{"id":1284,"date":"2019-03-07T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-07T23:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/master.k8s.p4.greenpeace.org\/eastasia\/aboutus\/1284\/top-5-trends-to-keep-your-hopes-up-on-climate-2\/"},"modified":"2019-11-20T01:30:09","modified_gmt":"2019-11-20T09:30:09","slug":"top-5-trends-to-keep-your-hopes-up-on-climate-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/eastasia\/blog\/1284\/top-5-trends-to-keep-your-hopes-up-on-climate-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 trends to keep your hopes up on climate"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you struggle to keep your chin up on climate change, we don\u2019t blame you. To limit global warming within 1.5\u00b0C, climate scientists have urged us to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030. But with world leaders showing no strong will to deal with the issue, it\u2019s not helping.<\/p>\n\n

But we remain hopeful. We know that people like you are standing up against climate change, and the wave of activism and change making is unstoppable. City initiatives, student strikes, communities seeking climate justice, increasing renewable energy demand, and individuals living low-carbon lifestyles, are the growing trends that will move us toward to a green and peaceful future.<\/p>\n

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1. The rise of cities battling against climate change<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cities are home to over half of the global population and responsible for more than 70% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Over 90% of \u00a0cities in the world are located in coastal regions, making cities particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and superstorms. For cities to survive, they have a strong<\/strong> responsibility to tackle climate change through smart urban planning, and act as models for operating in a low-carbon future.<\/strong><\/p>\n

C40 Cities,a network of 96 cities committed to addressing climate change, is a good demonstration of city initiatives. There are 27 cities that have achieved zero growth in carbon emissions since 2012 including San Francisco, Toronto, New York, Paris, and Melbourne. Amazingly, the economic growth of these cities has not compromised. By cutting down fossil fuels, incentifying public transportation, increasing energy efficiency in various departments, \u00a0and having effective waste reduction and recycling,<\/strong> they have sustained an average of 3% yearly growth, and a population growth of 1.4%.<\/span>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

2.\u00a0School strikes for climate change<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Demonstration
Since climate superstar Greta Thunberg from Sweden starting striking from school for climate change, she has truly kicked off a butterfly effect for students around the world to follow. Students in Australia, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, France, UK and many more countries have stood up and are urging their governments to take action on climate change. This movement is unstoppable. On March 15, 2019, there will be a collective global action in these cities<\/a> that span across Europe, Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australia.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0Climate justice is holding big polluters accountable<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A growing number of communities are taking legal action: to hold governments and fossil fuel companies to account and \u00a0secure their rights to a stable climate and healthy environment. From communities in the Philippines, Vanuatu, New York City, Norwegian youths, andSwiss senior women, they have all filed lawsuits to seek climate justice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Norway, Nature and Youth have been suing the Norwegian government for allowing Arctic drilling. In Switzerland, a group of over 1,000 senior Swiss women are arguing that Switzerland\u2019s greenhouse gas emissions violate their rights to life protected in the Swiss constitution.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Climate<\/p>\n

In the Philippines, communities are suing the largest companies producing crude oil, natural gas, coal, and cement to be accountable for global GHG emissions and climate change.<\/p>\n

We are seeing inspiring winning cases. In Colombia, a group of 25 children and youth sued the Colombian government for failing to protect their rights to life and a healthy environment. In April 2018 the youths won the case, the Supreme Court of Justice ordered the protection of the Colombian Amazon from deforestation.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0The growing trend in renewable energy<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to a study by Stanford University, we can embrace 100% renewables in 20-40 years. But is this it\u2019s really possible? The answer is YES. Iceland is the first country in the world to realize this vision, with 87% hydraulic power and 13% geothermal energy. Costa Rica has 99% of its electricity from a combination of hydraulic, geothermal and wind power.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Solar<\/p>\n

In many countries the challenge to embrace renewables is often because of policy and insufficient incentives. But you can start by paying attention to energy policies, regulations, and advocate for transformation changes in our\u00a0governments<\/a> and corporates<\/a>! <\/span><\/p>\n

5.\u00a0Low-carbon lifestyle, you lead the way!<\/strong><\/p>\n

From eating less meat, conscious consumption, saving energy, and green transportation, there are many ways we can start living a low-carbon lifestyle.<\/span>
\"Family<\/p>\n