Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 4 August 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# Heatwaves are becoming more intense and frequent worldwide because of human-caused climate change, and Japan is no exception. The city of Komatsu, in the central region of Ishikawa, saw a new record of 40.3 degrees Celsius today. Toyama City, also in the central region, hit 39.8 degrees Celsius, the highest temperature since records began. On July 30, Japan experienced its highest recorded temperature, a sizzling 41.2 degrees Celsius in the western region of Hyogo. The rainy season ended about three weeks earlier than usual in western regions of Japan, which is another record.

# The preparations for the second Africa Climate Summit is underway in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Co-hosted by the African Union and Ethiopian government, the summit taking place from 8 to 10 September will focus on ‘Accelerating Global Climate Solutions: Financing for Africa’s Resilient and Green Development.’ Key goals include scaling renewable energy to 300-gigawatts by 2030, addressing Africa’s climate finance gap, and showcasing African-led solutions for a just, green transition. Over 45 heads of state are expected to attend.

# And finally: The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development says although plastics are directly linked to pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change, there is still no comprehensive international treaty governing their composition, production, trade, and disposal. The latest Global Trade Update shows that plastic production reached 436-million metric tons worldwide in 2023. A total of 75-percent of all plastics ever produced have mostly ended up in the world’s oceans and ecosystems. The body is advocating for tariff and non-tariff measures to support ecologically sustainable plastic substitutes.

Stay tuned for more news………….