Planet Week: The fate of Antarctic ice is in our hands
Welcome to Planet Week, where we highlight the last week of environmental news and what it means for our Planet.
Welcome to Planet Week, where we highlight the last week of environmental news and what it means for our Planet.
Last week, President Joe Biden moved to restore migratory bird protections. Researchers linked pesticides to widespread damage to soil organisms. And Germany unveiled a new, more ambitious climate goal.
In case you missed it, here’s what else happened around the Planet:
Monday, May 3
EPA slashes emissions from air conditioners and refrigerators
On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency moved to limit greenhouse gases used in air conditioners and refrigerators. The decision targets hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, a greenhouse gas thousands of times more effective at trapping heat than CO2.
The new regulation aims to phase out use of HFCs by 85% over the next 15 years. The EPA says that these cuts would eliminate the equivalent of 4.7 billion metric tons of CO2 by 2050 — about three years’ worth of emissions from the U.S. power sector.
“This is incredibly significant,” Kristen N. Taddonio, a climate adviser for the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development, told The New York Times. “By taking fast action on these short-lived climate pollutants, of which HFCs are the most potent, we can buy ourselves some time and actually help avoid climate tipping points.”
Tuesday, May 4
America’s much hotter these days
The United States’ new temperature norm is warmer than ever, according to analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In the last three decades, average temperatures in the contiguous U.S. jumped nearly 0.5 degrees Celsius. That makes this latest period assessed, from 1991–2020, the warmest on record.
But not all normals are treated equally. The Northern Plains and Upper Midwest cooled slightly over that span, while the South and Southwest became much warmer. And though rainfall shot up across the East Coast, the Southwest got considerably drier. The Washington Post dives deeper.
Wednesday, May 5
Our minerals shortfall
To meet our climate goals, we need many more minerals critical to clean energy technologies — six times more than what’s currently produced, according to a new study.
Much of the demand stems from materials needed to power electric vehicles and storing clean power. For example, an electric vehicle requires six times more minerals than a traditional fossil fuel-powered car.
But despite the challenges, clean energy goals are not out of reach. If investors are convinced countries are committed to climate goals, more funding could flow toward tapping new mineral deposits. Read more from The Verge.
The fate of Antarctic ice is in our hands
Much of the world’s sea level rise — and, in turn, the livability of coastal cities — depends on Antarctic ice, which is starting to melt. But how fast this ice melts is still largely up to us, according to two new studies published in Nature.
The first study finds that if countries meet current climate targets, we’ll see around 25 centimeters of sea level rise by 2100. But if we limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, the most optimistic goal of the Paris agreement, that number falls to 13 centimeters.
But those calculations don’t take account of marine ice-cliff instability, which is the focus of the second study. Marine-cliff instability happens when melting glaciers cause ice shelves to collapse into the ocean. It’s the ultimate wildcard for Antarctic ice loss, as it could quintuple current sea level rise estimates.
Though the future of ice shelves may be uncertain, one thing is clear: We need to cut emissions, and fast, to avoid runaway ice melt and catastrophic sea level rise. CarbonBrief covers both studies.
Thursday, May 6
To hit climate goals, we must — and can — cut methane
Though CO2 gets all the press, methane — an incredibly potent greenhouse gas — is just as important in our fight against climate, according to a new United Nations report. We covered a summary of the report in last week’s newsletter, but given the full report is now released, it’s worth revisiting.
The report finds that quickly reducing methane emissions could avoid 0.3 degrees Celsius of warming by 2045. And with targeted measures in agriculture, waste, and fossil fuel production, countries could slash global methane emissions 45% by 2030. Hitting those targets could also avoid 250,000 premature deaths a year. The Associated Press has more.
A huge chunk of our methane problem stems from livestock, as cows release loads of methane. It’s no surprise, then, that the report also emphasizes diet change — but that’s easier said than done. In Planet Days, we unpack the similarities between the fossil fuel and meat industries, as well as the challenges of getting Americans to transition from their meat-heavy habits.
China’s emissions exceed all developed nations combined
China once again takes center stage in our fight against climate change. New numbers by the Rhodium Group show that China now accounts for more annual emissions than all the developed nations combined.
But that’s hardly the whole story, reports Bloomberg. Historically, OECD members have emitted four times as many greenhouse gases than China. The trend underscores the need for international cooperation in climate action.
Biden moves to conserve 30% of land and water
On Thursday, the Biden administration strengthened its climate agenda by (loosely) detailing plans to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030. The report lays out priorities — including the creation of parks in nature-less areas, support for tribal nations, conservation of fish and wildlife habitats — but gives vague details on how it plans to get things done.
“We recognize that this is just the beginning,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. “We look forward to more formal and informal ways to engage people across America to shape and guide the America the Beautiful initiative in the weeks, months and years to come.” E&E News has more.
Bonus
Turtle playground
Young green turtles may have found their watering hole. After tagging 21 baby turtles in 2012, researchers used satellites to track their movements, finding that despite some meandering, the turtles all eventually headed toward the Sargasso Sea, a warm mass of water off the southeast coast of the U.S.
Now the researchers, whose findings were published last week, are studying the oasis more closely. They think that the water’s temperature, endless food sources, and plants like sargassum and seaweed make it an ideal turtle playground. Earther has the story.
Have a great week,
Brandon and Sam