In June, halfway through 2024, firms and governments assess bi-annual performance, GDP, and shareholder returns. The obsession with short-term profits and growth has led to environmental and social damage, like planned obsolescence, reckless resource extraction, and stock buybacks over long-term investments. We need alternative economic frameworks that prioritize people, the planet, and profit.
In 2023, 1.3 billion tons of food went to waste, while over 122 million faced hunger. This colossal food waste issue not only affects the environment but also represents a massive economic burden. Recycling food waste through composting and anaerobic digestion can mitigate these issues, but infrastructure and mindset hurdles need to be overcome for widespread adoption.
Universal Basic Income has the potential to mitigate environmental harm by reducing economic pressures that lead to overconsumption and unsustainable practices, fostering a circular economy. Challenges include funding and incentivizing sustainable choices. Despite concerns, UBI's potential for economic security and environmental sustainability merits serious consideration, and it may offer a solution to overcomsumption.
The launch of Ocean Cleanup’s system 03 brings hope for ocean waste cleansing. The project aims to tackle the plastic pollution crisis. This ocean-bound plastic stems from inadequate waste management in coastal areas. Embracing a circular economy, it recycles ocean-bound plastic, creating economic opportunities and reducing pollution. However, challenges persist in a consumption-driven capitalist world.
A 2024 study by Nature predicts ongoing climate change and land conversion, emphasizing the need to protect natural habitats to prevent biodiversity loss. Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem balance and human survival, with habitat loss and climate change threatening species and ecosystem services. Urgent action is required to address these risks.
Large quantities of microplastics have been found in remote marine protected areas, challenging previous assumptions about their distribution. Marine bioplastics, derived from marine organisms, offer a promising solution to plastic pollution. While challenges remain, policies and consumer awareness are vital in driving the widespread adoption of marine bioplastics and creating a more sustainable and circular economy.
The aviation industry faces environmental challenges from jet fuel, but the recent Singapore Airshow highlighted Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) as a potential solution. However, challenges like production, infrastructure, and consumer adoption persist. Governments have implemented policies to promote sustainable fuel adoption, but a comprehensive strategy involving electric vehicles and reduced energy consumption is essential.
The UN 2050 goal faces criticism from climate scientists and waste management experts for its lack of specificity, insufficient focus on circular economy principles, global inequalities, overreliance on technology, greenwashing, and the urgent need for immediate action. To address these concerns, greater transparency, collaboration, and systemic changes are essential for achieving a sustainable future.
Space debris presents a growing threat to satellite operations and the global economy. The increasing number of satellites in orbit raises the risk of collisions, leading to further debris creation. Left unchecked, this could trigger the Kessler Syndrome, rendering key orbits unusable. Private companies must proactively address this issue through responsible satellite deployment and debris removal initiatives.
The European Union has succumbed to the far-right-inspired demands of farmers by retreating on its climate targets for 2040. Four months before European elections, the capitulation resulted due to a farmers' revolt against green reforms in Germany, France, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. The opportunists have won, not the farmers.
The Trash Economy 