The Climate Thread

Despite their penchant for facilitating access journalists to invade their platforms, the NYTimes, on occasion, does still produce well researched investigative reporting. This article is worth a read.

A gift link, courtesy of a random account.

#FossilFuel #lobbyism

Check out this article from @nytimes. Because I'm a subscriber, you can read it through this gift link without a subscription. https://t.co/Fo3OMKvMTl

— transmigration (@bedsburning) December 4, 2022

To all who are interested.

.@alainamwood joins @PostLive to discuss how communication can shape solutions at the individual and community level and how to make science more accessible and actionable as part of a special week-long series, “This is Climate.” https://t.co/bnVKVig6Nq

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 7, 2022

Interesting to see how green the area I live in is, in contrast with the surrounding high emissions towns.

No paywall study shows relative household carbon footprint is lower in urban areas with smaller floor plans and access to transit. Even in the greater Portland metro. @TroyInPortland @catculley @Rep_Morales https://t.co/qwldYPDkUn

— mainegreenbrokr (@mainegreenbrokr) December 13, 2022

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ellen DeGeneres (@ellendegeneres)

 

Edited January 10, 20232 yr by Faulkner

 

The diminished ranks of EPA staff presents a quandary for the agency. A new influx of federal dollars but not enough people to implement all the policies that are required to make sure that the government brings the country up to par on climate goals. And time is of the essence, as Congressional and/or leadership changes could put a hitch in plans for cleaner energy and energy efficiency upgrades.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/23/climate/environmental-protection-agency-epa-funding.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqIhkSVUZACbeWdkipwGLwvXJ3r0mgXn7IS6JQDIH1_4SH4WL50bKY-9qaNY11CXeScdIdbEyQvBzyOAZP1BoT0PghKq4r6k_And_r5OvDCRx1ojRXLs8_HjkYzbmJupylfji503XdWXtWPbAgn12dxI18cFuIAv52iMJxabVA6UijIkFqPQlAZhwQTwCZDDb_KW7TkUjZ6jVK03U-QI0WOtGWDnMntP66rsIcg1aDV2uX2ooqC9nq4saYIVLSf65ex0we8P-g6ETCXhqKuqrBp4wR4vTkdZ6oEGDSSBXUnXeboadJwXK7rU&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

This is the first January where I haven't shoveled any snow.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/14/rising-seas-threaten-mass-exodus-on-a-biblical-scale-un-chief-warns

Rising seas threaten ‘mass exodus on a biblical scale’, UN chief warns.
António Guterres calls for urgent action as climate-driven rise brings ‘torrent of trouble’ to almost a billion people.
The climate crisis is causing sea levels to rise faster than for 3,000 years, bringing a “torrent of trouble” to almost a billion people, from London to Los Angeles and Bangkok to Buenos Aires, António Guterres saidd on Tuesday. Some nations could cease to exist, drowned under the waves, he said.

Addressing the UN security council, Guterres said slashing carbon emissions, addressing problems such as poverty that worsen the impact of the rising seas on communities and developing new international laws to protect those made homeless – and even stateless – were all needed. He said sea level rise was a threat-multiplier which, by damaging lives, economies and infrastructure, had “dramatic implications” for global peace and security.

Significant sea level rise is already inevitable with current levels of global heating, but the consequences of failing to tackle the problem are “unthinkable”. Guterres said: “Low-lying communities and entire countries could disappear for ever. We would witness a mass exodus of entire populations on a biblical scale. And we would see ever fiercer competition for fresh water, land and other resources.

“People’s human rights do not disappear because their homes do,” he said. “Yes, this means international refugee law.”

The International Law Commission is assessing the legal situation. In 2020, the UN human rights committee ruled that it was unlawful for governments to return people to countries where their lives might be threatened by the climate crisis.

Here's the UN youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@unitednations/videos

Oceans treaty!
Nations have reached a historic agreement to protect the world's oceans following 10 years of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty aims to place 30% of the seas into protected areas by 2030, to safeguard and recuperate marine nature. The agreement was reached on Saturday evening (March 4, 2023) after 38 hours of talks, at UN headquarters in New York.

Details in the article.
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-64815782 

Fyi, countries will need to meet again to formally adopt the agreement and then have plenty of work to do before the treaty can be implemented.

 

 

All of NYC and much of the Northeast look like they’re under a sepia filter right now due to poor air quality (the result of smoke from wildfires in Canada). People are recommended to stay indoors:

 

Going home Sunday night it was crazy to see the full moon all red/orange. 

It’s not as orangy today compared to yesterday but the air quality is still terrible.  I don’t ever remember this happening where I live. It sucks. 

It’s worse here than yesterday. I’ve been having a headache (haven’t been outdoors but air definitely gets in my building from outside) and this might be why: