Nature finance, green-software training and Arctic carbon: 11 October briefing
Today's briefing spans quantifying returns on joined-up climate and clean-air policy, new training for measuring software and AI's environmental footprint, an early-stage effort to curb emissions from thawing Arctic permafrost, and a proposed EU simplification of energy and tyre labelling rules. Together, the stories trace how financing cases, technical standards, field trials and regulation are each inching forward at different speeds.
UNEP: joint climate and air-pollution action could pay back many times its cost, but barriers delay it by about eight years
A UNEP assessment published in early September values climate and clean-air measures together in one framework, with 25 solutions across six sectors. It finds that economic, technical, social and institutional barriers delay implementation by an average of eight years, with institutional barriers such as siloed decision-making the largest factor. UNEP's news page summarises the findings as a return of about US$15 for every US$1 invested.
Green Software Foundation opens a Green Software & AI Academy pilot to members
The pilot offers fourteen courses and vendor-neutral certification built on the foundation's open standards. It is aimed at helping teams measure and reduce the environmental impact of software and AI. The foundation also reports that Amadeus, AVEVA, Schneider Electric and Siemens are in its first cohort applying the SCI for AI methodology.
Start-up tests woody 'blankets' to slow emissions from eroding Arctic permafrost
Nature reports on 8 October that a start-up is testing whether stabilising rapidly eroding permafrost can prevent greenhouse-gas emissions. The trial is described as an early experiment, and the listing gives no results.
Commission's energy-product omnibus proposes simpler, more digital energy and tyre labelling
The Commission's competitiveness tracker lists an omnibus on energy product legislation among its proposed items. It would simplify energy and tyre labelling and make better use of digital options. The tracker gives no adoption timetable, so the practical effect for small businesses that sell or buy labelled products is not yet clear.