The Global Systems Institute at the University of Exeter, the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology will co-host the Global Tipping Points Conference in July 2025.

The conference aims to raise awareness and inspire action among researchers, policymakers and businesses about the importance of tipping points.

It will focus on the development of both negative and positive tipping points, covering topics from the local to the global level.

The program will explore how tipping points affect different regions, communities, sectors and supply chains, and discuss how to translate this knowledge into effective action. (More on euagenda.eu)

International negotiations are underway to create a global plastics treaty, which aims to combat plastic pollution. (more…)

The document addresses EU industrial policy in the context of the transition to a climate-neutral economy. It highlights that EU industrial policy should support the transformation of the European economy towards a fair and prosperous society with a modern, efficient and competitive economy with no net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The document identifies two key aspects of industrial climate policy:

• Transformation of existing energy-intensive industries
• Development of clean technology value chains.

The authors argue that these two areas should be discussed together and that policies should unlock synergies between them. For example, traditional industries rely on key clean technologies to decarbonize (for example, to ensure sufficient green electricity), while cleantech players hope to find domestic early adopters to accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies.

The document further analyses the current state of transformation and competitiveness in EU industry in these two areas. It notes that EU industry has its strengths in both areas. For example, in the area of wind energy, the EU has more than 80 % of domestic production out of the total wind energy capacity deployed in the EU. In the case of solar energy, the paper suggests that instead of seeking market power in lower value-added subsectors, the EU should focused on building a leading position in the provision of engineering solutions, software and financial products.

The document identifies Several obstacles to successful industrial transformation, including uncertainty about public support, regulatory barriers and lack of access to capital.

The document further explores the EU industrial policy toolbox and identifies several shortcomings.

• Financial volumes are insufficient, especially compared to investment needs.
• Existing EU funds are not sufficiently accessible and are managed by risk-averse public institutions.
• The EU performs relatively well in R&D spending, but there is a large gap in supporting scale-up and deployment.
• The EU relies heavily on subsidies at the level of Member States, leading to efficiency losses and risks of political and economic fragmentation.

Based on these findings, the paper proposes a set of principles for EU industrial policy that should be aimed at addressing specific market failures. These principles include:

• Focusing on areas where industrial policy brings added value.
• Developing policies that address value chains and market integration.
• Designing and implementing support measures at EU level.
• Allocation of support through competitive mechanisms.
• Equipping policies with clear terms and sunset clauses.
• Integrating EU industrial policy into the strategy for outreach and diplomacy, bilateral cooperation and trade.

Finally, the document discusses the trade-offs that exist in achieving different industrial policy objectives, such as decarbonisation, competitiveness or security. The authors emphasise that The EU should focus on innovation, intelligently reduce risks and support job creation in clean technology value chains.

The document ends several recommendations for policymakers, such as the need for clearer priorities, better coordination at EU level and sufficient and reliable funding. Download the full document here.  Spring

A recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that the average global temperature will exceed pre-industrial levels by 1.5°C by 2024. This limit, which is key under the Paris Agreement, could lead to fundamental changes in ocean and atmospheric systems. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the report did not become a central topic of public debate or provoke mass protests, and went largely unnoticed.

The psychological aspects of ignoring climate change

According to experts, the problem lies in a psychological and evolutionary disconnect from the reality of the problem. Although human intelligence is advanced, it often leads us to irrational behavior that threatens our existence.

Climate change is often presented as an abstract scientific problem, which prevents people from feeling personal responsibility. The lack of emotion and concrete impacts in scientific communication fails to evoke the necessary response, leading to feelings of helplessness and lack of confidence in one's own ability to change the situation.

Responding to climate disasters and human behavior

The year 2024 witnessed extreme manifestations of climate change, from devastating heatwaves in southern Europe to massive floods in Asia. Yet political and social resistance to climate action persists, fuelled by disinformation spread by the fossil fuel industry.

Disinformation and echo chambers on social media provide a comfortable refuge from acknowledging an existential threat. This phenomenon, known as “motivated reasoning,” strengthens the emotional attachment to denying scientific facts.

Possible solutions and hope

Although many people feel powerless, psychologists suggest that active engagement can ease anxiety associated with the climate crisis. Studies have found that young people who participate in climate action have better mental health and a sense of control.

Experts recommend starting at the local level and not avoiding your own “climate grief.” The ecological transformation of technology and society is our only hope for survival.

Climate change is not a distant problem, but an imminent threat to our civilization. The only way to avert catastrophe is to turn concerns into concrete actions and to exert collective pressure on political and economic institutions. If we can combine scientific communication with emotional appeal, we can still shape future developments. Spring

The REDD+ initiative was established to incentivize forest conservation and sustainable management in developing countries. It aims to combat climate change by providing financial resources for forest protection, particularly tropical forests, thereby increasing carbon sequestration. However, ongoing criticism has revealed numerous problems of greenwashing, displacement of communities and insufficient attention to the root causes of deforestation, raising important questions about the effectiveness of the initiative in achieving its goals. (GAURI SHARMA, more at earth.org)

This graphic shows over 60 years of CO2 emissions per capita by region, based on analysis from Climate Watch (available via World Resources Institute). The data shows that North America has had the highest levels of CO2 emissions per capita since 1960, although emissions have fallen significantly over the past few decades. (Marcus Lu, more at visualcapitalist.com)

The growing problem of global deforestation and forest degradation, which is causing biodiversity loss, has not escaped the attention of European Union lawmakers. In 2021, the European Commission proposed a regulation to address this situation. After the proposal was approved, it was discovered that the new rules could not come into effect until a year later than planned, and it is uncertain whether the European Parliament will be able to approve this delay.

Work on these new provisions started more than three years ago. The Commission presented its proposal on 17 November 2021 and a provisional agreement was reached on 6 December 2022. The proposal was subsequently approved by the European Parliament and the Council.

The new regulation, known as the EUDR, has raised concerns and protests from stakeholders. The Commission has asked for part of the regulation to be postponed. The European Parliament is considering other amendments that could slow down the process of its approval. This includes the categorisation of countries according to risk and its own legislative proposals. If Parliament has exceeded its powers, this could be subject to a decision by the Court of Justice, although the Council of the EU, which also makes decisions, can slow down the process.

The Regulation replaces older legislation and extends obligations to a wider range of operators and products. It focuses not only on timber but also on other commodities such as cattle, cocoa, coffee, palm, rubber, soya and timber listed in Annex I. It also covers many entities, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

The EUDR introduces a duty of due diligence and requires regulated entities to collect information on the origin of products, assess risks and implement measures to reduce the risk of non-compliance. The new rules apply regardless of the volume of goods and exclude some products that may contain the listed commodities but are not explicitly listed.

The EUDR principles state that commodities and products must be deforestation-free, compliant with landscape production legislation and supported by a due diligence declaration in order to be traded.

According to Article 25 of the Regulation, Member States must lay down penalties for those who infringe the Regulation, which must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. These include fines, confiscations or temporary bans on companies.

Although the sanctions under the EUDR do not apply directly, they require implementation into Slovak legislation, which has not yet occurred. As a result, the extent of liability of Slovak companies is still not fully known.

Finally, the new regulations introduce a number of obligations that can be particularly burdensome for SMEs, and the level of awareness of these changes is low, which is causing resistance. The approach of the European Parliament and the prolongation of the legislative process have been criticised by many for their lack of legal certainty. Although the provisions are in force since mid-2023, the objective of combating deforestation and biodiversity loss remains key. Co2AI

Welcome to the NOAA Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases group information website! The central site for global greenhouse gas monitoring and is in charge of operating the global air sampling network that continues to monitor the air we breathe.

December 2nd 424.27 ppm

Safe concentration: 350 ppm

ppm – the number of particles of carbon dioxide per million particles of air.

More on gml.noaa.gov

Based on current data, the most visited sites focused on climate change issues and solutions are the following platforms:

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1. NASA Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet

• Main topic: Providing data on global warming, the consequences of climate change, and scientific solutions.
• Key content: Updated statistics on CO₂ levels, temperature anomalies and glacier loss. This site offers rich visual tools such as Climate Time Machine, which show climate changes over time.

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2. Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S)

• Main topic: Monitoring and analysis of climate data in Europe and around the world.
• Key content: Forecasts and analysis, such as data on extreme temperatures in 2024, when temperatures first crossed the 1.5°C threshold above pre-industrial levels, are also available. The site also tracks changes in sea ice extent and precipitation.

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3. World Resources Institute (WRI)

• Main topic: Practical solutions for reducing emissions, reforming food systems, and transitioning to clean energy.
• Key content: Details on how global agriculture can be reformed to more sustainable models, and the investments needed to modernize electricity grids. The site also provides tools to better understand the potential of renewable energy sources.

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4. Climate Change News

• Main topic: News and analysis on climate risks, extreme weather events and policy initiatives.
• Key content: Focus on policy strategies to limit global warming, such as the goal of keeping warming below 1.5°C, and the economic losses caused by climate change.

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5. UNDP Climate Promise

• Main topic: Public awareness of climate action and support for sustainable strategies in developing countries.
• Key content: Results of the largest global survey on climate change and support for climate action plans in developing economies.

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Topics that resonate the most:

1. Global warming: Monitoring temperature records and their impacts on the planet.
2. Transition to clean energy: Technologies and investments in renewable energy sources.
3. Changes in ecosystems: Consequences on biodiversity, such as the loss of coral reefs and forests.
4. Political initiatives: Climate agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, and their implementation at the national level.

These sites and topics are an important source of information for individuals and organizations who want to actively participate in the fight against climate change. More details can be found on official sites such as NASA Climate a Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Projections of a sea ice-free Arctic have so far focused on average monthly ice-free conditions. Here, we provide the first projections of when we might see the first ice-free day in the Arctic Ocean, using daily output from multiple CMIP6 models. We find that there is a large range in the predicted first ice-free day, from 3 years from the model-equivalent state in 2023 to no ice-free day before the end of the simulations in 2100, depending on the model and forcing scenario used. Using a narrative approach, we then focus on nine simulations where the first ice-free day occurs within 3 to 6 years, i.e. potentially before 2030, to understand what could cause such an unlikely but very impressive transition to the first ice-free day. day. We find that all of these early ice-free days occur during rapid ice loss and are associated with strong winter and spring warming. (Céline Heuzé & Alexandra Jahnová, more at nature.com)

The 2023 forest fire season is among the worst in the EU in more than two decades, driven by climate change. The fires have devastated vast areas, threatening ecosystems and lives. With the risk of fires increasing, Europe needs to prevent and prepare for increasingly intense forest fire seasons. (More on joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu)

 

Several components of the Earth system are at high risk of undergoing rapid, irreversible qualitative changes or “tipping” as climate warming increases. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the feasibility of halting or even reversing the crossing of tipping thresholds. Here, we study feedback control of an idealized energy balance model (EBM) for Earth’s climate that exhibits a “small ice sheet” instability that is responsible for a rapid transition to an ice-free climate under increasing greenhouse gas pressures. We develop an optimal control strategy for the EBM under different forcing scenarios to reverse sea ice loss while minimizing costs. Control is achievable for this system, but the cost increases nearly fourfold when the system tips over. While thermal inertia can delay tipping, leading to a critical forcing threshold being crossed, this freedom comes with a steep increase in the control required once tipping occurs. Furthermore, we found that optimal control is localized in the polar region. (Parvathi Kooloth, Jian Lu, Adam Rupe, more at nature.com)

Welcome to the NOAA Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases group information website! The central site for global greenhouse gas monitoring and is in charge of operating the global air sampling network that continues to monitor the air we breathe.

November 30 424.24 ppm

Safe concentration: 350 ppm

ppm – the number of particles of carbon dioxide per million particles of air.

More on gml.noaa.gov