Most human activities that use water produce wastewater. As the overall demand for water grows, the quantity of wastewater produced and its overall pollution load are continuously increasing worldwide. Over 80% of the world’s wastewater – and over 95% in some least developed countries – is released to the environment without treatment. Once discharged into water bodies, wastewater is either diluted, transported downstream or infiltrates into aquifers, where it can affect the quality (and therefore the availability) of freshwater supplies. The ultimate destination of wastewater discharged into rivers and lakes is often the ocean with negative consequences for the marine environment.
The world’s biggest investors are responding to the global commitment to tackle climate change and are rapidly scaling up action to protect their portfolios, reveals this annual benchmark report on the industry from the Asset Owners Disclosure Project
The fifth AODP Global Climate 500 Index launches after a year of rapid developments in articulating the financial risks of climate change to the global economy. Climate risk rose further up the investor agenda in 2016. The Paris Climate Agreement came into force in November, including a recognition that financial flows must be aligned with the commitment to keep climate change well below 2C. Regulatory change is on the agenda, with France implementing a worldfirst mandatory climate risk disclosure requirement for institutional investors and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures delivering its recommendations to the Financial Stability Board, for consideration by the G20 in July this year. The scales have tipped – a 60% majority of Asset Owners, and half of Asset Managers are now taking action to manage the risks and opportunities posed by climate change.
Climate change will affect all types of infrastructure, including energy, transport and water. Rising temperatures, increased flood risk and other potential hazards will threaten the reliable and efficient operation of these networks, with potentially large economic and social impacts. Decisions made now about the design, location and operation of infrastructure will determine how resilient they will be to a changing climate.
This paper provides a framework for action aimed at national policymakers in OECD countries to help them ensure new and existing infrastructure is resilient to climate change. It examines national governments’ action in OECD countries, and provides recent insights from professional and industry associations, development banks and other financial institutions on how to make infrastructure more resilient to climate change.
If the Agreement’s goal - limit the global temperature increase below 2°C - is to be met, all financial flows need to shift dramatically and rapidly from current investment patterns to 2°C compatible pathways. This study analyses the roles Nordic actors might play in mobilizing finance flows internationally and outlines a roadmap that can guide joint Nordic action during the next five to ten years. While the roadmap covers components of “climate-related ODA” and climate compatible contributions from the private sector, the focus of the roadmap lies on the crucial bridging and dialogue that is required between key actors. Building on identified Nordic strengths and areas needing accelerated international support, the report concludes with a set of immediate next steps to operationalize the roadmap in 2017-2018.
Lighting is widely used in everyday life. It is a significant factor contributing to our quality of life and productivity of our workforces. Artificial illumination extends the productive day, enabling people to work in homes, offices, buildings and factories. Lighting equipment, however, consumes resources. It does so in the manufacturing phase and, more importantly, when installed and operating (i.e. producing light). As our economies grow and populations expand, the global demand for lighting will increase. This period of technology transition from old to new products is an opportunity to governments. They can introduce cost-effective policy measures across all lighting applications yielding substantial savings and accelerating the adoption of LED-based lighting.