The era of climate opportunity

How important is listening to science when facing climate risks: renewable energy, advances in technology, an active financial sector and carbon pricing. It is “A perfect storm of climate opportunity”.

Michael E. Mann, Director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, one of the world’s most influential climate scientists and author of the book The New Climate War: The Fight to Take Back Our Planet, reveals how to face the “coalition of the unwilling” made up of fossil fuel interests, climate change deniers, conservative media tycoons and petrostate actors.

The science tells us it is not too late to prevent the worst impacts of climate change. There is great urgency to act now to reduce carbon emissions globally by a factor of two within the next decade if we are to avert a truly dangerous interference with our climate.
Michael E. Mann

Today it is not possible anymore to deny that climate change is happening, because we are seeing the impacts. But the “forces of inaction” haven’t given up, they have changed their tactics. They’ve moved from the “old climate war”, which was an effort to discredit the scientific evidence and the scientists, to what I call the “new climate war”, a new array of tactics – including soft denial and efforts to delay action – that are still aimed at keeping us addicted to fossil fuels.

Michael E. Mann

The live streaming event was part of the series Seeds. Words that feed the future for the CMCC Climate Change Communication Award “Rebecca Ballestra”.

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Interview

Teresa Anderson: Human rights and the long shadow of the climate crisis

Inequality. Injustice. Missed opportunities. Yet, there is still room for optimism. “The more we tell this story, the more the politicians will feel the heat”, global lead on climate justice Teresa Anderson explains why “climate is, at its core, a human rights issue” and what it will take to get a successful COP27 that lays the groundwork for lasting positive change.

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Can renewables put a spark in Africa’s clean energy future?

The African continent contributes less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and its growing population suffers from some of the lowest access rates to electricity in the world. Yet, it is also home to some of the fastest growing economies and incredible renewable energy potential. Linking future growth to renewables is key to both the continent’s successful development and achieving global climate goals.

Interview

Growing the new green commons

Urbanization has altered the way cities and the people that inhabit them interact with nature. In countries such as Japan, where high levels of urbanization and a rapidly aging population is leading to abandoned spaces in cities, there is a unique chance to reimagine the role of urban green spaces. “How we design green urban spaces is key for both human and planetary wellbeing,” says urban ecosystem development expert Juan Pastor Ivars.