How can your car journey be more eco-friendly? 5 climate change stories to read this week

Sep 16, 2022

latest stories on climate change Ecovillages colonialism flood risk Google Maps fuel efficiency

Ecovillages, colonialism and flood risk - here are the latest stories on climate change. Image: Unsplash/Nick Fewings

Tom Crowfoot

Writer, Forum Agenda

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This article is part of: Sustainable Development Impact Meetings

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This weekly roundup brings you some key climate change stories from the past seven days.
Top stories this week: Fuel-efficient driving; Five inspiring ecovillages; Colonialism and climate change; Rising flood risk; Three new US climate laws.

1. Fuel-efficient routing: Here's how you can make your road journey more eco-friendly

Matt Brittin, President of Business and Operations for Google in Europe, Middle East and Africa explains Google Maps' new fuel-efficient routing feature. Vehicles on the road account for nearly three-quarters of transportation CO2 emissions.

But, Google's new tool means that users can now not only see the fastest route, but also the most sustainable route. The tool uses AI to compare all the different possible routes, accounting for traffic, road incline, road type and more.

Learn more about Google's new tool.

2. 5 of the world’s coolest ecovillages

Gaining wider popularity in the 1960s and 70s, ecovillages are communities designed to be sustainable from an environmental, social and economic perspective. From locally grown and managed food sources to hosting a variety of renewable energy sources, these villages are grounded in having an awareness of their environmental impact.

Take the Findhorn EcoVillage in Scotland for example. This ecovillage was established in the 1980s, with its founders being involved in establishing the Global Ecovillage Network. The village has one of the lowest ecological footprints of any community in the developed world, and half the UK average.

Explore four other innovative ecovillages.

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3. What does colonialism have to do with climate change?

A German non-profit’s list of the 10 countries most affected by climate change-related extreme weather events during the first two decades of this century includes eight former colonies. According to the IPCC, colonialism leaves behind 'development challenges' that heighten vulnerability to climate impacts.

One thing shared by many former colonies disproportionately impacted by climate change: a relatively small carbon footprint. Image: Our World in Data

Another injustice of colonialism is that countries with lower emissions are disproportionally affected by extreme weather events, often with higher fatality rates than heavy emitters.

Read more on the link between colonialism and climate change.

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How is the World Economic Forum fighting the climate crisis?

The Global Risks Report 2023 ranked failure to mitigate climate change as one of the most severe threats in the next two years, while climate- and nature- related risks lead the rankings by severity over the long term.

The World Economic Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate is a multistakeholder platform that seeks to safeguard our global commons and drive systems transformation. It is accelerating action on climate change towards a net-zero, nature-positive future.

Learn more about our impact:

Scaling up green technologies: Through a partnership with the US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, and over 65 global businesses, the First Movers Coalition has committed $12 billion in purchase commitments for green technologies to decarbonize the cement and concrete industry.
1 trillion trees: Over 90 global companies have committed to conserve, restore and grow more than 8 billion trees in 65 countries through the 1t.org initiative – which aims to achieve 1 trillion trees by 2030.
Sustainable food production: Our Food Action Alliance is engaging 40 partners who are working on 29 flagship initiatives to provide healthy, nutritious, and safe foods in ways that safeguard our planet. In Vietnam, it supported the upskilling of 2.2 million farmers and aims to provide 20 million farmers with the skills to learn and adapt to new agricultural standards.
Eliminating plastic pollution: Our Global Plastic Action Partnership is bringing together governments, businesses and civil society to shape a more sustainable world through the eradication of plastic pollution. In Ghana, more than 2,000 waste pickers are making an impact cleaning up beaches, drains and other sites.
Protecting the ocean: Our 2030 Water Resources Group has facilitated almost $1 billion to finance water-related programmes, growing into a network of more than 1,000 partners and operating in 14 countries/states.
Circular economy: Our SCALE 360 initiative is reducing the environmental impacts of value chains within the fashion, food, plastics and electronics industries, positively impacting over 100,000 people in 60 circular economy interventions globally.

Want to know more about our centre’s impact or get involved? Contact us.

4. Flood risk affects over a billion people. Climate change could make it worse

An estimated 1.81 billion people, or 23% of the world population, face significant flood risk, with low- and middle-income countries making up 89% of those at risk. The lowest income countries are also least prepared or able to deal effectively with such risks - risks that are rising as a result of climate change and rapid urbanization.

people living in high flood risk zones rising result of climate change rapid urbanization

The share of people living in high flood risk zones - that are rising as a result of climate change and rapid urbanization. Image: World Bank

At 668 million people, East Asia has the highest number of flood-exposed people, corresponding to about 28% of its total population.

Learn more about flood risk around the world.

5. Three laws will triple US climate change spending over the next decade

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act include more than $500 billion of climate spending - on technology and clean energy.

Spending on climate change technology clean energy US climate investment

Spending on climate change technology and clean energy is expected to surge in the United States. Image: RMI

From giving tax refief to funding new battery chemistry and more efficient solar panels, these three laws will help the US tackle climate change.

Discover more about the potential impacts of these three laws.

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