Very many thanks to this month’s kind sponsor, John Bee, who wishes me to exhort, “Go Steelers!”
“Survival of the richest: Trump, climate and the logic of the doomsday bunker…
“This is the idea that in an age of climate disruption, nature extinction and ever wider social inequality, the best chance of survival for those who can afford it is to construct a personal shelter, where they can keep the desperate masses at bay. It is survival of the richest.”
“Cop29 live: day 4 of summit begins as leaders warned planet heating on course for 2.7C…
“…my colleague Ajit Niranjan has a sobering report which reveals that current policies would lead to a disastrous 2.7C of warming. This would cause a level of disruption that many scientists say will put human civilisation at risk.”
“In a sane world, climate scientists would be shouting from the rooftops that the rate of global warming has doubled.
“But we live in a world where scientists lying about incremental changes are applauded like they found a cure against cancer. Insane!
https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/1856625454746095636
“The most recent 365-day temperature anomaly was 1.62°C, as of Nov. 10, 2024.
“Everything is fine.”
https://x.com/EliotJacobson/status/1856319937373143327
“Tiny oceanic plankton adapted to warming during the last ice age, but probably won’t survive future climate change – new study…
“Phytoplankton produce around 50% of the world’s oxygen. So every second breath we take comes from marine algae, while the rest comes from plants on land.”
“Climate change threatens nearly half of all corals with extinction…
“An update to the Red List of corals by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), announced at the COP29 climate summit, revealed that 44% of coral species are now threatened with extinction.”
“Cryosphere at a tipping point for irreversible loss and damage [global sea ice still at record low, btw]…
“For the first time also, the Report notes a growing scientific consensus that melting Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, among other factors, may be slowing important ocean currents at both poles, with potentially dire consequences for a much colder northern Europe…”
“Sweden’s glaciers are melting at an accelerating rate…
“According to Björn Olander, Geodata Manager at Lantmäteriet, Sweden’s glacier area has shrunk from 220 to 216 square kilometres since 2020. This loss underscores the rapid pace of climate-induced change impacting the country’s landscape.”
https://www.gim-international.com/content/news/sweden-s-glaciers-are-melting-at-an-accelerating-rate
“UK farmer fears wipeout from severe floods amid climate crisis…
““We are very, very lucky in the UK that we have a commodity like food, and it is on the shelves all the time. By 2050, what will be on the shelves? We have broken nearly every single weather record, climate record, I think this farm can break,” Colin says. “The mother of all floods was this year.””
“Swiss villagers given deadline to evacuate as rockslide edges closer.
“Families in a tiny village in Switzerland are packing up their belonging after being told they have to leave their homes by the weekend. The evacuation order is in place with a weekend deadline because of the threat of a possible rockslide…”
“Droughts, floods, failing crops: Weather extremes test Italy’s agricultural heartland…
““This year has been especially tough, not only in Lombardy where there are 30-40% losses on nearly all crops, but also in the south, for different reasons,” explained Paolo Butera, secretary of Coldiretti in Milan and Lodi, Italy’s largest farmers’ association.”
“Bad weather: Catania [Sicily] experiencing ‘similar scenes seen in Valencia’ [400mm / 16 inches rain]…
“Catania and the surrounding areas are experiencing scenes recently seen in Valencia, with cars dragged by the fury of the water and ending up in the sea, motorists on the road trapped in their cars and saved by the firefighters. Houses have been flooded and people have been rescued…”
“Red-alert DANA hits Marbella as hospital floods, streets become impassable and THREE tornados strike the beachfront.
“The waters have arrived in Marbella as the town’s streets, beachfront and hospitals are flooded, while tornadoes batter boats and toss sun loungers into the air. Shocking footage has shown raging torrents of brown water rushing through the streets…”
“Weather nightmare in the Mediterranean: record sea temperatures foreshadow disasters…
“The latest measurements from the Copernicus Marine Service, dated November 10, 2024, paint an alarming picture of the thermal situation of the basin. The thermal maps show vast areas of intense red, indicative of widespread thermal anomalies.”
“Unstoppable record heat all over the world, especially in the tropics.
“Yesterday Douala a port in CAMEROON broke its November record of highest temperature with 35.2C [95.4F] after breaking those of most months of 2024.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1856765100142506276
“‘I have lost everything’: southern Africa battles hunger amid historic drought…
“The drought is also pulling families apart. Agness Shikabala had not heard from her husband since August, when he left Shakumbila for Lusaka to look for work.”
“Taps Could Run Dry in Zimbabwean City of 700,000 People…
“Bulawayo has for years struggled with a water shortage and now, as the region suffers its worst drought in decades, the city’s tap is due to run dry by the end of this year.”
“Tragedy: Grade 3 Student Killed by Hailstorm as Storm Wreaks Havoc in Mberengwa East [Zimbabwe]…
“A Grade 3 student tragically lost her life during a devastating hailstorm that struck the Zvomukonde area of Mberengwa East on Monday. The storm, which brought with it powerful winds and heavy rain, caused widespread destruction, leaving the community in shock.”
https://iharare.com/grade-3-student-killed-by-hailstorm-as-storm-wreaks-havoc-in-mberengwa-east/
“16 people killed by landslide in western Madagascar…
“The accident on the Tsiribihina River occurred Tuesday night, according to the Madagascan Maritime, Port and River Agency. The boat, with 26 passengers on board, stopped at a port around midnight, when a landslide hit the area…”
https://en.mehrnews.com/news/224418/16-people-killed-by-landslide-in-western-Madagascar
“RECORD HEAT ALLOVER ASIA – insane anomalies from Saudi Arabia to China with records everywhere.
“Today in INDIA 36.8 [98.2F] Madurai AP November record destroyed; HISTORIC HEAT IN IRAQ yesterday – November records: 36.2 Nassirya, 35.9 Semawa, 35.3 Faw.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1856376173967679799
“Today, the fierce warming has started in southern China, with 7 stations breaking the mid-November record and 4 stations tying record.
“In the next week, 40% of China may hit the warmest record in mid-November or even the whole month, Nanning forecast to be 34C!”
https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/1856325566410178830
“Hong Kong closes schools and businesses as Typhoon Toraji triggers third-highest warning…
“Experts warn that climate change could lead to more frequent and severe typhoons. Due to the warming seas, these tropical cyclones are becoming more intense and destructive, experts note.”
“Highest alert level raised as Philippines braces for Super Typhoon Usagi.
““Landfall at or near super typhoon intensity is likely,” the agency, PAGASA, said in its latest bulletin, adding that gusts could reach up to 230km/h (143mph). Luzon is the country’s most populous agricultural region.”
“SE ASIA HEAT WAVE – endless record heat in Southeast Asia where records have been falling every single day since March 2023 everywhere.
“RECORD NOVEMBER HOTTEST NIGHT min 27.2 [81F] Penang, Malaysia – it beat the records of all 12 months and re-beating them again! Record heat also in Vietnam from North to South; 33.4 Bac Can Hottest November day; MIN 28.0 Ca Mau Hottest November night.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1856632539324284965
“Mount Isa [Queensland, Australia] community battles longest November heatwave on record…
“Mount Isa has recorded 11 consecutive days over 40 degrees Celsius, breaking the 2015 record for November. Outdoor workers are having to adapt to the unusual heat.”
“Wild weather has battered major parts of the country overnight, with severe thunderstorms, blistering winds and large hailstones recorded across Australia.
“Overnight, South East Queensland was hammered by severe supercell storms, with more than 105,000 lightning strikes recorded and lashings of rain…”
“Something *very* big is happening in Brazil (or rather is not happening, in the case of rainfall).” [Amazon has now had two consecutive years of severe drought]
H/t John Gibbons
https://x.com/think_or_swim/status/1856339467264541121
“Brazil’s Tocantins state to offer $430 million in carbon credits…
“The submission will look to certify 17 million to 18 million credits for carbon sequestered from 2020 to 2024, not including credits set aside in case of wildfires or for other contingencies, a person familiar with the deal told Reuters.”
“Colombia declares State of Emergency amid torrential rains and extreme weather…
“Torrential rainfall across Colombia’s Pacific coast and Andean regions has displaced more than 90,000 people, leaving dozens of communities submerged under rising floodwaters.”
“Major flooding in Grenada…
“Videos online showed vehicles being washed away by strong floodwaters along River Road, while students were seen climbing on top chairs at the flooded T.A. Marryshow Community College.”
https://caribbean.loopnews.com/content/major-flooding-grenada
“Record heat again in ST LUCIA, Caribbean – 32.4C [90.3F] Hewanorra ties its hottest November day in history after having the hottest November night.
“All stations of St Lucia have broken records this month, like all previous months of 2024.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1856893429881639205
“Hurricane and tropical storm watches were issued for Honduras and Nicaragua on Wednesday…
“Meteorologists warned that an area of storms in the Caribbean Sea could deliver significant, life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides across portions of Central America through the weekend.”
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/11/13/weather/tropical-storm-sara-hurricane
“Rain totals in the hills/mountains of Honduras will likely be extreme.
“I think we are looking at a disaster is this verifies. If you know anyone there, please let them know to prepare.”
https://x.com/WeatherProf/status/1856884421065863523
“Lafayette firefighters rescue motorists, residents from Wednesday flash floods…
“Lafayette firefighters rescued several people who were trapped in their homes and vehicles because of flash floods Wednesday morning… Trahan said always call 911 if you are trapped in flood waters. He said first responders are trained in high-water rescues.”
“As Maine’s farmers struggle through extreme weather, local restaurants feel the pinch…
“Ten years ago when Jordan Rubin came to Portland among a wave of chefs drawn to the area’s burgeoning restaurant scene, Maine shrimp were on every menu… “One day, they were gone — you couldn’t get them at all,” said Rubin, chef and co-owner at Mr. Tuna and Bar Futo, and a co-owner of Crispy Gai.”
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/11/13/science/maine-climate-change-farms-restaurants/
“Toronto has officially reached the wettest year on record…
“As of November 11, 2024, the weather station at Pearson recorded 1054.4 mm of rain since January 1, officially setting a new historical record for the city. The old record dates back to 2008 when 1049 mm fell that year.”
“Rare tornado in Sechelt [BC] during storm last week confirmed by university experts…
““Basically, what they do there is catalogue and, when they can, investigate tornado occurrences and then sort of validate all the parameters surrounding the tornado,” said Doyle. “So, they are saying yes, it was a tornado.””
“Alaska-grown hazelnuts? A changing climate is helping growers coax unusual crops from northern soil…
“Alaska is warming two to three times faster than the global average. The state’s growing season is three weeks longer than it was in 1970, making for a significant and ever-changing shift in what can grow here.”
https://phys.org/news/2024-11-alaska-grown-hazelnuts-climate-growers.html
“To COP or not to COP? Climate activists on why they are still showing up in Azerbaijan…
““What on Earth are we doing, gathering over and over and over if there is no political will on the horizon to go beyond words and unite for meaningful action?” Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said earlier today, in a soul-searching speech to fellow world leaders.”
“Thousands of corporate lobbyists are at the UN climate summit in Baku. But what exactly is ‘lobbying’ and how does it work?
“…It often involves” financial contributions to political campaigns and parties, as well as gifts and promises of lucrative future positions. Of course, this is one way that companies seek to influence policy, especially in jurisdictions that allow large contributions.”
“African People’s Counter-COP denounces the COP system and demands climate justice for Global South be at the centre of the climate action…
“Delegates shared their stories of climate change impacts – droughts, floods, erosion, crop failure, cyclones, sea level rise, dust storms and threats to marine and terrestrial ecosystems compounded by resource and land-grabbing, and climate-induced conflict.”
https://www.cadtm.org/African-People-s-Counter-COP-denounces-the-COP-system-and-demands-climate
“Soaring grocery prices helped Trump to victory. The climate crisis is only going to make this worse…
“In elections this year in three of the world’s largest economies, incumbent parties were hammered by voters angry about their helplessness in the face of the steeply rising cost of essentials.”
“Climate change will lead to an increase in earthquakes…
“Weather conditions influence seismic activity: in 2020, storm Alex caused intense rainfall in south-eastern France, leading to 188 magnitude 2 earthquakes in the Mercantour National Park in the following 100 days.”
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You can read the previous “Climate” thread here. I’ll be back tomorrow with an “Economic” thread.
Despite the circumstances that affect the planet there are still large numbers of people campaigning to become politcal leaders. Is this a clue that such people are not really sentient beings?
I don’t think there is enough awareness amongst the political classes yet of the direness of our plight to put people off, Curt. I’m afraid that as things do palpably worsen, more opportunists, self-promoters and outright predators will come to the fore.
I forgot the “Messiahs” – self-appointed men of destiny (they do tend to be men).
Speaking of Messias, may I be allowed to present these recent idle musings, which end with the Messias: https://lukasfierz.blogspot.com/2024/11/denial-anger-and-trump.html
“Depression will put an end to optimism and this will lead to a global economic crisis.”
This is it exactly, Lukas. We await an irreversible tipping point when too much reality intrudes and the psychology of contraction kicks in. Trade protectionism is a precursor.
So .. some of the rich think apocalypse is coming and they will be fine in their bunkers/ volcano (who would ever build a shelter in an active volcano??)
Perhaps someone could tell them about plankton?
“Instead of just lording over us for ever, however, the billionaires at the top of these virtual pyramids actively seek the endgame. In fact, like the plot of a Marvel blockbuster, the very structure of The Mindset requires an endgame. Everything must resolve to a one or a zero, a winner or loser, the saved or the damned. ”
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/sep/04/super-rich-prepper-bunkers-apocalypse-survival-richest-rushkoff
Rockyrex – comment writer on Guardian and has a Facebook page – wrote yesterday “There’s a special session at a major conference in December where senior climate scientists have asked for papers to be submitted on the sudden uptick.” Hot seas I think, possiblly including lack of carbon sinks.
Ever feel like Pandora?
These future bunker-dwellers will either be usurped by their security details, who don’t feel like taking orders anymore, or go slowly insane in their subterranean prisons, I suspect. It seems a hollow victory.
“…like Ozymandias, Mark Zuckerberg may one day learn the hard way that all of his planning to elevate himself above the risks of the mortal world has been for naught. If the apocalypse does come, hurling us all into a state of nature, the first thing that is going to lose all of its value is money.
“The security guards that you hired to protect you are going to think more about protecting themselves. The construction workers who built your compound will know where all the food is hidden. The mighty billionaire boss will inevitably find that no pile of gold is high enough to keep away fate.”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/dec/21/mark-zuckerberg-apocalypse-bunker-hawaii
Methinx that is just a comfort blanket.
A way for the poor to feel the rich will also get their comeuppance in the end.
I cant see them being so stupid to rely on single family bunkers, many have formed small communities with carefully selected like-minded folks. The rich love socialism, but only for their “chosen people”.
The ones they grew up with, went to prestigious private schools with, play sports with, have business deals with, have marriages with, have dinner parties with, have shared multi-family vacations with…
In southern Argentina, Tierra del Fuego? Most of it should have been left as National Park with scattered indigenous populations, but large private estates have been established by members of the global OCGFC classes, and accelerating under Milei. There are probably other pockets quietly being developed.
Pan.,
Did John Bee clarify if the word should be spelled Steelers or Stealers? Just wandering.
I think he just meant sportsball.
yes the sportsball team is the Steelers, a name for steel workers
also no emails in spam either
Curt, it is “Pittsburgh Steelers” – a nod to the city’s steel mill heritage. “Stealers” wouldn’t work at all, as property crime has been trending way down.
https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/pittsburgh-ranked-america-safest-cities-new-study/
Also, go, Steelers! 😤
Yes I know where the Steelers play. The greatest play in NFL history was carried out by the Steelers, though it was much more of by accident than through careful planning and execution. The main characters of the play were Terry Bradshaw, Lynn Swan, and Franco Harris.
Although I grew up in Minnesota my favorite college NCAA FBS sportsball team is the Pittsburgh Panthers. Go Panthers. Though I think that I should add for full disclosure that I like the Syracuse Orangemen as well. Yes if one grows up in Minnesota having the Gophers as ones favorite team is rather pointless. Oh, I forgot, they are not just called the Gophers. They are called the Golden Gophers. Maybe they lose all of the time because gold is much softer than steel.
I noticed the Guardian used the term climate disruption, but I still think derangement is more accurate, as the Alaskan hazelnut growers will soon enough learn.
With today’s CO2 reading yet again @ > 4ppm higher than a year ago, it’s hard to believe that scientists puzzle over the rate of warming doubling, yet never seem to connect that with the rate of CO2 accumulation doing the same (the 1992 rate … the year of the conference on climate change that resulted in the drafting of the Kyoto protocols … was ~1.5ppm).
As for climate activists (whatever that means) wondering, “what on earth are we doing?’, I’d like to suggest that they are doing the same as every other activity undertaken to ameliorate climate change: hastening it’s transformation into complete climate derangement, as the CO2 from the first COP flights is still in the atmosphere warming the planet while corporate lobbyists are making more hay than industrial farming (since planting vast tracts for biofuels is more profitable than hay).
The drought in Brazil bears this out. The carbon sink the Amazon used to represent is now a carbon pump, as the tracts of razed earth can’t absorb CO2, the failed crops planted in their stead don’t either. And this dynamic is playing out all over the globe: as crops are destroyed, so is their ability to absorb the CO2 the habitat they destroyed in their planting is no longer capable of absorbing.
Then when you consider that these crops are for renewables, ie biofuels, the absurdity of growing biofuels to replace the biofuels from fossils becomes manifest: in order to make up for the energy density eons of gravitational pressure has provided, every field currently producing grains for human consumption would have to be converted to growing it to quench the insatiable thirst of machines.
You can see the same dynamic playing out in electricity generation: the more renewable electricity is produced, the larger percentage of it that goes to machines in data centers to fuel AI and crypto, two voracious consumers of energy that didn’t even exist when the COP first dissembled (sic).
Thank you, Rob – another splendid rant. I wondered if anyone else has been using your “climate derangement” phrase, and came upon this review of an intriguing-sounding book:
“Book Review: The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable by Amitav Ghosh… after noting the ‘complexity of the history of the carbon economy’, he leads us to a conclusion in complete conformity with his historicising strategy: ‘our lives and our choices are enframed in a pattern of history that seems to leave us no-where to turn but toward our self-annihilation’.”
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2017/07/20/book-review-the-great-derangement-climate-change-and-the-unthinkable-by-amitav-ghosh/
Thanx, Pan, for the link and the comment.
Although I think climate breakdown has a better chance of replacing climate change.
You and Art Berman have the best comments section, instead of the tiresome rancor, there is a real attempt to commiserate and further illuminate the issues discussed, a state of affairs I can’t help but attribute to he and ye.
The whirled keeps pinning its elf down. (Motto of the North Pole Labor Union).
Rob, that is very kind of you to say.
I follow Art Berman quite closely on X and read his blog from time to time, but I actually didn’t realise he had a comments section. I need to check that out.
Re Santa and his elves, they always make me think of the wonderful Terence McKenna. He made a fascinating case that they were real entities, who could be encountered in altered states:
“Is it possible that the folktale we know and love about Santa Claus finds its roots in the psychedelic mushroom-eating shamanism of people living in boreal regions of Europe?”
https://www.gaia.com/article/the-story-of-santa-claus-might-come-from-mushroom-eating-shamans
Another excellent list of consequences for the willfully ignorant, enjoy your choices.
Do the rich think that no one left outside of bunkers will just go away? Silly me! No locals or bunker builders know where the bunkers are hidden & they never tell anyone?
To the 8 billion victims of their stupidity, there is no place to go.
“You’re killing yourself & you don’t believe it.” – STYX
The Grand Illusion
“The safe limits are behind us. We have triggered a mass extinction event that will almost certainly destroy all life on earth.”
Today the deer came by for a little treat. I sincerely apologized, with a tear in my eye, to them & all the other lifeforms around because of the” I’m Special” egos of this scum species.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZJESDGlvD0
Individuals of this Stupid Species “will almost certainly” suffer the consequences. I will not enjoy the suffering of what is going to happen to me but I will enjoy the suffering of the overpopulaters that didn’t care about their only habitat.
Too much,too early or right on time? 😉
Summing up, civilisation is a DIY global heating system that saves the rich on home heating their bunkers, enabling them to save up for a very wet n rainy (pulse) 1 day.