News: ‘General’ Archive
‘World powers must pull together and retool their economies for a green future or humanity is “doomed”, UN chief Antonio Guterres has warned, telling AFP that failure to control the coronavirus pandemic illustrates the danger of disunity.’
Source: Cooperate on climate or ‘we will be doomed’: UN chief
‘July 2020 Temperature Update’
‘Globally, July 2020 is estimated to have been tied with July 2019 as the warmest July since records began in 1850. The nominal difference between 2019 and 2020 is less than 0.01 °C, which is much smaller than the uncertainty on this temperature analysis, making 2019 and 2020 indistinguishable. Previously in 2020, we have also witnessed the warmest April, May, and June.’
‘At the turn of the 21st century, unbeknownst to the world, the Greenland ice sheet likely entered a state of sustained mass loss that will persist for the foreseeable future, according to a new study. Though the finding has raised concern over the future of the ice sheet, scientists emphasize that reducing emissions remains critical.’
Source: Greenland ice sheet reached tipping point 20 years ago, new study finds | Phys.org
100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything – by Mark Z Jacobson, Stanford University, California
‘Numerous laws – including the Green New Deal – have been proposed or passed in cities, states, and countries to transition from fossil fuels to 100% clean, renewable energy in order to address climate change, air pollution, and energy insecurity. This textbook lays out the science, technology, economics, policy, and social aspects of such transitions. It discusses the renewable electricity and heat generating technologies needed; the electricity, heat, cold, and hydrogen storage technologies required; how to keep the electric power grid stable; and how to address non-energy sources of emissions. It discusses the history of the 100% Movement, which evolved from a collaboration among scientists, cultural leaders, business people, and community leaders. Finally, it discusses current progress in transitioning to 100% renewables, and the new policies needed to complete the transition. Online course supplements include lecture slides, answers to the end-of-chapter student exercises, and a list of extra resources.’
Source: 100% Clean, Renewable Energy and Storage for Everything | Cambridge University Press
‘…Markey was endorsed early in the race by the Sunrise Movement, a national youth-led climate action group, which cited his co-authorship of the Green New Deal and long track record of environmental advocacy. By the end of the race, polls showed that Markey had turned his deficit among young voters into a double-digit lead.’
Source: Ed Markey credits young supporters in Senate primary victory speech | Boston.com
‘Wheeler and his predecessor Pruitt have sullied the bipartisan track record of one of the nation’s agencies entrusted with protecting public health and safety. So it is little wonder that three former EPA administrators who, notably, served under Republican presidents, recently sounded the alarm on Capitol Hill, urging legislators to step up their oversight of the agency and denouncing its attempts to hamstring science.’
‘The growing but largely unrecognized death toll from rising global temperatures will come close to eclipsing the current number of deaths from all the infectious diseases combined if planet-heating emissions are not constrained, a major new study has found.’
‘…The documents show the multibillion-dollar gas industry has built crucial local coalitions and hired high-powered operatives to torpedo cities’ anti-gas policies – sometimes assisted by money those same cities have paid into gas trade associations.’
Source: Revealed: how the gas industry is waging war against climate action | Gas | The Guardian
‘Soaring temperatures, intensified flood risks and heightened water stress will threaten 57 U.S. nuclear plants over the next 20 years, forcing operators to take additional resiliency measures, according to a new report.’
Source: Mounting Climate Impacts Threaten U.S. Nuclear Reactors – Scientific American
‘Bucking tradition, a group of climate activists has won three seats in an election to an important governing body at Harvard University, the Board of Overseers, the university announced Friday.’
Source: Climate Activists Gain Seats on Harvard Oversight Board – The New York Times