Enviro News and Views: The 8 Most Interesting Environmental and Sustainability Conversations from the Past Month
From carbon tracking to fighting deforestation: check out this collection of the 8 most interesting environmental and sustainability discussions for this month. We aim to keep you informed, engaged and part of the ongoing scholarly conversations.
1. Why carbon tracking and reporting is necessary to hold corporations accountable 
More and more companies are pledging to reduce their carbon footprint as a response to increasing pressure from the public, who are becoming significantly concerned about the devastating potential of climate change. Despite this, many still struggle to accurately measure the full impact “from corporate headquarters to global operations to supply chains”. Breakthrough climate accounting technologies may provide the solution to holding businesses accountable.
2. Net-zero, carbon-neutral, carbon-negative… confused by all the carbon jargon? Then read this
As many countries commit to net-zero emissions, the latest being the US, after Joe Biden’s presidential win, some may wonder what, exactly, does this term mean? Jessica Allen offers a useful walk-through of all the carbon jargon, from net-zero to carbon-negative. As these terms become more and more prevalent, it is key to understand what they mean, and how they differ.
3. The Capitol Riot and Climate Disinformation: They’re more closely related than you might think
John Schwartz writes for the New York TImes about how the capitol riot ties in with climate disinformation, discussing how ‘for those who cover climate change for a living, the blatant lies about election fraud that fed the mob felt very familiar’.
4. Breaking Down the Case for Massively Scaling up Carbon Removal Tech
New peer-reviewed research lays out a case for very quickly scaling up machines which pull carbon from the atmosphere. Ben Geman breaks down the research: the big picture, why it matters, the numbers and more.
5. Can We Enjoy Meat and Seafood and Save the Planet? 
As the unsustainability of our current food farming processes becomes ever-more starkly apparent, cell-based meats and seafood have been heralded as the future of food. But what are they, and how do they work? Tiffany Duong explains how these high-tech food innovations take ‘the animal out of the meat” and create “seafood without the sea”. Perhaps meat and fish are still on the menu.
6. Over 100 cities have made public transport free – others should follow
Richard Webb argues the case for more cities making public transport free for all. After COVID-19, many people feel that they will use their car’s much more post-pandemic – despite citing concerns about climate change. How can we encourage people back-on-board with public transport?
7. Global Temperatures Could Stabilize, Scientists Say, If We Do The Following
As more and more countries pledge to hit net-zero emissions by 2050, scientists hope that global warming can be more swiftly curtailed than originally thought, due to more recent understanding of the implications of getting to net-zero. It’s not all doom and gloom, but it’s not going to be easy.
8. Fighting deforestation should be a top priority for 2021, and here’s how it can be 
2020 brought with it a rise of the corporate tree planting movement, as businesses pledged funds to one of nature’s best solutions to rising carbon levels. Looking ahead to 2021, it is necessary that businesses address the root of the issue: by pledging to eliminate deforestation itself. Heather Clancy writes about how this can become a top-priority.
