Glacial Longings
by Elizabeth Rush
“I wanted to stand alongside this unstable glacier, wanted to witness freshly formed bergs dropping down into the ocean like stones, so that I might know in my body what my mind still struggled to grasp.”
Source; emergencemagazine.org
This thought stayed with me all morning, before I wrote this. To have my body know what my mind is still struggling to grasp about climate change. Yes, that's just it.
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I offer the good news from Katharine Hayhoe this week also...
The news these days is full of innovative climate solutions from every corner of the globe. From groundbreaking renewable energy records in Texas and China to Hawai’i's renewable paradise, it’s clear the tide is turning. Here are five places where change is happening.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, nearly half of the city’s heavy vehicles — including garbage trucks and sweet sweepers — are now fueled by vegetable oil rather than gasoline or diesel. The city hopes to convert all its vehicles to sustainable fuels by 2031.
In Nigeria, the new president Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural address he was phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. The subsidies amounted to nearly $500 million a month. Tinubu is “re-channeling the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.”
This past weekend, Texas set a new record with 36 percent of the energy on its grid being generated by solar. That’s in addition to the third that’s already coming from wind. Meanwhile in China, it’s estimated that carbon emissions peaked in 2023 and are now on the decline, thanks to a record renewable energy installation. This past year alone, China installed more new solar energy than the U.S. has in its entire history. I think it’s time for Texas to catch up, don’t you?
Then there’s Hawai’i, where 33 percent of people already have rooftop solar panels, 15 percent of new cars sold are electric, and the state just replaced their last coal-fired power plant with a giant 185 MW battery that can release the same amount of electricity as the coal plant, but much faster.
In Belfast, Northern Ireland, nearly half of the city’s heavy vehicles — including garbage trucks and sweet sweepers — are now fueled by vegetable oil rather than gasoline or diesel. The city hopes to convert all its vehicles to sustainable fuels by 2031.
In Nigeria, the new president Bola Tinubu announced in his inaugural address he was phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. The subsidies amounted to nearly $500 million a month. Tinubu is “re-channeling the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.”
This past weekend, Texas set a new record with 36 percent of the energy on its grid being generated by solar. That’s in addition to the third that’s already coming from wind. Meanwhile in China, it’s estimated that carbon emissions peaked in 2023 and are now on the decline, thanks to a record renewable energy installation. This past year alone, China installed more new solar energy than the U.S. has in its entire history. I think it’s time for Texas to catch up, don’t you?
Then there’s Hawai’i, where 33 percent of people already have rooftop solar panels, 15 percent of new cars sold are electric, and the state just replaced their last coal-fired power plant with a giant 185 MW battery that can release the same amount of electricity as the coal plant, but much faster.
The Not So Good News:
As climate impacts intensify, there’s no shortage of not-so-good news around the world, either.
In Australia, invasive fire ants are travelling to new areas by forming rafts to float on torrential flood waters. “Fire ants are more active before or after rainfall and can form large floating rafts which move with water currents to establish footholds in new areas,” says Reece Pianta from Australia’s Invasive Species Council.
In Colombia, El Niño is driving the dry conditions that are leading to raging wildfires that currently threaten about half the cities in the country. It’s clear that climate change is playing a role, though. Not only is it warmer than it would be otherwise but a recent study has determined that climate change, not El Niño, is the primary driver for the drought currently impacting the Amazon river basin, including the southeastern part of Colombia as well as regions of Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. As always, climate change is a threat multiplier.
In Sierra Leone, climate change has exacerbated recent flooding and mudslides, leading to an uptick in human trafficking as people try to flee increasingly difficult circumstances at home. Many people have been lured to jobs abroad that turned out to be exploitative and not what they were promised. In the past three years, ”there has been an increase [in the number of people] and the vulnerability has increased too,” Christos Christodoulides, head of the UN Migration Agency in Sierra Leone, told Al Jazeera.
In Australia, invasive fire ants are travelling to new areas by forming rafts to float on torrential flood waters. “Fire ants are more active before or after rainfall and can form large floating rafts which move with water currents to establish footholds in new areas,” says Reece Pianta from Australia’s Invasive Species Council.
In Colombia, El Niño is driving the dry conditions that are leading to raging wildfires that currently threaten about half the cities in the country. It’s clear that climate change is playing a role, though. Not only is it warmer than it would be otherwise but a recent study has determined that climate change, not El Niño, is the primary driver for the drought currently impacting the Amazon river basin, including the southeastern part of Colombia as well as regions of Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia. As always, climate change is a threat multiplier.
In Sierra Leone, climate change has exacerbated recent flooding and mudslides, leading to an uptick in human trafficking as people try to flee increasingly difficult circumstances at home. Many people have been lured to jobs abroad that turned out to be exploitative and not what they were promised. In the past three years, ”there has been an increase [in the number of people] and the vulnerability has increased too,” Christos Christodoulides, head of the UN Migration Agency in Sierra Leone, told Al Jazeera.
What you can do... she offers this:
Every day, we’re exposed to toxic fumes from the fossil fuels we use in our everyday lives. Electrifying our homes and appliances is a great way to improve our health, save money, and cut carbon pollution at the same time.
Rewiring America just came out with a handy Personal Electrification Planner that guides you through options tailored to your specific situation, whether you rent or own. The planner allows you to create a personalized electrification plan that aligns with your home, lifestyle, and your budget, and it's designed to be quick and user-friendly. If you live in the US, they also provide access to rebates offered under the Inflation Reduction Act, making the shift to electric more affordable.
Check it out and, as always, share what you learn with others around you!
Rewiring America just came out with a handy Personal Electrification Planner that guides you through options tailored to your specific situation, whether you rent or own. The planner allows you to create a personalized electrification plan that aligns with your home, lifestyle, and your budget, and it's designed to be quick and user-friendly. If you live in the US, they also provide access to rebates offered under the Inflation Reduction Act, making the shift to electric more affordable.
Check it out and, as always, share what you learn with others around you!
Today's quote:
"We should treat all the trivial things of life very seriously, and all the serious things of life with sincere and studied triviality." Oscar Wilde
It is so difficult to face it. Hard to know what to do.
ReplyDeleteYes. And our individual lives seem to have such little impact. But awareness of the problem, talking about it, and above all acknowledging our feelings...that's what I am trying to do. It helps diminish the sense of being overwhelmed. Weather changes are climate change.
Delete...change is everywhere, but many don't want to see it.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing when the first story on CBS news last night had to do with the flooding in Los Angeles. It had been expected by weather forecasts, but what were people going to do? No going to higher ground with all the landslides. I feel for those who are affected now. There will probably be others, especially those who aren't on national news!
DeleteThe climate disasters that are already occurring are heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteYes, you are so right. It brings out our compassionate side, especially as we realize anyone can be next.
DeleteHi Barbara, Despite China's increase in renewable energy sources, they have 1,110 operating coal fired power plants and they approved 107 more to be built in 2023. In China coal fired power plants produce 85% of the country's electricity. From 2010 through 2019, the USA closed down 290 coal fired power plants and currently operates 217...providing 23% of our electricity. India has 291 plants in operation, with 33 under construction and 41 more in planning stages. Just saying... When it comes to coal, we aren't the biggest problem and we're at least headed in the right direction. Take Care, BIg Daddy Dave
ReplyDeleteThanks for all that good information. Yes there are still many ways we can reduce the carbon emissions, and each Prius driving around makes me smile. I don't use single-use plastic, and they don't use gasoline. We each can do only what we can do...and it certainly is a good idea to keep those power plants in our viewpoints.
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