| January 2024: "C" Change is Here! |
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January 2024: C Change is Here!
Welcome back to C Change!
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! For this issue, we begin a new year exploring the key takeaways of the recent COP28 UN Climate Summit, highlighting the need to act on climate change as soon as possible. Further, learn how the impact of climate change specifically affects women and the consequences they may experience. Finally, revisit how climate change threatens the Great Barrier Reef, and how research may help preserve this valuable ecosystem. Conservation and sustainability draw from a variety of disciplines, proving just how interconnected we are with the world around us and why we should work to protect it.
Here are this month’s topics:
An important annual meeting took place throughout November and December: COP 28. Also known as the United Nations Climate Change Conference, this meeting saw representatives from nearly 200 countries pledge to move away from fossil fuel usage and to work toward a greener future. However, we must act sooner rather than later; every year without action contributes to more environmental damage. Climate change holds the most accountability for the alarming rate in which the world’s coral reefs are declining. The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the world’s largest and most significant coral reef system, and while the GBR is protected by law, climate change has no boundaries and is making its detrimental mark on the vast marine ecosystem. As the need for climate action rises, the role of women in the fight against climate change has become incredibly important. While seemingly unrelated, gender equity and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected. Women, often disproportionately affected by environmental impacts, are emerging as leaders, voices advocating strongly for change. As we move forward with sustainability initiatives, it is vital that we acknowledge the unique position of women in the global climate crisis. Making strides to understand both issues will allow us to combat climate change effectively with equality.
Thank you so much for joining us this month! Appreciating the impact we have on our world and the steps we can take to mitigate the negative effects of climate change is profoundly important for the future of our planet. By staying informed, we are better equipped to take action and understand our place in protecting our natural surroundings.
Sustainably,
Eric Magers
Executive Director
Autumn Marsh
Climate Action Advisor
Madhulika Jadon
Climate Action Advisor
Jacob Greenlee
Newsletter Department Manager
Sources Cited:
UN Environment Programme. (2023). What was accomplished at COP28? YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?.... Centre, U. N. E. S. C. O. W. H. (2023). Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/154/. Gloor, J. L., Mestre, E. B., Post, C., & Ruigrok, W. (2022, November 10). We can’t fight climate change without fighting for gender equity. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/07/we-can...(CSR)%20goals
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| JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS |
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| What We Read (and Learned!) This Month |
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| Takeaways from COP 28 |
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| Autumn Marsh |
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Climate change has grown more concerning year after year as science has continued to show the increased threat it’s causing to life on Earth. With the damage already done since industrialization, all countries need to be on board with making a global change. The 28th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP) took place in Dubai to address these issues, and spanned from the 30th of November to the 12th of December. The UN Environmental Programme found that COP 28 achieved nearly 200 countries pledging a move away from fossil fuel usage in the coming year and about 155 countries pledging to work towards a 30% cut of human-made methane emissions.
COP 28 had members agreeing that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced rapidly by a total of 43% by 2030, and 60% by 2035 to achieve the desired net zero emissions. With the current Paris Agreement, Emissions Gap Report 2023 found that with the current course of action, temperature rise will only be limited to 2.9°C; and at best, with the full implementation of the current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), it would be limited by 2.5°C. However, with the implementation of new NDCs, warming can be limited overall to between 1.5-2 °C. COP 28 determined that to achieve the ideal limitation of 1.5°C, parties would need to contribute on a national scale to a change in behaviors that will result in a large reduction in the current emissions being produced.
In a draft of the final report for global solutions, the Global Stocktake declared eight different steps to achieve this goal:
Tripling global renewable energy and actively doubling the current global annual rate of improvement by 2030. Actively phasing down (not out) coal power. Achieving predominantly zero and low carbon fuels by approximately 2050. Concurring that this is currently a critical decade for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Accelerating zero and low-emission technologies such as carbon capture. Substantially reducing the global production of non-carbon dioxide, particularly methane. Reducing transportation-related emissions through the development of new infrastructure and the implementation of zero and low-emission vehicles. Phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that don’t address the transition process or poverty-related issues.
The Global Stocktake also emphasized the need for additional effort to be placed into the eradication of poverty and encourage sustainable development. For example, COP 28 found an issue with the rapidly depleting funds that were originally decided upon when the Paris Agreement was made; low-income areas continue to struggle to access sustainable solutions. The first day of COP 28 resulted in the creation of a fund for these communities to help battle the impacts of the climate crisis. UN Environmental Programme found that a total of 700 million dollars has already been pledged to the Loss & Damage Fund. One document from the conference concluded that the developed parties, such as North America, Europe, and Japan will have to agree on ways to make sustainability funding more accessible to the developing parties of the conference, in order to make the global component more effective. The goal is a total of 100 billion USD to be contributed by the developed parties to the developing parties.
Another crucial component to resolving the climate crisis is increasing the effort to preserve and restore the natural environment, and the overall halting and reversal of deforestation. Marine and terrestrial ecosystems are carbon sinks and play a huge role in the reduction of carbon emissions. Client Earth found that marine carbon sinks have absorbed about a quarter of the carbon emissions that have been made since we started burning fossil fuels, and that soil absorbs about a quarter of the carbon that’s produced per year. Additionally, forests take in about 2.6 billion tons of carbon per year, making the restoration process a major concern for reducing overall warming. With this, the 28th annual COP meeting ended with a renewed urgency towards phasing out the usage of fossil fuels on a global scale and an increased emphasis on the protection of natural resources and environments.
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| The Great Barrier Reef’s Decline and Plans for Its Restoration |
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| Ashley Carver |
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(This article originally appeared in the April 2023 issue of C Change)
The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the world’s largest coral reef system, consisting of 400 types of coral, 1,500 fish species, and 4,000 mollusc species. Historically, the GBR has not suffered serious degradation due to its strong legal protection as well as its distance from human populations. There has been little effect on the reef by local disturbances such as fishing, industrial and urban pollution, tourism, oil spills, and other anthropogenic factors. However, the GBR has been experiencing mass coral bleaching and declining coral growth rates. These disturbances are a result of terrestrial runoff, tropical cyclones, coral diseases, and the overall increasing seawater temperatures. Additionally, the GBR has seen population outbreaks of coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS), and these outbreaks are likely to become more frequent as human activities continue to harm coral reefs.
Since 1995, the GBR has lost more than half of its corals as a consequence of warming seas. Evidence suggests that this loss is not directed towards certain coral types; rather, all types of corals within the GBR had experienced a decline. While all corals had diminished, this reduction was more prominent in branching and table-shaped corals— large, structural corals that provide habitats for fish and other marine life. Essentially, with the loss of structural corals comes the loss of marine life habitats.
A leading threat to corals in the GBR is coral bleaching, a process in which stressed corals release zooxanthellae, microscopic algae that grows within their tissues that also acts as corals’ source of food. As corals release more algae, their tissues become increasingly transparent, therefore exposing their white skeletons and making them more vulnerable to starvation and disease. Drivers of coral bleaching include rising ocean temperatures, changes in water quality, increased exposure to sunlight, and extreme low tides. Corals are especially susceptible to temperature rises, as bleaching can occur if there is a one degree Celsius rise in temperature for only four weeks. If water temperatures remain high for eight weeks or longer, the corals will start to die off.
Considering climate change is the main source of ocean and land temperature rises, it is pivotal that not only urgent action be taken to reduce global emissions, but also to protect and restore the world’s reefs. Countless organizations, including the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), are involved in the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) – a program that “brings together some of the best minds in marine science, technology, and engineering, to create a toolkit of effective, at-scale Reef interventions that are feasible, safe, acceptable and affordable.” As climate change is the world’s unfortunate reality, the first stage of the RRAP works towards the protection, restoration, as well as reef adaptation to warmer climates.
AIMS lead the way in kick starting the program by conducting an investigation revolving medium and large scale reef intervention. The study was 18 months long and constituted over 150 scientists from over 20 global organizations. Results of the study suggested that there is possibility for successful intervention on the world’s reefs, and that doing so would bring benefits to both the GBR and Australians living in a broad span of climates. Currently, the RRAP is in a ‘research and development phase’ in which intervention methods are undergoing tests for feasibility and risk assessments. This is being done with the hopes of creating a balance between minimizing risk and maximizing benefits and opportunities for the GBR.
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Sources:
Australia's Tropical Marine Research Agency. AIMS. (2023, April 24). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.aims.gov.au/. BBC. (2020, October 14). Great Barrier Reef has lost half of its corals since 1995. BBC News. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world.... Centre, U. N. E. S. C. O. W. H. (2023). Great Barrier Reef. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://whc.unesco.org/en/list.... Coral bleaching. Great Barrier Reef Foundation. (2023). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.barrierreef.org/th.... Reef restoration and adaptation program. AIMS. (2023). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.aims.gov.au/resear.... Reef restoration and Adaptation Science. Great Barrier Reef Foundation. (2023). Retrieved April 24, 2023, from https://www.barrierreef.org/wh....
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| Women and the Climate Crisis |
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| Laila Salgado |
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As the need for climate action rises, the role of women in the fight against climate change has become incredibly important. While seemingly unrelated, gender equity and environmental sustainability are deeply interconnected. Women, often disproportionately affected by environmental impacts, are emerging as leaders, voices advocating strongly for change. As we move forward with sustainability initiatives, it is vital that we acknowledge the unique position of women in the global climate crisis. Making strides to understand both issues and the ways they intertwine will allow us to combat climate change effectively with equality.
The Impact on Women
Climate change presents distinct challenges for women. The United Nations (UN) reported that women are disproportionately impacted by almost all of the challenges highlighted in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. One significant area is agriculture, where women, particularly in developing countries, are often responsible for food production and water collection. Natural disasters can alter the weather patterns necessary for the successful performance of these duties, and the voices of women often go unheard. Additionally, studies have indicated that gender-based violence rises with the occurrence of a natural disaster, including physically and psychologically.
Furthermore, current policies hold a “carbon-tunnel vision,” meaning that well-intentioned environmental initiatives often fail to see the big picture of social sustainability. For example, women in low-income communities are often negatively impacted by environmental policies like expansion of public transport, carbon pricing, and taxes. Though good for the environment, these initiatives often ignore the needs of women and minorities.
Women as Leaders
Women are in a unique position to take charge as leaders in the climate change era. Studies have shown that in the face of a global crisis, a prime example being COVID-19, women proved to be more swift and effective leaders than men. Research also indicated that women leaders are more inclined to think for the future and the collective whole. In conservation specifically, women leaders led to stronger sustainability policies, conflict resolution, and honesty.
Empowering Women
As we move forward in the fight against climate change, it is essential that we continue to empower women. Research has shown that empowering women influences societies worldwide by promoting green policies, local economies, public health, and education. Additionally, countries that have a greater social and political status for women have 12% lower carbon emissions. Another study showed that nations with a higher population of women in their administrations are more likely to ratify international treaties concerning the environment.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the fight against climate change requires exploring social sustainability. We must address the vulnerabilities of women in the face of the global climate crisis and acknowledge the extreme benefits of empowering female leaders. By embracing gender-equity and staying steadfast in our mission to save the earth, we can ensure a safe and vibrant future for all.
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Sources:
1. Gloor, J. L., Mestre, E. B., Post, C., & Ruigrok, W. (2022, July 26). We Can’t Fight Climate Change Without Fighting for Gender Equity. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2022/07/we-can...
2. Pexels. (2019). Free stock photos · Pexels. Pexels.com; Pexels. https://www.pexels.com
3. Schueman, L. J. (2022, March 16). Why women are key to solving the climate crisis. One Earth. https://www.oneearth.org/why-w...
4. UN WOMEN. (2022, February 28). Explainer: How gender inequality and climate change are interconnected. UN Women – Headquarters. https://www.unwomen.org/en/new...
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