From The Hill 12.15.23
Democrats revolt against Biden plan for expanded gas exports
The Biden administration’s plans for increased natural gas exports are causing a revolt within the Democratic Party.
Despite the boom in renewables reducing domestic demand for fossil fuels, the administration is backing the gas industry’s plans to sell fuel at higher prices abroad, believing they will lead to less production of climate-warming chemicals like carbon dioxide by displacing dirtier-burning coal.
But gas is itself a planet-heating chemical, and Democrats argue that the administration’s policies have done little to address a big problem for the climate: The U.S. fossil fuel industry plans to increase oil and gas production for decades.
Democratic senators, led by Ed Markey (Mass.), have called on the administration to stop investing in gas plants abroad, noting that the administration has already spent $1.8 billion on overseas fossil fuel plants this year alone, along with voting at the World Bank to direct $400 million in new gas financing to poorer countries.
thehill.com/…
From The New England Journal Of Medicine 12.7.23
Waterborne Diseases That Are Sensitive to Climate Variability and Climate Change
Climate change has already intensified environmental turmoil, with substantial ramifications for health and health care systems,75 including increased risks of several waterborne diseases. These risks are projected to continue to increase in the near future, should the global community fail to take strong and immediate action to mitigate greenhouse-gas emissions and institute adaptive strategies.
Climate-proofing water treatment and distribution systems, as well as our health care delivery systems, is critical for preventing, preparing for, and managing climate-sensitive waterborne diseases.
Reducing waterborne diseases requires safe and equitable access to water and sanitation for all segments of the world’s population, a goal that can be met by returning to basic public health principles, ensuring climate resilience in water infrastructure, and rapidly transitioning from our dependence on fossil fuels.
www.nejm.org/…
From The Hill 12.15.23
Passenger trains could help combat climate change — if rail can actually get built
The Biden administration is investing billions in passenger rail, giving a boost to a potentially important tool for mitigating climate change.
However, significant hurdles could slow efforts to get more rail online.
The future of rail may not look like the ambitious high-speed rail maps that crop up on social media, illustrating fantasies of connecting the entire nation: Such ideas are a “pipe dream,” says Nick Little, director of railway education at Michigan State University.
thehill.com/…
From the Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 12.15.23
Direct air capture: An expensive, dangerous distraction from real climate solutions
All year, the zeitgeist has been building toward technologies that separate carbon dioxide from air, referred to as direct air capture (DAC). In September, the United States Department of Energy awarded Occidental Petroleum a $600 million grant to build a DAC machine. As scientists and entrepreneurs who’ve dedicated our careers to help solve global warming, you might expect us to be happy.
We are not.
The reason is simple: Separating carbon dioxide from air, while technically straightforward, is outrageously expensive. In fighting climate change, the obvious question should always be: How can we avoid the most carbon dioxide per dollar invested?
thebulletin.org/...