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<font size="+1"><i>October 31, 2018</i></font><br>
<br>
[Who to Vote for]<b><br>
</b><a moz-do-not-send="true" href="https://voteclimatepac.org/"><b>Vote
Climate U.S. PAC</b></a><br>
<b>Climate Voter's Guide</b><br>
Click on your state name to find the climate scores earned by your
senators and representative. Compare the climate positions of the
candidates running against them. <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.voteclimatepac.org/voters-guide/">Click here to
search by zip code or by candidate name.</a><br>
Our national voter's guide gives candidates for the U.S. House and
U.S. Senate a - Climate Calculation - a score that voters can take
to the voting booth on November 6th to vote climate. Never before
has a national, climate change voter's guide assessed incumbents and
challengers. Nor has there ever been a climate change voter's guide
that goes beyond votes to assess leadership and putting a fee on
carbon. Please help with a donation.<br>
<br>
<b>Our Mission</b><br>
Vote Climate U.S. PAC works to elect candidates to get off fossil
fuels, transition to clean, renewable, energy and put a price on
carbon, in order to slow climate change and related weather
extremes.<br>
<br>
<b>Our Approach</b><br>
Vote Climate U.S. PAC is working for a future of hope and progress.
We've seen enough destruction from the weather extremes related to
climate change. The Thomas fire broke the record for the largest
wildfire in CA history. Three Category 4 hurricanes made landfall in
the U.S. in 2017: Harvey in TX; Irma in FL and Maria in PR, costing
lives and billions of dollars. Droughts ravage America's west coast,
the producer of much of our nation's food supply. This is exactly
the pattern climate scientists have predicted; but it's happening
faster than originally anticipated.<br>
<br>
<b>The choice is yours. The time is now.</b><br>
The American people must demand political action on climate change
in the form of a federal fee on carbon. Vote Climate U.S. PAC
supports U.S. House and U.S. Senate candidates who back our mission
and opposes those who do not. Take action today. <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.voteclimatepac.org/take-the-vote-climate-pledge/">Pledge
to vote climate</a>. <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.voteclimatepac.org/donate/">Donate.</a> <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.voteclimatepac.org/host-a-vote-climate-house-party/">Host
a house party. </a><br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://voteclimatepac.org/">https://voteclimatepac.org/</a><br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.voteclimatepac.org/voters-guide/">https://www.voteclimatepac.org/voters-guide/</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[What to Vote for]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29102018/election-2018-washington-carbon-fee-ballot-initiative-price-carbon-big-oil-opposition">These
Voters Could Approve the First U.S. Carbon Fee. Big Oil Is
Spending Millions to Defeat It.</a></b><br>
If the Washington state measure wins, it could begin a U.S. movement
to make the price of fossil fuels reflect their cost to the planet.<br>
BY MARIANNE LAVELLE<br>
Washington state voters will decide this November whether to approve
the nation's first carbon fee in what has become the most expensive
ballot initiative fight in the state's history and a referendum on
the oil industry's political clout.<br>
<br>
If the measure passes, it will show that even as the federal
government turns its back on the climate crisis, one state's voters
can make a difference.<br>
<br>
If it is defeated, that will affirm the oil industry's ability to
marshal money for advertising and support to deflect challenges to
its continued dominant role in fueling the nation's economy.<br>
<br>
The fee would be charged to large carbon emitters and fossil fuel
sellers based on the carbon content of the fuels sold or used in the
state. The costs would come back to residents, mainly at the gas
pump, as companies pass those charges on to their consumers.
Estimates of the annual cost to each Washington state household
range from $159 to $440 in the first year of the fee.<br>
<br>
By itself, that's not enough to wean the nation, or even the state,
off fossil fuels. But Washington's Initiative 1631 could begin a
movement in the U.S. to make the price of fossil fuels reflect their
cost to the planet--a step economists believe would be the most
effective market mechanism to reduce greenhouse gases.<br>
Oil companies have contributed almost all of the $29.7 million that
has been raised so far to defeat the ballot measure--more money than
has been devoted to any ballot initiative campaign in the state's
history....<br>
- - - <br>
All revenue would go to a dedicated state fund (not the general
state treasury--that's why proponents claim it's a fee, not a tax.)
The fund would pay for projects to reduce dependence on fossil
fuels, from renewable energy to electric car infrastructure. It also
would go to efforts to mitigate climate change impacts, reduce
forest fire risks, help low-income and Native American communities,
and assist displaced workers.<br>
- - - <br>
"If people from the ground up support taking on a challenge this
significant, then we can do it at the national level, too," said
Julie McNamara, energy analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"And of course that's of concern to oil and gas companies."<br>
<br>
Carbon fee proponents have some heavy hitters on their
side--software billionaire Bill Gates and former New York Mayor
Michael Bloomberg each have donated $1 million to the campaign to
pass the initiative. But altogether, the pro-initiative campaign,
called Clean Air Clean Energy Washington, has raised about half as
much money as the initiative's foes--about $14 million.<br>
<br>
Two years ago, a similar ballot measure to put a price on carbon in
Washington state failed, with 59 percent of voters saying no. That
plan would have returned all the proceeds to taxpayers, but it was
unpopular with social justice groups, who felt the revenue should be
used to assist Washington communities facing increased risks from
wildfire, flooding and other climate impacts. Environmental
advocates were bitterly divided and didn't rally behind the measure.<br>
<br>
This year, supporters have tried to build a much broader coalition.
In addition to environmental groups, 14 Native American tribes and
nations, the American Lung Association and other health groups, and
activists for low-income and minority communities all support the
proposal. The plan would put all revenue from the fee--an estimated
$2.3 billion in the first five years--into clean energy and water
and healthy forest investments, as well as addressing the concerns
of disadvantaged communities.<br>
<br>
"It started out as a values conversation among labor, environmental
groups and communities of color," said Nick Abraham, communications
director for the coalition in support of the carbon fee. "That
morphed to include health professionals, faith communities, big
Washington state companies like Microsoft and REI. It's broadened
out to be the most diverse and largest coalition in our state's
history."...<br>
- - -<br>
<b>Not all businesses would have to pay the carbon fee.</b><br>
Washington's one remaining coal plant, TransAlta's Centralia
generating station, would be exempt because it already is on track
to be shuttered by 2025 under a settlement with the state. That one
plant, accounting for 26 percent of Washington's carbon emissions
from large emitters, is the state's largest greenhouse gas polluter.<br>
<br>
Also, aluminum, cement, and steel producers, the aircraft industry,
pulp and paper mills, and other so-called "energy-intensive
trade-exposed industries," accounting for 16 percent of the carbon
emissions from the state's large emitters, would be exempt.
Proponents argue that makes sense for a Washington state-only
policy, because of the risk of losing those industries to other
states. But the initiative's foes argue it's unfair...<br>
- - -<br>
Labor is divided over the initiative, with the largest public
employees' unions in support, but union locals representing
construction and other blue-collar workers opposing the carbon fee.
A University of Massachusetts study commissioned by the Washington
State Labor Council and other labor groups concluded that a
fee-and-investment program like Initiative 1631 would generate
40,000 jobs a year in the state. But a study commissioned by the "No
on 1631" coalition projected skyrocketing future costs, job losses,
and little impact on carbon emissions if voters pass the fee...<br>
- - -<br>
<b>Oil Money Pours In</b><br>
One impact of the fee is certain--the segment of the fossil fuel
industry that would be hardest hit would be oil. Washington State,
as the nation's leading producer of hydroelectricity, already is
among the 10 states with the lowest carbon emissions per capita due
to its relatively clean electricity mix. Transportation, primarily
fueled by oil, is by far the state's largest source of emissions.<br>
<br>
The largest contributors to the No on 1631 campaign--BP America,
Phillips 66, and Andeavor (owned by Marathon Petroleum)--helped make
Washington the No. 5 state in crude oil refining capacity. (Refiners
account for 28 percent of Washington's current greenhouse gas
emissions from large emitters.) Koch Industries, the conglomerate of
the billionaire libertarian Koch Brothers, which has Georgia Pacific
facilities in the state and has been a leader in opposing climate
action, has contributed nearly $1 million to the fight.<br>
<br>
The oil industry's role in the anti-carbon fee ads isn't always
apparent. In one commercial, former Washington attorney general and
GOP gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna appears, identified as a
"consumer advocate." It doesn't mention he's currently a lawyer for
Chevron, defending the company in a climate lawsuit brought by King
County, the most populous county in the state and home of Seattle.<br>
<br>
The money poured into the initiative fight by the oil industry has
shattered the previous record for Washington initiative campaigns,
set in 2013 by the successful $24.5 million drive to fight labeling
of genetically modified food in the state...<br>
- - - <br>
<b>Voters Are Feeling the Effects of Climate Change</b><br>
The vote comes in a year when Washington state has been feeling the
effects of climate change.<br>
Seattle had its worst air quality on record in August due to smoke
from widespread Western wildfires. Off the coast, the state's
beloved and endangered orca population reached its lowest level in
34 years--although many factors are to blame, the killer whales eat
Chinook salmon, which are in decline due in part to stream warming
in Northwest watersheds. Ocean acidification continues to take a
toll on shellfish in Puget Sound.<br>
- - - -<br>
KC Golden, a longtime Washington activist, said he believes the
carbon price fight will reverberate beyond the state's borders--not
because the plan will be a model or template for others, but because
of what it says about climate advocates' ability to face off against
the measure's powerful and well-funded foes.<br>
<br>
"It's less about the particulars of the policy design, and more
about the ability to overcome the single biggest obstacle to climate
policy, which is the concentrated economic and political power of
the fossil fuel incumbents," Golden said.<br>
<br>
"We have all these elaborate psychological explanations about why we
have failed these past 30 years to respond to the climate crisis,"
he said. "We'd commit ourselves to the transition in a minute, if
there wasn't something stopping us, and that something is now
spending $29 million to try to stop us in Washington State.<font
size="-1"><br>
More at - <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29102018/election-2018-washington-carbon-fee-ballot-initiative-price-carbon-big-oil-opposition">https://insideclimatenews.org/news/29102018/election-2018-washington-carbon-fee-ballot-initiative-price-carbon-big-oil-opposition</a><br>
<br>
</font><br>
[CO2 damages]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dozhgeVOXkc">Are We
Becoming too Dumb to Solve the Big Problems such as Climate
Change?</a></b><br>
Climate State<br>
Published on Oct 29, 2018<br>
Recent studies suggest that various pollution sources contribute to
the decline of cognitive abilities, IQ scores, human intelligence.
Could this trend potentially affect our collective efforts to combat
climate change?<br>
<font size="+1"><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">Sources</span><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
IQ scores are falling and have been for decades, new study finds
</span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" spellcheck="false" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2018%2F06%2F13%2Fhealth%2Ffalling-iq-scores-study-intl%2Findex.html&v=dozhgeVOXkc&redir_token=TZArvxciwjdKa4SDh8ULeqcd46B8MTU0MTA1Njc5MEAxNTQwOTcwMzkw&event=video_description" rel="nofollow" style="display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: var(--yt-endpoint-visited-color, var(--yt-spec-icon-active-button-link)); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/13/he...</a><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
High CO2 Levels Inside & Out: Double Whammy?
</span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" spellcheck="false" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.yaleclimateconnections.org%2F2016%2F07%2Findoor-co2-dumb-and-dumber&v=dozhgeVOXkc&redir_token=TZArvxciwjdKa4SDh8ULeqcd46B8MTU0MTA1Njc5MEAxNTQwOTcwMzkw&event=video_description" rel="nofollow" style="display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: var(--yt-endpoint-visited-color, var(--yt-spec-icon-active-button-link)); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.yaleclimateconnections.or...</a><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
Air pollution causes ‘huge’ reduction in intelligence, study reveals
</span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" spellcheck="false" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fenvironment%2F2018%2Faug%2F27%2Fair-pollution-causes-huge-reduction-in-intelligence-study-reveals&v=dozhgeVOXkc&redir_token=TZArvxciwjdKa4SDh8ULeqcd46B8MTU0MTA1Njc5MEAxNTQwOTcwMzkw&event=video_description" rel="nofollow" style="display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: var(--yt-endpoint-visited-color, var(--yt-spec-icon-active-button-link)); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.theguardian.com/environme...</a><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
Xi Chen discusses the study he co-authored on air pollution and intelligence
</span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" spellcheck="false" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3bCOr5rqo" style="display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: var(--yt-endpoint-visited-color, var(--yt-spec-icon-active-button-link)); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W3bC...</a><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
If we were really smart, we’d get over our fixation on the IQ test
</span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" spellcheck="false" href="https://www.youtube.com/redirect?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fcommentisfree%2F2018%2Fjun%2F17%2Fdumbing-down-or-need-better--smarter-measure&v=dozhgeVOXkc&redir_token=TZArvxciwjdKa4SDh8ULeqcd46B8MTU0MTA1Njc5MEAxNTQwOTcwMzkw&event=video_description" rel="nofollow" style="display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: var(--yt-endpoint-visited-color, var(--yt-spec-icon-active-button-link)); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.theguardian.com/commentis...</a><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
Are we getting smarter or dumber, or both? Frank Salter interviews Michael A. Woodley </span><a class="yt-simple-endpoint style-scope yt-formatted-string" spellcheck="false" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taw5O7-VKks" style="display: inline-block; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none; color: var(--yt-endpoint-visited-color, var(--yt-spec-icon-active-button-link)); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Taw5O...</a><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre-wrap; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; display: inline ! important; float: none;">
</span></font><font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dozhgeVOXkc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dozhgeVOXkc</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[15 min video of scientist, cat and toys]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2qt5Ah_QNY">Climate
Tipping Points: Atmospheric and Ocean Circulation</a></b><br>
Paul Beckwith<br>
Published on Oct 30, 2018<br>
Presently, global average temperature is rising 0.25C per decade.
However nonlinear, tipping points can greatly increase this rate of
warming. Atmospheric circulation (jetstreams) and ocean circulation
(currents like the AMOC, or Atlantic Meridional Overturning
Circulation) can switch state behaviour and quickly rocket us up to
a much different, chaotic world. In this video, the first of two
parts, I chat about the risks of these tipping points being
triggered.<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2qt5Ah_QNY">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2qt5Ah_QNY</a></font><br>
<font size="-1"><br>
</font><br>
[Columbia Law School]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/resources/silencing-science-tracker/silencing-climate-science/">Silencing
Science Tracker</a></b><br>
Updates: October 29, 2018<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/climate-science-misrepresented-by-alaska-congressman/">Climate
Science Misrepresented by Alaska Congressman</a></b><br>
During a televised debate, Representative Don Yong asserted,
contrary to decades of scientific research, that climate change is
not caused by human activities. Rep. Young also accused scientists
of overstating the risks posed by climate change, saying "[i]t's
being used as an instrument to frighten people." <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/climate-science-misrepresented-by-alaska-congressman/">Read
more</a><br>
- - -<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/climate-science-misrepresented-by-vice-president-pence/">Climate
Science Misrepresented by Vice President Pence</a></b><br>
Vice President Mike Pence questioned scientific research showing
that climate change is primarily caused by greenhouse gas emissions,
telling reporters that its causes "are yet to be seen." <a
moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/climate-science-misrepresented-by-vice-president-pence/">Read
more</a><br>
- - <br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/climate-science-misrepresented-by-president-trump-2/">Climate
Science Misrepresented by President Trump</a></b><br>
In a televised interview, President Trump questioned scientific
research showing that anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are the
primary driver of climate change, saying we "don't know" what would
have happened "with or without man." <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/climate-science-misrepresented-by-president-trump-2/">Read
more</a> <br>
- - -<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/epas-office-of-the-science-advisor-to-be-closed/">Scientific
Data and Records to be Destroyed by DOI</a></b><br>
DOI filed a "Request for Records Disposition Authority" with the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). In the request,
DOI seeks permission from NARA to destroy records relating to its
conservation, land use, energy, and water programs. Many of the
records document the findings of scientific research or contain data
needed to conduct such research. <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/silencing-science-tracker/epas-office-of-the-science-advisor-to-be-closed/">Read
more</a><br>
<font size="-1">more at- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/resources/silencing-science-tracker/silencing-climate-science/">http://columbiaclimatelaw.com/resources/silencing-science-tracker/silencing-climate-science/</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://gothamist.com/2018/10/29/climate_change_future_planning.php">Ask
A Climate Scientist: What's The Point Of Saving For Retirement
If The Ice Caps Are Melting?</a></b><br>
BY NEIL DEMAUSE - OCT 29, 2018<br>
- - -<br>
The good news is that limiting warming to just 1.5 degrees could
stave off many of the worst effects -- but that would take immediate
coordinated efforts to cut global carbon emissions, of the sort that
the world has shown no signs of being willing or ready to engage in.
Without those, we could pass the 1.5 degree mark as soon as 2040,
and careen into sci-fi levels of disaster -- permanent drought in
Spain and Italy, global famine and water wars -- soon thereafter.<br>
<br>
So if the prognosis is so dismal, how should those of us young
enough to plan on being alive for a couple more decades be
preparing? Does it still make sense to be socking money away in a
401(k) for a future that may no longer exist? Should we be stocking
up on canned goods and thundersticks instead?...<br>
- - -<br>
That's true for bad tipping points, where even a small additional
rise in global temperature can result in catastrophic results, he
notes: "After extreme temperatures cross a certain threshold, crop
yields fall dramatically, not gradually." But it's also true for
"societal tipping points" that could help rein in this problem. Wind
and solar energy, for example, have fallen in price much faster than
expected, which could lead to a faster reduction in fossil fuel use
than anyone had anticipated.<br>
Trenberth concurs that tipping points can show up where we least
expect them. "In 1903, the streets of New York City were full of
horse and buggies," he says. "Twelve years later, they were full of
automobiles, and there were hardly horse and buggies to be found.
The same sort of thing could easily occur for automobiles, given the
technologies that we already have." To do this would require
shifting government subsidies to penalize gas-fueled cars and
encourage the purchase of electric ones -- but once the ball got
rolling, electric cars would only get cheaper and easier to fuel up.<br>
<br>
The important thing, says Horton, is not to panic -- or, at least,
not to panic more than absolutely necessary. "Through most of human
history, we have lived in near constant fear of destruction of what
we hold dear," he notes. "I don't know if that makes people feel
better or worse."<br>
<br>
So to recap: Buy an electric car if you can afford it, don't eat red
meat, vote for politicians who believe climate change is real, don't
invest in land in Florida or Arizona, and put money in your IRA so
you can buy your way into the eventual biodomes. And by all means,
stock up on chocolate now, before it becomes extinct. You gotta have
priorities.<br>
more at - <font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://gothamist.com/2018/10/29/climate_change_future_planning.php">http://gothamist.com/2018/10/29/climate_change_future_planning.php</a></font><br>
<br>
<br>
[UN Climate Change]<br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="https://talanoadialogue.com/background">What is Talanoa?</a><br>
Talanoa is a traditional word used in Fiji and across the Pacific to
reflect a process of inclusive, participatory and transparent
dialogue. The purpose of Talanoa is to share stories, build empathy
and to make wise decisions for the collective good. The process of
Talanoa involves the sharing of ideas, skills and experience through
storytelling.<br>
During the process, participants build trust and advance knowledge
through empathy and understanding. Blaming others and making
critical observations are inconsistent with building mutual trust
and respect, and therefore inconsistent with the Talanoa concept.
Talanoa fosters stability and inclusiveness in dialogue by creating
a safe space that embraces mutual respect for a platform for
decision making for a greater good.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="https://talanoadialogue.com/background">https://talanoadialogue.com/background</a><br>
<br>
<br>
[Comment]<br>
<b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/10/29/brazils-choice-matter-planet/">Brazil's
choice is a matter for the planet</a></b><br>
Published on 29/10/2018<br>
Comment: The election of Jair Bolsonaro is the most critical new
threat to efforts to control climate change<br>
By Climate Home News<br>
Jair Bolsonaro has ridden a wave of dissatisfaction to victory in
Brazil. What happens now is a matter for the whole planet.<br>
<br>
With most of the Amazon under his control, few national leaders will
have more power to harm or help the world's fight against climate
change than Bolsonaro.<br>
<br>
It is Climate Home News' view that the election of the former army
captain is the most critical new threat to efforts to control
climate change.<br>
<br>
We base this on the promises and statements Bolsonaro has made. If
you haven't already done so, please read CHN correspondent Fabiano
Maisonnave's<a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/10/08/bolsonaro-made-grim-threats-amazon-people/">
urgent and disturbing catalogue</a> of his environmental
positions.<br>
<br>
Particularly worrying is his political pivot to the powerful
agricultural lobby. The current Temer government's pandering to this
“beef caucus” has opened up the forest to land-grabbing and logging.
Bolsonaro's threats, particularly to the indigenous land rights that
effectively hamper forest strippers, make Temer look benign.<br>
<br>
There are some unknowns: the degree to which his talk will translate
into committed policy; what checks will be placed on him by Brazil's
Congress, courts and constitution; his susceptibility to
international pressure.<br>
<br>
In his latest statements Bolsonaro said he would honour the Paris
climate accord. But he threw in enough caveats to warrant little
confidence. He has already been <a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/08/14/brazils-bolsonaro-threatens-quit-paris-climate-deal/">mercurial</a>
on this point.<br>
<br>
Even if Brazil remains inside the deal, a rise in Amazon
deforestation would add its name to a growing list of countries
where on-the-ground reality is divorcing from promises made in the
French capital. Donald Trump's US, which seemed an aberration a year
ago, looks increasingly to have made it okay to do nothing on
climate…again.<br>
<br>
In the coming days, weeks and months, CHN will be bringing you
reporting from Maisonnave, who is based in the heart of the Amazon
(see below for how you can help) and, as always, we will be watching
for how domestic upheaval shifts the global political balance.<br>
<br>
Bolsonaro, the military man, believes sovereignty is God. So
criticising Brazil's democratic choice on the basis of global
interests is unlikely to go over well with him or his supporters.<br>
But the Amazon makes Brazil unique. Just weeks after the scientific
community warned many safe natural thresholds will be crossed within
a decade or two unless we all start running in the same direction,
Brazil's inward turn will have consequences beyond its borders.<br>
<font size="-1"><a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/10/29/brazils-choice-matter-planet/">http://www.climatechangenews.com/2018/10/29/brazils-choice-matter-planet/</a><br>
</font><br>
<br>
<font size="+1"><b><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-92/pdf/STATUTE-92-Pg601.pdf">This
Day in Climate History - October 31, 1978</a> - from D.R.
Tucker</b></font><br>
October 31, 1978: President Carter signs the National Climate
Program Act into law.<br>
<blockquote>SEC. 2. FINDINGS. note.<br>
The Congress finds and declares the following: 15 USC 2901.<br>
(1) Weather and climate change affect food production, energy<br>
use, land use, water resources and other factors vital to national<br>
security and human welfare.<br>
(2) An ability to anticipate natural and man-induced changes<br>
in climate would contribute to the soundness of policy decisions
in<br>
the public and private sectors.<br>
(3) Significant improvements in the ability to forecast climate<br>
on an intermediate and long-term basis are possible.<br>
(4) Information regarding climate is not being fully disseminated<br>
or used, and Federal efforts have given insufficient attention<br>
to assessing and applying this information.<br>
(5) Climate fluctuation and change occur on a global basis, and<br>
deficiencies exist in the system for monitoring global climate<br>
changes. International cooperation for the purpose of sharing the<br>
benefits and costs of a global effort, to understand climate is<br>
essential.<br>
(6) The United States lacks a well-defined and coordinated<br>
program in climate-related research, monitoring, assessment of<br>
effects, and information utilization. <br>
<br>
SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 15 USC 2902.
It is the purpose of the Congress in this Act<br>
to establish a national
climate program that will assist the Nation and the world<br>
to understand
and respond to natural and man-induced climate processes and
their implications. </blockquote>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-92/pdf/STATUTE-92-Pg601.pdf">http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/STATUTE-92/pdf/STATUTE-92-Pg601.pdf</a><br>
<br>
<br>
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