by Komoneed | Dec 18, 2024
With the climate crisis leading to more frequent and severe droughts, many wildlife species in the lower 48 United States will suffer from year-long droughts almost five times as frequently in the coming decades as they did historically, according to a new study. Droughts lasting three years could become nearly seven times as frequent, a […]
The post Increasing Drought Frequency Brings Threats to U.S. Wildlife, Research Finds appeared first on EcoWatch.
by Komoneed | Dec 18, 2024
According to the latest U.S. Energy Storage Monitor report by American Clean Power Association (ACP) and Wood Mackenzie, installations of both grid-scale and residential energy storage in the U.S. are continuing to rise, even reaching record highs in the third quarter of 2024. Grid-scale energy storage reached a record for third-quarter installations, hitting 3,806 MW […]
The post U.S. Residential Energy Storage Installations Reach a Record High appeared first on EcoWatch.
by Komoneed | Dec 18, 2024
Plastic has become essential to modern life. It’s durable and offers a level of versatility that makes it indispensable across multiple industries. However, with this type of convenience comes at least some costs. In the case of plastics, it’s the environmental impact of plastic disposal that weighs heavily on the industry. Recycling plastic is critical […]
The post The Lifecycle of Recycled Plastics: How Different Types Are Processed appeared first on RecycleNation.
by Komoneed | Dec 18, 2024
Climatelinks 2024 Year in Review: Most Popular Resources
jschoshinski
Fri, 12/13/2024 – 14:10
Climatelinks houses thousands of resources that offer technical guidance and knowledge related to USAID’s work to help countries mitigate and adapt to climate change. The most visited resources in 2024 include country-level fact sheets, trainings, guidance notes, and more.
Here are the most visited Climatelinks resources of 2024:
Guidance Note: Operationalizing the Principles for Locally Led Adaptation
Locally led adaptation (LLA) is an approach where local actors and communities lead decisions over how, when, and where to
adapt to climate change impacts. This document offers guidance for USAID and its implementing partners on operationalizing the Principles for Locally Led Adaptation. It identifies how each principle aligns with relevant USAID policies and Agency guidance and illustrates opportunities for implementing LLA across the USAID program cycle.
Regional, Sector, and Country Risk Profiles and GHG Emissions Fact Sheets
Each year, Climate Risk Profiles and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Fact Sheets are among the top Climatelinks resources. This year, five Climate Risk Profiles got an update: Ethiopia, Libya, Uzbekistan, Jamaica, and the Philippines. Also new this year is a hub for all of the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance’s Climate Risk Profiles for Resilience and Food Security Activities. To find GHG Emissions Fact Sheets, go to the resource section of individual country pages.
GCC Standard Indicator Handbook
The 2024 Climate Change Standard Indicator Handbook lists the FY 2024 USAID and Department of State standard indicators for climate change and development. It includes definition sheets for each indicator and references to tools that can facilitate reporting on indicators. For additional information, the Climate Change Extended Indicator Handbook includes analyses of various reporting scenarios, frequently asked questions about the standard indicators, and tips for troubleshooting.
Trainings
Climatelinks hosts a variety of trainings that help USAID staff and implementing partners build their knowledge and improve their skills. Several of these trainings were among the most visited resources this year including:
Climate Finance Training Course
Climate Risk Management Resources and Training
Climate-Resilient Development 101
Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Project Management Training Module
Amazon Private Sector Investment Landscape
In the Brazilian Amazon, unsustainable practices such as large-scale agriculture, cattle ranching, and logging have led to widespread deforestation and biodiversity loss. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and bioeconomy investments are increasingly seen as powerful tools for addressing deforestation by channeling capital into businesses that protect, restore, and sustainably manage natural ecosystems. The USAID Climate Finance for Development Accelerator explored the current investment landscape in the Brazilian Amazon biome, with the aim of identifying barriers to increased investment into bioeconomy and NbS and potential opportunities to help unlock additional flows.
Do you have a resource you think belongs on Climatelinks? We would love to hear from you! Submit your resource to the Climatelinks team or email us to discuss next steps.
Teaser Text
The most visited resources in 2024 include country-level fact sheets, trainings, guidance notes, and more.
Publish Date
Thu, 12/12/2024 – 12:00
Author(s)
Jamie Schoshinski
Hero Image
EV Charger Assembling.jpg
Blog Type
Blog Post
Strategic Objective
Adaptation
Integration
Mitigation
Region
Global
Topic
Adaptation
Biodiversity Conservation
Emissions
Climate Finance
Climate Risk Management
Climate Strategy
Forest/Forestry
Gender and Social Inclusion
Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
Locally-Led Development
Mitigation
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
Nature-based Solutions
Resilience
Training
Sectors
Climate
Show Download Link
On
by Komoneed | Dec 18, 2024
At the Energy LIVE 2024 conference in Houston, Texas, the path to a net-zero emissions future was a hot topic.
In a session titled ‘The Great Electrification Debate’, energy experts Dr Tej Gidda and Dr Peter Benyon, both from GHD, discussed whether full electrification is possible on a global or regional scale.
Speaking to an audience of industry insiders, policymakers and innovators, Gidda and Benyon presented equally ambitious but contrasting viewpoints. One championed the promise of green electricity while the other advocated for alternative renewable energy sources.
The case for electrification
Dr Peter Benyon.
Benyon, GHD’s Australian Market Leader – Power, opened with a vision of electrification across residential, commercial, industrial and transportation sectors, citing the rapid adoption of renewable energy and advancements in energy efficiency as cornerstones of a clean, sustainable future.
“We are already making significant progress toward electrifying everything. Over the past decade, electricity demand has grown at nearly twice the rate of overall energy demand, and this trend is accelerating rapidly,” he said.
“With net zero objectives in focus, green electricity — produced from abundant resources like wind and solar — stands out as the cleanest and most cost-effective energy source.
“Harnessing these natural resources, coupled with energy storage, makes transitioning to an all-electric system an obvious choice.
“The benefits are clear — cleaner air, lower noise pollution and significant cost savings. Green electricity is not simply better for the environment; it is also healthier and more affordable for communities,” he explained.
To bolster his argument, Benyon pointed to community-led projects like Electrify 2515, where 500 homes in the city of Wollongong are transitioning from gas to electric appliances.
He also highlighted progress in Australian states and territories including South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory, which are well on their way to, or have already achieved, net 100% renewable electricity and have advanced electrification initiatives.
Electrification would also be economically beneficial, he said. “Every heat pump and EV we deploy brings tangible savings for households. It is not just about the planet — it is about people’s wallets.
“We’re also seeing breakthroughs in energy storage, including lithium, sodium and vanadium technologies, which will support and stabilise grids and enable deeper electrification.”
Challenges and alternatives
Dr Tej Gidda.
Gidda, GHD’s Global Leader for Future Energy, presented a different perspective, questioning whether electrifying everything is realistic in the short term.
“The power generation required for full electrification is enormous, and in many regions, it is simply not feasible today,” he argued.
Gidda said that affordability was another critical barrier, using North America as an example of a region where consumers and businesses face high costs of transitioning to electric systems even with subsidies.
“We don’t currently have enough power generation to electrify everything. The anticipated increases in demand are already outpacing our ability to generate new power, and we are struggling to meet existing needs,” he said.
“How can we possibly address the additional requirements for full electrification when we’re already behind on capacity for today’s demands?”
However, existing infrastructure in North America still offers untapped potential for decarbonisation, Gidda said.
“We have millions of miles of pipelines that can be repurposed for renewable natural gas and hydrogen. Why abandon these assets when we can use them to reduce emissions today and do so to maintain affordability?”
Gidda cited North American projects converting agricultural waste and landfill gas into biomethane, as well as Toronto’s efforts to displace natural gas with renewable sources created from food waste.
He also underscored the limitations of battery electric vehicles, particularly in heavy-duty transport.
“There are not enough lithium reserves globally to electrify all vehicles, and this is a real problem. We need complementary solutions, such as hydrogen and low-carbon fuels.”
Technological pathways
Both Gidda and Benyon agreed on the need to advance energy technologies to support the energy transition.
Benyon advocated for diverse energy storage methods, from mechanical processes like compressed air to thermal storage.
“Storage innovation is key to grid reliability and scalability. It is how we will meet growing demand without compromising stability in a renewable electricity grid,” he said.
Gidda made the case for blending hydrogen into existing natural gas systems to decarbonise without costly infrastructure overhauls.
“This approach reduces emissions immediately, with minimal disruption to consumers,” he explained.
What needs to happen now?
When asked what near-term actions are critical for achieving net zero by 2050, Benyon called for aggressive grid decarbonisation and expanded infrastructure, with targeted support for low-income communities to ensure equitable transitions.
Gidda stressed the need for comprehensive national energy policies and public–private partnerships. “This is too big for any one sector to tackle alone. Collaboration is our best shot at success,” he said.
Gidda said that solutions must be tailored to the realities of each region. “There is no single path to net zero,” he said. “For me, I do not believe ‘electrification’ is the answer on its own. It needs to be a combination of electrification and decarbonisation.”
Benyon agreed on the need for diverse approaches, adding, “What matters most is that we act decisively and collaboratively. Every step forward is a step toward a cleaner, greener world.”
Top image credit: iStock.com/kynny
