File:Methods to enforce climate pledges-NDCs - Dec 2021.png

GreenPolicy360's "Climate Plans Enforcement" Initiative

"Turning National Climate Pledges & Promises into Reality"

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National Climate Pledges Must Be Enforced

How to turn each nation's climate pledges into 'effective climate action'

Promises & pledges of international climate summits in Paris (2015) & Glasgow (2021) now require & demand 'climate plans enforcement'

Measuring & monitoring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with satellite missions can become a cooperative climate tool 'working nation-by-nation'

GreenPolicy360:

Legally Enforcing Climate Plans Must Be Our Priority

Climate News

Time to act to make a positive difference

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Planet_Citizen_Action
• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Climate_News
• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Climate_Problems,_Climate_Solutions

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Big>Smart Investing: Trillions to Move Away from Climate Risks and Toward ESG Investing

The E.S.G. Fight Looms Ahead

GreenPolicy360's position -- 'Yes, properly, intelligently, appropriately, wisely, pick your word for smart investing. Our word is an acronym. ESG, and ESG investing's time is now

Kentucky passed a law targeting banks and their climate policies. Bankers sued the attorney general. Whose definition of investment risk should prevail?

• https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/24/your-money/anti-esg-investing-kentucky.html

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Harvard Environmental & Energy Law Program

• https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/2022/07/the-secs-proposed-esg-rules-aim-to-provide-better-information-to-investors/

Environment, social, and governance (ESG) factors have boomed in recent years

Bloomberg projects that ESG investments may surpass $41 trillion worldwide by the end of 2022, up from $22.8 trillion in 2016. In the US alone, sustainable investments grew to $17.1 trillion in 2020, which accounts for a third of US assets under management according to the US Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment.

As interest in ESG investing grows, there is considerable variation in how fund managers define ESG and how funds approach ESG investing. For example, some funds may exclude certain polluting investments like oil and gas, while other funds may include some oil and gas companies based on their stated commitment to decarbonization. There is also variation in the utility of the ESG label to investors: researchers have found high levels of misleading claims among ESG funds.

Regulators and investors are questioning the approach and impact of many ESG funds. Given the lack of relevant reporting requirements, it’s difficult for investors to understand how a fund accounts for ESG factors in investment decisions and what impacts those investments have on the issues they claim to address.

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Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance

Long-Awaited ESG Rules

June 2022

On May 25, 2022, in a long-awaited move, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) issued a pair of rule proposals related to the use of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) investment practices by open-end and closed-end registered investment companies, as well as by business development companies (“BDCs,” and collectively, “funds”). The SEC’s stated goals with these proposals are to increase transparency and confidence in funds that consider ESG factors as part of their investment process, given the recent and ongoing dramatic growth in investor interest in ESG investing. The SEC believes that investors looking to participate in ESG investing currently face a lack of consistent, comparable and reliable information among funds that claim to consider one or more ESG factors.

The first proposal seeks to create a robust disclosure and reporting framework for funds regarding their ESG investment practices. To effectuate this goal, the proposal would make a number of amendments to the registration and reporting forms utilized by funds in their securities offerings and ongoing periodic reporting. While the SEC does not generally prescribe specific disclosures for particular investment strategies, the SEC believes that ESG strategies and disclosures differ materially in certain respects that necessitate specific requirements and mandatory content standards to assist investors in making more informed investment decisions.

The second proposal would amend Rule 35d-1 (the so-called “Names Rule”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), to, among other things, add new requirements for funds that consider ESG factors in connection with their investment practices. The SEC believes that the Names Rule, which has not been amended since its adoption over 20 years ago, has not kept pace with industry developments and product evolution. Additionally, the SEC emphasized that competitive pressures may incentivize asset managers to include words in a fund’s name as a way to attract investor assets—for example, terms related to ESG. Further, the SEC expressed concern that the current Names Rule may permit funds to depart, over time, from the investment focus suggested by their name. Importantly, the proposed amendments to the Names Rule also would have significant implications for non-ESG funds, especially for those funds that may invest in more illiquid assets (including funds of private funds), and would mark a significant change, as the rule does not currently apply to commonly used fund names that focus on investment strategies instead of particular investments, such as “growth” or “income” funds.

Each proposal was approved by the SEC in a 3-1 vote along party lines, with Commissioner Peirce dissenting. The proposals will remain open for public comment for 60 days after their publication in the Federal Register.

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ESG Factors

Environmental, social, and governance investing

Act Now with Business Intelligence

• https://www.esg.org/what-is-esg

• https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/environmental-social-and-governance-esg-criteria.asp

ESG Creates Value

• https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/strategy-and-corporate-finance/our-insights/five-ways-that-esg-creates-value

Deloitte Insight into ESG

• https://www2.deloitte.com/ce/en/pages/global-business-services/articles/esg-explained-1-what-is-esg.html

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GreenPolicy360 and Strategic Demands:

New Definitions of National Security

Eco-nomics

Get with the Action

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/New_Definitions_of_National_Security

• https://strategicdemands.com/new-definitions-of-security/

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Eco-nomics

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Bookmark Climate Policy @GreenPolicy360

• http://bit.ly/GreenPolicy360Climate

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GreenLaw360 @GreenPolicy360

• http://www.GreenLaw360.com

Climate Change Laws Around the World

Climate Change Laws via Grantham Institute (Current)

Trends in Climate Change Legislation

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GreenPolicy360 Siterunner - SJS / December 2021: Looking back to the 1960s and 70s to the beginnings of the Earth Science from Space missions of NASA and affiliated U.S. agencies in association with higher education and aerospace business, the vision statements of Congressional leaders like Rep. George E. Brown (D-Los Angeles), set in motion the measuring and monitoring programs that led to decades of atmospheric and earth systems data. This constellation of new space technology -- digital imaging, Earth 360° remote viewing, scientific observations, changes over time, atmospheric and earth temperature trend lines, all came into our hands. 'Drilling down', not for gas and oil, but in the parsing of data, now has the promise to provide essential ways and means to deliver real- and extended-time knowledge bases which can be used, effectively and we propose legally, to deliver on pledges and promises made at international climate change conferences and summits.

Let us do our part in continuing to expand this first-generation earth science vision -- space-based cooperative missions, initiatives and ventures -- that makes it possible to turn database tracking of emissions (externalities) -- CO2, methane, CFCs and other gases -- nation-by-nation into Climate Plan Enforcement (CPEs).

It is time to move from distant pledged goals to coordinated nation-by-nation climate action. Using best practices, effective nationally determined, and legally enforced operational plans, we can become agents of change making a positive real-world difference. As it is said -- "Earth Is In Our Hands", let us turn science and knowledge into climate action now.

The strategic demands for international cooperation and action is our generations greatest task and our legacy. Let us take up our climate challenge. Our time is today to enforce well intended, but extremely hard to achieve climate pledges.

• https://www.climatechangenews.com/2021/12/07/five-ways-satellite-observations-can-help-deliver-glasgow-climate-pact/

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International Climate Summits, Paris (2015), Glasgow (2021)

Nation-by-Nation Plans & Pledges to Take Climate Actions

Intended Nationally Determined Contributions

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Intended_Nationally_Determined_Contributions

INDCs

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/INDCs

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Measuring & Monitoring 'Vital Signs

Earth Science Vital Signs

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Earth_Science_Vital_Signs

Earth Right Now

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Earth_Right_Now

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Earth Imaging/Observations/Science with a Planetary Perspective

GreenPolicy360/Strategic Demands propose an international consortium bringing together

'Earth Observation from Space' with ESA - NASA - Planet Labs

Planet API

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Planet_API

Earth Imaging-New Space

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Earth_Imaging-New_Space]]

Earth and Space, Politics

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Earth_and_Space,_Politics

Earth Science Research from Space

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Earth_Science_Research_from_Space

Micro-satellites

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Micro-satellites

GreenPolicy360 and Strategic Demands Put Forward 'New Definitions of National Security'

As Planet Citizens, we continue decades of work to change nations & build mutual security

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/New_Definitions_of_National_Security

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Category:Global_Security

• https://strategicdemands.com/new-definitions-of-security/

• https://strategicdemands.com/environmental-security/

* https://strategicdemands.com/another-global-climate-conference-27th-version/

 

 

Measuring & Monitoring Earth from Space

Measure to Manage / NASA Earth Science

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• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:Landsat,_a_50_year_legacy.png

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:Landsat_50th_anniv_Sept_2016.jpg

July 23, 2022

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:Landsat_launched_50_years_ago_today.png

Landsat Memories

Looking Back to Beginnings of U.S. Earth Science Missions

NASA Landsat Program

Landsat launched 50 years ago today in July 1972

GreenPolicy360 and Siterunner Steve Schmidt are celebrating....

Let's look back and remember a generational program of #EarthScience starting up, thriving then being threatened, surviving and now continuing to deliver open access and unique whole earth data for 50+ years.

We continue on with the mission...

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Congressional Vision: Measuring and Monitoring Earth's Life System and Resources from Space

Envisioning Environmental Protection with 'Eyes in the Sky'

SJS/GreenPolicy360 Siterunner: The U.S. Interior Department, the U.S. Geological Survey, NASA with the Congressional Science and Technology Committee (originally the Science and Astronautics Committee were responsible for building the original Landsat program (which overcame much opposition within the military). ERTS-1, the Earth Resources Technology Satellite, as the original Landsat satellite was officially first called, was 'greenlighted' to go as a real time earth observation mission in 1970. The vast digital database it gathered has proven over the years the wisdom of the visionaries who first proposed, drafted legislation creating, funding, then engineering, testing, launching and ably defending the Landsat mission from critics over the decades. Now the results are being re-considered for the unique value they provide in guiding policy discussion, debate and decisions. The Landsat library of digital imagery, millions of images, multi-spectrum observations of change on earth over the first fifty years of the mission's existence, are seen in a new light.

In the late 1960s and early 70s, Congressman George Brown on the Science and Technology Committee was pressing forward with NASA's development of the first array of earth science satellite missions. Near the top of his list of project missions was LANDSAT 1.

Representative Brown was out in front of "Big Science". In his decades on the House Science, Space & Technology Committee, he worked to expand the reach of science. He knew that good data enabled good policy decisions. He pressed for first-generation earth science satellites and ongoing earth monitoring missions and data sharing.

GreenPolicy360: Today in 2022 we have the science and data, the earth atmospheric imaging databases and satellite missions up and they are measuring, monitoring and tracking the realities of greenhouse gas emissions, the trendlines, the 'hot spot super-emitting sites'. Now is the time, our generation's responsibility and challenge to go to work and act to protect the planet's life systems and environment for today and for the future ...

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From Then to Now: Continuing Decades of Digital Imaging and Atmospheric/Earth Science

Satellite Missions Deliver the Data Needed for Smart Plans, Policy and Management

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GHG/Methane Mapping

Target, Measure and Monitor Greenhouse Gases/Methane Emission from Space

Satellite Missions including:

Global/Region Mapping

TROPOMI ESA (http://www.tropomi.eu/)

SCIAMACHY (https://earth.esa.int/eogateway/instruments/sciamachy)

GOSAT (https://www.gosat.nies.go.jp/en/)

Area Mapping

MethaneSAT (https://www.methanesat.org/)

GEI-SAT (https://youtu.be/xaHwL40fIVg - https://satlantis.com/what-we-offer/)

Location Mapping

GHGSat (https://www.ghgsat.com/en/)

Carbon Mapper (https://carbonmapper.org/ - https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/File:Carbon_Mapper_-_Launch_-_April_2021.jpg)

PRISMA (https://www.asi.it/en/earth-science/prisma/)

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is on the Methane Satellite Beat

EDF Working to Target, Measure and Monitor Greenhouse Gases/Methane Emissions from Space

• https://www.methanesat.org/

• https://www.edf.org/media/edf-announces-satellite-mission-locate-and-measure-methane-emissions

• https://www.edf.org/climate/how-methanesat-is-different

• https://www.edf.org/media/satellite-data-reveals-extreme-methane-emissions-permian-oil-gas-operations-shows-highest

• https://www.methanesat.org/fit-with-other-missions/

• https://youtu.be/yJqKSRFqtOA

https://methanesat.org/files/2021/11/Comparison-of-Methane-Satellites-102921-720x405-1.jpg

https://methanesat.org/files/2021/11/Ecosystem-of-Satellites-102921-720x405-1.jpg

“Advances in satellite technology and data analytics are making it possible to generate regular and robust information on methane emissions from oil and gas operations even from the most remote corners of the world,” said Mark Brownstein, EDF senior vice president for Energy. “It’s our goal to use this new data to help companies and countries find, measure, and reduce methane emissions further and faster, and enable the public to both track and compare progress.”

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Over 100 Nations at COP26 Pledge to Cut Global Methane Emissions by 30 Percent in Less Than a Decade

Global Methane Pledge came as the Biden EPA proposed stringent new methane controls for the oil and gas industry

Via The Washington Post

Steve Hamburg, chief scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund, tells the Washington Post that reducing methane emissions — not just carbon dioxide emissions — is crucial for staving off the worst effects of climate change. “There are two big levers out there, and we need to push down on both of them, which we have not historically done.”

Though it is less abundant and does not linger in the atmosphere as long, methane packs 80 times the global warming punch of carbon dioxide over a 20-year time span. Curbing methane emissions from livestock and natural gas infrastructure is seen as a relatively swift and simple way to make a dent in global warming.

Among the countries that did not sign up were two of the biggest — China and Russia. Hamburg said it was not surprising that Russia, a major methane emitter, had not come on board the pledge. “You’re not going to have everybody join,” he said, adding, “The fact that there’s now a large proportion of the global community signing on, that’s the real key.”

Via Inside Climate News

• https://insideclimatenews.org/news/02112021/global-methane-pledge-cop26/

In a rare moment of good news coming from this week’s Conference of the Parties climate summit in Glasgow, more than 100 nations have pledged to cut global methane emissions by 30 percent or more between now and 2030 in an effort to quickly and significantly curb global warming.

The announcement marking the official launch of the U.S.-European Union led Global Methane Pledge came as the Biden administration took a key step on Tuesday toward meeting the reduction goal with a draft of stringent new methane regulations for the oil and gas industry released by the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington.

“This is huge,” Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency, said of the global initiative. “If we fulfill this pledge over the next 10 years the impact is [the same as] switching … all the cars of the world, all the trucks of the world, all the planes of the world [and] all the ships of the world to zero emission technologies; [the] entire transportation sector.”

Methane is the second leading driver of climate change, having contributed 0.5 degrees of the 1.1 degrees of human-induced warming since pre-industrial times, according to the latest (6th) assessment by the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

On a pound for pound basis, methane is an 81 times more potent greenhouse gas over the near term than carbon dioxide, the leading cause of global warming. Reducing methane emissions is widely seen as the best chance to quickly curb global warming due to the relatively short time the gas remains in the atmosphere.

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Global Forest Watch

SJS / GreenPolicy360 Siterunner:

Going green begins with a decision, a decision to go, to become actionable, moving and multiplying, choosing to create waves, creating rippling forces of change...

Being green is to be a planet citizen

Rebecca had an idea how to save trees around her home and her idea led to the launching of 'Google Earth Outreach'

Expanding and extending Google Maps to green-centered applications, oceans and sustainability, new ways to monitor and manage the Commons...

Here's to Rebecca, long-time friend and a green Bioneer

• https://www.greenpolicy360.net/w/Bioneers