Huge thanks to this month’s sponsor, Kimberley Hare, Facilitator of ‘The Edge’ Retreat, and Author of “At the Edge: What is Mine to Do, and Who Can I do it With?” She was kind enough to interview me for this book.
“Hell and High Water: the Year in Climate Chaos…
“James Hansen: “When our children and grandchildren look back at the history of human-made climate change, this year and next will be seen as the turning point at which the futility of governments in dealing with climate change was finally exposed.””
https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/12/20/hell-and-high-water-the-year-in-climate-chaos/
“Central banking’s Song of Fire and Flood…
“It’s not at all impossible that in a few years’ time, a material proportion of the debate at monetary policy committees will be taken up with discussion of how the economic forecasting model is going to interact with expectations of the next flood or wildfire season… In the new world, central banks might need a chief hydrologist alongside the chief economist.”
https://www.ft.com/content/bbf5a2ad-485e-43bd-b130-4cbfdfbfb95e
“Day #9 of setting a record daily low for Arctic sea-ice extent.
“Dec. 18, 2024: 335,000 km² below the previous daily record.”
https://bsky.app/profile/climatecasino.net/post/3ldnxyo2il22c
“Sentinel-1 data reveals Arctic glacier retreat.
“As Arctic temperatures rise, marine-terminating glaciers—especially in places like Svalbard—are undergoing rapid retreat and intensified calving.”
https://phys.org/news/2024-12-sentinel-reveals-arctic-glacier-retreat.html
“Incredible satellite images show Greenland’s massive ice sheet melting.
“New satellite images show the extreme melting that has taken place on the critical Greenland ice sheet, according to researchers… scientists have used NASA and European Space Agency satellites to reveal the sheet’s thinning and record the first measurements of its change over recent years.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/greenland-map-satellite-melting-ice-b2668161.html
“Ireland could be set for the HOTTEST Christmas Day on record…
“Weather indications could see Ireland experiencing it’s hottest Christmas on record, if it exceeds 13.7 degrees… Ladbrokes has said that the “odds have shortened to 3/1 for this Christmas to be the hottest on record.””
“Germany sees hottest year on record in 2024, weather service says…
“Tobias Fuchs, head of climate and environment at the DWD, said the record-setting temperatures for 2024 were already clear even with two weeks left in the year. “It has never been as warm as 2024 in Germany since the end of the 19th century,” he said.”
“EU should spare carmakers from ‘punitive’ emissions fines, says Scholz…
“Olaf Scholz, who is running for re-election in February at a time when Germany’s biggest carmaker, Volkswagen, is planning unprecedented plant closures in its home market, made the comments after meeting fellow EU leaders in Brussels.”
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/dec/20/eu-carmakers-emissions-fines-olaf-scholz-germany-vw
“‘We’re still in survival mode’: anger persists in Valencia weeks after floods…
“…while the mud and cars and debris may have been cleared from the streets over the past few weeks – much of it by an army of volunteers from all over Spain – life for those in some of the hardest-hit areas remains in disarray.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/21/spain-valencia-paiporta-picanya-anger-floods
“Heavy rainfall has caused severe flooding in the coastal city of Ashdod [Israel], with footage from the city showing submerged streets after being pelted with 30 millimeters of rain in less than 25 minutes.
“One video shows rescue officials extricating people trapped in their cars.”
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/downpour-causes-flooding-in-ashdod-streets/
“Meningitis surge in Africa is linked to Sahel sand and dust storms.
“The problem is set to worsen as dust storms are exacerbated by climate change, drought, and land degradation… the World Health Organization estimates that it kills around one in six patients. Half of all deaths are in children under 5 years old.”
https://www.devex.com/news/meningitis-surge-in-africa-is-linked-to-sahel-sand-and-dust-storms-108938
“Hailstorm devastates Limpopo village [South Africa], leaving 300 homeless.
“Residents of Mmatlakale village near Mokopane in Limpopo faced devastation on Wednesday just a week before Christmas after a hailstorm destroyed their homes and killed their livestock.”
“More climate challenges ahead for Mozambique and Malawi…
“Chido’s devastation highlights a broader trend of worsening weather patterns fueled by climate change. Southern Africa is experiencing more and more extreme weather patterns as global temperatures rise.”
https://www.dw.com/en/more-climate-challenges-ahead-for-mozambique-and-malawi/a-71106623
“‘Mayotte abandoned many years ago’: Island ‘forgotten, neglected’ during drought & migration crisis…
“People in storm-ravaged Mayotte implored French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to do more to help as he toured the overseas territory. Officials in France’s poorest overseas territory fear thousands could have been killed.”
“MALDIVES RECORD HEAT – The Maldives have been breaking records for 2 years no-stop in 100% of its stations every month multiple times.
“Tonight it was a scorching hot night with a Minimum of 28.2C [83.8F] at Kandoodhoo Atoll, its hottest December night in history.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1870050329620005057
“Balochistan’s Gwadar city [Pakistan] sits at the crossroads of climate and conflict.
“A new study examines the links between conflict and climate in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, where extreme weather can be a threat multiplier. The port city of Gwadar serves as an example…”
“A wildfire that broke out on Dec 18 in Khokhrapar union council and parts of Achhro Thar [Pakistan] killed 180 animals, burnt down crops, fodder and more than 50,000 trees…
“Thousands of birds, such as peacocks, partridges, doves, crows, and sparrows, were also killed in the blaze, said villagers.”
https://www.dawn.com/news/1880002
“NEW DELHI: The Doda district administration has issued an urgent advisory urging residents to wear masks due to massive forest fires blanketing the Bhaderwah Valley with thick smoke.
“Prolonged dry weather conditions over the past month have triggered frequent forest fires which cause widespread panic and serious health concerns among residents.”
https://www.newindian.in/massive-forest-fires-in-bhaderwah-valley-prompt-mask-advisory/
“In a Major Reversal, the World Bank Is Backing Mega Dams.
“Despite continued opposition, the World Bank has approved the first of five big dam projects expected to get its support in the coming months. Climate change has upped the need for renewable energy, but the environmental and social costs of building such massive projects remain.”
https://e360.yale.edu/features/world-bank-hydro-dams
“‘What if China suddenly releases water?’ Arunachal Chief Minister asks protesters against major [Indian] dam project…
““In case, China releases water from their dams all of a sudden, a trail of unimaginable destruction will sweep through the Siang belt, Assam and Bangladesh. “It is also inevitable that the volume of water in the Siang river will drastically get reduced during the winter…””
“Nepal couldn’t miss the “party”.
“Exceptional 31.5C [88.7F] at Janakpur broke its December record of highest temperature, after breaking those of almost all previous months. Record heat is sweeping every corner of the tropics.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1870079236096356662
“HISTORIC HEAT IN INDONESIA – 37.9 [100.2F] Tanah Merah WEST PAPUA (IRIAN JAYA) HOTTEST DAY IN HISTORY tied.
“Record heat also in SOLOMON ISLANDS. 35.2 Honiara downtown hottest December day.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1870122516511109272
“With the constantly record warm waters, some maritime tropical stations in SE Asia and Oceania will end 2024 without a single colder than average day (1991/2020). Some have never dropped below +24C [75.2F].
“The former is unprecedented and has never happened in modern climatic history.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1870371871721492779
“This Pacific nation was hit by a massive earthquake. Is climate change increasing seismic activity?
“…Vanuatu’s location makes it particularly susceptible to earthquakes, but its seismic instability may now be exacerbated by climate change… Slip rates – when fractures in the earth’s crust occur -have been five times faster since the last ice age…”
“EXTRAORDINARY HEAT IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN – record heat is sweeping all Oceania with dozens of records non-stop.
“MARSHALL ISLANDS Hottest night in history – Tmin 28.9C [83.8F] Majuro. NORTHERN MARIANAS Tmin 27.8C and MICRONESIA Tmin 28.3C hottest December nights.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1869948569803014160
“Global warming may make La Niña harder to detect.
“The transition to a La Niña event in the tropical Pacific Ocean — which could have knock-on effects on weather patterns worldwide — isn’t going smoothly… comparing ocean temperatures to a 30-year average may no longer be effective, since so much rapid warming is taking place.”
https://www.axios.com/2024/12/20/climate-change-la-nina-detection-noaa-forecasts
“Record heat continues in 100% of the tropics, everywhere, including the Nino area. Over 36C [96.8F] on the Ecuador coast.
“2025 will start smashing thousands of records all over the tropics, despite months of failed and ridiculous calls for a Nina, 2023 records are being destroyed everywhere.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1869922694248157297
“On Thursday afternoon, Senapred declared a Red Alert in the commune of Litueche, O’Higgins Region [Chile], due to a forest fire.
“Likewise, he called for the evacuation of the Aliwen Parcelación sector, in the commune of Litueche, because the fire threatens a populated area in the sector.”
“Whoahh! Apocalyptic scenes from Sachayoj, Argentina as enormous dust storm rolls through yesterday afternoon….
“Via: Diario Panorama.” H/t Volcaholic on X.
https://x.com/volcaholic1/status/1869706065782476809
“Record heat in NE Brazil seems eternal with no sign to abate.
“Today Jaguaribe rose to 40.4 [104.7F], just 0.4 from the highest temperature ever recorded in the State of Cearà and in the next weeks Tmax will always be hovering 40. Rainy season is nowhere to be seen in any foreseeable future.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1869810202855583782
“EXTRAORDINARY CARIBBEAN HEAT.
“34.1 [93.4F] in CURACAO destroys its December heat record for the 10th times in 20 days (5 days Highest max, 5 days minimums above the record), just like it did for all previous 11 months.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1870284106015355231
“Haiti is currently facing one of the worst natural disasters in its history, with devastating floods particularly affecting the north, Grande-Anse, and the North-West of the country.
“The human and material losses are staggering. Dozens of bodies have already been recovered from the waters.”
https://viacampesina.org/en/haiti-devastating-floods-leave-a-tragic-toll-on-lives-and-livelihoods/
“2024: Tampa Bay’s year of the flood.
“2024 weather has been brutal for the Tampa Bay Area. The West Coast saw three direct hurricane hits, the most oppressive summer on record, and several massive flood events, inundating countless homes and resulting in Tampa’s wettest year on record.”
https://www.wfla.com/weather/climate-classroom/2024-tampa-bays-year-of-the-flood-climate-classroom/
“Hurricane Milton farm losses could top $642 million in Florida.
“The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, or UF/IFAS, on Friday released a preliminary estimate of losses from Milton, which plowed into Sarasota County with 120 mph maximum sustained winds on Oct. 9…”
https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/hurricane-milton-farm-losses-could-top-642-million/
“Farmers still reeling months after Hurricane Helene ravaged crops across the South.
“Experts estimate the cost to farmers, timber growers and other agribusinesses from Florida to Virginia will reach more than $10 billion… Georgia farmers suffered storm losses of at least $5.5 billion…”
“Drought deepens in the Southwest, driven by little rain and extreme heat.
“The parched conditions are most pronounced in Arizona, Nevada and southeastern California. As of Wednesday, Las Vegas has not had measurable rain in 158 days — the second-longest such streak for the city on record.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2024/12/19/drought-southwest-rain-las-vegas/
“Record-Breaking December Heat Hits Coachella Valley Ahead of Christmas…
“The Coachella Valley is basking in unseasonable warmth, with temperatures breaking records for the second day in a row. Palm Springs reached a sweltering 85°F on Thursday, far exceeding the seasonal norm of 68°F.”
“Nome [Alaska] breaks record for highest temperature set in December.
“The 44°F high was the warmest temperature seen in Nome in December in the 119 years it’s been recorded… It was also the first time temperatures had stayed above freezing for three straight days in a winter month since 1963.”
http://www.nomenugget.com/news/nome-breaks-record-highest-temperature-set-december
“Climate change is making plants less nutritious − that could already be hurting animals that are grazers.
“Plants are a low-calorie food source, so it can be challenging for animals to consume enough energy to meet their needs. Now climate change is reducing the nutritional value of some foods that plant eaters rely on.”
“2024 will be the first full year over 1.5°C. We’re lucky there were no major weather events associated with this record.
“Oh. Right. Never mind.” [Prof Eliot Jacobson]
https://bsky.app/profile/climatecasino.net/post/3ldnvuwnloc2r
“Keep holding on to your hats! As we’ll likely soon find out what ΔT +1.5°C months during a La Niña feel like.” [Leon Simons]
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/1869743735329960291
“2024 was hot—but it might be the coldest year of the rest of your life…
“… your future self will look back on the present as a time of calmer weather, snowier winters, and milder temperatures… “In principle, shifting baseline syndrome is relevant to all environmental challenges,” says Soga of the University of Tokyo.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/shifting-baseline-syndrome-climate-change
“Global warming is speeding up. Another reason to think about geoengineering…
“Satellite data show that, since the turn of the century, Earth’s albedo—the amount of incoming sunlight it reflects—has been dropping… One reason for this dimming is air pollution—or, rather, its absence.”
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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow on Monday with an “Economic” thread.
Sorry, I’m a late bloomer and recently was watching old clips of naughty man Craig Ferguson with his sometimes, well mostly, raunchy clips of past glamour ladies guests on the Late, late, late show. They are addictive to watch. In one his was talking to a native Scottish lass actress,
Karen Gillan – Craig Predicts Dr. Who “Thing” 6 Years in Advance – 4/4 Appearances In Chron. Order
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ron2gvmybuc
The part that struck me was she does NOT drive or ever had a driver’s license or car! Amazing to think that in today’s world such an occurrence would being the mix; especially at one time she moved to Los Angeles, California!!!! Craig was taken back and made light of the irony on how people there and in the United States in general would drive a few miles to a gym to walk on a treadmill for exercise. Very funny …
When I lived in Boston metro no need for a car like when Ms. Gillan lived in London at one time.
Now in Florida, it’s almost impossible not to get around “sanely” without one, like in Los Angeles…..
P.S. I posted this for Justin to lighten the atmosphere today and it has Scottish all over it…
Vince, I am going to embarrass myself here – I had never heard of Karen Gillan or Craig Ferguson until I watched this clip. Google tells me they are from Inverness and Glasgow, respectively, and that Craig once belonged to a punk band memorably called “The Bastards from Hell”. 😂
In my defence, I am actually a displaced Englishman, merely living in Scotland, although one of grandfathers did hail from Aberdeen.
Don’t be…I just discovered them myself and both have had a very successful career in show business. She’s about 41 now and has a cult following from her short lived TV show titled
, “Selfie”, among many other credits.
Ferguson is like me, a graying dinosaur, but saw a recent special presentation of his on cable.
Any hoot, I’m more comfortable with Cary Grant,
Audrey Hepburn, Sean Connery, Peter O Toole generation.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CFddkQLSlVs&pp=ygUOc2VsZmllIHR2IHNob3c%3D
Selfie (2014) – Are you a plus one or VIP? | Karen Gillan & John Cho | Romantic comedy
Karen puts on eye full display here, …
Wonderful to see such holiday cheer spread in the penultimate selection.
“2024 was hot.
But it will be the coldest year you will.have known for the rest of your life.’
Gee, thanks. Rinse and repeat for each year until…
What’s not to love. Destiny is a gas.
I’m going to take an uncharacteristically optimistic line and guess that 2025 will dip a little below 2024, as, La Nina confusion aside, we are seeing some significant cooling in the Pacific.
Of course, we should have seen temps falling this year, so… 🤷♂️
I am going to denver for christmas and no snow but rain is in the forecast. If thats not a sign that’s things are not right. Maybe more people will wake up.
Heather, the Marshall Fire – the costliest in Colorado’s history – happened just after Christmas in 2021, so I’m not sure a lack of snow will be moving the needle on public opinion. Have a safe journey!
2024, drop the 0, and read it backwards: 422 ppm’s of CO2 is the lowest level of atmospheric carbon dioxide you will know for the rest of your lives.
Even as speculation about peak oil is still raging and coal’s parasols are blamed for the inexplicable increase in the pace of temperature rise, gas, in the form of methane keeps leaking like a sieve everywhere fossil fuels are produced, never more so than where the Earth is fractured to obtain oil.
https://www.nationofchange.org/2024/12/16/6-fracking-billionaires-and-climate-denial-groups-behind-trumps-cabinet/
https://www.desmog.com/2024/12/19/mcneese-state-university-lng-center-phmsa-tellurian-driftwood/
https://apnews.com/article/methane-gas-texas-permian-basin-satellite-climate-81b9cfea311275806c6fbf8621f821c2
Like Jevon’s paradox in reverse, even when the growth in the production of fossil fuels abates, the amount of gas exhausted into the atmosphere goes right on accumulating.
As the bridge fuel to nowhere, it’s use has skyrocketed since the turn of the century, while it’s LNG component, which didn’t exist a mere decade ago, has an EROEI less than that of thermal coal.
Together with the component that is added by nature, emissions of and from CH4 (ie its flaring and combustion for fuel), have surpassed, in a mere 1/4 of a century, those from more than the 100 years of the Oil Age.
Which is my characteristically long-winded way of saying, “You are right, Martin, ‘Destiny is a gas’”.
Rob, your article about fracking billionaires behind Trump’s cabinet reminded me of the Guardian’s owners controversial new alliance with Tortoise Media:
“On a chilly December morning two weeks ago, at a location deep in the Buckinghamshire countryside in the grounds of one of Britain’s most spectacular stately homes, cars began to arrive carrying some of the most powerful players in global energy…
“Waiters circulated with breakfast snacks prepared by a Michelin-starred chef as the hosts, James Harding, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Tortoise Media; and Patrick Handley of the Brunswick Group, a City PR film – the current clients of which include Saudi Arabia’s Aramco – welcomed guests from around the world…
“Harding was greeting members of Tortoise’s energy ‘advisory board’, including a name all too familiar to those who track the geopolitics of global energy: Bob Dudley, the former Chief Executive of BP who is best known in the US for overseeing the clean-up of the disastrous Gulf of Mexico spill and cheerleading for Donald Trump. Last month, he toured TV studios to tell viewers how a win for Trump was a win for US energy and business interests.”
https://bylinetimes.com/2024/12/18/tortoise-and-the-heir-the-slow-news-media-firm-behind-the-observer-sale-and-the-curious-company-it-keeps/
Brilliantly played, Rob.
Even as collective humanity is assured of its ultrasocial extinction, its individuals will remain incredibly clever. It’s raining in Denver at Xmas, the Baader-Meinhof gang is but a long-ago curiosity, the self-appointed watchdogs at The Guardian are partying with their millions with Saudi butchers and neocon ghouls, Jevons now has a reverse paradox, but damn, it’s been truth time all year here at C& E
I don’t even know if they can properly roll out digital ids. My delta application can’t even properly work. Both united and delta want you to use the app to pay for stuff food etc, but if the app doesn’t properly work they are fucked! No cash anymore either until those apps stop working. I don’t think they thought about all these bugs and hacks either.
The lead article ““Hell and High Water: the Year in Climate Chaos…” is well worth reading. (Even though it’s got a sprinkling of renewable type hopium.) it’s like a C&E year in review.
At a glance I’ll plan a deeper read. The image after Milton from above, the depiction, looks like novel way of using a surge protector.
Dad joke, but have a wickedly pagan break Harry, supporters and commenters. May your temperatures be average or below.
Thank you, Sean – but I’ll be back tomorrow with another Economic thread, so it’s not quite time to don our robes and break out the sage yet…