This week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories — 9 June
How is a Swiss company removing CO2 from the air? Why is climate risk disclosure increasing pace? And which of Europe’s urban areas are producing the most greenhouse gases?
This, and more, in the week’s ten biggest climate innovation stories
1.
EU seeks climate allies among US cities and states
The EU is looking to US cities and states to help salvage the Paris Agreement after Donald Trump withdrew from the accord last week, according to EU Vice-President Maros Sefcovic. Sefcovic was traveling to Beijing for a meeting of ministers to discuss innovation in clean energy and will meet with California Governor Jerry Brown. Brussels is to host a meeting of mayors from around the world, chaired by former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, by the end of the year to discuss climate change.
https://twitter.com/MarosSefcovic/status/872081505664851968
2.
Sequestering carbon in carpet
Sustainable carpet tile manufacturer Interface has produced a prototype negative carbon footprint tile made from plants and designed to store carbon for at least a generation. The “Proof Positive” tile clocks in at an impressive minus two kilograms of carbon per square meter. At the end of its useful life, the carpet tile can be recycled into new carpet, closing the loop.
Read more on Triple Pundit
Amazing. @InterfaceInc always the inspiration. https://t.co/uCm3KxYbxC
— Chad Park (@ChadParkTNS) June 8, 2017
3.
Swiss machine sucks CO2 out of the air
ETH spin-off company Climeworks is on the way to commercialising a patent-pending, highly efficient technology for CO2 capture from ambient air. Climeworks will capture the gas from a waste incineration facility near Zurich, to sell it or store underground.
.@Climeworks has developed the world's first 'air scrubbing' plant. pic.twitter.com/hwtgYIkeZg
— Vocativ (@vocativ) June 2, 2017
4.
European carbon footprint maps show places contributing most and least to climate change
The study found that large urban centres – such as the London conurbation, northern Italy, Paris and the surrounding area, and Baden-Wurttemberg in Germany – produced vast amounts of greenhouse gas emissions. The average household in France, Spain, Sweden and Poland also had lower carbon footprints that the average British family.
European carbon footprint maps show places doing most and least to cause #ClimateChange https://t.co/kow8ClA2rs @WorldGBC_Europe pic.twitter.com/w3NSd3l0ir
— World Green Building Council (@WorldGBC) June 2, 2017
5.
M&S targets zero waste and 90 per cent CO2 cut in new ‘Plan A 2025’
UK clothing and food retailer Marks & Spencer has unveiled a set of ambitious zero waste and CO2 reduction targets for its business and supply chains with an update of its Plan A 2025 sustainability programme.
M&S launches a bold update to #PlanA2025 with 100 new social and environmental commitments https://t.co/xJfdnujzl8
— Mike Barry (@planamikebarry) June 1, 2017
6.
World first circular economy standard launches
The first-ever professional standard for circular economy principles — BS 8001 — has launched, with the aim of assisting companies in their transition towards a circular future.
The world’s first standard for implementing the principles of the circular economy in organizations is here. https://t.co/bPiKbisZ6I #BS8001 pic.twitter.com/kEfsPnFcmK
— BSI UK (@BSI_UK) May 31, 2017
7.
Every building net-zero by 2050, says World Green Building Council
The construction sector needs a “dramatic” shift towards a zero-carbon built environment to meet the Paris Agreement, according to new research from the World Green Building Council.
New research @WorldGBC shows buildings need to be net #zerocarbon by 2050 to meet #ParisAgreement objectives @edie https://t.co/kZfDPhMvmN pic.twitter.com/c1cNcrL5Qr
— Better Buildings Partnership (@bbpuk) June 6, 2017
8.
Exxon shareholders call for climate risk disclosure on company assets
Over 60 per cent of Exxon Mobil shareholders backed a resolution calling for disclosure on how action on climate change could affect its assets. Significantly, major investors reported to have supported the proposal include BlackRock, State Street Corp and Vanguard Group — the three biggest asset managers that hadn’t regularly backed shareholder resolutions on climate disclosure until now.
It looks like almost half of world's managed assets are managed by firms voting for climate risk disclosure https://t.co/zZiDsk61ls pic.twitter.com/W3OuLy7QIG
— Kate Mackenzie (@kmac) June 3, 2017
9.
Telefonica joins RE100 to accelerate clean energy commitment
Spanish broadband and telecommunications provider Telefonica has committed to decarbonise its operations, by joining the RE100 initiative to accelerate its plan to source 100 per cent renewable energy.
Renewables to save @Telefonica 6% in energy costs while lowering CO2 – smart business #RE100 https://t.co/IHiWokEdKr pic.twitter.com/a6BJDXzqWI
— Climate Group (@ClimateGroup) June 3, 2017
10.
Norway’s €856 billion fund wants banks to disclose carbon footprint of loans
Norway’s €856 billion sovereign wealth fund will ask banks in which it has invested to disclose how their lending contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, its chief executive said last Friday.
https://twitter.com/ErikSolheim/status/870865587190325248