Hello, Another week and another critical climate discussion went into overtime as negotiators pushed to reach an agreement on drought at Cop16 in Riyadh. Nations made significant progress to lay the groundwork for a future global drought regime. However, the conference closed without a firm conclusion. That is expected to be achieved at the next United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) gathering in Mongolia in 2026. While it is easy to see this as a lack of conclusion to the conference, it is worth noting what was achieved at the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/06/cop16-strategy-to-tackle-over-cultivation-to-bolster-global-food-security/" target="_blank">summit in Riyadh</a>, which was the first UNCCD summit held in the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/middle-east/" target="_blank">Middle East</a>. For the first time, UNCCD Parties made a decision encouraging the sustainable management, restoration and conservation of rangelands ahead of Cop17. Among the other main agreements reached at Cop16 were the creation of a Caucus for Indigenous Peoples and a Caucus for Local Communities. You can read the full story <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/14/cop16-gives-indigenous-communities-a-louder-voice/" target="_blank">here</a>. We now travel from Riyadh to the Red Sea. <i>The National </i>has a series that takes a deep dive into the impact of <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024/12/18/bridge-on-fire-tanker-captains-red-sea-missile-ordeal/" target="_blank">Houthi attacks on the shipping industry.</a> According to the head of the International Maritime Organisation, diverting vessels around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024/12/19/gunpoint-talks-and-diplomacy-to-rescue-red-sea-hostages-from-houthis/" target="_blank"> Houthi attacks on shipping </a>results in three times the emissions per vessel. The UN body has a target of achieving net zero for global shipping by around 2050 but, as its secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez says, the need for ships to avoid the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2024/12/17/how-the-red-sea-threat-has-risen-despite-us-led-naval-patrols/" target="_blank">Red Sea</a> is undermining that. <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/environment/" target="_blank">Environmental </a>damage will cost the world economy up to $25 trillion a year in the decades to come and threaten the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/health-news/" target="_blank">health</a> of billions, unless governments address its effects on biodiversity and food production, according to a UN-backed report published on Tuesday. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) describes its document as the “most <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2024/12/14/cop16-gives-indigenous-communities-a-louder-voice/" target="_blank">ambitious scientific assessment</a> ever undertaken” of the links between five crises or “nexus elements” – biodiversity, <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/water-security/" target="_blank">water</a>, food, health and <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/climate-change/" target="_blank">climate change</a> – that have a crucial bearing on global living standards. Read Michael Day's full story <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/environment/2024/12/17/environmental-damage-will-leave-25-trillion-a-year-dent-in-global-economy/" target="_blank">here</a>. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed Britain and Norway's “strong history, shared thinking and values” as the two countries unveiled a green energy partnership in renewable energy and carbon capture on Monday. Mr Starmer visited a <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/energy/2024/08/20/adnoc-petronas-and-storegga-explore-carbon-capture-projects-in-malaysia/" target="_blank">carbon transport and storage </a>centre in Norway to witness how such projects can regenerate industrial heartlands in the UK, leading to job creation and a boost to the economy. The UK and Norway have a long-standing <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/comment/2022/09/26/why-carbon-capture-is-crucial/" target="_blank">relationship in the energy sector</a>, with Norway being one of the largest supplies of natural gas to Britain. It is hoped the Green Industrial Partnership will be signed early next year 2025. Read Matthew Davies and Gillian Duncan's full story<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/road-to-net-zero/2024/12/15/keir-starmer-to-visit-carbon-capture-facilities-in-trip-to-norway/" target="_blank"> here.</a> According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, around 80 per cent of container ships have diverted around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Houthi attacks. The route adds at least 30 per cent more time<b> </b>and around<b> </b>$1 million in additional fuel costs per diversion. <b>Carbon Capture:</b> Carbon capture and storage (CCS) describes a range of technologies designed to address climate change by decreasing CO2 emissions. The core concept of CCS is to capture CO2 produced from the combustion of fossil fuels before it is emitted into the atmosphere. A full guide to understanding climate jargon<a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/cop28/2023/11/09/cop28-net-zero-15c-our-guide-to-climate-change-jargon/?utm_source=The+National+newsletters&utm_campaign=0a087136ba-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_07_09_02_20_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-138f6bcf16-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D" target="_blank"> is here</a>. <b>READ MORE</b>
