Ｗriter: Greenpeace 

In 2021, the epidemic continues to cover the world, and even Taiwan once upgraded its alert. However, because of your full support, global environmental work can continue to advance. In the past year, Greenpeace has pushed many governments to phase out fossil fuels and written climate litigation milestones; urged companies to implement source reduction of plastics; continued to conduct scientific investigations into forests and oceans, and took timely actions to protect the natural ecology. The end of the year is approaching, and we invite you to review the global environmental results in 2021.

Arctic: Greenland government ends oil exploration
"Guarding the Arctic" is one of Greenpeace's long-term environmental projects. The project team has sent personnel to the polar regions many times to record and witness that the large amount of carbon emissions produced by human behavior has caused irreparable scars on this snow-white land. Call on governments and businesses to phase out fossil fuels and end oil and gas exploration in the Arctic.

In 2011, 18 Greenpeace activists boarded the Leiv Eiriksson oil rig to criticize its company, Cairn Energy, for violating industry norms and refusing to disclose its oil spill response plan, putting the Greenland and Arctic environments at risk. On July 15, 2021, the Greenlandic government announced that it would join France, Denmark, New Zealand and other places in stopping the granting of oil and natural gas exploration licenses. The statement pointed out that because the cabinet has assessed that the environmental costs of oil exploration and extraction are too great, and is also eager to assume joint responsibility for mitigating the global climate crisis, it stated: "Oil is not our future. The future belongs to renewable energy, and we can get more from it." "More." Greenpeace is happy to see Greenland's decision this time, especially when the government clearly declares that the climate crisis and the fragile environment of the Arctic are the reasons and reasons for the change, which should be used as a reference for countries in the energy transition. (Extended reading: 50 years of oil exploration in Greenland come to an end! One step forward in protecting the Arctic)

The world is connected to defend the 1.5-degree climate tipping point
China, Japan and South Korea: Withdraw from overseas coal-fired investment markets. Driven by global trends, East Asia's three largest carbon-emitting economies, China, Japan and South Korea, each announced in 2020 that they would achieve carbon neutrality in 2050 or 2060. Greenpeace East Asia continues to review implementation progress and promote policies, and has received a lot of good climate news.

In terms of developing renewable energy, the South Korean government passed amendments to the Electrical Law in March 2021, allowing ordinary users to purchase green electricity from renewable energy suppliers and sign power purchase agreements. Chinese Internet technology giant "Chinhuai Data" has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, while "Baidu" and "Dataport" have proposed plans to use 100% renewable energy by 2030.

China, Japan and South Korea have also made progress in phasing out fossil fuels. Following Greenpeace's research report analysis, action initiatives and public appeals, South Korea announced in April 2021 that it would cease overseas public investment in coal-fired power, and Japan followed suit in June 2021 by announcing its commitment to withdraw from overseas coal-fired power investment. At present, more than 70% of the world's new coal-fired power plant projects rely on Chinese funds. After four years of advocacy by the Greenpeace Beijing Office, the Chinese government stated at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2021 that it will "no longer build new overseas coal-fired power plants." However, there are no specific details for this announcement. Greenpeace will continue to track the announcement and push the authorities to implement their commitments as soon as possible. (Extended reading: One year after the "carbon neutrality" goal, take stock of the progress of East Asia's largest carbon emitters)

In April 2021, Greenpeace Japan joined local NGOs and submitted nearly 170,000 signatures to the government at the Capitol, demanding urgent action on climate change and the conversion of nuclear energy and fossil fuels to renewable energy as soon as possible. In March 2021, Greenpeace activists set up a giant "Climate Crisis Prescription Paper" in front of the South Korean Parliament building, calling on Congress to formulate short-term climate strategies such as "halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030" to achieve South Korea's commitment to 2050 carbon emissions Neutralization goal.

In March 2021, Greenpeace activists set up a giant "Climate Crisis Prescription Paper" in front of the South Korean Parliament building, calling on Congress to formulate short-term climate strategies such as "halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2030" to achieve South Korea's commitment to 2050 carbon emissions Neutralization goal. ​
In June 2021, Greenpeace held a "China Environmental Story Network Project" workshop in Beijing to explore how to promote more powerful discussion and communication of environmental issues. Participants included media reporters, academics, and international NGOs, a total of more than 60 climate communication researchers By.
In June 2021, Greenpeace held a "China Environmental Story Network Project" workshop in Beijing to explore how to promote more powerful discussion and communication of environmental issues. Participants included media reporters, academics, and international NGOs, a total of more than 60 climate communication researchers By. ​

Germany, France and the Netherlands: Milestones in climate litigation
As natural disasters caused by climate change become more frequent around the world, "climate litigation" has become one of the ways for public advocacy in recent years. Greenpeace is also cooperating with NGOs around the world to help people examine the carbon emissions of governments and companies through legal channels. emissions responsibility and climate action, and continue to fight for human rights in extreme climates. There will be more major judgments in 2021, requiring governments and companies to abide by their climate responsibilities.

Writer： Greenpeace  

What are some ways to protect the ocean? Clean the beach? Plastic reduction? Save whales? Eat less seafood? In fact, there is another important option that can protect the marine ecological environment more extensively and comprehensively, and that is to "establish sufficient marine protected areas." Greenpeace has been working with Ocean Shepherd Global for more than a decade to push the United Nations to adopt a Global Oceans Convention to protect at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. Why 30%? What can we do?
Why must we protect the ocean?
The importance of the ocean to us is beyond imagination. More than one billion people around the world rely on fish in the sea for protein and other nutrients, and more than three billion people rely on the biodiversity of the ocean and coastal areas for their livelihoods. In addition, the ocean provides more than 50% of oxygen to the earth and absorbs nearly 30% of man-made carbon dioxide, cooling the earth and mitigating climate change.
However, looking back on human history, the ocean has never been as facing various man-made destructive threats as it is now, including industrial fishing, oil drilling, plastic pollution, deep-sea mining and climate crisis, etc., which have hit like a storm, pushing the ocean into a vicious The critical point of the cycle.
According to data from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the vast high seas cover 43% of the earth’s surface and account for 61% of the global ocean area, while national waters account for 39%. Currently, only 7.65% of the world’s oceans are protected, 6.93% of which are national waters, meaning less than 1% of the high seas is fully protected. This level of protection is far from enough to restore the original marine ecology.

Fortunately, it's not too late to save the ocean. In order to rebuild biodiversity, repair marine ecosystems and slow down the deterioration of climate change, Greenpeace, together with a scientific research team led by the University of Oxford and the University of York in the UK, published the "30x30 Ocean Protection Blueprint" report in 2019, proposing "Global Ocean Protection "Global Network of Marine Reserves" (global network of marine reserves) is committed to promoting the goal of protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, which means 30x30.

What are global marine protected areas?
Global marine protected areas refer to specific high sea areas around the world where destructive activities such as fishing, mining, and waste dumping are expressly prohibited. The core areas can be designated for scientific research, protection of marine life and habitats, etc., so as to allow marine ecology Have enough space to breathe and recover, and coexist with humans forever. Some coastal areas can be opened to small-scale, non-destructive fisheries to promote sustainable development.
The effectiveness of establishing "protected areas" in ecological restoration has been fully scientifically proven. However, the coverage of most existing marine protected areas is often limited by boundaries. Greenpeace is committed to covering at least 30% of the global ocean area and implementing the establishment of global marine protected areas through the United Nations Global Ocean Convention by 2030.
In addition to advocating for a ban on destructive industrial activities such as fishing, mining, and oil drilling in marine protected areas around the world, we must also ensure that these marine protected areas receive sufficient resources for effective supervision, investigation, and law enforcement.

The huge ocean only protects 30%?
The ocean has miraculous resilience. As long as the required space and time are provided, the ecology can gradually recover. So the best way is to establish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), where all human activities are prohibited and the impact of destructive industrial activities is eliminated.
Protecting 30 percent of the ocean may not seem like much, but it actually covers about 70 million square kilometers, an area equivalent to the size of South America, North America, Europe, and Russia combined. This area will effectively strengthen marine protection, not just a drop in the ocean, but even provide living space for long-distance migrating marine species such as whales, sharks, and sea turtles. (Further reading: Sea Turtle Crisis: Ocean Travelers Face Threat of Extinction)
When the fish population in these 30% of the ocean gradually returns to an abundant level, it will spread to other areas, creating a "spillover effect" that will help the entire ocean regain its abundance.
Banning industrial fishing and other harmful activities in marine protected areas would also benefit millions of fishermen in coastal communities. They have lived in harmony with the ocean for hundreds of years. Fish play an important role in their diet and lifestyle. They will not destroy the entire marine ecosystem and only rely on a small amount of fishing to obtain what they need and work hard to support their families. Without industrial fisheries plundering marine resources, the livelihoods of these fishermen can be better protected, and the oceans will have more time to recover.

How do you arrive at the 30% figure?
Some question the 30% figure. Is this really enough to save the ocean from deterioration and restore it to its original appearance within 10 years?
The "30x30 Ocean Conservation Blueprint" research report adopts a program widely used in designing marine protected area networks and collects global biological distribution, oceanographic, biogeographic and socioeconomic data, such as sharks, cetaceans, seamounts, trenches, The latest information and data on hydrothermal vents, ocean fronts, upwellings, biogeographic zones, commercial fishing pressure and mineral development ownership. After compiling the important information and data, and through hundreds of program calculations in the geographical information system, a protection target value of 30% coverage was developed and designed. Also referring to the 2016 World Conservation Congress resolution, which stated that the network of marine protected areas "should include at least 30% of each marine habitat". This report has also received international recognition.

What would happen if the oceans were not protected?
The ocean is facing unprecedented pressure. Destructive industrial fishing, seabed drilling, deep-sea mining, global warming, plastic pollution, etc. are causing the rapid disappearance of life in the sea, imbalance of the ecosystem, and the loss of marine resources.
Without adequate protection, marine ecology will face an irreversible crisis. Those affected are far more than just sea creatures or the lack of seafood to eat. The ocean is an important helper in balancing the climate. It absorbs large amounts of carbon dioxide and produces fresh oxygen. It is also a part of the water cycle. When the ocean loses its original health, it also exacerbates the worsening climate change and brings extreme weather disasters and food crises. Even losing your cherished home.
Currently, the global regulations for formulating and managing oceans are mostly driven by interest groups such as industrial fish farming, which cannot truly protect the ocean. Strong regulations and marine protected areas must be formulated to implement ecological conservation. Currently, the global regulations for formulating and managing oceans are mostly driven by interest groups such as industrial fish farming, which cannot truly protect the ocean. Strong regulations and marine protected areas must be formulated to implement ecological conservation.

Before it's too late! Strongly promote the formulation of a "Global Ocean Convention"
We need a network of protected areas across the world's oceans to protect ecosystems and combat climate and nature crises. But like most environmental problems, it won't happen on its own. In particular, greedy large corporations continue to lobby the government against ocean protection for the sake of profit and power. There is currently no legal mechanism in the world to establish marine protected areas outside national waters, so Greenpeace has been promoting the establishment of marine protected areas since more than ten years ago. After public support and efforts, the Global Ocean Treaty was finally submitted to the United Nations to promote the establishment and management of marine protected areas and protect at least 30% of the oceans by 2030. Driven by the joint promotion of more than 3.5 million supporters around the world, as of June 2021, more than 40 countries around the world have officially joined in supporting the Global Ocean Convention, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Japan, and South Korea, and about 80 Countries support the 30x30 goals in different forms.

Among other things, Greenpeace continues to:
Work with leading scientists to publish the 30x30 report to provide governments with concrete, actionable, and pragmatic recommendations for ocean conservation.
Ships and crews are dispatched to perform oceanographic scientific research missions, track the latest marine ecological developments, and go further to the high seas to expose and stop indiscriminate fishing, deep-sea mining and other behaviors that damage the ocean. Through creative actions and gathering global civil society forces, we actively put pressure on governments and companies to urge them to protect the ocean and support the establishment of global marine protected areas.
Your power is needed! To truly achieve the establishment of a "Global Ocean Convention", it must be approved by all member states in a consultative meeting. However, the last consultation meeting originally scheduled to be held in 2020 was affected by the COVID-19 epidemic and was postponed to 2021. However, on the eve of the negotiations, it was announced again that it would be postponed to 2022.

Greenpeace serves as an observer at the consultation meeting and will continue to lobby governments to support the adoption of the Global Ocean Convention and strive for strong protection policies for our precious oceans. We invite you to support Greenpeace’s work in protecting the oceans, sign a petition to join the global ocean guardians, and work together to achieve adequate protection of the oceans, so that future generations can witness the endless life and coexistence of the oceans.

 Writer： Greenpeace 
According to the "World Vegetarian Population Report" survey, Taiwan's vegetarian population has exceeded 3 million in 2020, accounting for 12% of the total population. In addition to religious factors, many people choose plant-based diets due to health concerns, love for animals or environmental protection. A eating habit of less meat and more vegetables is not only good for health, but also helps slow down climate change. However, there are some "blind spots" in daily life, which may increase the carbon footprint of plant-based diets instead of decreasing...
According to a study published in the medical journal "The Lancet", by 2050, the amount of meat eaten by each person in the world should be controlled below 300 grams per week, which is equivalent to three chicken breasts or a large steak. . At the same time, for nutritional balance, each person also needs to increase their intake of fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes by about 50%. In fact, a diet with less meat and more vegetables is not only good for health, it is also the easiest and most effective way for you and me to help slow down climate change in our daily lives.

"Food" is closely related to climate change
Humanity's excessive demand for meat has led to large-scale reclamation of forests, clearing forest land for raising animals or growing soybeans for livestock. Currently, you and I have lost 20% of the Amazon rainforest, and the defense line against climate change is rapidly disappearing.
Humanity's excessive demand for meat has led to large-scale reclamation of forests, clearing forest land for raising animals or growing soybeans for livestock. Currently, you and I have lost 20% of the Amazon rainforest, and the defense line against climate change is rapidly disappearing. According to research figures released by Nature Food in 2021, 19% of global carbon emissions come from animal food, producing nearly 9.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide every year. This statistic is not just the emissions of livestock, but also the feed grown to feed them.

Global meat consumption has doubled over the past 60 years and, on current trends, will increase by another 76% by 2050. In order to produce more meat and maximize profits, companies use large-scale deforestation and burning of forests to reclaim land. Currently, 26% of the land on the earth is used to raise livestock or grow feed. Data show that agriculture and animal husbandry-related production leads to 80% of global deforestation incidents. The out-of-control forest fires in the Amazon rainforest in recent years are related to the meat on your and my tables.

In line with the principle of having the best of both worlds, vegetarianism and environmental protection
Most plant-based foods are low-carbon ingredients. Choosing more seasonal, local, and natural plant-based foods is not only good for your health, but also helps slow down climate change. In fact, reducing your meat intake is good for your health and the environment. Research from the University of Oxford found that most plant-based foods have 10 to 50 times lower carbon emissions than animal-based foods. However, if you want to be both vegetarian and environmentally friendly, you must not miss the following key principles:

1. Avoid over-reliance on imported food ingredients
Many plant-based foods (such as plant-based meat and oat milk) mostly import ingredients from overseas, which adds a lot of carbon footprint during transportation, packaging and warehousing, increasing the burden on the environment.

2. Purchase seasonal and local ingredients
Non-local ingredients must be imported through transportation, and ingredients that are not produced in season will use more resources such as water and air conditioning. Therefore, purchasing and eating local and seasonal ingredients can shorten the food transportation distance and reduce costs. Carbon emissions from transportation.

3. Buy as much as you want and don’t overfill the refrigerator
Statistics released by the Environmental Protection Agency in April 2021 show that the food waste produced by Taiwanese people increased by 6.3% in 2020 compared with the previous year. In Taiwan, which has a negative population growth, the amount of food waste has not decreased but increased, which shows that Taiwanese people waste food. The situation is getting worse. And if food waste were compared to a country, it would be the third largest carbon emitter in the world! When you and I cook at home, if we make accurate purchasing and cooking plans, it will help reduce food waste and subsequent carbon emissions from the source. In addition, excessive storage in the refrigerator should be avoided, otherwise it will affect the circulation of cold air and increase power consumption by 4% to 5%. When purchasing vegetable ingredients, if you can follow the principle of appropriate amounts and buying naked, you will get twice the result with half the effort in reducing carbon emissions.

4. Reduce take-out and use more environmentally friendly tableware
Bring your own shopping bags when shopping and try to sell ingredients naked; bring your own lunch boxes and tableware when eating out. In addition to packing leftover food, it can also reduce waste pollution caused by using disposable tableware.

5. Reduce processed products and try to eat whole food
Although "artificial meat", or "plant-based meat", has set off a wave of vegetarian food craze and provides vegetarians with new choices in food ingredients, artificial meat, vegetarian ingredients, etc. are still highly processed foods, and the manufacturing process still consumes a lot of money. There are many resources, so it is recommended not to rely too much on food.

To sum up, every step of the process of planting, harvesting, packaging, transportation, and sales of the ingredients you and I eat every day has an impact on the environment. Therefore, the prototype of natural, local, and seasonal plant foods , has the lowest environmental risk. If it can be combined with the principles of appropriate amount and naked purchase, the carbon reduction effect will be twice the result with half the effort. (Further reading: What is a carbon footprint? Why can reducing your carbon footprint cool the planet?)

Eat less meat and more vegetables to protect the climate and environment
In May 2021, Greenpeace launched a vegetarian food project in Taiwan, with the call of "Open your mouth and change the world with food" to promote to the public a dietary habit of less meat and more vegetables to slow down climate change. Over the years, Greenpeace has continued to advocate a diet with less meat and more vegetables. In May 2021, it held the world's first online "Carbon Food Exclusive Party" and developed 3 dishes made from local fresh vegetables. Delicious carbon-reducing cuisine, and invited many well-known Internet celebrities and artists to respond. The relevant video posts attracted nearly 200,000 views on social platforms in less than a month after they were launched. On September 29, Greenpeace launched the "World Meat-Free Project" to encourage the public to participate in the initiative of "eating to change the world".

We invite you to support the Greenpeace Vegetarian Food Project and join the "Open Your Mouth, Eat to Change the World" campaign. You are also invited to promote the concept of "less meat and more vegetables" to your relatives and friends, and replace meat with plant-based ingredients by changing your eating habits. , take care of your own health and that of the earth at the same time, slow down climate change, and save our common home planet with a vegetarian diet.

***If you need to refer and verify the latest statistics, kindly visit below professional page: 
https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/most-vegetarian-countries/.
​

Writer: Greenpeace  

Through a research trip, biologist Leo Lanna presented the colorful and diverse ancient rainforest before our eyes. He saw with his own eyes the obvious differences between protected areas and deforested areas. After the trip, he quickly I appeal to the world: do your best to share the preciousness of the Amazon and the current crisis, so that the destruction of the rainforest by deforestation and fires can stop here.

In April 2021, Brazilian biologist Leo Lanna led the research team of the "Proyecto Mantis" to go deep into the Amazon to conduct investigation and research on the theme of praying mantises. For more than a month, he experienced the end of the Amazon rainy season and saw the changes brought about by deforestation in the forest. The following is his first-hand record report.

In April, we came to Mato Grosso in the Amazon Basin at the end of the rainy season. In the Cristalino Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), in the afternoon in the rainforest, the forest The fresh smell in the air lingers for a long time, and the air becomes brand new. The nearly month-long rainy season is coming to an end, with rainfall tapering off and the dry season beginning.

River levels dropped, small mudflats appeared, and forest swamps receded. The greenish green that can be seen everywhere is tinged with yellowish color due to moss and dead plants. Flowers have appeared, some are bearing fruit, and some are waiting for the rain to come again. They naturally adapt to the changes of the seasons. It is this special diversity that drives the birth and death of species in nature and the blooming and falling of flowers from generation to generation.

The Amazon mantis of the genus Metilia has huge wings similar to those of leaves. This mantis is difficult to survive outside the Amazon forest. Here I discovered many unique mantis species. It's right between the humid Amazon rainforest in the north and the dry Cerrado grassland in the south.

The Cerrado is considered by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to be the most biologically rich savanna in the world. It is the second largest major habitat in Brazil after the Amazon rainforest, with approximately 10,000 plant species and 10 endemic bird species. kind. At the intersection of these two giant biomes, diverse and unique species can be found. This area is little known and very fragile.

‘Arc of deforestation’ erodes Amazon from edge to edge
Leaving the Cristalino Private Natural Heritage Reserve, the green space that was originally a forest has been opened up into a road, and the forest behind seems like a mirage. Two weeks ago, halfway through our research expedition, we traveled to a neighboring town and spent a month isolated in a reserve, surrounded by thousands of natural colors every day. However, as soon as I left the protected area, the surrounding single plants stretched beyond the boundless horizon. The dust raised by the cars covered the original greenery. The monotonous corn fields looked desolate under the epidemic. I felt sad. The cruel reality made me deeply receive a blow.

This area belongs to the "Arc of Deforestation" - the area with the highest rate of deforestation in the Amazon. Encouraged by ruthless governments, forests were cleared and turned into pastures, plantations, and mining sites. Predatory business models continue to play out in the “arc of deforestation.” If mining brings wealth, to whom does it go? More modern and more destructive machines brought more destruction to the Amazon.

Share the mysterious beauty of Amazon with more people
When we first arrived, the team chef, like most people, was afraid of being bitten by mantises and would usually just kill them. Now she happily poses with a mantis on her arm, wants to put the photo on a mug, and dreams of raising some in her orchid garden at home.

 The Amazon River is the river with the largest flow, drainage basin, and most tributaries in the world. It has nurtured dense Amazon forests on both sides of the river and is one of the ecosystems with the richest biodiversity in the world. The forest is still occupied by greedy and powerful outsiders who do not understand the forest and are willing to destroy everything to exploit it. Along with them came some people who just wanted to make money and make a living. In addition to the indigenous people who have long lived here, we need to talk to the predators and let them taste the mysterious beauty of the ancient Amazon.

For those who don’t know much about the Amazon rainforest, I would like to sincerely share the story of a scientist who fell in love with the Amazon. Share with them why they cry when they see a green field covered in dust, and why being immersed in this forest makes them forget everything else. Brazilian journalist and author Eliane Brum once said that the Amazon is the center of the world. For me it is also the heart of the world. Here, I experience what it means to truly be alive.

Facing dangerous reality with hope
After three years under the rule of a despicable regime, it is difficult for people to maintain hope, and they have even forgotten the feeling of hope. The latest data shows that in May 2021, man-made fires caused by clearing vegetation for agriculture caused a total of 3,815 fire hotspots in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, an increase of 65% from 2020 and the largest destruction in 14 years. forest growth rate.

 From July 29 to 31, 2021, Greenpeace came to the Amazon rainforest to monitor and record deforestation and forest fires. The areas that were cut down and burned will be used for cattle raising in the future. However, I believe that the worst phase will be over, and through the small changes brought about by thousands of people and the pressure generated by large-scale social movements, the road to Amazon's revival will surely be recreated. There is still time, albeit not much. Nature reserves like Cristalino guard the seeds of Amazon rebirth, where rare mantises and other animals, as well as centuries-old trees, are still alive. I hope everyone has the privilege and opportunity to see them in person and get to know them up close like I do.

We invite you to support Greenpeace and jointly prevent the Brazilian government and meat industry from illegally deforestation for commercial interests, endangering the Amazon ecosystem and contributing to the climate crisis. Your contribution can save the precious ecology and the lives of local indigenous people. Please join us in calling on all countries to take action to stop Brazil’s deforestation policy, face up to the harm caused by industrial meat production, stop investing in the meat industry, and let you One day I will be able to visit the Amazon rainforest in person, see the beauty of the ancient rainforest, and experience the mysterious beauty of coexisting with all things.

Writer：Greenpeace

What is climate change?
Many people's understanding of climate change comes from the documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" released in 2006. They learn that global warming refers to the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and oceans. Excessive amounts of carbon dioxide (including carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and nitrous oxide) make the earth seem to be shrouded in a thick greenhouse. The heat from the sun is difficult to dissipate, causing the temperature to rise and triggering various extreme weather such as drought, heavy rain, Heat waves etc.

In September 2019, the space station recorded the clouds of Category 5 Hurricane Dorian. In recent years, the term "global warming" has been gradually replaced by "climate change" and even intensified into "Climate Crisis", emphasizing that the impact of this phenomenon is not only temperature changes, but also affects every aspect of our lives. level threats.
The 2021 Nobel Prize in Physics will be awarded to a meteorologist for the first time.
One of the three winners of the award, Japanese-American scholar Shuro Manabe, established a climate change model in the 1960s to predict global climate conditions. It is well known that "increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase the average temperature of the earth's surface." It is based on his research.
Another award-winning German scholar, Klaus Hasselmann, developed a research method to prove that Manabe Shuro's climate model is credible and not affected by changes in weather trends. Later generations also used this research method to confirm climate change. To what extent can it be entirely attributed to man-made emissions?
Although the two scholars accurately predicted global warming and climate change 50 years ago, it is a pity that mankind has spent too much time doubting the authenticity of climate change and missed the golden opportunity to prevent the intensification of climate change. At this time, we can only redouble our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Only in this way can the worst-case scenarios in climate change models be avoided.

What causes climate change? What are the impacts?
The causes of climate change are complex, but human behavior patterns are to blame, changing the natural greenhouse phenomenon. Over the past century, large-scale burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, has increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This, combined with the large-scale reclamation of forest land and the expansion of agricultural and industrial development, has led to increasingly higher concentrations of greenhouse gases.

Over a century of accumulation, excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have caused global warming. When average air and ocean temperatures rise and the volume of seawater expands, continental glaciers in Antarctica and Greenland will also melt faster, causing sea levels to rise and flood low-altitude coastal areas.
In addition, changes in precipitation patterns and desertification in subtropical areas have contributed to extreme weather including heat waves, droughts, forest fires, heavy rains, floods, and snowstorms. Various natural disaster attacks will cause serious losses of life and property around the world.

In November 2020, the Philippines was hit by Typhoon Van Gogh. Strong winds and heavy rains destroyed many houses in Manila and other places and caused severe flooding. Global warming not only affects climate patterns, but also affects ecology that is extremely sensitive to the environment, and even causes large-scale species extinction, food crises and other issues. Food and water resources are related to human survival. If harvests and supplies are no longer stable, it will cause instability in the global economy and may trigger political risks in competition for resources.

Under the influence of climate change, disaster-causing heavy rainfall for days and days causing serious flooding is becoming more and more common. Is climate change really related to humans?
In 2013, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), composed of 1,300 independent scientific experts from around the world, stated in its fifth assessment report: “There is more than a 95% probability that human behavior is responsible for the warming over the past 50 years. The main reason for the phenomenon.”
Human impacts include the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. If this continues, global surface temperatures are likely to continue to rise in the coming decades. Scientists predict that global warming may reach 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit within the next century. to 10 degrees (approximately 1.4 degrees to 5.6 degrees Celsius).
Fossil fuels such as coal and oil are one of the main causes of the surge in carbon dioxide emissions, contributing to the climate change crisis. Is it possible that increased solar energy is causing the Earth's temperature to rise? According to NASA observations, from 1750 to the present, the average energy of the sun has remained stable, or has only increased slightly.

If the warming was due to a more active sun, scientists would have detected higher temperatures at all levels of the atmosphere, but current observations have only detected higher temperatures at the surface and lower layers of the atmosphere, suggesting that greenhouse gases trap heat energy. At the bottom of the atmosphere.

Is it possible for us to prevent the climate crisis?
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached its highest level in 650,000 years, and 2010-2019 was the hottest decade on record. To control global warming, we must first reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
In 2015, the United Nations finally adopted the "Paris Agreement". For the first time, countries agreed that "before the end of this century, the earth's temperature rise must be controlled within 2 degrees Celsius" and that countries must review their "nationally determined contributions to carbon reduction" every five years. (Nationally Determined Contributions, NDCs).
Subsequently, the IPCC released a new research report in 2018, recommending that countries must use the 1990 average temperature as a reference benchmark to further control the earth's temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. It also pointed out that carbon emissions must be reduced by 45% in 2030. Reaching net-zero carbon emissions (carbon neutrality) by 2050 is the only way to prevent catastrophic climate change.

In 2019, Greenpeace Germany activists set up burning thermometers in front of coal-fired power plants, emphasizing the responsibility to make changes in energy use to slow climate change and limit global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Maybe you are wondering, is there such a big difference between 2 degrees Celsius and 1.5 degrees Celsius? Just by maintaining this 0.5 degree, the number of people facing water shortages in the world can be reduced by 50%, hundreds of millions of people can avoid climate poverty, the chance of losing half of their crops can be reduced by two times, and 10 million people can be protected from rising sea levels. Impacts, 420 million people are protected from heat waves, 1.5 to 2.5 million square kilometers of permafrost is prevented from melting, and countless animals and plants are protected from extinction.

energy transition
In order to limit global average temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, substantial reductions in carbon dioxide emissions must be achieved. Carbon dioxide emissions mainly come from burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, natural gas, etc. Most of them are used to generate electricity and generate kinetic energy for machinery to produce goods, develop the economy, and make life more convenient. However, our daily lives are inseparable from electricity. How can we achieve carbon reduction while maintaining the quality of life?

Replacing high-carbon-emission, high-pollution fossil fuels with renewable energy is key to slowing down climate change and limiting the average temperature increase on the planet to within 1.5 degrees Celsius. In fact, the environment and the economy are not a matter of right or wrong. If we can replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and reduce carbon emissions, it will be a win-win and more sustainable choice.

Although the vision is simple and beautiful, it can only be achieved if the government and enterprises support the diversified development of renewable energy, formulate comprehensive policies in line with environmental and international trends, and set clear carbon reduction goals and pathways. This requires joint supervision and cooperation from you and me. push for early realization.

Protect forests and oceans
Beyond energy choices, nature actually plays an important role. The ocean absorbs 90% of the excess heat in the climate system. In addition to providing or regulating most of the earth's rain, drinking water, food and weather systems, the ocean also absorbs 20% to 30% of man-made carbon dioxide emissions from the earth's atmosphere. Storage in the ocean is an important barrier against the severe impacts of climate change.

Healthy oceans help absorb and store anthropogenic carbon dioxide, produce large amounts of oxygen for the earth, and maintain climate balance. Forests absorb carbon dioxide to grow and are natural "carbon reservoirs." According to an estimate by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 2011, global forests store nearly 652 billion tons of carbon; and in 2018, the German Helmholtz Association Research Center (The Helmholtz Association) Association of German Research Centers pointed out that the Amazon rainforest alone can effectively help the earth store about 76 billion tons of carbon dioxide, which is extremely helpful for overall carbon reduction.

However, global forests and oceans are facing unprecedented crises, whether it is overfishing, plastic pollution, undersea oil drilling, global warming, which gradually unbalances the marine ecology, or large-scale deforestation by animal husbandry, paper pulp, palm oil and other companies for commercial interests. , and burning forests will weaken the original functions of the "carbon reduction gods" and even release the stored carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to the climate crisis.

Once climate change becomes more severe, it will be like a vicious cycle, making the forest environment drier, making fires difficult to extinguish, and the burning process producing more carbon dioxide. The same pattern repeats again and again. Therefore, protecting precious forests and oceans is an integral part of mitigating climate change. You and I, who care about the environment, need to continue to speak out for them and formulate effective protection regulations.

Reduce meat consumption, consume smartly, and live plastic-free life
Animal agriculture is one of the living sources that contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, with 23% of human greenhouse gas emissions coming from agriculture and land use. As global demand for meat increases, the livestock industry becomes industrialized, and large areas of forest are cut down and burned to raise animals to make room for livestock or to grow soybeans for feed. The excrement of livestock, especially cattle, releases large amounts of methane, which is a factor that contributes to climate change.

According to research by Greenpeace experts, if a Taiwanese person does not eat meat for a day, it can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.4 kilograms. If all Taiwanese people do not eat meat for a day, they can reduce 56,510 metric tons of carbon dioxide!

In addition to food, try to choose seasonal and local products for daily consumption to reduce the energy required for transportation and storage. The items purchased, whether they are food, clothing, housing, transportation or product packaging, should be reusable multiple times. For example, replacing disposable plastic packaging with reusable containers can reduce resource consumption and the environmental costs behind it.

Purchasing daily necessities and food ingredients in reusable packaging, such as glass jars, linen bags, crisper boxes, etc., can reduce the consumption of disposable plastic products and indirectly achieve carbon reduction.
According to a report by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), it is estimated that by 2050, the carbon emissions caused by the production and incineration of plastics from petroleum may be as high as 2.75 billion tons, equivalent to 615 coal-fired power plants. !

Therefore, practicing a plastic-free life and using less disposable plastic products will reduce the resources required to extract oil and manufacture plastics, which will also effectively help slow down climate change.
The harm of excessive plastic is not only to pollute the natural ecology, but also to produce a large amount of carbon emissions and air pollution during the manufacturing and incineration processes, affecting human health and contributing to climate change.
The harm of excessive plastic is not only to pollute the natural ecology, but also to produce a large amount of carbon emissions and air pollution during the manufacturing and incineration processes, affecting human health and contributing to climate change. © Ecoton / Fully Handoko
Climate change is not an urban legend, raise citizen awareness to overcome the crisis together
The climate battle has become a challenge that the world must face. It not only affects all countries, but also requires leaders and decision-makers to make real changes.

Today, many countries around the world have announced carbon neutrality goals, and climate change mitigation has also become a trend of concern to the business and investment community. On this road, you and I still need to unite the power of citizens, require local governments and enterprises to face up to the climate crisis, set ambitious carbon reduction goals, make correct decisions for you, me and the next generation, and strive for a livable and safe world. future.

Writer： Greenpeace

As of December 18, 1,261 government units around the world have declared a "Climate Emergency." In mid-October, more than 11,000 scientists signed a petition to warn the world and those in power based on various scientific evidence that the climate crisis As changes are taking place, we must begin to limit carbon emissions.

Donate to mitigate the climate crisis
The latest report from "The BioScience" "Scientists warn: The world is facing a climate emergency." The research report has been signed by more than 11,000 scientists and researchers from 153 countries. Greenpeace interviewed three of the signatories in Taiwan. They all said that climate change has caused impacts such as rising sea levels and changes in marine ecology. We hope By signing the "Climate Emergency Declaration", we are alerting the world to the need to take action.

As early as 40 years ago, scientists from 50 countries agreed at the first World Climate Conference in Geneva in 1979 that necessary measures must be taken to combat climate change; this has since included the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. , the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement and many major global conferences, scientists continue to warn that action must be accelerated to respond to climate change. However, greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, and climate change has escalated into a climate crisis, causing heat waves, instant rainfall, and forest fires. Extreme climate events occur frequently.

William Ripple, the main initiator of the "Climate Emergency Declaration" and a professor at Oregon State University in the United States, pointed out that this declaration is based on the increasing number of extreme climate events and clearly states that "we declare that the earth is facing a climate emergency" and should use renewable energy. Replace fossil fuels, reduce methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, protect the natural environment, reduce deforestation, reduce meat consumption, replace the pursuit of GDP with public health as the economic development goal, and control population growth.

As of October 14, 11,258 scientists from around the world have signed the petition, 7 of whom are from Taiwan, including Luo Minhui, associate professor of the Department of Atmosphere, National Taiwan University, and doctoral candidates Rodrigo Carballo-Bolaños and Aziz Mulla of the Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica. This declaration of climate emergency has attracted global attention. Since mid-October, it has been open for signature again, and more than 1,000 new scientists have joined.

The ocean is burning too, and coral reef ecology is bearing the brunt
Academia Sinica doctoral candidate Aziz Mulla's research fields include geology and environmental sciences, with a current focus on coral reef ecology in Taiwan. In an interview with Greenpeace, he pointed out that the importance of climate change has been debated for the past 40 years, and now the "Climate Emergency Declaration" warns the world that climate change is threatening daily life. This year includes unusual fires in the forests of California and Australia. The extent of the burning of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest has not yet been confirmed. "We can see the forest on fire, but we can't see that the ocean is also on fire." Coral reefs in the sea provide 25% of the living environment for marine life. It is also a reservoir of carbon and nitrogen. Unfortunately, coral reefs cannot be moved. Humans still need a recovery period from sunburn, but coral reefs can only continue to bleach in the warming seawater, becoming the first victims of climate change.

In addition, from an economic perspective, the tourism and fishery benefits brought by Australia's Great Barrier Reef are worth more than trillions of dollars. Taiwan is located on the edge of the Coral Triangle. Most fisheries require coral reef ecological chains to maintain. For South Korea, For places such as Taiwan or Green Island, coral reefs and fisheries are very important economic sources.

Aziz also gave an example. Taiwan must first face global warming and sea level rise caused by increased carbon emissions. Research predicts that the sea level in Yilan may rise by 0.2 to 2 meters in the future, leaving most of the Yilan Plain submerged in water. Prevention and control must be carried out now. Adaptation planning. According to the journal Nature, as Greenland's ice melt intensifies, if the sea level rises to 15 meters, the entire Taipei will be submerged in the sea, including most Pacific coast cities such as Shanghai.

"Climate change not only affects one region, but is affecting the whole world." Aziz pointed out that starting from the first country to declare a climate emergency, Scotland, European countries and some U.S. states followed suit, and Taiwan should also join. This allows the public to understand what may happen in the future and take changes, or to research which candidate supports sustainable green energy, their attitude towards fossil fuels, and to cast the right vote for the planet. “The election is not just about a single issue. "It covers a wide range of issues." The candidate's attitude towards the environment will determine our future.

Rodrigo, who also studies coral ecology, said that we are facing a critical moment. As scientists, our responsibility is to provide evidence to call on those in power and the public to pay attention to the climate crisis. Large-scale coral bleaching occurred in 1998, 2010 and 2014 around the world, followed by four consecutive years. The "El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)" occurred in 2007, causing climate disasters in many places. As the ocean warms, coral reefs are stimulated to release their Symbiodinium algae, which will kill them over time.

Rodigo emphasized that the impact of climate is widespread. If you put all the puzzle pieces together, you can get a glimpse of the extent of future disasters. He suggested that Taiwan's presidential candidates propose a flexible plan to limit the use of fossil fuels and invest more resources in Green energy construction is the last opportunity to show determination to fight climate change.

Climate change is underway, now it’s time to mitigate the impact for the next generation
Associate Professor Luo Minhui of the Department of Atmosphere, National Taiwan University, specializes in the interaction between land and the atmosphere, as well as the use of satellite gravity measurements to monitor changes in the water cycle and analyze important factors affecting sea level rise. He believes that the "Climate Emergency Declaration" signed by tens of thousands of scientists shows the growing sense of crisis about climate change. In the past, you may not think that a 1 degree Celsius increase in the earth's average temperature is a big deal, because there have been similar warming situations in the past. However, more and more observational data and climate model results show that under global warming, extreme climate events are increasing. After signing a joint letter to reflect the current understanding of the academic community, what is more important is how governments and the public respond.

Luo Minhui pointed out that according to climate model estimates, the average sea level will rise by 1 to 6 meters by the end of this century, and the rise will be more dramatic in some places, which will affect the living rights of people in the region. He also quoted Professor Zeng Yuheng from the Institute of Oceanography of National Taiwan University The research results show that due to the amount of thermal expansion of seawater and changes in regional ocean flow fields, regional sea level rise rates are different. Because the northwest Pacific Ocean around Taiwan is an area where equatorial seawater accumulates westward, sea level changes around Taiwan are higher than the global average. About 1.5-2 times faster. Likewise, the temperature changes around Taiwan are greater than the global average temperature increase. Taiwan may also face more severe extreme climate events, such as droughts and disastrous heavy rains in recent years, which may become more common in the future.

Compared with Taiwan, European society is generally aware of the climate crisis. The heat wave in France in 2003 killed more than 20,000 people, prompting European society to begin to reflect and take action, and even worked to reduce carbon emissions by calculating personal daily carbon footprints. On the other hand, there is insufficient consensus on the climate crisis in Taiwan. However, as the permafrost in Siberia and northern Canada gradually melts, more greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere. For the next generation, the extreme climate they have to face will become increasingly severe. We have the responsibility to gradually strengthen our concepts or practical actions now to reduce the impact that the next generation will suffer in the future.

Luo Minhui believes that the Taiwan government can start with carbon control and carbon trading, encourage companies to reduce carbon emissions in the production process, set up dedicated centers, strengthen infrastructure (such as the construction and maintenance of large computer computing resources and long-term meteorological observation instruments), and cultivate talents , such as National Taiwan University's "International Master's and Doctoral Program on Climate Change and Sustainable Development," combines atmospheric science, earth science, ecology, social science, political science and other diverse perspectives to promote students' cross-disciplinary thinking. All walks of life can also integrate from the same perspective and face Taiwan's future problems together through various attempts.

Greenpeace has long been concerned about the issue of climate change and requires companies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the government to accelerate energy transformation while abandoning the use of fossil fuels and using renewable energy as the main source of clean electricity. As the carbon reduction deadline recommended by the IPCC gradually approaches, this year's "2020 Climate Leaders Political Opinion Competition" will be conducted to monitor the specific climate and energy political opinions of the three presidential candidates, so as to lead Taiwan to prepare in advance to deal with the impact of climate change.

Advancing climate policy needs your help
I invite you, regardless of political party, to call on the presidential candidates to consider the safety and future of all people and clearly plan policies to respond to the climate crisis. The voice of the people is the greatest pressure on candidates. It is hoped that the future president will raise the climate issue to the highest level and put it on par with social, national defense and other issues, and put forward political opinions that can demonstrate Taiwan's determination to fight the climate crisis, and assume the responsibility of tomorrow's climate leader.

The climate crisis respects no borders or boundaries, we have comprehensive solutions and now we must get your support to advance our initiatives against fossil fuel companies and governments at this critical time. Please join the ranks of mitigating the climate crisis and protect the Arctic and the earth together! Greenpeace does not accept funding from the government or enterprises. It relies 100% on the support of enthusiastic people like you, so that it can fight for a long time and bring positive changes to the environment, you, me, the next generation, and the home of all animals and plants. You are invited to join!
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Writer： Greenpeace

A bill signed by 2.7 million people around the world to support the Antarctic Marine Reserve in the Weddell Sea has been submitted to the Commission on the Antarctic Oceanography (CCAMLR) for discussion in the past two weeks. The threshold for passing a marine protected area bill is extremely high, and all members must agree unanimously. Although 22 of the 25 members expressed support, the Antarctic Marine Reserve, which covers an area of ​​1.8 million square kilometers (about the size of 50 Taiwan islands), was not established due to opposition from China, Norway and Russia. The regrets left at the meeting also allow Antarctic creatures such as penguins and blue whales to continue to suffer from commercial fishing and other human activities, as well as plastic pollution that does not respect national boundaries, and the threat of climate change.

The full name of the Antarctic Marine Commission is the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR). Has it forgotten its original intention and is inclined to expand fishery interests? A small number of delegations adopted delaying tactics and consumed meeting time that could have been used to discuss scientific arguments. In the end, no consensus was reached, and a great opportunity to protect the environment, combat climate change, and protect the health of the global ocean was lost. But the support of the vast majority of members will not be wiped out. The next step will inevitably be transformed into the impetus for negotiations on the United Nations Convention on the Sea and even more international conservation conferences.

Protect the pure sky white and sea blue
The Antarctic ocean is full of rich ecology. This pure and natural white land and vast ocean need more protection:
Scientists aboard the Greenpeace ship "Polar Dawn" dived 570 meters under the sea earlier this year to record the beauty and fragility of the Antarctic seabed. The images sent back by the small submarine vividly record the wonderful ecology of the seabed, fully demonstrating that the Weddell Sea is a habitat worth protecting.
Greenpeace's investigative report questioned whether krill really plays a key role in human health. Although krill, which are six millimeters long, are small, they are the food source and the basis of the biological chain for countless Antarctic creatures such as seals, whales and penguins. Merchants promote that Omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial to cardiovascular health. In fact, Omega-3 can be consumed through daily diet (such as fish and nuts), and nutritional supplements such as flaxseed oil or spirulina are also available. There is no need to rely on the fragile Antarctic ecology. cost.
As many as 2.7 million people around the world have signed Greenpeace's petition urging governments to make the right decisions to protect Antarctica through the Antarctic Ocean Commission. Many celebrities have also joined as "Antarctic Ambassadors" to exert their influence and speak out for the Antarctic ecology.

Protecting the global ocean from harm requires continued care from you and me. Greenpeace will continue to protect this blue planet and continue to lobby governments and businesses around the world to strengthen policies related to ocean protection, including global marine protected areas that will be discussed at United Nations conferences in recent years. and other international agreements. In addition, our fleet has been at sea for a long time to investigate and reveal the truth about ocean damage, including overfishing, illegal operations, ecological damage, plastic pollution, etc., so that more global guardians can join in the concern, and provide concrete evidence to leaders and leaders of various countries. Businesses express the urgency of protecting the ocean. You are invited to donate to support Greenpeace’s international environmental work!

Ｗriter： Greenpeace

Author: Greenpeace
The challenge to stop unsustainable palm oil from destroying Indonesia’s pristine rainforests continues! Now, the world is asking the vandals to stop and protect pristine rainforests that are important to the climate and ecology. Looking back over the years, global efforts have succeeded in getting many large companies to distance themselves from deforestation.

The destruction of forests has caused serious harm to the original diverse and rich ecology of Indonesia's original rainforests. The Sumatran tiger's habitat has been severely destroyed. To date, there are only about 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, making them critically endangered. And your and my "close relatives", the orangutan, are also facing the plight of a drastic reduction in their habitat. In the past 15 years, the number of orangutans has dropped by half, and all three existing species are on the verge of extinction.

Despite the dire situation, there is still hope. Thanks to Greenpeace’s global supporters who have rallied to protect the rainforest and asked companies to use paper and palm oil that are sustainable and do not come from destroying the rainforest, and have achieved many milestones.

The following is a review of the progress of rainforest protection in each year.
Greenpeace’s efforts to protect Indonesia’s pristine rainforest have achieved significant results. Nestlé has pledged that palm oil derived from rainforest destruction will not be used in its supply chain in the future. Nestlé's commitment sends a clear message: destroying pristine tropical rainforests to obtain paper and palm oil for profit is no longer viable in the global market. Greenpeace is working together in 24 countries around the world to demand action from Nestlé. "Nestlé, spare the orangutans!" is the most successful online mobilization action in history, causing quite a stir on social media such as Facebook and Youtube. 250,000 people around the world joined the movement.

May 2010:
The clearing of virgin rainforest and peatlands has been temporarily suspended. The President of Indonesia announced that it would stop granting any licenses for "new leases for the transformation of natural forests and peatlands" within two years. It's a first step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough. The policy should be extended to all remaining rainforests, including those already granted permits.

February 2011:
Another milestone: Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), the world's second largest palm oil supplier, announced an ambitious new forest conservation policy and promised not to destroy forests and peatlands. In the future, plantation development on peatlands that store more than 35 tonnes of carbon per hectare will become intolerable.

November 2011:
Indonesian paper and packaging manufacturer "Asia Pulp and Paper" APP (Asia Pulp and Paper) needs to pay attention. Its business partners are leaving one after another. Many toy manufacturers, including LEGO, Mattel (Barbie manufacturer), and Hasbro, have joined the ranks of protecting the rainforest and stopped using company products that damage the Sumatran rainforest in Indonesia. Previously, a series of in-depth Greenpeace investigations, including independent paper testing, confirmed that the packaging boxes of Barbie and other toys contained mixed tropical hardwood pulp ingredients. We are launching a global campaign to end the use of packaging materials derived from deforestation. Greenpeace’s creative actions behind the “breakup” of Ken and Barbie have attracted widespread attention.

February 2013:
The "Asia Pulp and Paper" APP stops deforestation in the last remaining rainforests, effective immediately. APP is one of the largest pulp manufacturers in the world and the largest in Asia. The paper produced by the group is widely used in magazine printing, packaging paper, photocopying paper and toilet paper, and is sold to Indonesia, China and even the world. In Taiwan, toilet paper brands PASEO, VIRJOY, etc. are also sold.

May 2013:
Indonesia extended the moratorium, providing temporary protection of precious rainforests. This policy is important for ecologically important rainforests, but it is not sufficient. Because, large corporations still continue to be involved in destroying Indonesia’s rainforests.

June 2013:
The innovation organization POIG (the Palm Oil Innovation Group) was established, and Greenpeace was a member. This organization is co-organized by non-governmental organizations and business innovation groups to encourage companies to fulfill their environmental responsibilities and cooperate with communities. POIG's first step is to establish a credible independent certification model so that in the future, customers will be able to know whether the palm oil contained in products involves deforestation or comes from oil palm trees planted in peatlands. Producers who join the certification also commit to comply with strict palm oil production standards.

October 2013:
"Asia Pulp & Paper" APP takes its commitment to protecting the rainforest seriously. After making the commitment, and after six months of reviewing Greenpeace's progress report, the company has conscientiously implemented its new forest protection policy.

November 2013:
Multinational consumer goods company Unilever, Ferrero Rocher chocolate maker, and food company Mondelēz International have taken a good step forward. Among their respective procurement policies, Ferrero has set the most aggressive timetable and is expected to move towards sustainably produced palm oil in 2015, while Unilever and Mondelēz International plan to change in 2020.

December 2013:
Wilmar International, the world's largest palm oil trader, finally gave in to public pressure. On December 5, the world’s largest palm oil trader finally publicly promised that it would no longer destroy rainforests and peatlands or sell deforestation palm oil in the future.

January 2014:
L'Oreal keeps up with the rangers! The world's largest beauty and cosmetics group has an active rainforest protection program. By 2020, L'Oreal will ensure that unsustainable deforestation palm oil is eliminated from its products. Proposing a plan is a good first step, but it still needs to be implemented thoroughly to ensure that it is achieved before 2020.

March 2014:
Colgate-Palmolive, a well-known personal care products company, has strengthened its rainforest protection policy. Colgate has pledged to achieve full traceability of palm oil sources by 2015, but will have to wait until 2020 to fully implement strict forest and peatland protection practices and respect the rights of local communities to the land. Greenpeace further urged Colgate to step up its pace.

April 2014:
For months, nearly 400,000 Greenpeace supporters have called on global consumer goods company P&G Procter & Gamble to eliminate dirty palm oil from its products. In April, P&G officially responded and released new forest protection measures, stating that it would completely eliminate "deforestation palm oil" from the supply chain by the end of 2020.

July 2014:
Kao Group (KAO) has become the first consumer goods company in Asia to commit to a "no deforestation" policy. Kao has updated the company's "sustainable procurement policy" and pledged to strictly ensure that the sources of palm oil and paper products do not involve forest destruction.

February 2015:
Without the source of funding, the bad behavior of clearing the rainforest will no longer be able to continue. Spain's Santander, one of Europe's largest banks, has suspended loans to paper company Asia Pacific Resources Group (APRIL), which is responsible for deforestation. Previously, the global public participated in online signatures, directly emailed the bank's CEO, called its customer service department, and even went to the bank in person to find out. Half a month later, Santander responded: it would stop lending to APRIL and would not The repayment period of the existing loan will be extended.

June 2015:
"Asia Pacific Resources Group" (APRIL) is Indonesia's second largest pulp and paper company. On June 3, the company officially announced its new commitment to forest protection. At the same time, Royal Golden Eagle, the parent company of APRIL, stated that the sustainable forest management plan will also be followed by other pulp and paper companies in the group.

December 2015:
At the Climate Summit (COP21) in Paris, Greenpeace action members seized the opportunity to urge Indonesian President Joko Widodo face-to-face to take concrete measures to protect rainforests and peatlands. Behind the two action members are representatives of more than 250,000 rainforest defenders around the world who have signed the Greenpeace petition.

February 2017:
The pressure from 270,000 people around the world through the Indonesian Rainforest Protection Project has prompted HSBC, one of the world's largest banks, to join the Rainforest Protection camp: it will no longer provide funds to any company involved in clearing forests and destroying peatlands. HSBC has also strengthened its guidelines for cooperation with enterprises.

May 2017:
IOI, which supplies palm oil to more than 300 companies and is the world's third largest palm oil company, is committed to new policies to protect the rainforest. IOI promises to seek independent audits and verification on its performance in protecting forests and safeguarding the rights and interests of workers and communities. This commitment is not limited to palm oil plantations operated by IOI itself. In the future, any company that wants to sell palm oil to IOI must prove that it does not involve rainforest destruction.

December 2018:
In order to make real changes to this palm oil trader, which accounts for about 40% of the global market share, the global public will not give up. For months, Greenpeace volunteers have peacefully conveyed their demands from Wilmar International's refinery in Indonesia and from cargo ships carrying palm oil. Global Forest Guardians have also spoken out to demand that its major customer Mondelēz International (which includes well-known brands Oreo cookies) to fulfill the "no deforestation" commitment. In December, Wilmar proposed a specific action plan! This includes mapping the palm oil origins of all suppliers by 2019 and using high-resolution satellites to monitor whether deforestation is involved. Once deforestation occurs, Wilmar will immediately cease cooperation with the supplier.

In the past ten years, Indonesia has been the country with the largest loss of rainforest area in the world for many years. The destruction of rainforest by companies to produce pulp and palm oil is the biggest culprit of the disappearance of Indonesian forests.

Hundreds of well-known consumer brands and palm oil suppliers have pledged to no longer use and produce palm oil through "deforestation" by 2020. 2020 is the day when companies commit to protecting forests, and it is also the deadline for the United Nations to set sustainable development goals and achieve "no deforestation". It is very important to ensure that many companies take responsibility and keep their promises.

Whether it’s shampoo, chocolate or toothpaste, palm oil can be found in nearly half of the products on supermarket shelves. These product brands are all large companies such as Nestlé, Mondelez and Unilever. The palm oil used in these products involves the destruction of Indonesia's original rainforest. Join Greenpeace’s global campaign to demand that these large companies fulfill their commitments and stop using palm oil derived from deforestation!
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Causes of global warming

Experts believe that the main reasons for accelerating global warming are "human activities and the use of fossil fuels (which will produce carbon dioxide after combustion)." ​
The impact of human activities on global warming is quite clear, including the impact of carbon dioxide, the sun, etc., but there is another unexplained cyclical factor that has an important impact on observing future climate changes.
 One possible explanation for this factor was first proposed six years ago by atmospheric scientist Michael Schlesinger and his student Navin Ramankutty at the University of Illinois. In the February 24, 1994 issue of Nature, they believed that temperature oscillations occurring in the North Atlantic and nearby land areas would periodically warm or cool the atmosphere (with a period of about 65-70 years). Therefore, sometimes it promotes the greenhouse effect and sometimes it suppresses it. Other possible causes are due to excess greenhouse gas emissions.

Impact and Crisis of Global Warming
The impacts of global warming include: melting of polar ice sheets, rising sea levels, submerging lower-lying coastal lands, impacting low-lying countries and coastal elite areas of most countries, and causing global climate change, resulting in abnormal heavy rains, droughts, and the expansion of desertification. , which will cause great harm to the ecological system, water and land resources, human social and economic activities and life safety.

The impacts of warming on Taiwan include: rising sea levels will increase the chance of seawater intrusion, reduce land use area, and have an impact on the ecology of shallow sea aquaculture. If the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere doubles, it will have an impact on crops such as cotton, cucumbers, and rice. Moreover, as temperatures rise and rainfall decreases, corn production will decrease by 10-20% and wheat production by 7-8%, and the overall farming area will gradually decrease. Rising temperatures may lead to increased chances of diseases such as hantavirus, encephalitis, dengue fever, and allergic asthma.

Things we can do to reduce the impact of the greenhouse effect include:
Cherish energy and the environment from the heart, reduce energy usage and improve energy usage efficiency. In daily life, turn off the lights, save electricity, take public transportation when going out, and walk better to save gasoline consumption. These are things that each of us can do.

Other important impacts include:
(1) Drastic changes in plant species in high latitudes.
(2) The situation in desert areas may worsen.
(3) Global warming has strengthened the global water cycle, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather phenomena such as floods and droughts may increase.
(4) Global agricultural and forest productivity will maintain the current situation, but productivity will increase in some areas and decrease in some areas.
(5) In terms of health, there will be widespread and adverse effects. For example, as the frequency of heat waves increases, deaths and illnesses will increase, and the impact of certain infectious diseases may also expand.
(6) Overall, poorer and more backward countries will be hardest hit because they have the weakest ability to adapt.
In addition, global warming will also bring about crises such as rising sea levels, abnormal weather, food shortages, and substantial changes in ecosystems.

The solutions
*Increase material recovery and recycling.
*Increase energy usage efficiency.
*Develop alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels. ​
*Transfer green technology and abandon economic development strategies that sacrifice the natural environment. ​
*Conserve animals and plants, and establish conservation spaces and pathways. ​
* Strengthen relevant scientific research in natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences as the basis for formulating policies. ​
* Strengthen environmental education and promote it to all walks of life and all age groups to form a consensus on sustainable management. ​
*Everyone has environmental awareness, from using less than one plastic bag to voting in elections, investing and managing finances, formulating policies, and putting the environment first at all times.
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Source: http://residence.educities.edu.tw/atom/taco/note15.htm

In recent years, news about the discovery of a hole in the ozone layer of the atmosphere in the Antarctic region has shocked many people. The reason is that the ozone layer has the ability to absorb ultraviolet rays from sunlight. force.

Ultraviolet rays are a type of light that is invisible to the naked eye, but it is extremely harmful to living organisms. It often causes pathological changes in living organisms after being exposed to it for too long. In the past, because part of the atmosphere was made up of ozone, this part absorbed most of the ultraviolet rays, so the ultraviolet rays that directly came into contact with the surface were not too much, and the harm to living organisms was not great.

But when a hole is discovered in the ozone layer in the Antarctic region and the global ozone layer gradually becomes thinner, this means that the original protection of living things on the earth will gradually disappear. Ultraviolet rays will directly damage the living things on the earth and cause a large number of diseases due to the gradual disappearance of the ozone layer. occurrence, and even trigger species extinction.

The reason why the ozone layer disappears is that a large amount of chlorofluorocarbons are emitted into the air. After being exposed to sunlight, these chlorofluorocarbons begin to decompose, and a large amount of chlorine is released into the air. When it encounters ozone, a series of chemical changes occur. Ozone is destroyed. What's more serious is that one chlorine atom can destroy 10,000 ozone molecules.

This destruction will cause the ozone layer to gradually thin or even disappear. And a large amount of ultraviolet rays will be able to directly illuminate the ground. This will result in a significant increase in the chances of humans getting skin cancer and cataracts, and the plankton living on the ocean surface will also be in danger of dying. Agricultural products are also affected by pests and diseases, resulting in a significant reduction in output.
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Source: http://ad.cw.com.tw/cw/taiwan_warm/

After the rapid increase in greenhouse effect gases, the temperature on the earth also began to rise. The first problem was the rise of sea levels. Icebergs that were originally in the polar regions began to melt. At the same time, seawater also began to expand due to heat. The two factors interacted. Below, the sea level begins to rise, and some islands, estuarine plains and coastal plains that were originally close to sea level will be submerged by sea water. And local human activities will also be impossible.
The global warming crisis continues to worsen, and Tuvalu, our diplomatic neighbor, has been submerged in sea water. How much harm will it cause to Taiwan in the future? The Institute of Geosciences of National Central University estimates that once the sea level rises to 10 meters, 8.8% of Taiwan's area will sink into the sea, which is equivalent to the size of Taipei City, including the entire Taipei Basin, Lanyang Plain, and Chianan Plain, which will bear the brunt. , but when all this will happen, experts are not sure. ​
Is it possible that the glacier collapse in the movie "After Tomorrow" could happen in real life? As the anomalies about global warming effects gradually develop and global warming continues, what will Taiwan look like in a few decades? Using computer numerical simulations and estimates, Central University and the Space Telemetry Center discovered the most undesirable fact: the greenhouse effect is indeed occurring. ​
Estimating based on the current rate of warming, experts have seen that once the sea level rises 10 meters, an area of ​​7 Taipei City-sized areas in Taiwan will sink into the water. In 2100, Taiwan will include areas in the Taipei Basin. Taipei Main Station, the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, and even the four floors of 101 were completely submerged. ​
Warming causes glaciers to melt rapidly, but droughts follow. How fast will the warming happen? Experts dare not imagine it, but what is certain is that if the pace of global industrial development does not slow down, everyone will have to bear the consequences of natural environment protests.
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Source: http://web.ltjh.kh.edu.tw/~lide97/2/b4.html

Because the increase in sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide emissions causes the greenhouse effect, it also indirectly produces acid rain. Acid rain destroys the dirt in the air and enters the atmosphere to undergo chemical reactions. Therefore, the pH value of rainfall is lower than the normal pH value of water (acid rain is below 5.6ph). ) Acid rain will acidify the soil, increase harmful metals, and cause plants to become diseased and die, thus destroying forests, especially tropical forests.

Consequences of tropical forest loss:
1. Global warming (excessive CO2 content)
2. The world is becoming hypoxic
3. Plants and animals will not be able to survive

Deforestation in tropical forests has dangerous consequences
If a large area of ​​tropical forest land is cleared, even if carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases intensively at the same time, it will still have an extremely serious impact on the release of carbon dioxide. Once forests are cleared, tropical soils will no longer be protected by forest cover, which prevents direct sunlight from reaching the soil and slows and disperses the damaging effects of rainfall. Under the combined effects of heavy rains and strong sunshine, the originally fragile soil will deteriorate at an accelerated pace, causing the land to become unsuitable for farming or afforestation in the short term. ​

In addition, deforestation will also disrupt the water cycle. When the trees at the top of the slope are cleared, rainwater washes away the soil, polluting the river and changing its flow. In low-lying areas, where the soil is directly exposed to sunlight and heavy rainfall, it will become a floodplain, and then turn into a swamp or arid land depending on local conditions.

Source: http://web.ltjh.kh.edu.tw/~lide97/3/c4.html

New policies such as the use of efficient energy, renewable energy, and energy conservation are all solutions to global warming.
Actions that can be taken immediately include the world agreeing to build cars with low CO2 emissions, electricity-saving appliances and energy conservation. People can also reduce the amount of greenhouse gases they emit, achieving immediate results. Major manufacturers have begun to try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and save money at the same time, but there is still great potential for developing new technologies.
Developing and providing new clean energy technologies, such as wind power, solar power, hybrid engines, and alternative fuels, will help reduce global warming. ​
 

Improve energy efficiency and reduce energy waste, that is, energy should be saved. Saving energy has dual meanings:
Passive energy conservation refers to reducing the amount of energy used, but such savings may have negative consequences.
For example, using less electric lights may lead to insufficient light, which may lead to an increase in myopia patients. On the contrary, active expenditure reduction is to improve energy efficiency and productivity to promote more reasonable energy allocation.
To this extent, energy conservation programs should aim at increasing energy productivity, that is, using less energy input,
Achieving the same amount of economic output depends on the improvement of technological standards and energy efficiency management. On the other hand, in order to achieve the effect of energy conservation, external costs should be fully reflected in energy prices to comply with the user-pays principle and reduce unnecessary waste of energy.

The article is taken from the Greenpeace website:

The crisis facing global forests

Primary forests are one of the most important ecosystems on earth: Russia, Canada and Brazil have the largest areas of primary forests in the world, while primary forests in African countries, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea are extremely rich in biodiversity and have Very high conservation value. But only 20% of the world's original forests remain intact because illegal logging and destructive logging are devouring them.

Global forests are facing an unprecedented crisis. Eight thousand years ago, forests covered nearly half of the Earth’s landmass. Today, the remaining virgin forests account for only 7% of the earth's land area, and are rapidly decreasing at an average annual rate of 7.3 million hectares (equivalent to the land area of ​​Ireland). Forests have provided habitats for millions of animals and plants over the past thousands of years, and provided the resources necessary for life for indigenous peoples. Today, due to industrial development, there are very few primeval forests left around the world. It also faces the fate of being cannibalized.

Deforestation not only destroys the earth's ecosystem, reduces biodiversity, increases greenhouse gas concentrations, makes climate change an increasingly serious problem, but may also trigger human rights violations and racial conflicts. There are many reasons for the disappearance of forests: large-scale deforestation, including land reclamation, mining, plantation, and infrastructure construction, are all the main causes of forest destruction. According to the World Resources Institute's risk assessment of existing virgin forests: "Industrial logging has become the biggest threat to virgin forests..., affecting more than 70% of endangered forests." 

The virgin forest that took thousands of years to form has been processed into the floors we step on, gorgeous furniture, paper for schools and offices, inconspicuous paper towels, and even disposable chopsticks. If the rate of forest loss continues, the species that exist in the forest will become extinct by the middle of the 21st century.

Illegal logging has caused even more serious damage to forests around the world. The World Bank estimates that illegal logging costs timber-producing countries US$10 to US$15 billion in annual revenue, equivalent to one-tenth of the world's total timber trade revenue (approximately US$150 billion per year). The lost revenue in these timber-producing countries is critical to building essential public services such as schools and hospitals. Poor management and corruption in timber-producing countries, as well as the failure of timber-consuming countries to prohibit the import of illegally logged timber, have repeatedly allowed logging companies and timber traders to plunder virgin forests without restraint.

Forests and climate change are actually closely related!
Did you know that virgin forests play a key role in stabilizing the global climate, purifying and conserving water sources?

Global forests store approximately 433 billion tons of carbon. Calculated at the current average rate of global carbon emissions, this number is greater than the total carbon emissions created by humans burning fossil fuels, producing cement, transportation, etc. in the next 45 years! So if these forests are destroyed, the carbon they release will seriously exacerbate global climate change.

At present, greenhouse gas emissions caused by the destruction of global forests account for about one-fifth of the total global greenhouse gas emissions. The third largest emitter of greenhouse gases after the United States and China is surprisingly Indonesia in Southeast Asia! The main reason is that Indonesia's peatland forests have been destroyed by massive logging. Protecting global forest resources can significantly mitigate climate change and is crucial to curbing global climate change.

Forests and Biodiversity, Endangered Species
The destruction of forests around the world has led to the degradation of habitats and ecosystems, resulting in species extinction at an alarming rate. As of the end of 2004, IUCN scientists estimated that 23% of the world's mammals, 12% of its birds, 61% of its reptiles, 31% of its amphibians and 46% of its fish were endangered. Most of these species live in the last remaining primeval forests on Earth, and these data don’t even cover the tens of thousands of plants and insects that play important roles in forest ecosystems around the world.

Human rights violations and ethnic conflicts
More than one billion people around the world rely on forest resources for their livelihoods. They live in harmony with and depend on forests, making them the primary guardians of forests around the world. In many areas, indigenous peoples have legal rights to protect their lands from logging companies. But these residents often have difficulty dealing with the large consortiums and companies behind the loggers.

Greenpeace estimates that more than 90% of logging in Papua New Guinea is illegal because logging companies in most cases fail to obtain the knowledge and consent of traditional landowners, the indigenous peoples of the forests, in accordance with the country's laws. Investigations by the Papua New Guinea government and the World Bank also found that many logging operations clearly violated environmental regulations and trampled on human rights.

In addition, the destruction of global forests may also trigger ethnic conflicts. For example, in Myanmar in Asia and Congo in Africa, illegal logging is often intertwined with military or ethnic armed issues, posing a great threat to social stability and the personal safety of residents.

Greenpeace demands
Protecting forests also protects climate and biodiversity!

Greenpeace hopes to reduce deforestation to "zero" by 2020. Over the past ten years, Greenpeace has worked hard to protect forests. Thanks to public support, Greenpeace has achieved the following achievements:

Brazil's livestock industry pledges to protect Amazon forests, stops buying soy grown on deforested farmland
Reached an agreement with 8 environmental organizations and 21 logging companies to protect Canada'sBoreal Forest
Mattel, Hasbro, Lego, Disney and other companies have terminated their cooperative relationships with APP Sinar Mas Asia Pulp and Paper Company, which illegally deforestation

But there is still a long way to go to protect forests. In addition to forests in the Amazon and Canada, forests in Indonesia and the African Congo also require public power.

We now call on Yum Brands, one of the world's leading restaurant chains, and its well-known brand KFC to permanently remove deforestation paper packaging from their supply chains as soon as possible. At the same time, we formulate and implement a truly global sustainable procurement policy.

The article is taken from the Greenpeace website:

The Paris Climate Agreement is the most binding new agreement on global greenhouse gas reduction after the long-expired Kyoto Protocol. It successfully brought together 195 participating countries to unanimously adopt the agreement without objection in an unprecedented manner. Keeping global warming below 2 degrees means phasing out all fossil fuels and committing to clean, safe and renewable energy sources.

The COP21 Paris Climate Summit, which attracted worldwide attention, finally came to an end on December 12 after representatives from 195 countries around the world gathered in Paris for nearly two weeks of negotiations day and night, and the "final draft" was finalized. When French Foreign Minister Fabius read out the key points of the meeting at the international delegation meeting, he received warm cheers and tears in his eyes. He believed that the conference "completed an ambitious agreement that will bring the world to an important historical turning point."

Although it has mixed reputations, the birth of the "Paris Climate Agreement" still has its significance. It is not only the most binding new agreement on global greenhouse gas reduction after the long-expired Kyoto Protocol, it has successfully brought together 195 participating countries to achieve unprecedented unity. The unanimous approval of the content of the agreement also shows that more and more countries are aware that the threat of global warming is approaching, and immediate and concrete improvement measures are urgent. What’s more important is that before this year’s conference, Shell’s Arctic oil drilling plan was successfully blocked by public voices, to during the climate conference, citizen movements bloomed in Paris and around the world until the outcome of the conference was reached. The goal of keeping the temperature rise within 2 degrees Celsius shows that the power of the people cannot be underestimated.

The key points of the Paris Climate Agreement resolution are as follows:

1.Limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial times, with a further long-term goal of controlling it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
2.A general review of progress will be conducted every five years for each state party, with the first review due to take place in 2023.
3.Participating countries must strive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from human activities to a level that can balance the amount absorbed by nature in the next half century.
4.Rich countries will allocate US$10 million per year starting from 2020 to help developing countries combat global warming.

Although the content of the agreement sets ambitious goals, it is not the agreement itself that can solve the problem, but the firm and solid plans and practices after the agreement. Although the "Paris Climate Agreement" is important, it is only the first step in the fight against climate warming. Although it has a certain binding force in international conventions, it "does not involve liability and compensation." The actual results still need to rely on the independent restraint of each country and global citizens. Unite as one and continue to promote and supervise.

To control global warming within 2 degrees, it means that all fossil fuels must be phased out as soon as possible. This also means that we must find alternatives. From a long-term perspective, clean and safe renewable energy will be a necessity for mankind sooner or later. Energy sources that must be developed are the only truly sustainable and correct path.

In recent years, many multinational companies have pledged to use renewable energy as a source of electricity to do their part to slow down climate change. Companies such as IKEA, H&M, Nestlé, and Philips have even proposed plans to use 100% renewable energy by 2020. In 2012 Since then, technology giants such as Google, Facebook, and Apple have successively pledged that their data centers will use 100% renewable energy. In 2015, South Korea's Naver also committed to using 100% renewable energy. These plans and commitments all confirm that renewable energy is a current and future trend. Its stability and development are trusted and valued by pioneer industries. As long as we invest resources and devote ourselves to development, we will definitely become the best alternative to fossil fuels. Taiwan is currently All it takes is strong determination and execution.

Denmark has such a strong ambition. Under the leadership of the people, a ten-year-old civil movement has successfully resisted nuclear energy and turned the government to support the development of renewable energy. Currently, 34% of its electricity comes from wind power, and it plans to increase the contribution of wind power to 50% in 2020. It has also promised to completely stop using fossil fuels by 2050 and gradually develop into a city that uses 100% renewable energy. Green country.

If Denmark can do it, Taiwan can certainly do it too. In the past, the movement to stop climate change has been difficult and slow. 2015 was the year with the highest average temperature in history. The crisis faced by many island countries and the thousands of lives threatened by super hurricanes every year do not allow us to continue to hesitate. Not forward. This year's Paris Climate Agreement is an important turning point and a critical moment. Promoting a 100% sustainable future requires every country, every company, and every citizen in the world to move forward hand in hand. Many countries and companies that have already invested in the development of green energy have shown us the future of renewable energy. As long as we accelerate the pace, 100% renewable energy will no longer be out of reach.

The article is taken from the Greenpeace website:

The United Nations Climate Conference in Paris has ended. The new agreement is to control global temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius. However, according to the current measures proposed by various countries, the temperature rise is still approaching 3 degrees Celsius. What’s next? What effect does this agreement have? Answers to the questions you want to know.

How to reduce carbon emissions?
Many countries have realized that it is extremely urgent to slow down global climate change. Global temperature rise must be controlled within 1.5 degrees Celsius to prevent the world from falling into an irremediable climate disaster. What governments need to do now is to re-examine current energy policies and goals, accelerate the comprehensive transformation of renewable energy, stop continuing to invest in fossil fuels, and curb deforestation by 2020.

Is the agreement legally binding?
According to international law, this agreement is legally binding, but the "Intended Nationally Determined Contributions" (INDCS) and financial agreement in the agreement are not legally binding. This arrangement was originally intended to allow the United States to join international agreements without having to re-legislate locally and avoid resistance from opposition in Congress.

What's the long-term goal?
According to the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), all greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced to "zero emissions" between 2060 and 2080, with carbon emissions being the first to reach the standard by 2050. . Although this goal is not satisfactory, it is an improvement over the previous "zero emissions" goal by 2100 promised by the Group of Seven Major Industrial Countries and the European Union's approach.

Will the deal help vulnerable countries suffering from climate change?
Although aid from developed countries to poor countries is still insufficient, there is finally new progress. Developed countries originally promised to provide US$100 billion in annual funding to developing countries until 2020 to cope with global climate change and reduce carbon emissions. Now the funding will be extended to 2025, allowing these countries to effectively solve various current climate crises.

In addition, the demands of poor countries and the global voice to defend climate justice are unprecedentedly powerful, whether inside or outside the venue or on the streets, and leaders of various countries and businesses have to listen carefully. Controlling global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius is especially important for poor countries. Therefore, countries must take more carbon reduction actions to prevent runaway warming and protect the earth's climate.

Can the agreement protect forests and oceans?
Countries must abide by the agreement to protect ecosystems such as forests and oceans. However, Greenpeace noted that although the agreement encourages countries to regulate carbon emissions through forests, this may allow developed countries to shift the responsibility for carbon reduction to poor countries. We There must be constant supervision to prevent this from happening.

Have carbon emissions stabilized?
Yes, this is the result of years of energy reform and the development of renewable energy. In particular, China is reducing coal consumption, but it is still too early to say whether it can be reversed. If the world wants to control temperature rise within 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius, countries must Accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This summer has seen temperatures hit record highs around the world, making it a particularly hot year. The road to carbon reduction is still long.

What about the role of nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy was not mentioned in this agreement. After phasing out dirty fossil fuels, limited funds should be used to develop safer, cheaper and cleaner renewable energy. Not only is the price of nuclear energy higher than that of renewable energy, there is still no way to deal with nuclear waste. Renewable energy is the only clean energy technology mentioned in the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement will help strengthen the development of renewable energy and support mankind's fight against global warming.

What's next?
In 2016, the voice against fossil energy will continue to grow firmly around the world. We must unite our strength and determine to move at full speed towards a carbon-free future. Although the United Nations Climate Conference in Paris has come to an end, Greenpeace is convinced that the power of carbon reduction has entered a new era. We will continue to monitor and ensure that countries comply with and implement the agreement. We hope that when countries gather again in 2018 to review the progress of carbon reduction, all countries will It can bring good news to the earth and further set more aggressive carbon reduction goals.

Author: Director-General of Greenpeace International Kumi. Kumi Naidoo

Although this agreement has been partially tainted and diluted by industrialists who spare no effort to plunder the earth, it clearly sets a new limit for warming: 1.5 degrees Celsius. That simple number, along with the goal of reaching zero carbon emissions by the second half of this century, has sent shockwaves through the boardrooms of coal companies and the palaces of oil-exporting countries, and that's a good thing. This means that moving away from fossil fuels is an inevitable and inevitable change.

The most important task of this century now lies before us. How to achieve the goal? The simple plan in the agreement is not enough to guide us to a smooth arrival. When it comes to truly meaningful action, Paris has missed its opportunity. We had a 1.5 degree Celsius wall to climb, but the ladder on the wall was not high enough. The carbon reduction plans outlined in the agreement are not ambitious enough to get us where we need to be.

The Paris Agreement does not do enough for countries and people on the front lines of climate change, and there is deep-rooted injustice in this. People who are suffering are losing their lives and livelihoods, paying the price for a problem they did not cause, and the countries that actually caused the climate problem have committed too little about how to help people on the front lines of the crisis.

This agreement is far from enough to automatically rescue us from this situation, but at least it makes the slope less steep. Saving us from the harm of fossil fuels will require more participation. This year, the climate movement resisted Canada’s Keystone XL oil pipeline plan, kicked Shell out of the Arctic, and pushed coal to the limits of decline. We demand clean energy to light up the future. This is a future we will win.

That’s why all our efforts cannot be limited to the conference hall. We have brought our demands for justice, fairness, and environmental protection into the climate negotiations. We hope to accelerate the common call to end fossil fuels and echo around political leaders. We will continue to speak out until the negotiations are over and action begins.

We come to the Paris climate conference with hope. This hope comes not from the promises we look to political leaders to make, but from the climate action you and I and so many others build together. Together, we challenge the few giants of fossil energy, lead the way on solutions to climate change, and move the political boundaries of what is and is not possible.

While our political leaders move slowly and climate action leads the way, we need to make progress faster. From the Arctic to Brazil, from the oil sands of Alberta, Canada to the peatlands of Indonesia, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mediterranean, we will rise up against faceless companies and outdated governments that endanger the next generation. future.

In the face of the crisis of climate change, we must continue to promote beautiful and bold solutions, which are 100% renewable energy that lights up every corner and is available to everyone. We want the world to hear this call and embrace it. this solution. From school playgrounds in Greece to streetlights in India to Arctic villages on Canada’s Clyde River, we will prove that clean, renewable energy does exist and pressure our governments to make it accessible to all. And as soon as possible.

Finally, our thoughts are with the communities on the front lines of the climate crisis, who are the leaders of this movement. These communities include all those who face rising sea levels, are exposed to super hurricanes, and suffer the consequences of our government’s incompetence and inaction. We will stand with these communities, demanding change that no one can ignore.

In 2016, you and I, together as the climate movement, will step up the fight and tell the world that if governments don’t stop polluting carbon emitters, we will take action.

History is flapping its wings, and we are on the right side.

Article originally published in Ecologist by Professor Robert Spicer

About 70 million years ago, hundreds of miles of forest grew in the Arctic. If there had been land in the Arctic, forests would have covered the entire Arctic.

Most of the trees are coniferous, up to ten meters tall, and their needles fall off in winter. And those ferns, algae, and herbs grow underground. Dinosaurs roamed the forest, accompanied by insects, turtles, birds and many invertebrates.

The average maximum temperature in summer is 15 degrees Celsius, and in winter it approaches freezing freezing. At that time, sea level was 60 meters higher than it is now. But a lot has changed.

Explore the Arctic

I first visited the Arctic 40 years ago with the US Geological Survey. My mission is to collect plant fossils and understand past climate changes in the Arctic.

As a young scientist, I traveled a lot, but the Arctic was very different from the places I'd been. The sea ice on the coast accumulates into ice beaches due to the leeward wind. This is the uniqueness of the Arctic. Seeing the vastness of the Arctic also made me feel the purity and independence of this piece of freedom for the first time.

But ten years later, when I set foot on the Arctic again, I truly understood how unique it is.

I traveled on a small boat to the heart of Arctic Alaska for six weeks. At that time, the upper reaches of the Colville River were clear and clear. I picked up a ladle of water from the side of the boat and it was so clean and sweet.

The wind blowing through the tundra and the ripples on the river were the only sounds in the Arctic, untouched by industrial oil rigs and ships. I instantly realized that I was an intruder and had inadvertently offended the wild bears, foxes, and wolves that lived here. You have to walk more quietly and be more alert to your surroundings, so you can discover more surprises.

Learn to respect the natural environment, because we always rely on nature to live. At the same time, we also rely on the natural forces provided by the Arctic - we just don't realize it yet.

The future of the Arctic

The fossilized plant leaves and skeletons I found during my travels in Alaska and northern Russia illustrated another Arctic I had not experienced; a warmer Arctic.

My research can tell more about the differences between the future and the past. Research shows that there are potential factors that will cause the planet to warm in the future.

It is not inconceivable that the forests I have described may reappear in the Arctic in the near future. Excluding some small areas in the Antarctic, the Arctic is the region on earth most susceptible to warming. Whether Earth's climate warms or cools, the changes are felt most strongly at the poles.

Global temperatures have begun to climb due to man-made climate change. The Arctic is melting rapidly, reducing its ability to cool the Earth. Moreover, when the Arctic permafrost begins to collapse, large amounts of methane will be released, accelerating warming.

Some people think there is enough time - not so! A few years ago, experts thought it would be centuries before Arctic summer ice melted completely. Now, within just a few decades, commercial ships have been sailing the Arctic on a regular basis.

It also means the threat of rapid sea level rise is happening sooner than we think. Although melting sea ice does not directly cause sea level rise, rapidly disintegrating ice caps may accelerate sea level rise faster than we expect, flooding coastal cities, forcing residents to migrate in large numbers, and greatly polluting the ocean.

Risks of uncontrolled industrialization

We can’t prevent climate change now—because it’s already happening—but we can try to limit its extent. One way to do this is to protect this unique area of ​​the Arctic and prevent evil forces from taking advantage of the melting of the Arctic to accelerate destruction.

The extremely special Arctic sea is home to unexplored biological species and unimaginable historical torrents. It is also the core of human survival. However, the fragile Arctic lacks strong protection.

As the Arctic ice melts, the international high seas in the center of the Arctic sea are forced to open up, increasing profit opportunities for oil exploration, shipping and navigation, and large-scale industrial fishing.

If we allow these commercial practices to continue, Arctic ecosystems will deteriorate further, jeopardizing the Earth’s past ability to regulate itself.

The center of the Arctic sea may seem like a harsh and barren area, but in fact, it is home to species of life that are found nowhere else on Earth. Arctic and sub-Arctic seas are the most vulnerable biospheres in the world.

Bathed in sunshine 24 hours a day in the summer, the Arctic is home to ice-dependent mammals such as polar bears, seals, walruses, whales, and numerous seabirds. Sponges and cold-water corals sprawl across the ocean floor and are home to vast populations of fish, but little is known about these hitherto inaccessible ecosystems.

Protecting Arctic Sea Ice

Arctic sea ice forms the basis of the marine food chain.

The smallest microorganisms and plankton live beneath the ice and are eaten by Arctic cod. Cod, in turn, is preyed upon by seals, which in turn become the staple food of polar bears.

Seals also use the ice to give birth and care for their babies. Polar bears are the unique and most iconic Arctic animals that roam the sea ice that is their home. Polar organisms are exposed to risks due to human activities such as oil drilling, industrial fishing, shipping, and seabed excavation.

Opening up more commercial opportunities to the Arctic before we have begun to fully understand the marine ecosystems beneath the ice is simply destructive and regressive.

Greenpeace dinghy on the Esmarksbreen glacier in Svalbard, Ymerbukta.

The science of climate change leaves no doubt that we cannot rush to burn the fossil fuels we have discovered. We should not increase Arctic environmental risks by developing and stockpiling fossil fuels. If the next generation knew about it, they would think we were crazy.

Establish an Arctic protected area

The establishment of the Antarctic Convention was a beacon of hope for the Arctic, indicating that we could establish protected areas for research and future generations. Unfortunately, opponents will always find ways to reduce current protections, but they are still defended. The best way to protect the two poles is to have the same protection for the Arctic.

I am one of thousands of scientists, politicians, and cultural leaders who signed the Arctic Statement and established Arctic protected areas. Protecting the Arctic's unique creatures from oil drilling, shipping, and industrial fishing.

Now, more than six million people from all over the world have joined in protecting the Arctic.

Determining such a policy would require global political clout, but it is not unattainable because the Antarctic Reserve has been established. Currently, the international community is responding.

We are running out of time to protect the Arctic. If, as a species, we are capable of achieving this difficult and possible task, let's do our best.
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