Goodbye Glaciers? Goodbye Polar Bears?

Issue: 2023/09/10

Nico Vagner

and

Jason Vagner

Sep 10, 2023

Each week we share news and social media updates related to our “The 10 Ways to Save Our Planet” list.

1. Act Now

‘To Dye For’: The Toxic Evolution of Fast Fashion by Alden Wicker
(ecowatch.com)

“We definitely need regulation, but this whole consumer education thing, it’s not working. We can’t shop our way out of this problem, we can’t conscious-capitalism our way out of this problem,” Wicker said. “We don’t know if we pay five dollars more for a shirt if that money’s going to get to a garment worker or get to a farmer or pull a certain amount of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Very similar conundrum in fixing climate change.

2. Build Political Will

World losing race to meet climate goals, COP28 president says
(ground.news)

From the ground.news topic summary:

The president of the upcoming COP28 climate summit stated that the world is failing to meet its climate change goals. Sultan Al Jaber expressed concern about the lack of progress and urgency in tackling climate change.
African leaders emphasized the need for changes to the international climate finance system, as Africa is facing severe impacts of climate change but receives only 12% of the necessary financing. They called for a transformation of the global climate financing architecture to meet Africa's needs.

3. Eliminate Fossil Fuels

✅ U.S. DOT Finally Suspends LNG-by-Rail Rule!
(cleantechnica.com)

Transporting LNG by rail had long required a specific permit. The permit required review by the Department of Transport, and public input from any communities along the relevant train routes, effectively allowing communities to veto and LNG rail transport, which they frequently did. That changed under the Trump Administration, which drafted a rule that allowed energy companies to use trains instead of more efficient, much safer, and far more expensive gas pipelines. That rule has now been suspended by the DOT, once again requiring energy companies to seek special, and arduously difficult to obtain, permission the transport LNG by rail.

✅ Biden-Harris Administration Takes Major Steps to Protect Arctic Lands and Wildlife in Alaska
(doi.gov)

In the Arctic Refuge, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has authorized the cancellation of the remaining seven oil and gas leases issued by the previous administration in the Coastal Plain. The leases were suspended in June 2021 following the issuance of Secretary’s Order (S.O.) 3401, which identified “multiple legal deficiencies in the underlying record supporting the leases.” 
In addition, the Department today proposed new regulations for the NPR-A that would ensure maximum protection for the more than 13 million acres of Special Areas in the reserve, while supporting subsistence activities for Alaska Native communities.

EU to Pitch Fossil Phaseout at COP 28
(theenergymix.com)

In a bid to combat climate change, the EU is set to propose a plan to phase out fossil fuels at COP28. The EU document, which is still being negotiated, says that the energy sector should be largely free of fossil fuels "well ahead of 2050" because cost-effective, CO2-free energy sources are already available. EU diplomats hope a deal could be clinched at COP 28, but they expect to meet resistance from economies reliant on income from selling oil and gas.

4. Speed up renewable energy

G20 leaders strike renewables deal, stall on fossil fuels
(climatechangenews.com)

During a summit in New Delhi, the G20 reached an agreement on the deployment of renewable energy. The various member states committed to “pursue and encourage efforts to triple renewable energy capacity” by 2030. This particular requirement was originally proposed at a G20 summit in July, but was blocked by Russia, China and Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately this agreement requires no commitments to phase out fossil fuel use, or even stop constructing fossil fuel infrastructure.

This is an improvement of the previous state of affairs, but much, much more is needed from the G20, which accounts for 3/4ths of the world’s CO2 emissions and GDP.

5. Shift towards sustainable transportation

🚂 Train versus plane: with many domestic flights banned in France, we test its rail network
(theguardian.com)

In May 2021, France became the first country in the world to ban domestic flights on routes that can be covered by train in under 2.5 hours. The goal of this ban is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from air travel. The Guardian sent a reporter to test out the rail network on some of these routes, and found that it was a comfortable and efficient way to travel. The reporter took the train from Paris to Bordeaux, Lyon, and Marseille, and found that the journey was just as quick and easy as flying. In fact, the reporter said that they enjoyed the train journey more than the plane journey, as they were able to relax and enjoy the scenery.

🦨🚙 Rolling SUV ***sos [Ed. too rude] – including their plumper electric versions – need to pay a weight-based tax
(theglobeandmail.com)

Although they eliminate the issue of tailpipe emissions, EVs have exacerbated the already excessive weight of modern SUVs and ‘light’ trucks. Heavier vehicles mean more energy consumed from having to more more mass around and more wear on road surfaces, most of which are presently repair using fossil fuels byproducts.

France currently has a tax on heavy vehicles in an attempt to dissuade purchasers from choosing them, though all EVs are currently exempt from it. Unsurprisingly, the U.S. has no such tax, and the popularity of trucks in the U.S. makes this problem far worse. The heavier a vehicle already is, the more its weight has to be increased in order to produce a high-range electric version. An EV sedan may be a fifth to a quarter heavier than its closest gas equivalent, while Ford’s F150 Lightning is a third heavier than its non-electric sibling.

6. Adopt planet-friendly agricultural practices

7. Eat a more climate friendly diet

8. Create sustainable cities and buildings

9. Protect and restore our environment

🐻‍❄️ New Research Shows Direct Link Between Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Polar Bear Decline
(insideclimatenews.org)

A new study published in the journal Nature Climate Change has found a direct link between greenhouse gas emissions and the decline of polar bears. The study found that every additional 23 gigatons of CO2 emitted causes polar bears to fast for an additional day. This is because the loss of sea ice habitat due to climate change makes it harder for polar bears to hunt their prey.

Heirloom and Microsoft sign one of the largest permanent CO2 removal deals to-date
(heirloomcarbon.com)

The deal between Microsoft and Heirloom is significant because it is one of the first bankable carbon dioxide removal agreements. This means that it provides a reliable source of revenue for Heirloom, which can help the company finance future Direct Air Capture facilities. The deal closely follows Heirloom being selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s $600 matched funding program.

Further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_capture_and_storage

10. Ensure global warming stays below dangerous limits

😰 UN warns the world is ‘not on track’ to meet global climate targets
(grist.org)

The report, which was released by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is the first major assessment of progress made on the Paris Agreement goals since the treaty was signed in 2015. The IPCC found that countries are falling short in efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit), to adapt to climate impacts, and to provide enough climate financing to developing countries. Even if countries meet their current pledges, the world is currently on track to warm by 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) by the end of the century.

🔥 Wildfire ‘Tipping Point’ Set to Double or Triple Canada’s Climate Emissions
(theenergymix.com)

A new study has found that wildfires in Canada could double or triple the country's climate emissions by 2050. The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, found that the risk of wildfires is increasing due to climate change, and that these fires could release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

❄️ Global glacier change in the 21st century: Every increase in temperature matters
(science.org)

The article studies the impact of climate change on glaciers in the 21st century. It finds that every degree Celsius of warming will cause glaciers to lose an average of 10% of their mass. This loss of mass will have a significant impact on water availability, ecosystems, and sea level rise.

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