1.5°C, 1.8°C or even 2.8°C
The ambition of the recent COP26 event in Glasgow was to set in place measures that the whole world could agree upon to restrict global warming to 1.5°C. One key to this aim was to halve carbon emissions by 2030. So has this been achieved and is the world going to survive?
Winter of discontent?
As world leaders gathered in Glasgow, Scotland, for COP26, countries were already backtracking on their announced proposals, changing their proposals or making even more extravagant announcements to support their posturing. Meanwhile, gas prices continued to surge prompting, at least in the UK, dire warnings regarding industry shutdowns and widespread energy poverty.
Not so united front
While the UK’s COP26 President Alok Sharma was clocking up air miles jetting around the world attempting to stir up support for radical measures to combat climate change, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government has been announcing more and more dramatic and urgent measures to achieve the so-called net-zero target of 2050, in an attempt to encourage other G20 nations to follow suit.
Plastics rethink
Much of the discussion on plastic waste has focused on recycling and reuse, as well as replacement by other materials or approaches, like refillable containers. While these discussions are entirely relevant and worthwhile, the whole issue ultimately comes down to the willingness of consumers to sort and collect plastic waste or take their own refillable containers to supermarkets or other retail outlets to restock their preferred products.
Decarbonised future
There has been much discussion around the world in recent months about achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The discussions have been given urgency by the imminent COP26 event to be held in November 2021 in Glasgow, UK. Read the C&I Magazine leader article.
Energy turnaround
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released what it describes as ‘the world’s first comprehensive study* of how to transition to a net zero energy system by 2050 while ensuring stable and affordable energy supplies, providing universal energy access, and enabling robust economic growth’.
Laughing it off
A 2016 survey by the Pew Research Center found that nearly 25% of US adults said they shared inaccurate information on social media. Some observers suggest this is likely to be much larger due to what is called social desirability bias. Read the C&I Leader article.
Booming biopharma
While headline-making deals were in relatively short supply during 2020, smaller deals including financing and more limited deals made it a record year for the biopharma sector, according to Clarivate, an analytical consultancy that claims to accelerate the pace of innovation. Read the C&I Leader article.
What’s in a brand?
We live our lives surrounded by brands – from the clothes we wear to the cars we drive, and from the food we eat to the organisations we deal with. When thinking about a brand, perhaps the first question we should ask is: What is a brand? Read more in C&I Magazine.
Science first!
After all the tumult and turmoil, the new US administration has hit the ground running – with a focus on science and a bold list of targets for its first 100 days. On the day of his inauguration, President Joseph Biden signed a whole slew of executive orders, reversing many legislative actions of the previous administration. Read C&I Magazine.