Amy Cortese

Last year was the hottest on record and, by most measures, the first to exceed the 1.5 Celsius threshold set by the Paris Agreement  to limit the worst effects of climate change. Eric Niiler reports about some of the climate trends to expect in 2025 for #WSJScience.

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Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. https://lnkd.in/g_E-s7ay

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Ambitious #climate goals are bringing #cities and counties face-to-face with a serious reality: the need for carbon dioxide removal in addition to #decarbonization. As some local governments start to look at carbon removal strategies, experts say the public sector entering the ring could help bring down the cost for everyone. My story for Smart Cities Dive:

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Your daily reminder why climate change is an existential threat and the urgent need to cut emissions -- from the very forthright climate scientist James Hansen. Yesterday (Dec 9) he gave his testimony at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearings into how international laws can be used to protect the climate as global warming accelerates. "Climate change is intergenerational injustice, as innocent young people and their children will suffer the most severe consequences. Equally, it is international injustice, as nations that have done the least to cause climate change stand directly in the path of the gathering climate storm." "The nation states have failed the most vulnerable people, leaving them at the mercy of the most powerful members of the global community, who turn deaf ears and blind eyes to the well-being of the public." Despite annual UN climate conferences, or COPs, "real world emissions remain at a level driving climate inexorably toward conditions out of humanity’s control, leaving a global community increasingly unjust and ungovernable." "Warming of the ocean surface will not go away. We are now living with an ocean that provides increased drive for strong storms and extreme flooding. Global temperature will decline a bit as the tropics goes into its La Nina phase, but we are now living in the +1.5°C world, averaged over the Nino cycle, and we are headed higher." At the ICJ, the 15-judge body is seeking a wide range of views. Representatives from more than 100 countries and international organisations are expected to speak during the two-week hearings. A key focus for the ICJ is whether big polluters (companies and governments) can be sued for failing to slow climate change and for the damage they cause, especially damage suffered by poorer nations. The ICJ case is the biggest and most important climate hearing to date. An advisory opinion from the court is due in 2025. #climatechange #ClimateJustice #ClimateLitigation #Vanuatu #Oceans #fossilfuels #GreenHouseGasEmissions #CO2 #scicomms Thanks Darius Nassiry

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Consumerism and the climate crisis threaten equitable future for humanity, report says. The Earth Commission says hope lies in sustainable lifestyles, a radical transformation of global politics and fair distribution of resources: https://lnkd.in/eiHm3v7Y #consumerism #climatecrisis

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When climate disasters hit, there are losses and damages which recovery interventions do not pay attention to. That leaves people feeling empty - even when their tangible losses have been addressed. Usually, recovery responses focus on houses and crops -- ie ‘seen’, material losses and damages. But people also lose things deeper, unseen, non-economic and critically important to their lives: they lose their cultural traditions, their identity, their spirituality and sense of space. When #Cadecom conducted a research in a village in #Chikwawa District in #Malawi about what people dislocated by #CycloneFreddy cared about, they were worried that they had lost their “coming of age” traditional practices. They could not celebrate their initiation ceremonies. They had no space for such customs and they were being scorned at by original communities. They said they felt “empty". "It feels like we are walking naked,” one of them said. Chimwemwe Sakunda Ndhlovu, Cadecom National Coordinator, argues that recovery responses need to target non-economic losses too. “Without addressing these [people's tradition, identity and spiritual disruptions during climate disasters], communities often feel unsupported even if economic recovery is addressed. "Addressing these [non-economic losses and damages] allows communities to heal and reconnect with their roots, reinforcing social stability," she says, speaking from #COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Sakunda Ndhlovu shares more insights about #COP29 and her views on what she wants to see done in this Q&A:

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There's a fine balance in climate communications: don't shy away from the impacts, but leave enough space for hope and action. David Geselbracht nails it in his new book, Climate Hope, on sale October 19. It was my pleasure to edit this book and learn more about the interweaving fields of glaciology, climate law and diplomacy, and tangible actions to address the climate crisis. And yes, to finish with a bit more hope. #climatehope #climatecommunications

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The Week in impact investing: Coalition of the serious 🗣 Plot preview. Some of his early personnel choices make it seem like President-elect Donald Trump is casting a new Netflix series rather than staffing a government. What roles will Agents of Impact play in the dramatic new season? On our Call on Monday, “New realities, new narratives,” we’ll preview plotlines that already are taking shape (RSVP now). https://lnkd.in/gEukfaAp Impact investing champion Antony Bugg-Levine will make the case for “investing in America.” Freedom Economy’s Rachel J. Robasciotti will connect the pursuit of a strong economy for all with the legal defense of justice and sustainability investors. And Partners in Equity’s Wilson Lester will lay out “the North Carolina model” for broad-based ownership and equitable wealth building. Contributing editor Imogen Rose-Smith didn’t mince words in her latest Institutional Impact column. From resistance to rapprochement, we don’t have to agree on a single strategy. Let me know if you have a crisp call to action and we’ll add you to the lineup. Meanwhile, the work continues. Private equity investors are shoring up their portfolio companies to maintain the momentum of the energy transition despite political headwinds, as ImpactAlpha’s Snehal Shah reported from this week’s SuperReturn conference in New York. In the face of a likely US retreat, Brazil, China and even Azerbaijan are claiming climate leadership, Amy Cortese writes in her roundup on COP29. I spoke with Heading for Change’s Sana Kapadia on the crucial role for women’s leadership at “the finance COP.” From Baku, The Lightsmith Group’s Jay Koh told Amy he’s seeing the emergence of “a coalition of the serious." “If you’re serious about this problem, then let’s get together and make something really happen now,” he said. “And I think the serious folks are going to do that, no matter what.” In Africa, philanthropists and even pension funds are building a pipeline of local capital for sustainable economic growth and resilience, Lucy Ngige reports. Back in the US, nonprofit hospitals are finding ways to invest in “social determinants of health,” like housing, food and neighborhood safety, contributor Ibrahim Rashid, MPP explains in a guest post. From tangible improvements in working class livelihoods to taking on the industrial food complex, opportunities for progress remain. There are all kinds of people still in the fight, and there’s all kinds of work to be done, I told host Brian Walsh on this week’s Impact Briefing podcast. Maybe we can play a little role in keeping folks talking to each other. https://lnkd.in/g22ZNi6y #impinv #sustainability #climate #adaptation #employeeownership #equity #climate #energytransition #COP29 #gender

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An (April 2024) study by the Council on Foundations and the Center for Public Interest Communications unveils key insights into how philanthropy is perceived by Americans. Despite the goodwill, there’s a clear gap in understanding philanthropic impacts, with 86.3% of respondents indicating limited knowledge of how foundations operate. Maslansky + Partners gives great advice as to how to make sure stakeholders not only hear your message but act upon it. As philanthropic leaders, we must rethink our narrative. For example, Be Plainspoken: Use clear, jargon-free language that helps tell an impactful narrative and makes the benefits tangible; Stay Positive: Highlight the positive changes and real-world impacts of philanthropic efforts; Showcase stories that uplift and inspire; Make It Personal: Connect on a personal level by sharing stories and outcomes that resonate with the everyday experiences and values of your stakeholders; Keep It Plausible: Base your messages on reality, aligning closely with the audience’s existing perceptions and beliefs; Focus on Outcomes: Shift from describing processes to illustrating concrete results; and, Share how philanthropic actions lead to meaningful change. By adopting some of these strategies, you can unlock philanthropy's potential and pave the way for greater engagement and trust. #Philanthropy #Leadership #Communication #PR #storytelling https://lnkd.in/gQSj5QTm

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📣 CLIMATEBASE COHORT 6 processing loss… 📣 (San Francisco, CA) Chosen from a field of 4,000+ applicants, an ambitious collective of optimists, doers, creators, visionaries, disruptors, and explorers journeys through the Climatebase Fellowship, a 12-week educational program and career accelerator, covering Energy, Transportation, Food & Agriculture, Nature-Based Solutions, Carbon Removal, Corporate Sustainability, Built Environment, and Circular Economy -- topped off with a Capstone Project. 🌱 = = = 🗓 WEEK 10 – BUILDINGS, CITIES & ADAPTATION Disclaimer: It’s been a numbing week. Let’s extend ourselves a little *grace* if our hearts aren’t quite caught up with our heads.💕 Weeks ago America experienced hurricanes Helene and Milton. Last week: 1) Unprecedented flooding in Spain where 💚 Julian Moore of Climatebase shared that one year’s amount of rain fell in 24 hours! *Deaths: 200+* 2) Deadly typhoon Kong-Rey (largest in 30 years) hit Taiwan (relatives: safe!🙏). Grateful for our *RESILIENT* Fellows with shoutout to 💚 Caroline Wu: 📌 “I’d like to direct my [election] mourning towards action.” CURRICULUM: 💚 Matthias Muehlbauer (Co-Founder, OnePointFive (opf.degree)) is headed to COP29 Azerbaijan next week! - the Built Environment which includes concrete, steel, brick, aluminum (“aluminium” in Australian😉) - emissions from production *and* maintenance: HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) - Post-Hurricane Sandy, New York case study/important efforts in *ADAPTATION*: intriguing non-electric solutions to protect against subway flooding - 40% of the world’s population lives near water: possible Managed Retreat to move populations away from changing coastlines and rising waters - losses/damages that disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations - 15-20 Minute Cities/Neighborhoods: urban planning where *daily needs* are met within 15-20m walk/bike ride, restricting high-polluting vehicles, creating community parks/gardens to improve the quality of life ➡️ People forget how climate personally affects them: *SUPPLY CHAIN* 🇪🇸 About Spain (our cautionary tale!): “It’s the political infrastructure that has failed us. It’s the media environment that has failed us… resulting in so much death & destruction. On top of all that is the shock. *Hopefully this will lead to reforms.*” ~JULIAN MOORE  (**See comments in this original post for 🔗 to related topics! ⬇️ ) = = = 🎉 CHEERS for more Cohort 6 Fellows in (4) images: 🌟 Adam Winston 🌟 Addy Spiller 🌟 Aune Michener 🌟 Benjamin E. Long, MBA 🌟 Chris Wingenroth 🌟 Dillman Delgado 🌟 Ece Özbaylı Halligan 🌟 Genevieve Gholizadeh 🌟 Georgia Lechlitner 🌟 Ignacio Franco 🌟 Meghna Varma 🌟 Mira Musank 🌟 Mohith Murlidhar 🌟 Sara Bermingham 🌟 Sarika Vora 🌟 Tovah Cook, Climate TBD podcast launch w/ Fellows 🙌 🗓 Reminder: April 19-27, 2025 is SF Climate Week (Year 3)! #ClimatebaseFellowship #ESG #ClimatebaseCohort6 #Climatebase6ers #ThankfulThursday

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*Wonk alert* As a comms professional, I closely follow the work of Yale's Anthony Leiserowitz. I was super excited to read that Tony and colleagues recently published an article in Nature, 'The evolving climate change investing strategies of asset owners,' a deep dive into #assetowners engagement with climate change. This dovetails with CPI's recent analysis of #pensionfunds progress on aligning portfolios with climate change realities, 'State of European Pension Funds’ Net-Zero Transition.' After banks, pensions funds are the largest source of investable capital, and other asset owners like foundations and family offices are hugely influential in investment trends. We need more active engagement from asset owners to address the climate emergency. #climatefinance Both studies find ample opportunity for asset owners to engage with advisors, asset managers, portfolio investments, and each other to overcome barriers and accelerate efforts. Learn more: The evolving climate change investing strategies of asset owners https://lnkd.in/gt5ixy_w State of European Pension Funds’ Net-Zero Transition https://lnkd.in/gnhu-JXp

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We spend a lot of time talking about how to cover climate change, but the fact is it's here. Instead of projections, local news orgs are deep into trials by fire, innovating as they go to keep their communities safe, informed and connected. It's ironic and wildly impressive that In the midst of AI hand-wringing and viral disinformation campaigns, innovation right now means going back to the basics in areas completely cut off by Helene's devastation. How are they doing it? Here's an initial short list, via an American Press Institute round-up, and other posts trickling in. If you have more, please feel free to add them in the comments -- I know I'm not the only person thinking a huge focus for support is equipping media for this new normal. -From CNN's Brian Stelter: Local radio stations have been a lifeline for residents, sharing updates on road closures, providing verified information on relief efforts and opening up the phone lines to answer questions and help connect people. -Daniel Williams and the folks at NC Local News Workshop helped developed a text-only, lite version of Blue Ridge Public Radio (BPR) built on Newspack that was rapidly deployed to get critical information into the hands of folks in Western North Carolina struggling with weak cell service. There are no ads or images so it loads fast. It also includes resources with links for services and other critical community resources. https://text.bpr.org/ -From Jeremy Markovich on North Carolina Rabbit Hole: In Black Mountain, town leaders gathered in person in the Town Square to share information about the status of the utilities and other necessities. Residents learned about the meeting from posters, and outlets have used whiteboards placed around town.   -The Asheville Citizen-Times launched a text message service to help to answer questions directly about news and local services. (This is part of a larger trend towards text messaging as an audience tool, Charlotte Tobitt wrote in Press Gazette, noting that SubText will send roughly five billion text messages this year.)  🙏 to the journalists out there doing the work.

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Frustrated by the lack of progress - even failure - of UN climate negotiations in delivering on the promise of lowering GHG emissions and curbing dangerous levels of global heating, Vanuatu and other small island/most climate-vulnerable states in the Pacific and elsewhere are turning to the 'World Court' in a historic climate justice case that is set to clarify international law and countries’ legal obligations in the context of climate change. The International Court of Justice's forthcoming climate change advisory opinion will address not only countries' legal duties to reduce emissions and mitigate climate breakdown, but the legal consequences on states for failing in their obligations and causing significant climate harm. "This legal process is about accountability and our shared humanity," said Vishal Prasad of Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change. For young people and the Pacific Islands, he said, the climate crisis "is a matter of survival, and the world’s biggest economies are not taking this crisis seriously." That includes the US, which has become the largest oil and gas producer in the world and just (re)elected a climate denier as president. The US has long resisted accepting legal responsibility for its outsized role in contributing to rising emissions causing climate breakdown, and it will likely continue with that stance when it presents its oral statement to the ICJ on December 4. The court is slated to hear from a record number 110 parties, including 98 countries and 12 international organizations, during the upcoming two-week oral hearings that start on December 2. Meanwhile, another court in The Hague issued a decision earlier this week in a landmark climate lawsuit brought by Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie) and other environmental organizations against the oil major Shell. While the court of appeal ultimately sided with Shell and rescinded the emissions reduction order imposed on the company by the lower court, climate advocates and experts see some silver linings in the court’s decision. "It reinforces the principle that companies must take meaningful action to reduce emissions and highlights the growing legal focus on corporate accountability in the face of climate change" said Joana Setzer. "The court stressed once again the importance of protecting human rights from activities causing climate harms. On this basis, the Court reaffirms that companies have the legal obligation to reduce emissions – including scope 3 emissions – even in the absence of a specific standard regulating the conduct of private actors. It is only a matter of time before carbon majors are held responsible for the immense costs and harms their operations inflict on communities and ecosystems worldwide," Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)'s Sébastien Duyck said. https://lnkd.in/eWftz-7S

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Just published: The new edition of my newsletter for journalists (and anyone else) interested in biodiversity, the ecological crisis and nature-based solutions to climate change. It has news, resources, jobs, great stories, and more. https://lnkd.in/eqGKza2Y

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I spoke with Jade Sasser about her new book, “Climate Anxiety and the Kid Question,” which explores the complex intersection of climate change and reproductive decisions. We discussed the importance of diversifying the conversation around climate emotions, understanding climate anxiety as a collective experience, the challenges faced by climate-concerned parents, and cultural pressures around having children. Sasser emphasizes the power of inclusive dialogue and emotional resilience as we navigate this uncertain future together. Her insights provide much-needed perspective on one of the most profound questions of our time. Read our full interview through the link in comments. #ClimateAnxiety #ReproductiveJustice #HopeInAction

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You can now read an excerpt from my book, *The Language of Climate Politics: Fossil-Fuel Propaganda and How to Fight It*, at The New Republic. Here's the gist. 👇 And my book offers powerful new ways to talk about the #ClimateCrisis that will help create transformative change. https://lnkd.in/dvuA--WG

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If you’re struggling to understand what happened at #COP29, I don’t blame you. The UN climate summit in Baku involved a furious two-week negotiation over a new global finance goal, with a blizzard of competing proposals involving vast numbers. In today's FT Moral Money newsletter, I explained the key angles you need to understand on this crucial subject, and where it could go from here. One important takeaway: Developing nations were right to call at COP29 for a big increase in the quantum of international climate finance. But the flow of funds, as well as being bigger, will also need to be much more smartly and strategically deployed, with a far greater focus on using public funds to catalyse private-sector investment. Even as wealthy nations increased their bilateral and multilateral climate finance provision between 2013 and 2022, the amount of private capital they crowded in for every dollar provided shrank from 51 to 24 cents.

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