Summing up the key announcements out of Day 5 at CoP28 - Let's accelerate the Energy Transition, which means: Let's increase renewables, energy efficiency and Hydrogen development even more, and also nuclear. Let's phase down coal, oil, gas and urgently reduce the 'super pollutant' methane.All noble aspirations...A McKinsey Sustainability summary that finishes with advice for Industry Leaders:1. Reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions2. Measure (fugitive) methane and eliminate it3. Partner across the energy and industrial system to enable faster transition, and4. Identify the new financing opportunities and avoid stranded assets? https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/sustainability-blog/cop28-energy?

Capturing the CoP28 headlines - the debate over whether a “fossil fuel phase out” is actually scientifically called for? A webinar involving Climate Elder Mary Robinson had COP President Al Jabar arguing that there is “no science” that links a fossil fuel phase out to maintaining 1.5 degrees. But, he later reinforced that he believes “the phase-down and the phase-out of fossil fuel is inevitable.”https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/03/back-into-caves-cop28-president-dismisses-phase-out-of-fossil-fuelsThe IPCC scenarios call for a full phase out of unabated coal, and a decrease in Oil by 60% and Gas by 45% by 2050.Read about what's possible: 

CoP28 outcomes will depend on key people - climate champions like John Kerry for the USA & Xie Zhenhua for China, for instance. Together, they vowed to “triple renewable energy capacity globally by 2030” prior to the Conference:https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/15/us-china-climate-plan-analysisFor Brazil, it is their new President Lula da Silva (in frame above) who wants to lead the world with a climate agenda as central to government policy. And we hear that the Amazonian deforestation is reportedly slowing. But he is still encouraging Brazil's oil and gas industries to expand: 

CoP28's big challenge will be reaching an agreement saying "Phase down Fossil Fuels". However on other 'Themes' there are already (day 1) developments with an initial Climate Funding agreement for developing countries' transition activities.The Global Stocktake will be discussed, advocating for more renewables, The 'Health Connection' with Climate will feature for the first time, and 'Natural Solutions' like stopping deforestation will be emphasised.However, the question of what to do about fossil fuels, looms as the central issue at the summit given the UAE venue and oil-baron Conference President Sultal Ahmed Al Jaber at the helm.https://www.newscientist.com/article/2404939-could-the-world-finally-agree-to-ditch-fossil-fuels-at-cop28/<

After decades of misinformation & procrastination, will the global fossil fuel industry come clean?An oil baron, Sultan Al Jabar is the President for this year's UAE-based conference starting Thursday 30th Nov. If, as Al Jabar argues, it takes someone from the fossil fuel world to make change, the world will be watching his key Cop28 initiative - the Global Decarbonization Alliance - involving oil and gas companies signing up to firm climate pledges.The UN has recently warned the world is on track for a “hellish” 3C of global heating, so we badly need this initiative. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/nov/15/cop28-host-uae-oil-plans-data? 

A paint that could help prevent the spread of bushfires has come from a partnership between the University of NSW (Prof Guan Yeoh) and Flame Security International.The paint, FSA Firecoat, which is now on sale at selected Bunnings stores, achieved the Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) 40 standard which assesses the bushfire resistance of buildings and construction materialsFSA FirecoatBAL-40 indicates that a building or material has been tested and approved to withstand higher levels of radiant heat (up to 40kW/m²) and ember attack during a bushfire, providing increased protection in areas prone to extreme fire conditions.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmuUng2yaFg