1 October 2023
The volume of ice lost from Swiss glaciers during the summers of 2022 and 2023 is about 10% of the total volume. This is equivalent to the loss between 1960 and 1990. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/swiss-glaciers-lose-tenth-volume-in-two-years-climate-crisis
It is high time that environmental justice issues be addressed for marginalized communities. The EPA and the Dept. of Energy are creating 16 technical assistance centers to facilitate funding under the Biden administration justice initiative. The technical training centers will help marginalized communities apply for federal funds and facilitate community engagement. $177 million has been allocated for the effort. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/27092023/epa-technical-assistance-centers-environmental-jusstice-communities/
Yet another group of youth, including a young woman age 11, are legally challenging government continued support of fossil fuels. The claimants are suing because European countries are violating their human rights by failing to attack global heating. Note that I am not using the word “alleging” because the evidence is crystal clear to anyone who is mostly awake in the daytime. My blog – my rules. The case is being heard in the European Court of Human Rights. I hope they kick butt and take names. https://www.theguardian.com/law/2023/sep/27/girl-11-among-six-young-people-taking-on-32-nations-in-historic-climate-case
ICYMI, there was a historic win in Montana courts. In Held v. State of Montana a group of young claimants argued and won their claim that Montana had violated their rights as promised in the state constitution by allowing the fossil fuel industry to damage their health now and in the future. Such cases in the U.S. are typically funded by Our Children’s Trust, a non-profit law firm. https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/
Although the Biden administration has made significant positive impacts on addressing climate change, the Department of Commerce continues to sell leases for oil and gas to the fossil majors. This violates the trust of the young people that voted Biden into office. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/29/biden-administration-oil-gas-lease-sale-climate-crisis
An inexpensive solar-powered device for desalinization of sea water has been developed by engineers at MIT and in China. The device is completely passive and could be a game-changer. https://news.mit.edu/2023/desalination-system-could-produce-freshwater-cheaper-0927
U.S. battery storage had a record quarter, but it should have been easier and faster. This article from Inside Climate News explains why. https://insideclimatenews.org/news/28092023/inside-clean-energy-battery-storage-growth-record/
There has been a mass mortality event on the Amazon River, killing more than 100 pink river dolphins and thousands of fish in Lake Tefé. Disease, high water temperatures, and sewage contamination are being investigated as possible causes. Temperatures near the lake have exceeded 39C (109.2F). https://www.inkl.com/news/mass-death-of-amazonian-dolphins-prompts-fears-for-vulnerable-species/
As deniers and delayers continue to beat the drum of “what-about-ism” – usually with respect to China – it is important to remember that although China is the largest yearly emitter, the U.S. is responsible for most of the emissions in the air. It is the greenhouse gas content of the troposphere at any given moment that is responsible for radiative forcing and global heating. https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-which-countries-are-historically-responsible-for-climate-change/
The global sea ice anomaly continues to be stunningly large.
Most mainstream economists regard the emerging field of Degrowth as nonsense. They argue that economic growth is generally good, but that it must be “green growth.” The field of Degrowth posits that we need both growth and degrowth. Certain sectors, those that are killing us and the biosphere, must become vastly smaller, while others, those that generate human wellbeing and support ecosystem services, must greatly expand. https://gwagner.com/green-growth-mindset/
The environmental group Mother Nature Cambodia has been named one of the Right Livelihood 2023 honorees for “relentless activism.” The Right Livelihood award is considered by many as the equivalent of the Nobel for social change. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/09/mother-nature-cambodias-relentless-activism-earns-right-livelihood-award/
Climate models have generally projected the extreme temperatures of 2023 – but just barely. Note that the figure below does not include August, which pushed the edge of the projection envelope even more. https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/are-temperatures-this-summer-hotter
As Michael Mann points out in his just published work Our Fragile Moment, headlines such as this one from 2022 are scientifically inaccurate and unhelpful. The truth is bad enough. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/30/total-climate-meltdown-inevitable-heatwaves-global-catastrophe
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Eighteen young climate activists have been arrested for a shutdown protest in McCarthy’s office. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/28/young-climate-protesters-government-shutdown-kevin-mccarthy
New Orleans and nearby areas face an extreme water crisis as the ocean encroaches on a shrunken Mississippi River. https://climatecrocks.com/2023/09/25/new-orleans-faces-water-emergency-as-ocean-encroaches-on-shrunken-mississippi/
Students at 50 U.S. high schools demand education reform to ensure that schools teach climate change. Red States, especially Florida, have found ways to avoid teaching the science, or provide “alternative facts.” https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/25/green-new-deal-schools-climate-initiative
Greenland’s lakes are becoming carbon sources rather than carbon sinks. Greenland’s mean annual temperature has climbed 3 degrees C in recent decades. Lakes are beginning to thaw. https://e360.yale.edu/features/greenland-lakes-climate-change
The Steady State Herald is a publication of CASSE, the Center for the Advancement of a Steady State Economy. This article is a good review of climate activism focused on pipelines. https://steadystate.org/how-to-take-out-a-pipeline/
University of Texas climate scientist Andrew Dessler notes correctly that out-of-control corporate power is a foundational cause of climate change. https://www.theclimatebrink.com/p/i-stand-with-unions
ICYMI – The IMF reports that 2023 subsidies for fossil fuels surged to $7 trillion. https://www.imf.org/en/Blogs/Articles/2023/08/24/fossil-fuel-subsidies-surged-to-record-7-trillion
The Environmental Century 
Thanks for the giggle in the middle of this blog. I’m talking about “mostly awake in the daytime.” I am truly grateful for your regular readers digest. Thank you for creating this.