How will the environment remember 2025 S25 Ep44

Has it been a good year for the climate and our environment? Is the glass half-empty or half-full and is the water polluted in the glass anyway? Is there any good news?Well, yes! To explore this topic Jill Grant and Tim Budge review the year, highlighting the events which cheer us up and bring us hope, while also noting those areas where things may have gone backwards. We will also be talking about our favourite books, music and films from 2025 and we'll also look ahead. As part of that we will be talking to a couple of new BEAM committee members, about their commitment to the environment and why they want to work with an organisation like BEAM to "take action locally for a healthy environment". SHOW NOTES Global Plastics Treaty Goal of 75% Reduction in plastic production and use by 2040.  Unfortunately the Treaty was not successful as countries were divided on how to tackle the crisis. 100 countries wanted binding caps on production and direct action on toxic chemicals arising from plastic. Action was opposed by large fossil fuel producers, including Saudi Arabia and Russia so in the absence of global action, Country based local initiatives become more urgent.Production has soared to 460 million metric tonnes annually and will continue to increase unless alternatives can be found.  Currently only 10% is recycled globally and a significant proportion of waste is incinerated leading to further release of toxic chemicals and carbon dioxide as they are made from fossil fuels and will increase planet wide air and water pollution over their lifecycle. National Adaptation Action Plan (Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water) Developed after the Climate Risk Assessment  by the Australian Climate Service, Bureau of Meteorology and Geoscience Australia. Direct Action on Physical Risks  such as bushfires, storms, floods, coastal hazards etc and action on the associated health and social cohesion impacts across 7 key systems – urban: regional and remote; natural environment; economy, trade and finance; infrastructure and the built environment; and National security.Special consideration is given to the disproportionate impact on the way of life and threat to health and livelihoods of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.Emissions Reduction National Targets (Nationally Determined Contribution to the goals set out under the 2015 Paris Agreement). Australia has committed to a 62-70 percent reduction in emissions below 2005 levels and a transformation of the energy system with technological innovation and increased energy security is underway.This will provide a safer climate through decarbonisation and new economic opportunities in regions where renewable energy resources and an increasingly skilled workforce can deliver significant advances. Already there has been a 91% reduction in Photo Voltaic cell costs over the last 20 years. Banksia Foundation National Sustainability Awards https://Banksiafdn.com For 36 years the entrants in the Awards had been inspiring organisations and individuals to drive positive change and make a difference to sustainable development goals across all sectors