Tag: paris

Study in journal Science: Only 63 of 1,500 Global Climate Policies of Past 25 Years Worked to Reduce CO2 Emissions – A success rate of 4.2%

Sarah Montalbano of IWF: The peer-reviewed study, published August 22, 2024 in the journal Science, reviewed the effects of 1,500 climate policies implemented between 1998 and 2022 across 41 countries using a machine learning algorithm. The model identified significant breaks in carbon dioxide emissions (between 0.6 and 1.8 gigatons of CO2) and associated them with known policy changes. 

Via Study Abstract: “We provide a global, systematic ex post evaluation to identify policy combinations that have led to large emission reductions out of 1500 climate policies implemented between 1998 and 2022 across 41 countries from six continents…We identified 63 successful policy interventions with total emission reductions between 0.6 billion and 1.8 billion metric tonnes CO₂.” 

Only 63 of 1,500 climate policies were associated with any significant break in carbon dioxide emissions. That’s a success rate of 4.2%. 

There were no “successful pricing intervention[s] with large emission reductions in the electricity sector of developing economies” despite 13% of studied policies being related to pricing. … The U.S.’ predominant strategy to achieve its green dreams has been subsidies and regulations—to the tune of a projected $1.2 trillion in uncapped Inflation Reduction Act subsidies.

Study author: ‘We find that it’s very rare that [subsidies and regulations] really work in reducing emissions.’

According to The Wall Street Journal: “By searching through the OECD database, which identifies 46 types of policy interventions, the study’s authors found government policymakers prefer subsidies and regulations, according to [Nicolas Koch, senior researcher at the Berlin-based Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change and an author of the study]. “We see a lot of policy packages built around these two policy types, and we find that it’s very rare that they really work in reducing emissions,” Koch said.

Update on ‘greenest Olympics’ ever! No AC, ‘vegan meat scandal’, hot buses & now: Eco-friendly ‘hard cardboard beds’ robbing sleep from athletes – ‘We haven’t had this amount of complaints about a village in Olympic history’ 

Sky News Digital Editor Jack Houghton unpacks the scandal concerning Olympians being given vegan meals. Sky News: ‘Unpacking the vegan meat scandal’: “While Paris has been busy spooking its carbon-friendly credentials, the push to go green has left many athletes seeing red:  ‘We haven’t seen this at Olympic Games before. We haven’t had this amount […]

‘A disaster’: Paris Olympics’ lack of ‘meat-based protein’ to lower ‘carbon footprint’ creates havoc: ‘Athletes complain about the lack of animal protein-rich diet’

Euro News: The German men’s hockey team has panned the food served at the Olympic Village, calling it “a disaster”, while British athletes flew an additional chef out to Paris to bridge a shortfall of supply. Andy Anson, CEO of the UK Olympic Association, lamented the lack of protein – especially chicken and eggs – on menus in the village…
The Paris 2024 Food Vision document aimed for…reduced animal protein to lower the Games’ carbon footprint…

The European Vegetarian Union (EVU) welcomed the Food Vision’s emphasis on plant-based options and local sourcing. “This is an opportunity to showcase to millions of people that plant proteins are a better alternative for the planet and can also support athletic performance,” EVU policy manager Rafael Pinto told Euronews. …