Pico Analytics Fortnightly Newsletter: A World of Extremes Edition
The summer has arrived and there is excitement in the air as schools wind down for the holidays, the suitcases are dragged out of the attic, we go digging around in the medicine cabinet for that one bottle of sunscreen and we scroll on our phone for hours after typing in 'things to do near (insert place name here)'. Flights are taking off in all directions as enthusiastic travelers head off to spend a few weeks in the sun or board trains looking forward to a relaxing staycation. For some the warmer weather in places like the UK is welcomed but in reality it should be considered as a warning sign. Whilst those living in the UK or other parts of the Northern hemisphere may still be able to live in something of a bubble, at this stage experiencing little of the climate change impacts that much of the world is experiencing, particularly around the tropics where people are suffering on a level we cannot begin to imagine, it is time to reconsider how we go about our lives.
In last year's summer heatwaves the UK saw small fires breaking out in some areas for the first time, however, we were admonished by the fire services for using throw away BBQ's and a few days later the matter had been forgotten by most. This year Canada has experienced wildfires so terrible they turned the sky from blue to orange in days, choking people as far away as New York City and creating scenes which would not look out of place in an apocalyptic film. As we enjoy an ice cream on the beach or tuck into a steak dinner at our local restaurant, we should take a moment to think about the millions suffering from food shortages and malnutrition in the Horn of Africa, a clear byproduct of the carbon emissions and climate change we have helped to create through our constant demand for emission-intensive meat and dairy farming. When you fly your family halfway round the world only to spend all day at the beach dipping your toes in the water, try to imagine that water rising up around you, sweeping away your home, your land and your community just as the people of small Pacific Island nations are experiencing at that very moment. Imagine returning home only to find your own beaches and seas devoid of marine life and having to put up mosquito nets around your childs bed or sitting in the hospital with them as they suffer from Malaria or dengue fever. This is the world that is becoming a reality on a rapidly increasing scale. Changes are occurring at such a pace that they are making the timeliness of our adaptations look glacial. So, enjoy these summer holidays whilst they last because if we don't change our ways our world of increasing climate related extremes is about to become a whole lot less hospitable.
Climate change is no longer a theory, it is something we can feel in our everyday lives. Around the globe the extremes of environmental change are felt daily. From blistering heat waves across Asia to rising sea levels around the world we cannot escape and we must now tackle it head on. This can be achieved through implementing further green energy plans, providing increased finance to low-income nations for climate friendly projects, shifting our reliance away from fossil fuels, rewilding and rebuilding crucial ecosystems, bringing an end to deforestation and by reducing our consumption patterns we can help to stabilise our planet. This edition seeks to force us us to truly open our eyes to the scale of damage we have inflicted on our planet. From heat waves crippling Mexico's power grid to Mia Mottley's fight for overhaul international financial systems and improved access to climate finance, this edition, as always, aims to educate, inform, and promote a more sustainable lifestyle whilst turning your attention to those projects and laws which aim to enforce sustainability at the highest level.
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 but it is important to understand exactly what is happening in our world and how our needs and requirements are being met. In our Sustainability Spotlight we have shaken things up with a how to guide for those who want to become zero-waste, low emission traveler’s, whilst our usual Business Insider video takes a look at how a UK based family business is turning used cosmetic packaging into furniture. Our newsletter, as usual, will provide a short summary of some of the most notable, informative, and quirky climate stories of the past two weeks 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.
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TOP STORIES
Deadly Heat Wave Cripples Mexico's Power Grid
by Gina Jiménez 29th June 2023
A fortnight of record breaking heat waves have settled over Texas and Mexico bringing with it temperatures that have exceeded 113F. The heatwaves have been deadly with Mexican health authorities confirming 112 heat-related deaths since the beginning of this year. This is triple the number of last year with a notable spike in the total occurring over the two week heatwave. Between the 18-24th of June there were 69 deaths alone, an unprecedented number with the week prior also reaching a smaller yet still shocking total of 31.
The extreme nature of the heatwaves has also put enormous pressure on an already struggling power grid with experts criticizing the lack of investment into the grid as the source of its being critically underprepared. The overwhelming majority now believe that the climate change which has led to such extreme heat will cause power shortages to become increasingly common. Summer is the time which places the highest demand on Mexico's power resources as people turn on air conditioning and fans to help cope with the rising heat. The lack of preparation for this was telling as Mexico's National Energy Control Centre declared an operational emergency in the wake of its electricity reserves hitting a historic low.
Mexico has already been identified as one of the countries where climate change and its effects will become most visible. Mexico's location close to the equator means that temperatures seldom vary, therefore, any changes to typical weather conditions makes it easy to recognise when climate change is playing a role. "Last week’s temperatures in north-east Mexico and central Texas scored five in the Climate Shift Index, which means researchers calculate they were five or more times likelier because of climate change". With such extreme changes in temperature occurring due to heatwaves the electricity systems in 10 of Mexico's states took a hammering trying to meet the demand with all reporting power shortages. A set of circumstances which are the byproduct of underfunding and an unwillingness to recognise demand for energy has increased whilst energy generation has remained the same.
What makes these energy shortages sting more is how the Mexican government has approved new energy reforms which would allow private energy companies to supply clean energy as a replacement for the state owned fossil fuel plants. Unfortunately the current government backtracked on these plans in the belief that state owned companies could meet electricity needs, something which they have clearly failed to achieve, the consequences of which have been devastating. The old system has failed in large part due to being underfunded with investments in the "physical infrastructure" being the lowest it has been in a decade. Though no one knows for sure why people are experiencing outages and power shortages there is a belief circulating that as demand increases, in order to not overwhelm the system, certain neighbourhood's are disconnected. This has presented citizens with immense difficulties and added financial costs as they are forced to find places to stay in parts of cities which are still connected or they have all their food go bad. Not to mention the added risks to safety as some reports speak of people sleeping out on their balconies at night as the heat indoors is overwhelming. "Mexico typically surpasses the peak energy demand from the previous year in July, but this year it has already happened, leaving many worried that the coming weeks could hold even worse blackouts".
Wind & Solar Power Boom in China Offering New Hope to Limit Carbon Emissions
by Matt McGrath & Mark Poynting 29th June 2023
Wind and solar power are booming in China and may help limit global carbon emissions far faster than expected, according to a new study.
In typical Chinese fashion a report by the Global Energy Monitor has shown that the country's green energy targets for 2030 look set to be exceeded five years ahead of schedule. This is thanks in part to an increase in solar panel installations which is set to expand global capacity by 85% by 2025. Though this good news has been somewhat tainted by the increase in coal fired plants, which are at least in part a backup for the wind and solar farms, a move which continues to worry some as coal is still responsible for around 69% of China's carbon emissions.
This most recent study, which examined China's current installed green energy capacity and made projections on what's been announced and in construction over the next two years. The study has shown how China's rapid buildup of wind and solar capacity could have a significant impact on limiting rising temperatures. This has been achieved in part because China has more solar panels installed in large-scale projects than the rest of the world combined. The nation has also managed to double their wind power capacity since 2017. China's future plans are yet more ambitious with the sector expected to expand to double the capacity of both wind and solar again by 2025. If China achieves this, China would single handedly "increase the global wind turbine fleet by 50%, and increase the world's large-scale solar installations by 85% compared to current levels".
China has now become the leading supplier of solar panels, in turn they have driven down costs and made solar power more affordable across the globe. It has also made solar and wind installations in China economically competitive. This has come about in part as China has implemented green energy targets and introduced subsidies. In 2022 alone China accounted for 55% of the half a trillion dollars spent worldwide on wind and solar. China's capacity to smash targets ahead of time has been exhibited by President Xi Jinping's target to install 1,200 gigawatts of solar and wind power by 2030 which is now set to be surpassed five years ahead of schedule. There are now hopes that China's surge in building renewables will lead them to peaking in carbon emissions earlier than 2030 and heading in a downward trend after that. However, concerns remain over the approximately two coal fired power stations which opened every week in 2022, often being located near wind and solar parks to provide backup power and continuity of energy supply. Observers will continue to monitor how his coal power is employed in the hope that the ratio of green energy to coal will remain high with dirty fossil fuels only being turned to in times of extreme need.
Rising Oceans Wipe Land and Languages off the Map
By the Anastasia Riehl 28th June 2023
As the climate crisis forces migration, so native tongues wither, too. But it’s not too late to intervene.
The low-lying Pacific Island atolls of Kiribati, Tuvalu and the Marshall Islands are currently experiencing the existential crisis brought on by climate change induced rising sea levels. Whilst many recognise the loss of homes, crops and community this will bring it is also important to remember that the Tuvaluan, Kiribati and Marshallese languages are also at risk. The connection between climate change and languages is relatively new, the links between climate, geography and language are old. As humanity spread out across the globe and found the consistent temperatures, predictable rainfall and abundant agricultural opportunities of the equatorial regions particularly agreeable thousands of languages have grown up and today more of the world's languages are spoken in the tropics than at higher latitudes.
It is not only languages that blossomed, biodiversity has prospered in such nurturing climates giving rise to species of every kind. Research now suggests that there are striking parallels between the evolution of species and languages. "Of the roughly 7,000 languages spoken today, 70% are concentrated in only 25% of the Earth’s land area – precisely in those areas with the highest biodiversity". Unfortunately, the intricate bindings of their relationship brings them together in both times of prosperity and in times of climate crisis with both now facing varying levels of extinction. In a cruel twist of fate those areas of the earth once most hospitable to people, languages and to all manner of flora and fauna are rapidly becoming the least hospitable. So how does the climate crisis threaten languages?
As communities migrate away from islands being swallowed up by the ocean, casting out entire linguistic communities to make new lives elsewhere Indigenous languages become harder to sustain. With between half an 90% of the world's languages already considered endangered the risk of losing language is increasing with every passing flood. The contributors to this loss of language range from "the imposition of national languages; government persecution of linguistic minorities; the ascendance of international languages in the era of globalisation; and a lack of media and resources for education in minority languages". Languages do not just disappear, they gradually fade away as people are forced to use the local lingua franca or fail to teach the next generation. The climate crisis is now set to exacerbate threats to climate change and accelerate their loss.
Whilst access to food, water, shelter and safety is naturally the first priority in a climate crisis, retaining linguistic diversity is still crucial to preserving culture and identity. Afterall, languages encapsulate history, perspectives and even the classification of plants and animals, in short they define people. The loss of language is not just a loss of culture and history but also a loss to science as their vast databases of information are lost forever. It is crucial that we now intervene by working collectively with Indigenous communities and linguists to document the hundreds of languages at risk and to breathe new life into those languages in decline. Just one example of this being the Tuvaluan community of New Zealand who have prioritised language learning amongst the youth. In December 2022 UNESCO launched the Indigenous Languages Decade to bring attention to this crucial issue and to mobilize the resources required to confront it. By linking the awareness of threats to language and the climate emergency could help to address one problem and alleviate the other. "The climate crisis is a force of destruction but can also be a force of unification. If languages and species live and die together, surely we can save them together".
Mosquitoes-borne Diseases Spread Further into Europe
by Smitha Mundasad 22nd June 2023
Mosquitoes that carry viruses like dengue and chikungunya have moved into new parts of Europe, increasing the risk of illness, top experts warn.
If you are enjoying the longer, hotter summers and frequent heat waves you should know that those changes in weather patterns, combined with increased flooding is making for some very favorable conditions, not to sit out and get a tan but to be bitten by mosquitoes! Today experts are making calls for increased measures to control and protect against these creatures without which we could see more illnesses and deaths linked directly to mosquito-borne diseases. A report by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has tracked the spread of different species of mosquito which carry and transmit viruses to humans, such as dengue and Zika. The findings were startling with "the Aedes albopictus mosquito (known to carry dengue and chikungunya) established itself in 13 countries in Europe - meaning it has developed a self-sustaining population that is reproducing - compared with eight European countries a decade ago". Just last year the "Aedes aegypti, which can spread diseases such as yellow fever, Zika and West Nile virus, became established in Cyprus, and scientists warn it may continue to spread to other countries".
According to the report, in 2022:
There were 1,133 human cases of West Nile virus and 92 deaths, with the majority of cases acquired in Europe - the highest since the peak of about 1,548 cases in 2018
Cases were reported in Italy, Greece, Romania, Germany, Hungary, Croatia, Austria, France, Spain, Slovakia and Bulgaria
71 cases of locally acquired dengue were recorded in mainland Europe - equivalent to the total number reported between 2010 and 2021
Cases of dengue were seen in France and Spain
The spread of invasive mosquito species to regions which have never before experienced their presence is worrying as the possibility of death from one of the many mosquito-borne diseases increases. Now there are demands being made to find new ways to control mosquito populations and enforce personal protective measures. To achieve this, experts say we will need to eliminate standing bodies of water where the mosquitoes mate and use a eco-friendly larvicide, whilst also improving the awareness of measures people can take to help reduce their risk.
These include:
Using insecticide-treated bed nets
Sleeping in air-conditioned rooms
Using window screens
Wearing clothes that cover most of the body
Using mosquito repellent
The ECDC has stated clearly the importance of increased awareness amongst both the public and healthcare workers of the various diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Particularly as cases of diseases such as dengue have spread in recent years and is now endemic in over 100 countries across Africa, South and Southeast Asia and the West Pacific region.
Himalayan Glaciers Melting at Unprecedented Rate
by Stuti Mishra 20th June 2023
Himalayan glaciers are melting at unprecedented rates and could lose up to 80 percent of their volume this century if the Earth continues to heat, said a new report.
The Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (Icimod) has released a report showing how the global heating induced changes to the glaciers, snow and permafrost of the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region is both "unprecedented and large irreversible". The report tells us all something we should already know as the existing figures show that Himalayan glaciers have disappeared 65% faster since 2010 than in the previous decade. The sheer quantity of melting is set to impact 2 billion people who depend on the rivers which flow from these freshwater sources. The authors of the report chose to send out a clear warning to all that the melting of regions which have historically been covered by snow and ice - like the Himalayas - will be catastrophic for the entire world. Some authors called the consequences "too vast to contemplate" as the two billion people reliant on the HKH region comes under intense pressure from flash floods and avalanches as well as a reduced availability of freshwater coming from the 12 rivers which originate in the mountains. The great melting is already taking effect across Asia, for example it played a critical role in the devastating floods which hit Pakistan earlier this year killing at least 1,700 and displacing thousands more.
"The ice and snow in the Himalayan ranges is a source of water for rivers flowing through 16 Asian countries, providing fresh water to 240 million people in the mountains and another 1.65 billion downstream". Unfortunately, as is always the case, those living nearest to the mountains have contributed next to nothing to global warming yet they are at the highest risk of climate change and the adaptation efforts which are currently in place to help them are entirely insufficient. The cryosphere is the worst affected region on our planet with recent research finding that Mount Everest’s glaciers have lost 2,000 years of ice in just the past 30 years. The rapid changes occurring in the Himalayan region are already contributing to climate induced displacement as an entire mountain town in India, Joshimath, had to be relocated in a matter of days earlier this year when it was found that the town had begun to sink. Trends of displacement will continue, however, as experts have confirmed that the melting is "difficult to stop" and that "once they start losing mass, that’s going to continue for a really long time before it can stabilise.” This means that if we fail to keep 1.5° alive it will have devastating consequences for the Earth's snow, permafrost and ice.
Urgent Humanitarian Aid Required in Horn of Africa
by UN News 26th June 2023
Climate, armed conflict, high food prices and post-COVID-19 economic fall-out have caused record food insecurity in the Horn of Africa, with an estimated 60 million urgently in need of help, UN humanitarian agencies warned.
In 2023 the Horn of Africa region five million children under the age of five are facing acute malnutrition. Aid workers and healthcare professionals working in the region's clinics and hospitals have been overwhelmed by the number of severely malnourished children coming in with severe medical complications. The World Food Programme Senior Emergency Officer Dominique Ferretti spoke of the rains and devastating flash floods which ended the three year drought stating: “While we just concluded a rainy season which performed better than predicted, one rainy season is not enough to bring an end to the crisis.” The long awaited rains hit Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda in March of this year, unfortunately, the hope of relief was quickly dashed as flash flooding swept away homes, destroyed farmland, washed away remaining livestock and damaged schools and healthcare facilities, forcing them to close. As is often the case, post-flood disease spread quickly with the Horn of Africa experiencing its worst outbreak this century. Outbreaks of cholera and measles are now accompanying the "very high numbers" of malaria cases of last year and this year. The flooding is worsening the impacts and spread of these diseases, a terrifying prospect considering Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the region.
At a press conference in Geneva the UN Food and Agricultural Agency (FAO) noted how climate concerns are key to food security in the coming months. The global forecasts already indicate the presence of El Niño conditions which will strengthen throughout the year, likely bringing above-average rains in December's rainy season across the Eastern region of Africa i.e. Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. Though it is believed that "El Niño may somewhat reduce the risk of flooding in flood-prone areas such as South Sudan" there are still concerns that below average rains and dry spells will continue to drive insecurity and negatively impact agricultural production. The FAO one again sent out a reminder that we must shift away from emergency responses and towards anticipating and mitigating crises through investments. Funding is desperately needed to aid in rainwater harvesting, soil and water conservation and the introduction of drought tolerant crops - ensuring that seeds are made available at a local level. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) "the 60 million severely food insecure include more than 15 million women of reproductive age, 5.6 million adolescent girls and close to 1.1 million pregnant women" of which 360,000 are expected to give birth within the next three months. Many of these women are forced to spend every day looking for food just to survive, doing so at the expense of their own health.
Pregnant women are unable to access antenatal care which stops them from attending to other illnesses that they may have. Failing to attend to their existing illnesses can leave them at risk of complications and the risk of maternal death increases. The malnutrition these women are experiencing does not just affect them, the pregnant and lactating mothers also put their unborn or breast-feeding children at risk of malnutrition which actually propagates malnutrition through entire life cycles in a community. The malnourished mothers may also not be able to withstand the complications which can occur during pregnancy, leading them to a greater risk of miscarriage. “Because of the limited amount of resources, we have seen an increase in the risks of survival sex”, said Ms. Ebele, UNFPA Regional Humanitarian Adviser for East and Southern Africa, “increasing the risk of sexual exploitation and abuse, particularly of women and girls”. Unfortunately, the situation in the Horn of Africa will remain unstable as if the UN-brokered Black Sea Initiative which secures grain supplies from the Ukraine fails the ramifications of this shortfall in supplies will "hit the region hard" and possibly further destabilise food security.
Barbados PM Mia Mottley Queen of Climate Finance
by Justin Rowlatt 22nd June 2023
At COP26 Barbados PM Mia Mottley strode out onto the stage and gave one of the most impassioned speeches of the entire event, sending out a call to arms across the globe in the fight against climate change. In just under two years she has since become one of the world's most recognisable leaders as her strong stance on climate finance and towering weight of authority defies even the strongest climate deniers not to heed to her words. She has become the leading figure in the global fight for climate finance as she searches for help for her small island nation. The requests being sent out from the many poorer nations of the world who did little to contribute to climate change yet are feeling its worst effects are being made to fund the expensive adaptation and mitigation projects that these nations simply cannot afford. The question of climate finance for projects focused on renewable energy or flood defenses has been one of the major sticking points of the climate negotiations. Yet, Ms Mottley has found her mallet to smash open the international financial systems and that is a global coalition which provides a block of support for her demands who can act decisively and collectively to bring about change.
At a recent Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris, Mia Mottley hosted jointly with President Emmanuel Macron of Paris in the hope of ensuring that the meeting delivered results. At the meeting she described climate change as "a death sentence" and that we need to move urgently to tackle it by supplying $100 billion worth of international currency called Special Drawing Rights (SDR's) to be transferred to low-income countries for climate programmes. Though Ms Mottley has set out plans for climate finance her master plans go way beyond that as she looks to also bring about a "wholesale modernisation of the international monetary system". Her hope is to bring organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) into the modern day and to make it fit to meet challenges like climate change. This will be done by refocusing these organizations away from wealthier nations and steering them towards delivering outcomes which benefit the entire world.
"This week the International Energy Agency warned annual investments in clean energy in developing nations will need to triple from $770bn in 2022 to as much as $2.8tn by the early 2030s if the world is to avoid the worst impacts of climate change". Suggestions have been made to make the World Bank offer cheaper loans for climate action projects. This would solve the issue of the higher expense of these projects, something which is linked to being charged interest rates 2 to 3 times higher in low-income countries, compared to high-income countries, for the same kinds of projects like flood defences, erecting wind turbines or installing solar farms. Other proposals include the World Bank agreeing to guarantee loans for climate action in developing nations, thereby giving confidence to the private sector to lend at lower interest rates. Another proposal suggests a "Climate Mitigation Trust Fund" which would create an auction for cheap finance for climate projects. The fund would be funded by tens of billions of dollars' worth of SDRs and overseen by the IMF and the UN. The winners would be the projects that reduce global warming fastest.
Britain's Marine Wildlife on the Path to Destruction
by Philip Hoare 23rd June 2023
What happens when the chill of our seas turns to a soupy stew? Fragile ecosystems will be destroyed and food sources for wildlife will disappear.
Whilst the UK has thus far managed to avoid some of the worst aspects of climate change the sea off Britain and Ireland is rapidly heading for potential disaster due to its drastic and sudden warming. This year sea temperatures are up to 5C higher than usual, in part due to global warming and in part due to this year's El Niño effect. This rapid change is a reminder of how a cycle of warm water thousands of miles away in the Pacific could impact severely on local shores. When water temperatures reach an all-time high the direct effect on marine wildlife - from seagrass to oysters and fish - will become the equivalent of heat tearing through the ocean life like a wildfire. The coastal sea around the UK is known for its chill, so what happens when it is suddenly filled with blooms of jellyfish and sea gooseberries brought in by the warm currents?
Scientific projections indicate that the fragile balance of the sea’s manifold ecosystems will be overturned. Key carbon sinks like seagrass beds will be depleted and fish will be driven north in search of cooler temperatures where their food sources are still growing. This will have a knock on effect for commercial fisheries who will see their catches depleted. "Since warmer water holds less oxygen – due to reduced oxygenating phytoplankton – the whole food web will be disrupted. The whole subtle evolutionary web of the shallow shore and the deep water beyond will change as the sea starts to behave in unpredictable ways". Scientists have already stated that even a slight ocean warming of 0.8° will transform marine biodiversity, change ocean chemistry, raise sea levels and fuel extreme weather. Naturally this will also lead to the infamous sea level rise which will produce numerous flood victims. Our oceans, which have been absorbing the heat we have released into the atmosphere, are now at a breaking point, disappearing our cold oceanic reservoir faster than we can say climate change. Our mistreatment of the oceans, which in part stems from our ignorance of what lies below has led us to pollute it and overfish it and the UK has been no exception, dumping radioactive waste into the Irish Sea leaking PBCs and pesticides from landfills and agriculture to such an extent that our resident orcas have not given birth to a healthy calf for 10 years.
Is Climate Change to Blame for Canadian Wildfires?
by Georgina Rannard 8th June 2023
Canada is projected to see its largest area on record burned by wildfires this year.
The wildfires of Canada have spread at an unprecedented level and its impacts have been felt hundreds of miles away in cities like Toronto and New York. The wildfires began around the 4th of in Alberta after which hundreds of blazes began to mushroom across the country. By the 7th of June more than 400 fires were active, yet the blame for these fires has been spread amongst a number of sources. The majority of Canada's fires have been started by humans, however, some were sparked by lightning strikes and others were caused by dead trees left to stand mixed with poor forest management. Experts have also stated that modern practices of trying to stop the fires entirely can stop forests creating natural firebreaks, a process which would traditionally stop wildfire spread.
Whilst each individual wildfire cannot automatically be linked to climate change, as other factors such as land management and human behaviour also contribute, it is true to say that climate change is impacting on weather patterns and bringing about the heat and drought conditions that make wildfires more likely. Robert Scheller, professor of forestry at North Carolina State University, says: "The climate signal is very strong. We are seeing both a larger area burned, and more severe fires." His comments come on the heels of a particularly warm and dry spring season for Canada which has created the kind of environment where vast fires thrive. Just one example of this is the significant 10° increase in temperatures seen in Halifax, Nova Scotia, compared to the normal temperature for the time of year. Meanwhile, areas like Alberta and Saskatchewan has been in drought since 2020. This has caused the vegetation in the forests to dry out and become tinderboxes, so when lightening strikes forest fires follow. Experts have now started to link the situation in Canada to the record-breaking spring heat seen in other parts of the northern hemisphere, including Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Algeria and Siberia. The wildfires seen in Canada are actually part of a vicious cycle wherein high temperatures are exacerbated by climate change, this then allows wildfires to spring up which contribute to greenhouse gas emissions which warm our atmosphere and so the cycle continues going round and round. "Emissions from the Canada wildfires in May reached 54.8 million tonnes, which is more than double the past records for that month since estimates began in 2003, according to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service".
10% Increase in Tropical Forest Loss in 2022
by Camilla Hodgson, Steven Bernard & Bryan Harris 7th June 2023
According to a report published by the University of Maryland and the World Resources Institute’s Global Forest Watch tropical forest cover the size of Switzerland is destroyed every year and in 2022 that destruction increased by another 10%. This increase comes on the heels of a pledge made by 145 countries the previous year to halt deforestation by 2030. Brazil, who signed the COP26 pledge, saw the largest loss of tropical primary forest during former president Bolsonaro's final year in office. Bolsonaro had been consistently criticised for the soaring rates of deforestation during his tenure as he turned a blind eye to criminal groups operating in the Amazon as illegal loggers, ranchers and gold miners. This tacit acceptance of the destruction of the rainforest has played a part in the increase in its destruction during 2022 as criminals ramped up their operations ahead of Bolsonaro's anticipated election defeat. Clearly the opportunists took their chance whilst environmental safeguards were weakened to exploit the rainforest to the fullest extent possible in that short time frame.
It is no secret how crucial our tropical rainforests are for storing hug quantities of carbon dioxide and how deforestation is a major contributor to both global emissions and overall climate change. Yet, despite the growing awareness amongst governments, the public and major companies 11 football fields worth primary tropical forests disappeared every minute last year resulting in the release of carbon dioxide equivalent to the annual fossil fuel emissions of India. The major losses incurred by the tropical forests also took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Bolivia, mostly from activities related to agriculture. Brazil's reduction in primary tropical forests, unrelated to forest fires, jumped 20% last year to the highest level since 2005 with the worst hit areas centered around roads, often coming as a result of land clearing for cattle pastures.
Some good news is that the new President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, "has pledged to crack down on illegal deforestation and has offered greater resources and financial support to the country’s environmental protection agencies". In April of this year deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell by 70% in comparison to the previous year and environmentalists are hoping that this is a sign that the country is changing its environmental trajectory. Unfortunately, this positive turnaround was not mirrored in Ghana where the opposite occurred with a 70% increase in primary forest loss in 2022 compared to 2021 -the largest increase in recent years. The majority of the forest losses were linked to cocoa production, gold mining and fires and occurred within areas of supposedly protected woodland. With the exception of these unfortunate figures there has been some success in Southeast Asia, notably in Malaysia and Indonesia whose tropical rainforest loss is in decline hitting near record-low levels.
One more hopeful finding of the report was in relation to overall global tree cover loss which has declined about 10% in the past year. This has been attributed in part to fewer forest fires in Russia leading to a one third decline in such events compared with 2021. However, we should be mindful that this improvement was more strongly related to weather patterns than to a change in human behaviours. Those market forces which are driving deforestation are still "much greater" than those behind protecting woodland.
World's Hottest Day Breaks Records for Second Day in a Row
by Damien Gayle 5th July 2023
Average global temperature hits 17.18C and experts expect record to be broken again very soon.
Experts have issued a worldwide warning, after world temperature records were broken for a second day in a row, that hotter days are still to come – and with them the warmest days ever recorded. On Tuesday the average global air temperature was 17.18C thereby surpassing Monday's record of 17.01C. The previous hottest day was in 2016, during the last El Niño global weather event, which recorded a high of 16.92C. The World Meteorological Organisation have confirmed the return of El Niño and that the combination of increased heat from anthropogenic global heating will bring more record breaking temperatures. The El Niño effect is yet to hit its peak and with summer just getting into its stride across the Northern hemisphere it is all too likely that the record will be broken again with weeks or even days as we head into July when annual global temperatures tend to hit their maximum. “Chances are that the month of July will be the warmest ever, and with it the hottest month ever … ‘ever’ meaning since the Eemian, which is indeed some 120,000 years ago.” The news of hitting the highest heat on record is no surprise for the millions who have been experiencing Africa, Asia's and South America's recent heatwaves. However, in nations more accustomed to a temperate climate such as the UK who had their hottest June on record people are beginning to awaken to how climate change can effect our everyday lives through heat. This is already core religious practices such as the Hajj where pilgrims have had to endure unusually scorching heat whilst attending the religious site during the festival of Eid. On the other side of the globe, winter in Antarctica has registered anonymously high temperatures. “The temperatures creating these record-breaking days match exactly expectations under human-caused climate change,” said Ilan Kelman, a professor of disasters and health at University College London’s Institute for Risk and Disaster Reduction. Experts believe that the increased number of heatwaves and long humid periods will bring with it more heat related deaths as heat-humidity becomes a silent killer, particularly for those who have to work outdoors doing labour intensive work.
Cosmetics Packaging Is A Recycling Disaster. Can Turning It Into Furniture Help?
by Business Insider 29th June 2023
Lotion, toothpaste and make-up packaging is a recycling disaster, but one UK family business has a complex process to give it a new life. It makes plywood-like boards that can be used to make all kinds of furniture.
Click the link below to view the full video.
Pico Analytics Sustainability Spotlight!
by Kate Martin 5th July 2023
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 thought we would shake things up a little. As we head into the summer holiday season and we prepare for our staycations or trips abroad, feverishly packing and spending half our days on Google maps searching for new and interesting places to visit it is all too easy to forget how our long awaited holidays can have a serious impact on climate change and the local environment. So, we here at Pico Analytics decided to put together a little guide on becoming a low emission, zero waste traveler:
Step 1: Packing!
When packing it's important to remember which zero waste swaps you can make to avoid leaving plastic waste behind. Did you know that during peak season marine litter in the Mediterranean region was found to increase by up to 40 per cent! Below are just a few items which can help you to become an eco-friendly traveler.
Bring a reusable water bottle - Seriously, this isn’t just about the environment–regular plastic bottles have BPA which is toxic to, well, every living thing. Under extreme heat, or just after repeated use, these toxins leak into the water.
Don't forget your sunscreen! - This Badger sunscreen is plastic free, all-natural and reef-safe, which is a must to preserve marine life. In fact, more and more destinations are making it a requirement.
Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Mouthwash, Floss… - Zero waste options are available for all these items from Georganics. From bamboo toothbrushes to mouthwash tablets no more plastic is necessary.
Shampoo and Conditioner Bars - Make your way down to your local Lush store to find every shampoo bar for every hair type. You can also purchase travel tins so there are no excuses not to take these with you. You can also head to your local Holland & Barrett to find conditioner bars from Ethique.
Deodorant, a must in hot weather! - If you are looking for a reusable deodorant swap then Wild is one of the best choices. Their products are aluminium free with plastic-free refills and a 100% effective formula. Their products are available in local supermarkets and chemists and online.
Lotions and potions - Moon Valley offers one of the best zero waste lotions on the market.
Lip Balms - If you’re prone to chapped lips, you know it can take less than a month to go through a ChapStick. That’s a lot of empty lip balm cases sitting in landfills where they can take hundreds of years to decompose. There are a tonne of lip balms available which come in biodegradable paper or recyclable glass containers. Follow this link to find just a few.
Don't forget to pack light! According to Finnish airline Finnair, when you reduce the weight of your luggage by 5kg, you reduce your carbon footprint by approximately 5%. While the impact might not be huge for a single individual, every little action for the planet is worth it! Finnair also calculated that if each of its passengers had traveled with 1kg less in 2018, the total fuel savings would have covered 20 flights from Finland to Japan. Also, try not to go out buying too many new clothes for your trip. Instead, dig out your wardrobe to find the clothes you need. No doubt you have bought similar items before and left them languishing at the bottom of a draw to be completely forgotten about. So, remember before you go shopping outside to go shopping in your own wardrobe first!
Step 2: Travel
Traveling to and from a holiday is often responsible for at least 70 percent of the carbon emissions of the entire trip. The most effective way to become a green traveler is to reduce those emissions. You can achieve this by reducing how far you travel and using lower carbon modes of transport. This means where possible finding an alternative to flying. In general, traveling by train in the UK emits about 5 times less carbon dioxide than traveling by plane. According to the Energy Savings Trust, the carbon emissions for traveling from London to Edinburgh are that flying emits 144 kg carbon dioxide per person; one driver doing the journey in a medium sized petrol car emits 120kg, while traveling by train emits 29kg. If you are traveling around Europe this summer then train travel is the best way to go as traveling by Eurostar, for instance, emits approximately 10 times less carbon dioxide than traveling by plane. Upon arrival at your destination, if you plan to stay city bound but can't do without a car then try to hire an electric car for the duration of your stay.
Step 3: The Hotel
Before booking your place to stay make sure to ask and find out the answer to the following questions;
Do they reduce their draw on energy?
Do they minimize the amount of waste they send to landfill?
Do they reduce their consumption of water?
How much of the food they serve is sourced locally, within a few miles?
Do they actively encourage guests to arrive on foot, by bike and by public transport?
Do they actively encourage the conservation of biodiversity?
Are they certified green?
Step 4: Food Glorious Food!
Try to support local food producers. In supporting local food producers you'll not only be eating food that has a low food mileage (and therefore less associated carbon emissions as it hasn't had to be transported a long way), you'll also be supporting local economies, many of whom will have struggled during the Covid19 pandemic. Whilst en route to your location don't forget to make up some lunch at home and pack it to eat whilst traveling, this way you can avoid the heaps of plastic which comes with a supermarket meal deal. If you are self-catering on your holiday, try to find the local markets where you can buy fresh local produce as opposed to heading straight for a plastic filled supermarket.
Step 5: Low impact activities…
Most low-impact activities, such as walking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, and horse-riding enable you to reach places you couldn't otherwise get to by car. However, not all our holiday activities are so good at keeping our carbon footprint small. Below is the emissions breakdown of some of our favorite holiday activities so you can know how your holiday impacts the planet.
Visiting amusement parks and zoos can actually result in a climate footprint of approximately 1 kg CO2 per person per day, i.e., from a visit to each amusement park which has a focus on rides and attractions, or a day at the zoo. This corresponds to the climate footprint of driving a diesel car for less than 10 kms.
Attending music festivals can produce between 3-10 kg of CO2 per day.
A trip in a large, fast, rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for a total of three hours including landing on an island with a total of 9 to 12 passengers on board can produce 1.1 kg CO2 per person per nautical mile.
Cruises can be particularly popular but are very energy intensive. Depending on the size and capacity of the ship emissions are within a range as large as 60-500 kg CO2 per cruise day.
