[TheClimate.Vote] March 12, 2020 - Daily Global Warming News Digest

Richard Pauli richard at theclimate.vote
Thu Mar 12 08:50:11 EDT 2020 

/*March 12, 2020*/

[just what are his intentions]
*Bill Gates Says He's Fighting Climate Change While Cashing in on Oil*
The billionaire's investment portfolio includes millions of shares of 
companies contributing to the climate crisis.
- - -
The Gates Foundation Trust also owns 17 million shares--worth $1.54 
billion as of February--of Canadian National Railway Company, which in 
recent years has become a major transporter of oil from Canada's tar 
sands, one of the world's most climate-damaging oil sources. The Gates 
Foundation declined to comment about how these investment decisions, 
which are made by Gates' wealth manager Michael Larson, fit with the 
billionaire's goal of fighting the climate emergency, directing VICE to 
contact Gates' investment company, which did not respond...
- - -
The Gates Foundation Trust's investment in Canadian National Railway 
Company, or CN Rail as it is also known, has an even more clear 
connection to climate. "The main thing with the rail industry is people 
don't understand how closely it is linked to the fossil fuel industry," 
Mikulka said.

Last year, CN Rail's shipments of oil grew from 150,000 barrels per day 
in April to 200,000 barrels in June, a surge that resulted in the 
company earning a record CAD $4 billion in revenues. CN Rail's oil 
business is doing so well because the pipelines that transport oil from 
the tar sands in northern Canada to international markets are mostly 
full, and new pipelines have faced delays and opposition from indigenous 
people and climate activists...
- - -
"Most of the headlines you see about Bill Gates will be that his latest 
solar venture is making good progress or that he's supporting somewhat 
controversial climate change solutions like geoengineering," Mikulka 
said. "But rarely do you see the fact that he's profiting and has been 
for a long time from things like supporting the Canadian tar sands 
industry."
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/v74xwd/bill-gates-investments-in-oil-and-gas-climate-change


[ahead of climate talks]
*'We will not fight climate change with a virus': UN chief warns both 
climate and coronavirus emergencies 'must be defeated'*
The world may be on the cusp of a global pandemic, but the scale of the 
climate crisis presents a greater long term threat and political and 
business leaders should not be "diverted away from climate action" as 
they seek to contain the worsening outbreak.

That was the stark warning issued yesterday by the UN as it published 
the annual World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) Statement on the 
State of the Global Climate, confirming that a record-breaking year of 
weather extremes in 2019 contributed directly to "rising hunger, 
displacement and loss of life".
- -
Guterres warned that on top of steppingup efforts to tackle the 
coronavirus threat, governments needed to come to this year's COP26 
Summit in Glasgow with clear pledges to beef up their climate action plans.

The UN chief called on all countries to demonstrate that emission cuts 
of 45 per cent from 2010 levels are possible this decade, and that 
net-zero emissions can be achieved by the middle of the century.

Specifically, he argued that the Summit should aim to secure more 
ambitious national climate plans that will keep global warming to 1.5 
degrees above pre-industrial levels; strategies to reach net zero 
emissions by 2050; a comprehensive programme of support for climate 
adaptation and resilience; and enhanced financing mechanisms to deliver 
a sustainable, green economy.
https://www.businessgreen.com/news/4012204/fight-climate-change-virus-chief-warns-climate-coronavirus-emergencies-defeated
- -
[Free report online or PDF]
*WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2019*
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Published by: WMO ; 2020
Collection(s) and Series: WMO- No. 1248

Language(s): English; Other Languages: French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, 
Chinese
Format: Digital (Free) (ill.)
pdf - https://library.wmo.int/doc_num.php?explnum_id=10211
https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=21700#.Xmoo66hKgXg



[Yale Environment report]
*How Thawing Permafrost Is Beginning to Transform the Arctic*
The frozen layer of soil that has underlain the Arctic tundra for 
millennia is now starting to thaw. This thawing, which could release 
vast amounts of greenhouse gases, is already changing the Arctic 
landscape by causing landslides, draining lakes, and altering vegetation...
- Some 2.5 million square miles of permafrost -- 40 percent of the 
world's total -- could disappear by the end of the century...
- An estimated 1,400 gigatons of carbon are frozen in Arctic permafrost, 
making it one of the world's largest carbon sinks...
- The date when snow melts is key to determining the rate at which the 
permafrost thaws.
more at - 
https://e360.yale.edu/features/how-melting-permafrost-is-beginning-to-transform-the-arctic



[land of polluted air]
*FEATURE-Electric vehicle push struggles to accelerate in Pakistan*
Imran Mukhtar, Thomson Reuters Foundation
ISLAMABAD, March 11 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - As Pakistan's 
first-ever electric three-wheeled rickshaws start to roll off the 
assembly line, the country is struggling to build momentum for its shift 
to electric vehicles in efforts to cut air pollution and curb climate 
change.

It has been four months since Prime Minister Imran Khan's cabinet 
approved the National Electric Vehicle Policy, offering tax exemptions 
and incentives to manufacturers, importers and buyers of electric vehicles.

But pushback by traditional automakers has stalled the government's 
finalising of the policy, leaving electric vehicle (EV) makers worried 
that eco-friendly cars, vans, motorcycles and rickshaws will remain too 
expensive for the mass market.

"The electric rickshaws have comparatively much lower running and 
maintenance costs," said Syed Ismail Ghaznavi, sales head at Sazgar 
Engineering Works Limited, which launched the country's first electric 
rickshaw in January.

Sazgar's electric rickshaw can travel up to 170 km (105 miles) on a 
charge, has almost no moving parts - which means fewer trips to the 
mechanic - and produces zero emissions, Ghaznavi pointed out...
- - -
It also plans to establish fast charging stations in all major cities 
and along major motorways and highways every 15-30 km (9-18 miles).

But some automobile manufacturers are pushing back, saying that creating 
incentives specifically for electric vehicles unfairly benefits the 
nascent industry while leaving the traditional automobile sector 
floundering.

Sales of petrol and diesel vehicles in Pakistan dropped drastically last 
year following the devaluation of the rupee, which led to a sharp 
increase in the price of vehicles and parts.
more at - 
https://uk.reuters.com/article/pakistan-transport-electric/feature-electric-vehicle-push-struggles-to-accelerate-in-pakistan-idUKL8N2AI27T

- -

[Reuters video news]
*Breakingviews TV: U.S. shale*
Posted March 10, 2020
Mergers could be the best way for drillers and frackers in the U.S. oil 
patch to combat the price war for black gold brought on by Saudi Arabia. 
Lauren Silva Laughlin explains how the U.S. government could play a role 
in industry consolidation.
https://www.reuters.com/video/watch/breakingviews-tv-us-shale-id693468552?chan=9qsux198



[part of the ecosystem]
*Snakes are facing extinction as temperatures rise due to climate change 
with some species losing 90 per cent of their habitat*
Global warming makes it harder for snakes to stay at ideal body temperature
It also changes their habitats and can make their food harder to come by
The Greek Meadow Viper will lose 90 per cent of its habitat by century's end
Another species, Vipera graeca, is among the most endangered in Europe
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-8101259/Snakes-facing-extinction-temperatures-rise-climate-change.html



[Digging back into the internet news archive]
*On this day in the history of global warming  - March 12, 2007 *
Fox News Channel host Shepard Smith interviews ClimateProgress.org's Joe 
Romm on the need to reduce carbon pollution; loud sounds are heard in 
the background as the heads of climate-change deniers explode.
http://youtu.be/VS1zLSJH0VQ

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