Every year there is a rush of reports, books, projects, campaigns and announcements all timed for what is basically ‘climate season’. This year feels particularly crowded, perhaps because the climate talks are more local, perhaps because more people are piling on the PR bandwagon. I’m going to save a bunch of things to talk about afterwards, otherwise everything happens and once and everyone will forget about climate change until february.
In their annual number-crunch, Carbon Brief find that attendance at Glasgow’s COP26 is almost double some recent climate conferences, despite some nations being unable to send a delegation.
Having written about how COP26 has dodged the issue of ‘loss and damage’, it was interesting to hear Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon specifically mention it and commit funding to it.
Those with an interest in sustainable architecture might appreciate the ‘virtual pavilion’ that Build Better Now have put together, featuring radically different example buildings.
Oh look – nothing to do with COP – bookshop.org have started a project to help under-represented entrepreneurs open physical bookshops. The more bookshops the better, and I really like this idea
I’ve always done a bit of speaking on the side, but there’s been more than usual recently – culminating in seven speaking engagements this week of one sort or another. Which made me think that I ought to create an events page of some sort for those interested. So it’s here, with a couple of upcoming things you might like to book in for if you’re so inclined.
Some posts from this week:
Why emissions cuts start with the richest
In order to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees C, global carbon emissions need to be dramatically reduced. And it is the richest who need to reduce them the furthest. This is well illustrated by a new briefing released by Oxfam today. In the graph below, which I have simplified slightly from their report, we…
Can hydrogen displace oil?
In my series on hydrogen, I have covered a variety of different possibilities so far. There’s no question that it could play a major role in decarbonising the economy, especially in some trickier sectors. But there’s one nagging question that ought to be asked whenever people start talking about energy revolutions: will it actually make…
What the most affected regions need from COP26
I’ve been in Glasgow for the last couple of days, a city full of people, groups, campaigns and delegations all competing for attention. My email inbox is the same – packed with demands from every conceivable interest group, legitimate or illegitimate. Why COP26 must hold a session on vegan diets. Why this is the COP…
The Earthbound Report 
Maybe Sturgeon reads your blog! 😃