Andreas Rasche’s Post

The UN Human Rights Council pushes to investigate how plastic pollution harms human rights. During its latest session, the Council adopted a text that requests "a comprehensive study on the implications of plastic pollution for the full enjoyment of human rights, based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic." It is critical that the Council pushes work at the intersection of different areas of sustainability - plastics and human rights is an obvious one that deserves so much more attention. We produce 300 million metric tons of plastic each year (with only 9% being recycled). The use, production and disposal of plastic creates harmful effects on the environment and human health (one obvious link to human rights). Plastics are made of fossil fuels and hence strongly relate to the climate agenda (another link). And we could go on... Adopted text by UNHRC: https://lnkd.in/dvS-Usid #sustainability, #plastics, #humanrights

Green Deal Update ❗ The EPP bloc (centre-right) in the European Parliament has started to reframe the Green Deal. The aim is to "continue to implement the Green Deal and turn it into a Green Deal for Growth" (main concern: competitiveness). Not surprising, the new agenda backtracks on some sustainability measures. 1️⃣ MORE TECHNOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY: The aim will be to "revise the rules for CO2 reduction for new cars and vans to allow for the use of alternative zero-emission fuels beyond 2035". (https://lnkd.in/d8nM5xHr) This is already included into EU law, but the EPP aims for a more comprehensive EU strategy on low-carbon fuels, e-fuels, and biofuels. Technology neutrality is frequently cited as a key principle. 2️⃣ POSTPONING DEFORESTATION LAW: The implementation of the deforestation regulation should be postponed (likely to 2027) to reduce the bureaucratic burden (much-cited argument against all sorts of sustainability regulations). 3️⃣ ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION "WITHIN LIMITS": Concerns and ambitions around preservation are reduced in the draft document (compared to the original Green Deal), and farmers' interests are cited more frequently. (https://lnkd.in/dYaZqaCt) The direction of the journey seems to be clear - the Green Deal will enter into a new phase of reduced ambitions and slower policy-making, with a much stronger focus on the economy and competitiveness. The EU Social Democrats (S&D) and Liberals (Renew) have adopted similar plans (https://lnkd.in/dnBxt_sw). BUT, the European Greens have a good strategic position right now, as von der Leyen may need some of their votes (she may be forced to drop some plans). #eugreendeal, #climatechange

June 2024 was hotter than any other June on record, and it was the 12th consecutive month in a row with temperatures greater than 1.5C compared to the pre-industrial average. All of this according to new data just released by Copernicus ECMWF. Average global temperature anomaly for the last twelve months was 1.64C above pre-industrial. This does not (yet) imply that the Paris Agreement is broken (which looks at long-term averages), but at this rate of warming we will exceed the 1.5C threshold in the early 2030s. The very sad thing: these news sound like a broken record. We hear them over and over again; we became used to red lines trending above averages. BUT every new record should make us rethink how we act (and not act), who we vote for, what we tell our kids, where we invest in... == Press Release by Copernicus: https://lnkd.in/dyXh38Gy #climatechange, #sustainability

Great news! The #CSDDD has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. With this the Directive will legally enter into force 20 days from today. This is the text that will be legally binding. The first companies will have to abide by the law in 2027. Really good to see that publication in this instance was rather swift so that the Directive can move into national law... Link to the final text: https://lnkd.in/d7WVr9mw #humanrights, #accountability, #eugreendeal

In 2023, over 230 new climate cases against corporations or governments were filed in courts, according to new research by LSE's Grantham Institute. Biggest sub-category: 47 cases alone relate to 'climate washing' (70% of these cases being ruled in favour of the claimants). Talk is not cheap anymore... The U.S. records by far the highest number of cases (1,745 over time with 129 new cases in 2023). Good sign: cases in the Global south are increasing with overall more than 200 recorded cases over time, for instance in India. Interesting: the database added so-called 'transition risk' cases - i.e., cases where boards and management are/were sued because they mismanaged the low-carbon transition (still limited cases, though). Climate change litigation is vital to ensure accountability. Earlier this year, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Switzerland did not adequately protect its citizens from the serious adverse effects of climate change on lives, health, well-being and quality of life. This landmark case is likely to create further litigation against governments to push for the development and(!) implementation of adequate climate targets. Full Report: https://lnkd.in/dvGkK6kC #climatechange, #sustainability, #greenwashing

Last night, EU leaders adopted the Strategic Agenda for 2024-2029, which sets out the policy priorities for the upcoming term. Climate and sustainability no longer feature as a top priority (see image). Rather, the Green Deal is framed around bolstering Europe's competitiveness. The Agenda states: "We will be pragmatic and harness the potential of the green and digital transitions to create the markets, industries and high-quality jobs of the future. [...] We will pursue a just and fair climate transition, with the aim of staying competitive globally and increasing our energy sovereignty." So, where is the Green Deal heading? Here is my take: 1️⃣ Europe will not completely reverse course on the Green Deal (e.g., overturning legislation). Yet the rhetorical framing will be different and this is likely to create substantive changes in the sense that green actions will be slower and have a more "pragmatic" spin (lower ambitions). 2️⃣ Climate actions will be tied closer to increasing Europe's energy security and sovereignty. Being dependent on oil, gas and coal imports remains a challenge for Europe. Legislators are likely to push even more for lower-cost clean energy. 3️⃣ The explicit mentioning of the need "to reduce the bureaucratic and regulatory burden at all levels" could have implications for future sustainability legislation (e.g. reduced scope) but may also push the digital-sustainability link. The Green Deal is alive, but the enthusiasm of 2019 has turned into much more instrumental concerns... The precise actions will depend on where Ursula von der Leyen (who was nominated again) will "find" the votes for her reelection on 18 July. Full text of the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029: https://lnkd.in/d5Q269bQ #eugreendeal, #sustainability, #esg, #climatechange

Two lead authors of the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report wrote a straightforward article about climate change for kids, which was reviewed by teenagers. Super good article: frank talk and accessible language! (Very short excerpt below.) A lot of other researchers could learn from this... Education is one key factor to tackle the climate crisis, and education does not start at University level or the upskilling of managers. We need to build up climate literacy in schools so that young people can better distinguish science and science fiction (facts and fakes). The article is titled: "We Are Not on Track: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Are Higher Than Ever!" Reviewers were: "Jude" (age 15) and "The Amazing Six" (study group aged 14-16). == Full article (open access): https://lnkd.in/dK_eyHmy #climatechange, #education, #sustainability

New research looking into why people support climate action but then do not act. Main finding: While people in principle support a low-carbon lifestyle, entrenched public discussions of climate delay are limiting peoples' beliefs that a low-carbon future is possible. The study identifies four 'entrenched' public narratives of climate inaction (see image). Many people draw on elements of these narratives and thereby generate defensive responses to discussions of low-carbon lifestyles. This undermines the public's belief that change is possible and fair... Such research is critical as it moves beyond just looking at peoples' intentions. For instance, very recent studies show: (1) the vast majority of people want governments to take stronger climate action (80% across countries - https://lnkd.in/d2CxjiFV) and (2) a majority of people are willing to pay for climate action (69% across countries - https://lnkd.in/d-jndW4M). BUT, we need to understand much better why these intensions do not translate into individual behaviour change - such as lifestyle choices and, most of all, voting behavior... == Full Study (open access): https://lnkd.in/dFyH2ceG #climatechange, #esg, #sustainability, #climateaction

The European Council has finally agreed on its position related to the 'Green Claims Directive'. Overall, the Council's position is weaker than the one proposed by the Parliament. We can expect that the final trilogue negotiations will produce a version of the Directive that is 'softer' on several measures. 1️⃣ OFFSETS: The Council's position introduces more flexibility when it comes to the use of offsets when making climate neutrality or net-zero claims (see here: https://lnkd.in/dgt7xS74). 2️⃣ SUBSTANTIATION OF CLAIMS: The Council kept the basic principle that green claims need to be verified, but it introduced several exemptions where companies can be compliant by only filling out a 'technical document'. Essentially, this moves substantiation towards self-assessments in some areas. 3️⃣ ECO-LABELS: The Council suggests that environmental labels that are regulated by the EU or national law can operate without any third-party verification (provided they meet other EU standards). On the positive side, the Council introduced several support measures for SMEs. The process will continue with the new legislative cycle. Downside: The two rapporteurs in the Parliament who drove the process (Andrus Ansip and Cyrus Engerer) were both no re-elected, implying new rapporteurs need to be appointed... === Official Press Release: https://lnkd.in/diMcmPw8 #sustainability, #eugreendeal, #greenclaimsdirectiv, #greenwashing