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Harvard Methane Initiative to Host Panels at COP-31 in Turkey

Harvard Methane Initiative to Host Panels at COP-31 in Turkey

The Harvard Methane Initiative is scheduled to conduct two side-event panel discussions focused on methane-emissions reduction at the Thirty-First Conference of the Parties (COP-31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Antalya, Turkey. The first panel, titled “Reducing methane emissions: abatement costs in the oil and gas sector,” will take place on Wednesday, November 18, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM TRT at the Pavilion of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) in the Blue Zone of COP-31. The second panel, “Quantifying and Communicating Methane Emissions for NDCs and the Global Methane Pledge,” is set for Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 4:45 PM to 6:15 PM TRT in Side Event Room Yellow, also within the Blue Zone. Panelists for these discussions include Daniel Jacob, Vasco McCoy Family Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, and Robert Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development, both from Harvard University. Oth...

Environmental Advocates Push for Policy Changes to Reduce Industrial Agriculture's Climate Impact

Environmental Advocates Push for Policy Changes to Reduce Industrial Agriculture's Climate Impact

Environmental advocates are calling for policy changes to address the significant greenhouse gas emissions from industrial animal agriculture. According to Laura Fox, a clinical lecturer and research scholar at Yale Law School, animal agriculture's methane production is a major contributor to greenhouse gases, and reducing it is crucial for mitigating climate warming. Fox notes that industrial animal agriculture has largely escaped climate accountability, unlike other sectors such as fossil fuels, power plants, and transportation. Jay Eidness, supervising attorney at the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), emphasizes the need for legislatively mandated greenhouse gas emission reduction goals. Fox highlights that methods for controlling greenhouse gas emissions are already in place for other sectors and should be applied to large industrial agriculture operations. She suggests that these operations should be required to quantify and report their full climate footprint, including emissions fr...

UN climate summit kicks off in Turkey after a disastrous year of extreme weather

UN climate summit kicks off in Turkey after a disastrous year of extreme weather

World leaders, delegates and climate activists are in Antalya, Turkey, for a U.N. climate summit

Film 'Digger' Features John Goodman as US President Compson in Climate Catastrophe Scenario

Film 'Digger' Features John Goodman as US President Compson in Climate Catastrophe Scenario

Film 'Digger' Features John Goodman as US President Compson in Climate Catastrophe Scenario

Ann Arbor Sustainability Director to Discuss Carbon Neutrality Plan

Ann Arbor Sustainability Director to Discuss Carbon Neutrality Plan

Dr. Missy Stults, the Sustainability and Innovations Director for the City of Ann Arbor, is scheduled to present at a Leelanau Energy meeting on November 13. Dr. Stults will discuss Ann Arbor's A2ZERO Plan, an initiative aimed at achieving community-wide carbon neutrality by 2030. This presentation will highlight the developments and strategies Ann Arbor is implementing to reach its ambitious environmental goals. The event is free and will take place at the Old Art Building in Leland, offering an opportunity for community members to learn about progressive sustainability efforts within Michigan.

IUCN to Engage Actively at UN Climate Change Conference COP31 Amidst Urgent Climate Crisis

IUCN to Engage Actively at UN Climate Change Conference COP31 Amidst Urgent Climate Crisis

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is preparing for active engagement at the UN Climate Change Conference COP31. This conference is set to occur at a critical juncture, as the global consequences of climate change have become increasingly evident, and the 1.5°C temperature rise goal is now considered unavoidable due to delayed action. The IUCN will emphasize the urgent need for significant emissions reductions, the protection and restoration of ecosystems, and the implementation of transformative adaptation strategies. Additionally, the organization will advocate for scaling up climate finance. A key focus for IUCN will be ensuring that the necessary energy and climate transitions are just, nature-positive, and foster stronger synergies across the Rio Conventions. The organization also stresses the importance of collaboration between State and non-State actors to achieve tangible outcomes that benefit climate, nature, and people.

Environmental Justice Foundation Calls for Binding Targets to Reduce Plastic Production at COP31

Environmental Justice Foundation Calls for Binding Targets to Reduce Plastic Production at COP31

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) is advocating for significant action on plastics at COP31, emphasizing the plastics industry's growing contribution to climate change. According to the EJF, the plastics sector currently accounts for 4-5% of global emissions, primarily during the production process. Projections indicate that by 2040, if the global plastics system were a country, it would be the third-largest greenhouse gas emitter worldwide, trailing only China and the United States. Major fossil fuel companies are increasingly viewing plastics as a growth strategy as renewable energy sources displace their traditional fuels. The EJF is urging for the inclusion of binding targets to reduce plastic production and consumption as a central component of countries' climate commitments and calls for the exclusion of fossil fuel and petrochemical interests from COP31 discussions.

Democrats plan to push clean energy to lower bills and challenge Trump’s fossil fuel agenda

Democrats plan to push clean energy to lower bills and challenge Trump’s fossil fuel agenda

Some Democrats are promising to push for more clean energy to help tackle rising energy costs when they take control of Congress in January

UN Secretary-General Guterres Issues Urgent Climate Warning, Citing Failure of Political Leadership

UN Secretary-General Guterres Issues Urgent Climate Warning, Citing Failure of Political Leadership

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding the climate crisis, emphasizing that the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius since pre-industrial times is no longer achievable. Speaking ahead of UN climate talks in Turkey, Guterres described the situation as a "moment of truth," urging world leaders to take immediate and decisive action. He revealed that scientists informed him last year that the 1.5-degree target was no longer viable due to the excessive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. Guterres, who is in his final term as UN chief, expressed profound disappointment, stating that while the world has not failed, political leadership has. He stressed that protecting the planet requires a long-term strategic view, which is often absent in political systems where policies change frequently, hindering necessary sustained investment.

COP31 Conference Highlights Need for Improved Climate Communication Strategies

COP31 Conference Highlights Need for Improved Climate Communication Strategies

The 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Antalya, Türkiye, is underscoring the urgent need for more effective climate communication. Despite decades of discussions and the Paris Agreement, the world is still not acting fast enough to prevent exceeding the 1.5°C warming threshold, which the U.N. Environment Programme warns is now almost inevitable. A new report from the Potential Energy Coalition, commissioned by The Rockefeller Foundation, analyzed over 83,000 survey responses to identify better ways to communicate about climate change to inspire action. Key findings suggest that direct communication about climate change consequences is effective, focusing on potential gains rather than just losses, making the issue personal, and avoiding jargon. The report emphasizes that while the science is serious, communication needs to be honest, useful, and hopeful to resonate with a broader audience.

COP31 in Antalya Integrates Ocean into UN Climate Conference Agenda

COP31 in Antalya Integrates Ocean into UN Climate Conference Agenda

COP31, the thirty-first Conference of the Parties on climate change, is taking place in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9 to 20, with a significant focus on the ocean. This marks a notable shift, as the ocean has historically been on the periphery of climate negotiations. The Turkish presidency has dedicated a specific agenda to oceans and seas, prioritizing blue carbon ecosystems, coastal ecosystem resilience, ocean observation and data partnerships, and support for vulnerable coastal communities. This emphasis follows the first ministerial meeting devoted to the ocean at COP30 and the Blue NDC Challenge, which encourages countries to integrate ocean protection into their national climate plans. The conference aims to translate ocean-climate ambition into practical action, particularly in the Mediterranean, which is experiencing record marine heatwaves and increased acidity.

UN Chief Warns Global Warming Goal of 1.5°C No Longer Achievable, Urges Immediate Action

UN Chief Warns Global Warming Goal of 1.5°C No Longer Achievable, Urges Immediate Action

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning regarding global warming, stating that the 2015 Paris Agreement's primary goal of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels is no longer attainable. This declaration comes as UN climate talks, COP31, commence in Turkey. Guterres, whose second and final term as UN chief is expiring, emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting worsening heat waves, storms, floods, and droughts globally. He revealed that scientists informed him last year that the 1.5°C target was no longer realistic due to the excessive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. The UN is now focusing on limiting how much further global temperatures will rise beyond this threshold. Guterres stressed that all nations must do more, and do it now, to address the climate crisis.