Ethnic Cleansing

Carbon Tunnel Vision (Carbon Neutrality, Net Zero) Is Seriously Hampering Comprehensive Climate Action & Social Transformation To Sustainable Development !

Posted by CJ Walsh

2025-03-25:  The right picture can paint a thousand words …

Click to enlarge.

… but this picture omits some other words … currently very important :  Proxy Wars; Destruction of International Law; West’s Hypocrisy and Double Standards; Imperialism; Colonialism; Historical Responsibility; Apartheid; Genocide; Rampant Global Waste Production; and Environmentally Damaging Disposal of Toxic Wastes; etc., etc., etc.

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And What, For Example, Does ‘Net Zero’ Actually Mean ?

In recent years … this concept has increasingly appeared – zombie like – in more and more policy documents, corporate reports, climate legislation, building codes, design manuals, etc., etc.   Some people understand it, many others do not.

Is this the best strategy, or even a good strategy ??   I don’t think so …

Graphic Image, in colour, showing a range of Climate Disruption Mitigation Strategies (not scenarios !). Far too many policy and decision makers understand 'net zero' to mean Net-Zero CO2 ... confined solely to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions. Refer, for example, to the International Energy Agency (IEA) Report: 'Net Zero Roadmap (2023 Update)'. Click to enlarge.
Graphic Image, in colour, showing a range of Climate Disruption Mitigation Strategies (not scenarios !).  Far too many policy and decision makers understand ‘net zero’ to mean Net-Zero CO2 … confined solely to Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions.  Refer, for example, to the International Energy Agency (#IEA) Report: ‘Net Zero Roadmap (2023 Update)’.  Click to enlarge.

Net Zero CO2 excludes from Climate Measurements and Climate Action Planning & Implementation all of the many other GreenHouse Gases.

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What are the REAL Whole-GHG Performance Numbers … as actually measured, not calculated … including all major GreenHouse Gases ?

Refer to the Annual U.N. World Meteorological Organization (#WMO) GreenHouse Gas Bulletins … the latest of which was published on 28 October 2024 … and makes very depressing reading.  Pages 1 and 3 (of 11) from the recent Bulletin No.20 …

Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.

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CLIMATE TRACE, GHG Emissions & Related Air Pollutants

Climate Trace ( https://www.climatetrace.org )

Most human economic activities release GreenHouse Gases (GHG’s) into the Earth’s atmosphere.  Climate Trace uses satellites and other remote sensing technologies to observe those activities.

Climate Trace makes comprehensive climate action faster and easier by mobilizing the global technology community to track GreenHouse Gas Emissions with unprecedented detail and speed.  This data is provided freely to the public.

The States & Regions Remote Sensing Project (#STARRS) illustrates the value of collaboration in generating independent GreenHouse Gas Emissions data.

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Climate Trace – 14 November 2024

Climate Trace Data Reveals High-Impact Opportunities For Cutting GreenHouse Gas Emissions

For the first time, Climate Trace’s latest inventory provides monthly emissions data for every country and every major individual source of emissions in the world.  In addition, Climate Trace has now compiled monthly emissions inventories for every state and province, every county, and more than 9,000 major urban areas around the world, providing sub-national governments with critical information to accelerate climate action.

Prior to this, 80% of the world’s cities did not have access to a comprehensive inventory of their GreenHouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and those of their surrounding urban areas.  Now they do.  These urban areas account for 17 Billion Tonnes of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e), or more than 25% of Global Emissions.

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Climate Trace – 18 December 2024

Understanding Major GHG Related Air Pollutants

Since the first data release in 2021, Climate Trace has tracked the major GreenHouse Gas (GHG) Emissions – Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O) – providing a powerful tool for accelerating meaningful climate action.  As of the November 2024 data release, key Non-GHG Air Pollutants are covered for the world’s largest sources of emissions … including pollutants which are implicated in millions of deaths around the world every year …

Carbon Monoxide (CO) – Organic Carbon (OC) – Black Carbon (BC)

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) – Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) – Particulate Matter (PM2.5)

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) – Ammonia (NH3)

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly the entire global population (99%) breathes air with pollutant levels above its guidelines … with the highest exposures in low and middle-income countries.  Many of these pollutants are released alongside GHG’s from sources like fossil fuel combustion.  This article takes a closer look at the eight major Non-GHG Co-Pollutants Climate Trace now tracks, including where they come from and how they threaten human health.

GHG Related Air Pollutants pose a clear threat to human health.  Yet until now, the world has lacked current and relevant globally available data.  This data is urgently needed to better characterize the sources of pollutants, and to develop effective mitigation policies.  By understanding the relationship between greenhouse gas sources and their impact on human health, comprehensive strategies can be produced which address both climate disruption and public health concerns.

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CLIMATE DISRUPTION > More Severe Wildfires > Serious Regional Air Quality Degradation

CBC Canada News Article – 20 March 2024

After An Epic Year Of Wildfires, Canada’s Air Isn’t As Clean As It Used To Be

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OPEN AIR QUALITY DATA

Clean Air Fund – 13 February 2025

5 Projects Enhancing Open Data For Clean Air

Air Quality Data is primarily collected through monitoring stations equipped with devices and sensors that measure pollutants like Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), and Ozone (O3).  While higher income countries tend to boast extensive networks of monitoring stations, many lower income nations don’t have the necessary infrastructure or resources for comprehensive monitoring.

Often when Data is collected, it is not publicly available due to governmental restrictions, bureaucratic hurdles, or a lack of technological platforms for sharing the information.

Data is often fragmented or stored in formats that are not user-friendly, making it difficult for researchers, policymakers and the public to access or understand the information.  This significant barrier means the extent of air pollution’s impact on the health of communities isn’t understood.

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#Sustainability #Resilience #Reality #ClimateDisruption #ClimateSynergies #ClimateTippingPoints #InternationalLaw #ClimateTrace #GHGemissions #GreenHouseGases #GHGrelatedAirPollutants #Wildfires #HumanHealth #CarbonMonoxide #OrganicCarbon #BlackCarbon #VolatileOrganicCompounds #SulphurDioxide #ParticulateMatter #NitrogenOxides #Ammonia #CarbonTunnelVision #CarbonNeutrality #NetZero #Canada #UN #ICJ #ICC #SIA #SustainabilityImpactAssessment #FeuxDeForêt #Bushfires #IncendiBoschivi #IncendiosForestales #OrmanYangınları #IncêndiosFlorestais #ExtremeHeatwaves #ExtremeDroughts #Poverty #BiodiversityLoss #OverConsumption #ProxyWars #Imperialism #Colonialism #HistoricalResponsibility #Apartheid #Genocide #EthnicCleansing #CleanAir #Ozone #AirQuality

Legal Consequences For All Other U.N. Member States Arising From Israel’s Policies And Practices & From The Illegality Of Israel’s Continued Presence In The Occupied Palestinian Territory

Posted by CJ Walsh

2024-09-06:  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) published an Advisory Legal Opinion / Avis Juridique Consultatif on 19 July 2024.

Following is an Extract from that Document … Section VII B … Paragraphs 278 & 279 … which set out, very clearly, the legal consequences for ALL OTHER MEMBER STATES of the United Nations (#UN) concerning their dealings with the State of Israel …

ALL OTHER MEMBER STATES of the United Nations are OBLIGED to comply, and without undue delay … in stark view of the State of Israel’s criminal political and military environment.

  1. Taking note of the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly, the International Court of Justice is of the view that Member States are under an obligation not to recognize any changes in the physical character or demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the territory occupied by Israel on 5 June 1967, including East Jerusalem, except as agreed by the parties through negotiations, and to distinguish in their dealings with Israel between the territory of the State of Israel and the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967.  The Court considers that the duty of distinguishing dealings with Israel between its own territory and the Occupied Palestinian Territory encompasses, inter alia, the obligation to abstain from treaty relations with Israel in all cases in which it purports to act on behalf of the Occupied Palestinian Territory or a part thereof on matters concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or a part of its territory ;  to abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning the Occupied Palestinian Territory or parts thereof which may entrench its unlawful presence in the territory ;  to abstain, in the establishment and maintenance of diplomatic missions in Israel, from any recognition of its illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory ;  and to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (see Legal Consequences for States of the Continued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports 1971, pp. 55-56, paras. 122, 125-127).
  1. Moreover, the Court considers that, in view of the character and importance of the rights and obligations involved, all States are under an obligation not to recognize as legal the situation arising from the unlawful presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  They are also under an obligation not to render aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by Israel’s illegal presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.  It is for all States, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and International Law, to ensure that any impediment resulting from the illegal presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to the exercise of the Palestinian people of its right to self-determination is brought to an end.  In addition, all the States Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention have the obligation, while respecting the Charter of the United Nations and International Law, to ensure compliance by Israel with international humanitarian law as embodied in that Convention.

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Israel’s Expanding Colonial Occupation of Palestine …

Graphic Image, in colour, showing a sequence of Maps – at years: 1917; 1946; 1947; 1967; Present Day – of a Shrinking Palestine with the corresponding Expanding Colonial Occupation by Israel.  Not shown are the post-1967 occupied Golan Heights in Syria and Sinai Peninsula in Egypt.  Click to enlarge.

Notes …

1882 – The first Zionist Colony (Hebrew: ‘Aliyah’, the act of going up towards the holy city of Jerusalem) … Rishon LeZion … established in Ottoman Palestine by Jewish immigrants from what was then the Russian Empire (today’s Kharkiv in #Ukraine).

1916 – Long before World War I ended in 1918 … the British & French (Sykes-Picot) Agreement to carve up the Ottoman Middle East between them.  Russia was excluded.

1917 – The Balfour Declaration … British Government statement of support for (‘view with favour’) the establishment of a ‘national home for the Jewish people’ … ‘it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine’.

1948 – #Nakba (Arabic: ‘catastrophe’) … Ethnic Cleansing / Expulsion of 750,000+ Palestinians … mass killings and violent displacement, with expropriation of lands, property and belongings … no right of return.

1967 – Arab-Israeli War (5-10 June), fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab States, primarily Egypt, Syria, Jordan … after which Israel illegally occupied: the Golan Heights in #Syria ;  the West Bank including East Jerusalem in #Jordan ;  the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza in #Egypt.

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#UNcharter #InternationalLaw #UDHR #ICJ #ICC #HumanRights – #USA #UK #Germany #France #EU #Israel #CriminalState #Nakba #Apartheid #IOF #IsraelOccupationForces #WarCrimes #Genocide #Gaza #WestBank #EastJerusalem – #IndependentPalestine #BDS #SupportBDS – #LastingPeace #Sustainability #SIA #SustainabilityImpactAssessment