2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Apr 7 through Sat, Apr 13, 2019
Editor's Pick
The world could transition entirely to cheap, safe renewable energy before 2050: Finnish study
A study from the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the Energy Watch Group (EWG) from Germany says a global transition to the exclusive use of renewable energy is possible before 2050. (iStock)
A global transition to the exclusive use of renewable energy sources is not only possible but also cheaper and safer than reliance on fossil fuels and nuclear energy, according to a new study from the Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and the Energy Watch Group (EWG) from Germany.
The study claims that the rapid development of renewable energy sources and energy storage technology will likely make it possible for the entire planet to reduce its CO2 emissions to zero even earlier than the current 2050 deadline.
The report is the first of its kind to suggest a cost-effective, all-inclusive, global roadmap to keep average global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius. It is also the first planet-wide climate change resistance plan that suggests not using carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) techniques to mechanically remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
According to the model, in 2050 some 69 percent of the world’s energy would come from solar panels, 18 percent from wind power, 3 percent from hydropower systems and 6 percent from bioenergy.
Fossil fuels and nuclear power would not be needed at all. Cars, planes and ships would run on carbon-neutral synthetic fuels produced from hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
The world could transition entirely to cheap, safe renewable energy before 2050: Finnish study, Yle News (Finland), Apr 12, 2019
Links posted on Facebook
Sun Apr 7, 2019
- Global Banks, Led by JPMorgan Chase, Invested $1.9 Trillion in Fossil Fuels Since Paris Climate Pact by Sharon Kelly, TruePublica, Apr 4, 2019
- New research, March 25-31, 2019 by Ari Jokimäki, Skeptical Science, Apr 5, 2019
- Europe’s food imports devour rainforests by Tim Radford, Climate News Network, Apr 5, 2019
- This faith leader finds the common ground to address a moral emergency by Cara Giaimo, Grist, Apr 5, 2019
- Parents around the world mobilise behind youth climate strikes by Damian Carrington, Environment, Guardian, Apr 3, 2019
- Al Gore is near the end of his quest to save the Earth. Nina Barrett just got started. by Dan Zak, Lifestyle, Washington Post, Apr 1, 2019
- How global warming is permanently reshaping the Great Barrier Reef by Viky Stein, PBS News Hour, Apr 3, 2019
- Climate Change Is Costing the Air Force Billions by Molly Taft, Nexus Media, Apr 4, 2019
Mon Apr 8, 2019
- Rail travel is cleaner than driving or flying, but will Americans buy in? by Andreas Hoffrichter, The Conversation US, Apr 1, 2019
- Sikhs aim to plant million trees as 'gift to the planet' by Isabella Kaminski. World, Guardian, Apr 5, 2019
- America’s Missed Climate Targets Cost Global Economy $1 Trillion, Dublin-based Think Tank Finds by Sharon Kelly, DeSmog, Apr 2, 2019
- Severe storms could affect 26 million people across the Southeast today by Susannah Cullinane, CNN, Apr 8, 2019
- John Kerry is on a mission to hold Trump accountable on climate change by Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times, Apr 4, 2019
- There’s Just 1 Reason Republican Politicians Are Fully Attacking The Green New Deal by Zachary Shahan, lean Technica, Apr 7, 2019
- A Dose Of Reality: How Climate Change Affects Our Kids, Straight From A Pediatrician by Dr. Susan Pacheco, Climate Reality Project, Apr 8, 2019
- Climate change poses security risks, according to decades of intelligence reports by Dana Nuccitelli, Yale Climate Connections, Apr 8, 2019
Tue Apr 9, 2019
- Bottlenose dolphin numbers declined by ‘12%’ following marine heatwave by Daisy Dunne, Carbon Brief, Apr 1, 2019
- Melting glaciers contribute a third of sea-level rise by Sarah Gibbens, Environment, National Geographic, Apr 8, 2019
- Researchers Warn Arctic Has Entered 'Unprecedented State' That Threatens Global Climate Stability by John Queally, Common Dreams, Apr 8, 2019
- Geoengineering Is Inevitable in the Face of Climate Change. But at What Cost? by Stewart M Patrick, World Politics Review (WPR), Apr 8, 2019
- The stakes are too high': Christian faithful take up climate protest by Shannon Larson, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Apr 9, 2019
- Global Warming Is Pushing Arctic Toward ‘Unprecedented State,’ Research Shows by Bob Berwyn, InsideClimate News, Apr 8, 2019
- It’s not your imagination. Allergy season gets worse every year. by Umair irfan, energy & Environment, Vox, Apr 8, 2019
- A Netflix Nature Series Says to Viewers: Don’t Like What You See? Do Something About It by Jennifer Vineyard, Arts, New York Times, Apr 8, 2019
Wed Apr 10, 2019
- As White House questions climate change, U.S. military is planning for it by Juliet Eilperin, Brady Dennis & Missy Ryan, Health & Science, Washington Post, Apr 8, 2019
- The Carbon Brief Profile: Australia by Jocelyn Timperley, Carbon Brief, Apr 5. 2019
- Former fire chiefs demand urgent action on 'escalating climate change threat' by Maani Truu, Australia, SBS News, Apr 9, 2019
- Simultaneous heatwaves caused by anthropogenic climate change by Peter Rüegg, ETH Zurich, Apr 9, 2019
- Climate change will crush real estate values for investors who don’t prepare, new report says by Diana Olick, CNBC, Apr 8, 2019
- A 2nd Bomb Cyclone: Colorado Predicted To Go From 80 Degrees To A Blizzard by Bill Chappell, NPR News, Apr 9, 2019
- Snow is plastering parts of the Plains, which will measure it in feet when the blizzard is done by Ian Livingston, Capital Weather Gang, Washington Post, Apr 10. 2019
- Alaska had April weather in March by Sue Mitchell, UAF News, Apr 2, 2019
- The Kids Are Taking Charge of Climate Change by Paul Hockenos, Argument, Foreign Policy (FP), Apr 10, 2019
- Glaciers and Arctic ice are vanishing. Time to get radical before it's too late, Opinion by Bill McKibben, Comment is Free, Guardian, Apr 10, 2019
Thu Apr 11, 2019
- Climate crisis: today’s children face lives with tiny carbon footprints by Damian Carrington, Environment, Guardian, Apr 10. 2019
- 'Australia's waking up': take-up of electric car charging points to market shift by Peter Hannam, Business, Sydney Morning Herald, Apr 10, 2019
- Fiscally-conservative Democrats have declared war on the Green New Deal, Opinion by Kate Aronoff, Comment is Free, Guardian, Apr 10, 2019
- Will You Rise Up for Climate Justice Next Week? Don’t Let Fatalism and Cynicism Hold You Back by Diana Stuart, Common Dreams, Apr 10, 2019
- Eating more offal could help cut meat emissions by ‘14%’ by Daisy Dunne, Carbon Brief, Apr 10, 2019
- Hundreds of car crashes contribute to travel misery as a powerful spring blizzard hits parts of the US by Faith Karimi and Theresa Waldrop, CNN, Apr 11, 2019
- Extreme Hemispheric Heat Waves Like 2018's Growing More Common with Climate Change, Study Says by Bob Berwyn, InsideClimate News, Apr 11, 2019
- After A $14 Billion Upgrade, New Orleans’ Levees Are Sinking by Thomas Frank, E&E News/Scientific American, Apr 11, 2019
Fri Apr 12, 2019
- Arctic and Antarctic Sea Ice: How Are They Different?, Ask NASA Blog, Apr 10, 2019
- Flight shame' has Swedes rethinking air travel, Agence France Presse (AFP) News, Apr 10, 2019
- Adaptation is the poor cousin of climate change policy, Opinion by Rob Law. Comment is Free, Guardian, Apr 9, 2019
- Old Crow to declare climate change state of emergency by Heather Avery, CBC News, Apr 11, 2019
- Climate change made the Arctic greener. Now parts of it are turning brown. by Hannah Hoag, Science News Magazine, Apr 11, 2019
- Why is an MIT alum in Congress pretending he doesn’t know climate change is real? by Emily Stewart, Policy & Politics, Vox, Apr 12, 2019
- Sensitive intervention points in the post-carbon transition by J D Farmer et al, Policy Forum, Science Magazine, Apr 12, 2019
- How Big Business Is Hedging Against the Apocalypse by Jesse Barron, New York Times Magazine, Apr 11, 2019
Sat Apr 13, 2019
- National grid has more immediate challenges than electric cars by Peter Hannam, Business, Sydney Morning Herald, April 13, 2019
- Planting Zones Moving North, Climate Central, Apr 10, 2019
- Airpocalypse’ smog events in China linked to melting ice cap, research reveals by Damian Carrington, Environment, Guardian, Mar 15, 2019
- If you like solar energy, Santee Cooper is the wrong utility for you, report says by Sammy Fretwell, The State (Columbia, SC), Apr 12, 2019
- The world could transition entirely to cheap, safe renewable energy before 2050: Finnish study, Yle News (Finland), Apr 12, 2019
- What Survival Looks Like After the Oceans Rise by Andrea Frazzetta, The Climate Issue, New York Times Magazine, Apr 11, 2019
- How a Few Small Fixes Could Stop Climate Change by Marlene Cimons, Nexus Media, Apr 11, 2019
- Pace of Bering Sea changes startles scientists by Dan Joling, AP News, Apr 13, 2019
Posted by John Hartz on Saturday, 13 April, 2019
