Welcome to Planet Days, a five-minute roundup of the latest climate news and what it means for our Planet. If this was forwarded to you, smash that subscribe button:
Last week, an oil vessel exploded near Nigeria, the EPA restored its regulation on mercury emissions, and big surprise, Build Back Better died again.
In case you missed it, here’s what else happened around the Planet:
Sunday, January 30
US sandwiched by extreme weather
The onslaught of winter is taking its toll on the United States. Last week started, and ended, with a bang:
First, a blizzard slammed into the Northeast, leaving 100,000 people without power.
Then on Thursday and Friday, a deadly winter storm stretched from Texas to Maine, canceling thousands of flights and leaving 300,000 people without power.
A warming ocean likely contributed to the storms, as more moisture was available to evaporate and dump onto states. The Washington Post covers both storms.
Monday, January 31
South America floods
South America is dealing with its own climate problems. In Ecuador, a deadly flood swept across the country, triggering landslides and killing at least 18 people. In Brazil, heavy rainfall and landslides in Sao Paulo killed 19 people.
To add insult to injury, a burst pipeline in Ecuador sent oil spewing into the Amazon rainforest. This wasn’t the first time it happened either: In 2020, pipes burst, spilling oil into the Coco River and again damaging the Amazon. Reuters has more.
Costly, unequal impacts of flooding
The U.S. has its own flood problems, as outlined in a new study. By 2050, flood risk is expected to jump 25%, with Black communities feeling a disproportionate brunt of the impacts.
The numbers are based on climate modeling, which sees more damaging floods shift from Appalachia and the Northeast to the Gulf Coast and Southeast. But we’re not powerless, as zoning and development are directly tied to flood risk.
"In many ways the solutions here are conceptually simple," Oliver Wing, an author of the study, told NPR. "Don't build any more stuff in the way of floods."
Don’t forget about humidity
We talk a lot about rising temperatures when it comes to climate change and the fueling of extreme weather. But a new study finds we should be worried about increasing humidity, too.
The paper shows that as temperatures rise, humidity and potential storm energy grow even faster. By factoring in air moisture with heat, researchers revealed climate change is twice as bad as previously thought. Axios has more.
Tuesday, February 1
Big Oil boom
As we climb out of the depths of the pandemic, demand for fossil fuels is growing. Crude oil prices climbed to their highest prices in years, as Chevron and ExxonMobil both recorded their highest profits since 2014. Shell and BP also exceeded expectations.
But before you push all your investments into oil, a new study warned that the recent boom is deceptive. As the transition from fossil fuels accelerates, the industry could be left with $500 billion in stranded assets.
Meanwhile, the renewable industry isn’t looking too shabby. Global spending on low-carbon energy jumped 27% last quarter compared to the previous year, via Bloomberg.
Ocean teeters on tipping points
Eight years ago, the ocean passed a crucial threshold: Over half the Planet’s seas experienced extreme heat. Since then, such temperatures have covered up to 60% of the oceans. Now, such extreme heat is considered the new normal.
The findings, from a study published on Tuesday, show that global warming is already here, triggering massive algal blooms and devastating marine life.
Another new study confirms the problem. As the Planet warms, coral reefs can’t keep up: Though 84% of corals are currently in areas shielded from heatwaves, that number shrinks to 0.2% at only 1.5 degrees Celsius of global warming. E&E News covers both studies.
Wednesday, February 2
Is nuclear and gas green?
Last week, the European Union said that nuclear power and natural gas could be considered green investments. And some countries were pretty upset.
According to the new rules, certain nuclear and gas projects can be labeled sustainable “transitional activities” — meant to help phase out dirtier energy sources. But both come with concerns, including methane leaks, radioactive waste, and meltdowns. The Verge has the full story.
Bonus
The Year of the Tiger
Over 1.5 billion people celebrated Lunar New Year on the first of the month, with festivities ringing in the Year of the Tiger. Followers believe anyone born this year will be competitive, courageous, and natural-born leaders, much like tigers in the wild.
But real tigers still need our help. The World Wildlife Fund recapped progress made in the conservation of the Planet’s largest big cats over the last twelve years (and areas where we can do better). See the gallery of photos from The Guardian.
Have a great week,
Brandon and Sam