Climate Horizons 6 (What if it's a hoax and we create a better world for nothing?)
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 something both fun and deeply serious.
You may well have seen the cartoon below, since it has been republished in many places and shared countless times on social media since it first appeared almost 14 years ago.
The subtitle of this e-newsletter refers to an “All-of-the-Above World.” That is a reference to the fact that our climate crisis affects everything and everyone, AND that the solutions — big and small (we need them all!) — will come from everywhere.
In some respects that seems — and, well, it is — daunting. But something that makes it less formidable as a task is that it isn’t really all about massive costs and sacrifice, as some attempt to suggest. The clear and unambiguous truth is that almost all of the most significant things we can and should do, both individually and collectively, are good things to do… for the environment, for our economy, for our communities, for our health and more… even if concerns about our changing climate were not a consideration or factor at all.
What if it's a big hoax and we create a better world for nothing?
by Joel Pett
That said, our concerns about climate change increase the pressure to do much more and much better, much sooner. We have to have a greater sense of urgency!
But the good news, so to speak, is that the more and better and sooner we do these things, the greater the effect will be on reducing the destructive impacts of climate change AND “creating a better world”!
A little about Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Joel Pett from Wikipedia:
Pett is perhaps best known for his cartoon featuring an attendee at a climate summit asking What if it's a big hoax and we create a better world for nothing?. The cartoon, which first appeared in USA Today in December 2009, around the time of the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference, depicts a conference presenter listing the many advantages of curbing climate change including "energy independence, preserving rainforests, sustainability, green jobs, livable cities, renewables, clean water/air, healthy children, etc., etc.," only to have a climate change denier interject that if it were all a hoax, we'd create a "better world for nothing". Shortly after the conference was over, Pett got a request for a signed copy from then-EPA administrator Lisa P. Jackson, who framed the comic and put it on her wall. Pett has repeatedly gotten requests from over 40 environmental groups, in the United States, Canada and Europe to use the cartoon in campaigns. The Australian Greens used it in a campaign which some have claimed was influential in the Australian parliament adopting a carbon pricing scheme under the Clean Energy Act 2011, said to be the most rigorous scheme in the world for the time it was active.
And a few related links:
Some other Environmental Cartoons by Joel Pett
Joel Pett on Facebook
You can get this Joel Pett cartoon on a T-shirt!
• SELECTED NEWS and INFORMATION:
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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This is an excellent, clear and short — and frightening — breakdown of "15 reasons why global warming may be accelerating" and the Consequences of Accelerating Warming:
Climate Journal (October 16, 2023)
The Accelerating Climate Crisis
Global warming has become one of the most pressing issues facing humanity today. The planet is heating up at an alarming rate, and the consequences could be catastrophic if we don't take action soon. But what is causing this rapid increase in temperatures? Here are 15 reasons why global warming may be accelerating faster than previously thought:
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Related:
Axios (October 16, 2023)
Data: Global warming may be accelerating
September's sizzling global average temperature ensures that 2023 will be the warmest year on record.
Why it matters: Confirmed by data from NASA, NOAA and Copernicus Climate Change Service in the E.U., the annual record is a surprise, and has only become clear in the past few months.
It may signal a continuation of a trend towards an acceleration of global warming in recent years, occurring about 40% faster during the past 15 years when compared to any other period since the 1970s.
By the numbers: September, with a temperature anomaly of 1.44°C (2.58°F) above average, was the most unusually warm month ever recorded in NOAA's 174 years of instrument records.
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Also related:
NY Times (Oct. 13, 2023)
I Study Climate Change. The Data Is Telling Us Something New.
Staggering. Unnerving. Mind-boggling. Absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.
As global temperatures shattered records and reached dangerous new highs over and over the past few months, my climate scientist colleagues and I have just about run out of adjectives to describe what we have seen. Data from Berkeley Earth released on Wednesday shows that September was an astounding 0.5 degree Celsius (almost a full degree Fahrenheit) hotter than the prior record, and July and August were around 0.3 degree Celsius (0.5 degree Fahrenheit) hotter.
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The Guardian (October 16, 2023)
Water level at Amazon port in Brazil hits lowest point in 121 years amid drought
Port in Manaus records lowest water level since 1902, leaving boats stranded and unable to deliver food and water to remote villages
The water level at a major river port in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest has hit its lowest point in at least 121 years, as a historic drought upends the lives of hundreds of thousands of people and damages the jungle ecosystem.
Rapidly drying tributaries to the mighty Amazon river have left boats stranded, cutting off food and water supplies to remote jungle villages, while high water temperatures are suspected of killing more than 100 endangered river dolphins.
Also:
CNN (October 5, 2023)
In Brazil’s Amazon, rivers fall to record low levels during drought
Madeira River, another main tributary of the Amazon, has also recorded historically low levels, causing the halt of the Santo Antonio hydroelectric dam, Brazil´s fourth largest.
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CNBC (October 14, 2023)
A big climate change stress test is coming for Amazon sellers and suppliers
As Amazon and other big businesses ramp up efforts to reduce their carbon footprint, they’re putting pressure on their suppliers to do the same, and those who don’t may pay a big price.
Starting in 2024, Amazon will require suppliers to share their emissions data, set emissions goals, and report on their progress, the e-commerce giant said in its recently released sustainability report. With that move, it joins Microsoft, Walmart, Apple, and others in saying that suppliers must step up decarbonization efforts.
The mandates come as big businesses face more demand than ever to adopt eco-friendly practices. Consumers, investors, regulators, and governments are pushing firms for more progress and transparency.
“The pressure is coming at companies, who are then putting pressure on suppliers,” said Bob Willard, a corporate consultant and author of six books on sustainability.
And in a cascade, those suppliers are leaning on their suppliers.
• 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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Grist (October 11, 2023)
What a heat-proof city could look like
A new Grist project takes a holistic look at heat solutions and adaptations that will help cities prepare for one of climate change's deadliest impacts. A new study suggests that greener cities not only reduce carbon emissions, they also can absorb them.
But as we’ve discussed in this newsletter, promising adaptations to extreme heat abound, and many cities and towns are already planning for a hotter future and implementing life-saving measures like cool roofs, green corridors, and tree-equity plans. Early on in Grist’s planning for a summer of extreme heat coverage, Jake Bittle was interested in taking a comprehensive look at the solutions that are out there. Meanwhile, Naveena Sadasivam wanted to explore how cities in the hottest parts of the world have harnessed clever design principles to keep cool.
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NY Times (October 13, 2023)
Biden Administration Awards $7 Billion for 7 Hydrogen Hubs Across the U.S.
Clean hydrogen could help fight climate change, but it barely exists today. Now the administration wants to build an entire industry from scratch.
“Clean hydrogen produced with resources like wind and solar, that lets us get us to this place where we’re not putting more carbon in the atmosphere,” Mr. Biden said. “All across the country, from coast to coast, in the heartland, we’re going to build a clean energy future here in America, not somewhere else.”
In theory, hydrogen could be used to help produce steel, cement, chemicals and fertilizer. It could also be used to power trucks, ships or airplanes or to produce electricity, all without emitting the greenhouse gases that are dangerously heating the planet.
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Reuters (October 16, 2023)
EU to push for COP28 deal on phasing out fossil fuels
EU countries' climate ministers on Monday approved the bloc's negotiating position for this year's U.N. COP28 climate summit, agreeing to push for a world-first deal to phase out CO2-emitting fossil fuels.
The agreement sets up the 27-country European Union to be one of the most ambitious negotiators at the annual United Nations climate talks, where nearly 200 countries negotiate efforts to fight global warming.
"We will be at the forefront of the negotiations to show the EU's strongest commitment to the green transition and encourage our partners to follow our lead," Spain's Climate Minister Teresa Ribera said.
A central decision will be whether countries at the COP, which begins on Nov. 30 in Dubai, agree for the first time to phase out fossil fuels. Burning coal, oil and gas produces greenhouse gases that are the main cause of climate change.
• 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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Food production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, and may generate as much as 30% of total global emissions! Beyond concerns about climate, the way we produce our food is also a significant contributor to the loss of biodiversity, massive deforestation, the use and contamination of freshwater, and more. The highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock, while the production of fruit and vegetables generates the lowest levels. Changes to our food production and consumption can play a critical to reducing global warming and other environmental impacts.
This short piece from the BBC highlights four significant things you can do to reduce your carbon footprint. The second of the four items on this list is “Cut out food waste and cut down on red meat.”
Climate change: Four things you can do about your carbon footprint
Livestock creates 14% of all greenhouse gases globally, with cattle being by far the largest contributor. The simplest and most effective way to limit your impact is to reduce meat and dairy in your diet, particularly red meat such as lamb and beef. Good news for vegans, obviously - but there are other considerations to take into account.
It's not just a question of "tagging individual products as good or bad", says biologist Prof Margaret Gill of the University of Aberdeen. She says the carbon footprint of any given food also depends on how it is produced, where it comes from and whether it's in season.
Dr Jonathan Foley, who investigates climate change solutions, says you can save money and reduce waste by making smaller portions and saving leftovers for later at home.
The world wastes between 25% and 30% of its food, according to the Waste & Resources Action Programme. Between 8-10% of global carbon emissions are linked to unconsumed produce, according to a UN report.
A couple more good links focused on the climate impact of our diet choices:
University of California
How your diet affects climate change
As it turns out, some relatively small diet tweaks could add up to significant inroads in addressing climate change.
That’s the finding of a new study led by UC Santa Barbara researchers, who analyzed the potential effects of healthier model diets for the United States. The results appear in the journal Climatic Change.
United Nations
Food and Climate Change: Healthy diets for a healthier planet
What we eat, and how that food is produced, affects our health but also the environment.
Food needs to be grown and processed, transported, distributed, prepared, consumed, and sometimes disposed of. Each of these steps creates greenhouse gases that trap the sun’s heat and contribute to climate change. About a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to food.
• 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: NASA and The Climate Reality Project.
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Don’t blame us if you end up spending a lot of time looking around this very attractive, engaging and information-packed site! There is so much here, we aren’t even going to try to list everything. Instead, we just encourage you to check it out.
NASA: Global Climate Change
Vital Signs of the Planet - Understanding our planet to benefit humankind
From space, sky, sea, and land, NASA provides detailed climate data and research to the world.
• FACTS • NEWS • SOLUTIONS • EXPLORE • NASA SCIENCE • MORE!
ON THE WEB: https://climate.nasa.gov/
ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/NASAClimateChange/
ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/nasaclimatechange
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The Climate Reality Project
Former US Vice President Al Gore founded The Climate Reality Project to catalyze a global solution to the climate crisis by making urgent action a necessity across every sector of society.
OUR MISSION: We recruit, train, and mobilize people of all walks of life to work for just climate solutions that speed energy transition worldwide and open the door to a better tomorrow for us all.
OUR VISION: Today, Climate Reality is a diverse group of passionate individuals who’ve come together to tackle the greatest challenge of our time. We are advocates, cultural leaders, organizers, scientists, and storytellers from around the world, committed to building a sustainable future together. Our shared vision is for a swift, systemic, and just transition toward net zero emissions by the middle of this century, with major steps toward that goal by 2030.
VIDEO (a good four minute introduction):
”The Climate Reality Project commemorates 15 years…”
WEBSITE: https://www.climaterealityproject.org/
ON FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/climatereality
ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/climatereality/
ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/ClimateReality
”Bonus” link: This is beautiful!
24 Hours of Reality: "Earthrise" by Amanda Gorman
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