EECA (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority)’s Post

Last week marked a major advancement in sustainability as the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly (441 to 139) to adopt a new law establishing a rigorous certification system for carbon removal. This legislation is a vital step towards combating greenwashing and promoting transparency in carbon sequestration efforts as part of the #EuropeanGreenDeal. The new certification framework aims to propel the EU towards climate neutrality by 2050, supporting both industrial solutions like Direct Air Capture and natural processes that enhance carbon sinks. With this system, the EU introduces reliable methods to validate the #impact and quality of #carbonremoval technologies, creating new economic #opportunities for industries and land managers through carbon farming. MEP @Lídia Pereira highlighted the benefits of the legislation, noting, "This is a pivotal moment for incentivizing genuine carbon removal efforts, including providing new revenue streams for our farmers." The legislation now awaits final approval from the EU Council to take effect, promising a future where sustainable practices are duly recognized and rewarded. https://loom.ly/Sq3RVpc #SustainabilityInAction #2024ESGSummitEurope

We need an European Green and Social Deal During this legislature, Minister Khattabi Zakia contributed to each of key actions in the European Green Deal roadmap (https://lnkd.in/eVwz8Wxs). At the beginning of this legislature, it soon became clear that on top of these actions, 3 work streams needed to be set up: 1) Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development; 2) Follow the Money; 3) A green transition should be just. Here we focus on 1). Policy initiatives for the first work stream were carried by the collaborators of the Unit Environment and Unit Sustainable Development at the cabinet; the second work stream was carried by Anthony Baert; 'Just Transition' was put on the map by the relentless efforts of Matthijs Van Marcke and Anaïs De Munck. Kudos to you, team! Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD). Sustainable development encompasses several dimensions. The classic three (environment, social and economy), but as represented by the SDGs also partnership and peace. With PCSD, this is therefore expected to translate into vertical and horizontal policy integration. This has been happening in Belgium for more than 25 years through the federal sustainable development strategy (see https://lnkd.in/erz4ftdb), but this can and should be strengthened. Hence a project has been set up by the Federaal Instituut voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling / Institut Fédéral pour le Développement durable with the OECD - OCDE that should lead soon to policy recommendations. Another initiative concerns the operationalisation of the 'Do Not Significant Harm' (DNSH) principle where, first of all, investments through the Recovery and Resilience Facility were expected to be assessed against environmental criteria (climate mitigation, climate adaptation, protection of the marine environment, circular economy, fight against pollution and protection of biodiversity and ecosystems). (Belgium has taken this seriously. This is e.g. why > 50% - instead of the minimum of 37% - of investments contribute to the fight against climate change). Meanwhile, under the leadership of DG Pierre Kerkhofs, a permanent DNSH unit was set up at DG Environment in Belgium: see https://lnkd.in/eRwh7jf7. 5a/n

Water is a precious resource indispensable for life, and its management must be carried out responsibly. Our Environmental, Social & Governance strategy is in full harmony with the creation of a sustainable and resilient future for people and the planet. These aims are supported by the United Nations (UN) through the “17 Sustainable Development Goals” as part of the 2030 Agenda, the programme of action for people, the planet and prosperity adopted by governments of the 193 Member States in September 2015. #environmentalsustainability. https://lnkd.in/gQhB2hsP

Green transition Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to the European Union and to the world. To overcome these challenges, the European Green Deal is Europe's new growth strategy, which will transform the Union into a modern, resource-efficient and competitive economy. The European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate neutral by 2050, boost the economy through green technology, create sustainable industry and transport, and cut pollution. Turning climate and environmental challenges into opportunities will make the transition just and inclusive for all. The European Commission helps EU Member States design and implement reforms that support the green transition and that contribute to achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. It also helps to design the necessary procedures in central and local administrations and establish the coordination structures that are needed for implementing green policies. https://lnkd.in/dCUVVfBy

This week our founder, Louise Nash attended the 16th Climate Change & Business Conference, delivered in partnership with the Environmental Defence Society (EDS), Sustainable Business Council NZ and Climate Leaders Coalition. With over 35 different sessions, across 2-days, this was a massive undertaking by these partners and their sponsors and we were thrilled to participate in the circular economy panel discussion. The opening plenary, from Dr. Joelle Gergis, provided the reason to come together to face the reality that even if all net zero pledges are realised, there is only a 14% chance of keeping within 1.5 degrees of warming. That is why creating space for connections, diverse perspectives, knowledge sharing and raising our ambitions with collective action are incredibly important. At Circularity, we want to acknowledge this mahi and give credit to everyone who contributed to the expert curation and delivery of this conference dedicated to leading climate action. Gary Taylor, Mike Burrell, Fiona Driver, Alana Douglas, Tina Luke, Antonia Burbidge, Kate Barlow and the rest of the SBC and Environmental Defence teams. There were so many highlights, and we encourage everyone to watch the LIVE streams when they become available here: https://lnkd.in/gJcBJy6g You can join the Climate Leaders Coalition and turn these opportunities into a reality for your business here: https://lnkd.in/gKtSg8K2 Closing words from Youth Advocate Piper Pengelly, "We get to decide who we want to be as a nation." Our hope is after this time together, we continue to deliver the action required with bold ambition to ensure a thriving future for all New Zealanders. #ccbc24  #CircularEconomy

We've launched the Green Performance Toolkit, propelling small businesses toward climate action by enabling them to assess and track environmental performance over time. Zahira Hansa from Sari for Change sheds light on a critical challenge in South Africa's small enterprises: the lack of capacity for environmental data collection. 📊 This gap hinders reporting and dilutes efforts for a sustainable future. Learn more about our program: bit.ly/ITCatCOP28 #TradeCanHelp

Extractive industries are a double-edged sword, contributing to economic development but also to environmental degradation. Balancing the two is key to a sustainable future. Find out how these industries impact the environment and what the UN Environment Programme is doing to address these challenges: https://ow.ly/MnLb50QIiXn

The European Union has been at the forefront of the fight against #ClimateChange, demonstrating remarkable progress in curbing emissions and fostering #sustainable industries. https://bit.ly/3yYE02S #ClimateAction #EUforEnvironment

🌍🚀 The European Commission has taken a monumental step forward in the fight against climate change by announcing its plan to reduce the EU's greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. This ambitious proposal is part of the Commission's broader strategy to establish the EU as the world's first climate-neutral continent. With the upcoming elections in June, this initiative underscores the EU's commitment to leading global efforts in achieving a sustainable and eco-friendly future. The proposal sets a clear target: to significantly decrease the net amount of greenhouse gases the EU emits, aiming for a 90% reduction compared to 1990 levels, including the carbon removed from the atmosphere. 🏞️♻️ This landmark move not only highlights the EU's dedication to environmental stewardship but also sets a new benchmark for global climate action. As professionals and citizens of the world, it's crucial we support and contribute to these efforts, driving innovation and sustainability in our respective fields. #ClimateAction #Sustainability #EuropeanUnion #GreenhouseGasReduction #ClimateNeutral

UNEP-WCMC’s Head of Nature-based Solutions Najma Mohamed recently attended intergovernmental consultations on NbS, convened by the UN Environment Programme. This final round of consultations broadly confirmed that NbS actions can support multiple policy goals such as social, environmental, and economic, and are implemented globally. Learn more about the consultations: https://lnkd.in/daiWWA54