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Rich countries can’t expect to be trusted on their climate promises if they fail the poorest on vaccines

It would only cost $50bn to ensure 40% of the world’s population is vaccinated by the end of the year, and 60% by the first half of 2022. This is a recent estimate from the IMF, the latest institution to join a chorus of voices calling for a global vaccination programme to bring Covid-19 under control. The IMF has highlighted the economic benefits of global vaccines, which would be huge. But there is another powerful reason for a worldwide campaign.

Vaccinating the world will be crucial if countries are going to act together to confront the climate crisis, which will require many of the same things as delivering vaccines: resources, innovation, ingenuity and a true partnership between rich and developing countries. The Cop26 climate conference in November will be an opportune moment for building this partnership. But to do so, rich countries need to deliver on their early promises to deliver global vaccines.

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As UK prepares for environment push at G7 summit, letter asks richest to make climate charitable focus

The UK’s 100 richest families are being urged to commit £1bn over the next five years to tackle the climate emergency and halt the destruction of the natural world, as the world prepares for a big push on environmental issues at the G7 summit.

Each of the 100 richest families in the UK, and the 100 biggest charitable foundations, will receive a letter on Saturday asking them to make the climate and biodiversity crises a focus of their philanthropic efforts, in order to stave off pending disasters that would imperil all their other charitable efforts.

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A roundup of the coverage on struggles for human rights and freedoms, from Colombia to China

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A daily summary of our news plus bite-sized updates from around the world.

Speculators' California Carbon Allowance (CCA) positions surged for the third consecutive week as the group took out a larger position on the current vintage contract, while compliance entities’ short position grew over the period, according to US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) data published Friday.

Voluntary emissions reduction (VER) prices must surge tenfold this decade to drive meaningful climate action, otherwise buyers risk being accused of greenwashing by purchasing carbon offsets too cheap to deliver genuine GHG cuts, according to research published Friday.

A summary of legislative and regulatory action on carbon pricing, clean fuel standards, and clean energy at the US subnational and federal level this week, including developments in California and Illinois.

A California public utility has requested approval under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) for a dairy digester formerly registered under the state’s compliance offset programme, according to documents published Thursday.

The Q2 RGGI auction settled at a slight premium to the secondary market, as the clearing price and healthy compliance buying aligned with market participants' predictions prior to the sale, according to results published Friday.

EUAs slipped below €50 on Friday as the previous session's technical breakout continued to encourage selling, though much of the market remains bullish, with many eyeing a rapid recovery.

Fishing communities fear for future as oil, plastic and toxic chemicals devastate ecosystem

Until last week Lucien Justin, the chair of the Jude Watta fisheries committee in Wattala, near Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo, lived a simple life. He and his wife ate two meals a day, and their small community of 90 fishers regularly supported each other with food and money. “If we fish, money comes. If not, we are left hungry,” he said.

After the worst maritime disaster in Sri Lanka’s history poisoned the waters near where he fishes, however, he fears even that simple life is now in dire danger. “People are scared. Even if we caught fish, they wouldn’t eat it because they think it’s poisonous,” he said.

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Organization: European Climate Foundation (ECF) Position: Deputy Director, Thematic Strategy Duty Station: anywhere with a reliable internet connection and in which you have the right to work Deadline for Application: until suitable applicant is found

Organization: Climate Alliance Position: Policy Coordinator Duty Station: Brussels, Belgium Deadline for Application: 18 June 2021

The Foundation for European Progressive Studies is currently looking for a Policy Analyst in the field of climate and environment.

Soils provide 95% of all food but are damaged by industrial, farming, mining and urban pollution

The world’s soils, which provide 95% of humanity’s food, are “under great pressure”, according to a UN report on soil pollution.

Soils are also the largest active store of carbon, after the oceans, and therefore crucial in fighting the climate crisis. But the report said industrial pollution, mining, farming and poor waste management are poisoning soils, with the “polluter pays” principle absent in many countries.

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Moscow Exchange and Russia’s second-largest bank VTB signed an agreement to develop a carbon marketplace, the two companies announced on Thursday.

While the private sector wants to keep control of the green transition, what’s needed is massive public investment

The pandemic, we often hear, is forcing a rethink in economics. We are leaving behind one model: the austerity-obsessed small state that outsources the job of macroeconomic stability to unelected central banks. Central banks, in turn, worked to target inflation under a regime of benign neglect for unemployment; it was assumed, meanwhile, that the bond market should and would discipline governments into fiscal rectitude.

Now, the Biden administration’s “once in a generation” spending plans suggest a paradigm shift is under way. It puts governments, through fiscal policy (taxing and spending), back in the driving seat. In this sense, macroeconomics has the potential to become more democratic. But are we celebrating too soon? The big test of the paradigm shift, possibly the fundamental test, is how we go about decarbonising our economies.

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New Zealand allowances on Friday closed above NZ$38 ($27.18) for the first time since before the March auction, rising after ETS participants earlier this week finalised 2020 compliance and the NZ$35 fixed price option became a thing of the past.

Conservationists lobby World Heritage Committee to demand Australia reduce emissions or risk reef being placed on ‘in danger’ list

Members of the United Nations World Heritage Committee are being lobbied to pressure Australia to commit to more ambitious climate action as part of its plan to slow the decline of the Great Barrier Reef ahead of a key July meeting.

Conservationists have lobbied representatives of 13 of the 21 countries that make up the committee, saying the threat of placing the reef on an “in danger” list should be used to lever more domestic action on greenhouse gas emissions.

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Ampol shareholders likely to get big payments following Morrison government's massive fossil fuel subsidy for oil refiners.

The post Morrison’s Ampol refinery bail-out could go straight to shareholders appeared first on RenewEconomy.