news
Each week we share news and social media updates related to our “The 10 Ways to Save Our Planet” list.
1. Act Now
‘Mobility’ Is a New Kind of Climate-Change Novel
2. Build Political Will
“More than 50,000 companies to report climate impact in EU after pushback fails”
📖 Second report comes in at 639 pages with 80 recommendations.
“Addressing climate change is essential and possible, and it offers a host of benefits – from better public health to new economic opportunities. The United States […] has set the nation on the path to reach its goal of net zero by 2050 in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, even if implemented as designed, current policy will get the United States only part of the way to its net-zero goal.”
From the [US] National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States
Biden’s record on climate change is not resonating with voters despite passing major legislation, so Climate Power — a climate advocacy group — plans to spend $80 million on ads promoting his environmental accomplishments.
❌ 95 UK universities that have pledged to divest from fossil fuels still bank with financial institutions that have provided over $400 billion to polluting interests between 2016-2022, undermining their climate commitments.
3. Eliminate Fossil Fuels
💵 “The Great Cash-for-Carbon Hustle” The New Yorker weighs in.
📉 Fossil fuel demand is peaking and emissions are set to decline, according to a new analysis. Wind, solar, and electric vehicles are leading the way, but more needs to be done to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
Texas regulators grant thousands of permits allowing oil and gas companies to flare natural gas, despite concerns raised by some commissioners that the permit process is a rubber stamp enabling indefinite flaring.
🛈 Fugitive emissions from oil and gas: 3.9% of global GHG emissions
COP 28 related:
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Africa and India are pushing developed nations at COP 28 to phase out fossil fuels faster, with Africa wanting rich countries to stop approving new fossil fuel projects by 2030 and India saying they should be net negative by 2050.
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The EU’s 27 environment ministers agreed on a common stance for the COP 28 climate summit, including pursuing a tripling of renewable energy by 2030, but had to soften language on phasing out fossil fuels to reach a unanimous decision.
4. Speed up renewable energy
☀️ Solar capacity additions edged out natural gas additions in the US in 2023, with utility-scale solar and wind providing the majority (53%) of new generating capacity through August.
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“If the first solar entrepreneur hadn’t been kidnapped, would fossil fuels have dominated the 20th century the way they did?” (via Kottke)
The US government is investing $35 billion to upgrade the aging electric grid and make it more resilient to climate change impacts like extreme weather.
We’ve been hearing more and more about virtual power plants. What are they? And more from Wikipedia.
5. Shift towards sustainable transportation
Colorado partially adopts California’s EV rules, targeting 82% new EV sales by 2032, but falls short of setting targets for years beyond and a full ban on gas-powered car sales by 2035. Environmental groups are disappointed.
Also: “Study finds average new ICE car pollutes more than one from 2013” because they’re heavier.
“…airlines are stuck in a holding pattern where their cheapest and easiest option for decarbonization doesn’t really work while their best bet is still wildly expensive.”
6. Adopt planet-friendly agricultural practices
7. Eat a more climate friendly diet
8. Create sustainable cities and buildings
⌛ The IPCC AR6 warns that 2-m of sea-level rise is inevitable and will affect millions of people. A new study by @TyndallCentre suggests that we need to start adapting to this threat today, not tomorrow.
9. Protect and restore our environment
🚀🛰️ We’re polluting space, too, “likely from increasingly frequent launches and returns of spacecraft and satellites”.
10. Ensure global warming stays below dangerous limits
🔥 While many factors contribute to wildfires, climate change is making them more frequent and severe. Human activities, such as poor campfire management and deforestation, also play a role. “From across North America, Greece, Chile, Algeria, and Kazakhstan among many others, wildfires burned uncontrollably. The striking orange New York City skyline was the result of Canadian wildfire smoke. Even now in October, Argentinians are currently fleeing a large wildfire that has spread due to strong winds and a heat wave. Summer as we know it is changing.”
Video of the week
“How is the US going to reach net zero by 2050? That’s the question Asmeret Asefaw Berhe, director of the Office of Science for the US Department of Energy, is urgently trying to answer.
She shares the thinking behind what her team is calling “Energy Earthshots” — projects designed to accelerate innovation in the fight against climate change, from nature-based solutions in the soil to the creation of brand-new technologies – and calls for innovative, equitable policies backed by science.”
From Social Media
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