QUOTABLES:
It’s extraordinary that anyone still believes burning coal is only a local issue and has no global impacts. Let’s hope China doesn’t take the same view or the world will be toast. It certainly isn’t setting the global leadership on climate that the prime minister says he’s aspiring to.
John Sauven, from Greenpeace
Because of the action President Biden took today, every federal infrastructure investment will reduce climate pollution and clean energy projects will be accelerated — creating countless jobs in the process. pic.twitter.com/Sd8zzlb5cs
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 28, 2021
Cities represent more than 50% of global emissions & feel the impacts of climate change. Great chat with @anthawilliams & Ailun about the oppportunity for cities to drive ambitious climate action. Looking forward to driving this agenda with cities champions like @PeteButtigieg. pic.twitter.com/A42E1K1Zfe
— Catherine McKenna (@cathmckenna) January 28, 2021
We can Tackle #ClimateChange by Cleaning up our Cities
via Nicholas Stern https://t.co/M3e3CbPEdG #COP21 pic.twitter.com/DYUqpM4mQD— CLIME-IT Solutions (@CLIME_IT) January 28, 2021
CANADA NEWS
Professor documents P.E.I. climate change on film
‘We couldn’t all jump into a van,’ so methods had to change
You can view all 4 videos on their youtube channel
Unable to take his students out into the field to see the effects of climate change on P.E.I. in person during the pandemic, Prof. Adam Fenech has arranged to bring the Island to them.
Fenech, head of the school of climate change and adaptation at the University of Prince Edward Island, said he had to make some changes to his normal teaching this summer.
“I normally take students all around the Island and show them places that are being impacted by climate change, and then talk to some people about how they’re adapting to it,” he said.
“Under COVID, we realized that we couldn’t all jump into a van and go and visit these places, so I thought I would bring the Island to my students.”
WORLD NEWS
Secretary-General welcomes US return to Paris Agreement on Climate Change
President Biden signed an executive order at the White House just hours after being sworn in, to reverse the previous administration’s withdrawal from the 2015 accord, which seeks to limit global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
“I warmly welcome President Biden’s steps to re-enter the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and join the growing coalition of governments, cities, states, businesses and people taking ambitious action to confront the climate crisis”, the UN chief said in a statement.
The US was among 194 countries that signed the Agreement in December 2015 under then President, Barack Obama.
Two years later, the Trump administration announced the country would withdraw from the treaty: a decision which became effective last November.
US deposits instrument of acceptance
A new instrument of acceptance of the Paris Agreement by the US, expressing its consent to be bound by the Agreement, was deposited with the Secretary-General, later in the day.
According to the UN chief’s spokesperson, the Paris Agreement will enter into force for the United States on 19 February 2021, in accordance with its article 21 (3).
Long road to carbon neutrality
The Paris Agreement requires governments to commit to increasingly ambitious climate action through plans known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs).
The Secretary-General recalled that countries producing half of all global carbon pollution committed to carbon neutrality, or net-zero emissions, following a summit held last month
“Today’s commitment by President Biden brings that figure to two-thirds. But there is a very long way to go”, he said.
“The climate crisis continues to worsen, and time is running out to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius and build more climate-resilient societies that help to protect the most vulnerable.”
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