More than 100 countries have reduced fossil fuel imports due to the rise of renewable energy, as well as other climate and nature news


1. Renewable energy has enabled more than 100 countries to reduce fossil fuels
Investing in renewable energy has enabled fossil fuel importing countries to save an estimated $1.3 trillion since 2010, a new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) found.

By implementing renewable energy, these countries avoid importing 700 million tons of coal and 400 billion cubic meters of natural gas. The IEA highlights that these savings were particularly important during the recent global energy crisis, so that the import bill in 2022 alone will not exceed $500 billion.

By Renewable Energy 2025, the IEA projects this trend will accelerate dramatically. Global renewable energy capacity is expected to increase by 4,600 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 – an increase comparable to the combined total energy capacity of China, the European Union and Japan.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol explains what will drive this expansion: “PLTS will account for around 80% of the increase in global renewable energy capacity over the next five years.”

This growth will become a global phenomenon. The report identified India as the second largest growth market and noted a significant 25% increase in forecasts for the Middle East and North Africa, underscoring the world’s shift towards green energy.

2. Amnesty calls for climate visas for Pacific Island refugees
Visas should be created to protect the rights of Pacific Islanders forced to flee the climate crisis to seek refuge in nearby countries, says Amnesty International.

With the exception of Papua New Guineans, 90% of Pacific Islanders live within 5 km of the coastline, and more than a quarter live within one kilometer of the coastline, the organization said in its Navigating Injustice report.

Every year, as many as 50,000 Pacific Islanders face the risk of displacement due to the negative impacts of climate change. By 2050, the number of forced refugees from this region could reach 1.7 million people.

The report found that the current immigration system is inadequate for Pacific Islanders, particularly in New Zealand, where many refugees are fleeing:
“The visa options provided by the government already leave many people behind – especially those most at risk, such as people with disabilities, medical conditions and the elderly – but rights-based humanitarian visas will enable affected families to live with dignity, rebuild their lives and plan a new future.”

Amnesty International urges Aotearoa New Zealand and the international community to establish special humanitarian visas and complementary pathways, lift discriminatory requirements and ensure all people affected by climate can access basic protections and rights.

3. News flash: Other major nature and climate stories this week
The green turtle’s recovery marks a conservation milestone: The latest update to the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species shows the species moved from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Least Concern,’ thanks to decades of sustained conservation action.”

The ongoing global recovery of green sea turtles is a good example of what coordinated global conservation over decades can achieve to stabilize and even restore populations of long-lived marine species.
—Roderic Mast, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group.”
— Roderic Mast, Co-Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission Marine Turtle Specialist Group.

United Nations (UN) plastics treaty chief steps down: After UN plastics treaty negotiations stalled in August, Luis Vayas Valdivieso is set to step down, The Guardian reports. An official announcement is expected on October 16.

New Zealand’s oceans are warming 34% faster than the global average: Our Marine Environment 2025 is the latest in a series of environmental reports produced by the country’s Ministry of the Environment and Statistics, with findings showing that $104 billion worth of housing is currently at risk of flooding. The report also mentions concerns around coastal erosion and damage to other critical public infrastructure, such as health services and rubbish dumps.

Britain’s Prince William is set to announce the Earthshot Prize: Prince William’s annual Earthshot Prize will be awarded to five winners next month in Rio de Janeiro. This year’s competition attracted nearly 2,500 nominees from 72 countries, and the innovators were described by the Prince as “heroes of our time”. You can see the finalists here.

‘Radioactive’ shrimp crisis in Indonesia: Traces of the dangerous isotope Caesium-137 (radioactive contamination) have been found in 22 production facilities in industrial areas in Jakarta, Indonesia. Multinational retailer Walmart is one of the organizations that pulled products from its shelves following this discovery.

4. More about the nature and climate crisis from Forum Stories
CEOs of climate leaders publish open letter ahead of COP30: COP30 presents a critical moment for businesses and governments to revive progress towards a more resilient and sustainable economy. The World Economic Forum’s Climate Leaders CEO Alliance has delivered an open letter to world leaders ahead of the UN conference, emphasizing the commercial viability of climate economics, and urging businesses and policymakers to seize the historic opportunity to achieve profitability, resilience and growth. The letter outlines 13 ways policymakers can speed up the transition, from simplifying the licensing process to leveraging digital solutions.

Planet under pressure: 10 new technology solutions to watch. Seven of nine planetary boundaries have been breached, causing “the planet’s vital signs to turn red”, according to the Planetary Health Check 2025 conducted by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. A new report from the Forum and Frontiers 10 Emerging Technology Solutions for Planetary Health explores innovations that can specifically address and respond to the current state of our planet. Approaches such as precision fermentation, eco-friendly concrete and methane capture can drive change as we move away from fossil fuels and better manage the earth’s ecosystems.
Source: World Economic Forum



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *