illuminem is delivering you the finest analyses and the most recent updates on COP27 as the world leaders convene for the momentous conference

More than a third of the world’s largest companies now have net-zero targets, which generally means they have all committed to cutting emissions in half by about 2030 and then driving their net emissions to zero by 2050. The true climate impacts of these actions will depend on whether the reductions are additional and immediate or potentially in the future. It turns out that the problem of additionality is not limited to carbon offsets but is pervasive in the decarbonization space.

Kumar Venkat

The shaky logic of corporate emission reduction claims

What is remarkable about regenerative agriculture and what differentiates it from mere sustainability is that it seeks to go one step further. Not settling for a mere restitution of the damage caused to the environment. It is not a simple repair.

Regenerative Agriculture: The solution for agricultural contamination?

In August and September, Europeans were understandably concerned that they might be freezing in the dark this winter due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the disruption to natural gas supplies. Thankfully, this is not what has transpired. Unlike many, however, I’m not surprised that Europe is doing fine.

Michael Barnard

Europeans are weaning themselves off fossil fuels thanks to the energy crisis

Much of the climate ambition of the EU hinges on the bloc’s emission trading system (EU ETS). During December 2022, the Council and the European Parliament reached important agreements on the “Fit for 55” proposals. Specifically, new rules for the existing EU ETS, the implementation of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) and the introduction of a new EU ETS for emissions from buildings and road transport are in sight. With these revisions implemented the EU would edge closer to its 2030 climate targets, but question marks remain.

Biggest update to EU emission trading rules in years, part II: EU ETS II, revenue distribution and take-aways

The hydrogen economy is rapidly expanding, with a growing number of industries recognizing its potential as a clean and sustainable source of energy. From transportation to power generation, hydrogen is poised to play a significant role in the decarbonization of our energy systems and in our fight against climate change. Today, we are honored to recognize and thank the most-read experts and change-makers who are shaping the debate on Hydrogen, Green Hydrogen, and Blue Hydrogen and other related topics on illuminem.com.

illuminem

Praveen Gupta

Colonialism to Climate Crisis: Indigenous wisdom to the fore

A Data-Driven approach for a sustainable tourism is the best option we have.

As the world continues to face pressing environmental and social challenges, the importance of sustainability in the travel and tourism industry has never been greater.

Mirko Lalli

A Data-Driven approach for a sustainable tourism

2022 will go down as a pivotal year for the (re)insurance industry. Three major events have permanently upset the balance of this sector. First, the war in Ukraine, second was the end of the low interest rate environment and third, the demonstration that the increased economic and insurance cost of climate change is not cyclical.

Laurent Rousseau

2022: A tipping point for insurance

2023 is bound to have an outsized impact on the EU’s climate policy. The preparation done this year will lay the foundation for the new EU climate target, to be proposed in the spring of 2024. It will shape the policy landscape for the next 15 years. However, so far it’s flying largely under the radar and is not getting the attention it deserves.

Eve Tamme

2023 — the Year of Shaping EU’s 2040 Climate Target

As the global push to fight climate change gains momentum, the demand for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries is also intensifying. With limited options available for sectors where electrification is not feasible, green hydrogen is seen as a potential solution for a lower carbon future.

Simon Gupta

Fatima Farooq Murawat

Fueling the Future (III/III): Can green hydrogen help decarbonise energy-intensive industries?

Climate change and other crises call for radical changes to government policy, but if those changes aren’t forthcoming, what can professionals do in the meantime? How can an awake and informed cog in the system of any profession contribute towards what they might see as useful progress? Can we channel the enthusiasm of professionals who might be losing sleep over the lack of useful climate progress in their sector?

Bridget Doran

What every climate-concerned professional can do today to sleep better tonight

2022 saw a real appreciation for the work of carbon project developers, in what we believe was a record-year for the number of financing rounds announced into carbon project developers.

Maria Eugenia Filmanovic

Callum Hunt

Carbon developer ecosystem: a highly fragmented market in fast evolution

Roughly a year ago I updated my data set on the natural experiment of wind, solar and nuclear generation capacity additions in China for illuminem. On February 7th, 2023, a version of that material will be published as an inclusion in Professor Bent Flyvbjerg’s new book, How Big Things Get Done. With that publication and the passing of another year, it’s worth seeing if 2022 changed the results in any meaningful way.

China’s Success with Wind and Solar vs Nuclear is Explained by Bent Flyvbjerg’s New Book

ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors are critical for advancing sustainability by promoting responsible business practices that balance economic growth with the well-being of people and the planet. Integrating ESG factors into business operations ensures that companies consider the long-term impacts of their decisions and actions. Today, we are honored to recognize and thank the most-read experts and change-makers who are shaping the ESG debate on illuminem.com.

Philippe Benoit

Bayo Oyewole

Why U.S.-Africa relations — and Africa — matter now more than ever for Washington

Today’s dominant culture considers endless economic growth as a necessary component of “the good life”, but is this really the case? For economic growth to be providing “the good life”, one must be on the receiving end of the perceived benefits of that economic growth in the first place. Unfortunately, between 1995 and 2021, global economic growth was staggeringly unequally distributed, with the wealthiest 1% capturing 38% of total wealth growth while the bottom 50% captured only 2.3% of overall wealth growth.

Erin Remblance

Jennifer Harvey Sallin

Degrowth: The Path to a Better Life

Climate discussions lack women. As women around the world are feeling climate effects and finding solutions, they are essential to climate discussion, yet remain underrepresented.

Mariel Ferragamo

Women are on the frontlines of climate change but not at the negotiation table

Applying that knowledge is what allows us to move forward. Now that we've learned the consequences of our consumer behavior in fashion, it is time to act. 

Maria F. Burgos

Reinventing Consumption

Power and Utilities are enabling the sustainable energy transition by scaling critical infrastructure, supporting the deployment of renewables and powering a new access to energy. We are honored to recognize the most-read experts & change-makers who are shaping the debate on Power and Utilities on illuminem.com.

Noé van Hulst

Kirsten Westphal

How to Kick-start the North-West European Clean Hydrogen Market

Avoided emissions projects are supposed to be the low-hanging fruit funded before large amounts of money are spent on expensive carbon removals. But there is a lack of mechanisms that lets donors, or carbon credit buyers, support projects that effectively reduce emissions.

Why is it so difficult to fund projects that reduce emissions?

The start of the 20th century, marked the entry of new sources of energy such as oil and gas. However something else started to take shape. In 1927, while coal was still claiming its lion’s share of total primary energy consumption, the first commercial wind turbine was sold on the open market which arguably marks the start of the renewables’ revolution. The Hoover Dam came in 1935 while 1958 was the year in which the first US satellite was powered only by solar energy.

Today, almost 100 years into this journey, the share of primary energy from renewable sources sits at 13.5% globally, and under the Net Zero scenario renewables may reach 65% in global primary energy as soon as 2050.

Dorel Iosif

The inevitable challenges of energy transitions

In a recent editorial for the Washington Examiner, African Energy Chamber Executive Chair NJ Ayuk labelled Environmental Social Governance (ESG) as "Colonialism 2.0”. Mr Ayuk argues that ESG criteria for financial investments are being weaponised to impose green energy on Africa at a moment when the continent needs to make use of its fossil fuels for the development of its economies. He argues that ESG prioritises the environment at the expense of food, energy security and poverty reduction in Africa. But is that really the case?

Vincent Obisie-Orlu

Is ESG Just Colonialism 2.0?

Stakeholder capitalism is much more important in modern times because it can create a more equitable and sustainable economy by prioritizing the interests of all stakeholders. By creating value for a wider range of people and promoting social and environmental sustainability, companies can contribute to a more just and sustainable society. It is generally noted that it is one of the ways in which we can adapt capitalism for the modern age where we are facing the biggest challenges of our lifetime – climate change and biodiversity loss.

Alex Hong

Stakeholder Capitalism: The Solution to Our Climate Crisis?

How’s this for irony: the lion’s share of funded projects under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) have gone to states whose Republican senators and representatives voted against it? A POLITICO analysis concluded that of the first 33 projects that received IRA funding, "21 were in Republican-held congressional districts, while 12 were in Democratic districts”.

What’s Wrong with Investing Your Environmental Values?

At illuminem.com we take pride in calling ourselves the “home of sustainability” and in providing a global platform for renowned Thought Leaders to address & constructively debate the most pressing challenges of our time.

Carbon emissions contribute significantly to climate change and understanding how to limit and control them is essential to build a safer and more sustainable future. Today, we are honored to recognize and thank the most-read experts and change-makers who are shaping the debate on carbon, carbon removal, carbon footprint, and other related topics on illuminem.com.

Debisi Araba

The African innovations unlocking new pathways to scale access to climate finance

Markets work on cycles; investors tend to be illogical and follow each other. Thanks to Sam Bankman-Fried, investors have realised that crypto is not money. Thanks to the collapse of British Volt, which 12 months ago was touting a £2.6bn investment, we know the default of the ESG $41tn market is underway.​ 

Jonny Mulligan

British Volt £2.6bn sparks out - this is the start of the $42tn ESG default

The truth of climate change effects forces us to assess the quality of our immediate response when disaster strikes, and to assess our overall approach to global financing in the age of climate change.

Patricia Scotland KC

We must shift the global financing system in the age of climate change

The social-technical energy system resembles a spider’s web, where all energy-related matters are complex and interconnected. This article examines the technological opportunities and challenges to decarbonizing global energy systems.

Venera N. Anderson

Decarbonizing global energy systems: Technological opportunities and challenges

We are proud to celebrate the TOP 10 most read illuminem authors from each field of #Sustainability & #Energy according to our annual ranking based on thousands of community interactions!

Mattias Goldmann

A fossil-independent transport sector: the lessons from Sweden’s 2030 strategy

The Davos Green Accelerator, powered by illuminem, brought to the attention of global leaders convening in Davos the most innovative solutions tackling climate change.

The leading Greentech solutions presented in Davos

In the World Economic Forum's 2023 annual risk report, released earlier this month, the seminal message was unmistakable: Watch out for climate-related disasters over the next decade. WEF notes that these crises are likely to feed on each other and cascade, confounding expectations of a slow, gradual slide towards climate impacts in the decades ahead.

Andrew Eil

WEF 2023 Risk Report: Climate disasters are coming if we don't act now

The transport sector is one of the biggest carbon emitters worldwide. As the world tries to shift away from fossil fuels, green hydrogen is being touted as one key solution. Recently, many countries have adopted legislative proposals to decarbonise the transport sector by facilitating the uptake of green hydrogen.

Fueling the Future (II/III): Can green hydrogen decarbonise the transport sector?

What if businesses can accelerate their growth and profits by building a better world?


Miika Into

Rethink Sustainable Business

The World Circular Economy Forum in December presented a unique opportunity for African countries and the world at large to transition toward an inclusive low-carbon and climate-resilient economy while tackling key societal challenges.

For this transition to happen, we cannot understate the importance of biodiversity, as it’s not only important for our co-existence with nature, but also supports our economy, civilization, and survival of the human race. 

Are you a threat or an opportunity for biodiversity?

The development of a taxonomy for sustainable finance is critical for ASEAN’s net zero ambition and will go a long way towards achieving sustainability and biodiversity protection in the region. 

ASEAN needs a sustainable finance taxonomy

That we are onboard a heating planet into a full-blown climate crisis, everything and everyone here will be impacted if not already. Billionaires are no exception. Pathological greed keeps them on the hook as they ensure this theatre of the absurd keeps unfolding. On the other hand - faced with doomsday rather than stop doing the obvious - they are indulging in escape fantasies.

Dystopian Billionaires Are Riding the Climate Tiger

It could take a catastrophic weather event in the Global North to bring real action on climate breakdown.

Will the weather eventually provoke radical action on climate?

illuminem's exclusive insiders’ guide to the best in-person events at this year’s Davos Annual Economic Forum - with our wishes that an unprecedented snowless Davos could focus everyone's attention on bold climate action.

NB: The guide has been updated with the events from Thursday. 

The insiders’ guide to the best events at this year’s Davos Economic Forum

Much of the climate ambition of the EU hinges on the bloc’s emission trading system (EU ETS). During December 2022, the Council and the European Parliament reached important agreements on the “Fit for 55” proposals. With these revisions implemented the EU would edge closer to its 2030 climate targets, but question marks remain.

Biggest update to EU emission trading rules in years, part I: EU ETS and CBAM

There’s only one word to capture the energies of the 118th Congress — chaos. Had there been any doubt that the 118th Congress would prove a combative body, the election of Kevin McCarthy as the 55th Speaker of the US House of Representatives has confirmed it. It bodes badly for US climate policy.

The 118th Congress and Climate and Clean Energy Policy

The organic industry is attempting to lead the way in carbon sequestration through regenerative farming methods. National environmental organizations such as NRDC are advocating for regenerative agriculture. Major food companies are committing to it as part of their climate strategies. New certifications are emerging to help define and codify the term “regenerative”.

And yet, for all the buzz around regenerative farming in climate circles, a look at the science under the surface reveals a number of serious problems that would have to be solved before it is ready to take on the climate challenge at scale.

Is regenerative farming being oversold as a climate solution?

The recent COP27 conference produced very little in terms of meaningful commitments to reduce emissions. The overwhelming view of the negotiations, other than some progress on loss and damage, is that they were a failure, and that if anything we are further away from 1.5 degrees than we were before the conference. It’s not hard to see why.

Most of the week felt like a networking event on steroids. With so many events on simultaneously, the Blue Zone felt like a shouting match at times, with everyone jostling for their five minutes of attention. But it’s not only CEOs, government ministers and activists who were exchanging LinkedIn profiles. In a year in which the Russia-Ukraine war has triggered an energy crisis more than 600 fossil fuel lobbyists attended the conference, no doubt sensing an opportunity.

Rob Cobbold

There is no business as usual

Growing agricultural demand from an ever-increasing population has put a strain on our natural resources, which has degraded soil, created a lack of biodiversity and turned many forested areas into barren land.

Agricultural methods are one of the most significant contributors to greenhouse gases that are causing climate change, yet at the same time is one of the most powerful tools we have to potentially reverse climate change.

Susana Gago

Beyond Organic: Let's make choices that regenerate nature and ourselves

“All companies that plan to use removals in the future should spend a portion of climate budgets on it today.”

The number of larger buyers of CDR is still very low. 16 companies bought more than 1000 tonnes of durable carbon removal in 2022, and the number of big buyers is not growing very quickly. The dynamics are still upside down with more marketplaces than companies that have removed carbon, and even fewer large buyers. Why are so few companies buying carbon removal at scale?

Robert Höglund

You can’t wait with buying carbon removal

To avoid extremely damaging climate turbulence, it has long been clear that decarbonising the global economy is an urgent priority and that the world is nowhere near to following a pathway towards this objective at the necessary pace.  This is a threat to the wellbeing of every person on the planet and their progeny.

This realisation is stimulating much hand-wringing and blame, as well as being used by governments to justify policy initiatives of variable effectiveness.  None of this, however, is stimulating the levels and types of investment that are required.

Jeremy Bentham

Energy Transitions: Smart business, smart policy, smart politics and good outcomes

For years, activists like Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate have headlined many conversations about climate change while pressuring heads of government to meet their agreed carbon emissions targets. Climate change activities must push government stakeholders to act with more urgency by approaching the conversation as a personal exigency.

In Africa, climate activism is personal. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the continent has contributed less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, Africa is the most vulnerable and hardest hit by the effects of climate change. The risks associated with climate change in Africa include forced migration, floods, droughts, starvation from food insecurity, and extreme health stressors.

Evelyn Dan Epelle

Climate Change Justice for Africa

At the recent COP27, green hydrogen was at the top of the agenda with various governments announcing ambitious new multi-million dollar plans to build plants, collaborate and invest in developing a global market. As global leaders search for the right building blocks to lead us away from climate-impacting fossil fuel consumption to more sustainable alternatives, green hydrogen is being touted as one key solution.

So, what exactly is green hydrogen? And how might it best fit into the global energy transition?

Fueling the Future (I/III): Is 2023 the year that green hydrogen delivers on its promise?

COP27 | Illuminem Voices

As formal negotiations get into the finer details, Cop28 should bring more focus – and accountability – to action in the real economy.

Climate Home News

Circuses have evolved and so must UN climate summits

After much debate, an agreement was reached to create a “loss and damage fund” to compensate low- and middle-income countries for the cost of climate-related damage and climate change mitigation efforts.

The challenge is that these funds rarely reach their announced target funding and are light on specifics. 

Forbes

The Inflation Reduction Act Shows The Way Forward On Climate

US climate envoy says pick is a 'terrific choice' but activists equate pick to asking 'arms dealers to lead peace talks'
US climate envoy John Kerry backs the United Arab Emirates' decision to appoint the CEO of a state-run oil company to preside over the upcoming UN climate negotiations in Dubai, citing his work on renewable energy projects.

The Guardian

John Kerry backs UAE appointment of oil chief to oversee UN climate talks

There is a battle raging over the heart and soul of the UN Cop conferences, which have taken place every year since 1995. On one side are the climate scientists, policymakers, and representatives of countries most under threat from global heating and of nations that simply "get" the disastrous effects of the climate crisis. 

Let's face reality. Fossil fuel interests have destroyed the Cops - we need something new

Brazil has officially launched a bid for the northeastern city of Belem to host the COP30 international climate summit in 2025.

Euronews

Brazil makes official bid to host UN climate talks in Amazonia

COP28 President Designate Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has called for adaptation finance for the ‘Global South’ to be doubled to $40 billion annually by 2025, to enable the progress towards net zero.

Mint

Adaptation finance for global south should be doubled by 2025: COP28 President

The U.S. Department of State, The Rockefeller Foundation, and the Bezos Earth Fund today announced next steps in developing the Energy Transition Accelerator (ETA), a joint initiative to catalyze private capital to accelerate the transition from dirty to clean power in developing countries.

The Rockefeller Foundation

U.S. State Department, Bezos Earth Fund, and The Rockefeller Foundation Announce Next Steps on Energy Transition Accelerator

The United Arab Emirates has named the head of the state oil company, Sultan Al Jaber, as the president of this year's UN climate conference, COP28. But how can one man dedicate himself both to selling fossil fuels and tackling the climate crisis?

COP28: Why has an oil boss been chosen to head climate summit?

One of the biggest wins from the conference of parties number 27 (COP 27) at Sharm el sheikh in Egypt late last year was the move to establish the loss and damage fund. This however will require technical knowledge and blue ocean strategies to unlock the value presented by this fund under formation.

Business Daily

Climate change: How to successfully implement the loss and damage fund

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP27) concluded last month in Egypt and the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) concluded late last night. There's a thread that connects the commitments and investments that should flow from both: Nature-based Solutions.

Waterways To Resilience: A Series On Nature-Based Solutions For Water And Climate Challenges In Africa

Industry Voice: National Grid's chief engineer David Wright sets out his five top key takeaways from the latest round of UN climate talks
COP27 is being hailed as a success and failure in different aspects of the final deal. 

Business Green

COP27 showcased the power of engineering, science, diversity and teamwork

At the recent Cop27 climate talks in Egypt, government negotiators debated late into the night over what signals to give on which countries should receive funds to address the loss and damage caused by climate change.

Which countries are 'particularly vulnerable' to climate change?

The recently concluded COP27 climate summit in Egypt positioned itself as the COP of implementation, with the goal of putting bold plans to address the climate crisis into action. 

GreenBiz

Businesses need to become carbon intelligent

Not enough. That is the conclusion that many have taken from COP27. Including myself as an observer representing the Global Alliance for Banking on Values, an international alliance of values-based financial institutions.

Reuters

Four steps toward a sustainable, resilient future post COP27

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile
"The ambitious Middle East Green Initiative [...] seeks to support regional efforts to eliminate CO2 equivalent emissions by more than 670 million tonnes [...] representing 10% of global contributions. 

The Independent

Who said what? Action and ambition at Cop27's Saudi Green Initiative

A historic fund to help vulnerable countries worst affected by climate change was adopted at the COP27 summit. Wealthy nations have long refused to compensate poor countries struggling to cope with the effects of climate change, fearing legal liability.


Al Jazeera

Will rich nations pay for the climate 'loss and damage' fund?

Great-power rivalry will shape the world's response to the crisis
"W the occasion," crowed Egypt's foreign minister after 27, the global climate summit that ended on November 20th. Hardly. The delegates failed to make a clear commitment to phase out the use of fossil fuels. The best they could produce was a vague agreement that rich countries should pay poor ones for climate-related "loss and damage".

The Economist

COP27 was disappointing, but US-China climate diplomacy is thawing

This year's summit was set against a backdrop of record-high levels of hunger and multi-year droughts that continue to grip many parts of the continent.

Carbon Brief 

COP27: Key outcomes for food, forests, land and nature at the UN climate talks in Egypt

For farmers like Christine Nabwami from Uganda, there is no doubt about the damage that greenhouse gas emissions are wreaking on the world's life support systems.
A chairperson of the Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers Forum (ESAFF), the 42-year-old leader has watched droughts wither the cash crops - coffee, banana and maize - she needs to sell.

Food experts 'deeply disappointed' by COP27 approach to agriculture

United Nations still considers China, now the world’s second-largest economy and biggest annual polluter, a developing country


The Washington Post

How China, the world’s top polluter, avoids paying for climate damage

For the first time, members of the United Nations climate conference have agreed to compensate poorer nations hit hardest by climate change. Delegates from low-income countries say they are optimistic. This is despite no agreement having been reached on where the money will come from, nor how it will be distributed.


Do COP gatherings serve any purpose?

As politicians, activists and journalists celebrated the historic breakthrough to create a loss and damage fund at COP27 and bemoaned the failure to call for a phase-down of fossil fuels, few noticed that the summit took a step -- albeit a very controversial one -- toward preserving forests and other ecosystems via pledges made by carbon-polluting countries and companies trying to meet their climate goals.

Mongabay

COP27 boosts carbon trading and 'non-market' conservation: But can they save forests?

Cop27 was billed as one of the most consequential global climate summits in a generation.


The good, the bad and the exceedingly ugly of this year's Cop

This week, in the final episode of our four-part series on COP27, we ask whether the summit's "loss and damage" pledges will make a difference, and what the final deal means for climate action


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