World investment in solar to surpass oil in 2023, plus Music Declares Emergency, and The Climate Daily reforestation campaign marches on!
World Investment in Solar to Eclipse Oil in 2023, Music Declares Emergency, The Climate Daily Reforestation Campaign Marches On!
INVESTMENT IN SOLAR FORECAST TO ECLIPSE OIL IN 2023
According to a report in World Energy Investment 2023, Global investment in clean energy production in 2023 will be significantly larger than investment in fossil fuel-based energy generation, and for the first time, more money will be invested in solar energy than in the oil sector. This gleaned from a report issued by the International Energy Agency on Thursday.
It finds that globally, $2.8 trillion will be invested in energy in 2023, including production, transmission and storage. Of that amount, $1.7 trillion will be invested in clean technology, which the IEA defines as “renewables, electric vehicles, nuclear power, grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, efficiency improvements and heat pumps.”
The estimate for clean energy for 2023 reflects a 24% increase over that for 2021 in a sector expected to continue growing for the foreseeable future, as governments worldwide attempt to meet the internationally agreed-on target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Achieving that goal would allow the world to avoid some of the worst effects of global warming.
Why does this news matter to us? In the words of IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, “Clean energy is moving fast — faster than many people realize. This is clear in the investment trends, where clean technologies are pulling away from fossil fuels. For every dollar invested in fossil fuels, about 1.7 dollars are now going into clean energy. Five years ago, this ratio was 1-to-1.”
One shining example is investment in solar, which is set to overtake the amount of investment going into oil production for the first time.
DEEPER DIVE: VOA, IEA, National Academies
MEET MUSIC DECLARES EMERGENCY
This is perhaps the truest statement I’ve heard this decade, “No music on a dead planet.” It’s the slogan of a group called, Music Declares Emergency. That group was launched in 2019 because back in July 2019, musician Fay Milton, drummer for the UK band Savages, wanted to do something about the deep concern she felt for the climate and ecological emergency the world is facing. Milton and others recognized that the music industry faced unique challenges to being green and needed its own group to drive the conversation around climate change in the industry.
So, she decided to co-found Music Declares Emergency (MDE) with Lewis Jamieson. MDE is an environmental pressure group made up of musicians and music industry professionals. MDE joined voices around the world to acknowledge and declare that the world is in a climate emergency. MDE outlines the way three groups—artists, industry professionals, music lovers—can take action. Each group can participate in specifically tailored campaigns.
Why does MDE matter to us? Because it’s got a Declaration. Not just a declaration. THE Declaration. Four simple lines:
- We call on governments and media institutions to tell the truth about the climate and ecological emergency.
- We call on governments to act now to reverse biodiversity loss and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2030.
- We recognize that the emergency has arisen from global injustices and will work towards systemic change to protect life on Earth.
- We acknowledge the environmental impact of music industry practices and commit to taking urgent action.
Their declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency has amassed over 6000 signatures from music industry organizations, artists large and small, and a swathe of major and independent labels. With MDE sister groups now active across Europe and North and South America, Music Declares Emergency continues to grow in both size and influence and play an important role in UK music’s engagement with sustainability. Check out its Music Industry Climate Pack by clicking on the link in the Deeper Dive Section of this story at theclimate.org/episodes.
DEEPER DIVE: Music Declares Emergency, Northern Transmissions, Rolling Stone, Music Industry Climate Pack
THE CLIMATE DAILY 50/100 REFORESTATION CAMPAIGN, OR, THINGS JUST GOT SUPER REAL
For many years, scientists have been warning that the rise in global temperature must be kept to below 1.5⁰C above pre-industrial levels in order to avoid the worst effects of climate change. It’s so important a benchmark, it’s been a rallying cry in the climate activist community since the Paris Accords of 2015.
According to a report released last week by the World Metrological Organization, that limit is about to be breached. It estimates there is a 66% chance that global temperatures will breach the 1.5⁰C limit by 2027. Depending upon who you talk to, that’s either three or thirteen years sooner than predicted. That’s not good. But there is hope. In the form of trees. Trillions of them.
The reality is trees are currently the best technology for capturing carbon dioxide, that greenhouse gas most responsible for global warming. It’s possible human beings will develop and scale up a technology that can rival the efficiency of Nature. But until then, our best hope is to plant a trillion trees by 2030, or sooner. That’s why we’re asking you to join our crowdfunding campaign—and our 30 tree planting partners to plant 10,000 trees at one time in one of seven regions around the world. Of course the tree-planting professionals will do all the planting.
That’s right. Join our other 201 crowdfunder partners and make a one time donation of $50 or $100 and become a climate champion. Go to www.theclimate.org, and at the top of the page, click on the words, “Climate Champion” and donate today. What’s a climate champion? A Climate Champion is someone who sees the impacts of climate change, experiences those changes themselves, and knows we cannot continue the way we have. They’re someone who loves our green, blue and beautiful planet and wants the things they love about it to be there – just as green, blue and beautiful – for their children and their children’s children.
A climate champion is one willing to take action to help change the current direction – so our fears don’t come to pass. Yeah, like two-time donor and two-time climate champion, Vicky Bonasera! We’re proud to be a champion for the earth and for the climate. Come join us! Donate today. Go to www.theclimate.org, and at the top of the page, click on the words, “Climate Champion” and donate today
DEEPER DIVE: WMO Report, 50/100 Campaign, Trillion Tree Project