‘In 2015, world leaders agreed to 17 goals for a better world by 2030. These goals have the power to end poverty, fight inequality and stop climate change. Guided by the goals, it is now up to all of us, governments, businesses, civil society and the general public to work together to build a better future for everyone.’ (1)
A recent radio broadcast which included an interview with the film Producer/Director/Writer Richard Curtis, explored his involvement with ‘Project Everyone’ & how he is bringing the message of ‘Global Goals’ to the public. The United Nations Development Programme instigated the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which included the Sustainable Development Goals. Of the 17 Global Goals agreed in 2015, Goal 13: ‘Climate Action’ is more prevalent today than it has ever been.
As we move in to 2019, societies & communities now look to World Leaders for the promises they have made for Climate Change to be actioned & implemented with immediate effect. The aftermath of the IPCC report, COP24 & the reiteration of the Paris Agreement; resonate with more people now than ever before. Thanks to the global media machines & social media, there is more & more coverage about the climate & the need for action. Therefore, who is doing what? & which countries show concern for the united planetary agreements?
It is no secret that Donald Trump has reneged on the Paris Agreement, has very publicly called manmade climate change “A hoax!” & the biggest concern is that from November 2019 any country which signed up to the Paris Agreement, can cancel their continuing support of the same.
As Donald Trump continues to support fossil fuel production in the US, he continues to rescind Obama rule & in particular the rule to shift the US away from coal production & energy supply. There is also an expectation that another Obama era rule about mercury pollution from coal plants, will be rescinded.
However, despite some questionable decisions being made by the US & the unsettling election results in Brazil; there are plenty of countries who see 2019 as a great turning point & are already active in their Climate Change ‘Global Goal’s’
The United Kingdom has since the Zero Emission Vehicle Summit in September 2018, continued to spearhead the changes needed to push towards Net Zero emissions by 2050. Despite the Prime Minister having dissolved the Department of Energy and Climate Change once she was employed as the ‘Brexit’ Prime Minister, we have seen some considerable efforts being made to keep the climate change agenda prevalent & on track. Despite some of the knee jerk reactions towards new petrol & diesel vehicle manufacturing leaving some industry leaders concerned; the UK has followed through with it’s promises to tackle Co2 emissions.
One such project is the introduction of a fleet of electric buses in London, zero emissions zones in certain boroughs & now electric Taxis being rolled out across our capital. With these changes still being on track, the United Kingdom continues to strive towards reducing Co2 emissions dramatically.
As a nation, we are all aware that we still have some way to go with renewable energy & that shale gas fracking (which began again in 2018), has caused communities & environmentalists to dismay. However, the UK is still ensuring that it is making decisions to act on climate change & actively reduce the Co2 emissions in line with the Paris Agreement.
Another UK incentive we saw at the end of 2018 was the ‘Resources & Waste strategy’ launched by Environment Secretary Michael Gove. Published by DEFRA & the Environment Agency it focuses very succinctly on the benefits of a circular economy as a business model. The ‘Resources & Waste strategy’ intention is to reverse a UK ‘disposable’ mentality & seek to embrace a ‘Circular Economy’, enabling regenerative processing whereby technical & biological products are built in a cyclic way; thus allowing manufacturing & processing products to ultimately be re-used & regenerated.
In addition to the aforementioned actions being undertaken by the Government, British company Dolphin N2 have continued to explore & develop the many facets of the CryoPower Split Cycle diesel engine & how this technology can not only enable diesel engines to produce up to 90% less engine out emissions with their patented cryogenic technology; but, they are also forging forward with the renewable energy capabilities of their innovation.
‘CryoPower and ThermoPower are Recuperated Split Cycle Engines. The revolutionary step is to separate the “cold” and “hot” parts of the traditional internal combustion engine. A first set of cylinders draw in air and compresses it – in the CryoPower version, Liquid Nitrogen is injected to keep this process cool for maximum efficiency; the simpler ThermoPower omits it. Then the compressed air passes through a recuperator, where the engine’s exhaust heats it up – saving fuel which normally has to do this. The air now passes to the second, hot cylinder set, which are thoroughly insulated – infeasible in a normal ICE where the same cylinder handles hot and cold processes. (2)
Beyond the UK & across the globe, we are witnessing vast improvements being made with the ‘Global Goals’ promise & the outcomes of the Paris Agreement.
Despite questions about sustainability, vast wind farms have been installed across the globe with China & the US leading the way. Regardless of the comments previously regarding Donald Trump’s less than positive reactions to ‘manmade’ climate change, Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi, has recently appointed the Florida representative Kathy Castor to lead a special committee on climate change that will be reinstated in the new Congress. “Castor brings experience, energy and “urgency to the existential threat of the climate crisis” facing the US and the world”. (3)
Further afield, Rwanda is continuing to make a vast impact & FONERWA, the Rwandan environmental fund, are actively investing in projects throughout Africa, which are striving for a carbon neutral future. (4)
As we move in to 2019, world leaders continue to draw together policy makers to ensure that their promises become action & are not just potent words to make them appear to be taking responsibility for climate change. As the many climate conference & summit dates are staring to be released, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called a summit of world leaders for September 2019, to enable the implementation of the many goals set for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The summit’s theme ‘A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win,’ is intended to “challenge states, regions, cities, companies, investors and citizens to step up action in six areas: energy transition, climate finance and carbon pricing, industry transition, nature-based solutions, cities and local action, and resilience.” (5)
In addition to the UN summit, French president, Emmanuel Macron, will be holding a One World Summit, planned for summer 2019, with the focus being on persuading businesses to take a leading role, investing in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and changing the way they use energy. (6)
Despite some countries continuing to evade & avoid their ‘climate change’ responsibilities & in some cases political leaders accusing other parties of using ‘climate change’ as a way of commanding political domination; we are seeing more & more world leaders, policy makers, industry leaders & communities making changes which are having a global impact.
As the human race forges forward with technologies capable of enabling & instigating the necessary changes for climate action, we take stock of the fact that despite our evolution being party to global climate change; we hope upon hope that these same evolutionary developments can save Planet Earth & enable us to give back to the sustaining force beneath our feet.
Written by Katy-Jane Mason on behalf of Dolphin N2.
- https://www.globalgoals.org/ https://www.project-everyone.org/
- Simon Brewster, CEO, Dolphin N2 Ltd: [email protected]; +44 (0)7850 200 096.
Nick Owen, Technical Director, Dolphin N2 Ltd: [email protected]; +44 (0)7710 052 680
- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/dec/28/karen-castor-house-committee-climate-change
- http://www.fonerwa.org/about
- http://sdg.iisd.org/events/un-2019-climate-summit/
- https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/02/climate-change-environment-2019-future-reasons-hope?CMP=twt_a-environment_b-gdneco
