‘…Beyond fatalities, a 2018 government report suggests that climate change could harm or erode the U.S. economy and U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). As much as I care about polar bears, I didn’t mention them once. Climate change certainly impacts them, and actions must be taken on their behalf too. However, I laid out six “kitchen table” or societally-relevant threats to all of us. For us and our kids, this is a national emergency too.’

Source: 6 Compelling Reasons Climate Change Might Be A National Emergency | Forbes

‘We are living today in a world that has warmed by just one degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the late 1800s, when records began on a global scale. We are adding planet-warming carbon dioxide to the atmosphere at a rate faster than at any point in human history since the beginning of industrialization.’

Source:  Opinion Time to Panic | The New York Times

‘More than 10,000 teenagers in Belgium have skipped school for the fifth Thursday in a row and demonstrated in several cities in an attempt to push authorities into providing better protection for the world’s climate.’

Source: The Latest: Belgian students march in climate protests
| The News & Observer

‘Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) are set to unveil legislation laying out a “Green New Deal” as soon as next week, Axios has learned.’

Source: Exclusive: Ocasio-Cortez, Markey to unveil Green New Deal bill | Axios

‘The United Arab Emirates likes breaking world records. Flush with oil money and blessed with plenty of open land, the country has the world’s tallest building, largest mall, largest desalinated water reservoir, and one of the largest solar farms. It can now add one more record to the list: the world’s largest virtual battery plant.’

Source: The world’s largest “virtual battery plant” is now operating in the Arabian desert | Quartz

‘Today,  the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) published the report, “The State of Science in the Trump Era: Damages Done, Lessons Learned and a Path to Progress,” which details a comprehensive list of attacks on science-based public safeguards during the administration’s first two years in office. Whereas these attacks have occurred across all agencies, many of them have occurred at the EPA. It is quite apparent that both science and the process by which the EPA uses science have been in this administration’s crosshairs since day one.’

Source: The Trump Administration Is Jeopardizing Public Health | Scientific American

‘PG&E filed for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Tuesday, staggered by billions of dollars in debts and liabilities in the wake of a series of deadly wildfires that torched Northern California in 2017 and 2018.’

Source: PG&E files for bankruptcy in the wake of deadly wildfires | East Bay Times

‘More than 100 demonstrations were planned across France for a weekend of action on the environment. Organisers called on people to come together to discuss practical ideas on how to advance an agenda that would halt or at least slow global warming.’

Source: Protests across France call for action on climate change | France24.com

‘The report by Oil Change International said that the United States is set to “unleash the world’s largest burst” of carbon emissions from new oil and gas development if it goes ahead with its plans to expand drilling.’

Source: America’s oil boom is terrible for the climate | CNN

“Greta Thunberg, a Swedish climate activist, has told world leaders: ‘I don’t want you to be hopeful, I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day and then I want you to act.’ In an impassioned warning to act now on climate change, Thunberg told her audience at Davos: ‘Either we choose to go on as a civilisation or we don’t’ ”

Source: ‘I want you to panic’: 16-year-old issues climate warning at Davos – video | The Guardian