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A just transition is ensuring a fair and inclusive approach from a high carbon to low carbon sustainable economy. We see it in sectors like Transport, Agriculture and residential communities as we aim to move to more sustainble living in the economy and environment.

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Video on the Anthropocene (AN-thruh-puh-seen)

https://youtu.be/vGYtriZ12kU

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Check out this Group Work designed by Oide.

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To look at how we can reduce fossil fuels/ carbon dioxide to improve sustainable development in the economy, environment and community.

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The Anthropocene is a term used to describe a new era in Earth’s history where humans have become the main force shaping the planet. It's like we’ve left such a huge impact that future generations (or scientists) will be able to see evidence of it in the rocks and soil.

Basically, it means that human actions, like burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and changing landscapes, are affecting the Earth in ways that didn’t happen before. The idea is that we've moved past being just part of nature, and now we’re actively changing it. For example, climate change, loss of biodiversity, and even things like plastic pollution could be signs of the Anthropocene.

Some people think this era started with the Industrial Revolution when machines and factories started massively changing the environment. Others think it started earlier, when humans first began farming and altering the land. It’s kind of a way to say: “Hey, we’ve left a big mark on the Earth, and it’s changing things for the long term.”

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3.4 and 3.5

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Strand 2 LO 8&9

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3.6, 3.7

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Strand 1. Outcome 1

Strand 1. Outcome 5

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Biodiversity refers to the variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, region, or on the entire planet. It encompasses the diversity of species, genetic variation among individuals within those species, and the ecological complexes they form. Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem resilience, providing vital services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, and climate regulation, and it contributes to the overall health and stability of the environment.

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Biod (Whiteboard) by Oide

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Check out this Whiteboard designed by Oide.

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False information, unintentionally spread without intent to harm, by individuals or organisations. E.g. False News Viral Stories, unverified breaking news, no fact checking, incorrect details about numbers involved in incidents.

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Ways that we can address climate change by reducing greenhouse emissions.

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This is the process of caputuring and storing carbon. Its aim is to reduce the greenhouse effect as CO2 is removed. It is part of the solution to decarbonise economies and help mitigate climate change.

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3.4 and 3.5

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Strand 3 LO 8&9

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3.6

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Strand 1 Learning Outcome 6

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Check out this Group Work designed by Oide.

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Economic, technological and ecological compensations the developed world can make to support developing countries owing to their historical contributions to greenhouse gas emissions & biodiversity loss.

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Biodiversity loss is when the variety of life on Earth—plants, animals, insects, and microorganisms—starts to shrink. Basically, it means species are disappearing or becoming endangered, and ecosystems (the natural communities where living things interact) are being damaged.

There are a lot of reasons this is happening. Humans play a huge role by destroying habitats (like cutting down forests for buildings or farming), polluting the environment, and causing climate change. These things make it harder for species to survive, and some can’t adapt in time, so they go extinct.

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What Is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life that may be found in a given place. It includes animals, plants, fungi, and even microbes such as bacteria. Each of these species collaborates in ecosystems to preserve balance and support life.

Biodiversity Hotspots: Biologically Rich and Threatened

Biodiversity hotspots are defined as areas that are both biologically rich (with a diverse range of flora and fauna) and critically threatened, usually by human activities and pollution.

Biodiversity hotspots make up about only 2.3 percent of Earth's land surface, but 44 percent of the world's plants and 35 percent of land vertebrates live in these regions. (Nat Geo: Biodiversity Hotspots, 2019)

To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria:

One of the world's most diverse hotspots is the Andes Mountains Tropical Hotspot. Around one-sixth of all plant species in the world live in this region. (Nat Geo: Biodiversity Hotspots, 2019)

The image below shows the countries and regions that are considered biodiversity hotspots

Source: Biodiversity Hotspots Map by CEPF

Biodiversity Loss: An Alarming Problem

Biodiversity has decreased severely over the last several decades. The image below shows the percentage of declining biodiversity by region around the globe.

Source: WWF: Living Planet Report 2020

North America has lost 33% of its biodiversity, although biodiversity loss has slowed in the 2000s.

Africa lost an average of 65% of its biodiversity between 1970 and 2016.

Europe and Central Asia have lost an average of 24% of their biodiversity between 1970 and 2016.

The Asian Pacific region has declined its biodiversity by an average of 45%. Pollution is one of the main causes of the decline.

Latin America and the Caribbean have a devastating average of a 94% decline in biodiversity. This is due to a range of factors, including the conversion of grasslands, savannas, forests, and wetlands, the overexploitation of species, climate change, and the introduction of alien species.

In totality, the population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles have seen an alarming average drop of 68% since 1970. The biodiversity graph below visualizes the average change in wildlife population sizes over time.

Source: WWF: Living Planet Report 2020

The Economic Impact of Biodiversity

Biodiversity is connected to our economy in multiple ways:

Around US$44 million of economic value generation, which is more than half of global GDP, depends on natural resources or services (World Economic Forum 2020).

The industries that depend on nature the most are construction, agriculture, and food and beverages (World Economic Forum 2020).

More than 70 percent of people living in poverty depend on natural resources to earn a living through activities such as farming, fishing, and forestry (UNEP Global Environment Outlook 2019).

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Biodiversity Fact Sheet | Biodiversity Facts - Biodiversity Charts and Graphs

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Biodiversity is the variety of life that exists in a place. It's crucial to life on Earth. Learn facts about biodiversity here, and check out biodiversity charts and graphs.

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Beige Illustrative Customer Journey Mind Map Brainstorm

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Check out this Brainstorm designed by Oide.

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Check out this Brainstorm designed by Oide.

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It is the capturing of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it elsewhere

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Check out this Group Work designed by Oide.

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Products sold as good for the environment but are not- a gimmick to improve economic productivity of goods and services e.g. plastic bottles used in making clothes that were never actually used, just manufactured to be reused, H&M Conscious Collection focussing on small amount of the product or Ryanair Greener Fares

10 Companies Called Out For Greenwashing | Earth.Org

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Greenwashing can be as subtle as a misleading packaging choice all the way to fossil fuel companies touting themselves as being eco-champions. Either way, greenwashing is a harmful and deceitful way of advertising that a company is more sustainable than it actually is. Companies that make false claims should be held accountable. Here are 10 companies that have been caught greenwashing in various ways.
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1. Volkswagen

2. BP

3. ExxonMobil

Recently, ExxonMobil came under fire for advertising that suggested that its experimental algae biofuels could one day reduce transport emissions, while it has no company-wide net zero target and its 2025 emission reduction targets do not include the vast majority of emissions resulting from its products.

4. Nestlé

In 2018, Nestlé released a statement saying that it had "ambitions" for its packaging to be 100% recyclable or reusable by 2025. However, environmental groups and other critics pointed out that the company hadn't released clear targets, a timeline to accompany its ambitions or additional efforts to help facilitate recycling by consumers. Greenpeace reacted to this by releasing its own statement , in which it said, "Nestlé's statement on plastic packaging includes more of the same greenwashing baby steps to tackle a crisis it helped to create. It will not actually move the needle toward the reduction of single-use plastics in a meaningful way, and sets an incredibly low standard as the largest food and beverage company in the world." In Break Free From Plastic's 2020 annual report , Nestlé, along with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, were named the world's top plastic polluters for the third year in a row.

5. Coca-Cola

Despite this, the company is adamant that it is making progress in tackling packaging waste. At the time, a spokesperson said, "Globally, we have a commitment to get every bottle back by 2030, so that none of it ends up as litter or in the oceans, and the plastic can be recycled into new bottles. Bottles with 100% recycled plastic are now available in 18 markets around the world, and this is continually growing."
You might also like: Greenwashing: What is it, Why is it a Problem, and How to Avoid It
6. Starbucks

In 2018, Starbucks released a "straw-less lid," as part of its sustainability drive, however this lid contained more plastic than the old lid and straw combination. The company didn't dispute this, but claimed that it is made from polypropylene, a commonly-accepted recyclable plastic that "can be captured in recycling infrastructure." Critics were quick to point out that only 9% of the world's plastic is recycled , so the company shouldn't assume all the lids would be recycled. Further, the US exports about one-third of its recycling to developing countries, so it is simply passing its responsibility to poorer countries.

7. IKEA

IKEA was considered a beacon of a major corporation being sustainable before when the furniture retailer was linked with illegal logging in Ukraine. In a report by NGO Earthsight , the wood certification scheme IKEA uses, Forest Stewardship Council, was described as an organisation that greenwashes the timber industry. It was accused of failing to catch IKEA's sourcing of conflict wood, and act on it.

8. Plastic Bottle Water Companies

A more subtle form of greenwashing can be seen in plastic water bottle companies like Poland Spring, Evian and Deer Park, that all have nature on their labels. This is laughably ironic considering that plastic water bottles are designed to be single-use and are contributing to the massive plastic waste crisis around the world.
You might also like: Top Sustainable Food Packaging Companies to Support
H&M, Zara and Uniqlo are among the companies that were caught greenwashing over the years. These fashion brands contribute to the massive amounts of textile waste caused by the clothing industry. According to the fashion nonprofit , 80% of discarded textiles globally are incinerated or landfill-bound, with just 20% being reused or recycled.

Fast fashion brands also have a habit of advertising its green initiatives widely, despite it being a tiny part of its operations. For example, in 2019, H&M launched its own line of "green" clothing titled " ." The company claims to use "organic" cotton and recycled polyester. However, the line is nothing but a marketing tactic used to make themselves appear more environmentally friendly. When looking at H&M's "Conscious" line, its mission states: "Shop our selection of sustainable fashion pieces that make you both look and feel good." However, there is no single legal definition for marketing-friendly words such as "sustainable," "green," or "environmentally-friendly." H&M was then criticised by the Norwegian Customer Authority for "misleading" marketing of their Conscious Collection because "the information given regarding sustainability was not sufficient, especially given that the Conscious Collection is advertised as a collection with environmental benefits."
You might also like: 16 Most Sustainable Fashion Brands to Support
How can I contribute to a more sustainable planet?

1. 🗳️ Vote for Climate Action: Exercise your democratic rights by supporting candidates and policies that prioritize climate change mitigation and environmental protection. Stay informed with Earth.Org's election coverage.

2. 👣 Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Make conscious choices to reduce your carbon footprint. Opt for renewable energy sources, conserve energy at home, use public transportation or carpool, and embrace sustainable practices like recycling and composting.

3. 💰 Support Environmental Organizations: Join forces with organizations like Earth.Org and its NGO partners, dedicated to educating the public on environmental issues and solutions, supporting conservation efforts, holding those responsible accountable, and advocating for effective environmental solutions. Your support can amplify their efforts and drive positive change.

4. 🌱 Embrace Sustainable Habits: Make sustainable choices in your everyday life. Reduce single-use plastics, choose eco-friendly products, prioritize a plant-based diet and reduce meat consumption, and opt for sustainable fashion and transportation. Small changes can have a big impact.

5. 💬 Be Vocal, Engage and Educate Others: Spread awareness about the climate crisis and the importance of environmental stewardship. Engage in conversations, share information, and inspire others to take action. Together, we can create a global movement for a sustainable future.

6. 🪧 Stand with Climate Activists: Show your support for activists on the frontlines of climate action. Attend peaceful protests, rallies, and marches, or join online campaigns to raise awareness and demand policy changes. By amplifying their voices, you contribute to building a stronger movement for climate justice and a sustainable future.

For more actionable steps, visit our 'What Can I do?' page.

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10 Companies Called Out For Greenwashing | Earth.Org

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Many companies practice greenwashing, often making consumers believe they are environmentally friendly when in fact, they are not.