President Obama has announced that he will reject an application for the completion of the Keystone XL oil pipeline after years of consideration. “The pipeline would not have made a serious impact on… the American people’s prospects for the future,” Obama said, speaking from the White House along with Secretary of State John Kerry. “[It] would not make a meaningful long-term contribution to our economy.” The move comes as Obama seeks to position himself as a champion of the environment, and play a leadership role at the Paris climate conference later this month. However, Obama expressed a frustration about what he described as the “over-inflated” symbolism of the Keystone XL pipeline. The policy would have been “neither a silver bullet” nor “the express lane to climate disaster,” he said. Ultimately, the project’s symbolism played a key role in the decision to reject it. A senior State Department official said Friday that approving the pipeline would have been viewed internationally as inconsistent with US policy and efforts to combat climate change. (Time)
Half a billion people live on land at risk from sea level rise globally
Carbon emissions causing 4°C of warming could lock in enough sea level rise to submerge land currently home to 470 to 760 million people, according to a report and interactive maps published by Climate Central, with unstoppable rises to unfold over centuries. The research organisation’s report also shows that aggressive carbon cuts resulting in 2°C warming could bring the number as low as 130 million people. The analysis comes as ministers from more than 80 countries meet in Paris to find more common ground weeks ahead of global climate talks in December. Climate Central’s report builds on a US-focused paper published last month. The report finds that China is most at risk, with 145 million people living on land ultimately threatened by rising seas if emission levels are not reduced. China also has the most to gain from limiting warming to 2°C, which would cut the total to 64 million. (Eco-Business)
Equality
Equal Pay Day: UK women effectively working for free until end of year
Britain’s gender pay gap will leave women effectively working for free from 9 November until the end of the year, according to equality charity the Fawcett Society. Equal Pay Day is calculated using official statistics for full-time workers. With the gender pay gap at 14.2 percent, it falls just five days later than last year, and only two days later than in 2013. Campaigners warn that, based on the tiny reduction in the pay gap last year, it would take 54 years to reach parity at current rates. More than four decades after the Equal Pay Act was introduced, the divide remains across the workforce. Sam Smethers, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “There has never been a better opportunity to close the pay gap for good. Progress has stalled in recent years but with real commitment from government and employers, together with action from women and men at work, we could speed up progress towards the day when we can consign it to history.” (Guardian)
McDonald’s has announced that all of its centrally-purchased packaging in Europe is now sustainably sourced. The fast food chain said items including cartons, cups, bags, napkins and tray liners were made with wood fibre from recycled sources or forests certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification. The announcement applies to packaging bought centrally for 38 European countries, but not to some locally-sourced items. Keith Kenny, vice president of sustainability, worldwide supply chain at McDonald’s, said: “This step represents a key milestone in McDonald’s European sustainable packaging strategy to source 100 percent wood fibre from recycled or certified virgin sources by 2016, as well as providing credible evidence to our customers that the packaging products we use come from well-managed forests. The achievement has involved collaboration across the length and breadth of our supply chain in all 38 European markets.” (Supply Management)
Policy
Greenpeace loses Indian registration
Greenpeace says its charitable registration to operate in India has been revoked, effectively shutting down its operations in India. The government of Narendra Modi has previously accused Greenpeace of flouting tax laws and having an anti-development agenda. The pressure group has been working in India for 14 years and employs more than 300 people. The move against the group is one of many “clumsy tactics to suppress free speech and dissenting voices” by the government, said Vinuta Gopal, the interim executive director of Greenpeace India. Greenpeace says it plans to challenge this latest decision. It follows a ruling that the organisation could not raise money abroad – which was itself successfully challenged. “We are confident that we are on strong legal ground. We have faith in the legal process and are confident of overcoming this order,” said Gopal. (BBC; NY Times)
Image Source: Fast Food by happymealy / CC BY SA 2.0
COMMENTS