New Zealand drops seven places, to 41st, in global climate change league table

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Recent headlines highlight diverse and urgent climate issues. New Zealand has fallen seven spots to 41st in the global climate change league table, reflecting setbacks in climate policies, despite its ambitious 2030 target. In Europe, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the UK lead in climate performance, showcasing rapid renewable energy growth, though many countries still rely heavily on fossil fuels. In New Zealand, Auckland Airport has advanced sustainability by installing energy-efficient LED runway lights, reducing energy use by 70%.

At COP29, global discussions centred on heavy industries' decarbonisation, unveiling innovative policies and technologies, though industrial emissions remain inadequately addressed in many national plans. However, the event faced criticism for a climate finance deal that fell short of developing nations’ needs, sparking accusations of injustice and undermining trust in negotiations. In contrast, a new framework for carbon markets offered a fresh path for meeting Paris climate commitments, albeit with concerns about environmental integrity.

The International Court of Justice has engaged scientists for an advisory opinion on states’ legal obligations to mitigate climate change, a potential milestone in global climate law. Alarming displacement statistics underscore climate change’s impact, with 359 million displacements linked to extreme weather since 2008, disproportionately affecting vulnerable nations. Lastly, food waste during U.S. Thanksgiving highlights the intersection of waste and climate change, as wasted food significantly contributes to methane emissions, emphasising the need for systemic solutions.

These stories collectively reveal the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in combating climate change, from policy and innovation to accountability and societal behaviour.

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Here is the full list of articles...

New Zealand had "taken significant backwards steps in climate policy" since the last rating, having dropped 7 places in an international climate change league table, to 41st place. New Zealand still had an ambitious climate target for 2030, but it was not clear how it was going to meet it, with the new government having scrapped policies boosting public transport and delayed pricing greenhouse gases from farming. Renewable energy was growing rapidly almost everywhere, but fossil fuels were not being phased out quickly enough, especially gas. Read more…

Denmark, the Netherlands and the UK have taken the lead in an annual climate performance ranking released at COP29 today. The CCPI shows that renewable energy is making rapid progress in almost every high-emitting country. However, too many countries are still clinging to prolonging the fossil fuels business model, especially for gas. There are 16 EU countries among the high and medium performers and - unlike in previous editions - there are no member states with an overall very low rating.   Read more… 

Auckland Airport installs LED lights on runway in New Zealand first, six hundred new LED lights were installed along the 3.6km runway. The LED lights use up to 70% less energy than their halogen predecessors, helping the airport reach its carbon reduction goals, and last 15 times as long, improving the airfield’s reliability and safety. The 240 new runway centreline, 186 touchdown zone, 124 runway edge and 18 runway end lights will be individually tracked and monitored on an ongoing basis. Read more…

At COP29, leaders discussed strategies to reduce emissions from high-emitting industries like steel and cement, which contribute 34% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Co-organised by the UN Climate Change’s Technology Executive Committee and UNIDO, the event highlighted technology and policy innovations for decarbonisation. Despite significant emission reduction potential, few national climate plans address industrial emissions. Key figures like Germany's Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck emphasised international collaboration, while Bangladesh's Syeda Rizwana Hasan called for financial and technological support for developing nations. The TEC also launched a policy brief to help integrate industry decarbonisation into national climate targets. Read more…

The climate finance deal at COP29 has been widely criticised as inadequate and unjust. The final agreement pledged $300 billion annually for climate finance, falling short of the $1.3 trillion developing nations demanded to decarbonise and cope with climate impacts. Critics, including negotiators from India and African nations, called the deal a "travesty of justice" and a "stage-managed" process, with many accusing rich countries of making backdoor deals. Developing countries expressed frustration over the insufficient funding and lack of specific support for vulnerable nations, undermining trust in climate negotiations. Read more…

At COP29, countries agreed on new rules for international carbon trading, aiming to help meet Paris climate commitments. This agreement provides a framework for creating, trading, and registering carbon credits, which can fund decarbonisation projects in developing nations. The market, which had faced scandals and significant declines, could resume trading by 2025. While the deal offers hope for climate finance, concerns about environmental integrity remain, with some carbon credits not reflecting actual emission reductions. Experts warn that ensuring the market’s credibility and effectiveness is critical for meeting global climate goals. Read more…

Ahead of its advisory opinion on climate change, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) met with scientists from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on November 26, 2024. The ICJ is set to assess the legal obligations of states regarding climate protection and the consequences for countries contributing to climate harm, particularly affecting vulnerable regions. Requested by the UN General Assembly, the opinion will guide future climate-related legislation and litigation. Public hearings will begin on December 2, 2024, with limited seating and online streaming. Read more… 

Global weather-related displacement reached alarming levels, with 359 million incidents since 2008, according to Al Jazeera. In 2023 alone, 6.6 million people were displaced, with total forced movements exceeding 20.3 million due to floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires. Asia-Pacific nations, particularly China and the Philippines, faced the highest displacements, while Africa's Somalia endured devastating floods. Climate change intensifies extreme events, exacerbating vulnerabilities in the Global South, which contributes least to greenhouse gas emissions but suffers most. Critics argue COP29's efforts remain inadequate, calling for systemic reforms and enforceable global carbon reduction strategies. Read more… 

An estimated 316 million pounds of food, worth $500 million, will be wasted in the U.S. on Thanksgiving, contributing significantly to climate change. Globally, one-third of all food is wasted, producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Food waste accounts for 10% of human-produced greenhouse emissions—five times the aviation industry’s output. Initiatives, like Mexico City's Central de Abasto donating unsellable but edible produce to food banks, highlight solutions. Experts urge better food systems, labelling, and recovery efforts to reduce waste. Reducing food waste offers a crucial climate solution. Read more…

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