Each week, research seems to reveal accelerating impacts climate change . The Arctic is warming almost four times faster than the global average, with some locations such as Svalbard warming up to seven times faster. The region certainly lives up to its recently earned title of "climate change frontline." The Arctic Ocean is mostly covered by a layer of sea ice. But as the planet warms, it's decreasing, with about half of the sea ice area lost since 1981 and predictions of mostly ice-free Arctic summers by 2050. With less sea ice in summer, more of the ocean's surface is exposed, the reflective white surface dark and capturing the sun's heat. The same thing happens on land with longer periods without snow. The Arctic is covered with snow for most of the year, but every summer the snowy landscape turns green for a few weeks. That's when plants and animals kick in to carry out their life cycles. As temperatures rise, tundra ecosystems are in sharp transition. Plants "green up" earlier and there has been a significant increase in some species such as shrubs, tundra trees. (Isla Myers-Smith)

Norwegian research firm Sintef and Norwegian floating PV specialist Svalin Solar are currently developing a floating concentrating photovoltaic thermal (CPVT) receiver for use in carbon capture facilities. "The energy requirement for CO2 removal is perhaps the most dominant factor driving solvent-based post-combustion capture technology," he told magazine pv chief business developer company Sintef Martin Bellmann. "Essentially, any technology that significantly reduces the so-called reboiler duty - energy consumption for CO2 stripping - is in high demand." Both companies described the new technology as a solar carbon capture system that either fully or partially generates the thermal energy needed to separate the gas. "The proposed CPVT design is a single-axis 'linear pass' tracking system where rows of curved mirrors are mechanically rotated so that the longitudinal direction of the mirrors is always parallel to the incident sunlight and follows the daily motion of the sun," added Bellmann. "Concentration ratios of around 10 suns are possible." The CPVT receiver is based on a pipe on which the solar cell strips are attached. The small area of the CPVT receiver allows the use of highly efficient PV cells. "Although these photovoltaic cells are more expensive, the cost can be offset by the smaller area required," explained Bellmann. “Conventional crystalline silicon and multi-junction cells need to be considered. Then the price/performance ratio will be assessed once the prototype is put into operation and we have collected enough data from the test trials. (Emiliano Bellini)

Researchers from the European Commission have developed a ready-to-use methodology for quantifying the carbon footprint of photovoltaic modules to be used in regulatory contexts such as the directive of the European Union on ecodesign. They shared their findings in “ Assessment of the carbon footprint of photovoltaic modules through the EU Ecodesign Directive ”, which was recently published in the magazine Solar Energy . The method is divided into nine main steps. These include Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) hotspot analysis, which is dedicated to identifying areas where environmental impacts are most significant. This application of the method to PV modules identifies the carbon footprint as the most significant area, but water and resource use could be considered instead. The following steps include adapting the Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR) for use in the ecodesign requirements of PV modules. The new "harmonised calculation rules" are set to calculate the carbon impact of PV modules from production to market entry, with a particular focus on the production and dispatch phases. The method performs a sensitivity analysis of the silicon content of the photovoltaic modules, the module yield and the mix of the power grid used in the production phase before calculating the final results. The final steps include interpreting the results, consulting with stakeholders, and finally determining possible requirements for the carbon footprint of the PV modules. (BEATRIZ SANTOSOVA)

A booming market for carbon credits could become mainstream under a plan to make it easier for financial firms to create products such as exchange-traded funds. State Street STT 2,45 %increase; green triangle pointing upwill start providing its back-office services to clients who want to invest in carbon credits. The giant custodian bank and fund manager says the move will make it easier for large investors to trade the products, a key step in making them an accessible mainstream investment (Amrith Ramkumar)

individuals.

As climate change becomes an increasingly urgent issue, countries around the world are accelerating decarbonisation through renewable energy solutions. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) predicts that global photovoltaic capacity will reach 14,000 GW by 2050, heralding a green energy revolution that will change people's lifestyles. LONGi is at the forefront of research on how to use photovoltaic technologies in various scenarios, while also exploring ways to effectively create a greener, low-carbon and sustainable society. The company's commitment to advancing its green agenda through innovative photovoltaic technology has never been better illustrated than with the introduction of Hi-MO 6, its first module designed exclusively for the global distributed consumer market, meeting the needs of millions of energy consumers. all over the world. Hi-MO 6 is a new generation module based on HPBC's high-efficiency cell technology and is presented as a series consisting of four distinct products - Explorer, Scientist, Ranger and Artist - each of which brings improved aesthetics, performance, reliability and intelligent optimization to meet different scenarios (PRNewswire)

Because of Illinois' unusual geology, many companies across the country might want to capture carbon dioxide emissions from their operations and transport the gas to Illinois for sequestration underground. Before that happens, Illinois should implement strong safeguards to protect residents, landowners, taxpayers, drinking water and the climate. New federal subsidies support the use of technologies to capture and store the carbon dioxide released when fossil fuels are burned. This technology allows the gas to be stored thousands of feet underground to keep it out of the atmosphere, where it would help raise global temperatures. Archer Daniels Midland Co. in Decatur has been operating the nation's first carbon sequestration project for more than a decade, and more are planned elsewhere. But for a carbon sequestration network to cause a significant drop in carbon dioxide emissions, it would have to be exponentially larger than the ADM network.

(Editorial board  CST)

The government has been warned that climate change will lead to a significant increase in the cost of insuring homes and commercial properties as the current flood risk assessment model no longer works. Leading insurers have held a series of meetings with the Minister of State for Insurance, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, amid concerns over rising premium costs and high payouts. Irish Examiner obtained notes and minutes of meetings between Ms. Carroll MacNeill and the insurance companies under the Freedom of Information Act. At the meetings, insurers repeatedly expressed concerns about the impact of climate change. Catastrophic weather events "Extreme weather events around the world are affecting the ability of insurers in Ireland to underwrite property insurance," an AXA Ireland representative told the meeting. Insurer Allianz said the industry will need financial help from the government for climate-related events as the current flood risk assessment model is unsustainable. AIG warned of a difficult market for insurers given the "increased frequency of medium-scale catastrophic weather events", with losses in the "region of €25 million to €70 million" per event. (Sean Murray)

The Maldives faces the devastating reality of rising sea levels. Scientists say that 80 % Maldives could be uninhabitable by 2050. As the world watches the Maldives face this existential threat, it's time we all take action to address climate change. To bring attention to this critical issue, I traveled to the Maldives to witness first-hand the effects of climate change by invitation. As a traveler who is passionate about sustainability, I recently had the opportunity to visit Club Med Kani as a guest in the Maldives, a resort known for its commitment to sustainable tourism. During my stay, I was impressed by the resort's efforts to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability through a number of initiatives and programs. The fate of this unique and fragile island nation is in our hands and we must act now to ensure it survives for generations to come.

(KARAYEL FUND)

New Delhi wants to continue bilateral efforts to avoid EU carbon taxes, as the outcome of the WTO dispute may be uncertain. India hopes to persuade the EU to recognize its carbon credit certification scheme when the energy ministry finalizes it to ease the burden of additional duties on carbon-intensive products that the bloc plans to introduce as part of a carbon border adjustment. Mechanism (CBAM) from January 2026, sources said. (AUTHOR: AMITI'S DREAM)

A proposal that has come through the town hall to look at retrofitting public buildings to avoid the extra cost of a carbon tax is a smart one. Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital), who introduced the proposal, wants the city to study how much it would pay in carbon taxes and then provide a list of up to 15 sites and/or $80 million in redevelopment costs. This is one way to save taxpayers money in the long run as the carbon tax rises every year. Plus, it would make the buildings more sustainable for the future, which is a plus, but of course, many are concerned about the cost. Although the city does not have a historical amount of how much it has paid in carbon taxes, a spokesperson said this week that Winnipeg can expect to pay up to $2.7 million related to natural gas use. It may seem like a trickle, but it adds up over time. Mayes said in an interview this week that if the city were to spend $50 million on carbon taxes, for example, it should work to make buildings more energy efficient. "In that sense, the tax is well-designed, it affects our behavior," Mayes said Monday, adding that there are also moral and environmental reasons to upgrade buildings.

(by Ryan Stelter)

As NetworkNature draws to a close and paves the way for the next chapter, NetworkNaturePlus, the Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) community is reuniting to discuss the transformative nature of NbS.  Join us  8. ^June  2023  in  Flagey building in Brussels, Belgium !Through talks, presentations, panel discussions and interactive sessions, we will see how the benefits of NbS reach across sectors and communities with their transformative potential. We will also discuss what transformations are needed in politics, in the economic and financial sectors, and in science and practice to bring NbS into the mainstream. You will discover the creative side of NbS and learn more about the products NetworkNature offers to policymakers, practitioners and businesses to see more of NbS in action. You will learn about various EU-funded NbS projects and have time to network.

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has taken a major step towards reducing the UAE's carbon footprint with a cement and concrete decarbonisation workshop to be held earlier this week. An event organized by the Ministry for climate change and the environment, was aimed at addressing the contributors to the UAE's carbon footprint: the embodied emissions that are associated with the production, transport and construction of building materials and represent 10 % of the country's total. CO2 emissions. With more than 100 participants, the event was the first time that experts from across the supply chain came together to share their ambitions to achieve a net zero plan. HE Eng Essa Al Hashmi, Assistant Under-Secretary for Sustainable Communities and Acting Under-Secretary for Ecological Development and Climate Change at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in his opening remarks, highlighted the critical importance of reducing carbon emissions to enable the UAE to achieve zero net emissions until 2050.Kate-Lynne Wolmarans)

(Barbie Latza Nadeau , Sharon Braithwaite a Heather Chen , CNN)

Along with Kazakhstan, we are the only country in the world that allows 100 percent of our fossil fuel emissions to offset all of our greenhouse gases by planting trees. Some believe that this puts us at a disadvantage to the rest of the world and harms our agricultural sector and rural communities. (Beef and Lamb CEO Sam McIvor joins Mike Hosking.)

Carbon capture is like burning witches. In the 15th to 17th centuries, the elite in Europe and the United States believed that "bad people negatively affect the climate and weather." People demanded that something—anything—be done about the famine and crop failure. There must be consequences, facts be damned, so inconvenient women on the fringes of society were labeled "witches" and burned at the stake in droves. Of course, you and I, with the benefit of hindsight and a decent education, know that burning witches had no effect on the weather. It was cruel and fruitless and its only benefit was to make people feel good. At least something was being done. Fast forward to 2023, and it appears that the United States has sold itself into a net-zero fantasy. Legions of celebrities, influencers and politicians are clamoring for a magic turnkey solution to climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now plans to unilaterally mandate carbon capture for all natural gas and coal-fired power plants—an act of bureaucratic overreach that will force the shutdown of many of our most reliable electricity generators because of its exorbitant costs. The modern elite turn their noses up at the legions of the unenlightened, with their gas-guzzling trucks and single-use plastics, which are surely the cause of all our problems. If we could just get rid of all that CO2, climate change would be solved, right? But net-zero is just as pointless – and just as bad – as the bogus witch trials of the Middle Ages. (FROM THE DAILY CALLER)

Cieľom nového vládneho fondu je presadiť drevo ako náhradu betónu s nižším obsahom uhlíka v stavebníctve a pre fosílne palivá. Minister lesného hospodárstva Peeni Henare oznámil fond vo výške 57 miliónov dolárov na podporu investícií do domácich zariadení na spracovanie dreva, keďže vláda sa snaží presadiť drevo ako alternatívu šetrnú k uhlíku v stavebníctve, palivách, obaloch a dokonca aj v biochemikáliách a liečivách. Počnúc júlom, Wood Processing Growth Fund poskytne približne 3 milióny dolárov ročne na výskum, obchodné prípady, pilotné štúdie a rozvoj trhu okolo projektov na spracovanie dreva na pevnine, povedal Henare na výročnej konferencii sektora spracovania a výroby dreva v Rotorua. Zvyšok peňazí – väčšina – je k dispozícii pre spoločnosti, ktoré chcú postaviť závody alebo investovať do vybavenia a technológie. „Krajiny na celom svete sa snažia znižovať emisie a naša komparatívna výhoda premeny slnečného žiarenia na drevené výrobky, ktoré sú svojou povahou nízkouhlíkové, je takmer neprekonateľná,“ povedal Henare.  (NIKKI MANDOW)

The NextGen CDR Facility, a collaboration between Swiss carbon finance consultant South Pole and Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corporation, has announced the purchase of 193,125 tonnes of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from three projects, producing the largest CDR portfolio in the world. The purchase represents 25 percent of all CDRs purchased to date and provides more than 1,000 years of CO2 storage after delivery, according to a South Pole press release released last week. With an average price target of $200/t, NextGen intends to make permanent CDRs available to corporate buyers, allowing for risk diversification through a portfolio approach. A number of technologies are represented in the portfolio removal carbon  , such as biomass carbon removal and storage, direct air capture and storage, improved weathering, high-temperature biochar and product mineralization. (Baba Tamim)