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As signs emerge that the global energy sector is beginning to rein in what once had been unbridled levels of climate-changing pollution, new United Nations figures show pollution from farming is continuing to get worse.

Marks & Spencer, Nestlé UK and Ireland, and Unilever were among a group of more than 25 stakeholders in the food and beverage industry to sign on to resource efficiency charity WRAP's Courtauld Commitment 2025. The Commitment aims to reduce food and drink waste by 20%, cut the GHG intensity of food and drink consumed in the UK by 20%, and reduce the impact of water use in the supply chain.

Some of China's provinces and companies, however, are moving into business operations that foster the growth of the circular economy, which means designing products that can be taken apart, re-blended or recycled so that waste is not an end result. This is complemented by the fact that the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (CPCIF) recently signed on to the World Plastics Council, which also has a goal of reducing plastic waste in the environment. 

The Paris climate agreement will likely be ratified on Earth Day, when it will be signed by more than 130 nations, the UN said on Friday. Only 55 signatures are needed to ratify the document. If approved, the climate accord is expected to encourage countries to curb their greenhouse gas emissions, ultimately holding global warming to an increase of no more than 2 degrees Celsius, or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit, through the next two decades.

The United States, China, and around 130 other nations are expected to sign the Paris Agreement on April 22 at the UN headquarters in New York City.

Beth Stevens, senior VP of environmental affairs at Disney Worldwide Services, is in charge of making strides in the direction of sustainability. How does the iconic brand not only tell an engaging sustainability story but walk the talk? Disney's sustainability goals are serious. It aims to halve its emissions by 2020 from 2012 levels. It signed on to the White House American Business Act on Climate Pledge ahead of COP21 and the Paris Agreement. It even maintains an internal carbon price. Stevens sees all this as a natural expression of the company's culture.

The citizens of four major European countries think the impacts of climate change such as severe floods and storms are already affecting them, according to a major new polling study. The research dispels the idea that global warming is widely seen as a future problem, and also shows strong support for action to tackle global warming, including subsidies for clean energy and big financial penalties for nations that refuse to be part of the international climate deal signed in Paris in 2015 - as US president Donald Trump has threatened.

Before this year there had been three major bleaching events identified in the modern history of the reef - 1998, 2002 and 2016. Researchers last month identified the signs of another bleaching event taking place this year.

Necker Island, a small Caribbean island owned by business icon Richard Branson, has signed a contract to slash its diesel fuel use by building a renewable energy-powered microgrid.

Ben & Jerry's, Stonyfield Farm, and over 200 other companies and organizations signed a letter urging President Obama to institute a national labeling system for genetically engineered foods.

Caesar's Entertainment is the first company to sign up for the EPA's WaterSense H2Otel Challenge for organizations to encourage hotels to use best management practices that will save water and money, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Air Products has signed contracts with more than 20 recycled copper manufacturers in China to provide its oxy-fuel product that it says improves productivity and material qualities compared to conventional air-fuel technologies. It also decreases harmful emissions and reduces energy consumption and fuel costs.

Over the last 50 years, human diets around the world have grown ever more similar and the trend shows no signs of slowing, with major consequences for human nutrition and global food security, according to research carried out at International Center for Tropical Agriculture.

European lawmakers are poised to sign off on a law that would allow airlines to avoid paying carbon fees for long-haul flights terminating in Europe. The move disappointed greens, who said lawmakers had secured little beyond vague promises of future action in exchange for the move. "European governments have conceded again to international pressure without getting anything meaningful in return," said transport activist Bill Hemmings

Wilmar, the world's largest palm oil trader and a long-time target of environmentalists, has signed a landmark policy that commits the company to eliminate deforestation from its supply chain. Read more at http://news.mongabay.com/2013/1205-wilmar-zero-deforestation.html#I1BBsX02RqbVmSSf.99

All seafood served at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will be certified as sustainably wild caught and responsibly farmed, according to an agreement signed yesterday.

Nestlé, Walmart Chile, Coca-Cola Chile, PepsiCo, and Unilever have signed a partnership to reduce waste and support a new recycling network in Chile. The companies have backed the Collective Recycling Project, which aims to recycle about 1,200 metric tons of waste per year through the installation of five recycling centers in the capital of Santiago.

Groups say workers could be exposed to more than three times the amount of chemicals of US workers. Consumers take action with new mock "App;" 20,000 have so far signed petition urging action by Apple.

A total of 34 companies signed the New York Declaration on Forests this week at the United Nations Climate Summit in New York.

Fifty-seven global companies organized by the Climate Group signed a letter urging the European Council to adopt a strong energy and climate policy framework during their meeting later this month. Signatories included 3M (CEF member), Coca Cola Enterprises, General Electric (CEF member), GlaxoSmithKline, IKEA, Philips, Shell, and Unilever (CEF member).