The Netherlands: What the Dutch court carbon emissions ruling means for Shell

A Dutch court on Wednesday ordered Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) to significantly deepen planned greenhouse gas emission cuts, in a landmark ruling that could pave the way for legal action against energy companies around the world. read more

Shell said it was "disappointed" by the ruling which it plans to appeal.

Here are some key points about the ruling:

WHAT WAS THE RULING? The district court ordered Shell to cut its absolute carbon emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Shell currently aims to reduce the carbon intensity of products it sells by 20% over the same period from a 2016 baseline.

DOES THE RULING AFFECT SHELL'S GLOBAL OPERATIONS? Yes. The reduction relates to Shell's global operations and is not limited to the Netherlands, the court ruling said. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR SHELL? The ruling said that "it is up to RDS (Royal Dutch Shell) to design the reduction obligation, taking account of its current obligations and other relevant circumstances." Shell earlier this year announced a strategy to become a net zero emissions company by 2050, meaning its absolute emissions will also be net zero at that point. It has stated that it believes its emissions peaked in 2018.[USN:L1N2KH0LV] ABSOLUTE TARGETS VS INTENSITY TARGETS? The court ordered Shell to reduce absolute emissions by 45%. Shell's short and medium-term targets are intensity based. Intensity-based targets measure the amount of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy produced. That means that absolute emissions can rise with growing production, even if the headline intensity metric falls. At its annual general meeting this month, Shell CEO Ben van Beurden rejected setting absolute reduction targets, saying: "Reducing absolute emissions at this point in time is predominantly possible by shrinking the business."

HOW BIG ARE SHELL'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS? Shell, the world's largest oil and gas trader, produced 1.38 billion tonnes of CO2 in 2020, roughly 4.5% of global energy-related emissions that year, based on International Energy Agency figures. Shell's 2020 emissions were down from 1.65 billion tonnes the previous year, largely as a result of a fall in oil and gas demand due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Read More at: Explainer: What the Dutch court carbon emissions ruling means for Shell | Reuters

Climate Change Deaths Could Total 100 Million By 2030 If World Fails To Act

More than 100 million people will die and global economic growth will be cut by 3.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030 if the world fails to tackle climate change, a report commissioned by 20 governments said on Wednesday.

As global average temperatures rise due to greenhouse gas emissions, the effects on the planet, such as melting ice caps, extreme weather, drought and rising sea levels, will threaten populations and livelihoods, said the report conducted by humanitarian organization DARA.

It calculated that five million deaths occur each year from air pollution, hunger and disease as a result of climate change and carbon-intensive economies, and that toll would likely rise to six million a year by 2030 if current patterns of fossil fuel use continue.

More than 90 percent of those deaths will occur in developing countries, said the report that calculated the human and economic impact of climate change on 184 countries in 2010 and 2030. It was commissioned by the Climate Vulnerable Forum, a partnership of 20 developing countries threatened by climate change.

Read more: Climate Change Deaths Could Total 100 Million By 2030 If World Fails To Act

Aviation deal clears way for emissions scheme - by Jennifer Rankin

A global deal on aviation pollution has removed a major obstacle to a European Union plan that will oblige airlines to cut their greenhouse gas emissions.

The EU agreed in 2008 that all flights taking off and landing in the Union would be included in the EU's emissions trading scheme from 2012. This meant that emissions from aviation would be capped and that airlines would have to buy some permits to pollute. But the law ran into trouble last year when US airlines launched a legal challenge in the European Court of Justice.

For more: Aviation deal clears way for emissions scheme | European Voice

Triangle Business: RTI study: Greenhouse gas emissions could be cut without hurting U.S. economy - Chris Baysden

For the complete report from the Triangle Business Journal click on this link

As the debate over what to do about climate change heats up, RTI International has released a study claiming that the legislative measures proposed by the U.S. Climate Action Partnership are unlikely to affect long-term economic growth in the country. In fact, the study says, the U.S. Climate Action Partnership’s plan would cost American families just a few pennies a day. The Pew Center on Global Climate Change paid for the study, an RTI spokeswoman said. The Pew Center is member of the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a group of businesses and other organizations urging the Congress to quickly enact strong legislation that significantly reduces greenhouse emissions.