Pico Analytics Fortnightly Newsletter: Our Mid Year Review Edition
2022 marked a year of hope as numerous nations continued to speak out on climate change and the need for sustainable development. The Cop26 agenda appeared to be in full force as not just international governments but entire communities were dedicated to making changes that would positively benefit our planet. Six months later and the progress we have made leaves much to be desired. As Russia stunned the world by invading Ukraine and starting a war on the 24th of February which would set off a chain of events leading to an energy and food security crisis, the global reliance on fossil fuels was put under the microscope, with mixed reactions as some nations turned to renewables whilst others pushed for increased supplies from the Middle East and beyond. As the cost of living crisis began to have a significant negative impact on the lives of people around the world, the willingness to invest in and spend more on renewable energy or sustainable development has arguably shrunk as people, businesses and governments cling to what they know in a time of deep insecurity. However, whilst international crises and political scandals continued to arise with worrying frequency, climate change was not taking a break. With record breaking heatwaves in India, microplastics in Antarctic snow, large-scale drought in the Horn of Africa, flooding in Australia and wildfires in Siberia, climate change has never been more evident in our day to day lives and whilst some have stuck their heads in the sand others have been working hard to meet sustainable development goals and limit global warming to 1.5°.
The past six months have been tumultuous as businesses attempt to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and people and governments face difficult decisions between meeting immediate needs or protecting the planet for future generations. As the Bonn climate talks made clear, one of the most significant aspects of our fight to tackle climate change will be finance and investment, not just in the development of sustainable technologies, but also in helping those nations who are most at risk to become more resilient to the worst impacts of climate change. With this comes a responsibility to be transparent and honest about which projects are being financed with an exact breakdown of how they are of benefit to the environment and to the wider community. This is clearly still a lot to ask in a world filled with struggling economies and disenfranchised people yet this Newsletter aims to show it is possible as everyone from a seven year old climate activist to the largest international organisations are turning words into action. From international plastic treaties, to ocean conservation, to giving legal rights to the natural world there has been strong progress made which can and must be built upon in the months to come. This Newsletter will provide our readers with a comprehensive list of some of the most important dates for your climate diary, which will hopefully help you to find some accountability in your own life, either by taking part in the Great British Beach Clean or Plastic Free July. Always remember that consumer demand can have a considerable impact on the behaviour of businesses and governments. We must continue to hold our suppliers to account and ensure they are open and honest about how they produce their goods and the environmental impact of their actions. This will require a more educated public, a more educated business sector, and most importantly a more educated financial sector who are candid about where our money is going and which businesses it is supporting or subsidising.
This edition hopes to provide a little something for everyone from the top 10 positive news stories of the past six months to a reminder of the Financial Times eight essential ESG topics for 2022. This mid-year review aims to educate, inform and promote a more sustainable lifestyle whilst turning your attention to those projects and innovations which have already seen success. We here at Pico Analytics know that it can be disheartening and at times frustrating to read through the various articles and reports concerning climate change, sustainable development and ESG's which is why this edition is all about being both optimistic and realistic in equal measure. In our Sustainability Spotlight we have included an amazing environmental activist who personifies the phrase 'the true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit' and our Business Insider video is extra special, collating all the brilliant inventions that are turning pollution into productivity. This newsletter, as usual, will provide a short summary of some of the most notable, informative, and quirky climate stories of the past six months in the hope that it provides inspiration and insight into climate news from around the world. Finally, we want to hear from you, our readers, about any topics that interest you, which we can either produce research papers on or include as stories in future newsletters.
OUR
TOP STORIES
How Can You Become More Sustainable Over the Next Six Months?
by Kate Martin 8th July 2022
We are all trying to do our bit for the environment whether that might be recycling, taking one less holiday abroad each year, switching to an electric vehicle or reducing our meat and fish consumption. These accumulated small changes can all have a significant impact so here are a few ideas for you to ruminate upon and maybe take action on in the months ahead;
Travel
How do you commute? Could you cycle to work or walk the kids to school? Do you know how fuel efficient your car is? Could you use public transport? Have you ever considered switching to an electric vehicle? These are all questions we should be asking ourselves, did you know;
Bicycle use produces zero emissions.
New research shows that life-cycle CO2 emissions drop by 14% per additional cycling trip and by 62% for each avoided car trip.
Switching from a car to a bicycle saves 150g of CO2 per kilometre, e-cargo bikes cut carbon emissions by 90% compared with diesel vans.
Swapping the car in cities for walking and cycling even for just one day a week can reduce your carbon footprint by about half a tonne of CO2 over a year.
Pure electric vehicles with no tailpipe produce no carbon emissions when driving which considerably reduces air pollution.
One electric car on the roads can save an average 1.5 million grams of CO2.
Food
How often do you think about the food you eat? Do you check the packaging to find out how far your food has travelled to reach you? Have you considered changing to a flexitarian diet? Do you push your local supermarket to reduce plastic packaging? Have you ever tried Veganuary? Do you know why buying organic is important? Here are some important facts about our food habits;
34% of all man made greenhouse gas emissions are generated by food systems.
Food generates an average of 2 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per person annually.
17 million tonnes of greenhouse gases are produced every year in the UK from food transportation alone.
Research published by the science journal Nature suggests that moving to a more plant-based or flexitarian diet could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 52%.
If we ate less meat it would reduce or eliminate the need for intensive animal farming which has a high impact on the environment.
A shift towards a diet that's less reliant on carbon-intensive animal products could reduce your dietary emissions by 35%.
Of the 23 million tonnes of plastic packaging produced annually in Europe, 40% (9 million tons) end up in landfills, 32% (over 7 million tons) end up polluting the land and the oceans.
Organic produce is made without the use of fertilisers, chemical pesticides, growth enhancers or feed additives. Animal welfare is put first and a range of crops are rotated around the farm to encourage fallow periods. This protects pollinators and drastically reduces our consumption of potentially harmful chemicals.
Lifestyle
Do you ever consider how harmful the chemicals in our cleaning products are? Do you partake in fast fashion? How often do you travel abroad and do you think about the emissions you produce with every flight? Do you ever walk into your bathroom and wonder why you are surrounded by a sea of plastic bottles? So what are the important facts about how our lifestyle choices impact the environment;
Chemicals in cleaning products take a long time to break down once they are washed down the sink. They end up sitting in waterways and polluting natural water sources which can in turn enter our food chain and poison aquatic life.
Around 2.4% of global CO2 emissions come from aviation. Together with other gases and the water vapour trails produced by aircraft, the industry is responsible for around 5% of global warming.
Just 3% of the global population take regular flights yet mile for mile flying is the most damaging way to travel for the climate and makes up a significant slice of our personal carbon footprint.
Tourism alone is responsible for 8% of the world's carbon emissions.
Swapping to soap, shampoo and conditioner bars uses less packaging, reduces energy use in transportation and uses up to five times less energy for production than liquid products. Studies also show we use liquid soap more quickly than soap bars and use around 30% more water when using liquid rather than bars.
Fourteen thousand tons of sunscreen get into the ocean and settle on coral reefs every year. Oxybenzone (a chemical used in sunscreen) is a culprit in the massive destruction of coral reefs in the world's oceans.
Home & Finances
How much do you know about your energy supplier? Are there any options for renewable electricity suppliers? Are you mindful of how much gas, electricity and water you use? Do you ever think about your bank or pension plan and which industries they invest in? Are the electrical devices in your home efficient and sustainable?
Energy production and use accounts for ⅔ of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Switching to renewables and energy efficiency can achieve a 90% reduction in carbon emissions.
About 29% of electricity currently comes from renewable sources.
Cheap electricity from renewable sources could provide 65% of the world's total electricity supply by 2030.
Residential energy use accounts for roughly 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
In the EU buildings consume 40% of overall energy and emit 36% of total CO2 emissions.
In 2019 UK pensions were invested in assets worth approximately £3.0 trillion that could have a negative impact on climate change.
71% of UK savers would opt for a fully or partially sustainable pension if they had the choice.
Fewer than half (46%) of pension plans in Europe and the UK are considering the investment risks posed by climate change.
Top 10 Positive News Stories from the Past Six Months
Wildlife College Uses Electric Bikes to Curb Poaching in South Africa
By the Zainul Dawood 27th January 2022
A Swedish electric bike company named Cake has begun an anti-poaching initiative in collaboration with the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC). The SAWC, situated just 10km west of the Kruger National Park in South Africa, have previously had to use rowdy dirt bikes for patrolling but now thanks to Cake's engineers they will play host to a purpose built, silent, electric bush bike that allows rangers to approach poachers undetected.
Stefan Ytterborn, founder and CEO of Cake, told the press that traditional combustion engine motorcycles require costly, inconvenient and unsustainable deliveries of fuel to support those ranger teams who work deep in the African bush. These deliveries, by diesel trucks and even helicopters, further drive up the cost of anti-poaching patrols and cause even more pollution in those sensitive areas. These new electric bikes are a game changer as rangers will be equipped with mobile power stations and solar panels to charge the bikes with renewable energy. The hope is that these new bikes will be effective in reducing the amount of illegal poaching activity as poachers will be unaware of the rangers until they have already been caught.
Europe’s Greenest City has Free Public Transport and Highways for Bees
By the Ben Anthony Horton 6th January 2022
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is proving its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2050. By implementing numerous drastic changes the European Commission has named the city the European Green Capital for 2023. Just a few of the actions taken were protecting 19.5% of public land, reducing noise pollution and improving water quality. Tallinn has implemented a long term strategy for a 40% reduction in emissions by 2030, which would normally be disregarded as rhetoric and greenwashing, however, they are proving that there is something tangible behind it by making public transport free in 2013 to reduce the use of private vehicles and encouraging residents to use their bicycles with the aim of having 11% of journeys in the city be made by bike by 2027. In a capital city once renowned for playing host to a number of heavily polluting industries, including minerals and paper, today residents can enjoy a 13km pollinator highway stretching across six districts and providing a much needed corridor for insect pollinators and those smaller creatures who inhabit these spaces. We hope that Estonia will continue to prove that cities can be sustainable and make changes which are inclusive of the natural world and its needs.
China Opened First 'Vertical Forest City' to New Residents
By the Cajsa Carlson 26th January 2022
Images of high rise apartment buildings covered in plants have frequently appeared across social media over recent years and this year China has opened its first building of this type to 500 new residents in the Easyhome Huangguang Vertical Forest City Complex. The new development designed by Italian architect Stefano Boeri is home to 400 trees as well as 4,620 shrubs and 2,408 square metres of perennial grass, flowers and climbing plants. Boeri said that "the design allows an excellent view of the tree-lined facades, enhancing the sensorial experience of the greenery and integrating the plant landscape with the architectural dimension… Thus, the inhabitants of the residential towers have the opportunity to experience the urban space from a different perspective while fully enjoying the comfort of being surrounded by nature". The trees and greenery should absorb around 22 tons of carbon dioxide per year and produce 11 tons of oxygen per year. Two more residential towers are set to open in Nanjing this year and if they are proven to be a success and China's interest in urban forestry continues to grow we could see these vertical forest models mushrooming across China and beyond, thereby changing the face of the urban landscape forever.
Rihanna Donates $15 Million to Climate Justice
By the Olivia Rosane 31st January 2022
Rihanna, the popular singer, businesswoman and philanthropist, has donated $15 million to organisations that champion climate justice through her Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) founded in honor of her grandparents which support climate resilience and justice in the US and the Caribbean. “At the Clara Lionel Foundation, much of the work is rooted in the understanding that climate disasters, which are growing in frequency and intensity, do not impact all communities equally, with communities of colour and island nations facing the brunt of climate change,” Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty said in a press release. “This is why CLF prioritises both climate resilience and climate justice work across the U.S. and Caribbean". This huge amount of funding will be spread out across 18 grassroots organisations including the Solutions Project, which supports grassroots-level climate solutions; the Indigenous Environmental Network, which supports Indigenous tribes and communities in protecting sacred sites and natural resources; and the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, which works to track and improve environmental threats at the neighbourhood level. The groups are led by and center on women, young people, Black, Indigenous, people of colour and LGBTQIA+ communities. They are active in seven Caribbean countries and almost all 50 states. It has never been more important for those celebrities and public figures who have the financial means and influence to make change to stand together through investing in those projects and communities who can make a difference and sharing the message of climate change and sustainability with everyone and anyone who will listen.
UN Agree on Landmark Plastic Pollution Treaty
By the UN Environment Programme 2nd March 2022
Heads of State, Ministers of Environment and other representatives from UN Member States endorsed a historic resolution at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-5)... in Nairobi to End Plastic Pollution and forge an international legally binding agreement by 2024. The resolution addresses the full lifecycle of plastic, including its production, design and disposal.
The resolution could mark a significant turning point as its legally binding status will mean all those signed up will have to adhere to those decisions regarding the full lifecycle of plastics, the design of reusable and recyclable products and materials, and the need for enhanced international collaboration to facilitate access to technology, capacity building and scientific and technical cooperation. As negotiations continue over the next 18 months those nations involved have the choice to engage with the UNEP and work together to shift away from single use plastics by mobilising private finance and removing barriers to investments in research related to forming a circular economy before signing the agreement, in effect giving themselves a head start.
Panama Enacts a Rights of Nature Law, Guaranteeing the Natural World’s ‘Right to Exist, Persist and Regenerate’
By Katie Surma 25th February 2022
Panama has now joined Ecuador, Brazil, New Zealand, Mexico, Bangladesh and Colombia, among other countries, which have either enacted laws, amended constitutions or issued legal decisions which recognise the legal rights of nature. Panama's law will go into effect in less than one years time and the legislation will include six paragraphs of rights extended to nature including the “right to exist, persist and regenerate its life cycles,” the “right to conserve its biodiversity,” and the “right to be restored after being affected directly or indirectly by any human activity.” The legislation does not only protect the environment but will have ramifications for the government of Panama who will require that its plans, policies and programs respect the rights of nature and that they must develop manufacturing processes and energy policies which safeguard ecosystems. Something in particular which stands out amongst all these legal changes is that Panama will promote the rights of nature as part of its foreign policy. These actions taken by a small but richly biodiverse nation will hopefully open up new opportunities for economic and sustainable development in the future and provide much needed examples of how a government can work with, not against, the natural world.
Global Wind and Solar Power Growth Could Help to Limit Global Warming to 1.5° if Progress is Maintained
By Maeve Campbell 30th March 2022
Solar and wind power can grow enough to limit global warming to 1.5C if the 10-year average compound growth rate of 20 per cent can be maintained to 2030, according to a new report.
Climate think tank Ember released a report this March which states that solar power generation rose by 23% globally and wind supply gained 14% over the same period. Together, these two renewable energy resources accounted for 10.3% of global electricity generation, up 1% from 2020. Australia, Vietnam and the Netherlands have seen the fastest growth rates in renewable resources by switching around 10% of their electricity demand from fossil fuels to wind and solar in the past two years. Ember has stated that if these trends could be replicated globally, and sustained, then the power sector could be on track to meet the 1.5° goal. Though global demand has increased for coal fired power generation there are hopes that with some hard work and investment renewable energy could cover the increase in demand. China is already implementing this strategy by installing record levels of wind and solar as well as hydro, nuclear and bioenergy systems which should help to reduce reliance on coal.
Medics perform 'net-zero' cancer operation in Solihull
By the BBC 25th May 2022
Medics in the West Midlands (UK) are believed to have performed the first carbon neutral cancer operation and now the lessons learned on net zero procedures are to be rolled out across the NHS. In a sector which is responsible for 6% of the country's total CO2 emissions the NHS' "first documented net zero operation" is a groundbreaking moment. Measures taken to achieve this feat ranged from changing the type of anaesthetic from conventional gasses to injections, monitoring how long theatre lights stayed on, having surgeons run or cycle to work instead of drive and planting trees at the hospital. Mr Aneel Bhangu, consultant colorectal surgeon, spoke about the need to consider not only the future of patients buts also that of their families and that by considering how we can reduce the use of resources in long operations the NHS can start to have an impact on the medium and longer term health of people in the UK.
Giant tortoise believed extinct confirmed alive in Galápagos Islands
By Sammy Westfall 16th June 2022
The extinction of various flora and fauna has become commonplace as humans infringe upon the last untouched habitats on the planet. Very seldom do we hear of creatures coming back from extinction but one very special tortoise in the Galapagos Islands has done just that!
Believed to have been extinct since 1906 a lone female giant tortoise has been found on Fernandina Island, the Galapagos' youngest, most pristine and most volcanically active island. Though she was found in 2019 it has taken years to figure out if she was of the same species — Chelonoidis phantasticus, or Fernandina Island tortoise — long thought to be extinct. Many ecologists doubted this would be the case instead choosing to believe that perhaps she had floated there from a different island or been moved by seafarers. However, just a few weeks ago researchers confirmed that the tortoises, a century apart from the 1906 specimens, were of the same long-considered-extinct lineage: The fantastic giant tortoise — “with a current known population size of a single individual.” Known as an "endling" Fernandina (the tortoise) isn't alone in being considered at risk as the 12 other species of Galapagos tortoises left are all under threats ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. We hope that Ferdinanda will be left to peacefully enjoy her life whilst providing proof that we should never give up on the natural world as mother nature always finds ways to bounce back.
Canada to Ban the Manufacture and Importation of Single Use Plastics by the End of the Year
By Emma Newburger 21st June 2022
Canada is already making strides towards reducing plastic pollution as the government announced plans to ban the manufacture and importation of single use plastic in a major effort to combat plastic waste and address climate change. The ban will include plastic supermarket bags, cutlery, straws and food service ware made from or containing plastics which are hard to recycle with the only notable exception being those plastics used for medical purposes. The ban will come into full effect in December 2022 and the sale of those items will be prohibited as of December 2023 to provide businesses in Canada enough time to transition and deplete existing stocks.
Single-use plastics make up most of the plastic waste found on Canadian shorelines. Up to 15 billion plastic checkout bags are used each year and approximately 16 million straws are used every day, according to government data. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who vowed in 2019 to phase out plastics, said the ban will eliminate more than 1.3 million tons of plastic waste over the next decade — the equivalent of 1 million garbage bags of trash.
Important Dates for Your Climate Change Diary over the next Six Months
by Raakhee Stratton 3rd January 2022
July -
Plastic Free July (1st July to 31st July) - Plastic Free July provides resources and ideas to help you (and millions of others around the world) reduce single-use plastic waste everyday at home, work, school, and even at your local café. This movement has inspired 100+ million participants in 190 countries. You making a small change will collectively make a massive difference to our communities. You can choose to refuse single-use plastics in July (and beyond!). Best of all, being part of Plastic Free July will help you to find great alternatives that can become new habits forever.
Plastic Bag Free Day (3rd July) - This is a global campaign to eliminate the use of single-use plastics which is part of the Break Free From Plastic movement. Click on the link to discover more about the campaign and find out some interesting facts about the different types of plastic used in bags.
Don’t Step on a Bee Day (10th July) – Bees are vital to the planet’s ecosystem. Why not head outside with your children to discover bees in their natural habitats or maybe even plant some wildflowers for the bees to feast on!
Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week (18th to 22nd July) - The regional climate week brings together stakeholders from different sectors of society for solution-oriented dialogues and to foster meaningful partnerships for climate action, including on the resilience against climate risks and the transition to a low-emission economy.
International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem (26th July) - Mangroves protect coastlines from erosion, they regulate flooding and buffer storms, provide nursery habitats for fish and can store large amounts of carbon dioxide. However, despite the many advantages that healthy mangrove ecosystems bring to coastal communities and the world as a whole, more than two thirds of mangroves have been lost or degraded. This is why UNESCO has designated 26 July as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem to raise awareness of the importance of mangroves as a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem.
August -
National Allotments Week (9th to 14th August) - National Allotments Week theme for 2022 is Bugs, Bees and Broccoli and acknowledges the importance of gardening with nature in mind. An allotment plot is a complex web of plants, micro-organisms, fungi, insects and animals that not only produces food but also supports ecosystem services such as pollination and offers a refuge for wildlife in urban areas. Why not click on the link to find out more about allotments and how you could start growing your own food!
Africa Climate Week (29th August to 2nd September) - The regional climate week brings together African stakeholders from different sectors of society for solution-oriented dialogues and to foster meaningful partnerships for climate action, including on the resilience against climate risks and the transition to a low-emission economy.
September -
Organic September (1st to 30th September) - The vision of this campaign is to bring awareness by exploring and eating organic food and to educate people about farming practices in growing organic food.
IPCC Sixth Assessment Report on Climate Change (1st September) - The final or synthesis report of IPCC’s sixth assessment cycle integrates contributions from the three Working Groups as well as from the Special Reports produced within the cycle - Global Warming of 1.5C; Climate Change and Land; and the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.
Recycle Week (19th to 25th September) - Recycle Week is set to be a major event in the calendar this year, coming hot on the heels of last year’s campaign which was the most successful to date – with over 29 million digital impressions, and 82% of people saying they had changed their behaviour as a result of seeing Recycle Week 2021 content. Recycle Week 2022 will be live 19-25 September. This year’s theme is ‘Let’s Get Real’ and will challenge perceptions and myths around recycling, and target contamination to improve recycling behaviours.
The Great British Beach Clean (17th to 25th September) - Every September thousands of people across the UK head to the coast to take part in the Great British Beach Clean. Why not get some friends and family together, head to your local beach with some grabbers and bin bags/recycle bags and pick up any waste you find!
Zero Emissions Day (21st September) - Did you know Zero Emissions Day was established in Nova Scotia, Canada in 2008 with the idea to give the world a break from fossil fuels and to raise awareness about the harm caused by carbon emissions?
FSC Friday (September 24th) - Promoting awareness about forest management and the vital role they play in climate change.
October -
Unblocktober (1st to 31st October) - This campaign promotes awareness for our sewers, drains and waterways by changing our habits at home. The amount of items flushed down their drains that can cause blockages is startling. I’m sure we are becoming aware of what baby wipes do to blockages. Their website has some brilliant ideas.
No Disposable Cup Day (4th October) - Daily in the UK we use more than 7 MILLION DISPOSABLE CUPS - 500,000 are dropped on the floor! The UK is one of the worst in the World in disposable cup waste using 2.5 billion cups a year – this would create a pile of disposable cup waste as big as the Albert Hall in London! As the name suggests this day is all about not using disposable cups and maybe purchasing a reusable coffee mug instead.
National Clean Air Day (8th October) - Every year, air pollution causes up to 36,000 deaths in the UK. The World Health Organisation and the UK Government recognise that air pollution is the largest environmental health risk we face today. The aim is to help protect children from polluted air. So why not cycle to work, walk to the local shop instead of driving or look into swapping to a cleaner, more environmentally friendly vehicle?
November -
UN Climate Change Conference (7th to 18th November) - The annual UN Climate Change Conference is expected to take place in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt in 2022. It will advance the global climate talks, mobilise action, and provide a significant opportunity to look at the impacts of climate change in Africa. A newly released report by the World Meteorological Organisation and partners, the State of the Climate in Africa 2020, warned of the continent’s disproportionate vulnerability, estimating that by 2030, up to 118 million extremely poor Africans will be exposed to drought, floods and extreme heat. This in turn will affect progress towards poverty alleviation and economic growth, leaving more people in entrenched and widespread poverty. The report estimates that the investment in climate adaptation for sub-Saharan Africa would cost between $30 to $50 billion each year over the next decade, or roughly two to three per cent of GDP - enough to spark job opportunities and economic development while prioritising a sustainable and green recovery.
December -
World Soil Day (5th December) - Learning about the soil and its maintenance is vital for food production. Chemicals used in food production around the world are leaving large areas of land unusable as the soil is no longer fertile enough to grow food.
International Mountain Day (11th December) - The theme of this year's International Mountain Day (IMD) will be sustainable mountain tourism. Sustainable tourism in mountains can contribute to creating additional and alternative livelihood options and promoting poverty alleviation, social inclusion, as well as landscape and biodiversity conservation. It is a way to preserve the natural, cultural and spiritual heritage, to promote local crafts and high value products, and celebrate many traditional practices such as local festivals.
A Reminder of the Financial Times Eight Essential ESG Topics for 2022
by Gillian Tett, Patrick Temple-West, Simon Mundy, Kristen Talman & Tamami Shimizuishi 5th January 2022
We here at Pico Analytics are passionate about ESGs and have been keeping a careful eye on the innovations and developments taking place in the field so far this year. We thought it would be helpful to remind you of a particularly important eight point report released by the Financial Times earlier this year in something of a ‘how to’ guide for those who are interested in ESGs You can read the full report here or peruse our shortened version below.
Scope 3 emissions: focusing on transparency and reduction - Emissions are categorized into three parts "Scope 1 emissions are those directly generated from a company’s core business; Scope 2 are those indirectly generated by energy bought by a company; Scope 3 are those indirectly created by its supply chain — and which represent 65-90 per cent of all emissions at many companies, according to Carbon Trust". Though Scope 3 emissions are exceedingly difficult to track, their importance nevertheless cannot be understated as corporate leaders must adopt a sense of lateral vision when viewing their companies carbon footprint. With the launch of Al Gore's ClimateTRACE system and the launch of the Gfanz (Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero) agreement at COP26, corporations are now becoming responsible for the Scope 3 emissions of clients.
Private capital: ‘A paradigm shift is taking place’ amid hunt for climate deals - Over the course of 2021 private capital has shattered records as climate finance has grown and big private equity companies have honed in on the promising opportunities such investments present. Between November 2020-21 venture capital funds have invested $34.2bn in climate tech. The Securities and Exchange Commission are continuing to discuss forcing companies to relinquish more environmental information which could occur as early as 2023. For the time being the first move advantage in the private equity sector will drive transparency forward.
Green bonds: growth to the moon, but is it credible? - Sustainable bonds have reached a worth of $991.7bn in 2021 and are predicted to continue growing in 2022. However, investors are becoming increasingly discerning about what is considered green and sustainable. This has led to bonds including interim steps and performance targets as well as pushes for companies to make more ambitious climate promises.
Carbon markets: more growth ahead, amid rising scrutiny of offset quality -The carbon markets have come under a great deal of scrutiny in the past few years and as the Voluntary market starts to boom the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets is looking to establish global standards for offsets. The cap and trade has hit €90 per tonne and there is hope that the German government will secure a price floor to ensure this price does not drop.
Sustainability accounting: global standards start to take shape - This is currently an area plagued with controversy as the EU's taxonomy for sustainable finance comes under pressure from various European states. Under the current draft nuclear power and natural gas are considered "green", a concept facing strong resistance. The taxonomy is crucial to sustainability disclosures as European authorities draw up this year's Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive which will require 50,000 companies to disclose their impacts on the environment as well as the climate related risks they face. Similar movements are occurring across the Atlantic as both sides are hopeful that creating a worldwide framework for sustainability disclosures will deliver the "consistency and comparability" needed going forward.
The ‘S’ of ESG: employee activism soars - The pandemic has highlighted the need for corporations and governments to focus more on the Social side of ESGs. Companies are being put under pressure to boost diversity and increase their support for social issues in an equal manner to the way they have been supporting environmental issues. There is further importance placed on businesses practicing what they preach as their position on social issues must be reflected within their own companies internal operations and framework.
US-China relations: the green cold war - The tension between these two nations has been growing and is being exacerbated by China's human rights violations and the growing western demands for both China and its exports to meet their sustainable and ethical demands. As China has amassed control of rare minerals and natural resources across Africa, South America and Central Asia there are deepening concerns over whether the West can achieve its green transformation without China. For some Western nations who are turning to India in an attempt to bolster their position against China, Cop26 proved a disappointment as the two nations banded together to weaken coal pledges.
US climate policy: Biden confronts challenges at home as he tries to inspire global action - As one of the biggest players in climate politics America holds a deciding vote on whether or not our planet will have a future. As President Biden pledged to "lead by example" during Cop26 his $1.75tn Build Back Better Scheme, including $555 worth of climate related initiatives, has been stalled by the opposition and seems unlikely to progress. US Green Policy is in itself being held up to scrutiny as the government is taken to court by environmentalists for selling oil and gas leases on federal land and from Republicans looking to limit regulations on carbon emissions. Whether green measures can continue to be put into place at all remains to be seen on the run up to midterm elections. The next year could make or break America's green policies as Biden either remains committed to his current path or bends to the will of others.
15 Inventions Made Using Garbage
by Business Insider 27th January 2022
Inventors and innovators around the world are turning pollution into productivity. This amazing list of 15 innovations that save garbage from landfills and smog from the skies in an effort to reduce world wide waste will hopefully give you some food for thought and maybe even inspire you to set up a sustainable business of your own! The projects include;
Single Use Plastics Turned into Bricks (Nairobi, Kenya)
Avocado Pits Turned into Cutlery (Monterrey, Mexico)
Mangoes Turned into Vegan Leather (Rotterdam, Netherlands)
Chopsticks Turned into Furniture (Vancouver, Canada)
Plastic Waste Turned into Shoes (Jalandhar, India)
Mushrooms Turned into Bacon (Green Island, New York)
Algae Turned into Flip Flops (San Diego, California)
Banana Waste Turned into Rugs (Kampala, Uganda)
Pineapple Crowns Turned into Plates (Cali, Colombia)
Aluminium Can Tabs Turned into Designer Bags (Salvador, Brazil)
Mushrooms Turned into Coffins (Delft, Netherlands)
Algae Made into Plastic (Meridian, Mississippi)
Smog Turned into Tiles (Mumbai, India)
Cigarette Butts Turned into Toys (Noida, India)
Single Use Plastic Bags Turned into Designer Totes (New York City)
Follow this link to watch the video and find out more…
Pico Analytics Sustainability Spotlight with a Twist!
by Kate Martin 1st July 2022
This section of our Newsletter is where we here at Pico Analytics shine a spotlight on one of those businesses, initiatives, positive news stories or people that are paving the way for sustainability and a more eco-friendly future. In this edition we have decided to spread out our net even further by not only honouring one of the most significant figures in the fight against climate change but also including a young conservationist who has taken to social media in an attempt to share the message of sustainability and the protection of the natural world.
The first to fall under our spotlight is a young person who saw global success after auditioning on Britain's Got Talent with his climate and environment poetry act. Aneeshwar Kunchala, a seven year old recently named the mini David Attenborough, took to the stage with a number of emotive and thought provoking poems talking about the natural world and all the bizarre and brilliant animals which inhabit it. This budding young environmentalist has been producing YouTube videos since the age of five expressing the need to protect the planet. Even at such a young age Aneeshwar has won multiple awards such as H&M British Role Models Campaign, Points of Light Young Conservationist Climate Leader Award, 2021 SES Young Scientific Explorer, Global Child Prodigy Award 2022 and has even bagged himself a Blue Peter Gold Badge! We here at Pico Analytics always want to support conservationists no matter their age, so well done Aneeshwar, we hope you continue your good work and maybe one day you will once again be on our screens narrating documentaries and teaching us all a thing or two about the environment. After all, there is no other planet like earth…
Finally, from seven years old to ninety six years young we wanted to honour Sir David Attenborough. A man whose voice has narrated the story of our planet for the past seventy years and who has become our guiding light during the climate crisis. His immense knowledge of the natural world has educated and inspired so many people from across the globe and will continue to do so for decades to come. From his pioneering work bringing wild animals to British televisions in the 1950's to his vocal support of environmental causes Sir David Attenborough has truly become the figurehead of the climate movement. There are few people today who could boast so many awards, having been honoured by universities across the globe, having both a research ship and at least 20 species and genera named after him, receiving two knighthoods amongst numerous other prestigious awards such as the Indira Gandhi Peace Prize and the United Nations Champion of the Earth Award. Yet, Sir David is a remarkably humble man who is far more enamoured by the natural world than by awards. Though considered to be a national treasure in the UK he is very much a global figure who has more stamps on his passport than an airline pilot. His enduring fascination with the natural world and experience of observing its decline has led him to reach out to the younger generations, galvanising them through his appearances at Glastonbury Festival and Cop26. His presence on the world stage has and continues to be invaluable as he makes climate science more accessible and continues to motivate and encourage all of us to make simple changes to our own lives in an effort to combat climate change.
