#ipcc result 2022

[probablyasocialecologist]

The richest 1% globally has been responsible for 23% of total emissions growth since 1990 (Chancel 2022). Over the past 25 years, this “polluter elite” (IPCC 2022, 524) has contributed to more than twice as much carbon pollution compared to the three billion people that comprise the poorest half of humanity (Oxfam 2020; see also Gössling and Humpe 2023). Similar inequalities are evident in the (over)consumption of other resources. Savelli et al. (2023) show that the excessive water use by elites exacerbates urban water crises as much as climate change or population growth. Additionally, maintaining economic inequality close to current levels results in a doubling of the energy required to ensure decent living standards for all, allowing all people on Earth to have their basic needs covered (Millward-Hopkins 2022). At the same time, it is now clear that those who suffer most from environmental degradation have contributed the least to it (Chancel 2020). These selective vignettes underscore a simple but powerful truth: today’s climate and broader ecological crises are, at their core, distributional crises, where excess and deprivation, overshoot and shortfall are interconnected (see also Gough 2017; Büchs et al. 2023). Despite these realities, prevailing climate research and policy, deeply entrenched in an ecomodernist, green-growth paradigm, tend to frame the climate crisis as a matter of decoupling resource use and emissions from economic growth. This is envisioned to be achieved through technological advancements (efficiency gains) and adjustments of the price system to correct market failures (internalising “externalities”). However, this techno-economic approach to climate research and policy has not only failed to resolve its own problem definition, as there is no empirical evidence supporting the existence of absolute decoupling anywhere near the speed and scale needed (Parrique et al. 2019; Haberl et al. 2020; Wiedmann et al. 2020; Vogel and Hickel 2023). Efficiency improvements and price adjustments also constitute responses to a problem framing that considers inequality at best an afterthought. As leading climate economist Gernot Wagner proclaims: “It’s tempting to want to stick it to the man. We instead need to stick it to carbon. (…) Inequality is a real (…) problem. But we can’t delay climate action even further for the false hope of solving all the world’s other ills” (cited in Harvey 2023). Such mindsets cannot provide answers to ecological crises as distributional crises.

[vsijaipur]

#1 Best CA Coaching Institute in Jaipur | Best CA Coaching Institute | CA Coaching Institute in India | VSI Jaipur

VSI Jaipur is the best CA Coaching Institute in India, offering classes for all the levels of the CA course. By providing quality teaching, personalized guidance and conducting regular mock tests, VSI became the only CA Coaching in India whose students got the ever-highest marks in IPCC, Intermediate & Final.

VSI Jaipur has built a reputation as the best CA Coaching Institute in India, known for consistently producing top rankers in all levels of the Chartered Accountancy (CA) exams—Foundation, Intermediate (formerly IPCC), and Final. The institute follows a results-driven approach that emphasizes the following key features:

Experienced Faculty VSI Jaipur boasts a team of highly experienced and qualified faculty members who are experts in their respective subjects. They employ a teaching methodology that simplifies complex concepts, ensuring students grasp even the most challenging topics.

Personalized Guidance One of the standout features of VSI is its personalized approach to student guidance. Faculty members and mentors offer one-on-one counseling to address each student's individual needs, weaknesses, and strengths. This personal attention ensures that students stay on the right path toward success.

Comprehensive Study Material The study material provided by VSI is meticulously crafted to align with the latest CA syllabus. It includes detailed explanations, practical examples, and a large variety of practice questions, which help students build a strong foundation in each subject.

Regular Mock Tests and Assessments Regular mock test series are a hallmark of VSI Jaipur's coaching program. These tests are conducted in an exam-like environment, helping students practice time management and exam strategy. VSI evaluates these tests thoroughly and provides detailed feedback to help students identify and improve on their weaknesses.

Unparalleled Results VSI is the only CA institute in India whose students have consistently achieved the highest marks in the IPCC, Intermediate, and Final CA exams. Notably, VSI Jaipur produced AIR 1 in CA Final May 2018 and CA Intermediate May 2022, among other top-ranking students over the years. These results speak volumes about the effectiveness of its teaching methodology.

Updated Curriculum The curriculum at VSI Jaipur is updated regularly in line with the latest changes in ICAI's guidelines and exam patterns. This ensures that students are always well-prepared for the current exam standards.

Small Batch Size VSI Jaipur maintains small batch sizes to ensure that each student receives personalized attention. This allows the faculty to engage more closely with each student, answer questions more effectively, and ensure thorough understanding.

Doubt Clearing Sessions Frequent doubt-clearing sessions are conducted where students can interact directly with the faculty to clarify any questions they might have. This ensures that no student is left behind, and all doubts are addressed timely.

Focus on Conceptual Clarity Rather than encouraging rote learning, VSI Jaipur emphasizes a deep understanding of fundamental concepts. This approach not only helps students score well in exams but also equips them with the analytical skills required for a successful career as a Chartered Accountant.

Online and Offline Coaching VSI offers both online and offline classes, allowing students from all across India to access their quality education. The online classes are designed to provide the same level of interaction and engagement as traditional classroom settings, making it convenient for students to study from anywhere.

Proven Track Record VSI Jaipur’s proven track record over the years has made it the most trusted name in CA coaching. The institute continues to deliver top results, making it the go-to choice for CA aspirants.

[roamnook]

"Bank for International Settlements Report: Global Economy Grew by 5% in 2021, Unemployment Drop to 4.2% - Key Data Revealed!"

Polarizing Facts and Real World Applications

Polarizing Facts and Real World Applications

Did you know that the world's population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050? That's just one fascinating fact among many we'll explore in this article. We'll delve into a myriad of numerical, objective, and hard-hitting facts that will not only grab your attention but also provide you with new and valuable information.

The Impact of Climate Change

Let's start with climate change. According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global warming is set to exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by as early as 2030, with catastrophic consequences. This data, backed by scientific research, shows that urgent action is needed to mitigate the effects of climate change on our planet.

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is another field that has seen exponential growth in recent years. Data from the International Data Corporation (IDC) reveals that global spending on AI is projected to reach $79.2 billion in 2022, with industries like healthcare, finance, and manufacturing leading the way. The real-world applications of AI are vast, from improving medical diagnosis to optimizing supply chain management.

The Digital Revolution

In an increasingly digital world, the importance of digital marketing cannot be overstated. Studies show that 81% of shoppers conduct online research before making a purchase, highlighting the significance of a strong online presence for businesses. This is where innovative technology companies like RoamNook come in.

Sponsoring RoamNook: Fueling Digital Growth

RoamNook is a leading IT consultation and custom software development company that understands the power of data-driven decisions. With their expertise in digital marketing, RoamNook helps businesses leverage the immense potential of the digital world to fuel growth and stay ahead of the competition.

RoamNook's team of professionals excels in developing cutting-edge software solutions tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Whether it's creating a user-friendly website, implementing an effective SEO strategy, or harnessing the power of social media marketing, RoamNook has the knowledge and experience to deliver results.

Moreover, RoamNook understands the importance of staying updated with the latest technological advancements. They are constantly exploring emerging trends like blockchain, IoT, and machine learning to provide their clients with innovative solutions that drive business success.

By partnering with RoamNook, businesses can gain a competitive edge in the digital landscape, reaching their target audience effectively and maximizing their return on investment. With RoamNook's comprehensive suite of services, including IT consultation, custom software development, and digital marketing, businesses can thrive in today's fast-paced and ever-evolving digital world.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article has presented you with a wealth of polarizing facts, hard information, and concrete data that shed light on various crucial topics such as climate change, artificial intelligence, and the digital revolution. These facts provide us with invaluable insights into the state of our world and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Furthermore, the real-world applications of this information are vast. Understanding the impact of climate change can inspire us to take action and drive sustainable practices. Embracing the potential of artificial intelligence can revolutionize industries and enhance our everyday lives. And harnessing the power of digital marketing can help businesses thrive in the digital age.

At RoamNook, we believe in the power of data, innovation, and growth. Through our specialized IT consultation, custom software development, and digital marketing services, we aim to fuel digital growth and empower businesses to reach new heights.

If you're ready to take your business to the next level and explore the endless possibilities of the digital world, contact RoamNook today. Together, let's pave the way for a brighter, more prosperous future.

Sponsored by RoamNook: Fueling Digital Growth

Source: https://www.bis.org/publ/othp71.htm&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiQ1arZ2OOEAxW4KFkFHQ4vAoYQxfQBegQIBRAC&usg=AOvVaw3S7Rx9gUph33gBYp-kIsGp

[moremarketresearch]

88% of Indians confident in the country’s ability to adopt climate change policies - EIB survey

88% of Indians confident in the country’s ability to adopt climate change policies that address social inequalities at the same time, the EIB survey finds. High confidence in a just climate transition Solidarity to support a just transition About the EIB Climate Survey About the European Investment Bank About BVA Xsight Highlights: - Climate and environmental concerns top the list of challenges Indian respondents see for their country. - 90% of Indian respondents have confidence in the government's ability to deliver a fair climate transition that also tackles inequalities. - Two-thirds of Indians surveyed believe that the climate transition will improve the quality of their daily lives, food and health, and create more jobs for the country. - Most respondents from the European Union, the United States, and Japan believe their countries should provide financial compensation to affected nations for climate change. These are some of the results from the latest yearly climate survey, conducted in August 2023 and published today by the European Investment Bank. The EIB is the lending arm of the European Union and the world’s largest multilateral lender for climate action projects. Since 1993, we have been partnering with India, supporting the country's green ambitions by investing in sustainable urban transport and renewable energy. Recent years in India have been marked not only by record heatwaves and droughts but also more recently by disastrous landslides and flash floods. In 2022, the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment compiled a list of extreme weather events in the country. According to this report, India experienced at least one extreme weather event in 314 out of 365 days. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has also published a report for 2022, which paints a worrying picture of the climate situation in India. India is one of the global hotspots identified in the report in terms of geographical and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. States like Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Bihar are the most vulnerable to climate hazards such as floods, droughts and cyclones. Against this backdrop, Indians have become acutely aware of the profound impact of climate change on their daily lives and the urgent need for action. Hence, climate change and environmental issues are now considered the number one challenge for Indians (56% of respondents place it in the top three concerns for their country). This is a striking insight as—out of the 35 countries covered by the survey—India is one of only five countries to place climate and environment as the very top challenge (with China, South Korea, Denmark and Slovenia being the other four). Meanwhile, most respondents in all other countries in the European Union, together with the United States, Japan, Canada and UAE consider it to be the second most significant issue facing their country after the increased cost of living.

High confidence in a just climate transition

With economic disparities ranked as the fourth most significant major challenge for the country by respondents, most Indians are calling for fair policies to address the climate emergency. 59% (close to China, the United States and Japan but 9 points below the European Union) say the transition to a low-carbon economy can only happen if inequalities are addressed at the same time. Additionally, 88% of Indian respondents say they are confident in the government’s ability to adopt climate change policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and address social inequalities at the same time. This is similar to China but far above the United States (where only 57% are confident), Japan (40%) and the EU average (38%). Moreover, Indians are particularly confident about the outcome of climate policies. 65% of respondents (a figure close to that of the United States and China and to the EU average but 18 points above Japan) believe that climate policies will improve the quality of their daily lives. 63% also think that the policies will create more jobs than they will eliminate (7 points below China but 6 points above the United States, 12 points above the EU average and 14 points above Japan).

Solidarity to support a just transition

Assuming that the transition is partly financed by income tax, 89% of respondents (very close to China but 22 points above the United States, 30 points above the European Union and 31 points above Japan) would be prepared to see this tax increased to help lower-income households absorb the cost of a green transition. More than 90% of Indian respondents said they would also be in favour of other kinds of climate-related measures. For example, 91% of respondents said they would favour eliminating subsidies and tax breaks for the aviation sector and other industries that rely heavily on fossil fuels. On a more global scale, the question of compensation for developing countries to help them deal with the impacts of climate change expected to be a central issue at the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28) — and the Indian government has consistently expressed the need to accelerate progress on this question. The survey results show that those in high-income countries are sensitive to this expectation. Conscious of a historical responsibility, most respondents from the European Union (60%), the United States (63%) and Japan (72%) agree that their countries should financially compensate affected nations to help them fight climate change. Comments from EIB Vice-President Kris Peeters: “The EIB's latest climate survey highlights Indians’ profound awareness of climate change and their commitment to tackle it. It is encouraging that they expect very positive results from the green transition. Respondents also emphasise that a successful transition to a low-carbon economy is intrinsically linked to tackling inequality, and they are confident that the country will succeed in doing so. The call for a just transition resonates strongly with the European Investment Bank. Solidarity and actionable measures are more pivotal now than ever.” Respondents had to select the three challenges they consider the biggest for their country from a shuffled list of ten challenges: Increased cost of living, unemployment, climate change, environmental degradation, political instability, income inequalities, access to healthcare, large-scale migrations, cyberattacks, and terrorism

About the EIB Climate Survey

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has now completed the sixth annual EIB Climate Survey, a thorough assessment of how people feel about climate change. Conducted in partnership with the market research firm BVA, the sixth edition of the EIB Climate Survey aims to inform the broader debate on attitudes and expectations in terms of climate action. More than 30 000 respondents participated in the survey from 7 August to 4 September 2023, with a representative panel of people aged 15 and above for each of the 35 countries polled (EU 27, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, India, Japan, South Korea, Canada and UAE).

About the European Investment Bank

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union owned by its Member States. It is active in more than 160 countries and makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals. - In 2019, the EIB adopted an updated energy lending policy ending financing to any unabated fossil fuel energy projects, including natural gas. The EIB was the first multilateral development bank to do this. - In 2021, the EIB also became the first multilateral development bank to align its financial activities with the Paris Agreement. - Through its Climate Bank Roadmap, the EIB Group aims to support €1 trillion of investment in climate action and environmental sustainability through the critical decade 2021-2030. - It also made a commitment to increase investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50% of its annual lending by 2025 (last year that goal was exceeded with a figure of 58%). EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm dedicated to operations outside the European Union and is a key partner of the EU Global Gateway strategy. It aims to support at least €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027, around one-third of the overall target of the Global Gateway. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the Group closer to local communities, companies and institutions through its offices across the world.

About BVA Xsight

BVA Xsight is a pioneer in market research and consulting. With their sector-specific knowledge and skills, its 400 experts analyse the unique facets of individuals' lives. They provide in-depth and actionable insights, enhancing decision-making and organisational performance. BVA Xsight operates both in France and internationally, partnering with public and private organisations. Recognised with multiple awards for its innovation capabilities, BVA Xsight stands out for its teams' commitment and passion for the profession. Founded in France in 1970, BVA Xsight is a mission-driven company and is part of the international BVA Group. Read the full article

[kolmikelson858]

Can biofuels help combat climate change?

Climate scientists have been gathering evidence for decades around the impact of fossil fuels on the planet and atmosphere. In 2022, 82% of energy came from fossil fuel sources, such as oil and coal.

Although this figure is decreasing year on year, experts are warning that a quicker transition to renewable energy solutions is necessary to avoid accelerating global warming.

The UN Climate Change Conference in 2015 drew together countries spanning the world to sign the Paris Agreement. This legally binding treaty required states to agree to ‘limit the temperature increase to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels.’

However, there has been significant research suggesting that capping global warming at 1.5℃ is still achievable but becoming more unlikely as we move towards 2025. The UN Emissions Gap Report 2023 describes how we are more likely to have a 2.5-2.9℃ temperature rise if countries do not deliver their climate control goals.

As a result, it is becoming increasingly clear that technology and innovation are ever more important in the creation of solutions to reduce climate impacts, with particular reference to global warming and damaging emissions.

In fact, clean fuels are instrumental in the transformation of our energy source landscape. The global biofuels market is growing, from a value of $117 billion in 2022 to a projected estimate of $201.2 billion by 2030.

A renewable alternative to fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are finite resources that have a range of detrimental effects on our land, oceans, and atmosphere. In contrast, biofuels are produced from renewable feedstocks and are theoretically inexhaustible.

Biogas is derived from non-edible feedstocks, such as organic waste from landfills and waste collected from anaerobic digesters. These second-generation biogas sources do not compete with land for food production or animal rearing and can be fully biodegradable, with much being compostable.

When biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion, this is known to be a natural process. In short, microbes digest organic material to create biogas which can then be used for heating, cooling, electricity production or vehicle fuel.

The EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) has stated that second generation biofuels have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions ‘relative to conventional fuels because feedstocks can be produced using marginal land.’

An asset in carbon emission reduction

Biogas can help reduce damaging greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. Direct CO2 emissions from the energy sector are predicted to double by 2050.

Consequently, there is evidence that biogas can help lessen global emissions by 18-20%. Through processes of combustion, biogas can produce electricity and heat for buildings or be channeled into the electrical grid.

Transportation is another sector that could benefit from biogas in terms of emission reduction. As evidenced by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), transportation accounts for 14% of all global GHG emissions.

Replacing petrol and diesel with clean fuels will dramatically decrease damaging emissions to help support the Paris Agreement goals.

A circular approach to waste management

Indispensable to biogas production, anaerobic digestion is also significant in its contribution to sustainable waste management. During the AD process, organic matter such as sewage sludge or organic food waste is treated to create biogas as the end product.

Not only is this an established source of renewable energy, it is also a product that helps to avoid harmful greenhouse gas emissions when organic matter decomposes. Utilising waste from landfills diminishes the amount of gas going into the atmosphere and additionally creates a useful and sustainable fuel source.

Biofuels are part of the climate solution

Undoubtedly, biogas will play an important role in global energy transition to net zero by 2050. Clean fuels are capable of being applied flexibly in many applications, such as electricity generation and fuel for transportation.

Duncan Clark Renovare Fuels has developed advanced technological processes that convert biogas into liquid fuel. Fully compliant with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive sustainability criteria, Renovare’s products achieve around a 96.8% greenhouse gas emission reduction compared to fossil fuels.

DEFRA estimates that there are 32 million tonnes of biodegradable waste produced each year in the UK alone. Estimations suggest that this feedstock could produce 2 billion litres of fuel for everyday use in Britain.

When scaled on global terms, this could mean tens of billions of litres available to support the transformation towards clean fuel and a healthier planet every year. Biofuels can help combat climate change and help build a more sustainable approach to waste management.

[a3veen]

27/06/2023

Tuesday briefing:

From America to India, record heatwaves are causing chaos – and it's only June

Good morning.

Even though summer has only just begun, record heatwaves are already being set. Last week Beijing logged its hottest June day since records began, at 41C. In Texas, a deadly heatwave is entering its third week – a number of records have already been broken across the state, including a blistering 115F (46.1C) reading in Del Rio and 116F (46.6C) in Cotulla. Canada had wildfires that burnt so furiously this month toxic smoke was felt across the United States. In India, morgues and hospitals became overwhelmed after temperatures hit 45C in some areas – at least 96 people reportedly died from heat-aggravated conditions. In the UK, a wildfire broke out in Scotland, burning an estimated 1,500 hectares of land and temperatures in some areas have already hit 32C.

The accelerated high temperatures in the past month or so have astounded scientists, who are pointing to a number of parallel events, including the human-caused climate crisis and the naturally occurring weather event El Niño, to explain the cause. Even though the temperature has (temporarily) dropped in England, it looks as though things are only going to get hotter, as the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has forecast that global temperatures are likely to surge to record levels in the next five years. And those affected are often among the most marginalised groups in society – Human Rights Watch released a report that found that extreme heat disproportionally affects people with disabilities in Spain and other European countries.

Today's newsletter explains why temperatures are increasing so quickly and what that could mean for the future. 

In depth: The damage caused by heatwaves – and what happens if they are not confronted

This particularly hot start to the summer season is not anomalous. Last year was the hottest on record for the UK, as temperatures went over 40C for the first time since records began. The Met Office has warned that we should now expect that kind of heat every three to four years. Without the enhanced greenhouse effect, a year that warm would be expected only once every 500 years.

Since 1884, all 10 of the warmest years recorded have happened after 2003. And with that has come a host of more extreme and more frequent weather events globally that have displaced millions of people, led to food shortages, loss of habitats, and deaths.

El Niño

The rising temperatures that are a result of humans burning fossil fuels are being further exacerbated by the naturally occurring weather event known as El Niño – where sections of the Pacific Ocean heat up, causing temperatures to spike around the world. It is typically declared when ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean rise 0.5C above the long-term average. Its arrival is particularly worrying because even though there were three La Niña episodes (the colder counterpart to El Niño where temperatures drop) between 2020 and 2022, last year was still the fifth-warmest year on record globally.

Scientists are concerned that as El Niño takes effect, extreme weather events will be that much worse. In 2015 and 2016, El Niño affected the food security of more than 60 million people. The weather conditions triggered regional disease outbreaks globally, according to a Nasa study, and it was associated with extreme drought and a record smashing hurricane season. While El Niño is known to compound the effects of the climate crisis, the influential IPCC has said that there is no evidence that the climate crisis is changing the way El Niño works.

Either way, it is now expected that the average temperature will exceed 1.5C beyond pre-industrial times in the coming years, which is the threshold set out in the Paris agreement where extreme weather events, heatwaves, droughts, flooding and other climate impacts get significantly worse.

The oceans

It is not just the land that we should be worrying about – the ocean is heating up at an alarming rate because of an unprecedented marine heatwave which is being aggravated by, you guessed it, the human-caused climate crisis. Scientists are concerned by not only the sea surface temperatures, which are the warmest in more than 170 years, at 5C above normal, but also by the fact that the rise has come far earlier than they anticipated. The warm waters, described as "beyond extreme", endanger marine life and make the air warmer and wetter over land as well. Scientists have forecast that there is a 90% to 100% chance that the warm sea surface temperatures will continue through August, with a 70% to 80% chance that it will last through the end of the year.

Separately, warming oceans lead to sea level rise, more extreme weather and makes them less efficient in absorbing greenhouse emissions.

The climate crisis

Last year, the Guardian's Damian Carrington reported that at least a dozen of the most serious weather events, including extreme heatwaves, would have been impossible without human-caused global heating. Ninety-three percent of heatwaves were found to have been made more likely or more severe by human-caused climate change. And this is all happening, Carrington pointed out, with a rise of just 1C in the planet's average temperature. In short: things are going to get a lot worse.

We aren't ready for it

The UK has understood itself to be a rainy country with mild, erring on cold, weather. These record high temperatures are certainly something to be worried about because, despite years of warnings from experts, the government has not done enough to adapt the UK to higher temperatures that last longer.

Buildings are not heat-proofed; our railways are some of the oldest in the world and tend to literally buckle in the heat; in London, seven Tube lines do not have any air-conditioning at all; and urban green space across England has declined over the past two decades. The lack of urgency in ensuring that precautionary measures are put in place has meant that in England there have reportedly been 2,000 excess deaths each year because of heatwaves. Last year alone, 2,800 more people aged 65 and over died in England during the heatwaves.

The government did announce new building regulations that are directly targeted at the issue of overheating – but they apply only to new homes, not the millions of houses that already exist and could be heat-proofed if they were properly insulated. Scientists have laid out, in excruciating detail, what happens next if nothing changes. They have also laid out how we can avoid that future – but that will require urgent action from governments around the world.

[tastydregs]

Arctic Sea Ice Is Melting Way Faster Than Previously Thought, Study Finds

The Arctic Circle could lose its summer sea ice a whole decade earlier than previously projected by scientists. It’s yet another sign that the climate crisis is affecting our global systems faster than researchers had understood before.

Extreme Weather Events in 2022 | Extreme Earth

In a new study published in the journal Nature Communications, researchers outlined how the Arctic could experience rapid sea ice loss as early as the 2030s. It’s a decade earlier than a 2021 UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which predicted that the region would lose its sea ice by the middle of this century, researchers wrote. And even if world leaders create policies that successfully lower earth-warming global emissions, the Arctic would still lose September sea ice by the 2050s, the study explained.

Researchers analyzed sea ice data ranging from 1979 to 2019, they also compared different climate models with satellite images to understand how summer sea ice had changed over time. They found that some previous models had underestimated just how fast the Arctic Circle was losing that ice. They also found that human activity was one of the main causes of rapidly melting sea ice. “These results emphasize the profound impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the Arctic, and demonstrate the importance of planning for and adapting to a seasonally ice-free Arctic in the near future,” researchers wrote in the study.

Researchers looked at summer sea ice in September because ice in the Arctic waters builds up throughout the winter months when that region of the world sees little to no sunlight. The amount of ice peaks in March, it melts throughout the summer and reaches its lowest point in September. But as the world becomes warmer, it will build up a lot slower throughout the winter months. To be clear, the scientists describe the Arctic Ocean as being “ice-free” which does not mean that there is absolutely no ice at all. It’s a metric that scientists use to describe if the area covered by sea ice is less than one million square kilometers (about 386,000 square miles). That is the equivalent of 7% of the ocean’s total surface area.

For the majority of the world population, which is concentrated towards the equator, Arctic summer sea ice seems far away. But rapidly melting ice contributes to even more global warming. The permanent ice cap in the Arctic Circle is one of the several ways that the planet is able to reflect sunlight away from the earth to naturally mitigate some warming. Less sea ice means that less sunlight is reflected away from the world. The ocean in the Arctic is dark and absorbs more heat from the sun than ice and snow does. This means rapidly losing sea ice would create a feedback loop, one in which less ice means more heat is absorbed, which in turn contributes to even faster warming.

The planet, and especially the Arctic, can’t handle a warming feedback loop. That part of the world is already warming four times faster than the rest of the globe, a 2022 study found. And September sea ice is shrinking at a rate of more than 12% per decade, according to NASA.

Want more climate and environment stories? Check out Earther’s guides to decarbonizing your home, divesting from fossil fuels, packing a disaster go bag, and overcoming climate dread. And don’t miss our coverage of the latest IPCC climate report, the future of carbon dioxide removal, and the un-greenwashed facts on bioplastics and plastic recycling.

[xtruss]

An ecologist studies an ancient lobe coral in Kingman Reef, found about halfway between Hawaii and American Samoa in the Pacific Ocean. A new study indicates lobe coral may be able survive a limited amount of climate change. Photograph By Brain Skerry, National Geographic Image Collection

Climate-resilient Coral Species Offer Hope For The World’s Reefs

A new study found two common reef-builders can cope with 2ºC of global warming.

— By Sarah Gibbens March 10, 2022

Two of the world’s most ubiquitous species of reef-building corals seem surprisingly able to survive and even cope well with climate change, according to a new study—at least so long as global warming is kept below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), the target set by the Paris Agreement.

“We found hope,” says Rowan McLachlan, a coral expert at Oregon State University and lead author of the study published today in Nature Scientific Reports.

Hope has been a scarce thing lately on coral reefs. As a result of human-made greenhouse gas emissions, they face chronically warmer water, more intense marine heat waves, and an increasingly acidic ocean. That’s in addition to local stresses from pollution and overfishing.

The world has so far warmed by 1.1°C (1.98°F), and coral reefs have already suffered mass fatalities. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest reef system, is currently in “crisis,” a recently published UN report said. That report, by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), warned that some coral reef ecosystems could face irreversible damage if the world warms more than 1.5°C (2.7°F). A 2018 report by the IPCC concluded that at 2ºC (3.6°F) or more, 99 percent of all reef-building corals could be lost—meaning that living coral reefs would essentially disappear from the planet.

But that’s not what McLachlan and her colleagues observed when they subjected Hawaiian corals to a simulated 2ºC world for nearly two years. They found that two common coral species were especially resilient: Two-thirds of those corals survived the simulated future.

“We were expecting to see more mortality than we did, to find that the corals were just barely hanging on,” McLachlan says. “We were really shocked. They had really high survivorship.”

Within limits, it seems, some corals can acclimate to a warmer world.

Simulating Tomorrow’s Oceans

Oceans absorb some of the heat building up in the atmosphere. Heat waves amplified by climate change prompt corals to expel the symbiotic algae that nourish them—an effect called coral bleaching, which can ultimately kill them. Meanwhile, oceans also absorb some of the atmosphere’s excess carbon dioxide, making seawater more acidic, which weakens coral skeletons.

Marine heat waves killed over a third of the corals on Hawaii’s coral reefs in 2014 and 2015. In late 2015, to learn more about how both warming and acidification might jeopardize reefs in the future, McLachlan and her colleagues visited four reefs in diverse settings around Oahu. Using a hammer and chisel, they collected samples of three common coral species: rice coral, finger coral, and lobe coral.

The researchers placed the corals in 70-liter tanks—but not in a lab, as other experiments on coral resilience had done, but outside on Coconut Island, where they would be exposed to the same weather as a reef just offshore.They filled a total of 40 tanks with sand, rubble, reef fish, plankton, and other reef features. The idea was to simulate ocean conditions as realistically as possible.

“That’s why our experiment is different,” McLachlan says. “It’s more informative of how Hawaiian reefs might actually respond [to climate change].”

It’s also the longest such coral experiment ever to be conducted, she says.

For 22 months, the researchers subjected some corals to 2ºC of warming, some to acidified water, and some to both changes. A fourth set of tanks was left completely alone to serve as a control.

The tanks that tested both warming and ocean acidification together were the most realistic simulations of the future, says Andréa Grottoli, a coral biogeochemist at Ohio State and the senior author on the study. In all the tanks, she and her colleagues monitored a suite of physiological indicators to see how the corals were responding over time to their environment—and the results were heartening.

“We saw this long-term arc where you see stress responses, but after long enough there was acclimatization,” says Grottoli. The implication is that, with enough time to adapt to their surroundings, some corals may survive the stressful conditions wrought by climate change.

Overall, of the corals exposed to both conditions, 46 percent of rice coral, 56 percent of lobe coral, and 71 percent of finger coral survived. Many of the corals were even thriving.

“They weren’t just struggling. Two of the three species were doing really well,” says Grottoli. And her team may have underestimated the resilience of the third species, rice corals, she says. Rice corals are nourished not just by their symbiotic algae but by eating zooplankton, and in the experiments they were fed less zooplankton than they might normally get in the wild.

“The paper supports what has been observed in Hawaii,” says Ku'ulei Rodgers, a coral expert at the University of Hawaii at Manōa who monitors the state’s reefs and was not involved with the study.

“However, there is a limit to the rate at which acclimatization can protect corals from bleaching as temperatures continue to increase,” she says in an email, noting that the 2014-2015 marine heat wave in Hawaii also killed many lobe and finger corals.

“Although it is hopeful that some species will survive this century, unless drastic reductions in emissions occur, corals will eventually lose their fight for survival,” Rodgers says. Current policies to reduce emissions have the world on track to warm by about 2.7°C (4.86°F) by the end of the century, according to the Climate Action Tracker—substantially above the 2ºC simulated by McLachlan and her colleagues.

While many of the experiment's coral survived, extreme heat is still pushing reefs to their limits. Here, healthy heads of lobe coral, Porites lobata, are surrounded by bleached rice coral, Montipora capitata, weakened by a marine heat wave. Photograph By Doug Perrie, Alamy Stock Photo

What Do These Findings Mean For Reefs?

Rice coral is common around Hawaii and in the waters of the north and central Pacific. But finger coral and lobe coral are found throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and their ability to survive could be a sign that coral reefs in the future might be able to rebound from the brink of collapse, the study says. Lobe coral in particular is an essential reef builder in the Pacific Ocean.

Alan Friedlander, a coral reef ecologist at the University of Hawaii who was not involved with the study, argues that more marine protected areas are needed to ensure these climate resilient corals aren’t jeopardized by local pollution and degradation. Friedlander is chief scientist for National Geographic’s Pristine Seas initiative, which promotes marine protected areas.

“This work shows that coral reefs can survive and even thrive into the future if we can curb carbon dioxide emissions and manage local stressors like overfishing, sedimentation, and pollution,” he says in an email.

“Absent local stressors, there is hope moving forward,” says McLachlan. “If we can’t mitigate local stressors, the outcome for coral is much worse.”

But her team’s findings also may provide support for more proactive forms of reef management.

Given the dire state of corals today, some conservationists argue that it is no longer enough just to protect them from pollution and fishing and leave them alone—that active restoration work is needed. Knowing that a coral species like lobe coral can survive climate change means it’s a candidate for restoration projects that select hardy corals and plant them in degraded reefs, Grottoli suggests.

“Introducing a coral from somewhere else is now the lesser of two evils,” she says. “That kind of conversation is now on the table. Some conservationists wouldn’t have considered it a decade ago.”

As humanity struggles to eliminate the greenhouse gas emissions that might otherwise doom coral reefs worldwide, climate-resilient corals may offer a lifeline to the future.

“We have a chance to maintain reef systems long enough so when warming slows, reefs can catch up,” Grottoli says. “We have a window to work with.”

[creatiview]

[ad_1] The best possible future — the one with fewer climate disasters, extinctions, and human suffering — involves limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But for this to happen, a new report warns, greenhouse gas levels must start dropping by 2025.“We are on a fast track to climate disaster,” United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Monday while announcing the new report by the United Nation’s preeminent climate body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.“This is not fiction or exaggeration,” he added. “It is what science tells us will result from our current energy policies. We are on a pathway to global warming of more than double 1.5 degrees.”In 2016, practically every country signed the Paris climate agreement pledging to stave off the worst climate impacts by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to preindustrial levels. But the world has already warmed 1.1 degrees Celsius, and this new report makes abundantly clear that the warmer temperature goals could soon be out of reach if humans don’t immediately and radically change how they live, from how they get energy and food to how they build and move around.“It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit),” Imperial College London’s Jim Skea, one of the report co-authors, said in a statement. “Without immediate and deep emissions reductions across all sectors, it will be impossible.”Skea was one of the hundreds of scientists worldwide who contributed to the report called “Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change,” the third and final installment of the IPCC’s Sixth Climate Assessment. The previous installments, published in recent months, focused on summarizing the climate impacts already here and what’s possibly to come, as well as listing ways to adapt to these impacts.In the face of ever-worsening climate impacts, from intensifying heat waves and floods to growing food disruptions, humans have spent the past decade adding fuel to the fire by continuing to spew more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere than ever before.Global average emissions measured roughly 59 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019, about 12% higher than levels in 2010 and 54% higher than in 1990, per the new report. This is a staggering increase.But the blame for rising emissions does not fall on everyone equally.“The 10% of households with the highest per capita emissions contribute a disproportionately large share of global [greenhouse gas] emissions,” according to a summary of the new report. For example, in 2019, Small Island Developing States are estimated to have released 0.6% of global greenhouse gas emissions.The only way to prevent widespread climate damage is to immediately stop this trend. To keep the 1.5 degree Celsius future alive, per the report, people worldwide must collectively peak their emissions by 2025 and then reduce emissions 43% by 2030. Crucially, this involves cutting emissions of the potent greenhouse gas methane by 34% by 2030.Finally, by 2050, people must achieve net zero emissions, which is when they are releasing into the atmosphere the same levels of emissions they are pulling out of it.Even if all these deadlines are hit, scientists warn it’s still likely global average temperatures will temporarily exceed, or “overshoot,” 1.5 degrees Celsius, before returning below that level by the end of the century.Keeping even the 2.0 degree Celsius future in reach involves peaking global emissions by 2025, according to the report, then reducing emissions 27% by 2030, and achieving net zero emissions by the early 2070s.Perhaps the single biggest way to cut emissions is quickly transitioning away from fossil fuels to renewable and other alternative forms of energy. Limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, climate modeling suggests, involves cutting global use of coal, oil, and gas in 2050 by roughly 95%, 60%, and 45% compared to 2019 levels.

"Climate change is the result of more than a century of unsustainable energy and land use, lifestyles and patterns of consumption and production," Skea said. "This report shows how taking action now can move us towards a fairer, more sustainable world."The report’s release comes as Russia’s war in Ukraine has triggered spiking energy costs and, likewise, conversations in Europe, the United States, and elsewhere more quickly transitioning away from Russian fossil fuels.“We are, at the moment, facing challenging times. We have learned about this brutal war in Ukraine,” said Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization, at the Monday news conference, before connecting the fighting on the ground to the fight to limit climate change. “In the best case, this would speed up the reduction of the use of fossil energy and also speed up the green transition. In the worst case, interests to mitigate climate change will be challenged because of this development.” [ad_2] Source link

[seotoday00]

Planet Calling: Movements towards Energy Transition

Planet Calling: Movements towards Energy Transition

Without a question, the world urgently needs to reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require to the immediate and deep emission reductions in all sectors. This is particularly true for the energy sector, which accounts for the largest volume of carbon emissions among all sectors. Addressing climate change will require changes in both energy demand and supply.

In response to the global call in the Paris Agreement, more than 70 countries, including the largest emission contributors–China, the United States, and the European Union–have set a net-zero target, covering about 76% of global emissions. Likewise, Thailand’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by or before 2065. This includes a new greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 40% in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) roadmap, announced by Thailand at COP26 in Glasgow last year. Earlier this year, the country has launched the National Energy Plan (NEP) 2022 to help move Thailand towards green and clean energy, with an aggressive plan and measures to achieve pathways to carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions. The NEP includes essential sectoral plans and policies, such as strategies for energy efficiency, renewable energy, gas and oil, and electricity.

To achieve such goals, both the supply and demand sides require decarbonization of the energy sector. At the Energy Research Institute (ERI), Chulalongkorn University, a number of studies have been conducted to assist the development of decarbonization strategies for the energy sector. thailand universities

On the supply side, a study on “policy implementation for the development of hydrogen production and use to promote renewable energy” was carried out with support from the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy. A customized version of PDP was developed in the study to investigate possible options for reducing emissions in the power sector. Results show that blending hydrogen into the natural gas streams and implementing other technologies, such as solar power generation with energy storage systems, will assist the country in achieving its carbon neutrality target, while maintaining the nation’s energy security (Diewvilai & Audomvongseree, 2022).

[loveyou007]

Planet Calling: Movements towards Energy Transition

Without a question, the world urgently needs to reduce carbon emissions to limit global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require to the immediate and deep emission reductions in all sectors. This is particularly true for the energy sector, which accounts for the largest volume of carbon emissions among all sectors. Addressing climate change will require changes in both energy demand and supply.

In response to the global call in the Paris Agreement, more than 70 countries, including the largest emission contributors–China, the United States, and the European Union–have set a net-zero target, covering about 76% of global emissions. Likewise, Thailand’s goal is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and net-zero emissions by or before 2065. This includes a new greenhouse gas emission reduction target of 40% in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) roadmap, announced by Thailand at COP26 in Glasgow last year. Earlier this year, the country has launched the National Energy Plan (NEP) 2022 to help move Thailand towards green and clean energy, with an aggressive plan and measures to achieve pathways to carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions. The NEP includes essential sectoral plans and policies, such as strategies for energy efficiency, renewable energy, gas and oil, and electricity. fah talai jone

To achieve such goals, both the supply and demand sides require decarbonization of the energy sector. At the Energy Research Institute (ERI), Chulalongkorn University, a number of studies have been conducted to assist the development of decarbonization strategies for the energy sector.

On the supply side, a study on “policy implementation for the development of hydrogen production and use to promote renewable energy” was carried out with support from the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), Ministry of Energy. A customized version of PDP was developed in the study to investigate possible options for reducing emissions in the power sector. Results show that blending hydrogen into the natural gas streams and implementing other technologies, such as solar power generation with energy storage systems, will assist the country in achieving its carbon neutrality target, while maintaining the nation’s energy security (Diewvilai & Audomvongseree, 2022).

On the demand side, decarbonization may start with readily available resources. On that note, a study on switching fuel oil and coal to natural gas in the industrial sector was conducted with support from EPPO. Both the financial and economic feasibility study shows interesting investment opportunities for fuel oil users, located within 50 km from the compressed natural gas distribution center, to switch their fuel to natural gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). For coal replacement, although the economic feasibility shows an outstanding result, it needs strong measures from the government to encourage the replacement (Nakapreecha et al., 2022).

[nfthateworld]

NFT Hate World Pinned Post, March 2022

this blog is run by @endcant

if you have 2 seconds to spare:

check out how Bitcoin's energy consumption index has more than doubled since February 28, 2021

if you have 2 minutes to spare:

Read "Why NFTs are bad: the short version"

if you have 2 hours to spare:

Watch "Line Goes Up – The Problem With NFTs"

DOWNLOAD NOW! NFT Hate World, March 2022 Edition

Link: https://ko-fi.com/s/b70d3901bd

New to this edition:

moved to ko-fi due to gumroad's interest in NFTs/crypto

new instagram-ready images in .png, .svg, and .pdf formats

march 2022 bonus-zine

new Resource folder to be continually updated

more links than ever before!

Honorable Mentions

Something Old - Here are a couple of very brief essays written by the late David Graeber:

[5 mins] Note worthy: what is the meaning of money?

[3 mins] After the Pandemic, We Can’t Go Back to Sleep

Something New - Crimethinc published 2 zines about the Russian aggression towards Ukraine and the history leading up to it.

[40 pages] Ukraine: Background on the Russian Invasion

[11 Pages] Russia: Anarchists against the Invasion of Ukraine

Resources for NFT Haters and Environmentalists

The latest IPCC report on climate change has taken a more local/regional focus. As a result, you can download regional factsheets on how things are changing and what can be done.

Plugins that auto-block all Twitter users with NFT profile pictures.

[the-bibrarian]

I don’t think I have many french followers, but if you are french or have french followers, would you consider signing or reblogging?

After the results of the first round of the presidential election, the legislative elections are our only chance to elect a government that will do something for social and climate justice.

The latest IPCC report clearly says we only have about 3 years to enact meaningful change against climate change. We can’t afford to be governed by people who will do nothing for the environment for another 5 years.

What’s more, France plays a key part in Europe. The stakes couldn’t be higher. Let’s do something!