TEN ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTS

November 2024

1.Significant growth of solar farms across Ireland

Caroline O’Doherty, “‘Clean, green and Irish’: Hundreds of solar farms in development around country, report finds,” Irish Independent bit.ly/3BrFpQE

Almost 400 solar farms are in development across Ireland, a new report on the fast-growing industry says.

If installed, they would double the amount of solar electricity targeted for generation by the end of the decade.

The existing 2030 target is already ambitious, aiming for eight gigawatts (GW) of electricity, which would be enough to power the whole country on a bright day.

The upbeat update is contained in analysis published today by the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA) at the annual Solar Ireland Conference in Dublin.

2.  There are 3.6 billion people currently facing water shortages, projected to exceed 5 billion by 2050.

World Meteorological Organization (WMO), State of Global Water Resources 2023 (7 Oct 2024).  bit.ly/47TNFVL

The State of Global Water Resources report highlights severe stress on global water supplies, with five consecutive years of below-normal river flows and reservoir inflows. This shortage is affecting communities, agriculture, and ecosystems. In addition, glaciers experienced their largest mass loss in the last 50 years, with 2023 marking the second year of widespread ice loss globally.

The report also highlights that 2023 was the hottest year on record, marked by prolonged droughts and widespread floods, driven by both the La Niña to El Niño transition and human-induced climate change. The report offers a global assessment of water resources, drawing on data from meteorological and hydrological services to inform decision-makers in water-sensitive sectors and disaster risk management. It complements the WMO’s “State of the Global Climate” series.

Now in its third year, this edition is the most comprehensive, including new data on lakes, reservoirs, soil moisture, and glaciers. It aims to build a global dataset of hydrological variables to support early warning systems for water-related hazards by 2027. With 3.6 billion people currently facing water shortages, projected to exceed 5 billion by 2050, the report underscores the urgent need for action to meet Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation.

See also, Helena Horton, “Climate warning as world’s rivers dry up at fastest rate for 30 years,” The Guardian (7 Oct 2024).  bit.ly/3zPe76a via @guardian

3.  The number of salmon caught has declined sharply in England and Wales

Salmon Stocks and Fisheries in England and Wales, 2023.  Preliminary assessment prepared for ICES, March 2024. Environment Agency and Cefas bit.ly/4ew74i4

See also, Helena Horton, “Salmon numbers in England and Wales last year were lowest on record,” The Guardian (7 Oct 2024). bit.ly/4ew74i4 via @guardian

“Salmon numbers in England and Wales last year were the lowest on record, figures show, as pollution and climate breakdown are killing off the endangered fish.

A report from the Environment Agency and Cefas shows Atlantic salmon stocks in England and Wales have dropped to their lowest level since records began in 1997.

This year’s data shows a stark decline. The total declared salmon catch for 2023 was provisionally estimated at 5,399 fish, down from 6,952 in 2022. Until 2017 at least 20,000 fish were recorded every year.”

4.  N.B.  –  liquefied natural gas vs coal

Research challenges idea that sending liquefied natural gas around the world is cleaner alternative to burning coal

Robert W. Howarth, “The greenhouse gas footprint of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exported from the United States,” Energy, Science & Engineering (3 Oct 2024). bit.ly/3YeFq3p

Abstract

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports from the United States have risen dramatically since the LNG-export ban was lifted in 2016, and the United States is now the world’s largest exporter. This LNG is produced largely from shale gas. Production of shale gas, as well as liquefaction to make LNG and LNG transport by tanker, is energy-intensive, which contributes significantly to the LNG greenhouse gas footprint. The production and transport of shale gas emits a substantial amount of methane as well, and liquefaction and tanker transport of LNG can further increase methane emissions. Consequently, carbon dioxide (CO₂) from end-use combustion of LNG contributes only 34% of the total LNG greenhouse gas footprint, when CO₂ and methane are compared over 20 years global warming potential (GWP₂₀) following emission. Upstream and midstream methane emissions are the largest contributors to the LNG footprint (38% of total LNG emissions, based on GWP₂₀). Adding CO₂ emissions from the energy used to produce LNG, total upstream and midstream emissions make up on average 47% of the total greenhouse gas footprint of LNG. Other significant emissions are the liquefaction process (8.8% of the total, on average, using GWP₂₀) and tanker transport (5.5% of the total, on average, using GWP₂₀). Emissions from tankers vary from 3.9% to 8.1% depending upon the type of tanker. Surprisingly, the most modern tankers propelled by two- and four-stroke engines have higher total greenhouse gas emissions than steam-powered tankers, despite their greater fuel efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions, due to methane slippage in their exhaust. Overall, the greenhouse gas footprint for LNG as a fuel source is 33% greater than that for coal when analyzed using GWP₂₀ (160 g CO₂-equivalent/MJ vs. 120 g CO₂-equivalent/MJ). Even considered on the time frame of 100 years after emission (GWP₁₀₀), which severely understates the climatic damage of methane, the LNG footprint equals or exceeds that of coal.

See also, Oliver Milman, “Exported gas produces far worse emissions than coal, major study finds,” The Guardian (4 Oct 2024). bit.ly/47U5DaH via @guardian

5.  Collapsing wildlife populations

WWF, Living Planet Report 2024: The Living Planet Report 2024 highlights the average change in observed population sizes of 5,495 vertebrate species. It shows a decline of 73% between 1970 and 2020.  bit.ly/4eFnLHX

See also, Patrick Greenfield, “Collapsing wildlife populations near ‘points of no return’, report warns,” The Guardian (10 Oct 2024).  bit.ly/400XBe4

“Global wildlife populations have plunged by an average of 73% in 50 years, a new scientific assessment has found, as humans continue to push ecosystems to the brink of collapse.

Latin America and the Caribbean recorded the steepest average declines in recorded wildlife populations, with a 95% fall, according to the WWF and the Zoological Society of London’s (ZSL) biennial Living Planet report. They were followed by Africa with 76%, and Asia and the Pacific at 60%. Europe and North America recorded comparatively lower falls of 35% and 39% respectively since 1970.”

6.  Increasing funding for fossil fuel projects

Clean Air Fund, The State of Global Air Quality Funding 2024 (10 Oct 2024). bit.ly/3Nt7QAc

See also, Ajit  Niranjan, “Foreign aid for fossil fuel projects quadrupled in a single year,” The Guardian (10 Oct 2024).  bit.ly/3zT0Ppr via @guardian

“Foreign aid for fossil fuel projects quadrupled in a single year, a report has found, rising ​​from $1.2bn in 2021 to $5.4bn in 2022.

“This shocking increase in aid funding to fossil fuels is a wake-up call,” said Jane Burston, CEO of nonprofit the Clean Air Fund, which conducted the research. “The world cannot continue down this path of propping up polluting practices at the expense of global health and climate stability.”

“Even as countries pledge to reduce their emissions, increase their climate change ambitions and transition away from fossil fuels, the figures tell a different story,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be this way.

7.  Conflict, climate change and poverty = hunger

Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe, GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX: HOW GENDER JUSTICE CAN ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ZERO HUNGER bit.ly/3zYlzMs

See also, Caroline O’Doherty, “A ‘permacrisis’ of conflict, climate change and poverty is fuelling global hunger, report shows,” Irish Independent (9 Oct 2024). bit.ly/483Zys2

“The Global Hunger Index says the persistent combination of war, climate change, poverty and debt has slowed progress in eradicating hunger to a near halt.

It says 42 nations currently have “serious or alarming” hunger levels, a situation “indicating widespread human misery”.

It says based on current levels of tackling the problem, global hunger levels will stay high for another 136 years.

The annual index is compiled by Concern Worldwide and its German counterpart, Welthungerhilfe based on recorded levels of undernourishment, child stunting, child wasting and child mortality.”

8. Air pollution and dementia

The Francis Frick Institute, Researchers to untangle scientific link between air pollution and dementia (21 Oct 2024).  bit.ly/4hffxYA

“Researchers at the Francis Crick Institute and UCL have embarked on a study to establish a causal link between air pollution and neurodegeneration.”

“The RAPID study will build on work led by researchers in the Crick’s Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory. In 2022, they revealed how air pollution can cause lung cancer in people who have never smoked. They showed that exposure to tiny pollution particles causes inflammation in the lungs, which can in turn awaken previously dormant mutations and promote the development of cancer.

Researchers will use a similar approach, focussing on PM2.5, tiny particles around 3% of the width of a human hair. They will work to understand if these particulates induce a brain tissue-specific immune response in mice, and what effect this inflammation has on glia cells in the brain. They will study how these cells react and if pollution-related inflammation may trigger mechanisms that accelerate characteristics of neurodegeneration, including protein misfolding and aggregation, and damage to neurons.”

See also, Robin McKee, “Does air pollution cause dementia? UK scientists launch study to find out,” The Guardian (20 Oct 2024). bit.ly/3BV1Mhy via @guardian

9.  WMO confirms that 2023 is set to be the warmest year on record

World Meteorolgical Organization (WMO), Provisional State of the Global Climate in 2023 bit.ly/4fn72ZG  2023 has shattered climate records, accompanied by extreme weather which has left a trail of devastation and despair, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

Key messages

• 2023 set to be warmest year on record
• Greenhouse gas levels continue to increase
• Record sea surface temperatures and sea level rise
• Record low Antarctic sea ice
• Extreme weather causes death and devastation

10. Climate impacts intensify globally, threatening Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal

UN Environment Programme, Emissions Gap Report 2024: No more hot air bit.ly/4eZaeuF

“The report looks at how much nations must promise to cut off greenhouse gases, and deliver, in the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due for submission in early 2025 ahead of COP30. Cuts of 42 per cent are needed by 2030 and 57 per cent by 2035 to get on track for 1.5°C.

A failure to increase ambition in these new NDCs and start delivering immediately would put the world on course for a temperature increase of 2.6-3.1°C over the course of this century. This would bring debilitating impacts to people, planet and economies.

It remains technically possible to get on a 1.5°C pathway, with solar, wind and forests holding real promise for sweeping and fast emissions cuts. To deliver on this potential, sufficiently strong NDCs would need to be backed urgently by a whole-of-government approach, measures that maximize socioeconomic and environmental co-benefits, enhanced international collaboration that includes reform of the global financial architecture, strong private sector action and a minimum six-fold increase in mitigation investment. G20 nations, particularly the largest-emitting members, would need to do the heavy lifting.