Hong Kong’s first blog for SDG education news and announcements
Every year, at 8:30 pm on the last Saturday of March, millions of people across the world join in raising awareness of the issues facing our planet. Started by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world's largest grassroots movements for the environment. Each year, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories, switching off their lights to show support for our planet. But Earth Hour goes far beyond the symbolic action of switching off - it has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action. Earth Hour is open-source and everyone, anyone, is welcome to take part and help amplify our mission to unite people to protect our planet. (from: https://www.thereisadayforthat.com/holidays/various/earth-hour ) . . .
In many different ways, are lives are inextricably linked to forests. Most people are oblivious to this most of the time, but simply are lives (and therefore survival) are inextricably intertwined with multiple other organisms both larger and external to us, and smaller and internal to us (think gut microbiome for example). The sustainable management plus conservation strategies for forests are essential to human survival. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. The organizers are the United Nations Forum on Forests and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Governments, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other relevant organizati . . .
Is the Amazon rainforest on the verge of collapse? (The Conversation) Five key points in the IPCC report on climate change impacts and adaptation (The Conversation) Europe ditching Russia gas could price out emerging Asia buyers, spur renewables (Eco-business) Green hydrogen seen as best option for steel decarbonization (Reuters) Texas to build hydrogen hub; Airbus, FFI look to hydrogen-powered aircraft (Reuters) ‘It’s astonishing’: endangered bat not seen in 40 years found in Rwanda (The Guardian) . . .
The rise of the SUV is a classic case of a perfect storm of vanity, ego, machismo, marketing, supply, unintended consequences of regulations, social media “facts” and more. But whatever the particular combination, the fact is that the SUV now dominates many urban environments – the place where the slightly more justifiable reasons for driving this kind of vehicle are least applicable. And the auto industry just keeps pushing the choice and variety. But we should all realize that these are vehicles which are massively inefficient. They take up too much space, too many resources, are fuel greedy and while safer for the occupants, much more dangerous to everyone else. While all private vehicle ownership needs to come under more scrutiny in urban areas, SUVs are certainly a good first target. As this article in The Conversation shows, some people are taking matters into their own hands to make owning an SUV a bit more hassle than expected….. . . .
A combination of the technological pathway plus the business opportunities within the system very much set the scene for the removal of independent control of one’s energy supply to seeing it concentrated into fewer and fewer hands. Indeed, it is hard to see how it could have been any other way with the pre-industrial search for wood and other easy to access fuel materials taking up so much time, energy and resources. The move to mass produced electricity and the delivery of electrical and gas through national grids has undoubtedly been a net positive for the social and economic status of many ordinary people in recent history. But it has also impoverished many people and certainly impoverished the environment in multiple ways which we are only just realizing are catastrophic. One of the great benefits of renewables which is not talked about quite so much is that it represents a real chance to move back to independent control of one’s energy supply. This article in IISD . . .
Agribusiness giants tried to thwart EU deforestation plan after Cop26 pledge (The Guardian) World leaders agree to draw up ‘historic’ treaty on plastic waste (The Guardian) Net-zero claims of world's 25 biggest corporations lack integrity: study (Eco-business) Low cost curbs of methane leaks from 'ultra-emitters' could save billions: report (Eco-business) Offshore wind seen as perfect fit for green hydrogen (Reuters) Democracy and Digitalisation: How to Avoid Typical Pitfalls in Interventions (Europa) UN Statistical Commission Discusses New and Updated SDG Indicators (IISD) . . .
The climate news last week was dominated by the latest report release from the IPCC. This is essential reading, really for everyone. Why? Because it illustrates the nearing impossibility of achieving “A liveable and sustainable future for all”. This is existential, in case you hadn’t realized. The IPCC assessment, which is based on 34,000 studies, shows “widespread and pervasive” impacts on people and the natural world - heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, storms and floods. All faster than scientists had thought. The good news is that a liveable future remains possible – but only just and the door for action is “rapidly closing”. It also sets out strongly that the climate crisis is inseparable from the biodiversity crisis and the poverty and inequality suffered by billions of people. “Targeting a climate resilient, sustainable world involves fundamental changes to how society functions, including changes to underlying values, worl . . .
Tomorrow, 8 March, is International Women’s Day 2022. It should be obvious to any sensible person that gender equality is essential to sustainable development. In fact, it is actually a moral imperative and the fact any of this needs to be said and that gender Equality needs its own SDG is a damning indictment of the way most human societies have developed over recent centuries. The UN Observances page gives an overview of the day with preliminary links to further reading. . . .
