The United Nations’ decision to ask countries to pledge greenhouse gas targets ahead of a global deal on climate change, has proved a “game changer” in driving momentum towards an agreement in Paris later this year. That is the view of the Peruvian and French governments, hosts of the crucial UN climate change summits in 2014 and 2015 respectively. Over the course of this year, countries have been submitting their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) to the United Nations, outlining the post-2020 emissions reduction targets they intend to enact under a Paris climate change deal. Some critics argue this voluntary approach lacks the authority of a legally binding agreement, while scientists have warned the emissions reductions pledges made to date are short of what is required to ensure a reasonable chance of limiting temperature increases to the internationally agreed 2°C. (Business Green)
Strategy
Patagonia out to change the ‘filthy business’ of denim
Outdoor apparel brand Patagonia has set out to change the way that cotton is grown and denim is made. The company has partnered with chemical company Archroma on a new denim collection, launched this week — which is Fair Trade certified and said to use 84 percent less water, 30 percent less energy and 25 percent less CO2 compared to conventional denim dyeing processes . All Patagonia denim is made with organic cotton, which eliminates chemical and synthetic fertilisers, poisonous pesticides or herbicides. Patagonia says the “filthy business” of producing conventional denim drove it to rethink the process. “It took several years of research, innovation, trial and error, but the result is a new path for denim. We’re hopeful other manufacturers will follow suit and help us change the denim industry,” said Helena Barbour, Patagonia’s Business Unit Director of Sportswear. (Sustainable Brands)
Corporate Reputation
Monsanto hit with another lawsuit alleging environmental pollution
Agrochemical giant Monsanto is facing another lawsuit from the city of Spokane, Washington, alleging that it knowingly sold harmful chemicals that polluted the environment. The lawsuit alleges that Monsanto is responsible for the high levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Spokane River. It follows a similar lawsuit filed by the city of San Jose, California, that alleges Monsanto knowingly polluted the San Francisco Bay with PCBs, and says Monsanto should pay to clean up the contamination. A city spokesperson says Spokane will pay $300 million to keep PCBs and other pollutants from entering the river in coming years. Monsanto said in a statement that the company is “reviewing the [Spokane] lawsuit and its allegations. However, Monsanto is not responsible for the costs alleged in this matter.” (Environmental Leader)
Technology & Innovation
Self-driving cars igniting a gold rush
Lawmakers from California, Texas and Virginia are competing to attract the autonomous car industry, along with the jobs and tax revenue that come with it. They are financing research centres, building fake suburbs for testing the cars, and, perhaps most important, going light on regulation, all in an effort to attract a rapidly growing industry. The prize: A piece of the estimated $20 billion automakers and other companies will spend globally on development over the next five years, according to information-technology researcher Gartner. One such project is being carried out in Michigan, where a 32-acre mock suburb is being designed for self-driving research. Fifteen companies, including Ford, General Motors, Toyota and Honda, who have committed to spending $1 million each to conduct research. (The New York Times)
Water
Environmental workers spill a million gallons of waste into Colorado River
A team of US regulators investigating contamination at a Colorado goldmine accidentally released a million gallons (3.8 million litres) of orange-hued waste water into a local river system, the Environmental Protection Agency said on Thursday. The waste water had been held behind a barrier near the abandoned Gold King Mine, but was accidentally emptied into Cement creek, which flows into the Animas River. An EPA spokesman said “the primary environmental concern is the pulse of contaminated water containing sediment and metals flowing as an orange-coloured discharge downstream”. Federal and Colorado health officials warned water users downstream to turn off intakes and avoid water-borne recreational activity until the contaminated water passes. (The Guardian)
Image Source: Animas River by Damsel Stock / CC BY 3.0
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