glasgow, but not Japan - a "leap backwards" for a country that once led the way on the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
COP26 Live: UK launches £290m climate change scheme for poorer countries
Energylivenews.com, 8 Nov 2021
As COP26 enters its second week, the UK has committed to supporting some of the poorest countries in the world with £290 million in a bid to future-proof them against the impacts of climate change.
Column: Asia's near-term climate goals outweigh long-term pledges: Russell
Reuters, 4 Nov 2021
There is a tendency in the climate change debate to focus on the big picture pledges, such as India's commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070, but the attention should be on the actions that will actually happen by 2030.
Climate Change, the Great Displacer
Statista, 4 Nov 2021
If the trajectory of high greenhouse gas emissions and unequal development continues unchallenged, an average of 170 million people across six regions will be subjected to internal migration by 2050.
Rallies in Sydney, Melbourne protest against Australia's climate policy
The Straits Times, 6 Nov 2021
More than 1,000 people demonstrated on Saturday (Nov 6) in Australia's biggest cities of Sydney and Melbourne to protest against the government's climate policies and the strategies it offered at a United Nations climate summit in Glasgow.
SOUTH ASIA
‘Help vulnerable people in Asia deal with climate change’
Eastern Eye, 3 Nov 2021
Leading experts in the UK have voiced their concerns about the damaging impact climate change is having on people in the frontline in South Asia.
Bangladesh Bears the Cost of Climate Change
The Diplomat, 4 Nov 2021
A country of about 160 million, Bangladesh has historically contributed a fraction of the world’s emissions but is being devastated by climate change.
Will Pakistan’s ‘ten billion tree tsunami’ make any difference to climate change?
The Telegraph, 6 Nov 2021
The scrubby patch of land 20 miles outside Peshawar does not currently look like much, but the young forestry officer says it will soon be transformed.
CLIMATE GOVERNANCE AND INVESTMENTS
Company climate disclosure proposals need Asian adoption to succeed - Hong Kong regulator
Todayonline.com, 5 Nov 2021
Proposed new climate disclosure rules for companies announced this week will only work if they are adopted in Asia, Ashley Alder, the CEO of Hong Kong's markets watchdog and
chair of the umbrella body for global securities regulators said
on Friday. Read further ...
Petronas partners with ExxonMobil to speed up net zero emissions target
Theedgemarkets.com, 9 Nov 2021
Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc (ExxonMobil) to jointly explore opportunities in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies to help decarbonise Malaysia’s upstream industry and provide
CO2 storage solutions for the region. Read further ...
The Climate Conversations - S2: How achievable is Malaysia's 2050 net zero emissions target? | EP 54
CNA, 6 Nov 2021
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced the country's goal of reaching net zero as early as 2050. Plans include ending new coal-fired power plants, increasing renewable energy capacity and adopting carbon tax. Read further ...
Accounting for Climate Change
Eco-Business. 8 Nov 2021
Finance and accounting functions may be an unlikely ally in an environmental fight, but a growing body of investors argues that unless companies make clear the potential impact on their earnings, investment in carbon-intensive activities will continue. Read further ...
ADB launches new carbon fund to incentivise climate investments
tbsnews.com. 08 Nov 2021
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) joined the Government of the United Kingdom and the Nordic Development Fund (NDF) to launch the Community Resilience Partnership Program (CRPP), which aims to strengthen climate resilience for local communities, including for women and girls, by scaling up
climate adaptation measures in Asia and the Pacific.
Pandemic recovery, climate top agenda at APEC leaders’ summit
AlJazeera, Pandemic, 9 Nov 2021
Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) trade group will focus on the region’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic, emphasising supply chain support and decarbonising economies, at virtual talks that begin this week. Read further ...
ADDITIONAL READS
cosmeticsdesign-asia.com, 8 Nov 2021
Science Talk: When climate change impacts human health
The Straits Times, 8 Nov 2021
Good Practices Brochure: Gender, Climate Change and Humanitarian Action
Reliefweb.int, 9 Nov 2021
CGM's Asia-Pacific Climate Digest is compiled by communications consultant Purnima Joshi.
With over two decades of experience in corporate communications, Purnima combines her skills in creative and communication along with her passion for working for the community. She has worked on a multitude of projects in waste management, circular economy, building active citizenship in the community, some of which have won awards.
These also include a project on building climate resilience for UNICEF as well as some award-winning projects. She has been associated with several NGOs in an advisory capacity for over 10 years.
Comments