What The World s Richest People Are Doing To Fight Climate Change
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The world’s wealthiest people have never been richer, and their carbon footprint has expanded as a consequence. Some of the very richest are actively engaged in fighting climate change, while others, not so much.
A recent UN report found that the richest 1% of the world population account for 15% of emissions. “The wealthy bear the greatest responsibility in this area,” the report found, referring to changes in consumer behavior prioritizing low-carbon consumption. “This elite will need to reduce their footprint by a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris Agreement targets,” it added.
Power-generating windmill turbines are seen during sunset in Bourlon, France. Photo: Reuters
With Earth Day taking place today, look to these five new books about the planet, from a Bill Gates bestseller to a children s book about polar bears.
1. How To Avoid A Climate Disaster - Bill Gates (Non-fiction)
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is thought to have emitted about 5% fewer greenhouse gases last year than the year before. That means releasing the equivalent of 48 or 49 billion tonnes of carbon, instead of 51 billion. Consider what it took to achieve this 5% reduction, writes Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the introduction of his new book on the climate crisis.
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LIZARD ISLAND RESEARCH STATION, Australia (Reuters) - A yellow skiff darted across a lagoon along Australia’s northeast coast, throttling down as it approached a shallow coral reef. Climate scientist Ken Caldeira piloted the craft while a younger colleague, oceanographer Manoela Romanó de Orte, sat on the bow holding a syringe filled with red dye.
A dye used to monitor ocean currents spreads through sea water after being released by researcher Manoela Romano de Orte while working with Ken Caldeira, an atmospheric scientist at the Carnegie Institution for Science s Department of Global Ecology, while working at a research station on Lizard Island off the coast of Queensland, Australia on October 23, 2019. Picture taken October 23, 2019. To match Special Report CLIMATE-CHANGE/SCIENTISTS-CALDEIRA REUTERS/Lucas Jackson
Adaptation And Creating A Triple Bottom Line: Two Ways To Thrive In A Changing Landscape forbes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from forbes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Apr 22, 2021
Selena Gomez by Lisabjo and Cate Blanchett by Gage Skidmore and Salma Hayek by Gage Skidmore and Mark Ruffalo by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Orlando Bloom en El Hormiguero de Pablo Motos by ElHormiguero is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0. Pharrell by Karl Hab and Meryl Streep from ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’ at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2016 by Dick Thomas Johnson is licensed under CC BY 2.0
It’s the 51st anniversary of Earth Day, and we can finally dare to celebrate. Yes, we have a climate change crisis on our hands. Yet the White House just announced the U.S. will cut greenhouse gas emissions 50% by 2030. Solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources will power us forward.