When the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in the 1990s, negotiators focused on greenhouse gas emissions, or GHGs. They discussed mitigation actions; ways to reduce GHGs. The landmark Kyoto Protocol of 1997 (at COP 3) emphasized mitigation, with commitments from developed countries to reduce their production of and reliance on fossil fuels. The 2015 Paris Agreement set the goal of a global temperature rise of no more than 1.5 degrees centigrade by 2050. This goal would be achieved only if developed countries - the major GHG emitters - transitioned significantly to renewable energy sources. This has not happened. Countries are expanding their use of renewables but not fast enough th meet the 1.5 degree goal. Consequently, negotiators now devote considerable time to discussing adaptation - how to deal with a warming world and its consequencxes, such as wildfires, drought, intense hurricanes and typhoons... These articles relate to the imp...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe article I chose to read is titled "Report Charts Climate Change’s Growing Impact in the US, While Stressing Benefits of Action" and it was written by Marianne Lavelle, Katie Surma, Kiley Price, and Nicholas Kusnetz. This article was actually published today, and it gives insight on the circumstances our country will be facing in the near future due to climate change. The quote that stuck out to me the most in this article states, "It measures the human toll, including at least 700 people dying of heat-related illness each year, in a nation warming 60 percent more quickly than the world as a whole." I did not know that the US was warming so much faster compared to the rest of the world, and it is because land heats up more quickly than oceans, especially at higher latitudes. This appalling fact should urge our government to implement more drastic measures to combat climate change. I would recommend everyone to read this article because it outlines in detail the predicted effects of climate change in the US and explains why these effects would occur.
ReplyDelete"What the Melting of Antarctic Ice Shelves Means for the Planet" by Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Curwood is an important article. The article interviews Dr. Richard Alley, who is a geosciences professor at Penn State. The article discussed the harms of the ocean levels rising due to the Antarctic ice shelves melting. Since 1997, 8.3 trillion tons of ice have melted across various Antarctic ice shelves. According to the article, The ice shelfs contain approximately 200ft of sea level. The loss of the ice shelves would drastically impact the geography of the world, with certain countries being entirely wiped off the map, such as the Maldives. Unfortunatly, Dr. Alley's view on the melting of the ice shelves is not optimistic. According to Alley, we have everything we need to prevent further loss of the ice shelves, but the fate of the Antarctic ice shelves now rest in the hands of politics. I recommend the article to be read because sea level rise is an underestimated result of climate change, yet it is an incredibly important one.
ReplyDeleteThe article that I recommend is titled "Texas Violated the Law with Lax Emissions Limits, Federal Court Rules" and it was authored by Dylan Baddour. This article was published just one day ago, and its recency is alarming, especially considering the worsening climate crises. I recommend this article because it helps to display how cooperation's will do anything they can to get around restrictions placed on them to combat climate change. I learned about how the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality illegally enabled Port Arthur LNG to escape the strict emission control requirements that were put in place to protect the environment and the planet. Dylan explains how many companies view Port Arthur as a good target for them to open plants that fail to comply with emission requirements, as they know Texas will not uphold the law. This is especially alarming, seeing as large corporations are responsible for the vast majority of climate change. I recommend an article from CDP titled "New report shows just 100 companies are source of over 70% of emissions". This article goes over how 100 large fossil fuel producers are linked to 71% of global industrial greenhouse gasses since for the past 35 years(CDP, 2017). We as a nation must unite to resist the efforts of these big firms, so that the climate situation does not worsen any further. These greedy cooperation's care only about profits, and it will take a united front to restrict them effectively.
ReplyDelete-Ashton Miller Section 32
New report shows just 100 companies are source of over 70% of emissions. CDP. (n.d.). https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/media/new-report-shows-just-100-companies-are-source-of-over-70-of-emissions#1
I agree with you that corporations make a huge impact on climate change. A few years ago, an article was published and it talked about how California and other states sued many oil companies for "knowingly contributing to climate change". Just California itself sued five of the world's largest oil companies. Which is pretty insane, it allows us to realize that they were doing so much harm. By now, this type of situation is probably worse. Who knows what other corporations are out there and are getting away with the high contributions to climate change.
Deletehttps://givingcompass.org/article/local-county-and-state-governments-are-suing-oil-companies-over-climate-change?gclid=CjwKCAiA0syqBhBxEiwAeNx9Ny_5sLBJTzMIfVe5YBcKA3QN-X9wjcOw0Fi9BvNKFYqpdJbWdJKewxoCr3cQAvD_BwE
Inside Climate News has an informative article that dives into the Manatee deaths in 2021 and 2022. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/11102023/fish-and-wildlife-service-to-consider-restoring-manatees-endangered-status/
ReplyDeleteI learned that these deaths occurred because their food source of seagrass was polluted and killed, and the lost manatees accounted for about 20% of the state's population. Solutions involve petitions that call for the species' place on the endangered list to be restored.
I read the article titled, "What's That on Top of the Building? A New Solar Water Heating System Goes Online as Its Developer Enters the US Market". I recommend this article because it introduces a new type of renewable energy that is underrated, solar thermal energy. I discovered from the article that solar thermal energy uses the sun's heat to increase the temperature of a liquid. This is then used in daily appliances, such as the water in sinks and showers. Other countries have already started to use solar thermal, including China and India. The company Naked Energy from the United Kingdom, partnered up with ELM solar to produce these solar thermal technologies. Although it seems like a stretch, the idea of using solar thermal energy could reduce carbon emissions and become a mainstream idea in the future.
ReplyDeleteI also read this article and thought it was interesting. I previously didn't know much about solar thermal energy as I've mostly heard about solar electrical if you will. Anyway, It's cool how just that system (only half is pictured in photo) can make enough hot water for the needs of 400 people. As I starting reading however, I developed a few questions:
Delete1. Why not just go with regular solar panels? It's good to make the switch to a renewable source of energy, but this can't make any electricity to power other things in the hall. Wouldn't it be better to have a system that can do both?
2. What is the system's efficiency like, compared to traditional solar panels?
3. Is the production of this system more or less environmentally friendly than other solar energy systems?
I read the same article as the two people before me, and it talked a lot about a new way of heating water. My dad is a plumber, and one of the main aspects of his job was installing water heaters and solar panels. There has been technology in the past that uses the same idea of this new solar powered water heater. In the past a lot of times solar panels would collect solar energy that would then power a water heater. The cool thing about this new idea is that it uses the thermal energy from the sun to heat the water. This leads to reduced carbon emissions that a typical water heater would produce. I think this is a interesting article to read because it integrates old tech in a new way which is exactly what we need to start breaking down on the climate crisis.
ReplyDeleteOne article I enjoyed reading was "What Happened to the Great Lakes Offshore Wind Boom?". This article discusses the difficulties face by the offshore wind-farms in the Great Lakes. There have been many difficulties in constructing these offshore wind farms such as anti-wind groups, birders and fossil fuel interests. The fact is however that these projects could absolutely be possible If the state or federal governments supported them. If the United States want to fulfill their climate change goals they must make these green-energy ventures profitable for corporations. There is a reason that the Oil industry is massive, its because its cheap to drill and easy to sell, If the US would subsidize or give tax breaks to green-energy projects this would be the same case for renewables and create a green energy boom.
ReplyDelete-John Scumniotales, Section: 23
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/24112023/what-happened-to-the-great-lakes-offshore-wind-boom/
DeleteOne article from Inside Climate News that I highly recommend is about the Tonawanda Seneca Nation's concerns over a clean hydrogen project near their reservation. This article is a powerful example of the intersection between climate action and indigenous rights. It highlights the complexities and unintended consequences of transitioning to cleaner energy sources.
ReplyDeleteWhat struck me most was the need for environmental justice and meaningful consultation with indigenous communities in climate action initiatives. The Tonawanda Seneca's concerns illustrate how, even well-intentioned projects aimed at reducing carbon emissions, can inadvertently threaten the rights and traditional ways of life of Native American communities. This article teaches that our approach to combating climate change must be inclusive and sensitive to all stakeholders, especially those historically marginalized. It's a vital reminder that climate action is not just about technological solutions, but also about respecting and integrating diverse cultural and social perspectives.
For those looking to explore this issue further, I recommend reading the article in full. It offers insight into the challenges faced by indigenous communities in the era of climate change and the need for a just transition to a sustainable future.
Article Link: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22112023/new-york-clean-hydrogen-indigenous-nation-sees-threat/
I read the article "Fossil Fuel Lobbyists Flock to Plastics Treaty Talks as Scientists, Environmentalists Seek Conflict of Interest Policies" by James Bruggers. What I have never been able to fully wrap my head around is how much power large corporations have on our everyday lives through financial and political control. The fact that the blame is placed on consumers through advertising and a push for the individual to do their part in a world which is controlled by just a handful of huge petrol companies is wild. It makes me sad that despite efforts to recycle plastics, the article says that only less than 10% of plastics are actually recycled. Scientists keep pushing and pushing yet are shut down, predictions even saying that plastic production could triple by 2060, as if we don't already have enough. I wish we had more solutions and a real ability to go against these large companies, but it is nearly impossible because of lobbying.
ReplyDeleteArticle Link: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/19112023/nairobi-plastics-treaty-talks-fossil-fuel-lobbyist-influence-conflicts-of-interest/
I read the article "A New Solar Water Heating System Goes Online as Its Developer Enters the US Market '' by Dan Gearino. It's a very interesting article about how the Naked Energy company uses tubes on your roof to store thermal heat from the sun for you to use. I picked this article because it seemed interesting and I wanted to learn more about it. The problem that I'm seeing is that it seems like it costs a lot more to do that than to just have regular heating. I believe that this is definitely a way to go and should be a great option. The only problem is the cost. And with the cost being more than the cost of regular heating, i think most people will stick with regular heating.
ReplyDeletehttps://insideclimatenews.org/news/23112023/solar-thermal-heat/
I read the article, "The EU Overhauls Its Law Covering Environmental Crimes, Banning Specific Acts and Increasing Penalties" by Katie Surma. I learned about the European Union's pioneering efforts to combat environmental destruction by criminalizing acts equivalent to "ecocide." The comprehensive overhaul of the EU's environmental laws signifies a bold step in addressing a range of offenses, including illegal logging and invasive species introduction. The inclusion of the "ecocide" provision, inspired by a proposed definition from legal experts, is particularly noteworthy. This catchall provision seeks to prohibit acts causing "widespread and substantial damage" to protected areas or ecosystems, emphasizing the irreversibility or long-lasting impact of such actions. The penalties, both for individuals and companies, underscore the seriousness with which the EU is approaching environmental crimes. This directive not only demonstrates a commitment to environmental protection but also reflects an awareness of the need for stronger legal measures to safeguard ecosystems. The article highlights the potential impact of such regulations on industries, insurance, and investments, signaling a broader shift toward corporate responsibility and sustainable practices. The EU's move could set a precedent for global efforts to criminalize ecologically harmful activities, marking a significant stride in the ongoing fight against climate change and environmental degradation.
ReplyDeletehttps://insideclimatenews.org/news/23112023/eu-sets-new-environmental-crimes-ecocide/
I chose the article, "Europe Just Launched the World’s First Carbon Tariff. Will the United States Follow Suit?," which was published on October 3rd by Kristoffer Tigue. This article gives a perspective on how little action has been taken prior to the EU implementing the first carbon tariff. This tariff requires companies to pay an additional amount if they have an excessive carbon footprint. There are concerns with these new policies with trade between countries, cost disadvantages, and more. I believe it will be very interesting to see how this may impact not only the United States, but other countries with their regulations in place due to trade and the EU potentially setting a better expectation.
ReplyDeletehttps://insideclimatenews.org/news/03102023/todays-climate-european-union-worlds-first-carbon-tariff-united-states/
The article that I picked is "Older Voters Are Second Only to Young People in Share of ’Climate Voters,’ New Study Shows", which discusses how the older generation is fighting for prioritizing the environment. I personally would recommend this article because it shares some surprising statistics about the perspective of the older generation of ages 65+. The article makes the claim that those who are over the age of 65% are the second highest voting population to vote in favor of prioritizing climate change.
ReplyDeleteI believe this is a great article because it negates the stereotype that older people aren't involved enough to have an opinion on a political platform. The anti-climate change platform is typically more red leaning, and therefore, many people associated older people with those views. I think it does make sense for the older generation to vote in favor of climate change because they are first handedly experiencing the environmental changes and seeing the difference versus how they grew up.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/05122023/gray-is-the-new-green/
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/08122023/scientists-cop28-danger-zone/
ReplyDeleteI read the article "Scientists to COP28: ‘We’re Clearly in The Danger Zone", and learned about how we are approaching a point in global warming where there is no return. I learned of the effects that global warming will have on the planet and us if temperatures continue to rise. I think these articles are important because although I already know that global warming is a big threat to all of us and we should work to get rid of it soon, these articles really put into perspective exactly how imminent the danger is.