A new global climate summit is on the horizon, and the United Nations is preparing for it. Organizers are calling for an energy overhaul that will prevent global temperatures from rising above 1.5 degrees Celsius. Although the issue is on the formal agenda at the Copenhagen conference, much of the attention has been focused on the policy level, rather than implementation.
NACS 2022
As climate change threatens life on Earth, the NACS 2022 Climate Summit is an ideal opportunity to find new ways to fund conservation efforts and advance the global climate agenda. This event will bring together influential conservation leaders to discuss ways to achieve this goal. The goal is to stop the accelerating loss of species and important ecosystems. However, it is important to note that conservation efforts are not new. In fact, many are already underway.
NACS Monday will be a day of learning and connecting with community. The show will kick off with a keynote presentation from Team Rubicon’s CEO, Jake Wood. Team Rubicon is the fastest-growing disaster response organization, with more than 150,000 volunteers who have responded to nearly 1,000 crises around the world. Since its founding, the organization has developed an innovative corporate culture and been named one of the best nonprofits to work for.
NACS 2022 will feature high-level plenaries, deep-dive workshops, and roundtables. The conference will also feature a central Carbon Market Square where delegates can meet and network with other delegates and partners. Additionally, the Summit will feature panel discussions about the latest developments in the voluntary carbon market and how to harness data to make informed decisions.
The Voluntary Carbon Market is already at $2 billion in value and is poised for continued growth as net zero commitments rise. In addition, two new global initiatives have been launched to increase transparency and integrity in the market. These efforts will further facilitate collaboration between the voluntary and compliance markets. For more information and to register for the event, please visit the NACS 2022 Climate Summit website.
The NACS State of the Industry Summit features thought leadership from industry leaders and key decision makers. Over two fast-paced days, leading retailers and experts will present live and interactive analyses of the latest industry data and trends. Participants will walk away with an understanding of the latest trends, metrics, and watch-outs.
World Climate Summit 2022
COP24, the 24th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, will be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. This is the first time that the conference will be held in Africa since COP22 in Morocco in 2016. The focus of this year’s meeting will be on the plight of African nations, which have been disproportionately affected by climate change. The conference will take place at two separate sites: the Blue Zone, which will host the official negotiations, while the Green Zone, which will have exhibits, cultural activities, and other activities, will serve as the venue for other activities.
The conference is surrounded by political and security risks. For example, the host country, Egypt, has a history of cracking down on dissent, incarcerating thousands of people in recent years. The climate marchers could be arrested in Egypt, as the country’s security services have cracked down on internal dissent. In addition to this, the climate conference is far from major cities, which makes it more challenging for people to protest peacefully.
The most important fight at this year’s climate talks is over who pays for the damage caused by climate change. While industrialized nations account for most of the emissions, poor nations are the ones who suffer the most. While progress was made on the issue of who will pay, many countries did not agree on how to implement those policies.
Another key event in the climate conference is the UN Climate Change Conference. It brings together policymakers and business leaders to discuss practical solutions for climate change. In one panel, Rachel Pallett, the Steam Business Development Director at Spirax Sarco, discussed clean energy innovations of the future. She stressed the importance of efficiency as well as renewable sources of energy.
Opening plenary
As the Opening Plenary of Climate Summit 2022 approaches, discussions on loss and damage will take center stage. Although the topic has been discussed in previous meetings, there has been little progress on this issue. Developed countries have been skeptical of its importance, while developing countries are suffering the consequences of climate change. However, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Climate Change, Ian Fry, is trying to create momentum.
A high-level panel will feature world leaders who have a stake in combating climate change. The speakers will include Dr. Alina Averchenkova of the Grantham Research Institute, Dr. Ines Dombrowsky of the IDOS Environmental Governance department, and Dr. Sandra Guzman Luna of GFLAC. Other participants will include the CEOs of Iberdrola and Solaria.
During the opening plenary, world leaders will discuss how to bridge the gap between climate and development goals. They will highlight the high-impact solutions that governments are implementing that are transforming their economies. They will also discuss how to better engage youth in climate action and promote climate leadership across generations.
The World Bank will also launch its 2022 State and Trends of Carbon Pricing Report. The report will detail major developments in carbon pricing over the past year, as well as provide an overview of carbon pricing instruments across the world. Following the presentation, there will be a discussion of key themes, and the audience will be invited to ask questions.
The opening plenary of the Climate Summit 2022 will also feature talks and exhibitions by the Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education, which links multiple universities to engage with the UN Climate Summit. This organization will host events, workshops, and press conferences, as well as climate change projects from its eleven member universities.
Energy overhaul needed to keep temperature from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius
The goal of keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius was adopted in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Most countries believed that this amount of warming would be too risky to sustain. Others disagreed, but the scientific community was divided as to whether 1.5 degrees was achievable. The IPCC, which is a body that analyzes climate change and energy, was tasked with determining if this target is possible.
If humans are to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the fossil fuel industry must undergo an energy overhaul. Companies must align their business strategies with this goal, and financiers must demand the economy to align with this goal. Companies that fail to do so must be removed from investors’ portfolios, and governments must stop financing them until the goal is met. As climate change continues to threaten the global ecosystem, keeping global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees is crucial for the survival of coral reefs. Studies show that warming of more than two degrees Celsius will kill 90 percent of coral.
Impact of climate change on small island nations
Climate change is a serious threat to the survival of small island nations. They must build their long-term resilience. The Maldives, for example, prioritized better sea defenses, elevated buildings and early warning systems after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. In addition, they are testing solar power alternatives to diesel fuel, and they are determining how to protect their fresh water supplies from seawater contamination.
Rising sea levels will threaten the existence of these tiny, coral islands. They are heavily dependent on the sea for their water, food, and livelihood. If left untreated, this will make their islands uninhabitable. To address these challenges, Kiribati has bought land in Fiji to relocate its people to higher ground. While this is a temporary solution, it won’t be sustainable in the long run.
Climate change has already had a detrimental impact on these countries, and it is only expected to worsen in the next three decades. This threatens their territorial rights, infrastructure, and homes. It also raises questions about internal and external migration. This is why the Marshall Islands is working to develop a 10-year plan that prioritizes adaptation to climate change.
Small island nations in the Pacific are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Their land areas are relatively small and lack forest cover. As a result, their oceans are exposed to rising sea levels. This threatens their food and water security. This means that they cannot adapt to climate change alone and must work with big polluters to reduce their carbon emissions and make them more resilient.
The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) was created to advocate for their specific needs and vulnerabilities to climate change. Since its formation in 1990, the AOSIS has been instrumental in positioning adaptation on an equal footing with mitigation. In addition, it has worked hard to ensure the provision of adequate funding for SIDS to adapt to climate change. It has also helped to establish the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, which provide assistance to countries facing the impacts of climate change.
