Climate change is no hoax and no joke. Work wrapped up yesterday in Marrakech, Morocco, where nearly 200 nations participated in the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP22) meeting to agree on methods to implement the 2015 Paris agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. “What was once unthinkable has become unstoppable,” the UN secretary-general said, referring to the record time in which more than 111 countries had ratified the Paris agreement for it to come into effect.
Nearly 80 heads of states or representative ministers attended the high-level meet of the latest round of UN climate change talks, which began on November 7 and will continue till November 18. Amid fears that the United States will pull out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement following Donald Trump’s presidential victory, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope that the president-elect will rethink plans to quit the global accord which came into force on November 4. “I hope he will really hear and understand the severity and urgency of addressing climate change...I hope he understands this, listens and evaluates his campaign comments. Ban said, adding that he hoped Trump would change his opinion that man-made climate change was a hoax. “This momentum is irreversible – it is being driven not only by governments, but by science, business and global action of all types at all levels,” adds the Proclamation. “Our task now is to rapidly build on that momentum, together, moving forward purposefully to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to foster adaptation efforts, thereby benefiting and supporting its Sustainable Development Goals" Last December at the previous Conference, known as COP 21 196 Parties to the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement, so-named after the French capital where it was approved. It aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Photo courtesy of the United Nations (un.org).

Their goofy handshake may have looked like an homage to the Marx Brothers, but the shared commitment of President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto to see half of the continent’s electricity generated by clean sources by 2025 is serious and far reaching.

The Canadian, U.S. and Mexican leaders have agreed to a trilateral energy and climate plan that sets new goals for emission reductions, and paves the way for joint development of low-carbon technologies and a dramatic increase of electricity exports from Canada.
At the North American leaders’ summit on Wednesday, the leaders committed to a continent-wide goal of having 50 per cent of all electricity come from clean-energy sources by 2025, an increase from the current 37 per cent; a reduction in methane emissions from the oil and gas industry of 40 per cent to 45 per cent; and cuts in two other potent greenhouse gases.

They also agreed to work together on research and development projects aimed at commercializing clean technology, including demonstration projects in areas such as energy storage, and the capture of carbon dioxide for use as an industrial feedstock or for sequestration underground.

Obama, Trudeau and Pena Nieto completed the one-day summit in Ottawa Wednesday, where
climate change at the center of efforts to deepen the North American alliance, pledging to cut greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas sector, boost the development of clean power and build new cross-border transmission lines.
“For too long, we’ve heard that confronting climate change means destroying our economies,” Obama said in a speech to Canada's Parliament Wednesday after the summit concluded, praising efforts in Canada and the U.S. to cut emissions and drive growth. “This is the only planet we’ve got and this may be the last shot we’ve got to save it. And America and Canada are going to have to lead the way.”
The pledges, in what was was Obama’s final North American Leaders’ Summit, underscore a renewed push to strengthen an alliance that had been soured by the rejection of TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone's XL pipeline last year. The improved continental ties were fueled in part by the election of Trudeau’s pro-environment Liberal Party to power last year.
The clean energy push includes the development of cross-border electrical transmission projects to boost capacity for trading of clean energy and for reliability and flexibility of the continent’s energy grid, the leaders said.
North America’s use of clean energy stood at roughly 37 percent in 2015. Reaching the new target, described as a “goal,” would grow U.S. clean energy production to 1,900 billion kWh, the White House said Wednesday. Mexico will also join the U.S. and Canada in reducing methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 to 45 percent by 2025, with the three countries pledging a methane reduction strategy in agriculture and waste management.
The Three Amigo's have puts us on a critical reduced emission trajectory, whether they can figure out the handshake or not.
Image may contain: 3 people, people standing, suit and outdoor

Photo courtesy of Chris Wattie / Reuters.

World Environment Day (WED) is observed every year on June 5 to raise global awareness to take positive environmental action to protect nature and the planet Earth. It is run by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). "World Environment Day (WED) is the United Nations’ most important day for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Since it began in 1974, it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries."

Do you find waiting for your bus to arrive a drain on your energy? You may feel a little differently now as London and San Fransisco each unveil solar-powered bus shelters that can generate enough electricity to power your home!
The London bus shelter—the first of its kind in the UK—was constructed using transparent photovoltaic glass capable of converting solar energy into electricity. The electricity generated by the shelter will power signage and other elements of the local infrastructure.

“The solar bus shelter provides not just demonstration of the functionality, performance and aesthetics of our PV glass but represents an important application innovation. Using our solar PV glazing across London’s transport sector, in things like bus shelters, EV charging canopies, walkways and bike parks, could have a significant impact on the city’s emissions, without compromising its environment, architecture or budgets.”

The solar-powered shelter is capable of generating 2,000 kilowatt-hours per year. Its minimalist design features a butterfly roof to handle rainwater and runoff, and the transparent photovoltaic glass, which is tinted to reduce glare, is able to generate energy in low and ambient light in addition to bright sunshine

However, if you've left your heart in San Francisco, don't fret your carbon conscious self because San Fran has solar bus shelters as well!

The San Fran bus shelters feature an undulating solar roof that calls to mind both the hills of San Francisco and a seismic wave (this is earthquake territory after all!) The roof is constructed from an innovative 40% post-industrial recycled polycarbonate material embedded with thin-film photovoltaic cells, and the steel structure is composed of 75% recycled material. The shelter also features a pushbutton update system, more room for transit information, and feeds back energy into the city’s electrical grid.
"Gimme (renewable-powered) Shelter" every time!

Photo courtesy of INHABITAT (inhabitat.com)

Photo courtesy of INHABITAT (inhabitat.com)