news
Each week we share news and social media updates related to our “The 10 Ways to Save Our Planet” list.
1. Act Now
The concentric circles of individual climate action
“When it comes to climate change, does individual action matter? Emphatically, yes.”
(drawdown.org)
🗳️ I helped fund Just Stop Oil, but no more. The ballot box will be more powerful than disruption [Dale Vince]
“So I’m going to dedicate my time, energy and funding to the coming election through a new campaign announced today: Just Vote.”
(theguardian.com)
⚖️ American Apocalypse? 71% Don’t Trust U.S. Government To Prevent Doomsday
(studyfinds.org)
The people currently in positions of power & authority in the U.S. Government haven’t given the voters in the U.S. — and our international friends — much reason to have confidence. We won’t get out of the climate change problem without the aide and leadership of governments — we are going to have to support and elect different kinds of elected officials. -Ed.
2. Build Political Will
✈️ EU’s nominated climate lead wants a global tax on jet fuel
(climatechangenews.com)
A text on jet fuel is a good idea. Getting the world to agree to that is presently unlikely. In the mean time, maybe it can be initiated in the EU.
Even the Roman Catholic Pope is warning about the dangers of the climate crisis.
Select quotes:
…it is indubitable that the impact of climate change will increasingly prejudice the lives and families of many persons. We will feel its effects in the areas of healthcare, sources of employment, access to resources, housing, forced migrations, etc.
Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident. No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest on the part of the earth that are only a few palpable expressions of a silent disease that affects everyone. Admittedly, not every concrete catastrophe ought to be attributed to global climate change. Nonetheless, it is verifiable that specific climate changes provoked by humanity are notably heightening the probability of extreme phenomena that are increasingly frequent and intense.
It is no longer possible to doubt the human – “anthropic” – origin of climate change.
We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substantial changes.
If we consider that emissions per individual in the United States are about two times greater than those of individuals living in China, and about seven times greater than the average of the poorest countries, we can state that a broad change in the irresponsible lifestyle connected with the Western model would have a significant long-term impact. As a result, along with indispensable political decisions, we would be making progress along the way to genuine care for one another.
3. Eliminate Fossil Fuels
4. Speed up renewable energy
The world’s longest subsea cable that will send clean energy from Morocco to the UK just got a big boost
(electrek.co)
The Morocco-UK Power Project should provide almost 8% of the UK’s electricity when it is completed in 2029. It is comprised of both wind and solar generation. The solar farm will be 78 square miles.
Nevada’s largest – and only second – wind farm just got 70k acres from BLM
(electrek.co)
As such a windy and sunny state, Nevada really should go all in on renewable energy. The largest solar farm in the U.S. is in Nevada, but is only 11 square miles.
5. Shift towards sustainable transportation
39% Plugin Vehicle Share In China! — China EV Sales Report
(cleantechnica.com)
Fully electric vehicles accounted for 26% of sales, with plug-in-hybrids accounting for the other 13%.
Climate scientist faces sack for refusing to fly to Germany from Solomon Islands archipelago
(theguardian.com)
Grimalda said he intends to make the 22,000km (14,000-mile) return trip to Europe entirely without flying, instead travelling on cargo ships, ferries, trains and coaches – a journey he estimates will take two months, but that will, he estimates, save 3.6 tonnes of carbon emissions.
6. Adopt planet-friendly agricultural practices
7. Eat a more climate friendly diet
Plant Milk Is Better for Us and the Climate. So Why Do We Subsidize Dairy?
(motherjones.com)
🐕 World’s dogs going vegan ‘would save more emissions than UK produces’
(theguardian.com)
The study estimates cats and dogs consume about 9% of all land animals killed for food – about 7 billion animals annually – as well as billions of fish and aquatic animals. Plant-based diets lower greenhouse gas emissions and require less land and water.
8. Create sustainable cities and buildings
🗽 Climate Change Is a Key Obstacle for New York City’s Transit System
(nytimes.com)
Transit officials in New York on Wednesday released a list of the system’s most pressing needs that ranks contending with climate change among the top priorities for the subway and bus network, which was paralyzed last week by a torrential storm.
As EV sales surge and cars get heavier, parking garages will have to change
(cnbc.com)
9. Protect and restore our environment
Apple Goes a Step Too Far in Claiming a Carbon Neutral Product, a New Report Concludes
(insideclimatenews.com)
Try to reduce damage to the environment is a noble goal for a company. Announcing successes is good, it helps force the hand of other companies. Exaggerating successes helps no one, not even the exaggerator.
10. Ensure global warming stays below dangerous limits
NPR Climate Week
NPR’s weekly roundup of climate news and stories broadcast on NPR stations.
🐬 Over 100 Amazon River Dolphins Found Dead Amid Record-High Temperatures
(ecowatch.com)
“It’s still early to determine the cause of this extreme event but according to our experts, it is certainly connected to the drought period and high temperatures in Lake Tefé, in which some points are exceeding 39 degrees Celsius (102 degrees Fahrenheit),” Mamirauá Institute said, as reported by CNN.
-
Illustrated guide to saving the dolphins (wikihow.com)
Earth just set another heat record — by the largest margin yet
(grist.org)
Last month was the hottest September on record by 0.5 degrees Celsius (0.9 degrees Fahrenheit). That may not sound like a big deal, but as far as heat-record margins go, it’s massive — or, as climate scientist Zeke Hausfather posted on the social networking site known as X, “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas.”
There’s still a chance for America to reach net-zero, but it requires drastic action
(grist.org)
Through a combination of new investment, incentives, policies, and mandates, it’s possible to put the U.S. on a path toward a net-zero economy.
To reach net-zero, the U.S. will need to focus on making electric vehicles more accessible to consumers, decarbonizing buildings, and increasing the use of clean energy.
Link of the week
From Social Media
Even if you include the 200 square kilometer solar farm in the Morocco-UK project mentioned earlier, this is still true.
Video of the Week
“Every MBA Job is a Climate Job” with Jamie Alexander, Drawdown Labs
”Through this series we will talk with experts on topics across the climate x business continuum to prepare the business leaders of tomorrow—today’s MBA students— to anticipate and manage climate risks and opportunities in their careers.”
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