Environment

In the three years leading to the ongoing Paris climate negotiations, the world has witnessed a truly big pivot. Back in 2012, business as usual global warming pollution was set to heat the world up 8 degrees F by century’s end. Neither of the two biggest polluters, the US or China, had put serious policies in place to address the crisis. But now, if the commitments being made here in Paris are carried through, that 8 degree number will be cut to 6 degrees F.

What changed?

Many environmental thought leaders have said the Chevrolet carbon-reduction initiative leaves a legacy. We asked Sue Hall, CEO of Climate Neutral Business Network, to provide insight as to what the future holds.

“Poor but sexy”. The famous slogan created by former mayor Klaus Wowereit in 2004 has somehow come to define the German capital, even though gentrification over the last few years is quickly changing the cityscape, especially across swaths of East Berlin.

Unprecedented corporate engagement on key climate issues including carbon pricing, finance, responsible policy engagement and science-based targets were announced today at the conclusion of the Caring for Climate (C4C) Business Forum, the official avenue for business at the Conference of Parties (COP) event in Paris.

For the second year in a row, FOX dedicated its primetime Thanksgiving Day broadcast to the All-Star Dog Rescue Celebration, a two-hour television special honoring select organizations and everyday citizens who are on the frontlines of the animal rescue movement. Top talent from the worlds of music, film, and television gathered to celebrate those who save, care for, and find loving homes for the more than eight million animals that enter shelters each year. Michael Levitt and two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank produced the special, which was hosted by actor and animal activist Kaley Cuoco.

“This time it’s different.”

That’s a theme I am hearing quite a lot here in Paris in the midst of the COP 21 climate change conference. There is a sense that, despite this being yet another international meeting to discuss how we can tackle the common challenge of global climate change, this time it will be different. This time we will make meaningful progress. We’ve heard that before. So why is “this time” different?

Optimism continues to improve in Paris as ministers get down to the hard graft of bridging divisions between rich and poor countries.

Fossil-fuel burning and deforestation are the main drivers of global warming. The CO2 they give off makes up more than 75 percent of annual climate pollution. The Bloomberg Carbon Clock is a real-time estimate of the global monthly atmospheric CO2 level.

Watch the sustainable packaging video from UPS.