Happy Thursday, folks! We hope you’ve had a good few days amid (or despite) the political chaos enveloping pretty much every day in the United States of America, circa 2017.
Here’s Greenpower’s third edition of This Week in the Environment. As we know (and rightly so), the news cycle over the past week has once again been dominated by the continued shenanigans at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., overshadowing for many of us some timely goings-on in the environmental sector. Thankfully, our Ph.D environmental scientist, Jon, is on the case, and has once again mined what we think are some of the most interesting tidbits from that arena. He’s turned up some gems. Whether it’s China putting the lie to conservative claims by cleaning up its coal industry, or American voters overwhelmingly desiring their nation’s continued support for the Paris climate agreement, or more holes in the claims of two “scientists” who deny global warming, this week’s stories make a strong case that that peer-reviewed scientific research and the will of the people remain essential to a healthier planet, and that progress won’t wait. Our no. 1 story of the week even provides us with six solid reasons to remain optimistic in these times of leaderless conflict. We hope you will find illumination—and some hope for humanity and planet we share—in the below. Thanks for reading!
5. By 2020, every Chinese coal plant will be more efficient than every US coal plant Vox
The excuse that the US shouldn’t have to shoulder a larger burden of climate action than other countries—particularly China and India—is a common refrain amongst domestic climate antagonists. After all, China gets electricity for its 1.3 billion citizens mostly from coal-fired power plants, and if they aren’t going to immediately switch to a cleaner power source why should we take action on climate? A new report by the Center for American Progress paints an entirely different picture, showing that the Chinese government is deeply committed to transitioning to a cleaner energy portfolio while using the resources they have to fuel the growth needed to make the jump to renewables.
"In short, while the US dithers along in a cosmically stupid dispute over whether science is real, China is tackling climate change with all guns blazing. The US, not China, is the laggard in this relationship."
4. Oil industry's sunset years: low prices, weak demand, poor outlook The Ecologist
The global oil industry is in the early stages of the slide into obsolescence, as investor confidence in fossil fuels falls due to the growing international push to shift our economic models to ones this planet can sustain for future generations. As the sun sets on Big Oil, it rises on a less exploitative, more just way of life.
3. By 5 to 1, voters say the U.S. should stick with the Paris Agreement Grist
Judged solely on the statements and actions of our government it is easy to think that the United States is deeply divided on climate action, but, according to polling results, this is a false narrative. Nearly 70% of Americans surveyed were in favor of the US remaining in the Paris Agreement, including almost half of Trump voters. Will the current administration take heed, or will it continue to place the instrumentalities of the state in the hands of private fossil fuel corporate interests?
"However, one thing is clear: Americans and American voters — by a wide margin — want our nation to remain a participant and leader in the international agreement to reduce global warming pollution."
2. More errors identified in contrarian climate scientists' temperature estimates The Guardian
One of climate deniers’ favorite argument tactics is to highlight the handful of studies that contradict the overwhelming body of evidence demonstrating the reality of anthropogenic climate change. Two researchers from the University of Alabama at Huntsville have provided much of this contrarian science over the years, but recent reviews of their methodology for measuring atmospheric temperatures revise their past findings to fall into the range reported by similar studies. While the vast majority of scientists are motivated by an altruistic desire to uncover the truth, there are those who fall prey to political ideologies and hide their biases in the complexities and subtleties of their disciplines. Fortunately, the peer review process can often catch and expose these biases, as was done here.
1. 6 Reasons Trump Can’t (Totally) Derail Progress on Climate National Geographic
Despite the current administration’s dedicated efforts to delay climate action, market forces and widespread bipartisan public support will continue to drive the transition to clean renewable energy and sustainable living within the US. Abroad, other countries are taking charge to maintain global momentum as our government takes a temporary backseat.
"Our analysis shows China and India are massively overachieving," says Dutch climate expert and NewClimate Institute founder Niklas Höhne. "The positive effects in China and India are far larger than the negative impacts coming out of the United States."