Good Global Climate News

Pope Francis Issues a Dire Climate Warning

Pope Francis minced no words in a newly released document ahead of the COP28 conference starting next month in Dubai. It is entitled “Laudate Deum” or “Praise God.” In it, he admits that it is already too late for the world to avoid experiencing the negative effects of climate change. Dramatic action is needed immediately because there still are things we can save. He specifically calls out climate deniers, those awaiting a technological climate lifeboat, and the perpetual growth mentality of wealthy nations who have profited most from carbon emissions.

He pointedly writes, “We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substantial changes. We know that at this pace in just a few years we will surpass the maximum recommended limit of 1.5° C and shortly thereafter even reach 3° C, with a high risk of arriving at a critical point. Even if we do not reach this point of no return, it is certain that the consequences would be disastrous and precipitous measures would have to be taken, at enormous cost and with grave and intolerable economic and social effects. Although the measures that we can take now are costly, the cost will be all the more burdensome the longer we wait.”

It is refreshing to see a religious leader speak out on the climate change issue in no uncertain terms. Unfortunately, he is among the few to do so. Will it be too little too late to influence global leaders and inspired immediate change? We will get some answers to that next month in Dubai.

Land Restoration Bill Passes in the EU

In July, following a hard-fought narrow victory, the first major piece of legislation to protect biodiversity in the EU in the last 30 years passed and will require European nations to restore 20 percent of their degraded terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2030, rising to 60 percent by 2040 and 90 percent by 2050. The aim of the law is to improve or reestablish biodiverse habitats, reverse the decline of pollinating insects, and restore marine habitats such as sea grass. The bill was fiercely opposed by conservative lawmakers and by farmers who claim the bill will lead to food shortages and inflation.

The bill now heads to a committee of representatives from E.U. executives, Parliament, and national governments where it faces tough negotiations on a final version that could take months. But the vote on Wednesday at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, means the bloc is now required in principle to pass the measure into law.

Pittsburgh Bans Single-Use Plastic Bags

Perhaps file this under “Why did it have to take this long?” or even “It’s really the very least we can do” but the city of Pittsburgh, my former hometown, issued a ban on single-use plastic bags that went into effect on October 14. They will still be offered in the suburbs beyond the city limits but, hey, it’s a start. I’m sure there will be plenty of bitching and moaning by those residents who are, shall we say, not exactly known for being change agents, but soon this will simply become the new normal—just like the totally non-controversial bike lanes and electric scooters. (Pittsburghers understand.)

Pura vida, yinz.