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News Roundup

Once Upon A Time Climate Activists Cheered Al Gore. Times Have Changed. – Mother Jones

July 28th, 2017

‘The criticisms of Gore, while sometimes legitimate, are so numerous and impassioned as to reveal something deeper at work: an anxiety about the direction and effectiveness of the movement itself. There’s a profound fear among many activists that time is running out, that we have only a few more years to take the necessary actions to solve the climate crisis.’

Source: Once Upon A Time Climate Activists Cheered Al Gore. Times Have Changed. – Mother Jones

House Bill Would Shift America Entirely to Clean Energy By 2050 – Environment America

July 20th, 2017

‘Today, Representatives Jared Polis (CO), Jared Huffman (CA), Raul Grijalva (AZ) and Pramila Jayapal (WA) introduced a bill to phase out fossil fuels and completely replace them with clean, renewable energy by 2050. The bill would put in place a comprehensive plan to ramp up renewable energy and energy efficiency, and the electrification of transportation and heating, while putting a halt to the development of fossil fuel infrastructure. It also includes provisions to train workers in the transition to clean energy to encourage the deployment of clean energy in disadvantaged communities.’

Source: House Bill Would Shift America Entirely to Clean Energy By 2050

Era of ‘Biological Annihilation’ Is Underway, Scientists Warn – New York Times

July 15th, 2017

‘From the common barn swallow to the exotic giraffe, thousands of animal species are in precipitous decline, a sign that an irreversible era of mass extinction is underway, new research finds.’

Source: Era of ‘Biological Annihilation’ Is Underway, Scientists Warn – New York Times

Climate-Altering Gases Spiked in 2016, Federal Scientists Report – New York Times

July 15th, 2017

‘…Stephen A. Montzka, a NOAA research chemist who worked on the index, said the spike between 2015 and 2016 — the largest incremental increase in greenhouse gases since 1988 — was largely caused by El Niño. The jump between 1987 and 1988, which came in at a slightly higher 2.8 percent, was also linked to an El Niño.’

Source: Climate-Altering Gases Spiked in 2016, Federal Scientists Report – New York Times

An Iceberg the Size of Delaware Just Broke Away From Antarctica – New York Times

July 12th, 2017

‘A chunk of floating ice that weighs more than a trillion metric tons broke away from the Antarctic Peninsula, producing one of the largest icebergs ever recorded and providing a glimpse of how the Antarctic ice sheet might ultimately start to fall apart.’

Source: An Iceberg the Size of Delaware Just Broke Away From Antarctica – New York Times

Donald Trump ‘isolated’ on climate change: Al Gore says rest of world moving on without US President – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

July 10th, 2017

‘The United States will meet or exceed its Paris Agreement emissions targets despite an increasingly isolated President Donald Trump withdrawing from the accord, former vice-president Al Gore says.’

Source: Donald Trump ‘isolated’ on climate change: Al Gore says rest of world moving on without US President – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Nuclear powers rebuked as 122 nations adopt U.N. ban – POLITICO

July 10th, 2017

‘The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, passed at the United Nations by a vote of 122 to 1, was the culmination of a decadelong effort by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons — and a resounding rebuke to the world’s nuclear weapons states, which were glaringly absent and immediately dismissed the effort.’

Source: Nuclear powers rebuked as 122 nations adopt U.N. ban – POLITICO

Carbon in Atmosphere Is Rising, Even as Emissions Stabilize | New York Times

July 5th, 2017

‘If the amount of the gas that people are putting out has stopped rising, how can the amount that stays in the air be going up faster than ever? Does it mean the natural sponges that have been absorbing carbon dioxide are now changing?’

Source: Carbon in Atmosphere Is Rising, Even as Emissions Stabilize | New York Times

Climate change: California wins suit challenging cap and trade carbon market | The Sacramento Bee

June 29th, 2017

‘Californians pay more for gasoline and other goods to finance the state’s war on climate change. The state Supreme Court decided Wednesday they’ll continue paying for at least three more years.’

Source: Climate change: California wins suit challenging cap and trade carbon market | The Sacramento Bee

Merkel: Hamburg G20 to focus on Paris climate deal – BBC News

June 29th, 2017

‘German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said this year’s G20 summit will focus on furthering the aims of the Paris climate deal – putting her on a direct collision course with Donald Trump.’

Source: Merkel: Hamburg G20 to focus on Paris climate deal – BBC News