Capitalism Killed Our Climate Momentum, Not “Human Nature”

A small but important correction of the NY Times story I shared earlier well written by Naomi Klein. The small difference actually changes the whole perspective from us not acting on climate change because humans are too stupid to very avoidable if we chose a better system than capitalism.




The skyline of Manhattan at sunset in New York, May 23, 2018. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images



Capitalism Killed Our Climate Momentum, Not “Human Nature”

Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change - The New York Times

Hope we will not lose another decade!

This narrative by Nathaniel Rich is a work of history, addressing the 10-year period from 1979 to 1989: the decisive decade when humankind first came to a broad understanding of the causes and dangers of climate change. Complementing the text is a series of aerial photographs and videos, all shot over the past year by George Steinmetz. With support from the Pulitzer Center, this two-part article is based on 18 months of reporting and well over a hundred interviews. It tracks the efforts of a small group of American scientists, activists and politicians to raise the alarm and stave off catastrophe. It will come as a revelation to many readers — an agonizing revelation — to understand how thoroughly they grasped the problem and how close they came to solving it.

Full Story: Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change - The New York Times

Why L.A. is coating its streets with material that hides planes from spy satellites - The Washington Post

Hope that the asphalt-based coating is non-toxic. That’s the problem with technofixes…



limate change conjures up distant images of rising seas and cracking ice sheets, but in cities across the United States the effects of global warming are apparent as soon as you step outside.



It’s known as the “urban heat island effect,” and it refers to the pockets of intense heat captured by the concrete, asphalt, dark roofs and the dearth of foliage that define many American cityscapes.




Image from https://www.wkbn.com/local-news/why-do-roads-buckle-in-the-summer-heat_20180416111420615/1124909506



Why L.A. is coating its streets with material that hides planes from spy satellites - The Washington Post

Europe heatwave: All-time temperature could be broken - BBC News

So it goes...



Europe is experiencing a further heatwave this summer, with forecasters say the all-time temperature record could be broken in the coming days.




Pictures show shrunken lakes and dry riverbeds, along with people cooling off with water fountains and beach umbrellas, including the coastal town of Benidorm in Spain. REUTERS



Europe heatwave: All-time temperature could be broken - BBC News

Summary of Solutions by Overall Rank | Drawdown

The 80 most important strategies to reduce climate change - some will surprise you...







Summary of Solutions by Overall Rank

This table provides the detailed results of the Plausible Scenario, which models the growth solutions on the Drawdown list based on a reasonable, but vigorous rate from 2020-2050. Results depicted represent a comparison to a reference case that assumes 2014 levels of adoption continue in proportion to the growth in global markets.



NOTE: Energy Storage (utility-scale & distributed), Grid Flexibility, Microgrids, Net Zero Buildings, and Retrofitting were not modeled independently to avoid double counting impacts from other solutions.



Summary of Solutions by Overall Rank | Drawdown

Single-use plastic bag sales fall 86% since introduction of 5p charge | The Independent

Incentives work!



Campaigners are now calling for charges on plastic bottles and disposable coffee cups in the hope of producing a similar effect




Friends of the Earth hailed the legislation for making reusable shopping bags the ‘new norm’ ( AFP/Getty )



Single-use plastic bag sales fall 86% since introduction of 5p charge | The Independent

Environmental Health Perspectives – Estimated Effects of Future Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations on Protein Intake and the Risk of Protein Deficiency by Country and Region

Crops grown under elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (eCO2) contain less protein. Crops particularly affected include rice and wheat, which are primary sources of dietary protein for many countries.Under eCO2, rice, wheat, barley, and potato protein contents decreased by 7.6%, 7.8%, 14.1%, and 6.4%, respectively. Consequently, 18 countries may lose >5% of their dietary protein, including India (5.3%). By 2050, assuming today’s diets and levels of income inequality, an additional 1.6% or 148.4 million of the world’s population may be placed at risk of protein deficiency because of eCO2. In India, an additional 53 million people may become at risk.


Figure 3. Risk of protein deficiency as defined by protein intake below estimated average protein requirements (EAR). Estimates of (A) current percentage of the population at risk of deficiency, (B) percent of the population newly at risk of deficiency under elevated carbon dioxide (eCO2), and (C) millions of people estimated to be newly at risk of deficiency under eCO2, based on 2050 population projections. Data were plotted using the Rworldmap package in R (version 3.2.4; R Development Core Team).

Environmental Health Perspectives – Estimated Effects of Future Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations on Protein Intake and the Risk of Protein Deficiency by Country and Region