polluters
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Climate policies need polluters to pay for real impact, study finds
A new study finds that the most effective climate policies require polluters to bear financial costs, revealing that such measures lead to significant reductions in carbon emissions.
In short:
- Researchers analyzed 1,500 global climate policies, finding only 63 cases since 1998 where emissions dropped significantly.
- Policies combining regulations with energy taxes or costs were most successful, particularly in the UK’s electricity sector.
- Even successful policies have only made a small dent in global carbon emissions, showing the need for more aggressive actions.
Key quote:
“The key ingredient if you want to reduce emissions is that you have pricing in the policy mix.”
— Nicolas Koch, climate economist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Why this matters:
Effective climate policies that make polluters pay are essential for reducing global emissions, but current efforts are insufficient. Without more robust actions, the world may struggle to meet critical climate targets.
Related EHN coverage:
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Credit: donskarpo/Big Stock Photo
EU sustainable funds invest in major polluters
EU-regulated "sustainable" funds invest billions in polluting companies, including fast fashion and fossil fuel firms, misleading investors about their environmental impact.
Ajit Niranjan, Giorgio Michalopoulos, and Stefano Valentino report for The Guardian.
In short:
- EU-regulated sustainable funds have invested $18 billion in the 200 biggest polluters.
- Funds marketed as environmentally-friendly include significant investments in high-emission sectors.
- Campaigners call for stricter regulations to prevent greenwashing and misleading labels.
Key quote:
"Pension savers and the general public are being misled when it comes to sustainable finance."
— Lara Cuvelier, sustainable investment campaigner at Reclaim Finance
Why this matters:
The allure of sustainability has attracted a significant number of investors seeking to align their portfolios with their values. However, the lack of stringent criteria and transparency within the EU's regulatory framework has allowed companies with questionable environmental practices to slip through the cracks. Fast fashion, notorious for its massive carbon footprint and waste generation, and fossil fuel firms, the main contributors to climate change, are among the top beneficiaries of these "sustainable" funds.
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Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash
Who were the worst of the worst climate polluters in 2022?
Emissions from the largest greenhouse gas emitters in the U.S. were down slightly in 2022, but thousands of industrial facilities with substantial emissions remain, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s recently released Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program data.
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Photo by Tucker Tangeman on Unsplash
Kenya's leader says climate change is eating away Africa's GDP, calls for talks on global carbon tax
Kenya's president says climate change is “relentlessly eating away” at Africa’s economic progress and it’s time to have a global conversation about a carbon tax on polluters.
Photo by Maxim Tolchinskiy on Unsplash
New top cop at the EPA aims to get enforcement back on track
The head of the unit that investigates environmental crimes is promising to “hold polluters accountable.”
Who are the top greenhouse gas emitters in Pennsylvania?
With data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, PennEnvironment examined carbon and methane emissions from the state’s 12 top polluters — the so-called “Dirty Dozen.”
UN chief slams ‘climate-wrecking’ firms at human rights meeting in Geneva
Antonio Guterres said fossil fuel producers and financial backers must understand ‘crucial truth: pursuing mega-profits when so many are losing lives and rights is completely unacceptable’.
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