Science and Technology:
¶ “Climate Tipping Points – Too Risky To Bet Against” • When the IPCC introduced the idea of tipping points two decades ago, many of us have assumed that hitting them was unlikely. Now, evidence is mounting that these events could be more likely than was thought, potentially committing the world to long-term irreversible changes. [Nature]
Alaskan glacier (Frans Lanting | Nat Geo Image Collection)
¶ “Nine climate tipping points now ‘active,’ warn scientists” • More than half of the climate tipping points identified a decade ago are now “active,” leading scientists have warned. Three of them, collapse of ice sheets in Greenland, West Antarctica, and part of East Antarctica, would commit the world to around ten meters of irreversible sea-level rise. [Science Daily]
¶ “India’s Rain Pattern Getting Affected By Global Climate Crisis” • Scientists have for the first time linked a specific phenomenon brought on by the climate crisis to reduced winter rain in India. It is a growing patch of warm seas in the Indo-Pacific ocean region that is causing droughts in some regions across the world and extreme floods in others. [Hindustan Times]
Rain in India (Satyabrata Tripathy | HT Photo)
¶ “Machine Learning Rapidly Improves Waste Sorting To Environmental And Economic Benefit” • AMP Robotics, based in Colorado is putting robots and machine learning, to work sorting trash to find recyclable materials. Where automated sorting machines have been failing, especially with the highest value waste, AMP is succeeding. [CleanTechnica]
World:
¶ “How Old Cell Phones Are Spying On Illegal Loggers” • Through his non-profit Rainforest Connection, Topher White puts old Android smartphones in recycled plastic boxes fitted with extra microphones, battery packs, and solar panels. The devices, fastened to trees high up in the canopy, automatically alert rangers when they hear loggers. [CNN]
Installing Rainforest Connection devices (Rainforest Connection)
¶ “Renewable Energy Surge Could Power A New Industrial Australia” • In spite of the efforts of our government, Australia is going to overshoot 100% renewables, Oliver Yates, inaugural CEO of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, said. He pointed out that a 500% renewables capacity approach would “reindustrialize the country. [Solar Quotes]
¶ “Siemens Gamesa To Equip 448-MW Scottish Offshore Wind Farm” • Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA has signed a deal with EDF Renewables to supply turbines for the 448-MW Neart Na Gaoithe offshore wind project in Scottish waters. The wind turbine manufacturer will supply 54 units of its SG 8.0-167 DD machines. [Renewables Now]
Siemens Gamesa 8-MW offshore turbine (Ørsted image)
¶ “Total Inaugurates New Caledonia Solar Power Plant” • Total Quadran, a Total subsidiary, brought online its Hélio Boulouparis 2, the second phase of the solar park, which is the most extensive solar program ever carried out in New Caledonia. It has a 16-MW capacity. The first tranche, Hélio Boulouparis 1, has been in operation since 2017. [Renewable Energy Magazine]
¶ “Power And Gas ‘Coupling’ Seen As Key To EU’s Zero-Carbon Quest” • As Europe moves towards a goal of net-zero emissions, policymakers are looking at all available sources of energy. These include new low-carbon gases like hydrogen and bio-methane, which can be coupled with renewably generated electricity to decarbonize at least cost. [EURACTIV]
Offshore wind farm (Iberdrola via Flickr)
US:
¶ “LG Chem And SK Innovation Are Locked In A Cage Fighting Match That Could Destroy Them Both” • South Korea’s two largest battery makers, LG Chem and SK Innovation, are in a legal battle in the US. Each is asking the US International Trade Commission to bar the other from supplying batteries to VW, GM, Ford, Jaguar, Audi, and KIA. [CleanTechnica]
¶ “It’s Time To Ditch Your Gas Car! Greater LA Region Targets 80% EV Market Share By 2028” • The Greater Los Angeles Region, home to almost half of all Californians, is aiming to meet pollution and carbon emission goals by targeting 80% EV market share by 2028. The goal is for 30% of the private vehicle fleet of around 15 million vehicles to be EVs. [CleanTechnica]
Chevy Volt (Image courtesy of Chevrolet)
¶ “City Of St Helena Signs Up For 100% Renewable Energy With Marin Clean Energy” • The city of St Helena, California, had been using a Marin Clean Energy portfolio of 60% renewable energy. Now, the city council has decided to enroll in the Deep Green program, Marin Clean Energy’s 100% renewable energy option. [Napa Valley Register]
¶ “Ford Mustang Mach-E First Edition Sold Out, Rivian-Based Lincoln SUV Planned” • According to CNET Road Show, the First Edition of the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric SUV introduced earlier this month is now sold out in the US. And Reuters is reporting a battery electric Lincoln based on a Rivian chassis is under development. [CleanTechnica]
Ford Mustang Mach-E
¶ “In Trump-Friendly Florida And Elsewhere, GOP Pressured Over Climate Change Inaction” • Since taking office in January, Florida’s Republican governor has appointed a science officer, established a climate change czar, and pledged to spend billions of dollars to restore the Everglades and combat pollution. Other GOP politicians are also getting active. [The Japan Times]
¶ “Persistent Outages Plaguing Grand Gulf Nuclear Plant Are Adding Millions To The Bills Of New Orleans Customers” • The 1,443-MW Grand Gulf nuclear plant is supposed to run almost every single day at full capacity, providing “base load” power to New Orleans. But its many outages cost New Orleans residents millions of dollars. [The Lens]
Have a contentedly full Thanksgiving Day.
