Brian Kahn

Now available in e-book and hardcover, "Proven Climate Solutions: Leading Voices on How to Accelerate Change". I was honored to contribute a chapter beside luminaries such as Mark Jacobson, Kate Gaertner, Robert Howarth, Luxmy Begum, Ph.D., P.Eng., PMP and Bill McKibben. "Fifteen climate experts combine forces to present a plan for slowing and ultimately preventing further destruction to our planet. As governments and businesses continue to set climate goals for reducing carbon emissions and slowing global warming, scientists, engineers, and policymakers are using cutting-edge research to introduce new climate technologies and strategies for achieving and potentially surpassing these goals. Presented by world-leading climate scientists and futurists, Proven Climate Solutions offers a dynamic, evidence-based action plan that uncovers the hard work, dedication, and best practices of climate heroes who are accelerating change and winning the battle to protect our environment." https://lnkd.in/gpkvwwvg

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In today's FT Moral Money newsletter, I looked at efforts to rescue the ailing carbon credit market. Perhaps part of the answer is to stop thinking of carbon credits as offsets. "In a paper published earlier this year, the SBTi suggested a different approach that companies can take to carbon credits. Instead of calculating the emissions associated with its business (or a specific product) and offsetting them, a company can apply an internal carbon price to its operations and supply chain, effectively charging itself a fee for each tonne of carbon dioxide emissions that it’s responsible for. The proceeds of the internal carbon price flow into a fund that will be allocated to carbon credits or other climate-friendly purposes. "Since the company would be working with a fixed budget for carbon credit purchases, it would have an incentive to use these funds to achieve maximum impact, rather than to technically offset a specific amount of emissions as cheaply as possible. If it supports a project that turns out to achieve less impact than hoped, the company won’t be pilloried for false “carbon-neutral” claims, since it hasn’t made them in the first place. "The SBTi paper doesn’t fully address the question of how to ensure that companies set an appropriately high carbon price. Still, if this approach were to become accepted as corporate best practice by businesses, investors and the wider public, it might mobilise significant sums of money to fund nature conservation. If the ICVCM and rating agencies can succeed in raising standards in the space, that money could achieve impact on a serious scale. But after the slump that this sector has suffered, in terms of its volumes and its reputation, that outcome will require a massive amount of work." https://lnkd.in/dqQwBTnK

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My latest for Mongabay describes an important new study that is said to be pioneering in nature with intensive, high-resolution LiDAR research in the southern Brazilian Amazon revealing a surprising reality: forest degradation, not deforestation/clearcutting, is having a far greater impact on carbon sequestration than previously realized. This degradation weakens the Amazon's ability to slow the rate of global warming. The practical impact of such new information is that this hard-to-detect degraded land (from flooding, fire, wind-events, landslides, road building, selective logging) can often be mitigated and repaired when clearcutting usually portends a permanent land-use change to ranching, farming or extraction -- and that loss of that ecosystem and its natural services. The study also reinforces existing knowledge that land held by Indigenous peoples have far, far less degradation and clearcutting. This is my first story to post to Mongabay's newly updated website.

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Climate disinformation is becoming more sophisticated and better funded, making it challenging for journalists and the public to navigate and trust climate coverage. This article excellently covers five of the fossil fuel industry’s most extensive disinformation tactics, and I tried to summarize them here: 🔸 Energy security: Fossil fuel companies praise their national security role despite evidence suggesting otherwise. 🔹 Economy vs. environment: The industry promotes the idea that environmental protection is dangerous to the economy, often using commissioned studies to support their claims. 🔸 Consumer dependency: Fossil fuel companies promote the idea that their products are essential for modern life, blaming consumers for environmental impacts. 🔹 Voluntary solutions: The industry promotes voluntary measures to delay regulation, presenting themselves as part of the solution while continuing harmful practices. 🔸 Community engagement: The industry funds community initiatives to improve public image and discourage criticism. This underscores the complexity of corporate behaviour: while certain companies engage in virtuous practices, it is essential to recognize that not all businesses operate with integrity. By recognizing these tactics and debunking false claims, everyone can better navigate climate disinformation and advocate for effective climate action. #ClimateDisinformation #FossilFuels #ClimateChange #Economy #Environment #ClimateDiplomacy https://lnkd.in/ds3yQyuQ

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