A summary of ESG legislation at the European Union level includes several key pieces of legislation and regulations that focus on sustainable investments, sustainability disclosure, green bonds and the incorporation of ESG factors into various economic and financial practices:

These legislative initiatives emphasize the EU's efforts to support environmentally sustainable economic activities, to increase the transparency and responsibility of companies and the financial sector in their approach to sustainability.

(More on co2news.sk/esg_legislativa)

Many cities try to mitigate the extreme heat by planting trees. But the cooling achieved by such programs is debated, as previous analyzes focus on much smaller scales than the city-wide ones planners are working on. To fill this gap, we performed a scaling analysis of cooling efficiency (CE)—the temperature reduction associated with the 1% growing tree canopy (UTC)—to predict citywide CE. The results show that CE increased with increasing spatial scales in a convex power form. The power law was consistently found across multiple cities with different climate contexts and was also robust under different summer weather conditions within the city. Power-law scaling of CE can provide a tool for urban planners to set UTC targets for extreme heat mitigation. (Jia Wang, Weiqi Zhou, Steward TA Pickett , more at pnas.org)

In connection with the UN climate summit (COP29), which is to be held from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the US presidential election is approaching. For now, the US delegation to the summit will be led by John Podesta, senior adviser on international climate policy. It is difficult to predict whether the United States will have its own climate envoy by the time COP30 takes place.

The US election is not the only puzzle of the summit. More worryingly, COP29 is divided on its obvious goal: climate finance.

The Baku COP is so focused on climate finance – and its new collective quantified goal (NCQG) – that it has been dubbed the “Finance COP”. According to the NCQG, wealthy member states determine their quantified contributions to the annual climate finance targets agreed upon after President Barack Obama's active intervention in 2009 at COP15 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Developed countries at COP15 agreed to contribute $100 billion annually by 2020. However, they did not fulfill this promise until 2022, and that too only twice. (Tarique Niazi, more at fpif.org)

As COP16 draws to a close, there is still a significant gap between ambition and funding needed to achieve the target of protecting 30 % of the world's ecosystems by 2030 ("30 x 30"). Although private funding for nature-based solutions has grown significantly in recent years, it still exists a $700 billion biodiversity funding gap.

In this context, voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) appear to be a promising mechanism to bridge this gap, especially given that markets for biodiversity credits are still in their early stages of development.

VCMs offer several key advantages:

• They provide immediate financial flows for conservation initiatives.
• They have the potential to provide up to 32 % of the global potential of nature-based solutions by 2030.
• By incorporating biodiversity considerations into carbon offset projects, VCMs can address both climate change and biodiversity loss.
• They provide a model for biodiversity credit markets to learn from and accelerate their own development.

The Rimba Raya project in Indonesia is an example of how VCMs can bring benefits to both climate and biodiversity.

Although VCMs are not flawless, their management is much more advanced than the management of biodiversity markets, allowing them to provide a basis for the development of credible biodiversity credits.

VCM also emphasized the importance of:

• Strong management and transparency.
• Robust methodologies for accurate measurement and monitoring of impacts on biodiversity.
• Involvement and strengthening of local communities.

By harnessing the dynamics of VCM, we can begin to close the gap in biodiversity financing, accelerate ecosystem protection and lay the foundations for sustainable financial mechanisms such as biodiversity credits.

While we still have a long way to go to ensure high integrity in carbon markets, their potential to generate dual benefits for climate change mitigation and biodiversity makes them a powerful tool in the fight against both crises. (CO2AI)

Today, the European Commission is taking further steps to support Member States affected by unprecedented climate disasters. As announced by European Commission President von der Leyen during her visit to Poland on 19 September 2024, the Commission is proposing amendments to three EU regulations to ensure the rapid mobilization of EU funds to support disaster recovery. (More on ec.europa.eu)

Tackling methane – and fast – has been declared a critical priority by world leaders and fossil fuel managers, many of whom have signed an accelerating series of pledges from 2021 to bolster their green credentials. The new commitments are among the key outcomes of successive annual UN climate conferences, and major polluters insist they are making progress. (by Aaron Clark and Zachary R Mider, Bloomberg News, more at phys.org)

While climate change is hugely important and demands our attention, we seem to be forgetting about another major issue: biodiversity loss. While the COP29 climate change conference attracts the attention of the media and politicians, the COP16 conference on biodiversity has gone largely unnoticed. As many as 80% countries have not even submitted plans to achieve the goals of the UN Biodiversity Agreement.

However, the consequences of biodiversity loss are dire. Since 1970, the wildlife population has declined by 73%. Many species have already become extinct and others are on the verge of extinction. Nevertheless, it seems that the world's attention is mainly focused on climate change.

This trend is also reflected in British politics. While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced strong public pressure to attend the COP27 climate change conference, he sent only a "natural science envoy" to the COP16 biodiversity conference. The media also devotes much more space to the climate crisis than to the loss of biodiversity.

Although these two problems are linked, and solving one helps to solve the other, completely ignoring biodiversity is dangerous.

Furthermore, focusing solely on climate change can be counterproductive. While climate change data is important, its abstract nature may not be enough to motivate people to change their behavior. More emotionally compelling stories about the human and animal sacrifices of climate change and biodiversity loss could be more effective. An example of a successful species conservation campaign is "Save the Whales", whose success was partly due to the use of a charismatic whale as a symbol.

In order to save the planet, it is necessary to pay attention to both crises - climate change and biodiversity loss. We need a comprehensive approach that takes into account all aspects of the environment and is communicated in a way that appeals to the general public. (Co2AI)

Here are the 10 most effective measures to reduce the carbon footprint of the home, along with the approximate potential reduction in CO₂e emissions per year. CO₂e values are approximate as they may depend on local conditions and implementation method.

1. Lowering the heating temperature: Lowering the thermostat by 1°C can save about 6-10 % of heating emissions, which is about 300 kg CO₂e per year per household.

2. Using energy-saving light bulbs: Replacing older light bulbs with LEDs can save up to 50-70 % of energy, which means about 100-200 kg of CO₂e per year.

3. Installation of thermal insulation: High-quality insulation of walls, attics and windows can reduce emissions by up to 1,000 kg of CO₂e per year, as it reduces the need for heating and cooling.

4. Use of renewable energy: Switching to solar panels or purchasing renewable energy can reduce the carbon footprint by 500 to 1,500 kg CO₂e per year, depending on the size of the system and local energy.

5. Reduction of consumption of meat and dairy products: Reducing the consumption of meat, especially beef, can reduce emissions by 300 to 900 kg of CO₂e per year per person.

6. Using public transport or a bicycle: By cutting your car use in half, if the situation allows, you can save 1,000-2,000 kg of CO₂e per year.

7. Economical washing and drying: Washing clothes at lower temperatures (e.g. 30 °C) and limiting the use of the dryer can save 150 to 300 kg of CO₂e per year.

8. Reducing waste and increasing recycling: Minimizing waste, especially plastics, and consistent recycling can reduce the carbon footprint by 200 kg CO₂e per year.

9. Use of electrical and energy-saving appliances: By replacing older appliances with more energy-efficient models, 300-500 kg of CO₂e can be saved per year.

10. Reduction of water consumption: Saving water (e.g. shorter showers, gentle flushing) can reduce emissions associated with water heating by 100-200 kg CO₂e per year.

These measures are part of the effective steps that individuals can take to mitigate climate change, and their impact depends on the specific conditions and frequency of implementation. Spring

Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2022/2464 (CSRD) Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive of December 14, 2022, amending Regulation (EU) No. 537/2014, Directive 2004/109/EC, Directive 2006/43/EC and Directive 2013/34/EU  (more…)

A summary of ESG legislation at the European Union level includes several key pieces of legislation and regulations that focus on sustainable investments, sustainability disclosure, green bonds and the incorporation of ESG factors into various economic and financial practices:

These legislative initiatives emphasize the EU's efforts to support environmentally sustainable economic activities, to increase the transparency and responsibility of companies and the financial sector in their approach to sustainability.

(More on co2news.sk/esg_legislativa)

Climate change is no longer a distant threat that haunts textbooks or ecologists' lectures. It has become part of our everyday reality and many experts warn that if we do not act immediately, (more…)

The European Union has been involved in the issue of climate security for a long time, but its approach is not without shortcomings. The sources analyze in detail the activities of the EU in this area and emphasize the complexity of the problem. (more…)

This year we have once again seen the dramatic consequences of the continued burning of fossil fuels around the world, such as Hurricane Debby in Quebec, the fires in Jasper and flooding in southern Ontario. Around the world, millions of people have been displaced, injured and even killed by climate catastrophe.

It is in this context that world leaders will meet from November 11 to 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to continue global efforts to address the climate crisis. This important meeting, known as COP29 (meaning "Conference of the Parties"), is the 29th year of UN climate negotiations since the creation of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1995.

Before this important moment, here are the key things you need to know. (Alienor Rougeot, more at environmentaldefense.ca)

The world is trying to reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy and other environmentally friendly initiatives. But it seems that one of the best ways to reduce these planet-warming gases would be for billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to stop using their private jets and yachts so much. According to a new report, members of the super-rich create the same amount of carbon emissions in 90 minutes as the average person does in their entire life.

Oxfam, a British NGO that focuses on tackling global poverty, has published a report examining carbon inequality. It looks at how the yachts, planes and polluting investments of the world's 50 richest billionaires are accelerating the climate crisis. (Rob Thubron, more at techspot.com)

Total net greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union fell by 8 % last year, marking significant progress towards climate neutrality for the EU. The huge drop was driven by a significant drop in coal consumption and growth in renewables, and supported by reduced energy consumption across Europe, according to estimates in the European Environment Agency's (EEA) latest 'Trends and Forecasts' report published today. The EEA's annual review of the EU's progress towards its energy and climate targets highlights that EU Member States will need to maintain this pace of progress to achieve Europe's climate and energy targets. (More on eea.europa.eu)

Excessively hot or cold temperatures currently cause 407,000 deaths per year. Heat-related deaths, which are now six times more common in the south than in northern Europe, will be 9.3 times more common in the south than in the north by 2100. The first pan-European assessment reveals that even if current climate policies succeed in limiting global temperature rise to 3°C, heat-related mortality may increase. Without additional adaptation measures, an additional 55,000 deaths could occur annually by the end of this century. This 13.5 % increase in temperature-related deaths highlights the costs of delaying climate action. (More on joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu)

We have reached alarming new records in the health risks associated with a warming climate, according to the 8th annual Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change. This year, the world's citizens faced an average of 50 more days of extreme heat, exposing millions of people to unprecedented health risks. The report also states that 48 % of global land area will experience severe drought in 2023 – the second highest level on record. This, along with intense heat waves, contributed to severe food insecurity for an estimated 151 million more people than in previous years. (Andrei Ionescu, more at earth.com)

 

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2139 of June 4, 2021, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing technical review criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity is characterized as significantly contributing to climate change mitigation or climate change adaptation, and for determining whether the given economic activity does not significantly disrupt the fulfillment of any of the other environmental goals (Text with significance for the EEA).

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 1 January 2022.

Toto nariadenie stanovuje technické kritériá preskúmania na určenie, či hospodárska činnosť významne prispieva k zmierneniu zmeny klímy alebo adaptácii na zmenu klímy, a či výrazne nenarúša plnenie iných environmentálnych cieľov.

• Nariadenie zdôrazňuje, že technické kritériá by mali zohľadňovať povahu a rozsah hospodárskej činnosti, odvetvie, a či je činnosť prechodnou alebo podpornou.
• V prípade niektorých činností s technicky zložitými prvkami, overenie splnenia technických kritérií preskúmania môže vyžadovať nezávislú tretiu stranu.
• Nariadenie uznáva, že niektoré činnosti, ako napríklad lesníctvo, obnova mokradí a výroba programov, môžu prispieť k adaptácii na zmenu klímy poskytovaním adaptačných riešení.
• Dôležité je, aby technické kritériá preskúmania neovplyvňovali existujúce environmentálne, zdravotné, bezpečnostné a sociálne požiadavky stanovené v práve EÚ a vnútroštátnom práve.
• Nariadenie nadobúda účinnosť 20 dní po uverejnení v Úradnom vestníku Európskej únie a uplatňuje sa od 1. januára 2022.

Nariadenie obsahuje príklady technických kritérií preskúmania pre rôzne činnosti, vrátane:

Lesníctvo:

• Zavedenie plánu zalesňovania a následného plánu obhospodarovania lesov.
• Analýza prínosov pre klímu, ktorá preukazuje zníženie emisií skleníkových plynov.
• Minimalizácia používania hnojív a zákaz používania hnoja.
• Zákaz degradácie pôdy s vysokými zásobami uhlíka.
• Monitorovanie a overovanie súladu s kritériami nezávislým certifikačným orgánom.

Ochrana a obnova životného prostredia:

• Obnova mokradí
• Používanie minimálneho množstva hnojív a zákaz používania hnoja.
• Predchádzanie používaniu škodlivých chemických látok.

Priemysel:

• Výroba hliníka
• Výroba železa a ocele
• Výroba vodíka
• Výroba sadzí

Doprava:

• Podpora používania ťažkých úžitkových vozidiel s nulovými alebo nízkymi emisiami.
• Podpora vnútrozemskej a námornej osobnej vodnej dopravy s nízkymi emisiami.

Energetika:

• Podpora prečerpávacích vodných elektrární spĺňajúcich kritériá udržateľného využívania vodných zdrojov.

Stavebníctvo:

• Podpora inštalácie, údržby alebo opravy energeticky efektívnych zariadení v budovách.

Nariadenie ďalej uvádza všeobecné kritériá zásady „výrazne nenarušiť“ vo vzťahu k:

• Udržateľnému využívaniu a ochrane vodných a morských zdrojov.
• Prechodu na obehové hospodárstvo.
• Prevencia a kontrole znečisťovania.

Nariadenie tiež definuje podporné činnosti, ktoré samy o sebe nemusia významne prispievať k zmierneniu zmeny klímy, ale umožňujú iným činnostiam znižovať emisie skleníkových plynov. Tieto činnosti musia spĺňať špecifické technické kritériá preskúmania.

Nariadenie je komplexným dokumentom s množstvom detailných technických informácií, preto je vhodné pre podrobnejšie informácie konzultovať celý text nariadenia a jeho príloh.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2486 of June 27, 2023, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2020/852 of the European Parliament and of the Council by establishing technical review criteria for determining the conditions under which an economic activity is characterized as significantly contributing to the sustainable use and protection of water and marine resources, the transition to circular economy, the prevention and control of pollution or the protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems, and to determine whether this economic activity does not significantly interfere with the fulfillment of any of the other environmental objectives, and which amends Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2178 as regards specific publishing information about these economic activities

This regulation enters into force on the twentieth day after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It applies from 1 January 2024.

Toto nariadenie stanovuje technické kritériá preskúmania na identifikáciu hospodárskych činností, ktoré významne prispievajú k dosiahnutiu environmentálnych cieľov EÚ. Tieto ciele sú:

• Udržateľné využívanie a ochrana vodných a morských zdrojov
• Prechod na obehové hospodárstvo
• Prevencia a kontrola znečisťovania
• Ochrana a obnova biodiverzity a ekosystémov

Nariadenie zdôrazňuje dôležitosť hierarchie odpadového hospodárstva v obehovom hospodárstve, pričom uprednostňuje predchádzanie vzniku odpadu, prípravu na opätovné použitie a recykláciu. Zároveň zdôrazňuje úlohu digitálnych riešení, ako sú digitálne pasy výrobkov, pri zlepšovaní sledovateľnosti materiálov a transparentnosti v environmentálnom monitorovaní.

Nariadenie zavádza špecifické kritériá pre rôzne kategórie hospodárskych činností v prílohách I až IV. Pre každú činnosť sú definované kritériá „významný prínos“ a „výrazne nenarušiť“. Kritériá „výrazne nenarušiť“ zabezpečujú, aby činnosti významne neohrozovali dosiahnutie iných environmentálnych cieľov.

Nariadenie tiež mení delegované nariadenie Komisie (EÚ) 2021/2178, aby sa zohľadnil rozšírený rozsah zverejňovania informácií o hospodárskych činnostiach prispievajúcich k environmentálnym cieľom. Zároveň sa zavádzajú zmeny na riešenie technických a právnych nezrovnalostí v delegovanom nariadení (EÚ) 2021/2178.

Dôležité je, že nariadenie umožňuje postupné uplatňovanie, aby podniky mali dostatok času na posúdenie svojich činností a splnenie povinností v oblasti podávania správ. Nariadenie bude pravidelne preskúmavané a v prípade potreby menené, aby sa zohľadnil vývoj v oblasti vedy, technológií a politík.

Nariadenie je rozsiahle a komplexné a obsahuje detailné technické kritériá pre širokú škálu činností.

Poskytnuté zdroje neobsahujú informácie o tom, aký typ súhrnu by mal byť vytvorený. Prosím o upresnenie, aký druh súhrnu požadujete, napríklad:

• Stručný prehľad hlavných bodov
• Zhrnutie pre konkrétne odvetvie
• Zhrnutie zamerané na konkrétny environmentálny cieľ
• Súhrn určený pre konkrétnu cieľovú skupinu (napr. podniky, investori)

Poskytnutie týchto informácií umožní vytvoriť súhrn, ktorý čo najlepšie splní vaše potreby.