Nostoc commune: The Green Microbe Fueling Sustainable Food and Ecosystems

Dr. Adenike A. Akinsemolu

The Green Microbe that Nourishes and Revitalizes Our Environment

1. Introduction
   Nostoc commune, the versatile powerhouse of nature, holds the key to sustainable food production and ecological restoration. Explore the fascinating world of this incredible microbe and its remarkable contributions to our planet.

2. Nitrogen Fixation Pioneer
   Nostoc commune is a master at nitrogen fixation, the process of converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form usable by plants. This microbe forms symbiotic relationships with various plants, supplying them with essential nitrogen nutrients. By partnering with Nostoc commune, we can reduce the need for synthetic fertilizers and foster sustainable agriculture.

3. Green Protein Source
   Nostoc commune is a nutrient-dense and protein-rich food source. It has been consumed for centuries in different cultures worldwide. Its cultivation offers a sustainable solution to the growing demand for plant-based protein, reducing the environmental impact of traditional livestock farming.

4. Drought and Desert Resilience
   Nostoc commune thrives in extreme environments, including deserts and arid regions. Its unique ability to withstand prolonged droughts and extreme temperatures makes it a valuable tool for ecosystem restoration in degraded areas. By reintroducing this microbe, we can revitalize habitats and promote biodiversity.

5. Carbon Sequestration Hero
   Nostoc commune plays a crucial role in carbon sequestration. As it grows, it captures atmospheric carbon dioxide and stores it in the form of organic matter. By harnessing this microbe's carbon-capturing abilities, we can mitigate climate change and promote sustainable carbon management.

6. Water Purification Ally
   Nostoc commune contributes to water purification in natural ecosystems. It removes pollutants and excessive nutrients from water bodies, improving water quality and preserving aquatic life. By embracing this microbe, we can protect our precious water resources and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems.

5 activities that can lead to coherent public circularity

Henrik Hvid Jensen

Achieving climate and environmental goals hinges on establishing a competitive circular economy.Yet many public sectors have been slow to embrace the circular principle.By adopting circular practices, the public sector can reduce its environmental impact, achieve financial savings through resource efficiency and minimize waste generation.

Most countries have set ambitious climate and environmental goals and most are focusing on reducing CO2 emissions through alternative energy sources and electrification. The US has even more ambitious goals. It aims to achieve a 50%+ reduction in emissions by 2030, a carbon-pollution-free electricity sector by 2035 and to transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.Recognizing that achieving climate and environmental goals hinges on establishing a competitive circular economy, it is surprising that most public sectors have been slow to embrace the circular principle. Between 2015 and 2021, for example, the average circularity rate for all EU member states increased by a mere 0.4% points.Current public circular initiatives are often siloed, incremental and limited in scope, focusing on emissions reduction, energy efficiency and waste management often from a linear perspective. Although these silo projects have yielded valuable insights, it is imperative for public implementations to scale up now.Instead of siloed initiatives, the public sector must implement coherent circular models across public entities. Given its significance as a major employer, purchaser of goods and services and as a regulator and policy-maker, the public sector must play a pivotal role in transitioning to a circular economic system. The impact of public procurement on the transition to a circular economy could be significant, for example, it is worth around €2 trillion to the European Union, around 19% of GDP. This involves preserving the value of products, materials and resources for as long as possible and minimizing waste. To achieve this, the public sector should lead the transition in making circular products and services more accessible and affordable

This acceleration towards a coherent public circularity encompasses five key activities and represents the most effective approach to achieving climate and environmental goals, while simultaneously boosting economic growth and enhancing businesses’ competitiveness:

1. A sharing public sector

Many publicly owned and operated resources, such as cars, trucks, buildings, uniforms, food, medical equipment, computers, and office furniture, often remain underutilized instead of being shared. To optimize efficiency and reduce environmental impact, the public sector must embrace a coherent, transverse circular economy promoting sharing, reuse, and redistribution. A sharing public sector will encounter cost savings through resource optimization and reduced disposal costs, leading to enhanced efficiencies and a reduced climate impact.

2. Transforming procurement practices

To facilitate public resource optimization by maximizing asset utilization, a shift in procurement practices is vital. Instead of each organization solely purchasing assets, the emphasis should be on renting, sharing, and redistributing assets from or with peer organizations.

3. Establishing a coherent circular services market

Promoting a coherent circular service market within the public sector involves tendering circular services, such as repair, redistribution, refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling, for equipment used across all public entities. This fosters a vibrant market with low-entry barriers and encourages businesses to offer circular services. This approach not only strengthens the circular economy within the public administration, but also serves as a catalyst for the growth of local circular service businesses, creating a positive impact on the environment and the economy alike.

4. Leveraging digital platforms

Coherent digital government platforms are instrumental in accelerating seamless peer-to-peer sharing, renting and redistribution of assets between various public entities. These digital platforms extend beyond tangible assets and encompass intangible human-based resources, such as skills and capabilities necessary for repair, refurbishment and redistribution. The EU’s Right to Repair proposal includes an online matchmaking repair platform to connect consumers with repairers and sellers of refurbished goods.

5. Lead by example

The implementation of coherent public circularity holds the potential to revolutionize resource utilization, fostering greater sustainability and enabling the public sector to become a trailblazer in the circular economy movement. By embracing this approach, public entities can lead by example, demonstrating the benefits of resource sharing while making significant strides toward achieving climate goals.

The need for coherent public circularity is an immediate concern, not a far-off challenge.

The speed with which governments can identify, prioritize and address circularity gaps will significantly impact their ability to achieve their climate and environmental objectives. Successfully closing these gaps will not only make local businesses more competitive in the circular economy, but also strengthen the overall resilience of the economy by reducing dependence on finite resources, minimizing price volatility and decreasing exposure to supply chain disruptions. Transitioning to coherent public circularity goes beyond emission reduction and risk mitigation; it presents an opportunity for governments to invest in the future, spur economic growth, create jobs and enhance services for citizens. The European Commission estimates that applying circular economy principles across the EU economy can potentially increase the EU GDP by 0.5% by 2030, creating approximately 700,000 jobs.

Discover

What is the World Economic Forum doing about the circular economy?

The World Economic Forum Centre for Nature and Climate is actively promoting the transition to a circular economy through various initiatives. The objective is to create a more sustainable and resilient economic system by reducing waste and maximizing resource efficiency.

• The Circular Transformation of Industries initiative engages leaders from industry, government, academia, and civil society to drive circularity across sectors and economies. It consolidates information from previous efforts, shares best practices, and creates new partnerships. Learn more about Unlocking New Value in a Resource-Constrained World. The Circular Cars Initiative aims to create a climate-friendly automobility system by minimizing lifecycle emissions, particularly in manufacturing. Its goal is the development of a convenient, affordable, 1.5°C-aligned system by 2030. Discover the benefits of circular economy in the car industry here. The Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) brings together global stakeholders to promote the transition to a circular plastics economy. GPAP provides a platform for global learning and local action in nine countries coordinating efforts and maximizing impact. Learn more in our Impact Report.

The urgency for coherent public circularity is immediate, not a distant challenge. The policies and priorities implemented by the public sector today will reverberate in terms of environmental, economic, and social implications for years to come. By embracing circular principles for coherent public circularity now, governments can set the stage for a sustainable and thriving future and will experience five key benefits:

1. Reduced costs and waste

By eliminating usage silos and facilitating the easy distribution, sharing, and utilization of equipment across all public authorities, the public sector can reduce the large inventories of underutilized assets. Leading to significant cost savings from reduced purchasing and decreased waste handling.

2. Facilitating a profitable circular private market

Tendering coherent circular services across various public domains accelerates the growth of a private circular service industry and unlocks economic potential. Consumers’ tendency to opt for replacement, instead of repair, results in an estimated annual loss of almost €12 billion. By embracing circular alternatives, this financial loss can be redirected towards purchasing new services, enriching people’s lives beyond mere functional replacement and, thereby, enhancing the overall well-being and prosperity of society.

3. Accelerating digital enablement of circularity

Embracing the circular economy necessitates new digital capabilities within all aspects of a business’s digital technology platform, including digital services and customer touchpoints, internal IT systems optimization, circular business ecosystem collaboration, connected products and business intelligence. Offering circular products and services to a coherent public sector requires businesses to invest in digitization, which can be reused when offering circular services to the private sector.

4. Accelerating the achievement of climate and environmental goals

As the public sector is considered a role model for society, setting an example of good practice, its commitment to circularity inspires and accelerates private sector engagement in the journey towards achieving climate and environmental goals.

5. Reducing barriers to a competitive circular economy

Given the public sector’s size and influence, businesses must prepare for and contribute to coherent public circularity models. By actively participating in the transition, businesses can reduce time, cost and risk in realizing circular economy business models.

One of the most powerful tools

Leveraging the strategic procurement power of coherent public circularity is one of the most powerful tools to drive the implementation of a circular economy across various sectors and to achieve climate and environmental goals. By using its purchasing influence, a coherent circular public ecosystem can promote and encourage circular production, consumption and usage practices throughout society. Breaking down procurement and utilization silos within the public sector is essential to create a cohesive and supportive environment for circular initiatives. By setting an example and leading the way, the public sector can lay a strong foundation for innovative companies to thrive and become leaders in the circular economy, fostering economic growth and job creation. Simultaneously, by adopting circular practices, the public sector can effectively reduce its own climate and environmental impact, achieve financial savings through resource efficiency and minimize waste generation. This not only benefits the public sector itself, but also sets a positive example for other sectors and encourages the adoption of circular approaches throughout the entire region, paving the way for a sustainable and competitive future for businesses and society at large.

Parasites can have a positive effect on biodiversity and can play a crucial role in maintaining it

Tel-Aviv University

Daphnia water fleas (on the right sick Daphnia & on the left healthy Daphnia). Credit: Enav Marcus

A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that the presence of parasites in nature is not necessarily negative, and sometimes even helps animals survive. The team of researchers explain: "Thinking about parasites usually brings up negative connotations, such as, 'do they harm their host'? Or 'how harmful are they to those who carry them'? In our research, we showed that parasites can in fact have a positive effect on the structure of an ecosystem, and that they can play a key role in the design of the habitat and in sustaining its biological diversity."

The research was conducted under the leadership of Prof. Frida Ben-Ami and Dr. Sigal Orlansky from the School of Zoology and the Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University. The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology.

The researchers explain that in a healthy ecosystem, there is usually a wide variety of species living side by side. Related species are able to exist in the same habitat provided that they influence and are influenced differently by natural resources and predators. Without proper separation and balance between those species, they cannot coexist—one of the species will be driven to extinction by the other. This principle is termed the 'competitive exclusion principle,' also known as Gause's law.

Dr. Sigal Orlansky adds, "Parasites and pathogens are an integral part of any ecosystem. Despite their bad reputation, parasites play a key role in shaping population dynamics, community structure, and biodiversity, thanks to their influence on the balance between the species in that ecosystem."

The research was conducted on tiny Daphnia water fleas, which in Israel can be found mainly in winter ponds. Daphnia fleas are about three millimeters in length, feed on single-celled algae and bacteria and themselves serve as food for fish. Since winter pools are closed habitats, the competition between different species is particularly significant in its effect on the biological diversity in the pool.

Aquatic species that live in the winter ponds cannot leave or migrate elsewhere independently, so the results of the competition are crucial to their survival. Like most animals, these species are also hosts or carriers of parasites and it is rare to find a species that is almost completely resistant to parasites.

According to Prof. Ben-Ami, "In the population of water fleas in Israel, we found one species called Daphnia similis, whose nickname in the laboratory is 'Super Daphnia' due to its almost complete resistance to parasites. Nevertheless, this 'Super Daphnia' does not become the dominant Daphnia species in ponds. The most common species is actually Daphnia magna, which is highly vulnerable to a wide variety of parasites."

To understand why immunological immunity does not constitute a springboard for wide distribution in the pond, the researchers have set up a biological microcosm in the laboratory, in which the two species shared the same habitat in the presence or absence of parasites. The results showed that in a parasite-free habitat, the parasite-sensitive species, which is the most common Daphnia species in the wild, is the one that won the competition, even forcing the disappearance of the parasite-resistant 'Super Daphnia'.

However, in habitats with parasites, the survival of the parasite -sensitive Daphnia decreased dramatically and the 'Super Daphnia' population became established, demonstrating an environment where coexistence between the two species is possible via the mediation of parasites.

Dr. Sigal Orlansky says that "The results of these experiments emphasize the important role of parasites in shaping biodiversity, as the parasites can mediate competition between Daphnia species."

"This competition enables the coexistence of a species that is indeed resistant to parasites, but its ability to compete is lacking and without parasites would probably become extinct when it shares the same habitat with the Daphnia species most common in Israel, the Daphnia magna, which while sensitive to parasites is otherwise strongly competitive. Our research shows that coexistence of these two Daphnia species is only possible through the mediation of a parasite."

Prof. Ben Ami emphasizes that the results of these experiments have significant implications for obtaining a better understanding of systems in which both sensitive to parasites and less sensitive species to parasites co-exist. These results may help guide efforts in dealing with biological invasions and even help reduce the threat to endangered species.

Pseudomonas fluorescens: Illuminating the World of Sustainable Agriculture

The Green Microbe that Enhances Crop Health and Soil Resilience

1. Introduction
   Pseudomonas fluorescens, the guardian of agricultural sustainability, possesses remarkable qualities that benefit both plants and the environment. Discover how this incredible microbe illuminates the path to a greener and more productive future.

2. Plant Health Promote
   Pseudomonas fluorescens forms a beneficial relationship with plants, acting as a biocontrol agent against harmful pathogens. It produces antimicrobial compounds that inhibit the growth of plant diseases, keeping crops healthy and reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Embracing this microbe means a safer and more sustainable approach to plant protection.

3. Nutrient Cycling Champion
   Pseudomonas fluorescens is an expert in nutrient cycling, playing a pivotal role in soil fertility. It breaks down organic matter and releases essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, in a plant-available form. This microbe enhances nutrient uptake by plants, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and minimizing environmental pollution.

4. Soil Remediator
   With its diverse metabolic capabilities, Pseudomonas fluorescens excels at bioremediation. It has the ability to degrade various pollutants, including hydrocarbons and heavy metals, transforming them into less harmful substances. By harnessing this microbe, we can restore contaminated soils and protect our ecosystems.

5. Enhanced Plant Growth
   Pseudomonas fluorescens stimulates plant growth by producing plant growth-promoting substances. It enhances root development, improves nutrient absorption, and increases drought tolerance. With the help of this microbe, farmers can achieve higher yields and resilient crops, even in challenging environmental conditions.

6. Sustainable Agriculture Practices
   By incorporating Pseudomonas fluorescens into agricultural practices, we can reduce the environmental impact of farming. It offers a natural and eco-friendly alternative to chemical inputs, promoting sustainable soil management, reducing pollution, and preserving biodiversity.

Exploring Climate Engineering: A Recap of Adenike Akinsemolu's #OfficiallyGreen Webinar Series

Introduction

On July 20th, 2023, environmental enthusiasts, researchers, and concerned citizens from around the world came together for a thought-provoking webinar on Climate Engineering. Hosted by Adenike Akinsemolu, the esteemed Director of the Green Institute, the event aimed to shed light on one of the most critical and controversial aspects of tackling climate change. The #OfficiallyGreen Webinar Series has been gaining popularity for its informative and insightful discussions, and this latest installment did not disappoint. Let's take a look at the highlights of this remarkable event and the esteemed individuals who joined the discussion.

The Topic: Climate Engineering

Climate Engineering, also known as geoengineering, refers to deliberate and large-scale interventions in the Earth's climate system to mitigate the impacts of climate change. These interventions come in various forms, such as Solar Radiation Management (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) techniques. The webinar explored the promises and challenges of these technologies, their potential consequences, and the ethical considerations surrounding their deployment.

The Distinguished Attendees

The success of any webinar lies in the active participation of its attendees, and the Climate Engineering webinar was no exception. The event was attended by a diverse group of individuals, each bringing their unique expertise and perspectives to the discussion. Among the registrants were:

1. Fatima Abokaso

2. Ololade Oloniyo

3. Idris Adebanjo

4. Wei-Jen Lee

5. Olusola George

6. Andrea Afranchi

7. Julian N Paton

8. Ahmad Muhammad Yusuf

9. Patricia Nwosu

10. Arome David

11. Peter Chisom Okere

12. Paula Viala

13. Kambo Martial Atse

14. Princewill Akarolo

15. Omolola Faleye

16. Foluke Arijeniwa

17. Zunaira Ashraf

18. Temidayo Aturu

19. Rachael Esanola

20. Olu Bamgbose

21. Mutiat Mohammed

22. Joshua Fiecas

23. Rabiu Mustafa

24. Maria Ilina

25. Clinton Etiuzale

26. Olushola Olajobi

27. Henry Umenwor

28. Winnie Ngaji

29. Emeka David Nlebem

30. Daniel Lopez

31. Iyanuoluwa Filani

32. Karen Scrivener

33. Humberto Peralta

34. Iboro Adam-Etuk

35. Sheba Palma

36. Wanjusi Lasto

37. Darrell Huddleston

38. Abiodun Tosin

39. Eugene Eteris

Their presence and engagement enriched the webinar and allowed for a broader range of perspectives on climate engineering.

Key Insights from the Webinar

During the webinar, Adenike Akinsemolu led the discussion, addressing several essential aspects of climate engineering. Some of the key insights included:

1. The Urgency of Climate Action: Climate engineering should not be seen as a replacement for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources. It should be considered as a supplementary measure to complement existing climate change mitigation strategies.

2. Ethical Considerations: Climate engineering raises ethical questions about who gets to decide and control these interventions. Ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and international cooperation are critical in this domain.

3. Potential Risks: While climate engineering offers the prospect of mitigating climate change, there are potential risks and uncertainties associated with large-scale interventions in the Earth's climate system. Understanding and managing these risks are vital before any deployment.

4. Scientific Research and Governance: There is a pressing need for more research to understand the consequences of climate engineering fully. Additionally, robust governance frameworks must be established to regulate its implementation and prevent unilateral actions.

Conclusion

Adenike Akinsemolu's #OfficiallyGreen Webinar Series on Climate Engineering brought together experts and enthusiasts alike to discuss one of the most complex and challenging topics of our time. With climate change continuing to impact our planet, exploring potential solutions like climate engineering becomes increasingly important. As we look to the future, it is evident that collaborative efforts and informed discussions like this webinar will play a crucial role in shaping responsible and effective climate policies.

If you missed this webinar, don't worry! You can download the PowerPoint presentation here

Moreover, mark your calendars for the next webinar scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2023. Register now using this [link](insert link to the registration page) and join the global conversation on sustainable solutions to combat climate change.

Together, we can make a difference and secure a greener and healthier future for generations to come.

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Hottest July ever signals ‘era of global boiling has arrived’ says UN chief

UN NEWS

© Unsplash/Fabian Jones I Temperatures have hit record highs across the world in 2023.

As wildfires raged across Southern Europe and North Africa, top UN climate scientists said on Thursday that it was “virtually certain” that July 2023 will be the warmest on record.  

Echoing that warning in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that “short of a mini-Ice Age” in coming days, July 2023 would likely “shatter records across the board”.  

“Climate change is here. It is terrifying. And it is just the beginning,” said the UN chief, warning that the consequences are as clear as they are tragic: “children swept away by monsoon rains, families running from the flames (and) workers collapsing in scorching heat.”

‘Remarkable and unprecedented’

July 2023 is set to be the hottest month ever recorded.

The consequences are tragic:

Children swept away by monsoon rains.

Families running from the flames.

Workers collapsing in scorching heat.

No more hesitancy or excuses.#ClimateAction - now.https://t.co/yQhWo26Uom

— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) July 27, 2023

In Geneva, scientists from the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the European Commission’s Copernicus Climate Change Service described conditions this month as “rather remarkable and unprecedented”.

They said that new data showed that so far, July has seen the hottest three-week period ever recorded and the three hottest days on record.  

“We can say that the first three weeks of July have been the warmest three weeks periods ever observed in our record,” said Carlo Buentempo, Director of Copernicus Climate Change Service, via Zoom.

“This anomaly is so large with respect to other record-breaking months in our record that we are virtually certain that the month, the month as a whole will become the warmest July on record, the warmest month on record, in all likelihood.”

Ocean temperature record

Just as worrying was the fact that ocean temperatures are at their highest-ever recorded levels for this time of year. This trend has been apparent since the end of April.

Citing “a clear and dramatic warming decade on decade” since the 1970s, WMO’s Director of Climate Services Chris Hewitt noted that 2015 to 2022 saw the eight warmest years on record, based on a 173-year dataset.

This was despite the fact that the La Niña sea-cooling phenomenon prevailed towards the end of that period in the Pacific region, which reined in global average temperatures slightly, Mr. Hewitt explained.

“But now the La Niña has ended” - to be replaced by the sea-warming El Niño effect - waters have begun to heat up in the tropical Pacific, bringing the “almost certain likelihood that one of the next five years will be the warmest on record”.

It is also “more likely than not” that global average temperatures will temporarily exceed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels “for at least one of the five years”, the WMO scientist continued.  

‘Era of global boiling’

Speaking at UN Headquarters, the Secretary-General underscored the need for global action on emissions, climate adaptation and climate finance. 

He warned that “the era of global warming has ended” and “the era of global boiling has arrived.”

Although climate change is evident, “we can still stop the worst,” he said. “But to do so we must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition.”  

Climate action now

He said leaders “must step up for climate action and climate justice”, particularly those from the G20 leading industrial nations, responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions.

He pointed to upcoming summits - including the UN Climate Ambition Summit in September and the COP28 climate conference in Dubai in November - as critical opportunities.

Net-zero goal

Mr. Guterres highlighted the need for new national emissions targets from G20 members and urged all countries to push to reach net zero emissions by mid-century.

He said all actors must unite to accelerate the just and equitable transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, while stopping oil and gas expansion and phasing out coal by 2040.  

Action from companies, cities, regions, financial institutions and fossil fuel companies is also critical.

“No more greenwashing.  No more deception.  And no more abusive distortion of anti-trust laws to sabotage net zero alliances,” he said.

© UNICEF/Safidy Andrianantenain I Four years of consecutive droughts have left families in southern Madagascar desperate and unable to feed themselves.

Investment for adaptation

With extreme weather “becoming the new normal”, Mr. Guterres appealed for “a global surge in adaptation investment” to save millions from the impacts of climate change, particularly in developing countries.

He said developed countries must present a clear and credible roadmap to double adaptation finance by 2025. Furthermore, all governments should implement a UN action plan aimed at ensuring everyone on the planet is protected by early warning systems by 2027.

Honour the commitment

On finance, the Secretary-General urged richer countries to honour their commitments to provide $100 billion annually for climate support in developing countries and to fully replenish the Green Climate Fund.

“I am concerned that only two G7 countries – Canada and Germany – have made replenishment pledges so far,” he said.  “Countries must also operationalize the loss and damage fund at COP28 this year. No more delays or excuses.”

Mr. Guterres also reiterated the need for “a course correction in the global finance system” to support accelerated climate action.  

Measures would include putting a price on carbon and getting multilateral development banks to scale up funding for renewable energy, adaptation, and loss and damage. 

Special Issue: Green Microbiology-Advancing Sustainability through Microbial Innovations

This Special Issue aims to showcase the latest advancements, research findings, and innovative applications in green microbiology, highlighting its role in advancing sustainability.

SPECIAL ISSUE EDITORS

Dr. Helen Onyeaka
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Dr. Adenike A. Akinsemolu
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Dr. Taghi Miri
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Deadline: 22 March 2024

Special Issue: Gender Justice and Energy Transition in the Global South

EDITOR(S)

Dr. Pedi Obani, Associate Professor, School of Law University of Bradford, UK

Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu, Vanguard Fellow, University of Birmingham, UK

OVERVIEW

The Journal of Sustainable Development Law and Policy invites scholarly articles for publication in a special issue on the subject “Gender Justice and Energy Transition in the Global South”. The Journal is a peer-reviewed interdisciplinary journal that fosters the dissemination of scholarly research work by teaching and research scholars in Africa and across the world in the area of sustainable development law and policy. This special issue will be published in Spring 2024. 

Gender justice is a dynamic concept that has evolved significantly over the past few decades. The idea of gender equality lies at the heart of achieving inclusive and sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 is dedicated to achieving gender equality. There is limited data on the level of progress with the goal. But all the available evidence suggests that the world is off track and unlikely to achieve gender parity by the next century. One area where lack of gender equality is evident is in the access to and allocation of energy resources. Lack of access to energy adversely affects women’s livelihoods and wellbeing, particularly in the global South. There is also the risk of perpetuating the existing patterns of gender inequality if the energy transition process does not mainstream feminist perspectives and gender justice as a priority. 

The intersections between gender justice and energy transition are multidimensional and complex. It is widely accepted that gender and related roles significantly affects the impacts of climate change on people. Similarly, gender affects access to energy and other resources. However, most energy transition policies adopt a primarily technocratic approach which does not account for the significant nuances resulting from gender and other social constructs. This creates a misfit between the energy transition policies and the real challenges women and girls face in addressing the energy trilemma (reliability, affordability, and sustainability).  

  For guidance purposes, submissions addressing the following issues are particularly encouraged: 

• Gender and the energy trilemma

• Financing of just energy transition for women and girls

• Business accountability for gender justice and energy transition

• The role of legal institutions, including courts, in advancing gender justice and energy transition

• Women’s rights, SDGs and the energy trilemma

• Regional multilateralism and just energy transition for women and girls

• Empirical studies on just energy transition for women and girls 

• Feminist theoretical underpinnings of just energy transition 

• Decolonisation, gender justice and energy transition 

Country case studies on any of the above issues are highly encouraged. Comparative studies engaging two or more regions or countries are also of particular interest to this journal.

 SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

 Length and Footnotes

1) Articles should be between 5000-8000 words and should advance legal scholarship and knowledge in a specific area of sustainable development law and policy.

 2) Articles should include an abstract of approximately 250 words that is not an extract from the article itself.

 3) Details of the author should be supplied as the first footnote, attached by an asterisk to the author’s name.

 FORM OF SUBMISSION

4) Articles must be submitted in Word format and sent as an email attachment to p.obani@bradford.ac.uk, with copy (cc) to info@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng

 5) Contributions will only be considered for publication if they comply with the style guide. All citations should be as footnotes and accord with the Oxford Standard for Legal Citation (OSCOLA).

6) Authors should please make use of the following checklist prior to submission:

• an abstract is included;

• headings are consecutively numbered without automatic numbering;

• headings are not underlined;

• paragraphs are not separated by a full blank line, but only by an indent at the beginning of the new paragraph;

• footnotes are consecutively numbered by way of automatic numbering;

• footnotes are not separated by a full blank line;

• footnotes appear at the end of each page of the manuscript and not at the end of the manuscript;

• quotations have been checked for accuracy; and

• references comply with the Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA).

DEADLINES

7) Only articles submitted on or before 12 noon on 30 November 2023 would be considered for publication in this special issue. All papers should be submitted by email. Deadlines are firm. Articles submitted after the deadline may not be published.

SUBMISSIONS

Authors should send their submissions to the editors of the special issue by email to p.obani@bradford.ac.uk, a.akinsemolu@bham.ac.uk with copy (cc) to info@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng on or before the deadline. Selected papers that scale the peer-review process will be published in Volume 15 Issue 1 of the Journal. Accepted submissions which cannot be accommodated in the special issue will be placed in the next issue following.  All authors will be duly notified of the outcome of their submissions.

EVALUATION

8) Contributions are submitted to at least two referees, and the identities of the contributors and referees are kept confidential.

9) Further details about the Journal can be found at: http://www.ogeesinstitute.edu.ng/#!research-and-publications/c7o1

QUESTIONS AND ENQUIRIES

All questions or enquiries should be directed to the editors of the special issue:

Dr. Pedi Obani

Associate Professor

School of Law University of Bradford, UK

Email: p.obani@bradford.ac.uk, with copy (cc) to info@ogeesinstitute.edu.ng

Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu

Vanguard Fellow

University of Birmingham, UK

Email: a.akinsemolu@bham.ac.uk

Shewanella oneidensis: Harnessing the Power of Nature's Electrical Engineer

Adenike A. Akinsemolu

The Green Microbe that Revolutionizes Renewable Energy and Environmental Cleanup

1. Introduction
   Shewanella oneidensis, the master of electrical engineering in nature, holds the key to groundbreaking advancements in renewable energy and environmental restoration. Let's dive into the world of this remarkable microbe and its remarkable capabilities.

2. Electrical Wonder
   Shewanella oneidensis possesses a unique talent for generating and transferring electrical currents. It uses specialized protein structures on its cell surface to transfer electrons to and from metals and minerals in its environment. This astonishing ability has transformative implications for renewable energy and waste management.

3. Bioelectricity Generation
   Harnessing the power of Shewanella oneidensis, scientists have developed microbial fuel cells that convert organic matter into electricity. These fuel cells provide a sustainable and efficient way to generate clean energy by utilizing the microbe's ability to transfer electrons to an electrode. It's a remarkable step towards a greener future.

4. Environmental Cleanup
   Shewanella oneidensis also exhibits an extraordinary talent for bioremediation. It can break down and remove various contaminants, such as heavy metals and radioactive materials, from the environment. This microbe's ability to reduce toxic substances offers a promising solution for cleaning up polluted sites and restoring ecosystems.

5. Reducing Waste
   By employing Shewanella oneidensis, waste treatment processes can become more efficient and eco-friendly. The microbe's unique electron transfer capabilities enable it to convert harmful organic pollutants into less harmful or even harmless substances. This breakthrough supports sustainable waste management practices and minimizes environmental impacts.

6. Research and Innovation
   Scientists continue to explore the potential of Shewanella oneidensis in various fields, including biotechnology, bioremediation, and bioenergy. Ongoing research aims to unlock more of its secrets, paving the way for novel applications and expanding our understanding of microbial electrical engineering.

Methylococcus capsulatus: The Methane Muncher

Adenike A. Akinsemolu

The Green Microbe that Reduces Methane Emissions

1. Introduction
   Methylococcus capsulatus, the champion of methane reduction, is a tiny microbe with a big impact. Discover how this remarkable organism helps combat climate change by tackling one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

2. A Methane-Eating Marvel
   Methylococcus capsulatus possesses a unique ability to consume methane, a powerful greenhouse gas released by human activities and natural processes. By feeding on methane, this microbe plays a crucial role in reducing its atmospheric concentration.

3. Natural Methane Filters
   In nature, Methylococcus capsulatus acts as a natural filter for methane emissions. It can be found in environments like wetlands, rice paddies, and landfills, where methane is produced. This microbe actively consumes methane, preventing its release into the atmosphere.

4. Biogas and Biofuel Production
   Methylococcus capsulatus is also harnessed for its potential in biogas and biofuel production. It efficiently converts methane into usable energy sources, such as methane-based biogas or methanol. By utilizing this microbe, we can transform methane emissions into clean and renewable energy alternatives.

5. Partnering with Industry
   Industries that generate significant methane emissions, such as agriculture and waste management, can benefit from Methylococcus capsulatus. By incorporating this microbe into their processes, methane emissions can be substantially reduced, promoting sustainable practices and mitigating climate change impacts.

6. Global Climate Impact
   With its methane-munching abilities, Methylococcus capsulatus offers a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. By reducing methane emissions, we can make a substantial positive impact on global warming and work towards a more sustainable future.

World’s oceans changing colour due to climate breakdown

Sofia Quaglia

The sea is becoming greener due to changes in plankton populations, analysis of Nasa images finds

Bright swirls caused by phytoplankton in the deep blue waters off Canada in early July 2023. Photograph: Nasa

Earth’s oceans are changing colour and climate breakdown is probably to blame, according to research.

The deep blue sea is actually becoming steadily greener over time, according to the study, with areas in the low latitudes near the equator especially affected.

“The reason we care about this is not because we care about the colour, but because the colour is a reflection of the changes in the state of the ecosystem,” said BB Cael, a scientist at the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton and author of the study published in Nature.

Prior research focused on changes in the greenness of the ocean – from the verdant chlorophyll in its plankton – to learn about trends in the changing climate. But Cael’s team pored over 20 years of observations by Nasa’s Modis-Aqua satellite, an exhaustive data repository, and looked for patterns of change in the ocean’s hue through a fuller colour spectrum including red and blue.

Plankton of different sizes scatter light differently, and plankton with different pigments absorb light differently. Examining changes in colour can give scientists a clearer picture of changes in plankton populations around the globe. Phytoplankton is crucial to ocean ecosystems because it is at the base of most of its food chains.

When comparing these changes in colour with those hypothesised from a computer model simulating what the oceans would look like if human-caused global heating had never taken place, the change was clear.

“We do have changes in the colour that are significantly emerging in almost all of the ocean of the tropics or subtropics,” said Cael.

The changes have been detected over 56% of the world’s oceans – an area greater than all of the land on Earth.

In most areas there’s a clear “greening effect”, Cael said, but he added that there are also places where red or blue colourings are rising or falling.

“These are not ultra, massive ecosystem-destroying changes, they may be subtle,” said Cael. “But this gives us an additional piece of evidence that human activity is likely affecting large parts of the global biosphere in a way that we haven’t been able to understand.”

Although this discovery firmly documents another consequence of a changing climate, what is not yet clear is how strong these changes are and what is happening inside the ocean to cause them, according to Michael J Behrenfeld, a researcher of ocean productivity at Oregon State University, who was not involved in the research.

“Most likely, the measured trends are associated with multiple factors changing in parallel,” said Behrenfeld. For instance, the potentially increasing abundance of microplastics in the ocean, which like any other particles increase light scattering.

“With answers to these questions, we can then begin understanding what the ecological and biogeochemical implications are,” said Behrenfeld.

Nasa will be launching an advanced satellite mission in January 2024 called Pace (plankton, aerosol, cloud, ocean ecosystem) which will also measure hundreds of colours in the ocean instead of a handful, progressing studies like these further.

“Making more meaningful inferences about what the changes actually are ecologically is definitely a big next step,” said Cael.

Plastic pollution on coral reefs gets worse the deeper you go, study finds

Karen McVeigh

Volume of debris in the unexplored twilight zone is an ‘emerging threat’ to reefs already stressed by climate crisis, say scientists

Almost three-quarters of larger items found were from ghost fishing gear, with plastic wrappers and bottles also common. Photograph: Luiz Rocha/California Academy of Sciences

No part of the planet is free of plastic waste, and coral reefs are no exception, but scientists have now made the discovery that the deeper the reef, the more plastic debris it is likely to have.

A study published in Nature found that not only is every coral reef encumbered with plastic, but almost three-quarters of the larger items were from “ghost gear” – fishing paraphernalia such as ropes, lines and nets. Food wrappers and plastic bottles were also common. The plastic constitutes an “emerging threat” to reefs already stressed by the climate crisis and overfishing, the researchers said.

The study, Plastic Pollution on the World’s Coral Reefs, examined 85 reefs at more than two-dozen locations – including uninhabited atolls and reefs at depths of 150 metres – across the Indian, Pacific and Atlantic. It brought together scientists from the California Academy of Sciences; the foundation and charity Nekton; and the universities of São Paulo, Oxford and Exeter.

The scientists used special diving equipment to survey in “mesophotic”, or twilight, zones at 30-150 metres (100-490ft) beneath the surface, and discovered the deeper sites had more plastic than the shallower ones.

“It was surprising to find that debris increased with depth, since deeper reefs in general are farther from sources of plastic pollution,” said Luiz Rocha, the co-director of the Hope for Reefs initiative at the California Academy of Sciences.

“We are almost always the first humans to set eyes on these deeper reefs, and yet we see human-produced trash on every dive.”

There was more plastic pollution in reefs nearer to densely populated cities and markets, as well as marine protected areas, whose borders are heavily frequented by fishers.

The researchers noted that plastic can spread coral disease, and that fishing lines and nets can damage the structure of the reefs and thus harm fish abundance and diversity.

“Our findings reveal some of the complex collective challenges we face when dealing with plastic pollution,” said Hudson Pinheiro, the lead author, from the University of São Paulo and a research fellow at the academy. “As marine resources around the world dwindle, humans that rely on those resources are turning to deeper habitats and those closer to marine protected areas where fish remain abundant.”

Comoros, an island chain off the south-east coast of Africa, was the worst-affected location, with nearly 84,500 items of plastic in each square kilometre.

The least polluted was the Marshall Islands, with about 580 pieces a square kilometre.

One potential reason for finding more plastic at greater depths could be increased wave action and turbulence at the surface, which could drag debris deeper. Other possibilities include recreational divers removing trash from shallower reefs, and shallow corals – which have higher growth rates – growing over the debris.

The researcher stressed their findings highlights the need to expand the depth of marine protected areas to include mesophotic reefs, update international agreements on combating plastic pollution at source – such as those discussed at the recent Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution – to include fishing gear, and to develop low-cost, low-impact biodegradable alternatives.

Bacillus subtilis: the Protean

Adenike A. Akinsemolu

The Most versatile Green Microbe

1. Introduction
   Bacillus subtilis, the unsung hero of sustainability, plays a vital role in our ecosystems. This incredible microbe is here to save the day and make the world a greener place for all.

2. A Natural Recycler
   Bacillus subtilis has a remarkable talent for breaking down organic matter. It feeds on waste materials like plant residues, dead insects, and even oil spills. This natural recycling process helps reduce pollution and keeps our environment clean.

3. Boosting Agriculture
   As a powerful plant growth promoter, Bacillus subtilis forms a symbiotic relationship with plants, strengthening their immune systems, and making them more resistant to diseases and pests. Hence, farmers can reduce the use of harmful chemicals and achieve sustainable, bountiful harvests.

4. Protecting Our Waterways
   Bacillus subtilis acts as a guardian for our waterways. It can effectively degrade harmful pollutants and toxins found in wastewater, preventing their entry into rivers and oceans. By harnessing the power of Bacillus subtilis, we can maintain the health and integrity of our aquatic ecosystems.

5. A Sustainable Solution
   Unlike synthetic alternatives, Bacillus subtilis offers a natural and biodegradable alternative to harsh chemicals used in various industries, such as agriculture, waste management, and cleaning products.

Air pollution ‘aged’ hospital Covid patients by 10 years, study shows

Damian Carrington

Patients exposed to dirty air spent four days longer in hospital, the same impact as if they had been a decade older

Air pollution is known to be a major risk factor in aggravating respiratory diseases. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

People exposed to air pollution experienced Covid-19 as if they were 10 years older, according to research. It found people recently exposed to dirtier air before contracting the illness spent four days longer in hospital, the same impact as on those 10 years their senior.

The Belgian study also showed that air pollution levels measured in patients’ blood were linked to a 36% increase in the risk of needing intensive care treatment. A separate study in Denmark showed air pollution exposure was linked to a 23% increase in the risk of death from Covid-19. In both studies, the level of air pollution was below legal EU standards.

Previous research suggested that air pollution worsened Covid outcomes but, rather than assessing groups of people together, the new studies followed individual patients and therefore give much more confidence in the results.

Air pollution is known to be a major risk factor in aggravating respiratory diseases. It increases inflammation in the lungs and weakens immune defences, and causes pre-existing lung problems that worsen the outcomes of new infections.

The new research shows cutting air pollution is a crucial measure for reducing illness and deaths during future outbreaks of respiratory diseases, including the annual flu season. Cleaner air brought health benefits almost as great as some of the medical treatments given to the Covid-19 patients, the research showed.

“Reducing air pollution, even when at relatively low levels, increases the health of the population and makes them less susceptible to future pandemics,” said Prof Tim Nawrot, at Hasselt University in Belgium. “The pandemic placed an enormous strain on doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Our research suggests that air pollution made that burden even greater.”

Dr Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and senior author of the Danish study, said: “These results show how air pollution can compromise our immune system and leave us vulnerable. Reduction of air pollution should be at the heart of preventive measures for current and future pandemics, as well as a strategy for dealing with seasonal influenza pandemics.”

Many previous studies assessing the link between Covid and air pollution were what epidemiologists call “ecological studies”, which assess the relationship using averaged data for a whole population. These could be completed quickly and some factors that may influence the link could be taken into account. But hidden factors could not be ruled out and the variation of air pollution over short distances could not be accounted for. In contrast, the new studies followed the illness and air pollution exposure in individual people.

The Belgian study, published in the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ), followed more than 300 patients who were hospitalised with Covid-19 between May 2020 and March 2021. Data on the levels of three pollutants – fine particles, nitrogen dioxide and soot – at the patients’ homes were gathered and the amount of soot in the patients’ blood was also measured. Other factors known to affect Covid-19 disease, such as age, sex and weight, were taken into account.

The difference in air pollution used in the studies to assess the impact on Covid-19 was based on the range of pollution levels recorded. The higher level used was midway towards the top of the range – at the 75% mark – and the lower level was towards the bottom of the range – at the 25% mark.

The researchers found people exposed to the higher level a week before hospital admission went on to spend about four more days in hospital. They also found the lower level of air pollution resulted in health improvements equivalent to 40-80% of the benefits of medicines used to treat Covid, such as remdesivir.

The Danish study, also published in the ERJ, used Denmark’s national Covid-19 surveillance system to follow all 3.7 million people in the country aged 30 or older over the first 14 months of the pandemic. It found patients exposed to the higher level of small particle air pollution in 2019 were about 23% more likely to go on to die from Covid-19. A similar recent study in New York City found the increased risk of death was 11%.

Prof Charlotte Suppli Ulrik, head of the European Respiratory Society assembly on the environment and epidemiology, said: “We are finding more and more evidence that breathing polluted air is contributing to lung diseases, including infections. Although the Covid-19 global health emergency is over, the impact of pollution on our health is continuing and we need governments to take action for the sake of our health and our health services.”

Prof Jordi Sunyer and Dr Payam Dadvand, at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health and commenting on the Belgian study, said it showed that cutting air pollution would be “a very effective way to protect our population” from Covid-19 and other respiratory infections.

“Despite the evidence, the air quality standards are still above harmful values and even these rather lax standards are still not met in most cities in the world, including many European cities,” they said.

Nature at risk of breakdown if Cop15 pledges not met, world leaders warned

Patrick Greenfield

Author of landmark UK review into the economic value of nature joins UN environment chief in calls for ‘action, not just words’ on biodiversity goals

Plastic waste and rubbish washes up on a beach in Koh Samui, Thailand. The biodiversity goals include a pledge to protect 30% of land and sea. Photograph: Mladen Antonov/AFP/Getty Images

Humans are exploiting nature beyond its limits, the University of Cambridge economist Prof Sir Partha Dasgupta has warned, as the UN’s environment chief calls on governments to make good on a global deal for biodiversity, six months after it was agreed.

Dasgupta, the author of a landmark review into the economic importance of nature commissioned by the UK Treasury in 2021, said it was a mistake to continue basing economic policies on the postwar boom that did not account for damage to the planet.

Speaking to the Guardian six months after Cop15, where countries agreed this decade’s targets to protect nature, Dasgupta cautioned that a headline goal to protect 30% of land and sea should not lead to the destruction of the remaining 70%. He reiterated a recommendation from his 2021 report that companies must disclose the parts of their supply chain that rely on nature, so governments can take action on halting biodiversity loss.

Since the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework was agreed in December 2022, there has been a deal to protect the high seas and first steps towards a legally binding UN treaty to regulate plastic waste. The first few months of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s presidency in Brazil has seen reductions in deforestation in the Amazon, although nature has become a culture wars issue in the EU, with proposals on restoration and pesticide reduction facing fierce opposition.

An informal update on progress towards reaching the 23 targets and four goals included in the Montreal agreement is expected to be made at Cop28 in Dubai amid continuing scientific warnings about the health of the planet.

“It is a truism: if the demand for nature’s products and services continues to exceed its ability to supply, then there is going to be a breakdown,” said Dasgupta. “It is a finite resource. We know when fisheries are depleted by continuous overfishing, it leads to the destruction of a fishery. Now try to imagine that at the scale of the biosphere.

“This excess demand [for nature] is only about 50 years old. There’s been a great acceleration in that demand since the second world war. This experience is guiding policy and it’s a real mistake because it has come at a big expense to natural capital. The decline has not been recorded in statistics. It doesn’t show up in national accounts,” he added.

Prof Sir Partha Dasgupta talks about the economics of biodiversity at the Hay festival, UK, June 2022. Photograph: Steven May/Alamy

As an economist, I like to look at small societies as a prototype of the world economy. Studying poorer village economies tells you a lot: they are deeply dependent on natural capital. Many such societies have fallen under. We’ve seen this in Sudan with rainless areas, skinny cattle and people migrating miles and miles. It is not as if we don’t know what happens when nature breaks down.”

Among the targets and goals agreed in Montreal by all governments, except the Vatican and the US, were aims to protect 30% of the planet for nature by the end of the decade, reform $500bn (£410bn) of environmentally damaging subsidies and restore 30% of the planet’s degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems.

Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN environment programme, said now was the time for action from governments and businesses to make the agreement reality. “We should be very proud of what was achieved. It is words on a piece of paper. We need to make them real. Everyone needs to adjust their targets and move this beyond the environment ministry to all sectors. It needs the whole of society. Action now has to be seen, not just in words,” she said.

Dasgupta’s 2021 report, inspired by the 2006 Nicholas Stern review that transformed economic understanding of climate breakdown, found the world’s economies are being put at “extreme risk” by the failure to account for the state of the natural world, and called for radical reform.

An Indigenous woman looks at dead fish near Paraopeba river in Sao Joaquim de Bicas, Brazil, after a tailings dam collapsed in January 2019. Photograph: Adriano Machado/Reuters

“I know there is a target to protect 30% of the planet in the [Cop15] deal. But the trouble with that is what happens to the other 70%. If you don’t have a policy for protecting the other 70%, you’re going to have huge pressure on it. It’s an interrelated biosphere. The 30% and the 70% are not disconnected. There are no big barriers – there’s not a Donald Trump wall between them,” he said.

As part of the Cop15 agreement, large companies around the world are required to disclose the parts of their supply chains that rely on nature and take actions to mitigate any destruction, echoing a key recommendation of the Dasgupta report.

“As citizens, we all want actions: what should the government do? What should the citizen do? What should the company do? What laws should be passed? We should insist on company disclosure of what’s happening in their supply chain. By doing so, you are sending a signal to your investors. And if they care about the fact that you’re trashing the rainforest in Brazil, they’ll punish you for it. But if they never know that you’re doing it, they won’t,” he said.

Fears of hottest year on record as global temperatures spike

Oliver Milman

Early data shows June temperatures hitting record highs ahead of El Niño that experts say will have significant heating effect

The cable car from Roosevelt Island to Manhattan last week, when haze from the Canadian wildfires shrouded New York. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Global temperatures have accelerated to record-setting levels this month, an ominous sign in the climate crisis ahead of a gathering El Niño that could potentially propel 2023 to become the hottest year ever recorded.

Preliminary global average temperatures taken so far in June are nearly 1C (1.8F) above levels previously recorded for the same month, going back to 1979. While the month is not yet complete and may not set a new June record, climate scientists say it follows a pattern of strengthening global heating that could see this year named the hottest ever recorded, topping 2016.

There has been “remarkable global warmth” so far in June, confirmed Copernicus, the European Union’s Earth observation arm, which said that the first few days of the month even breached a 1.5C increase compared with pre-industrial times. This is probably the first time this has happened since industrialization, the agency said.

The long-term warming conditions caused by the burning of fossil fuels will probably receive a further pulse of heat via El Niño, a naturally recurring phenomenon where sections of the Pacific Ocean heat up, typically causing temperatures to spike across the world.

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) said El Niño conditions are now present and will “gradually strengthen” into early next year. Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, said human-caused warming will be exacerbated by an event that typically adds between 0.1C to 0.2C (0.18F to 0.36F) to the overall global temperature.

“The global surface temperature anomaly is at or near record levels right now, and 2023 will almost certainly be the warmest year on record,” said Mann. “That is likely to be true for just about every El Niño year in the future as well, as long we continue to warm the planet with fossil fuel burning and carbon pollution.”

Mika Rantanen, a Finnish meteorologist, said that the spiking heat so far this month was “extraordinary” and that it was “pretty certain” it would result in a record warm June.

This year has already seen severe, record heatwaves roil places from Puerto Rico to Siberia to Spain, while blistering heat in Canada helped spur huge wildfires that blotted the skies above New York City and Washington with toxic smoke last week.

According to an update issued by Noaa on Wednesday, the world had its third warmest May in a 174-year temperature record last month, with North America and South America both having their hottest May ever recorded.

Noaa is more circumspect about the prospects of an annual heat record in 2023, placing the odds at about 12%, but has said it is almost certain the year will rank in the top 10 warmest and is very likely to be in the top five.

In May, the World Meteorological Organization warned that global temperatures will probably soar over the next five years, fueled by El Niño as well as emissions, with a new record hot year almost guaranteed during this period.

There is also a good chance the average temperature will exceed 1.5C (2.7F) beyond pre-industrial times, a key threshold agreed by governments at which point heatwaves, droughts, flooding and other climate impacts become significantly worse.

While people are feeling the heat on land, an even more remarkable burst of warmth is occurring in the seas, with Noaa confirming a second consecutive month of record high ocean surface temperatures in May. Excess heat in the oceans, which cover 70% of the globe’s surface, influence overall global temperatures, as well as warp fish populations, bleach coral reefs and drive coastal sea level rise.

“The oceans have been warming steadily but we are now seeing record temperatures which is certainly alarming given we are expecting El Niño to strengthen,” said Ellen Bartow-Gillies, a climate scientist at Noaa. “That will undoubtedly have an impact on the rest of the world.”

Bartow-Gillies said Noaa had not yet processed its temperature data for June but that it appeared the elevated heat will continue this month, although El Niño will not be a major factor until later in the year. “We are off to a pretty warm start to the year, it’s not unprecedented, but we could be getting even warmer due to El Niño,” she said.

Regardless of whether 2023 ends up the hottest ever recorded, scientists caution that the escalating impacts of the climate crisis are now starkly evident and will not be slowed until greenhouse gas emissions are radically cut.

“Without stronger emission cuts, the changes we are seeing are just the start of the adverse impacts we can expect to see,” said Natalie Mahowald, an atmospheric scientist at Cornell University. “This year and the extreme events we have seen so far should serve as a warning.”

New UN report reveals chronic bias against women over last decade

UN NEWS

“Half of people worldwide still believe men make better political leaders than women, and more than 40 per cent believe men make better business executives than women,” according to the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest Gender Social Norms Index (GSNI) report.

“Social norms that impair women’s rights are detrimental to society more broadly, dampening the expansion of human development,” said Pedro Conceição, head of UNDP’s Human Development Report Office.

New @UNDP report shows no progress in level of bias against women:

➡️ 50% believe men make better political leaders
➡️ 40% believe men make better business executives
➡️ 25% believe it is justified for a man to beat his wife

📰 Read our full story here: https://t.co/HkjWhoEm0q pic.twitter.com/97zgaHTSA5

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) June 12, 2023

The more things change

A staggering 25 per cent of people believe it is justified for a man to beat his wife, according to the report, reflecting the latest data from the World Values Survey.

The report argues that these biases drive hurdles faced by women, manifested in a dismantling of women’s rights in many parts of the world with movements against gender equality gaining traction and, in some countries, a surge of human rights violations.

Biases are also reflected in the severe underrepresentation of women in leadership. On average, the share of women as heads of State or heads of government has remained around 10 per cent since 1995 and in the labour market women occupy less than a third of managerial positions.

Broken links in progress

The report also sheds light on a broken link between women’s progress in education and economic empowerment. Women are more skilled and educated than ever before, yet even in the 59 countries where women are now more educated than men, the average gender income gap remains a 39 per cent in favour of men.

“Lack of progress on gender social norms is unfolding against a human development crisis,” Mr. Conceição said, noting that the global Human Development Index (HDI) declined in 2020 for the first time on record and again the following year.

“Everyone stands to gain from ensuring freedom and agency for women,” he added.

Governments’ crucial role

United Nations I SDG Goal 5: Gender Equality

The UNDP report emphasized that governments have a crucial role in shifting gender social norms, from adopting parental leave policies, that have changed perceptions around care work responsibilities, to labour market reforms that have led to a change in beliefs around women in the workforce.

“An important place to start is recognizing the economic value of unpaid care work,” said Raquel Lagunas, Director of UNDP’s gender team.

“This can be a very effective way of challenging gender norms around how care work is viewed. In countries with the highest levels of gender biases against women, it is estimated that women spend over six times as much time as men on unpaid care work.”

Change can happen

The report emphasized that despite the continued prevalence of bias against women, the data shows change can happen.

An increase in the share of people with no bias in any indicator was evident in 27 of the 38 countries surveyed. The report authors said that to drive change towards greater gender equality, the focus needs to be on expanding human development through investment, insurance, and innovation.

This includes investing in laws and policy measures that promote women’s equality in political participation, scaling up insurance mechanisms, such as strengthening social protection and care systems, and encouraging innovative interventions that could be particularly effective in challenging harmful social norms, patriarchal attitudes, and gender stereotypes.

For example, combatting online hate speech and gender disinformation can help to shift pervasive gender norms towards greater acceptance and equality, according to the report.

The report recommended directly addressing social norms through education to change people’s views, policies and legal changes that recognize the rights of women in all spheres of life, and more representation in decision-making and political processes.

Going Green – A World Environment Day Chat with Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu and Aspire Power Solutions

Team Aspire

Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu, is an environmental microbiologist and a published author, currently serving as a Vanguard Fellow at the University of Birmingham, where she focuses her research on the net-zero energy transition, a critical area in sustainability. As a director of The Green Institute, she is passionate about cultivating the next generation of sustainable leaders through education, advocacy, and innovation.

Team Aspire: What sparked your passion for the work you do?

Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu: I grew up in a rural town in Nigeria, and was fortunate to be surrounded by the beauty of nature while witnessing my parents’ love for planting. I was in touch with nature from a young age and knew that this was a path I want to explore.  A memorable day for me was when I was 9 or 10, and found a bird that had fallen from its nest due to a storm. We took it home and cared for it till it was strong enough to fly off. This left an incredible mark on me, and I was reminded of the delicate balance of life and the profound impact it can have on people around us. 

TA: What do you think are some of the notable environmental challenges we face globally?

Dr AA: I think one of the most significant global environmental challenges is climate change. Going by research that was done by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global temperature has already risen by one degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels, so what we’re experiencing right now is more frequent spring weather events such as hurricanes and drought.

Biodiversity loss is another critical challenge that we face. For instance, Wildlife Fund estimated that we’ve lost about 60% of the world’s wildlife population in just over four decades, and this decline from a scientific perspective shows the stability, resistance and resilience of the ecosystem. Humans are what we call heterotrophic organisms because we depend on other organisms to feed. Only plants manufacture their own food, so if biodiversity is a threat and things aren’t working as they should, humans will not even have the food to eat. 

Right now, the Global Food Pre Network reports that we’re currently consuming resources 1.75 times faster than the capacity we’re regenerating them. This overconsumption however leads to deforestation and habitat destruction, and this further exacerbates the environmental challenges that we face. 

TA: Bringing it back home to Nigeria, what would you say is the remedy for the environmental challenges we face?

Dr AA: We have to solve it from a multifaceted approach, but the solution is education. Environmental education should be integrated into the formal education system, from primary school to tertiary, and the younger generation needs to be equipped with an understanding of environmental issues and the importance of conservation. We also need to collaborate with other organizations and leverage their expertise and networks to drive positive change and innovation.

TA: How do we get more individuals interested in this conversation?

Dr AA: In 2013, I took up a job in a community college, and discovered that in my class of over 250 students, none of them knew what it meant to Go Green. I had to create manuals that gave a theoretical explanation and with the participation of the school Provost who agreed to support the campaign to Go Green by using a bicycle to come to school instead of driving with his car, we were able to also teach practicality. It got everyone talking, and more people got involved. Essentially, people need to be educated and shown practical ways to get started. Also, incentives always work, so make people see the reason why they should care and put an incentive to it.

TA: What is the impact of most Nigerians owning generators to power their homes, and what would you recommend as a safer, cleaner and more sustainable alternative for generating power?

Dr AA: Personally, I use Solar 24/7, and I won’t say I’m enjoying all its full benefits because my neighbours still use very big generators to power their houses, and I still have to deal with noise pollution. The Government needs to come up with a ‘cap and trade system’ that offers economic incentives to reduce emission and promote renewable energy transition because the carbon monoxide that is emitted from generators are not good for the environment and our wellbeing.  

We also need to fund research in renewable energy because Nigeria as a country is very close to the equator, and that means we have an abundance of sunlight. We also have wind in the north and hydro, all of which can be alternative sources of energy. When we fund research generally, people learn how to harness all these renewable sources of energy that are available to us and ensure that power becomes accessible and affordable for every citizen.

Investing in solar might be expensive, but in the long run I think it’s better because after calculating your expenses on fuel in a year, you realize that having a solar system might just be more cost-effective in the long run.

TA: Explain the term “Carbon Footprint” in layman’s words, and what impact does it have on the environment?

Dr AA: This is the amount of CO2 that is released into the atmosphere as a result of human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, transportation, agriculture etc. These things affect the greenhouse gasses that are trapped in the atmosphere and the effect is what we now see as climate change or global warming because the ozone layer which is what protects us from the direct rays of the sun then becomes depleted. Right now, you can’t predict the weather patterns any more. It can rain heavily today and shine so bright tomorrow. That is the effect of what we have.

Emissions affect our health because there are diseases that are related to this wave. There is also air pollution because, during oil exploration, the atmosphere becomes pregnant with combustion activities and exacerbates respiratory conditions such as asthma, which is very common in our community and can lead to cardiovascular problems. When you have flooding caused by climate change, the parasite from vector-borne diseases like malaria breed and multiply. From an economic perspective, when you have a natural disaster, it results in property damage and a lot of disruptions in industries such as agriculture, tourism, and even insurance. These factors will ultimately impact us economically, leading to an increased cost of living. 

The solution, however, is transitioning to cleaner and renewable sources of energy. We need to implement more sustainable practices and promote energy efficiency. We also need to adopt a climate resilience strategy, and even though we might not be able to replicate it completely, we can minimize the adverse consequences of climate change and ensure that we create a sustainable future, not just for ourselves, but for our children and generations to come. 

TA: Can you tell us something cool about the environment that is not common knowledge?

Dr AA: Trees communicate with each other the way we communicate with ourselves, which I think is pretty cool. They have an underground network called the “mycorrhizal network”, and with this, they’re able to communicate and extend nutrients and water. They’re even able to warn themselves against pests or threats. I think it’s incredible because it’s not just a system of communication, but also a way to offer mutual support.

World off track for reaching key goal on sustainable energy by 2030

UN NEWS

The world is not on track to meet Sustainable Development Goal 7, designed to ensure access to affordable, reliable energy for all, a new report from the UN and partners revealed on Monday.

Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report, from the International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the UN Statistics Division (UNSD), the World Bank, and the World Health Organization (WHO), warns that current efforts are not enough to achieve the SDG 7 on time.

There has been some progress on specific elements of the drive to reach SDG 7 – for example, the increased rate of using renewables in the power sector – but progress is insufficient to reach the targets set forth, in time for the 2030 deadline.

SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. The goal includes reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix, said the report authors.

Big benefits reaching SDG 7

Reaching the goal, will have a deep and positive impact on people’s health and well-being, helping to protect them from environmental and social risks such as air pollution, and expanding access to primary health care and services.

The global energy crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, is expected to stimulate the deployment of renewables and improve energy efficiency, as some governments boost investment.

However, IRENA estimates show that international public financial flows in support of clean energy in low and middle-income countries have been decreasing since before the COVID-19 pandemic and funding is limited to a small number of countries. To meet SDG 7 targets, it is going to be necessary to structurally reform international public finance and define new opportunities to unlock investments, the authors said.

The report also finds that mounting debt and rising energy prices are worsening the outlook for reaching universal access to clean cooking and electricity.

Alan Santos/PR

More than 80 per cent of the electricity used in Brazil comes from renewable sources.

Falling short

Current projections estimate that 1.9 billion people will be without clean cooking facilities, and 660 million without electricity access in 2030 if the status quo continues.

These gaps will negatively impact the health of our most vulnerable populations and accelerate climate change, says the report.

According to WHO, 3.2 million people die each year from illness caused by the use of polluting fuels and technologies, which increase exposure to toxic levels of household air pollution.

Protect the next generation

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the WHO, said: “We must protect the next generation by acting now. Investing in clean and renewable solutions to support universal energy access is how we can make real change. Clean cooking technologies in homes and reliable electricity in healthcare facilities, can play a crucial role in protecting the health of our most vulnerable populations.”

Stefan Schweinfest, of the UN Statistics Division, said that despite a recent slowdown in electrification figures, the number of people without electricity almost halved over the past decade, from 1.1 billion, in 2010 down to 675 million in 2021.

"Nonetheless, additional efforts and measures must urgently be put in place to ensure that the poorest and hardest-to-reach people are not left behind. To reach universal access by 2030, the development community must scale up clean energy investments and policy support.”

Cop28 president’s team accused of Wikipedia ‘greenwashing’

Exclusive: UAE using site to ‘control narrative’ amid criticism of oil boss leading climate summit, say critics

Sultan Al Jaber, the Cop28 president, is the CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Photograph: Karim Sahib/AFP/Getty Images

The Cop28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, has been accused of attempting to “greenwash” his image after it emerged that members of his team had edited Wikipedia pages that highlighted his role as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc).

Work by Al Jaber’s team on his and the climate summit’s Wikipedia entries include adding a quote from an editorial that said Al Jaber – the United Arab Emirates minister for industry and advanced technology – was “precisely the kind of ally the climate movement needs”. They also suggested that editors remove reference to a multibillion-dollar oil pipeline deal he signed in 2019, the Centre for Climate Reporting and the Guardian can reveal.

“Oil companies and their CEOs are taking greenwash to a whole new level – seizing control of global climate conferences, then getting their own employees to airbrush out criticism of their blatant hypocrisy on Wikipedia,” said Caroline Lucas, the Green party MP.

The UAE government, which controls about 6% of the world’s oil reserves, has been criticised for appointing a fossil fuel boss as head of Cop28, which will be held in Dubai in November. Last week, 130 US and EU lawmakers called on Al Jaber to be removed from his post as the summit’s president.

Meanwhile, Al Jaber has been working with major consultancy firms and PR agencies to promote his work as an advocate for Emirati investment in green energy. His appointment as Cop28 president was welcomed by the likes of John Kerry, the US special presidential envoy for climate, and other key figures in international climate diplomacy.

Pointing to Al Jaber’s work on climate issues over the past decade, a spokesperson for Cop28 said: “We will continue to ensure that all publicly available sources of information about the presidency and its leadership remain factually accurate and up to date.”

Al Jaber’s role as both CEO of Adnoc and Cop28 president is at the centre of the controversy. The company is forging a major expansion of the UAE’s fossil fuel output despite the International Energy Agency having said there must be no new oil and gas projects if the world is to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. A series of edits to Al Jaber’s Wikipedia page since March last year reveal the extent to which his team has tried to control public perception of his record in the fossil fuel industry.

A Wikipedia user, whose identity is unknown but who disclosed they were being paid by Adnoc, suggested editors remove the reference to a $4bn agreement Al Jaber signed in 2019 with US investment giants BlackRock and KKR for the development of oil pipeline infrastructure. The user said there was “too much detail” and suggested the page say that Al Jaber had simply attracted “international investment” in Adnoc.

The user also recommended that editors delete a quote from the Financial Times which highlighted the dissonance between Al Jaber’s role as the UAE’s climate tsar and his driving of Adnoc’s fossil fuel expansion. Instead, they suggested that the page note the company was using the revenues from this increased oil output to “invest in carbon capture and green fuel technologies”.

In this case, only some of the changes they suggested were actually added to Al Jaber’s Wikipedia page.

“Well sourced material that includes pertinent information (even if it’s a little more detail than ideally the company would like to see shared in an article) would always be retained,” an editor told the user.

A spokesperson for Adnoc said: “We are very proud of Dr Sultan’s achievements as a global energy leader and regularly review content to ensure accuracy. Update requests were submitted to Wikipedia in the spring and summer of 2022, which were fully transparent and compliant as per Wikipedia’s guidelines.”

More recently, a member of the Cop28 team has been directly editing Wikipedia articles, despite having been “strongly discouraged” from doing so by one of the website’s volunteer administrators.

In February, a user going by the alias Junktuner made a number of edits to the climate summit’s Wikipedia page. The Cop28 team confirmed that its head of marketing, Ramzi Haddad, who uses the same handle on Twitter, owns the Junktuner account. Haddad only disclosed his ties to Al Jaber after being questioned by an administrator.

The US senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who led last week for Al Jaber to be replaced as the summit’s president, said: “It’s not surprising that Cop28 is trying to burnish Al Jaber’s green credentials, but the fact remains that as an oil executive he is also overseeing a lot of damage to the planet.”

Whitehouse called on the UN, which oversees the Cop process, to “rethink how to run these very important forums” to avoid undue influence by the fossil fuel industry.

The climate summit’s Wikipedia page includes a quote from Amnesty International saying: “[Sultan Al Jaber] cannot be an honest broker for climate talks when the company he leads is planning to cause more climate damage.” Beneath it, Haddad added a quote from a Bloomberg editorial which stated that “Al Jaber is precisely the kind of ally the climate movement needs”. He has also added links to Al Jaber’s website and social media accounts.

The administrator wrote to Haddad: “The nature of your edits, such as the one you made to 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, gives the impression you have an undisclosed financial stake in promoting a topic.

“Paid advocates are very strongly discouraged from direct article editing.”

Despite later disclosing his conflict of interest and saying he would “refrain from further edits”, Haddad has continued to make minor changes to Wikipedia pages.

It has also come to light that Haddad made a series of edits anonymously – where only an IP address is visible – before he was “aware of the proper conflict of interest procedures”. Haddad revealed the information in response to more questions from the Wikipedia administrator after the Centre for Climate Reporting contacted the administrator.

Haddad also promoted Al Jaber’s green credentials anonymously. He added to Al Jaber’s Wikipedia page that he was “the first CEO to ever serve as Cop president, having played a key role in shaping the country’s clean energy pathway”.

A Cop28 spokesperson said: “Cop28 has and will continue to ensure online descriptions of the Cop28 presidency are accurate across all online platforms, including Wikipedia.” They added that the changes were “all evidence based”.

Edits have also been made by a user being paid by Masdar, the UAE government-owned clean energy company of which Al Jaber was formerly CEO and is now chairman of the board. They worked to make Al Jaber’s role at Masdar more prominent on his page the day after the Guardian revealed his appointment as Cop28 president in January. They added that Al Jaber’s “goal is to expand Masdar’s clean energy capacity to 100GW by 2030, making it the second largest renewable investor in the world”. Masdar did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Marwa Fatafta, who leads work in the Middle East by the digital rights group Access Now, said the “alarming” revelations were part of broader attempts by the UAE to “control the narrative” and “polish up the image of Al Jaber”.

“Once he was appointed, there was pushback,” she said. “And I think these criticisms will be amplified further and further as we get closer to Cop28, so I see it as a preemptive step to try and control and shape the narrative as much as they can.”