‘Godfathers of climate chaos’: UN chief urges global fossil-fuel advertising ban

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The head of the UN is calling for advertisers to stop supporting the “Godfathers of climate chaos”, God fathers of chaos being the fossil fuel industry. António Guterres, goes as far to say they should be treated like Tobacco companies as the products they sell are bad for the world’s health.

We need to stop treating the deep ocean as a resource that needs to be plundered, one study found that even 26 years following extraction, the deep-sea ecosystem would not have returned to its previous state. Here in NZ, National is sending out mixed messages to the carbon market. A potential loss of $700 million plus as traders see major uncertainty in the market.

The world is getting hotter, chief heat officers are working in Miami, Melbourne, Dhaka, Freetown and Athens to plant trees, create "pocket parks", install water fountains and teach people about the effects of extreme heat on the human body. Extreme temperatures are impacting Bangladeshi garment workers, $6 Billion a year in labour productivity because of extreme heat. Companies are looking to improve the lot of these workers by cooling the workplace down. Cities are also working to cool things down, generally through simple processes, more trees, light-coloured reflective paint, green roofs and cool pavement treatments.

Social media can have some positive impacts, engaging in a no-buy challenge, the self-imposed rules of the challenge are simple: participants pledge to stop buying non-essential items, be they unneeded shoes, additional beauty products or other impulse buys for a set amount of time. And 'Girl mossing', the wellness trend that rejects hustle culture. We cannot simply go, go, go and incessantly produce and consume. We also need to rest, and rot, to rejuvenate for our wellbeing.

Has “climate quitting” really taken off? Do employers really need to show they care about the environment if they want to hold on to younger staff? The evidence increasingly suggests they might, about 20% of younger staff now say they have changed jobs or industries because of environmental concerns. For those out there who find it difficult to eat less meat tend to apologize or justify themselves in social contexts. ‘Avocados are bad, vegans are ridiculous, and my body needs meat. Are just some of the deflections used!

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António Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations, came out swinging at his special address on climate action. He took aim -not at oil magnates nor industrial polluters- but at journalists and advertising agencies. Their crime? Guilty of spotlighting the mafioso fossil fuel industry. Guterres condemned fossil fuel companies for their deceitful advertising campaigns and called on the people to rise against polluting profiteers by revealing the poison behind corporations’ honeyed words. The first step: end the lies by banning them entirely. Read more…

In the far reaches ‘twixt Mexico and Hawaii, creatures great, small, and gummy populate the Clarion-Clipperton Zone. One of comedian John Oliver’s favourite animals (next to the Pūteketeke, of course) is the gummy squirrel. This species of cucumber and many other marine animals are threatened by mining moguls, dead set on uprooting sea life in search of precious metals. Oliver takes a stand and calls out the hasty dismissal of mining impacts, emphasises the fragility and value of these ecosystems, all while forcing us to confront our flippancy and ungratefulness towards life on planet earth. Read more…

The National-led government has signaled that the ETS as essentially the only tool for cutting New Zealand's emissions and apart from the tax take is the largest source of government income for funding the mooted tax cuts. Carbon emitters must believe the government was committed to lowering carbon pollution with a strong and rising price, but a lack of clear government policy has tanked the market. This week's auction of carbon credits by the government is unlikely to sell any credits, and the remaining two auctions of the year could also earn nothing rather than the originally forecast $700m. Read more…

With the impacts of climate change being literally felt on the ground, we see the emergence of a new vocation – the Heat Officer. The role of Chief Heat Officer was created three years ago by a U.S.-based think tank, but even in that short time the task has become more urgent as planet-heating emissions are pushing temperatures into "uncharted territory". 2023 was the hottest year on record, with 2024 expected to surpass that, prompting the U.N. Secretary General António Guterres to call it "the era of global boiling. Read more…

And as our next article demonstrates coping with extreme heat can be very challenging. In Bangladesh, garment workers are falling ill as temperatures soar in what is the worst heatwave in 70 years. "Some of us - mostly girls - fall sick, vomiting or swooning due to the boiling heat," a 22-year-old told Context. Bangladesh loses $6 billion a year in labour productivity due to the effects of extreme heat, with one in five workers having to go on sick leave at least once during the hottest months. Read more…

There are however ways to combat the heat as our next article examines. Increasing tree cover from the average European city of 15%, to 30% can lower the urban temperature by 0.4C – enough to cut heat-related deaths by a third. Green roofs absorb heat and act as insulators reducing demand for air conditioning. Creating a network of wind corridors to minimise trapped heat and reduce the urban heat effect. Painting roofs and sidewalks with a reflective white coat is another effective way to reduce urban heat by up to 5C. Read more…

As temperatures and the cost of living continue to rise globally, more people are making “no-buy” pledges and spreading the message about thoughtful consumption. In fact, these messages are trending on social media – which is more often than not a driver of consumerism. The “no-buy year” social media challenge urges people to rethink their spending habits and push back against the dopamine hit of impulsive spending. If you’re buying less or buying more expensive but reusable items, it’s better in the long run for both the planet and your wallets. Read more…

Thoughtful consumption isn’t the only environmentally friendly trend on social media currently. You may have heard of “girl boss” before, but have you heard of “girl mossing”? Girl mossing is a wellness trend that encourages women to step away from the pressures of urban life, and instead reconnect with nature – or in this case, moss! Following the trend of climate quitting, girl mossing is helping people realise that we don’t need to incessantly produce and consume. We also need to rest and connect with nature for our wellbeing. Read more…

But has climate quitting taken off? A new survey from Deloitte has found that two in 10 young professionals have already changed jobs or industries to better align their work with their environmental values, with another quarter of both cohorts planning to do so in the future. What’s more, 54 percent of workers in their twenties are pressing their firms to act on climate change. So even if companies don’t take climate action seriously, they might find it increasingly hard to hire – and keep – all the young workers they need. Read more…

A University of Copenhagen study reveals how people justify not reducing meat consumption for climate reasons. Common excuses include shaming vegans, claiming a biological need for meat, and blame shifting. Participants often divert discussions to less controversial topics like plastic waste. Clearer messaging from public authorities on the climate impact of meat could help reduce these justifications. The study highlights a collective awareness of meat's climate impact but shows social dynamics complicate individual actions to cut back. Read more…

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