Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability’s Post

How can we navigate the challenges of global sustainability? 👉 Join conversation on #PlanetaryBoundaries with PIK director Johan Rockström on April 24 2024!

”It is important to have a shared overarching goal or objective. In the globalized world we live in, this objective must have granularity at multiple levels: individual, community, region, country, Europe, and world. Moreover, we now must learn to think in terms of humanity and not only the minority interest group of the currently living. Our ABC (Actions, Behavior, Choices) have implications for us, for the world's climate & ecosystem, and for future generations. In practice, this will be done at the regional level or by sector. But ideally comprising enterprises, unions, schools, etc., best facilitated by local government.” Hans van der Loo, Chairman of the Advisory Board of IIER. Discover a new interview on Climate Change Champions Spotlight with Guerrilla Verde. In the Spotlight: an interview with Hans Van der Loo, Chairman of the Advisory Board of IIER, CEO of the Blue Cooling Initiative, and Ambassador of the EU STEM Coalition He has studied at Nyenrode Business School in Breukelen, at ESCP in Paris, and in Oxford and Düsseldorf as well. He has also worked for McKinsey, Royal Dutch Shell and for World Business Council for Sustainable Development. He has lived in 9 countries and worked in over 50 countries all over the world. As Retail Innovation manager at Shell, he initiated Choice Fuels (V-Power, Pura etc.). And as Shell representative for the EU, he introduced multi-stakeholder joint advocacy platforms. Mr. Van der Loo is also the author of several articles, and has co-authored a book about resilience. He is a frequently asked-for speaker at international for a such as Bilderberg Conference, COP21 Paris, European Business Summit, World Economic Forum and he lectures at various Universities. Join #ClimateChangeSummit2023 and get to find out more about intersectionality and its importance in finding solutions for climate change from Hans van der Loo. Guerrilla Verde is a partner of the Climate Change Summit, the first and largest event in Central and Eastern Europe dedicated to climate change, and brings to the public's attention a series of interviews with key guests of the Climate Change Summit, an editorial extension called Climate Change Champions Spotlight. #GuerrillaVerde #ClimateChangeSummit #ChangeChampionsSpotlight

We are so proud over the amazing Natalia Rubiano Rivadeneira who has just defended her thesis at LUCSUS! It explores how justice, which is a core principle of the global climate agreements, is considered in the global mitigation pathways assessed by the IPCC for staying within climate policy targets such as the 1.5-degree target. It shows how value-laden assumptions inform many of the pathways, representing a tangible risk to reproduce historical injustices. Broadening the models: a way forward Is there a way to integrate justice dimensions into the IPCC pathways? Natalia Rubiano reflects that broadening the models that are used as their basis is one way forward. – We need other, more diverse methods to be able to envision other sets of futures. We also need to expand underlying assumptions in modelled scenarios, for example by introducing other economic paramenters, e.g. degrowth or behavioural change as parameters, rather than this prevailing focus on cost efficiency. She would also like to see more diversity in the models and methods used to produce these scenarios, and also an explicit consideration of justice. – The whole point is to promote another layer of complexity, where justice is an important parameter. For that we need people with different backgrounds and viewpoints, she concludes. https://lnkd.in/dKhepVw9

LEVERAGING “ENABLING POWER”: CATALYTIC IMPACTS OF UNFCCC’S GLOBAL CLIMATE ACTION AWARD Recent years have seen the emergence of awarding as an important climate governance mechanism. Examples include the Earth Shot Prize, the Mohammed VI Prize for the Climate and Sustainable Development, and UNFCCC's Global Climate Action Award. The underlying assumption of these schemes is that they will stimulate catalytic impacts, or the scaling and replication of innovative approaches and climate solutions. However, does receiving a reward really help the growth and uptake of climate solutions? A new publication with Aron Teunissen (DRIFT for transition), based on his master thesis, delves into the impact of award-giving as a governance mechanism to scale and replicate voluntary and non-state climate initiatives. - Blog post: https://lnkd.in/eQumgygj - GEP Article: https://lnkd.in/eW5QqCCS

I will be editing this special issue and if you work on the issue of climate change and economic justice from the perspective of the global south, please consider submitting your research article. *𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡: 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬* 𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵: 15 𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 2024 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭: 𝘋𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 While we have a broad understanding of how to combat climate change – such as promoting low-carbon solutions, transitioning away from fossil fuels, and reducing overconsumption – we still grapple with the challenge of achieving economic prosperity and sustaining livelihoods in the Global South while decarbonising our planet. The delicate balance between economic development justice and the imperative to reduce carbon emissions sparks intense academic debates, yet practical solutions remain elusive. This special issue brings together original research that addresses interdisciplinary issues that emerge from and around global climate action. We welcome experts, authors, as well as young scholars, to discuss how the impacts of climate action intersect with existing "Southern" systems and conditions to affect many people, places, and institutions. The editors of this special issue are also convening a panel (P32: Approaching climate complexities in the south: Global climate action and its actual effects) at Development Studies Association (DSA) 2024. DSA 2024 Conference will take place at SOAS University of London, 26–28 June 2024. We welcome you to attend our panel.

Get ready for a deep dive into global #sustainability with Johan Rockström and Professor Mette Morsing. This conversation is a must-attend for anyone interested in the future of our planet, #PlanetaryBoundaries , #SustainableDevelopment and #Nature. PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, https://lnkd.in/eB5sdVfd

We appreciated reviewing Andrew Isaacs and Natàlia Costa i Coromina's case study on Net Zero Climate Commitments. The case was recently announced as the best case study of the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business Case Series. Scrutiny has increased as companies continue to announce and celebrate Net Zero commitments. The case outlines missing pieces from corporate Net Zero claims, including: -Missing global Net Zero standards  -Lack of technology to achieve goals permanently and at scale -Lack of third-party verification and accountability “As a result, many questions around the validity of these claims and their true impact on climate change were left unanswered. For example: How serious and achievable were these Net Zero claims? Behind these claims, how much effort was focused on customer appeal versus a core business strategy? How realistic were these claims and was there a plan by the company to back them up? With so many claims, how do stakeholders distinguish the true Net Zero commitments from those that are simply making the claim for the sake of the company brand?”  The case examines the commitments of Microsoft, BP and HSBC and provides helpful pointers for discussion. #ClimateAction #Sustainability #NetZero https://lnkd.in/g5zKa2Fe

Humanity should not exceed certain thresholds related to nine biophysical processes, which are considered critical for the Earth's functioning. These thresholds are divided into safety thresholds, which are limits that, if exceeded, could lead to irreversible environmental changes, and risk thresholds, which are limits that, if exceeded, could lead to major climate disruptions. Tune in to our event 24 April and learn more about the #PlanetaryBoundaries framework. PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, https://lnkd.in/eB5sdVfd

In the USA, Al Gore gave a speech this summer about climate change - reminding the predominant role of fossil fuel use in the ongoing destabilization of our global climate (slides below - from HEATED, a rare independent media to have relayed the speech. Or watch it here: https://lnkd.in/gw_tjafb). In France, climate scientist Jean Jouzel was invited to speak at the annual meeting of major businesses on August 29th (https://lnkd.in/g2FBXZHZ). He explained the dreadful consequences of continued investment in fossil fuels instead of other forms of less emissive energy sources within the coming 5 to 15 years. The answer by the head of TotalEnergies Patrick Pouyanné was a mix of paternalistic condescension ("Sorry, Jean..." calling him by his first name) and a self-satisfied sense of so-called realism ("we're not going to stop providing energy for all in a day" - conveniently forgetting that it's been 50 years and the transition still hasn't happened). TotalEnergies, despite record-breaking profits, was still receiving increasing public subsidies for its oil&gas production to compensate for the reduction in energy from Russia (see the #iea report, fossil fuel subsidies massively increased, going way above 1 TRILLION USD worldwide in 2022 - https://lnkd.in/gSE-6eb9). The choices we decide to *not* make today are already affecting us all. The ongoing heat wave in Providence for the #Commencement ceremony at Brown University, 4th hottest on record as per Kim Cobb's empowering speech on "our climate inheritance" for 1st-year students yesterday, was a genuine call to taking all individual and collective possible actions, means and efforts. Right now. I am very proud of Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs' Master of Public Administration 2023 alumni who are starting their careers in #sustainanility, tackling this complex issue step by step, brick by brick Annika Prinz Temidayo A. Malcolm Johnson Oliwia Krupinska. I am also very proud of all of the others who are working to integrate #climate and #biodiversity considerations into every single other sector of society. Temidayo A. Saira Amar, MPA David Benoit, MPA Theresa V Chowa Marzia Giambertoni Constance GIRARD-LAVERRIERE Narcis Jafarian Ben Kobliner Hengqi Li Martin Ma Miao Ma Frances McPherson Connor Mullin Tehara Punchihewa Daniel Triestman Ruoxi Wei @sicheng yan Chanyuan Yu.I look forward to watching you all grow as you expand your wings into the world. You've got this!

🔥 Did you know that the Caribbean led the push for a sustainable and resilient planet? 🔥 Last week, I interviewed Dr @James Fletcher, former St Lucia minister with responsibility for public service, sustainable development, energy, science, and technology, and founder of the Caribbean Climate Justice Project. Dr Fletcher is a climate champion who played a pivotal role in securing the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement. He shares his insights into the intricacies of international climate-change negotiations and how they offer a blueprint for understanding and action. Here are some highlights: ➡️ How the Caribbean bloc, under the leadership of James Fletcher, leveraged scientific evidence, moral authority, and strategic diplomacy to sway the negotiations ➡️ Why the 1.5°C target is a non-negotiable red line for vulnerable nations and what it means for the future of humanity ➡️ What are the action steps for companies to align with the 1.5°C target and lead the transition to a sustainable future Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from one of the most influential voices in the climate change movement. 🌍 https://lnkd.in/evsS3pyX #1point5C #ClimateAction #SustainableValue #GrowingSustainableValue