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<font size="+1"><i>June 18, 2018</i></font><br>
<br>
[weather defines climate]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://weather.com/news/news/2018-06-17-flash-flooding-minnesota-michigan-wisconsin">Roads
Washed Out, Dozens of Sinkholes Reported as Flash Flooding Slams
Upper Midwest</a></b><br>
Heavy rain caused flash flooding in the Upper Midwest Sunday
morning.<br>
At least 60 sinkholes have been reported in Michigan, where a Flash
Flood Emergency was declared.<br>
Numerous roads have been washed out.<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://weather.com/news/news/2018-06-17-flash-flooding-minnesota-michigan-wisconsin">https://weather.com/news/news/2018-06-17-flash-flooding-minnesota-michigan-wisconsin</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[fundamental cryology]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.earth.com/news/pine-island-glacier-shrink/">Why
the Pine Island Glacier began to suddenly shrink</a></b><br>
By: Chrissy Sexton on 06.15.2018...<br>
The team's maps revealed an unknown submarine ridge and two
mountains, the peaks of which reach up to a water depth of 370
meters.<br>
The 400-meter thick ice shelf of the Pine Island Glacier had likely
been grounded on the ridge for several decades, which satellite
images confirm. In the older images, the surface of the ice was
visibly raised at the precise points where the peaks of the ridge
are directly under the ice shelf.<br>
"But after 2006, these landmarks are nowhere to be seen," explained
study co-author Dr. Karsten Gohl. "By that time, the ice shelf must
have melted so extensively from below that it was either too light
to produce any impression on the surface of the ice, or the ice
sheet must have already lost contact with the mountains beneath it."<br>
When an ice shelf loses contact with its "pinning points," the ice
stream is released and flows rapidly out to sea.<br>
The scientists found that mountains can stabilize ice shelves like
giant brakes, but that they also have the potential to set off
calving events. In 2007, satellite images show that the edge of the
Pine Island ice shelf crashed into one of the underlying mountains
with such a force that the entire face of the ice shelf broke off.
The calving event of 2015, they concluded, was caused by a similar
event when the ice shelf made contact with the ridge.<br>
"The roughly 50-kilometer-long edge of the Pine Island Glacier's ice
shelf currently runs between an island to the north and another
glacier to the south, which once again give the ice a bit of
support," said Dr. Arndt.<br>
If the melting beneath the glacier persists, the process could make
the ice shelf so thin that it becomes unstable. According to the
study authors, however, the ice thickness at the calving front of
the glacier currently measures approximately 400 meters, and
instability is not a threat at this point.<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.earth.com/news/pine-island-glacier-shrink/">https://www.earth.com/news/pine-island-glacier-shrink/</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[Calling on the Arctic Council]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/ecology/2018/06/finnish-president-demands-arctic-summit-stop-dangerous-black-carbon-emissions">Finnish
president demands Arctic Summit to stop dangerous black carbon
emissions</a></b><br>
President Sauli Niinisto addressed the Finnish Climate Summit in
Helsinki on Wednesday, calling on the Arctic Council member states
to meet to tackle black carbon emissions in the far north.<br>
June 13, 2018<br>
Niinisto said Finland wants to see "a first-ever Arctic Summit,
bringing together the heads of state and government from the eight
members of the Council: the United States, Russia, Canada and the
five Nordic states," adding that "a firm high-level commitment to
reduce black carbon emissions in the Arctic would be welcome news
for the environment". Black carbon refers to soot deposits that are
darkening Arctic ice. As a result, it begins absorbing heat rather
than reflecting sunlight, thus speeding up global warming.<br>
<b>Black carbon speeds ice melt</b><br>
"Unlike the long-term impacts of CO2, black carbon has immediate
effects," the president said. "In the Arctic, it accelerates the
melting of the sea ice. This creates a negative feedback loop,
making climate change even faster. But the positive side to the
story is that our action can also have an immediate impact."<br>
"If we are able to cut down black carbon emissions - for instance
from maritime transport, from old-fashioned power plants and from
flaring in oil and gas fields - we will make a significant
contribution to combating climate change in the Arctic. And saving
the Arctic is essential in saving the globe."...<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/ecology/2018/06/finnish-president-demands-arctic-summit-stop-dangerous-black-carbon-emissions">https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/ecology/2018/06/finnish-president-demands-arctic-summit-stop-dangerous-black-carbon-emissions</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[another CO2 source]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180615094839.htm">Dry
riverbeds are contributing to climate change more than
previously thought</a></b><br>
Date: June 15, 2018<br>
A massive world-wide study of dry riverbeds has found they're
contributing more carbon emissions than previously thought, and this
could help scientists better understand how to fight climate change.<br>
Dr Nathan Waltham from the Tropical Water and Aquatic Eco-systems
Research Centre (TropWATER) and James Cook University in Australia,
joined scientists from 22 other countries who looked at 212 dry
riverbeds on every continent on earth.<br>
He said the contribution of intermittent rivers and streams to the
process of carbon cycling - the process by which carbon is
circulated around the ecosystem - is largely ignored.<br>
"There is a substantial amount of plant litter that accumulates in
dry riverbeds and when they flow again this material can breakdown
rapidly. We've now estimated the potential short-term CO2 emissions
during these rewetting events."<br>
"We believe that a single pulse of CO2 emission upon litter
rewetting contributes up to 10% of the daily CO2 emission compared
to perennial rivers and streams, particularly in temperate climates.
What this means is that the contributions of intermittent rivers and
streams should be included in global carbon-cycling assessments,"
said Dr Waltham...<br>
-- - -<br>
Intermittent rivers, as the name suggests, sometimes stop flowing
and can dry completely. Although far less studied than permanent
rivers, they could represent half of the world's river network and,
in response to climate change and increasing water demands, may come
to dominate the landscape in some regions.<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180615094839.htm">https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/06/180615094839.htm</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[East Asia Forum]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/06/17/a-storm-of-climate-change-migration-is-brewing-in-south-asia/">A
storm of climate change migration is brewing in South Asia</a></b><br>
17 June 2018<br>
Authors: Simrit Kaur and Harpreet Kaur, University of Delhi<br>
With climate change and the associated<span> </span><a
href="https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/syr/AR5_SYR_FINAL_SPM.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">warmer
temperatures</a><span> </span>already altering the timings and
patterns of<span> </span><a
href="http://%20https/www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/climate-change-and-avian-population-ecology-in-22147741"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">bird</a>migrations,
climate change-induced human migration is not far behind. Estimates
suggest that by 2050 there are likely to be between<span> </span><a
href="https://www.iom.int/complex-nexus#estimates" target="_blank"
rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(202, 32,
39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">25 million and 1 billion</a><span> </span>environmental
migrants in the world, with a major proportion of these originating
from<span> </span><a
href="https://www.oxfam.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2017/11/people-in-poorer-countries-five-times-more-likely-to-be-displaced-by-extreme-weather"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">low and
lower-middle income countries</a>.<br>
<a
href="http://siteresources.worldbank.org/SOUTHASIAEXT/Resources/Publications/448813-1231439344179/5726136-1259944769176/SAR_Climate_Change_Full_Report_November_2009.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">South
Asia</a><span> </span>is particularly vulnerable to climate
change. Nearly half of the region's population lives in areas that
are projected to become<span> </span><a
href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/South%20Asia%27s%20Hotspots.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">moderate
to severe climate hotspots</a><span> </span>by 2050.<span> </span><a
href="http://time.com/4884648/climate-change-india-temperatures/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">Unhealthy
temperatures</a><span> </span>and<span> </span><a
href="https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg2/WGIIAR5-Chap24_FINAL.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(102, 102, 102); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">variable
precipitation patterns</a><span> </span>have contributed to
declines in agricultural production, productivity and food security.
Natural calamities such as floods, tsunamis and earthquakes have
increased the susceptibility of the region's already vulnerable
population.<br>
Migration has emerged as an important<span> </span><a
href="http://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/wg2/" target="_blank"
rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(202, 32,
39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">survival and adaptation
strategy</a>. In<span> </span><a
href="https://www.iom.int/migrant-stories/climate-change-and-displacement-bangladesh-silent-crisis"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">Bangladesh</a><span> </span>alone,
15 million people are expected to be displaced due to the
environmental degradation of the<span> </span><a
href="https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/environmental_degradation_nexus_in_south_asia.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">country's
coastal zone</a>. The bulk of<span> </span><a
href="https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/project-document/64546/43181-reg-tar.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">forced
climate-induced migration</a><span> </span>has involved the<span> </span><a
href="http://journals.brandonu.ca/jrcd/article/view/1177/289"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">most
vulnerable</a>.<br>
The<span> </span><a
href="http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002494/249459e.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">major
migration corridors</a><span> </span>in South Asia are between
Bangladesh-India, Afghanistan-Pakistan, India-Pakistan and
Nepal-India. In 2015, more than 85 per cent of<span> </span><a
href="http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/population/migration/data/estimates2/estimates15.shtml,%20http:/publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/wmr_2018_en.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">migrants
in South Asia</a><span> </span>originated from other countries in
the region. There are currently about 3,230,025 and 810,172 migrants
from Bangladesh and Nepal respectively<span> </span><a
href="http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2013/03/23/the-changing-climate-of-bangladeshi-migration-to-india/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">in India</a>.
Pakistan has about 2,326,275 Afghani migrants. With current levels
of transboundary migration already high, it is difficult to decipher
the number of these who are climate-induced migrants. As such,
climate change has remained largely invisible in discussions about
migration.<br>
<a
href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7aed/090a3441dc28cb2c369b2de420acf3ea5ce1.pdf;%20ftp:/ftp.unibocconi.it/pub/RePEc/bcu/papers/iefewp100.pdf;%20http:/services.feem.it/userfiles/attach/20151131331234NDL2015-087.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">Empirical
evidence</a><span> </span>suggests that environmental degradation
is an important factor in pushing migration, particularly in less
developed countries. With climate change already impacting the
availability of water, food and arable land in host countries,
transboundary migration is expected to trigger conflicts and
exacerbate tensions. Migration also contributes to ethnic tensions,
discords, distrust and the demolition of social capital.<br>
For instance, many illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are seeking
employment in India. This is leading to rising Indian intolerance
towards Bangladeshis, especially in Assam and West Bengal. Tensions
are also brewing between Bangladeshi migrants and the ethnic Bodo
group in Assam. The presence of a large number of<span> </span><a
href="http://www.atimes.com/article/afghan-refugees-peril-tensions-escalate-pakistan/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">Afghan
refugees</a><span> </span>in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is seen
by the Pakistani military as a security risk that aggravates drug
trafficking, smuggling and terrorist activities. Following<a
href="https://www.indiatimes.com/news/despite-all-the-help-during-the-2015-nepal-earthquake-here-s-why-we-are-losing-the-trust-of-our-neighbours-254829.html"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;"><span> </span>the
2015 earthquake in Nepal</a>, agitation by the Madhesis (an ethnic
group of Indian origin) in Nepal contributed to nation-wide
political turmoil.<br>
The presence of Nepali migrants in Bhutan and India, Sri Lankan
Tamils in India and Chakmas in Bangladesh have increased security
issues for these countries.<span> </span><a
href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/10157/566100BRI0EP310Box353729B01PUBLIC1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">South
Asia</a><span> </span>is already considered the second most
violent place on earth after Iraq. In<span> </span><a
href="https://www.prio.org/Data/Armed-Conflict/UCDP-PRIO/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">2016</a>,
about 20 per cent of all conflicts in the world took place in this
volatile region and resulted in about 22 per cent of total
conflict-related deaths. Climate-induced migration will worsen these
existing tensions.<br>
Cross-border migration also impacts the psyche of migrants. For
instance, Pakistan has often used pressure tactics to repatriate
Afghan refugees that include imposing insecure legal statuses,
threatening to deport asylum seekers in the winter, enforcing
arbitrary detentions and conducting nocturnal police raids.<br>
The large-scale<span> </span><a
href="https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1913316" target="_blank"
rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(202, 32,
39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">trafficking of women and
children</a><span> </span>across borders in the region is another
matter of grave concern. Barring Afghanistan,<span> </span><a
href="http://www.fmreview.org/non-signatories.html"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">no other
South Asian</a><span> </span>country has signed the 1951 UN
Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.<br>
Climate-induced migration necessitates the acknowledgement of two
issues. First, there are<span> </span><a
href="https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/10996.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">no
official definitions of climate-induced migration</a><span> </span>or
displacement at the<span> </span><a
href="http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/12/08/more-un-action-needed-on-climate-change-displacement/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">international
level</a>. Second, the negligible<span> </span><a
href="http://www.actionaid.org/news/climate-change-will-cause-migration-south-asia-escalate-uncontrollably-coming-years-warn-three-"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">data</a>on
climate-induced migration inhibits the design of effective
resilience and adaptation policies, especially for trans-boundary
migration. It is thus important to<span> </span><a
href="https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2018/03/20/climate-change-could-force-over-140-million-to-migrate-within-countries-by-2050/"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">invest in
data and analysis</a><span> </span>to understand migration
patterns and trajectories.<br>
Countries must<span> </span><a
href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/29461/GroundswellPN2.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">embed
climate-induced migration</a><span> </span>in their development
planning.<span> </span><a
href="https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/environmental_degradation_nexus_in_south_asia.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">Bangladesh's</a><span> </span>Disaster
Management Act 2012, which mentions the rehabilitation of displaced
people, and<span> </span><a
href="https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/environmental_degradation_nexus_in_south_asia.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">Sri
Lanka's</a> proposed relocation of coastal communities are steps
in the right direction. But more needs to be done. Countries need
inclusive frameworks that focus on adaptability, such as building
climate-smart infrastructure and addressing declines in agricultural
yields. To achieve this, South Asian countries need to effectively
manage their irrigation projects and adopt<span> </span><a
href="http://www.fao.org/3/a-i6030e.pdf" target="_blank"
rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(202, 32,
39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">land-based greenhouse gas
mitigation policies</a><span> </span>involving agriculture,
forestry and<span> </span><a
href="https://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar5/wg3/ipcc_wg3_ar5_chapter11.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">other
land uses</a>. In the<span> </span><a
href="https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/29461/GroundswellPN2.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">long run</a>,
investing in human capital, diversifying income generating
activities and pushing towards less climate-vulnerable sectors
(including non-farm activities) would help combat migration.<br>
While the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
does<span> </span><a
href="http://www.nanseninitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/070715_FINAL_BACKGROUND_PAPER_SOUTH_ASIA_REGIONAL_CONSULTATION_screen.pdf,%20http:/ijlljs.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Human_Migration.pdf"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">recognise
climate change</a><span> </span>as a challenge, migration concerns
are only scantly mentioned in the 2014 SAARC Kathmandu Declaration
and 2005 SAARC Social Charter. It is important to<span> </span><a
href="http://www.actionaid.org/news/climate-change-will-cause-migration-south-asia-escalate-uncontrollably-coming-years-warn-three-"
target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="text-decoration: none;
color: rgb(202, 32, 39); transition: all 0.05s ease-in;">build
solidarity</a><span> </span>and increase cooperation among the
South Asian nations that face common challenges. Developing early
warning systems, regional food banks and amenable solutions to water
disputes would enhance resilience and reduce forced migration. It
would also help in improving the public's attitudes towards migrant
populations and in resolving the social tensions caused by climate
migration.<br>
<em>Simrit Kaur is a Professor of Economics and Public Policy</em><em><span> </span>and
the Principal of Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of
Delhi, India.</em><br>
<em>Harpeet Kaur is Assistant Professor in Sri Guru Gobind Singh
College of Commerce at the University of Delhi, India.</em>
<p style="margin: 0.2em 0px 0.8em; font-family: "Open
Sans", Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 1.1em;"><font
size="-2"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/06/17/a-storm-of-climate-change-migration-is-brewing-in-south-asia/">http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/06/17/a-storm-of-climate-change-migration-is-brewing-in-south-asia/</a></font><br>
</p>
<br>
[Opinion deep background]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jun/14/the-legal-fight-to-leave-the-dirtiest-fossil-fuels-in-the-ground">The
legal fight to leave the dirtiest fossil fuels in the ground</a></b><br>
John Abraham<br>
Enbridge wants to build a new tar sands pipeline<br>
Thu 14 Jun 2018<br>
Tar sands are the dirtiest fossil fuels. These are low-quality heavy
tar-like oils that are mined from sand or rock. Much of the mining
occurs in Alberta Canada, but it is also mined elsewhere, in lesser
quantities.<br>
Tar sands are the worst. Not only are they really hard to get out of
the ground, requiring enormous amounts of energy; not only are they
difficult to transport and to refine; not only are they more
polluting than regular oils; they even have a by-product called
"petcoke" that's used in power plants, but is dirtier than regular
coal.<br>
This stuff is worse than regular oil, worse than coal, worse than
anything. Anyone who is serious about climate change cannot agree to
mine and burn tar sands. To maintain climate change below critical
thresholds, tar sands need to be left in the ground.<br>
This fact is what motivated me to testify to the Minnesota Public
Utilities Commission last November, to inform my state's ruling
commission about the impact of tar sands on the climate. Canadian
energy company Enbridge has petitioned to put a pipeline through my
state to carry this dirty tar to refining sites on the coast. <br>
The proposed pipeline is called "Line 3." The pipeline would carry
approximately 760,000 barrels per day - the new pipeline would make
it easier and cheaper for the oil companies to transport tar sands
and consequently, would boost their bottom line. We already move
over two million barrels per day through Minnesota in Enbridge
pipelines. This new pipeline would encourage them to extract and
sell more tar sands.<br>
So, how much pollution would this pipeline carry? 170bn kilograms of
carbon dioxide each year. The emissions are equal to approximately
50 coal power plants. These are huge numbers, but more importantly,
approval of pipelines like this make it more likely that all of the
tar sands in Alberta will be extracted. If that happens, global
temperatures will increase by approximately 0.65°F (0.36°C). An
astonishing number - approximately three decades worth of global
warming.<br>
If you care about climate change, then it is not logically possible
to approve any pipeline or other infrastructure that may further
worsen our climate. We are already screwing up the climate enough as
it is. <br>
The decision-making body in my state has heard climate arguments
before. In fact, in 2016, the same body ruled against the coal giant
Peabody. That ruling decided that fossil fuel companies low-balled
the social cost of carbon. Back then, Peabody brought in a group of
climate contrarians to argue their nonsense. My colleagues and I
were able to convince the Commission that the facts were clear - we
are causing climate change, and our decisions today can make
tomorrow's climate worse. This ruling was used when evaluating the
social cost of carbon pollution for a new Line 3 pipeline. A judge
found that emissions from this project would impose $287bn in social
costs over 30 years.<br>
In this case, the oil company Enbridge did not invite any contrarian
climate scientists. They simply focused on arguments that a new
pipeline will be safer to operate (fewer spills) and lessen other
issues like rail traffic. They effectively conceded the climate
arguments.<br>
The decision will be revealed later this month. But already, an
Administrative Law Judge has given a recommendation that the new
pipeline be built, but in the exact same location as the current
pipe. While this recommendation presents large costs to Enbridge, it
completely misses the science. The judge's opinion made no mention
of climate change. How can a decision on extracting tar sands be
made without considering climate effects?<br>
Just last week, the staff of the commission also recommended
construction of the new pipeline. They too omitted climate change
from their decision.<br>
I was proud to be able to stand alongside tomorrow's leaders.
Courageous youth became parties to the litigation and helped arrange
the testimony of various climate experts like myself. One of the
youth involved in the litigation, Frances Wetherall, summarized her
view and told me why she was involved in the case.<br>
With every barrel of oil burned, my future children and
grandchildren's chances of a long and happy life diminish. I can't
stand by while Big Oil profits off the destruction of future
generations.<br>
Whether or not these youth prevail in this case, their courage,
intelligence, and drive give me hope for a better future.<br>
I am hopeful that the commission dismisses these opinions. It is
clear to me that not only must tar sands be kept in the ground, but
actions to assist in their extraction make one complicit. I believe
that decisions have consequences and we must take responsibility for
our decisions. We cannot say "climate matters" and then facilitate
tar sands extractions. We also cannot say "we didn't know" when our
children ask us why we made poor decisions.<br>
I would hate to be a fossil fuel lawyer, or executive, or lawmaker
who fights for climate destruction today and has to justify his
actions to his kids tomorrow. History will be a very harsh judge to
them; but of course it will be too late for the rest of us.<br>
I've said this before and I will say it again, if we cannot say no
to tar sands, what can we say no to?<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jun/14/the-legal-fight-to-leave-the-dirtiest-fossil-fuels-in-the-ground">https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/jun/14/the-legal-fight-to-leave-the-dirtiest-fossil-fuels-in-the-ground</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[big changes]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-paris-agreement-global-warming-temperature-un-report-ipcc-a8400506.html">Only
'rapid and far-reaching' changes will stop global warming
exceeding 1.5C target by 2040, leaked UN report reveals</a></b><br>
Draft paper presents 'moment of truth' to world leaders, say
campaigners<br>
Josh Gabbatiss Science Correspondent<br>
Global warming will likely exceed the most ambitious target set by
the Paris climate agreement by around 2040, according to a draft
United Nations (UN) report.<br>
In its strongest warning yet about the dangers of climate change,
the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) warned
that only "rapid and far-reaching" changes to the world economy
would prevent temperatures from rising 1.5C above pre-industrial
times.<br>
The report was obtained by Reuters, ahead of the publication of the
final version in October after it has been revised and approved by
governments.<br>
Campaigners say "the moment of truth" has come for world leaders,
who will have to take quick and decisive action in order to avoid
the most harmful effects of climate change...<br>
- - - - -<br>
"As was clear from a number of scientific studies that were
published recently, there is now a lot of evidence that the risks of
climate change are significantly lower when temperature increase is
limited to 1.5C, compared to an increase of 2C," said Bert Metz,
fellow at the European Climate Foundation and former IPCC co-chair.<br>
"This holds for the overall economic damage, loss of biodiversity,
health impacts of fossil fuel associated air pollution, sea level
rise - particularly over the next hundreds of years - and many other
aspects of society and nature."<br>
"The moment of truth has come for our leaders," said Greenpeace
International executive director Jennifer Morgan.<br>
"They can achieve their Paris commitment of capping temperature rise
below 1.5C with 'rapid and far-reaching' actions.<br>
"The feasibility of achieving the Paris goals is a political choice.
This choice must be driven by a moral obligation that binds us
together. Through international cooperation, real ambition and
working with communities, our leaders still have the time to do what
they must."<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-paris-agreement-global-warming-temperature-un-report-ipcc-a8400506.html">https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change-paris-agreement-global-warming-temperature-un-report-ipcc-a8400506.html</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[not surprising]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/30/nasa-climate-change-sensitive-subject-since-trump-former-employee">Nasa
full of 'fear and anxiety' since Trump took office, ex-employee
says</a></b><br>
Those still at the agency fear climate science funding will be cut
since it is now considered a 'sensitive subject'<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/30/nasa-climate-change-sensitive-subject-since-trump-former-employee">https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/may/30/nasa-climate-change-sensitive-subject-since-trump-former-employee</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
<font size="+1"><b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.bradshow.com/Archives/BradShow_061805_Hour1_24k.mp3">This
Day in Climate History - June 18, 2005 </a>- from D.R. Tucker</b></font><br>
June 18, 2005: Investigative journalist Brad Friedman interviews
White House whistleblower Rick Piltz regarding the Bush
Administration's assault on science.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.bradshow.com/Archives/BradShow_061805_Hour1_24k.mp3">http://www.bradshow.com/Archives/BradShow_061805_Hour1_24k.mp3</a>
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.bradshow.com/Archives/BradShow_061805_Hour4_24k.mp3">http://www.bradshow.com/Archives/BradShow_061805_Hour4_24k.mp3</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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