Climate Horizons 5 (Laudate Deum: Pope Francis’ follow up to “Laudato Si’)
News, Views and Solutions in an All-of-the-Above World.
Greetings!
We’ve vetted and selected a range of worthwhile climate-related news and information for you. Atop those, we’d like to start by highlighting…
“Laudate Deum”: the Pope’s cry for a response to the climate crisis
Eight years ago, in 2015, Pope Francis offered a 7,000 word encyclical entitled LAUDATO SI’ on man’s place on Earth and the spiritual implications of human-caused global warming.
We have not done what is necessary since then, and so, in a shorter and more pointed follow up — “Laudate Deum” —Pope Francis directly calls out climate change deniers and the countries and industries he sees as a big part of the problem and makes an urgent and powerful plea for stronger and immediate collective action.
We welcome such rational and passionate advocacy from Pope Francis, and encourage you to check out the documents, the short video and some of the major media coverage below.
Read it here:
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION: LAUDATE DEUM
OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
TO ALL PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL ON THE CLIMATE CRISIS
You can read the original LAUDATO SI’ here:
ENCYCLICAL LETTER: LAUDATO SI’
OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
Here‘s an excellent and short (three-minute) YouTube video put out by the Vatican in conjunction with LAUDATE DEUM.
Here is a selection of additional coverage of the release of Laudate Deum: Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis:
CNN (October 4, 2023)
Pope Francis lambasts climate change skeptics and ‘irresponsible’ Western lifestyles
Pope Francis has made his strongest statement yet on the accelerating climate crisis, pinning blame on big industries and world leaders as well as “irresponsible” Western lifestyles, in a blistering statement on Wednesday.“Our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point,” the pontiff wrote in a 7,000 word encyclical called Laudate Deum (“Praise God”).
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BBC News (October 4, 2023)
Climate change: Pope Francis warns world 'may be nearing breaking point'
The pope criticised global decision-making bodies for being ineffective, as well as calling out climate deniers. His strongly-worded intervention has been published in a major new update to his landmark 2015 paper on the environment. He described some damage from climate change as "already irreversible".
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The Pope’s Warning to a Warming World
Naming and shaming the countries and industries he sees as bad actors.
He specifically takes aim at citizens of richer countries and the “irresponsible lifestyle” of the developed world.
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On a very related note:
Religious Leaders May Be Key to Breaking Climate Action Gridlock, Poll Suggests
The survey, published the same day Pope Francis said ”no one can ignore” climate change, found that stronger religious convictions were often paired with increased doubt in climate science.
Religious beliefs may play an important role in whether someone believes humans are warming the planet by burning fossil fuels, new polls found. The findings come as Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, released his latest papal letter, rebuking the “irresponsible lifestyle” of Westerners and chastising those who try to delay efforts to address the climate crisis or deny its very existence.
And:
But despite the pope’s strong words, the second time he has in writing sought to raise awareness about climate change, a pair of surveys released over the last two weeks found that people who strongly identify with their religious beliefs tend to dismiss the overwhelming scientific consensus that the planet is warming at an unprecedented rate and humans are behind it.
• CURRENT NEWS:
A few recent news items, usually in the form of a headline and link, along with a short description or excerpt.
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AXIOS (September 27, 2023)
Antarctic sea ice hits lowest seasonal peak on record
Antarctic sea ice fell to an all-time lowest seasonal peak, reaching about 398,000 square miles below the previous record in 1986, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colo.
Why it matters: The pronounced lack of sea ice this year, which is part of a steep drop seen during the past several years, could have implications for land-based ice stability and the functions of global ocean currents.
The big picture: Antarctic sea ice hit its seasonal peak on Sept. 10, the NSIDC announced Monday. At that peak, the sea ice cover was missing an area of floating ice larger than the combination of Texas and Arizona.
More articles about this issue:
New York Times (October 4, 2023)
Where’s All the Antarctic Sea Ice? Annual Peak Is the Lowest Ever Recorded
Nature (September 13, 2023)
Record low Antarctic sea ice coverage indicates a new sea ice state
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United Nations (October 5, 2023)
Hottest September on record puts 2023 on track to be warmest year ever
This September was the hottest one ever, and 2023 is firmly set to be the warmest year on record, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday, citing data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S).
EXCERPT:
WMO said this continues an extended streak of extraordinary land and sea-surface temperatures and is an ominous signal about the speed with which greenhouse gases (GHG) are changing the climate.
"The temperature anomalies are enormous – far bigger than anything we have ever seen in the past. Antarctic winter sea ice extent was the lowest on record for the time of year,” said Petteri Taalas, the agency’s Secretary-General.
“What is especially worrying is that the warming El Niño event is still developing, and so we can expect these record-breaking temperatures to continue for months, with cascading impacts on our environment and society,” he added.
More articles about this issue:
CNN (October 5, 2023)
Scientist calls record global heat in September ‘gobsmackingly bananas’
Washington Post (October 4, 2023)
September shattered global heat record — and by a record margin
Eco Watch (September 13, 2023)
Global Heat Record for September ‘Shattered’ by Wide Margin
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Eco Watch (September 29, 2023)
Mississippi River Nears Historic Lows, Putting Grain Exports at Risk
An important stretch of the mighty Mississippi River is getting mighty dry, just in time for the busiest grain export season in the country.
According to the National Weather Service, this week water levels on part of the lower Mississippi came within inches of a record low, and conditions are expected to continue as grain export season kicks off, reported Reuters.
More articles about this issue:
Iowa Public Radio (October 3, 2023)
The Mississippi River is reaching historic highs and lows — forcing the shipping industry to adapt
CNN (September 21, 2023)
Water levels on the Mississippi River are plummeting for the second year in a row
• GOOD NEWS and SOLUTIONS:
A number of items that highlight either real and notable progress being made somewhere or information about a few of the many solutions that are out there and available today.
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Anthropocene (September 12, 2023)
Green infrastructure can set off a virtuous cycle of climate action
A new study suggests that greener cities not only reduce carbon emissions, they also can absorb them.
EXCERPT:
Green infrastructure and other nature-based solutions such as parks, greenbelts, and natural stormwater treatment swales could reduce carbon emissions in European cities by an average of 17.4%, according to a new study.
The findings represent a far more sweeping assessment of nature-based solutions (NBS) than has been undertaken in the past. Previous studies have generally looked at how green infrastructure can absorb carbon emissions generated elsewhere in the economy, by storing carbon in vegetation and soils. The new study also considers the indirect benefits of these features, finding that they can actually contribute to reducing carbon emissions in their own right.
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EcoWatch (September 27, 2023)
Students Across the U.S. Launch Green New Deal for Schools
EXCERPT:
Students at more than 50 high schools across the United States are launching a Green New Deal for Schools campaign, with the hope of getting climate policies enacted that will require school districts to add climate education to their curriculums and plan for climate disasters.
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Pew Research Center (August 9, 2023)
What the data says about Americans’ views of climate change
A recent report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has underscored the need for international action to avoid increasingly severe climate impacts in the years to come. Steps outlined in the report, and by climate experts, include major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from sectors such as energy production and transportation.
But how do Americans feel about climate change, and what steps do they think the United States should take to address it? Here are eight charts that illustrate Americans’ views on the issue, based on recent Pew Research Center surveys.
On a related note from Nature:
Americans experience a false social reality by underestimating popular climate policy support by nearly half
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The Hill (October 9, 2023)
[California Governor] Newsom signs landmark emissions, climate risk disclosure laws
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed off on a pair of rules that will require large corporations that do business in the Golden State to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related risk.
The two bills, which were among a laundry list of legislation approved this weekend, are the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, or SB-253, and the Climate-Related Financial Risk bill, or SB-261.
SB-253 will require all public and private firms that operate in California — and whose annual revenues surpass $1 billion — to disclose both direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions.
And from the Office of the Governor of California:
Governor Newsom Signs Sweeping Climate Measures, Ushering in New Era of World-Leading Climate Action
• THINGS YOU CAN DO:
For this section, this week we have selected an excellent piece succinctly offering suggestions about what individuals can do to help fight climate change.
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From National Public Radio’s “Climate Solutions Week,” which we highlighted last week.
Individual actions you can take to address climate change
Humans are driving climate change. And that means we humans can change our trajectory. While governments and businesses have a key role to play in reducing planet-heating emissions, individual actions matter, too.
Many solutions can feel overwhelming, or far beyond what one person can tackle (on top of the everyday challenges of life). Across the NPR Network we've been reporting on individual actions that can make a positive impact and what you need to do to get started.
We've gathered a bunch here. Some require a little planning (think major home appliance replacement), while others might mean one less thing on your weekend to do (like skipping raking your leaves this fall).
• INTERNET RESOURCES & SOCIAL MEDIA CONNECTIONS:
There are a lot of great resources on the web and social media — people, groups and pages. In each newsletter, we suggest a couple — or a few — you might want to check out (on the web or Facebook or Threads or Instagram or any number of other sites). This week: Inside Climate News and Zero Hour.
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Inside Climate News is an excellent resource, providing generally high quality and award-winning coverage of a broad range of climate, energy and environment related news, issues, public policy. ICN is free of charge and advertising.
Inside Climate News
Pulitzer Prize-winning, nonpartisan reporting on the biggest crisis facing our planet
Founded in 2007, Inside Climate News is a Pulitzer Prize-winning, nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that provides essential reporting and analysis on climate change, energy and the environment, for the public and for decision makers. We serve as watchdogs of government, industry and advocacy groups and hold them accountable for their policies and actions.
We have earned national recognition for our work and many of the most prestigious awards in journalism, including the Pulitzer.
ON THE WEB: https://insideclimatenews.org/
ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/insideclimatenews
ON THREADS: https://www.threads.net/@insideclimatenews
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Zero Hour
QUOTE: “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
The mission of Zero Hour is to center the voices of diverse youth in the conversation around climate and environmental justice. Zero Hour is a youth-led movement creating entry points, training, and resources for new young activists and organizers (and adults who support our vision) wanting to take concrete action around climate change. Together, we are a movement of unstoppable youth organizing to protect our rights and access to the natural resources and a clean, safe, and healthy environment that will ensure a livable future where we not just survive, but flourish.
QUOTE: “We are an intersectional movement of youth activists fighting for a livable planet for all!”
WEBSITE: https://www.thisiszerohour.org/
ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/ThisIsZeroHour/
ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thisiszerohour/
AND…
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