Top Stories

• Better warning systems needed for extreme weather, says UN report
• HSBC is latest bank to pledge net-zero financed emissions by 2050
• Exploited workers at UK garment factories ‘robbed’ of £27m since July
• Stop CO2 emissions bouncing back after Covid plunge, says IEA
• Majority of UK diners are willing to switch to sustainable dishes

Climate Change 

Better warning systems needed for extreme weather, says UN report

A UN report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says rapid improvement is needed of early-warning systems for extreme weather events. The study warns one in three people on Earth are not adequately covered by warning systems and the numbers of people in need after natural disasters could increase by 50% by 2030. Thanks in part to climate change, over the past 50 years, some 11,000 disasters involving weather, climate and water-related hazards have occurred claiming two million lives and causing more than $3.5 trillion economic losses. Around 70% of connected deaths occurred in the poorest nations. Yet, according to WMO, just 26% of weather observation networks in Africa meet their standards. Good quality warning systems are critically needed in the least developed countries and in small island states. (BBC) 

Sustainable Investment 

HSBC is latest bank to pledge net-zero financed emissions by 2050

HSBC has committed to achieving net-zero financed emissions, announcing it intends to align its portfolio of investments and debt financing with global climate targets by 2050. The bank, currently Europe’s second largest financier of fossil fuels, has committed to reaching net-zero across its supply chain and operations by 2030, before reaching net-zero across its customer portfolio by 2050. The pledge does not include any firm commitments to phasing out support of fossil fuel companies. Instead, it focuses on the bank’s plans to invest between $75 billion and $1 trillion over the next 10 years to support its customers’ transition towards net zero emissions. The news has been criticised by some environmental campaigners due to lacking a phaseout timeline for its support of fossil-fuel companies and businesses responsible for deforestation. (GreenBiz) 

Employees 

Exploited workers at UK garment factories ‘robbed’ of £27m since July

Exploited workers in UK garment factories have been “robbed” of £27m in systematic underpayments since July, according to trade body the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and MP Lisa Cameron, who chairs a cross-party group of MPs on textiles and fashion. Around 10,000 garment workers are paid £3.50 an hour, compared with the national minimum wage of £8.72, meaning workers had missed out on £2.1m a week – or £27m in total – since retailers, MPs and NGOs last wrote to the Home Office in July calling for better protection for textiles employees. The trade body has urged the government to set up a “fit-to-trade” licensing scheme that would better protect workers against forced labour and other mistreatment, as well as ensuring payment of VAT, national insurance and holiday pay, among other entitlements. (Guardian) 

Energy 

Stop CO2 emissions bouncing back after Covid plunge, says IEA

The coronavirus pandemic is expected to cause a record 7% decline in global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions in 2020, but governments are not doing enough to prevent a rapid rebound, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). According to the report, carbon dioxide emissions from energy use are expected to fall to 33.4 gigatonnes in 2020, the biggest year on year fall since records began. Energy demand is expected to fall by 5% in 2020. However, under one IEA-modelled scenario, based on current government policies, carbon dioxide emissions will rebound in 2021, and rise to 36 gigatonnes by 2030. The IEA warned more optimistic scenarios of reducing carbon dioxide levels would require a rapid change in global energy policy. (Guardian) 

Customers 

Majority of UK diners are willing to switch to sustainable dishes

Concern about the environment among British diners has grown since the pandemic began, according to the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA). Its poll found 65% of diners are concerned about the environment, an increase from 47% recorded before lockdown measures were introduced. The study also revealed that over 75% of consumers said they would either consider, be likely, or be very likely to order a dish that had ingredients that might otherwise be wasted. The SRA has calculated that the equivalent of the lifetime carbon footprint of more than 150,000 people could be saved if half the people who said they would be willing to switch to a more sustainable dish did so once normal dining patterns resume. (Business Green)