1) What's the deal behind compostable and biodegradable packaging, Is it environmentally beneficial or not?
This is an insightful article, laying out the arguments around compostable and biodegradable packaging. It argues that we should not be focusing on the type of packaging (the metaphorical band aid) but instead on the source of the problem, which is that we are currently overproducing and using far too many resources, this is where change needs to lie.
The article highlights the two key issues that arise around compostable and biodegradable packaging. Firstly, a lack of understanding exists around how to dispose of this packaging. Numerous people believed they could leave their compostable packaging waste in the park where it would then decompose overnight. Nope, surprisingly to some, compostable and biodegradable packaging requires special waste facilities to break them down.
Secondly, and more worryingly, even if everyone in society did understand how to dispose of this type of packaging in the correct manner, our current infrastructure would not be able to cater for large volumes of compostable packaging effectively. Potentially resulting in an increase in waste production compared to current levels.
The article argues that ultimately we shouldn't be looking for alternative packaging materials, but that we should be aiming to use less packaging altogether. What is required in the future is for all actors in society to take a greater share of the responsibility surrounding packaging waste. In particular the government, who need to provide and spread food compost bins nationwide. There is next to no point spending resources making packaging compostable if it is only collected and dealt with properly in certain areas of the country. Secondly, the government needs to be tighter on firms keeping track of their packaging footprint, penalising those who overstepped the mark.
2) This clean energy invention runs on nothing but cold, night air Gaining clean energy from the cold night of air
I love reading about new environmentally beneficial inventions and inspirational innovators such as Aaswath Ramen, an engineer and materials scientist at UCLA. His new project looks to make energy through nothing more than the cold night air. Although the device he has invented may struggle to be effective on a large scale, Ramen has set out with the intention to solve a problem for those in society who require it most. Namely those groups around the world who do not have access to grid electricity.
He has invented a device that transforms temperature changes into clean energy. The problem with the device lies in the low amount of energy that it produces, leading to questions of efficiency and worthiness. This article suggests that the future and full potential of Raman's device could be utilised if he joined it with solar panel companies, producing clean energy through the panels during the day and Ramens device during the night. Now that's a thought. ⚡
The article controversially explains what certain trends in renewable energy investment tend to mean, putting forward an interesting reasoning behind the seemingly significant 30% decline in U.S investment in renewable technology between 2011 and 2016. Proposing that this could actually be a positive sign, as it may symbolise that we are entering a more developed stage of renewables where companies are up and running, so require less early stage investment.
This positive sentiment is followed by a reference to a U.N report published earlier this month, which stated that 2018 was the ninth year in a row where renewable energy investments exceeded $200 billion. Symbolising that as the US’s investment decline, new players are filling the gap.
3) Greta’s Thunberg’s Speech in Congress - I have a dream that the powerful take the climate crisis seriously. The time for their fairytales is over
This very heartfelt and emotional speech from Greta, a 16-year old girl who is usually very unemotive with her blunt remarks about the climate crisis, is phenomenal.
By now I'm sure you’ve all heard of Greta Thumberg, if not, you may recognise her as the brainchild behind the fridays for future marches. A movement that has stemmed from her, a singular school girl protesting for governments to declare a climate emergency, to now children from 150 countries marching and protesting last Friday (20th).
Greta starts with some very powerful words, mimicking the style of Martin Luther King and retaining this trend throughout. She argues that there is “No time for dreams, this is the time to be awake and declare a crisis.” Politicians and business leaders have been soothing us to sleep with their dreams, claiming that their solutions will solve everything. Greta believes that this is not the case and that the science firmly proves otherwise. She sees science as cutting through these dreams, and presenting the unspoken human sufferings which currently occur and will increase if we don't act now! She bases her argument heavily on the well-respected IPCC report. This stated that on the 1st January 2018, we had around 420 Gtonnes of CO2 left to emit in our carbon budget to remain below a 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise. It’s a scary thought that not even 2 years have passed and we have already emitted a significant amount of this allowance.
To Greta, climate change is the biggest humanitarian crisis society has ever faced, and she demands the truth, not made up solutions. She accuses governments, business owners and a large section of society as being selfish and not forward-thinking for future generations. Greta is a spokesperson for the young and future generations who she argues are the ones that will face the disastrous effects of the climate crisis if it carries on being ignored.
She uses a powerful moral justification to support her argument to act now, which is explained below:
Currently the scientific consensus agrees that the earth's surface has around a 50/50 chance of staying below the 1.5 temperature rate. This for some reason does not seem to panic business owners, governments and a large section of society alike. By putting this into perspective with a more relatable scenario you can see the seriousness of this issue.
Imagine if you asked one of these doubters to enter a plane which they knew had a 50/50 chance of crashing or not, I'm not sure many would carry on, business as usual and take that flight. Greta, possibly in some part due to her Asperger’s, struggles to understand why people treat the climate situation totally differently to other scenarios.
She ends with the line that “People have the right to know”.
By Josh Morley-Fletcher, 4th-year International Relations student
4) The UN Climate Action Summit overview:
The recent UN Climate Action Summit marked the BIGGEST high-level climate summit since the Paris Agreement in 2015 in a bid to tackle the climate crisis. The emphasis this time was raising targets and toughening up plans, delivering actual concrete promises to fight against greenhouse gas emissions.
Encouraging stats:
· 77 countries have committed to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050
· 70 countries have committed to boosting their intended reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020
· 1/3 of the global banking sector has agreed to align their investments with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement
· UK doubles their climate finance commitment
· 30 countries, 22 states, and 21 companies have committed to ending their reliance on coal
· Increased contributions towards the UN’s Green Climate Fund, a program that helps developing countries reduce their emissions
Still not enough stats...:
· The largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world have offered either nothing or very little regarding their commitments to curb emissions, whereas countries that have done the least to contribute to the climate crisis have been exceptional in their plans to combat the climate crisis. All LEDCs have committed to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
· China has made no new promises to take stronger climate action and has said nothing about issuing stronger, or quicker targets to transition away from fossil fuels.
· India vowed to increase its share of renewable energy by 2022 but made no promises to reduce its dependence on coal.
· Russia announced that it would ratify the Paris Agreement, but did not mention any intention to cut emissions from its petroleum industry.
· The United States, having vowed to pull out of the Paris Agreement and roll back environmental regulations meant to curb emissions, has been silent.
· And finally, many countries have still made only incremental promises.
As Greta Thunberg sharply rebukes world leaders: “The eyes of all future generations are upon you. If you choose to fail us, I say we will never forgive you.” There is a lot more that could be done and needs to be done.
By Ashley Chew