Opinion:
¶ “Uncertainty Of Climate Change Underscores The Need To Act” • Feedback loops, such as the release of CO₂ and methane from melting Arctic permafrost, mean that even if we achieve the very stringent greenhouse gas cuts required, there is a significant chance that warming from that amount of emissions could be much higher than 1.5°C. [The National]
Fire in the Amazon (Reuters)
¶ “Time Is Running Out To Act On Climate Change” • I won’t be around to see the worst impacts of climate change, but my children, grandchildren and countless families around the world will be. They’ll suffer the brunt of this crisis. They’ll bear the burden of cleaning up my generation’s mess. We can, and must, do better. – Former Senator Harry Reid [Las Vegas Sun]
¶ “The Importance Of Reducing Light Pollution” • Light pollution is something that doesn’t get enough attention. After reading an op-ed in The New York Times over the weekend by Dr. Kelsey Johnson, an astrophysicist, I thought it would be a good idea to give us all a reminder of the importance of reducing light pollution. [CleanTechnica]
Screenshot of DarkSiteFinder’s light pollution map
World:
¶ “State Discoms Owe Nearly ₹10,000 Crore To Producers” • Indian state-run power distribution companies owe ₹9,954.3 crore ($1.496 billion) to renewable energy producers, with the highest dues pending in southern states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, according to Central Electricity Authority of India data through August 20. [Hindustan Times]
¶ “How M-KOPA Labs Is Pulling Academic Research Into The Off-Grid Solar Industry” • As of November 2018, M-KOPA, a Kenyan off-grid solar company, has over 700,000 subscribing households. Unlike typical organizations in the low-cost solar industry, M-KOPA is meeting demand for larger appliances such as TVs or refrigerators. [CleanTechnica]
M-KOPA 600 product package
¶ “US Intel Says Mysterious Russian Blast Result Of Nuclear Missile Recovery Mission” • A US intelligence assessment found that the mysterious explosion off of Russia’s northern coast occurred during a recovery mission to salvage a nuclear-powered missile from the ocean floor, according to people with direct knowledge of the report. [UNIAN]
US:
¶ “Florida’s Cities Are Building To Fight Rising Seas. Small Towns May Struggle To Defend Themselves” • Delray Beach is joining other Florida towns that are developing plans to respond to the threat of rising seas. An engineering report estimated the cost of protecting its most vulnerable neighborhoods in the city of 65,000 people at $378 million. [CNN]
Delray Beach, Florida (Matt Gannon | CNN)
¶ “Panel Focused On City Push To Renewable Energy” • Early this year, the City Council of Keene, New Hampshire, adopted a non-binding resolution moving the city to 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and 100% renewable transportation and heating by 2050. A committee of residents and leaders has been hard at work to make that happen. [The Keene Sentinel]
¶ “Kansas Makes Good Use Of Wind Power, But Other Renewables … Not So Much” • Kansas is a national leader in wind energy, but a new report shows the state lags in the adoption of other so-called green technologies. Kansas has put in place policy and tax incentives to attract wind developers, but not for other renewable energy sources. [WCUR]
Wind farm (Brian Grimmett | Kansas News Service)
¶ “Indiana Studies Impact Of Climate Change On Storm Water Systems” • Anticipated increases in annual rainfall should signal a need for Indiana to consider whether existing storm water systems can handle flooding, a legislature-appointed panel was told. Indiana’s annual rainfall has increased by about 5 inches during the past century. [Terre Haute Tribune Star]
¶ “An Increasing Number Of Young Republicans Are Concerned About Climate Change” • A new poll has found that a growing number of young Republican voters are concerned about human-induced climate change. Of Republican voters aged 18 to 34, 67% are worried about climate change, an 18% increase since earlier polls. [Earth.com]
Have a hugely comfy day.
geoharvey 