Rejection comes with the territory but you brush it off and move on. Occasionally, however, a particular #cartoon not finding a home really pisses you off. This is one of them. #sealife #pollution #aquarium

The "free" market ⬇️

Thrilled to say we'll be joined by some very brilliant people to reflect on the state of climate politics / paths forward for our launch event on May 6th in London.

@danielagabor.bsky.social @geoffmann.bsky.social

Tix include a copy of the print issue:
luma.com/3r5t0jyf?tk=...

Join us!

Previous speakers include Bertrand Russell, Robert Oppenheimer, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and George Kennan. They are recorded before an audience who then interrogate the lecturer’s views.

Highly recommended!

Are we living through the fall of civilisation? | The Reith Lectures 2025 YouTube video by BBC Sounds

Every year since 1948, the BBC Reith Lectures have examined a significant issue of the time.

In 2025, Dutch historian Rutger Bregman asked what can be done to counter the moral decay of today’s un-serious elites.

⬇️ ‘A Time of Monsters’, Part 1/4.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUJ-...

#ESD #Governance

We must do better 💚

GHG Emissions and Food Ruminant animal protein is the most GHG–intensive food to produce Cows and sheep are almost ten times more carbon intensive than alternative animal protein and more than 30 times more carbon intensive than vegetable protein.

If we are to meet emissions targets, substantial changes must be made to how we produce food, manage agriculture, forestry and land-use, and how we eat.

As individuals, changes in diet and reducing food waste are the most impactful measures we can take.

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenSky #EduSky

Ammonia pollution hotspots found in areas of UK with most pig and poultry factory farms Map reveals most severe concentrations of ammonia emissions, which are dangerous to health and environment

people (rightly) focus on water quality but rural air pollution is a serious issue and factory farms are a leading cause

top work by @sustainweb.org & @ciwf.org.uk

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Industry using ‘tobacco playbook’ to fend off ‘forever chemicals’ regulation Industry-funded research and exaggerated claims litter arguments made by fluoropolymer industry against stricter regulation

Honoured our work for the Forever Lobbying Project has been shortlisted for the Innovation Award at @europeanpressprize.bsky.social.

Thank you to everyone who read our reports 🙏🏾

The full shortlist: europeanpressprize.com/shortlists/year-2026/

share.google/3tDDyrEeCnWa...

Critical Atlantic current significantly more likely to collapse than thought Scientists say finding is ‘very concerning’ as collapse would be catastrophic for Europe, Africa and the Americas

Well this is alarming.

"(Amoc) was already known to be at its weakest for 1,600 years as a result of the climate crisis. Scientists spotted warning signs of a tipping point in 2021 and know that the Amoc has collapsed in the Earth’s past."
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Absolutely 👏

according to a new study from Leiden University, Every year, 18 billion animals raised and killed for food end up as trash. Chickens make up the largest share of discarded animals, at 16.8 billion. The vast majority of the approximately 70 billion chickens killed for food each year spend their short lives on factory farms. Most animals on factory farms live in appalling conditions.

Roughly one-third of the world’s food is wasted, either during production, transport, or by households and retailers.

Discarded animals account for 12% of global food trash.

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenSky #EduSky

92.2 billion land animals were slaughtered for food in 2024, according to the un Food and Agriculture Organization [graphic showing] Unsustainable food production and consumption habits are responsible for about a third of all our GHG emissions... and the production of animal-based foods is responsible for 57% of these emissions Shifting to plant-based eating habits can... • reduce food’s land use by 76% • reduce food’s freshwater use by 19% • reduce the GHG emissions of our food system by 49%

It’s heartening to know that everyone can do their part for the planet by committing to eat just a few more plant-based meals each week.

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenSky #EduSky

Skills shortage in Renewables TO MEET CLIMATE GOALS, RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR EMPLOYMENT WILL NEED TO TRIPLE BY 2030 The sector is short of... • Professionals in technology, science and engineering • Electricians and technicians specialized in green energy • Leaders and consultants who understand the green transition • Installation technicians and grid engineers

The number of students pursuing certifications relevant to #RenewableEnergy is NOT keeping pace with demand. Billions are being invested, but a steady supply of skilled workers is needed to boost production.

#HigherEducation must respond to the needs of the #renewables market.

#ESD #GreenSky

Renewable energy targets The targets have evolved consistently since first established to help the EU reach its ambitious energy and climate goals.

2/2
Find out more about the current targets here: energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renew...

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenTransition #GreenSky

EU Energy Targets A June 2025 survey indicated strong support for renewable energy rollout among EU citizens, finding that 88% supported increased renewable energy 2020 The EU overachieved its 2020 target, with a 22% share of gross final energy consumption from renewable sources. 2030 TARGET: Cut Greenhouse Gas emissions by at least 55%* by 2030. *compared to 1990 2030 TARGET: Increase the share of renewable energy to a minimum of 42.5% (but aiming for 45%). 2050 TARGET Become a CLIMATE NEUTRAL continent by 2050.

The EU wants to accelerate the use of #RenewableEnergy to reach the goal of reducing net GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030. If you feel that’s too slow, contact your representative!

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenTransition #GreenSky

Fossil Fuel Subsidies FOSSIL FUELS RECEIVED $7 TRILLION IN SUBSIDIES(1) IN 2022, ACCORDING TO THE IMF. HOW THESE SUBSIDIES BREAK DOWN: [Graphic showing...] $1.5 trillion (18%) of explicit subsidies [breaks down into...] • Production subsidies (4%): To fossil fuel producers to reduce costs • Consumption subsidies (14%): Support to reduce the cost of fuel for consumers • Foregone VAT (5%) $5.7 trillion (77%) in the form of implicit subsidies(2) [breaks down into...] • Air pollution (30%): Environmental and social damages from air pollution caused by burning fossil fuels • Climate change (30%): Environmental and social damages from climate change caused by burning fossil fuels • Road use (17%): Damages from road accidents and congestion 1 $7 trillion is equivalent to around 7% of global GDP, a vast amount of money. 2 Economists usually refer to these indirect costs, which aren’t reflected in market prices, as “externalities” rather than “subsidies”.

In 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine caused energy prices to spike. As a result, #FossilFuel subsidies nearly doubled. Globally, explicit subsidies amounted to around $1.5 trillion. For context, that’s equivalent to the entire GDP of Australia.

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenTransition
#GreenSky

Shifting to a Circular Economy... • Could reduce virgin plastic production by 55% • Save governments US$70 billion by 2040 • Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% • Create 700,000 additional jobs [Graphic showing...] LINEAR ECONOMY: Take (Natural Resources) » Make (Production/Manufacturing) » Use (Consumers) » Waste (Pollutants/Landfill) CIRCULAR ECONOMY: Take » Make » Use » Repair / Refurbish / Parts Harvesting Collection » Recycle / Materials Recycling » Residual Waste

Just 9% of all #plastic has been recycled. #PlasticPollution is altering natural habitats and processes, reducing our ecosystems’ ability to adapt to #ClimateChange, and directly affecting millions of people’s health and livelihoods.

A #CircularEconomy for a sustainable future. 👍️
#ESD #GreenSky

Affordable, Clean Energy for All REDIRECTING GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES (AND INVESTORS) WOULD ENSURE A PROFITABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET [Graphic showing how...] GOVERNMENT: REDEPLOYMENT OF FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES Could be used to fund INVESTMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS Leading to GRADUATES WITH RENEWABLE ENERGY SKILLS While PRIVATE SECTOR: REDIRECTION OF PROFITS AND INVESTMENT Could be used to fund GOVT AND PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN CLEAN ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE Leading to the CREATION OF NEW JOBS IN RENEWABLES And PROFITABLE, AFFORDABLE, CLEAN ENERGY FOR ALL

Recent events have exposed the risk of stranded assets if investors continue to bet on #FossilFuels. For decades we’ve been told that decarbonizing the economy would constrain development, yet today, #RenewableEnergy is poised to become the key driver of economic progress.

#ClimateAction #GreenSky

Approaches to ESD THE “TOP-DOWN” APPROACH IS DOMINATING THE FIELD, BUT A MORE PARTICIPATORY APPROACH COULD BE MORE PRODUCTIVE [Graphic showing...] TOP-DOWN • Governance and legislation • Mitigation and adaptation • Scientific knowledge and curriculum • Behavior change Bottom-up • Participatory research and programs where learners design their own climate change projects and modes of engagement • Approaches which provoke emotional and somatic responses to climate issues • Transformative, creative, and affect-driven forms of sustainability education Sources: Rousell, D and Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles, A (2020) A systematic review of climate change education. Children’s Geographies, 18 (2). pp. 191-208. ISSN 1473-3277 | https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652624036862

🏫 While there is diversity in how #ESD is presented, the top-down, science-based approach continues to dominate. Whereas research has shown, the social, ethical, & political complexities of #ClimateChange would benefit from a more participatory, bottom-up approach.

#Sustainability #HigherEd #EduSky

The Role of Trees in Urban Stormwater Management HOW TREES INTERACT WITH THE URBAN WATER CYCLE [Graphic showing how trees intercept precipitation, allowing the water to reach the soil. Tree Roots absorb moisture, increasing runoff storage, allowing the water table to recharge. Tree Roots stabilize soil preventing erosion. Meanwhile water leaves trees via transpiration abd evaporation.]

🌳 Stormwater collected in pipes and ditches often flows directly to nearby waterways — untreated — carrying #pollution to waterways, degrading water quality and harming aquatic life.

Incorporating trees into stormwater management plans is a cheap, natural solution.

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenSky

The Hidden Costs of Oil Dependency NATIONAL BUDGETS, ECONOMIES, AND FOREIGN POLICY Around 72% of global oil reserves are controlled by members of OPEC. According to the US Dept of Energy, oil price shocks and market manipulation by OPEC cost the US economy roughly $2 trillion between 2004 and 2008. Within OPEC states, revenues from oil exports have significantly shaped political systems, allowing governments to finance state operations and consolidate power. Authoritarian regimes rely on oil income to fund security forces and suppress dissent. As the global shift toward renewable energy accelerates, countries heavily dependent on oil, and oil revenues, face growing risks of economic and political instability. [Photo of an oil tanker, docked at a busy industrial port.]

⛽🌍 #OilDependency carries economic & political costs because supply is concentrated & traded through vulnerable chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz.

With around 72% of global reserves controlled by OPEC, price shocks can ripple through economies & shape foreign policy.

#GreenTransition #GreenSky

Biodiversity is... an Inseparable interaction Complex graphic showing the various elements and how they interact... sorry, I am not sure how to describe this adequately, but there's good info here: www.fao.org/global-soil-partnership

🌳 Targets to reverse the decline of #biodiversity by 2030 will be missed without urgent action, according to the IUCN. This was a key commitment at the UN’s COP15 & 16 summits.

Nearly a third of all monitored species are currently endangered due to human activities.

#ClimateAction #GreenSky

Humans have cleared nearly half of Earth’s forests. Currently, we are removing 15 billion trees every year.

🌳 According to research, simply by allowing existing trees to grow old in healthy #ecosystems and restoring degraded areas, 226 gigatonnes of carbon could be sequestered, the equivalent of nearly 50 years of US #emissions (for 2022).

#ESD #Sustainability #GreenSky #EduSky

What if nature was a legal person? FOR EXAMPLE: LEGAL ACTION TO ADDRESS A POLLUTED WATER STREAM AND THE ECOSYSTEM WITHIN IT [Graphic showing...] AS A RESOURCE: A PLAINTIFF, such as the riverbank's owner, can take legal action* *If the plaintiff has an interest and the means Compensation is assessed based on the damages inflicted to the plaintiff The plaintiff is compensated. Neither the stream, its inhabitants, nor the ecosystem benefit AS A LEGAL PERSON: The STREAM can defend its interests and rights, and take legal action in its own name Compensation is assessed based on the damage inflicted to the ecosystem The stream is compensated. These funds can be used to restore the ecosystem

A legal person is a human or non-human entity that has legal rights and is subject to obligations. All human beings and some companies are considered legal persons.

However, #ecosystems such as rivers, lakes and forests are legally ‘objects’ — is it time to rethink this?

#ESD #GreenSky #EduSky

The cost of healthy biodiversity The World Bank estimates the deterioration of natural processes like wild pollination and resources like marine fisheries could see global GDP come in $2.7 trillion a year lower than projected levels by 2030. Research suggests it would cost around $1 trillion annually to reverse the biodiversity crisis across all sectors. $1 trillion represents 0.009% of annual Global GDP.

As we are seeing with #RenewableEnergy, the cost of #ClimateAction is often significantly less than the cost of inaction.

A recent report concluded that the benefits of protecting 30% of the world’s land & ocean outweigh the costs by a factor of at least 5:1.

#ESD #Biodiversity #GreenSky #EduSky

The Evidence for Climate Change 1. Temperature readings are collected by weather stations on land, on ships and by satellites... 2. Data is analyzed by independent teams of scientists, worldwide. 97% have reached the same result. 3. Greenhouse gases provide the link between temperature rise and human activities. 4. The carbon produced by burning fossil fuels has a distinctive chemical signature. 5. Polar ice and tree rings record changes in atmospheric chemistry, which show carbon from fossil sources, has risen since 1850. Source: Adapted from multiple sources, demonstrating a scientific consensus.

It sometimes feels like #ClimateDenial is rising faster than global temperatures.

It’s important to remember that #ClimateChange has been established and verified by evidence and scientific analysis: The average surface temperature has risen by about 1.1 ºC since 1850.

#ESD #GreenSky #EduSky

From Oil Dependence to Energy Resilience HOW RENEWABLES STRENGTHEN NATIONAL SECURITY Reducing oil dependence is usually framed as climate policy, but it is crucial for national security. Cutting oil use can: • Increase resilience to supply chain shocks • Reduce the geopolitical leverage of oil-producing states • Strengthen domestic energy security Renewable energy systems are structurally different: • Power generation is decentralized, spread across many smaller sites • Solar and wind power are generated locally, rather than traded through centralized global markets • They do not rely on vulnerable maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz

⚡🌍 #Oil has shaped global politics for decades because it is easily transported, globally traded, and only a few countries have large reserves.

The shift to #RenewableEnergy could change that. Locally generated energy can strengthen resilience and independence from global oil markets.

#GreenSky

Reaching net zero by 2050 ‘cheaper for UK than one fossil fuel crisis’ Climate change committee finds move to renewable energy would also bring health, economic and security benefits

You want energy security, cleaner air, and lower prices?
The answer is #RenewableEnergy

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Asia’s Economic Powerhouse Runs on Middle Eastern Oil THE IMPORTANCE OF HORMUZ FOR GLOBAL OIL FLOW Crude oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz, 2023 (million barrels per day) [Graph showing] Origin: Saudi Arabia 6.2 UAE 2.0 Iraq 3.2 Kuwait 1.5 Qatar 0.6 Iran 1.3 Destination: China 5.0 India 1.9 Japan 1.7 S. Korea 1.7 Other Asia 2.2 Europe 1.0 Other 1.0 In the center of the graphic is the Strait of Hormuz, where 14.9 million barrels pass each day

⛽️ Japan relies on the Middle East for around 95% of its #oil supplies, with about 70% of that coming through the Strait of Hormuz. While Asia holds reserve stockpiles, #OilDependency is gaining political urgency.

The transition to #RenewableEnergy will remove this threat entirely.

#GreenSky