Sustainability Action Newsletter – 16 July 2024


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Sustainability Action Newsletter – 16 July 2024


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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
16 July 2024

 

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CURATED ECOLOGICAL NEWS

In context: climate crisis and energy literacy, part 2
“It’s hard to predict exactly what will happen this century as a result of global warming.  But we have some clues.  About 56 million years ago, natural processes produced warming that was greatly worsened by climate feedbacks.  The Earth’s average surface temperature increased by 7°C.  Triggered probably by volcanoes in the North Atlantic coinciding with a warming phase of the Milankovitch Cycle (Earth’s orbital irregularities), the warming pulse was amplified by the release of methane from melting permafrost and methane hydrates.  The oceans became acidic and were depleted of oxygen.  Land vegetation shifted toward the poles. 

“For us in the 21st century, this may represent a worst-case scenario.  Good news: feedbacks that made that period so catastrophic haven’t kicked in yet [for us].  Bad news: the climate forcing we’re doing is of nearly as great a magnitude, and at a much greater speed.  Of 25 tipping points identified in the Earth system, some signals to particularly watch for include evidence of widespread release of methane from permafrost, the melting of the Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica (the so-called “Doomsday Glacier”), the melting of Greenland’s ice sheet, and the further slowing of a primary ocean current (the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC). 

“Incremental climate change of up to 2°C will result in sea level rise of 5 meters over the course of several centuries, leading to the abandonment of hundreds of coastal cities and even some low-lying nations.  In nearer terms, deadly heat waves will become more common, most coral reefs will disappear, and seas will be less biologically productive.  Storms will grow more intense, especially in the tropics.  Tens of millions of human refugees will struggle for survival. 

“If we see amplifying feedbacks and runaway climate change (which could entail 6°C to 8°C of warming), or the collapse of ocean currents, large parts of Earth will become uninhabitable to people and most current wildlife.  Agriculture will be impossible over huge swathes of continents.  Superstorms will grow more common and turn urban infrastructure to rubble.  Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica will melt completely, raising sea levels by up to 65 meters.  The changes to climate, land, and sea will last tens of thousands of years.

“What Can We Do?  The climate solutions most often cited include renewable energy, nuclear power, fusion power, negative emissions technologies, and solar geoengineering.  None of these is poised to make enough of a difference as long as humanity continues its pursuit of economic growth and population expansion.  Our survival requires ditching not just fossil fuels, but also economic growth, global inequality, and consumerism.  Population decline, which is happening in some nations, must be seen as an inevitable trend with many beneficial effects. 

“Stopping emissions is not enough.  We’ll need to somehow remove the excess carbon that we’ve put into the atmosphere.  But building and operating enough carbon-capturing machines would require enormous amounts of energy and materials; on a net basis, it might add to the problem rather than solving it.  Instead, eco-restoration is the carbon drawdown pathway that makes the most sense.  Regenerative agriculture, ecological reforestation, depaving, and soil bio-restoration all promise to capture and store billions of tons of atmospheric carbon while cooling the planetary surface.

“During the transition, renewable energy technology could enable humanity to maintain some of the most essential services — lighting, heating, and cooling.  Only in the context of overall economic degrowth would renewable energy’s short-term benefits outweigh long-term drawbacks.  Of course, degrowth will itself have costs.  As economies shrink, we must prioritize equity.  Otherwise, economic contraction will most likely trigger a winner-take-all race for the world’s dwindling wealth.

“Growing political polarization is likely to inhibit coherent government action in many instances.  That implies a greater burden on individuals and communities, and a core philosophical question — how should we live?  In making our choices (what to eat, whether and how to travel, where to live, what to do for work), we must consider not just carbon emissions, but our impact on soil, forests, oceans, other species, fellow humans, and future generations.

“The problem of global warming is indeed huge.  Perhaps most importantly, we must engage in the conversation about our human future. Talk with family and friends about what sustainable ways of life are within reach, and about strategic ways to retreat from modern industrialism and forge a renewed partnership with nature.”  More at – Navigating the Climate Catastrophe: Part 2_Heinberg | Resilience.

Earth Overshoot Day will be on 1 August
“August 1st marks this year’s Earth Overshoot Day.  This means that from January 1st to August 1st, humanity has used as much from nature as the planet’s ecosystems can renew during this entire year.  In other words, in just 7 months, humanity used what Earth takes 12 months to regenerate.  Dr. David Lin, Science Director of Global Footprint Network, emphasizes that, ‘The persistence of overshoot, for over half a century, has led to declines in biodiversity, excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and heightened competition for food and energy’. 

“The Ecological Footprint is the most comprehensive biological resource accounting metric available. Based on 15,000 data points per country per year, it adds up all of people’s competing demands for biologically productive areas — food, timber, fibers, carbon sequestration, and accommodation of infrastructure. Currently, the carbon footprint, i.e., the carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel, make up 61 percent of humanity’s Ecological Footprint.”  More at – Earth Overshoot Day 2024 falls on 1 August | Global Footprint Network.

Plastics Free July challenge
“Are you looking for ways to be part of the solution to plastic pollution?  Want some tips to find out how you can reduce plastic waste?  Plastic Free July is a global movement that helps millions of people be part of the solution to plastic pollution — so we can have cleaner streets, oceans, and beautiful communities.  Whether you’re a beginner looking for a few single-use plastics to avoid, ready to take next steps, or want to share with others, they have ideas to inspire you at home, work, school, and within the community. 

“Rebecca Prince-Ruiz founded the movement in 2011 after seeing the mountain of plastic her town generated made her understand the need to create less of it in the first place.  ‘I think plastic, in some ways, is a symbol of how busy we’ve become, and of the throwaway society that we’ve become’, Prince-Ruiz said.  Prince-Ruiz recommends carrying a ‘plastic-free kit’ with you in your work bag, gym bag, car or bike for leftovers or fast food.  For people doing Plastic Free July for the first time, Prince-Ruiz recommends not trying to change everything all at once.  Prince-Ruiz also recommends doing the challenge with friends.”  More at – Small steps, big difference | Plastic Free July, and Could you give up plastic for a month? An expert shares her tips | NPR.

Why tropical storms are exploding in strength
“Hurricane Beryl hit the Grenadine Islands with 150 mph winds and a destructive storm surge on July 1, 2024, then continued to intensify into the basin’s earliest Category 5 storm on record.  Beryl was still a powerful Category 4 hurricane on July 3 when its eyewall brushed the coast of Jamaica and headed toward the Cayman Islands.  Grenada Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell told a news briefing, ‘In half an hour, Carriacou was flattened’.  Beryl’s strength and rapid intensification were unusual for a storm so early in the season. 

“What causes hurricanes to rapidly intensify?  Beryl far exceeded the norm, jumping from tropical storm strength at 70 mph, to major hurricane strength at 130 mph, in 24 hours.  A key ingredient for rapid intensification is warm water, which provides the energy necessary to turbocharge a hurricane.  Other environmental factors need to typically align.  These include: Low vertical wind shear and a moist atmosphere surrounding the storm.  As oceans warm and ocean heat content gets higher with climate change, evidence does suggest that rapid intensification of storms has become more common in the Atlantic.”  More at – Hurricane Beryl’s rapid intensification, Category 5 winds so early in a season were alarming | The Conversation, and Major Hurricane Beryl Path 2024 | Zoom Earth, and In pictures: Hurricane Beryl devastates Caribbean islands | BBC.

Hot?  Who’s hot?  Are you hot?
“2023 was the hottest global year on record; data so far suggests that 2024 will match the trend.  This week, more than 130 million Americans are under heat alerts, with numerous cases of death and illness being attributed to the sweltering heat.  And amid it all, the 2024 Republican platform does not mention the word ‘climate’ once.  ‘Trump can’t mention it because every last one of his policies would make it worse.  He’s essentially running on heating the planet even more’, Bill McKibben told The Intercept. 

“It’s not as if moderate Republicans have not engaged with climate.  In 2021, Rep. John Curtis, R-Utah, launched the Conservative Climate Caucus to educate Republicans on climate policies.  As it turns out, the effort, which has received favorable media coverage since its inception, has not had much tangible impact.”  More at – After Hottest Year on Record, GOP Platform Doesn’t Mention “Climate” Once | The Intercept.

E-currency, AI  energy hogs forcing grid expansion
“The fast-growing cryptocurrency industry is a major consumer of electricity, but no one knows exactly how much energy goes into the armada of computers used to ‘mine’ Bitcoin and other digital assets, [estimated] between 0.6% and 2.3% of all electricity per year,  The energy consumed by data centers has come under increased scrutiny as a surge in electricty demand fueled by both artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining conflicts with U.S. emissions reduction goals.  For example, Texas has the highest concentration of Bitcoin mines.  Texas is now home to 10 of 34 large Bitcoin mines. 

“Texas lawmakers are worried that energy-hungry mines will make it harder to keep the lights on across the state.  ‘They’re going to put our grid at risk because of the power they’re drawing’, said state Sen. José Menéndez.  Currently, cryptocurrency mining — mostly for Bitcoin — can draw up to 2,600 megawatts of power from the grid.  The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) said, ‘currently, the crypto mining industry represents the largest share of large flexible loads seeking to interconnect to the ERCOT System’.”  More at – Texas Leaders Worry That Bitcoin Mines Threaten to Crash the State Power Grid | Inside Climate News, and US Government Launches New Attempt to Gather Data on Electricity Usage of Bitcoin Mining | Inside Climate News.

Google’s GHG emissions climbed due to AI
“Google’s goal of reducing its climate footprint is in jeopardy as it relies on more and more energy-hungry data centres to power its new artificial intelligence products.  The tech giant revealed Tuesday that its greenhouse gas emissions have climbed 48% over the past five years.  Three years ago, Google set an ambitious plan to address climate change by going ‘net zero’.  Rather than declining, its emissions grew 13% in 2023 over the year before.  Compared to its baseline year of 2019, emissions have soared 48%.

“Other major tech company sustainability plans are also challenged by the proliferation of data centers.  They caused Microsoft’s emissions to grow 29% above its 2020 baseline.   Microsoft’s co-founder, Bill Gates, said last week that AI would help combat the climate crisis because big tech is ‘seriously willing’ to pay extra to use clean electricity.  However, pledges to reduce CO2 emissions are now coming up against pledges to invest heavily in AI products that require considerable amounts of energy.”  More at – Google’s emissions climb nearly 50% in five years due to AI energy demand | The Guardian UK, and Google is nowhere near its climate target. AI is partly to blame | Fast Company.

Monsanto: another case lost, 100,000 to go
“An Oregon appeals court on Wednesday overturned a trial victory by Monsanto owner Bayer AG over the company’s efforts to create a nationwide shield from lawsuits alleging that Roundup weed killer causes cancer.  Notably, the court rejected arguments by the company that claims about the dangers of its products should be barred because those products carry the EPA’s stamp of approval.  The EPA’s handling of Monsanto and its glyphosate products has been the subject of much scrutiny in recent years, as internal documents have revealed many questionable interactions and secretive dealings that critics say undermine the credibility of the agency’s oversight. 

“After failing to get court backing, Bayer has been pushing state and federal lawmakers to give it and other pesticide makers the protection the courts have rejected.  A proposed measure is being considered by lawmakers for inclusion in the US Farm Bill.  The new ruling is but one of more than 100,000 brought in US courts.  The litigation started after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen.  Over the last few years, Bayer has either been ordered by juries — or agreed in settlements — to pay out billions of dollars in damages to many of the plaintiffs.”  More at – Monsanto Roundup trial win overturned by Oregon court | The New Lede.

Panasonic battery plant electrified, now hiring
“The $4 billion Panasonic electric vehicle battery factory in De Soto is scheduled to start producing batteries in the first quarter of 2025.  Within a few weeks, electric lines leading into the factory will be hot with up to 290 megawatts of electricity.  The plant will be hiring at least 100 new employees per month for the foreseeable future.  But it could be another two years before the plant reaches its projected employment total of 4,000 people. 

“The vast majority of new hires to be people who already live within a 45-minute drive of the plant, [which] means that Douglas County communities won’t see a boom in residential demand in the near term.  It’s estimated another 4,000 jobs could be created by third parties serving Panasonic, though that doesn’t necessarily mean they would need to be located in the area around the plant.”  More at – Panasonic says it will take two years to get to 4,000-employee mark; it expects about 90% to come from KC metro area | LJW.

 

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK ITEMS

Local Solutions for Transition to a Sustainable Ecology.
The Sustainability Action Network advances ecological sustainability through societal scale actions.  While we work for personal lifestyle changes for individuals to minimize their carbon footprint, there is an imperative for institutional change to respond to the rapid onset of the triple global crises of Energy-Ecology-Economy.  “Action” is our middle name.  Visit us on the web at – Sustainability Action Network, and Sustainability Action | Facebook.
 

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION NETWORK MEETING
Tuesday, 23 July 2024, 7:00pm
Sunflower Cafe, 804 Massachusetts St., Lawrence KS 66044
(NOTE: always the 4th Tuesday of the month)

also by Zoom – https://us05web.zoom.us/j/86880217509?pwd=JbJtHC0w86MxG1msBZXRabUG8EFylK.1 
password – YEQa5k
please note – our free Zoom account cuts out after 40 minutes; we’ll restart it immediately, so simply log back on as we continue the meeting.

Tentative agenda so far:

website designer
Evergy Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)
Shawnee County solar regs & prime ag soil
EV show on 6 October
“Energy Literacy 101” continuing discussion

Here’s an easy, painless way to support our work.
You can direct your Dillons shopping points to us.
Simply go to – Dillons Community Rewards Enrollment, and select us.

 

CALENDAR EVENT NEWS ITEMS

LAWRENCE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE: VARIOUS MEETINGS