*[Enwl-eng] 🌏CAN EECCA Newsletter: Week of climate actions, Lybia floods and new #WorldWeWant story
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Tue Sep 26 15:45:15 MSK 2023
CAN EECCA ENGLISH DIGEST
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Climate Action Network
Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
Digest of news on climate change, energy
issues
www.caneecca.org
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Regional Climate News
New #WorldWeWant video: story of adaptation
and survival
Climate change, coupled with the legacy of
the outdated Soviet irrigation system, has led to a water scarcity crisis in
Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley, endangering the survival of its population,
particularly women farmers who oversee 21% of the valley's farms. Rising
temperatures are causing glaciers that feed critical rivers in the region to
recede rapidly, intensifying the water crisis, and increasing the risk of
climate refugees in the area, highlighting the urgent need for global
attention and action, as emphasized in the #WorldWeWant campaign by CAN
EECCA.
How Moldova’s climate plans are entangled
with separatists and Russian troops
Moldova's attempt to establish a carbon
pricing scheme in line with EU climate laws is complicated by its breakaway
region, Transnistria, a major exporter of iron and steel to the EU. The EU's
Carbon Border Adjustment Measure (CBAM) could result in job losses and
reduced wages in Moldova, but the challenge lies in implementing complex
carbon pricing policies in Transnistria, which does not recognize Moldova's
government. Moldova may have to exclude Transnistria temporarily from its
carbon pricing scheme to meet CBAM requirements, with long-term cooperation
needed for continued exports to the EU.
Cities of Central Asia: New hotspots of air
pollution in the world
Central Asian cities are experiencing severe
air pollution, with annual PM2.5 concentrations up to ten times higher than
safety limits, according to a study. The research analyzed PM2.5 levels and
meteorological factors in six major Central Asian cities, revealing a clear
seasonal pattern of pollution, with winter peaks in Almaty, Bishkek, and
Astana, and pollution in both summer and winter in Tashkent and Dushanbe.
The primary source of PM2.5 pollution in most cities was found to be coal
combustion, highlighting the need for policymakers to address coal use to
mitigate air pollution and improve public health in the region.
Russia in the Arctic: International
Isolation, Environmental Blackmail and Arms Rattling
Arctic countries, including the United
States, Canada, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Denmark and Sweden, have suspended
cooperation with Russia in the region since the start of the invasion of
Ukraine, and Russia itself has withdrawn from the Barents/Euro-Arctic
Council. This chaotic policy could threaten the global community's efforts
to combat climate change and raise tensions in the Arctic region, which is
strategically important to Russia because of its rich oil and gas resources
and the Northern Sea Route, although there are doubts about its long-term
sustainability due to high costs and global trends in renewable energy
development.
Biden suggests dialog for Central Asia's
energy security
The United States plans to increase security
funding and cooperation with Central Asia by starting a dialog with the five
countries in the region on mining and energy security. U.S. President Joe
Biden met with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan at the first C5+1 summit and emphasized the
importance of developing cooperation with the region, which finds itself
between Russia and China, and announced his intention to create a business
platform for U.S. investment in Central Asian economies.
Ukrainian communities calls on the U.S. to
include renewable energy in aid packages
Ukrainian communities, along with 50 local
governments, have sent a joint letter to the United States government
expressing gratitude for humanitarian support, including diesel generators,
provided to Ukraine. However, they emphasize the importance of including
renewable energy technologies in such assistance. While the generators have
helped during power outages, renewable energy solutions are seen as a
long-term strategy to enhance energy independence, reduce environmental
impact, and support critical facilities like hospitals, schools, and water
supply systems in the country
Rustavi Civic Groups Working to Reduce Air
Pollution
Civic groups Gavigudet and EcoCentre in
Rustavi, Georgia, are collaborating to combat pollution and enhance living
conditions in their city. They are actively monitoring pollution levels from
the local industrial zone, advocating for emissions reduction measures, and
have successfully encouraged 13 out of 15 factories in Rustavi to install
air filters and self-monitoring systems. Their efforts have even influenced
the Ministry of Environmental Protection's evaluation of air improvement
plans for the city, demonstrating their commitment to a cleaner and
healthier environment for Rustavi's residents.
BelNPP's first power unit will be taken out
for scheduled preventive maintenance in the first half of October
As part of the next reactor overhaul at the
Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), 25% of the fuel assemblies (TVELs)
will also be replaced. Spent nuclear fuel will be transferred to a holding
pool inside the reactor building, while fresh nuclear fuel has already been
delivered and is ready to be loaded. As part of the repair, extensive
diagnostics of technological systems and control of metal and welded joints
will also be carried out. The work will be carried out jointly by Belarusian
and Russian organizations, with the Belarusian organizations aiming for full
maintenance of BelNPP in the future.
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World Climate News
Libya floods: Collective grief morphs into a
rallying cry for unity
The devastating flooding in the eastern
Libyan city of Derna, which claimed over 11,000 lives and displaced 30,000
people, has prompted an outpouring of support and unity among Libyans,
transcending political divides that have plagued the country for years.
Zahra el-Gerbi, a clinical nutritionist from Benghazi, initiated an online
fundraiser to aid those affected by the floods, receiving immediate support
from friends and strangers alike. Despite political differences between the
eastern and western administrations, the disaster has led to rare instances
of cooperation, emphasizing the collective grief and willingness to help
among the Libyan people.
Climate protesters around the world join
fight against fossil fuels
Global climate protests, part of the "Global
Fight to End Fossil Fuels" movement, are set to take place in hundreds of
cities worldwide from September 15th to 17th. Tens of thousands of climate
activists, including those from Greta Thunberg's Fridays for Future
movement, are demanding an end to the burning of fossil fuels as the planet
experiences severe weather extremes and record-breaking heat. These protests
are occurring in the lead-up to the United Nations Secretary General’s
Climate Ambition Summit, with participants urging urgent action to address
climate change and curb warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius as outlined in the
Paris Agreement.
Can COP 28 steer climate change back on
course?
Adnan Amin, the CEO and number two official
at the upcoming COP28 conference in Dubai, is aiming for a "course
correction" in climate negotiations but acknowledges that a complete
phase-out of fossil fuels is unlikely. Instead, he suggests that a "phase
down of fossil fuels is inevitable." Amin emphasizes the importance of
including fossil fuel interests in the negotiations, noting the desire of
some African countries to use fossil fuels for development, while also
striving to increase financial aid for developing nations, decarbonize
energy systems, and involve more groups, including youth, in the
negotiations.
How fast fashion fuels climate change,
plastic pollution, and violence
The fast fashion industry, despite the
wake-up call from the Rana Plaza factory collapse in 2013, continues to
produce over 100 billion clothes annually, mostly from oil-based polyester,
often in hazardous conditions. This massive overproduction of clothing not
only contributes significantly to climate change and plastic pollution but
also fuels conflicts, such as Russia's war in Ukraine, through the demand
for polyester made from fossil fuels. The use of synthetic fabrics, like
polyester, creates long-lasting environmental problems, as they do not
easily break down and release microplastics into the environment, impacting
both ecosystems and human health.
How to Supercharge Renewables and Energize
the World
The power sector generates the electricity
that sustains modern life -- but it's also the number one contributor to
climate change. We need a swift and equitable shift to renewable energy,
says 2023 Audacious Project grantee and ReNew2030 executive director Rebecca
Collyer. In conversation with TED's David Biello, she introduces a new
coalition of governments, businesses and communities that aims to
drastically scale wind and solar capacity in the 30 highest-emitting
countries. Learn more about their plan -- and why Collyer has hope for a
greener, more equitable future. (This ambitious idea is part of the
Audacious Project, TED's initiative to inspire and fund global change.)
Remote working could cut emissions by half,
claims new study
A study conducted by researchers from
Cornell University and Microsoft suggests that working from home full-time
can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54% compared to working in an office.
However, working from home one day a week only resulted in a 2% reduction in
emissions due to factors such as increased non-commuting travel and home
energy use on remote days. The study highlights the potential environmental
benefits of full-time remote work but also emphasizes the importance of
considering commuting patterns, building energy consumption, and other
factors to fully realize these benefits.
French company has designed the first e-bike
that doesn’t need a battery
French entrepreneur Adrien Lelièvre has
developed the Pi-Pop e-bike, which uses supercapacitors instead of
traditional lithium batteries for energy storage. The supercapacitors charge
when the rider pedals or brakes, quickly releasing energy when needed,
making it suitable for various terrains and ideal for urban commuting.
Lelièvre's design prioritizes sustainability, avoiding the use of rare-earth
materials and offering a longer lifespan compared to lithium batteries, and
he plans to expand the production and market reach of these innovative
e-bikes in the future.
Major win for Indigenous Peoples in Brazil
The Brazilian Supreme Court has rejected the
"Marco Temporal" loophole, which could have undermined Indigenous Peoples'
land rights by requiring proof of occupation since Brazil's 1988
constitution. This victory for Indigenous Peoples and civil society is
crucial for protecting the Amazon and combating the global climate and
biodiversity crisis, as Indigenous Territories play a vital role in
safeguarding the rainforest. However, conservative lawmakers in Brazil are
attempting to introduce a similar bill in the Senate, which not only
threatens Indigenous land rights but also opens up Indigenous Territories to
destructive industries like mining, posing a grave threat to both the
environment and Indigenous livelihoods.
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Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2023 3:56 PM
Subject: 🌏CAN EECCA Newsletter: Week of climate actions, Lybia floods
and new #WorldWeWant story
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