We can stop Climate Disaster . . .
but it takes clear, fact-based thinking.
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Blog: Latest topics...
Burning Forests for Biomass is a Really Bad Idea
The Energy Charter Treaty is locking us into Fossil Fuels
Beauty and the Atom
The Other Problem with Oil
France: Less Nuclear - More Coal
Corner to Front of the Class on Climate?
The climate will miss you, Fessenheim
How can the world’s nuclear watchdog help protect us from COVID-19?
Dramatic Pollution Reduction in China!
A Baseless Decision and a Sad Day
Methane: Sniffing out the Leaks
Energiewende is a loser
Do Carbon Offset Trading Schemes Work?
Standing Up for Nuclear
Our ability to avoid climate disaster depends crucially on our ability to replace those disastrous fossil fuels by non-carbon emitting energy sources. Scientists agree: we cannot do it without nuclear. So much depends on public understanding of this issue.
Pro-nuclear activists are planning two more Stand Up for Nuclear events in France: in Lyon on 25 September (place Carnot), and in Paris on 9 October (place du Panthéon).
More information here (in French), here and here (in English).
Save the Last Six!
In 2011 Germany had 17 nuclear reactors, supplying 1/4 of the country’s electricity. Today, 6 remain, all scheduled to be shut down by the end of 2022. (By contrast, coal-fired plants will operate until 2038).
Climate activists say that the nuclear plants provide safe, dependable electricity and save 70 million tons of CO2 a year. They plan regular demonstrations in front of the remaining plants, hoping to persuade policy makers to keep them running.
More here.
On 1 November 2021, the 26th Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will meet in Edinburgh, Scotland, to report on progress and strengthen their commitment to the combat against climate change.
The COP26 comes on the heels of the ipcc’s sobering Sixth Assessment Report, which warns that global warming of 1.5℃ is very likely to be exceeded this century.
The effects of Climate change are widespread and intensifying, from drought-induced wildfires to storms and floods. Some trends may be irreversible (think of sea rise, melting glaciers and loss of Arctic sea ice).
Analysis
Talk by Zion Lights
“COP26 needs to be decisive. Whether future generations look back at this time with admiration or despair, depends entirely on our ability to seize this moment. Let’s seize it together.” - Alok Sharma, COP President
We hope and trust that the COP26 deliberations will be based on clear scientific thinking and a sense of responsibility commensurate with the stakes.
CO2 levels in the atmosphere
Weekly averages, 30 May 2021: 419.55 ppm
This time last year: 417.46 ppm
10 years ago: 394.43 ppm
Pre-industrial base: 280
Safe level: 350
At the dawn of the industrial revolution, CO2 was at 280 parts per million (ppm) in the atmosphere. By 1958, when the first measurements were made at Mauna Loa in Hawaii, it had reached 315ppm. It raced past 350ppm in 1986 and 400ppm in 2013.
Scientists have warned for more than a decade that concentrations of more than 450ppm risk triggering extreme weather events and temperature rises as high as 2C, beyond which the effects of global heating are likely to become catastrophic and irreversible.
Source: The Guardian
Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.
-Marie Curie
