Welcome to Planet Days, a green newsletter for a greenwashed Planet.
If you’re new to this newsletter, every week we curate a five-minute roundup of the latest climate news and what it means for our Planet. If this was forwarded to you, smash that subscribe button:
This week, we’re focusing on the first week of the United Nations’ 27th Conference of Parties, or COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, where nearly 200 countries have come together to find ways to limit global warming and avoid a climate catastrophe.
Notably, for the first time ever, the COP agenda included discussions of “loss and damage,” or if and how rich countries will pay for climate damages in poorer, vulnerable countries. Also worth watching is how the Planet’s two largest emitters, China and the United States, ease tensions to push forward on climate action.
We cover this and more in our rundown of the first week of COP27.
Monday, November 7
“Highway to climate hell”
As the world leaders met in Egypt, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid out the high stakes of the climate summit in his opening remarks: “We are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator.”
Leaders at COP27 could choose either “a climate solidarity pact — or a collective suicide pact,” Guterres said, pulling no punches. His remarks were echoed by leaders of poorer nations, like those in Africa and the Middle East, who stand the most to lose in a warmer world.
The summit comes as new research paints a dire picture: According to the World Meteorological Organisation, the last eight years have been the hottest on record. That same report found that the rate of sea level rise has doubled in the last 30 years. The Associated Press covers the opening and the report.
Tuesday, November 8
Rich nations offer funds for “loss and damage”
Industrialized nations have been under fire for decades for their role in heating the Planet. Now, for the first time, these rich countries may pay poorer countries for the climate impacts they’ve caused, reports The New York Times.
The Netherlands boosted its climate funding for developing nations to $1.8 billion, about 50% above 2021 levels, by 2025.
Germany committed $170 million, and Belgium committed $2.5 million, for developing nations facing loss and damages from climate change.
The United Kingdom announced $115 million for these nations to fight climate change and develop renewable energy.
Austria committed $50 million to developing nations facing climate impacts.
France supported overthrowing the international climate finance system, backing a call for trillions in climate aid toward developing nations.
A new Carbon Brief assessment, however, finds that countries struggle to stay true to their word. Rich countries have collectively failed to meet their target of $100 billion annually of climate finance for developing countries, with countries like the U.S., the U.K., and Australia failing to pull their weight.
Crackdown on greenwashing
In a new report, the U.N. issued warnings against false net-zero promises, aiming to rein in lies that risk losing public trust and failing to reduce emissions.
The 10-step guide seeks to ensure entities follow through on their goals, recommending that net zero plans are publicly shared, that no plans fund fossil fuels, and that positive climate action is lobbied for, among other guidance.
Unfortunately, the recommended restrictions cannot be imposed on a multinational level — but higher standards could naturally make their way into pledges by putting pressure on businesses through purchasing power and investment choices. Protocol has more.
Wednesday, November 9
Kerry’s climate plans
Speaking of under pressure (or greenwashing?), the U.S. launched a carbon market for developing countries to transition from fossil fuels. The “Energy Transition Accelerator” would allow corporations to buy carbon credits from developing countries that slash their emissions.
"Our intention is to put the carbon market to work to deploy capital to speed the transition from dirty to clean power specifically, to retire unabated coal-fired power and accelerate the buildout of renewables," said U.S. Climate Envoy John Kerry.
But given carbon programs’ shaky track record, many are skeptical of the announcement. Climate Home News has more.
Thursday, November 10
Dash for gas could ruin the Planet
The war in Ukraine is stirring a dash for gas that could accelerate the breakdown of our climate and send temperatures soaring, according to a new analysis.
Many governments claimed the drive for gas imports wouldn’t prevent them from meeting their climate goals. But the new oil and gas projects discussed at COP27 alone would total roughly 10% of the remaining amount of carbon dioxide that can safely be emitted by 2050 — leading experts to believe once the infrastructure is in place, it’s impossible to rule damage out. The Guardian has more details.
Interestingly, all this gas expansion talk happened as 650 representatives with ties to the fossil fuel industry attended the climate conference, once again topping the number of delegates from any single nation. BBC News has the story.
Friday, November 11
We have nine years
Grim, we know. A new study shows we’ll burn through our remaining carbon budget — the amount of emissions the world can release to avoid catastrophic warming — in less than a decade.
To hit our international goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, the Planet cannot release more than 380 billion tons of CO2 over the coming decades — an amount equal to about nine years of current emissions.
But we’ll face an uphill battle. As emissions are set to reach an all-time high this year, that 1.5-degree target moves even further from our reach .Read more from The Washington Post.
Saturday, November 12
Protests at COP27
Protesting in a country that bans protests presents some difficulties. But that didn’t stop a handful of activists from marching through streets outside of COP27 on Saturday.
Inside the conference walls, civil rights groups warned of potential surveillance of delegates, as detailed personal information was required for the COP27 app after anti-government protesters were arrested ahead of the conference, Axios reports.
And as is typical with previous COPs, growing frustration and distrust in the usefulness of these international climate talks was front and center for youth activists. They cite the fact that annual greenhouse gas emissions have doubled since global climate talks began nearly 30 years ago. Inside Climate News has more on that.
Bonus
The red wave that wasn’t
The U.S. hosted its midterm elections this week, which is often a bloodbath for the incumbent president. But as Joe Biden and his Democratic Party braced themselves for a “red wave” of Republican wins, something else happened: Democrats retained control of the Senate and performed much better than expected in the House.
Though the House may still go to Republicans — who are skeptical and sometimes downright dismissive of climate change — the party will lack the numbers to rollback Biden’s recent climate wins, including the largest climate bill passed in U.S. history.
At the state level, Democrats pulled off major wins in Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, and Massachusetts, where Democrats plan to push forward long-awaited climate laws. Vox has more.
Have a great week,
Brandon and Sam