[TheClimate.Vote] February 2, 2020 - Daily Global Warming News Digest

[Richard Pauli]

/*February 2, 2020*/

["I'm done with fossil fuels"]
*"They're Done': CNBC's Jim Cramer Says Fossil Fuel Industry 'In the 
Death Knell Phase'*
By Andrea Germanos, Common Dreams. Originally published on Common Dreams 
under CC BY-SA 3.0 US.
Climate campaigners drew attention to CNBC's Jim Cramer's comments on 
Friday, January 31 that he's "done with fossil fuels" because they're 
"in the death knell phase."

Cramer added that "the world's turned on" the industry as they did with 
tobacco.

"They're done," Cramer said of fossil fuels on the network's "Squawk 
Box." "We're starting to see divestment all over the world. We're 
starting to see … big pension funds saying, 'We not going to own them 
anymore."

"The world's changed," Cramer continued. While companies like BP still 
mark profits, "nobody cares," because "new money managers want to 
appease younger people who believe that you can't ever make a fossil 
fuel company sustainable."

"You can tell that the world's turned on them, and it's actually kind of 
happening very quickly," said Cramer. "You're seeing divestiture by a 
lot of different funds. It's going to be a parade… that says look, 
'These are tobacco, and we're not going to own them.'"

"Oil stocks are in the death knell phase", says @jimcramer. "The world 
is turning on them...new kinds of money managers who frankly want to 
appease younger people who believe you can't ever make a fossil fuel 
company sustainable."
Lindsay Meiman, a spokesperson for 350.org -- which has spearheaded the 
global movement to demand pension funds, university endowments, and 
other institutions divest from oil, coal, and gas companies -- said 
Cramer is only confirming what many market observers already understand.

"The financial tides are turning away from fossil fuels. Coal, oil, and 
gas companies are not only the perpetrators of the climate crisis we're 
now experiencing, but have also dangerously underperformed markets over 
the last decade," Meiman told Common Dreams. "As we enter the climate 
decade, we're demanding polluters pay for their destruction, and that 
all institutions and politicians cut ties from toxic fossil fuels to 
reinvest in a world that puts our health and safety first."
https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/02/01/cnbc-jim-cramer-fossil-fuel-industry-death-knell-phase

- - -

[Follow the money]
*'Uninsurable and Unhedgeable': Central Banks Warn of Financial Crisis 
from Climate Change*
A future climate disaster, or "green swan" event, could bring down the 
global financial system, according to a new report from the Bank for 
International Settlements (BIS), an international financial organization 
that serves as a bank for central banks around the world.

Like black swan events, "green swan" events will be very difficult to 
predict and will hit with little warning. The potential for a cascading 
series of crises stemming from climate change threatens global financial 
stability, and the world's central banks are not equipped to respond to 
them, or even predict what exactly might unfold, the 100-page BIS report 
said.

Risk in the Time of Climate Change
The financial risk from climate change is typically put into two 
categories: physical risk and transition risk. The former refers to 
natural disasters or some other climate-related calamity that imposes 
steep costs on society from physical damage, such as a drought or a 
hurricane.

Transition risk refers to the repricing of assets as the global economy 
shifts towards cleaner energy, such as an oil company losing much of its 
value following the passage of a painful carbon tax.
- -
In Davos, other oil executives agreed. "How do you get the hearts and 
minds of investors back? That is a real challenge for our industry," 
said John Hess, CEO of Hess Corp., an independent oil company.

In the face of worsening climate crisis, Hess thinks that the "real 
challenge" for the oil industry is winning back the hearts and minds of 
investors. Meanwhile, Hess is in the process of developing a string of 
oil discoveries off the coast of Guyana in partnership with ExxonMobil, 
which won't reach full production until the mid-2020s and will operate 
indefinitely thereafter. The industry shows no signs of slowing down.

DeSmog has spent years exposing the bad-faith PR behind the oil 
industry. The public is increasingly aware of the industry's 
obfuscation. But even at this late stage, with the climate crisis 
worsening and even with the world's central banks sounding the alarm, 
the oil industry's response in Davos amounted to a decision to engage in 
yet another round of advertising.
https://www.desmogblog.com/2020/01/31/green-swan-central-banks-financial-crisis-climate-change

- -

[BBC reports]
*Bank of England chief Mark Carney issues climate change warning*
The world will face irreversible heating unless firms shift their 
priorities soon, the outgoing head of the Bank of England has told the BBC.
Mark Carney said the financial sector had begun to curb investment in 
fossil fuels – but far too slowly...
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50868717

- - -

[Now hear from religious institutions]
*Church of England Devises an Index for Climate-Conscious Investing*
The church's pension fund will invest 600 million pounds in companies 
ranked according to their efforts to meet the 2015 Paris agreement.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/31/business/church-of-england-climate-change.html


[media battles]
*UK's Guardian Bans Ads From Oil, Gas Firms In World's Media First*
By Tsvetana Paraskova
UK newspaper Guardian will not accept advertising money from the fossil 
fuel industry, even if this means a financial hit for the media, making 
it the world's first large news organization to ban oil and gas adds.
The Guardian has been active in recent years in covering climate change 
and reporting on the climate crisis. Last year, the Guardian changed its 
style guide to use stronger language to describe the climate emergency, 
using words such as 'climate crisis' and 'climate emergency' instead of 
'climate change.'

Now the Guardian is outright banning advertising money from oil and gas 
companies, with immediate effect, the newspaper said on Wednesday.

"Our decision is based on the decades-long efforts by many in that 
industry to prevent meaningful climate action by governments around the 
world," the company's acting chief executive, Anna Bateson, and the 
chief revenue officer, Hamish Nicklin, said in a joint statement.

The Guardian has also recently pledged to become a carbon neutral 
organization at a corporate level by 2030, and to almost entirely divest 
its Scott Trust endowment fund from fossil fuels.

Guardian Media Group (GMG) generates 40 percent of its revenue from 
advertising, so rejecting ads from oil and gas companies would be a 
financial hit to the organization, the managers said.

"The funding model for the Guardian – like most high-quality media 
companies – is going to remain precarious over the next few years. It's 
true that rejecting some adverts might make our lives a tiny bit tougher 
in the very short term. Nonetheless, we believe building a more 
purposeful organisation and remaining financially sustainable have to go 
hand in hand," Bateson and Nicklin said.

Greenpeace UK welcomed Guardian's move, saying that "This is a huge 
moment in the battle against oil and gas for all of us! Guardian have 
just announced they won't let dirty oil and gas companies advertise with 
them anymore because we're in a climate emergency."

The environmental organization called on other media to follow suit 
because "Dirty oil and gas companies are making the climate emergency 
worse. They belong in the history books. Not in our news outlets."
By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com
https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/UKs-Guardian-Bans-Ads-From-Oil-Gas-Firms-In-Worlds-Media-First.html


[Glacier grounding line seen in video]
*The New Video of One of the Scariest Places on Earth*
For the first time, scientists have a clear view of the line where the 
giant Thwaites Glacier is leaking water into the ocean.
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2020/01/watch-video-one-worlds-most-important-places/605731/


[Believe in technology]
*Rice lab turns trash into valuable graphene in a flash*
MIKE WILLIAMS – JANUARY 27, 2020
'Green' process promises pristine graphene in bulk using waste food, 
plastic and other materials
That banana peel, turned into graphene, can help facilitate a massive 
reduction of the environmental impact of concrete and other building 
materials. While you're at it, toss in those plastic empties.
A new process introduced by the Rice University lab of chemist James 
Tour can turn bulk quantities of just about any carbon source into 
valuable graphene flakes. The process is quick and cheap; Tour said the 
"flash graphene" technique can convert a ton of coal, waste food or 
plastic into graphene for a fraction of the cost used by other bulk 
graphene-producing methods.

"This is a big deal," Tour said. "The world throws out 30% to 40% of all 
food, because it goes bad, and plastic waste is of worldwide concern. 
We've already proven that any solid carbon-based matter, including mixed 
plastic waste and rubber tires, can be turned into graphene."
- - -
In the past, Tour said, "graphene has been too expensive to use in these 
applications. The flash process will greatly lessen the price while it 
helps us better manage waste."

"With our method, that carbon becomes fixed," he said. "It will not 
enter the air again."

The process aligns nicely with Rice's recently announced Carbon Hub 
initiative to create a zero-emissions future that repurposes 
hydrocarbons from oil and gas to generate hydrogen gas and solid carbon 
with zero emission of carbon dioxide. The flash graphene process can 
convert that solid carbon into graphene for concrete, asphalt, 
buildings, cars, clothing and more, Tour said.
- -
[see the video]
*Flash graphene*
Jan 27, 2020
Rice University
Scientists at Rice University are using high-energy pulses of 
electricity to turn any source of carbon into turbostratic graphene in 
an instant. The process promises environmental benefits by turning waste 
into valuable graphene that can then strengthen concrete and other 
composite materials.
https://youtu.be/hzm5AMPFMqs
- - -
[As reported in Nature]
*Gram-scale bottom-up flash graphene synthesis*
Abstract

    Most bulk-scale graphene is produced by a top-down approach,
    exfoliating graphite, which often requires large amounts of solvent
    with high-energy mixing, shearing, sonication or electrochemical
    treatment. Although chemical oxidation of graphite to graphene oxide
    promotes exfoliation, it requires harsh oxidants and leaves the
    graphene with a defective perforated structure after the subsequent
    reduction step. Bottom-up synthesis of high-quality graphene is
    often restricted to ultrasmall amounts if performed by chemical
    vapour deposition or advanced synthetic organic methods, or it
    provides a defect-ridden structure if carried out in bulk solution.
    Here we show that flash Joule heating of inexpensive carbon
    sources--such as coal, petroleum coke, biochar, carbon black,
    discarded food, rubber tyres and mixed plastic waste--can afford
    gram-scale quantities of graphene in less than one second. The
    product, named flash graphene (FG) after the process used to produce
    it, shows turbostratic arrangement (that is, little order) between
    the stacked graphene layers. FG synthesis uses no furnace and no
    solvents or reactive gases. Yields depend on the carbon content of
    the source; when using a high-carbon source, such as carbon black,
    anthracitic coal or calcined coke, yields can range from 80 to 90
    per cent with carbon purity greater than 99 per cent. No
    purification steps are necessary. Raman spectroscopy analysis shows
    a low-intensity or absent D band for FG, indicating that FG has
    among the lowest defect concentrations reported so far for graphene,
    and confirms the turbostratic stacking of FG, which is clearly
    distinguished from turbostratic graphite. The disordered orientation
    of FG layers facilitates its rapid exfoliation upon mixing during
    composite formation. The electric energy cost for FG synthesis is
    only about 7.2 kilojoules per gram, which could render FG suitable
    for use in bulk composites of plastic, metals, plywood, concrete and
    other building materials.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-1938-0


[Paul Guilding predicts]
*CLIMATE CONTAGION *
2020-2025

Paul Gilding examines the factors shifting market sentiment as climate 
and energy contagion looms. His latest paper looks five years forward 
with projections of fossil-fuel industries becoming obsolete and the new 
economy beginning to be built. Gilding describes an economic tipping 
point lurking in the immediate future and a new contagion that is set to 
sweep through the finance system when the global market flips - from 
fear of acting too early to fear of being left behind as everyone races 
for the exits. Everything is ready, everyone knows it's coming. It's 
time to be prepared. Climate Contagion sounds the alarm that fossil fuel 
investments are heading for a crash, and bankers and economies reliant 
on them will shudder.

SO IT BEGINS….. You can pretty much hear it now. It's like being in a 
forest and hearing the leaves rustling in the tops of trees, just before 
the storm hits. Then it comes with a roar, everything shakes, and we 
look around wondering what will fall – and will it fall on us. This is 
how I see the global economy and climate change. Everything is ready, 
everyone knows it's coming, we're just waiting for the storm to hit. 
When it does, it will be the climate emergency meets financial contagion.

1 When the global market flips to FOMO2 ["Fear Of Missing Out"] - from 
fear of acting too early, to fear of being left behind as everyone races 
for the exits. This moment was always going to come, and it was always 
going to be messy. Markets rarely move smoothly. But why now? Simply 
because all the practical economic and financial impediments are gone. 
The financial logic of acting is now impeccable, meaning the only thing 
left is for there to be a shift in sentiment – that moment of an 
intangible, hard to define flip in how the decision makers in the market 
see the world. That can happen overnight. It may be triggered by a 
single catastrophic event with clear economic consequences – like the 
Australian fire emergency. Or it can just happen. And because markets 
hunt in packs – when they go, they'll all go. There are four critical 
factors that lead me to conclude this shift in sentiment is now imminent 
– anytime from tomorrow morning to 2025, but not later;

1. Clean technology for zero emisions is available, scalable, superior 
and investable;

2. Physical climate change is obvious and accelerating;

3.Public engagement and political momentum are rapidly turning; and

4.The financial markets are primed – from central banks, to lenders to 
stock markets. The scale of change that will result -- and the likely 
timing -- can only be understood by the way these factors interact in 
combination, as a system
https://www.breakthroughonline.org.au/papers



[Looking at the future]
*We may avoid the very worst climate scenario. But the next-worst is 
still pretty awful.*
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/01/30/we-may-avoid-very-worst-climate-scenario-next-worst-is-still-pretty-awful/ 




[Stressful battles of misinformation]
*New emails show weather service's angst, anger over Trump's 'doctored' 
hurricane map*
Doug Stanglin
USA TODAY
Newly released internal emails show the U.S. government's 
behind-the-scenes angst over a "doctored" weather map President Donald 
Trump used in the Oval Office to support his inaccurate claim regarding 
the forecast path for Hurricane Dorian and whether it showed a likely 
hit on Alabama.

The documents were released late Friday by NOAA in response to a Freedom 
of information Act response to Buzzfeed and The Washington Post.

Trump had displayed the map on Sept. 4 to counter claims in a tweet 
three days earlier that as Hurricane Doran approached the U.S. coast, 
Alabama was among the states that "will most likely be hit (much) harder 
than anticipated."

The trove of emails and internal statements show outrage and annoyance 
among some in the weather bureau ranks over "Sharpiegate," the crude 
redrawing of an official hurricane forecast map that the president used 
to prove he had been right.

In a leadup to the Oval Office demonstration, the NOAA leadership had 
already issued an unattributed statement defending the president's false 
claims.

That statement specifically criticized a tweet by the National Weather 
Service office in Birmingham, Alabama, issued shortly after Trump's 
initial Twitter claims, and said pointedly that Alabama would "NOT see 
any impacts from the hurricane."

Officials later said they issued the tweet not to rebuke the president 
but because they were getting concerned calls from the public regarding 
whether the hurricane was headed toward the state.

    Donald J. Trump
    @realDonaldTrump
    In addition to Florida - South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia,
    and Alabama, will most likely be hit (much) harder than anticipated.
    Looking like one of the largest hurricanes ever. Already category 5.
    BE CAREFUL! GOD BLESS EVERYONE!

While the escapade played out in public, the pull and tugging played out 
behind the scenes, according to the documents.

At one point, NOAA staff were warned not to contradict the president and 
told not to "provide any opinion about the issue."

That in turn, stirred a torrent of opposition internally...
- - -
The FOIA documents addressing the Commerce Department's role have been 
redacted because of an ongoing Commerce Department Inspector General 
investigation into the matter the Post reports.

At one point during the rolling scandal, the NOAA staff, according to 
the documents, were consumed with how to counter it.

"How do you want to handle this one? Looks like someone at the WH drew 
with a marker on the image of our official forecast," Scott Smullen, 
deputy director of NOAA communications, told colleagues in an email, 
according to the released documents.

Under the subject line, "Tweet shows POTUS altering NHC map,' Jerry 
Slaff, public affairs specialist at the NOAA, emailed Smullen, saying 
flatly that the president's map "shows a sharpie extension of cone to 
include Alabama."

In another document, Corey Pieper, an official in the NWS communications 
division, said to public affairs official Susan Buchanan: "Yes, that was 
doctored,"

Although some early forecast models of the hurricane suggested Alabama 
had a chance of being in the storm's path, those had been issued several 
days before. There is no evidence that Alabama was in danger at the time 
of the president's notorious tweet.

In one missive, McLean emails colleagues: "What's next? climate science 
is a hoax? Flabbergasted to leave our forecasters hanging in the 
political wind. Embarrassed, Craig."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/02/01/sharpiegate-noaa-email-shows-anger-over-trump-dorian-map-alabama/4633397002/
- - -
[See the FOIA response posted emails]
*DOC-NOAA-2019-002196 Request Details*
https://www.foiaonline.gov/foiaonline/action/public/submissionDetails?trackingNumber=DOC-NOAA-2019-002196&type=request



[Textbook selected for early courses at the University of Washington]
*The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change: Second Edition 2nd Edition*
"Everybody can be a thinking person when it comes to climate change, and 
this book is a perfect roadmap.  Start a web search for "climate change" 
and the first three suggestions are "facts," "news," and "hoax." The 
Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change is rooted in the first, up to 
date on the second, and anything but the last. Produced by one of the 
most venerable atmospheric science organizations, it is a must-read for 
anyone looking for the full story on climate change.

Using global research and written with nonscientists in mind, the Guide 
breaks down the issues into straightforward categories: "Symptoms" 
covers signs such as melting ice and extreme weather, while "Science" 
lays out what we know and how we figured it out. "Debates" tackles the 
controversy and politics, while "Solutions" and "Actions" discuss what 
we can do as individuals and communities to create the best possible 
future. Full-color illustrations offer explanations of everything from 
how the greenhouse effect traps heat to which activities in everyday 
life emit the most carbon. Special-feature boxes zoom in on locations 
across the globe already experiencing the effects of a shifting climate.

The new edition of The Thinking Person's Guide to Climate Change has 
been thoroughly updated, including content on new global record highs, 
new research across the spectrum, and the Paris Agreement to cut 
greenhouse gases. This reference provides the most comprehensive, yet 
accessible, overview of where climate science stands today, 
acknowledging controversies but standing strong in its stance that the 
climate is changing--and something needs to be done."
https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Persons-Guide-Climate-Change/dp/1944970398/ref=dp_ob_title_bk



[Digging back into the internet news archive]
*On this day in the history of global warming - February 2, 1977 *
In a (literal) fireside chat, President Carter discusses his plans to 
establish a national energy policy that emphasizes conservation.
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=7455
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/153913-1

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