A.P. Moller – Maersk Releases Weather Data to Aid Climate Science
A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) announced on January 27, 2022, that it will release more than nine million weather observations into the public domain for free use by the scientific community across the globe. The data collected by Maersk vessels since 2012 is set to increase publicly available ocean weather data by 28%.
The data will be shared through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), a platform run jointly by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). GOOS collects ocean weather observations for climate science and provides input to weather forecasts.
The data will be shared through the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS), a platform run jointly by UNESCO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). GOOS collects ocean weather observations for climate science and provides input to weather forecasts.
New Report on the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
A collaboration between five UN Agencies (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP, WHO) analyzes the current state and challenges of the state of food security and nutrition. The report recognizes that achieving food security has become more challenging. The UN agencies’ report outlines the major drivers of the recent rise in hunger and food insecurity (Conflict, Climate variability and extremes, Economic slowdowns and downturns).
The report recommends six ways to transform food systems:
The report recommends six ways to transform food systems:
- Integrating humanitarian, development and peacebuilding policies in conflict-affected areas.
- Scaling up climate resilience across food systems.
- Strengthening the resilience of the most vulnerable to economic adversity.
- Intervening along the food supply chains to lower the cost of nutritious foods.
- Tackling poverty and structural inequalities, ensuring interventions are pro-poor and inclusive.
- Strengthening food environments and changing consumer behavior to promote dietary patterns with positive impacts on human health and the environment.
EU-Colombia: Joint Declaration on Environment, Climate Action and Sustainable Development
On February 14, 2022, representatives from Colombia and the European Union signed the Joint Declaration on Environment, Climate Action and Sustainable Development. The declaration focuses on key shared visions and priorities such as climate action, biodiversity and ecosystems conservation, disaster risk reduction, the fight against deforestation, circular economy, sustainable blue economy, and plastic pollution.
Back in September 2021, the EU and Colombia established a milestone with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding on an Agenda of enhanced political and sectoral dialogue and cooperation for the next decade.
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EU: Council Conclusions on EU Climate Diplomacy
The EU Council approved at its meeting held on February 21, 2022 conclusions on accelerating the implementation of Glasgow outcomes.
Outcomes include:
- Crucial importance of the conservation and restoration of biodiversity and all ecosystems, including forests and oceans, and highlights the critical role of nature-based solutions, also in light of the upcoming UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP15.
- The EU also looks forward to progressing the deliberations on the New Collective Quantified Goal post 2025 underpinned by the need to make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards climate neutral and resilient development.
- Recognizes the importance of strengthening international cooperative action on technology development and transfer, such as within the framework of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council and the EU-US Energy Council.
- The Council welcomes the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa and looks forward to the operationalization of this partnership in 2022.
EU: COP15 Global Biodiversity Negotiations
EU leaders are participating from March 14-29, 2022, in global biodiversity meetings to advance on the development of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which is a new global accord to halt and reverse the loss of the planet's plants, animals and ecosystems. This gathering is the last official session for governments to negotiate on the once-in-a-decade global agreement, to be adopted at the UN Biodiversity Conference COP15 later in the year. The Framework will guide global action for nature and people, which is vital for tackling climate change and building a fairer, safer, healthier world for everyone, everywhere.
The EU will negotiate for the following elements of the Framework as a minimum:
The EU will negotiate for the following elements of the Framework as a minimum:
- Ambitious, measurable and time-bound goals, milestones, and targets that will aim for all of the world's ecosystems to be restored, resilient, and adequately protected by 2050;
- Targets to address the direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss and ensure sustainable use of natural resources, including 30×30 target to protect at least 30% of world's land and oceans by 2030;
- Ensuring respect of the rights of indigenous peoples, and full and effective participation by indigenous peoples and stakeholders.
EU: Applying EU Health and Environmental Standards
The Green Deal and Farm to Fork Strategy demand adherence to higher sustainability standards as well as dietary change, as part of the necessary transition to a more sustainable and healthy food system.
Sustainability requirements for food cover climate, environment, and social and animal welfare impacts. They relate to production practices, the way it is produced, rather than product characteristics.
The European Commission is preparing a report that will assess the rationale and legal feasibility of applying EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products. Applying, for example:
Sustainability requirements for food cover climate, environment, and social and animal welfare impacts. They relate to production practices, the way it is produced, rather than product characteristics.
The European Commission is preparing a report that will assess the rationale and legal feasibility of applying EU health and environmental standards to imported agricultural and agri-food products. Applying, for example:
- animal welfare standards
- processes and production methods
It may also identify concrete initiatives to ensure better consistency in their application, in conformity with World Trade Organization rules.
Commission adoption planned for second quarter 2022.
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Commission adoption planned for second quarter 2022.
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EU: The European Growth Model
On March 2, 2022, the European Commission released a communication advancing the guidelines of the European Growth Model, focused on a green, digital and resilient economy. It served to inform discussions towards the informal European Council meeting of heads of state or government that took place 10-11 March 2022.
Key focus areas include:
Key focus areas include:
- Investments and reforms at the basis of the European Growth Model
- Towards a green, digital, and resilient economy
- Mobilizing coordinated action at all levels
- Ensuring a fair and inclusive economic transformation
EU: Proposal for a Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
On February 23, the European Commission published its Proposal for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence.
Under the proposed directive, the Commission proposes due diligence rules and obligations that would apply to the three groups of companies (large EU companies – Group 1; smaller EU companies in high impact sectors – Group 2; and non-EU companies active in the EU who meet the Group 1 and 2 thresholds for their the EU), and in relation to certain sectors for Group 2 companies (high impact sectors are textiles, agriculture, extraction of minerals). The rules will be enforced by administrative supervision by Member States with the possibility of civil liability in the case of non-compliance with the rules.
The proposal will go to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. Once adopted, Member States will have two years to transpose the Directive into national law and communicate the relevant texts to the Commission.
The obligation on due diligence will apply to the company's own operations, their subsidiaries and their value chains (direct and indirect established business relationships).
In order to comply with the corporate due diligence duty, companies will need to:
Under the proposed directive, the Commission proposes due diligence rules and obligations that would apply to the three groups of companies (large EU companies – Group 1; smaller EU companies in high impact sectors – Group 2; and non-EU companies active in the EU who meet the Group 1 and 2 thresholds for their the EU), and in relation to certain sectors for Group 2 companies (high impact sectors are textiles, agriculture, extraction of minerals). The rules will be enforced by administrative supervision by Member States with the possibility of civil liability in the case of non-compliance with the rules.
The proposal will go to the European Parliament and the Council for approval. Once adopted, Member States will have two years to transpose the Directive into national law and communicate the relevant texts to the Commission.
The obligation on due diligence will apply to the company's own operations, their subsidiaries and their value chains (direct and indirect established business relationships).
In order to comply with the corporate due diligence duty, companies will need to:
- integrate due diligence into policies;
- identify actual or potential adverse human rights and environmental impacts;
- prevent or mitigate potential impacts;
- bring to an end or minimize actual impacts;
- establish and maintain a complaints procedure;
- monitor the effectiveness of the due diligence policy and measures;
- and publicly communicate on due diligence.
FAO: New Report on the Future of Food Safety
The report analyzes the emerging food safety challenges as well as changing food systems. It looks at how global drivers like economic growth, changing consumer behavior and consumption patterns, a growing population and the climate crisis will impact the future of food safety.
It focuses on eight areas: climate change, new food sources and production systems, the rise of farms and vegetable gardens in cities, changing consumer behavior, the circular economy, microbiome science, technological and scientific innovation, and food fraud. The aim of the report is to help policy makers anticipate future concerns rather than have to react to them.
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It focuses on eight areas: climate change, new food sources and production systems, the rise of farms and vegetable gardens in cities, changing consumer behavior, the circular economy, microbiome science, technological and scientific innovation, and food fraud. The aim of the report is to help policy makers anticipate future concerns rather than have to react to them.
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Food Sustainability Index
The Food Sustainability Index (FSI) has been developed by Economist Impact with the support of the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition Foundation (BCFN). The 2021 FSI contains a number of updates to better capture the most significant issues of 2020 and 2021. Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of preventing zoonotic diseases, embracing the One Health Approach, and strengthening food supply chain resilience.
The enduring threat of climate change calls for assessments of the sustainability of food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), the affordability of sustainable diets, and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. It aims to shift away from country rankings and instead focus on broader groupings and the lessons these generate for best practices in food sustainability.
It assesses the sustainability of 78 countries' food systems in terms of food loss and waste, sustainable agriculture and nutritional challenges. According to the 2021 FSI, Sweden, Japan, Canada, Finland and Austria had the most sustainable food systems in the world.
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The enduring threat of climate change calls for assessments of the sustainability of food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), the affordability of sustainable diets, and climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. It aims to shift away from country rankings and instead focus on broader groupings and the lessons these generate for best practices in food sustainability.
It assesses the sustainability of 78 countries' food systems in terms of food loss and waste, sustainable agriculture and nutritional challenges. According to the 2021 FSI, Sweden, Japan, Canada, Finland and Austria had the most sustainable food systems in the world.
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Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report “Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability” assesses the impacts of climate change, looking at ecosystems, biodiversity, and human communities at global and regional levels. It also reviews vulnerabilities and the capacities and limits of the natural world and human societies to adapt to climate change.
The report states that the world now faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the nex two decades, assuming global warming of 1.5 °C.
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The report states that the world now faces unavoidable multiple climate hazards over the nex two decades, assuming global warming of 1.5 °C.
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Ireland: Public Consultation on National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications is undertaking a public consultation on Ireland’s draft National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap. The Roadmap will set out a series of actions with the objective to ultimately reduce 50% of food waste in Ireland by 2030.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is estimated that Ireland generated about 1.1 million tons of food waste in 2019. The development of a National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap is included as a commitment in Ireland’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy and the Government’s 2021 Climate Action Plan.
Deadline for submissions is March 24, 2022.
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According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is estimated that Ireland generated about 1.1 million tons of food waste in 2019. The development of a National Food Waste Prevention Roadmap is included as a commitment in Ireland’s Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy and the Government’s 2021 Climate Action Plan.
Deadline for submissions is March 24, 2022.
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OECD: New Report on Plastic Pollution
A new report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) states that the world is producing twice as much plastic waste as two decades ago, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill, incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% successfully recycled.
Key findings of the report include:
Key findings of the report include:
- Plastic consumption has quadrupled over the past 30 years, driven by growth in emerging markets. Global plastics production doubled from 2000 to 2019 to reach 460 million tons. Plastics account for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Global plastic waste generation more than doubled from 2000 to 2019 to 353 million tonnes. Nearly two-thirds of plastic waste comes from plastics with lifetimes of under five years, with 40% coming from packaging, 12% from consumer goods and 11% from clothing and textiles.
- Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled (15% is collected for recycling but 40% of that is disposed of as residues). Another 19% is incinerated, 50% ends up in landfill and 22% evades waste management systems and goes into uncontrolled dumpsites, is burned in open pits or ends up in terrestrial or aquatic environments, especially in poorer countries.
Spain: New Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE) of the Agri-food Sector
The new Spanish Strategic Project for the Recovery and Economic Transformation (PERTE) of the agri-food sector was approved by the Council of Ministers on February 08, 2022. It is conceived as a set of measures to strengthen the development of the agri-food chain and provide it with the necessary tools to meet the environmental, digital, social and economic challenges of the next decade.
To achieve these objectives, it will have a public investment of around one billion euros until 2023, although it is expected to generate an impact on the economy of around three billion euros.
The strategic agri-food project focuses on three priority lines of action:
To achieve these objectives, it will have a public investment of around one billion euros until 2023, although it is expected to generate an impact on the economy of around three billion euros.
The strategic agri-food project focuses on three priority lines of action:
- Specific support package for the agri-food industry, with the aim of improving its production processes, linked to its competitiveness, sustainability and traceability of food production. Endowment: 400 million euros.
- Specific measures to support the digital adaptation process and extend it to all the agents that form part of its value chain (farmers and livestock breeders and their cooperatives, small and medium-sized production, processing, and marketing companies). Endowment: 454.35 million.
- Specific measures to support innovation and research to achieve a competitive agri-food sector at all levels. Endowment: 148.56 million euros.
Within the sustainability section, the automation of processes, the introduction of robotics or the sounding of processes and data acquisition, as well as the optimization of maintenance along the value chain of a product, are of particular interest.
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UNECA: Regional Forum Highlights Africa’s Importance for Achieving 2030 Agenda
The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) held its 2022 regional forum on sustainable development from March 3-5. The meeting resulted in adoption of the Kigali Declaration on ‘good practices and solutions to enhance implementation of the sustainable development goals in Africa’, which will be presented at the July 2022 meeting of the UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Governments attending the Forum adopted the Kigali Declaration, which:
Governments attending the Forum adopted the Kigali Declaration, which:
- Urges African countries to link mutually reinforcing policies for sustainable development and COVID-19 recovery;
- Calls on African countries to build strong and resilience national statistical systems by leveraging new tools, innovative solutions, and technology, including through enhanced partnerships with other stakeholders; and
- Highlights the need for countries to utilize the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) to support the development of regional value chains, for example regarding the minerals used in the production of batteries and electric vehicles.
US: FDA Launches Agricultural Water Assessment Builder
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released a new user-friendly online Agricultural Water Assessment Builder to help farms understand the proposed requirements for an agricultural water assessment in the Agricultural Water Proposed Rule.
If completed, the proposed rule would require farms to conduct systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. The assessment would include an evaluation of the water system, agricultural water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on source water by activities conducted on adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors, such as the results of optional testing.
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If completed, the proposed rule would require farms to conduct systems-based agricultural water assessments to determine and guide appropriate measures to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. The assessment would include an evaluation of the water system, agricultural water use practices, crop characteristics, environmental conditions, potential impacts on source water by activities conducted on adjacent and nearby land, and other relevant factors, such as the results of optional testing.
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US: New Environmental Justice Screening Tools
On February 18, 2022, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) and the latest version of the EJScreen, respectively.
Both tools are intended to help achieve the goals of the Justice40 initiative, conceived to addressing Environmental Justice. Environmental Justice is defined by EPA as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
Both tools are intended to help achieve the goals of the Justice40 initiative, conceived to addressing Environmental Justice. Environmental Justice is defined by EPA as “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
- CEJST: According to CEQ, “the purpose of the tool is to help Federal agencies identify disadvantaged communities that are marginalized, underserved, and overburdened by pollution. The current version of the tool provides socioeconomic, environmental, and climate information to inform decisions that may affect these communities.”
- EJScreen is an environmental justice mapping and screening tool. EPA uses EJScreen in enforcement, compliance, outreach and engagement, and policy making. Additional agencies use it in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) permitting context to identify the location and concentrations of minority and/or low-income populations.