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.
“The Arctic Ocean may have its first ice-free day before 2030, or sooner than previously expected, as rapid melting shows an increasing rate of loss in the polar region, a new scientific study concludes.
“The north pole has lost half of its late summer sea ice cover since the early 1980s, and the latest findings bring forward the possible date for an ice-free Arctic.”
https://www.ft.com/content/63fbcf2b-9acc-4ccb-ac12-9f3b78e85b68
“Melting permafrost makes ‘drunken forests’ store less carbon.
“As the Arctic ground thaws due to climate change, trees are struggling to stay upright – and this slows their growth and makes them store less carbon.”
“Greenland is getting greener – helped by a mining company and a group of tree enthusiasts…
“Greening sounds good compared to deforestation, but in the Arctic, the expansion of plant life amplifies dangerous feedback loops… The growth of trees and shrubs accelerates the thawing of permafrost, increasing global heating…”
“Alaska continues to change, fast…
“Since 2010, Alaska has experienced six of its top 10 warmest years. The last year that ranked in the top 10 of Alaska’s coldest years was 1975… The Bering Sea ice season is now 41 days shorter than it was in the 1970s.”
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/alaska-science-forum/alaska-continues-change-fast
“Parts of of Finland see record warmest autumn in 90 years [of record-keeping]…
“Rankki in Kotka recorded the warmest autumn of its observation history of over 90 years, said FMI in a press release on Thursday… The average temperature in the autumn varied from about 1 degrees in north-west arm of Finnish Lapland to 10 degrees Celsius along the country’s southern coast.”
https://www.dailyfinland.fi/weather/40803/Finland-sees-record-warmest-autumn-in-90-years
“Dire Russian crop health and Ukraine export risks threaten Black Sea wheat…
“…at least 37% of Russia’s winter crops are in poor condition compared with 4% a year ago, and this is the worst rating ever recorded. On average over the last five years, just 8% of winter crops are in poor shape by this date.”
“Climate change threatens global food supply: Scientists call for urgent action…
“”We’re in a race against time,” explained Silvia Restrepo, president of the Boyce Thompson Institute: “The crops we depend on for food are increasingly struggling to survive extreme weather, from heat waves to droughts and floods. Meanwhile, our current approaches to developing tougher, more resilient crops simply aren’t moving fast enough.””
https://phys.org/news/2024-12-climate-threatens-global-food-scientists.html
“Millions urged to stay inside as Storm Darragh hits UK and Ireland with rare red weather warning issued…
“The government sent out a text alert to around three million people ahead of landfall, before Storm Darragh hit Ireland first, and then moved on to the British Isles.”
“One of Bosnia’s largest lakes emptied amid ‘scary’ drought.
“For years, the village of Ostrozac, where Kuljanin lives, had profited from the tourists attracted by Jablanicko’s emerald waters. But the rain has dried up this year and its water levels have plummeted.”
https://www.dailysabah.com/world/europe/one-of-bosnias-largest-lakes-emptied-amid-scary-drought
“After Deadly Floods, Spain Struggles With Epic Cleanup…
“Paiporta has lost its sports center, playgrounds, garden and squares, as well as homes, shops and offices. The city has gone back 40 years, Menchero says. “It is a Dantesque and devastated place.””
“Portugal Records Hottest-ever November: Weather Agency…
“On Monday the meteorological agency in neighbouring Spain announced that it had recorded its warmest November since records began, coming on the heels of deadly floods in October.”
https://www.barrons.com/news/portugal-records-hottest-ever-november-weather-agency-26c8a64e
“Tenerife boils as major city in Canary Islands records highest temperature in 100 years.
“The State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) confirmed the record, writing on X: “Santa Cruz de Tenerife broke its December maximum temperature record on the 1st: 28.6C. This exceeds the previous record, set in 2009, in a series that spans more than a century.””
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1984445/tenerife-santa-cruz-highest-temperatures-record
“Why climate change will cause more people to flee to Europe…
“The Institute for Economics and Peace has predicted that 1.2bn people could be displaced by 2050 because of the effects of natural disasters and extreme weather impacts. The Niinistö report noted that “by 2050, it is estimated that more than 1bn people will have insufficient access to water”.”
https://www.ft.com/content/ded584c8-4d11-44b2-8635-8ff052280e7f
“Water Crisis Hits Morocco’s Agriculture: Government Allocates Resources, Invests in Desalination…
“Morocco has been battling an intense drought for nearly six years, plunging the country into a severe water crisis. Rainfall has declined by over 40% compared to normal levels, water reserves have dropped by 75%, and underground water resources are depleting at an alarming rate.”
“Severe Floods Hit Tripoli and Surroundings in Libya, Dozens of Cars Floating!
“Heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding in several areas including Tripoli, Zawiya, and Souq Al Juma in Libya, following warnings issued by the National Center of Meteorology regarding weather instability in the region.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG9TrR20ZFM
“RECORD HEAT IN THE GULF OF GUINEA – hot and dry harmattan wind is blowing towards the coast resulting in exceptionally maximum temperatures, especially in GHANA.
“December records broken including in the capital: 37.5 Accra [99.5F]; 37.5 Ho; 37.0 Sunyani… Ghana has broken records every month.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1864323776906973296
“Cocoa crisis: Ghana’s farmers want next leader to tackle climate change…
““Many of my cocoa trees failed this season because of pests and diseases. The weather patterns have changed. The rains no longer come as they used to, and when they do, they bring pests and diseases with them,” said Kate Buadu, 75, a farmer in Oyoko, in eastern Ghana.”
“HOTTEST DECEMBER DAY IN ZIMBABWE – the worst heat wave in Southern Africa history is already smashing dozens of records in several countries
“Provisionally ZIMBABWE WITH 43.5c [110.3F]] at Beitbridge (border with ZA-Musina) has set the national record of December hottest day. Updates soon.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1864476579101069745
“How conflict, climate change and the environment intersect in Yemen, December 2024…
“Many of Yemen’s local conflicts revolve around access to dwindling natural resources, particularly water and land – a problem that has plagued the country and its people for decades. Now, climate change and the environmental impacts of the war are critically reducing the availability of natural resources…”
“The coastal region of Karnataka [India] has witnessed its highest post-monsoon rainfall, with incessant rains lashing the area over the past few days.
“In Dakshina Kannada district, the expected rainfall for the period between November 28 and December 4 is 4.8 mm. However, this year, the district received 82.4 mm, a staggering 1,617% increase.”
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1250562
“China Reports Warmest Autumn Since Records Began…
“China has already this year logged its hottest July since records began — which was also the hottest month in the history of observation. August too was the warmest ever recorded…”
https://www.barrons.com/news/china-reports-warmest-autumn-since-records-began-0e5299af
“Chinese Farmer Blames Extreme Weather for Poor Kiwi Harvest.
“Continued rains followed by extreme high temperatures resulted in a Chinese farmer’s kiwi harvest dropping by about half… Some of the fruit trees were also affected by canker disease, China Shenshan said.”
“MORE EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN ASIA:
“VIETNAM with a minimum of 28.6 [83.5F] again! Always at Huyen Tran, HOTTEST DECEMBER NIGHT IN VIETNAM HISTORY.“
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1865266101954973703
“HISTORIC HEAT IN SINGAPORE: 35.7 [96.3F] Peya Lebar, 34.7 Changi Int. Airport. DECEMBER HEAT RECORDS DESTROYED IN PIECES.
“100% of all tropics are destroying with extreme margins all records set during the 2023 Nino. All Tropics will keep warming next weeks at unprecedented levels.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1865197750490697742
“At least five dead, seven missing after West Java floods, landslides…
“Heavy rains hitting the regency on Tuesday and Wednesday had caused at least 33 severe weather events in 22 districts across Sukabumi, most of which were landslides and floods. The regency administration had declared a state of emergency.”
“HISTORIC – Hottest day in climate history of West Papua (Irian Jaya); 37.9 [100.2F] Tanah Merah tied its own all time record and all time high for the whole Indonesian Province.
“Indonesia has broken all time highs of 3 provinces in few weeks.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1864957959861613048
“Warmest waters on Earth help fuel another weekend thunderstorm outbreak from Brisbane to Melbourne…
“Sea surface temperatures surrounding Australia were the highest on record in spring, and are currently simmering up to 32 degrees Celsius off the Top End and Kimberley coasts. This abnormal offshore warmth is supplying the atmosphere with abundant moisture…”
“First day of summer bushfires damages iconic Helms Arboretum in WA.
“Helms Arboretum north of Esperance in Western Australia has been significantly damaged by fire. The location is popular among social media influencers and couples as a wedding venue.”
“Vicious cycle: Wildfires are making climate change worse…
“Climate change makes intense fires more likely by bringing hotter, drier conditions. Those extreme fires in turn become a growing source of carbon pollution …which might mean we see more of these fires as well.”
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/12/vicious-cycle-wildfires-are-making-climate-change-worse/
“North and South America Endured ‘Exceptional’ Wildfire Season in 2024…
“The Pantanal wetlands, the Amazon, Canada and the western US experienced “particularly intense wildfires”… The Amazon wildfire season started early this year, with Brazil and Venezuela breaking the record for the highest carbon emissions for February.”
https://earth.org/north-and-south-america-endured-exceptional-wildfire-season-in-2024/
“An Unusual Year for Fire in Bolivia…
“For much of 2024, thick clouds of smoke engulfed much of Bolivia—the result of record-breaking fires that raged across the region… The numbers of fires in the months of June, July, and September all broke records, according to an analysis of Aqua MODIS data…”
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/153664/an-unusual-year-for-fire-in-bolivia
“A severe drought that spread over recent months in Peru’s Loreto and Ucayali regions led to the isolation of more than 130 communities.
“Record low river levels affected the navigation of boats that deliver food and supplies as well as the health and livelihoods of communities that rely on fish for food and trade.”
“12 injured, several children missing after dam bursts in Colombia.
“At least a dozen people were injured and several children missing after a dam burst in the rural southwest Colombian department of Cauca early Friday, the Colombian Civil Defense reported, Xinhua reports.”
https://en.inform.kz/news/12-injured-several-children-missing-after-dam-bursts-in-colombia-fb2b47/
“Over 2,000 residents were evacuated and three people died as flooding affected parts of northern Costa Rica on Wednesday, December 4, when heavy rain caused rivers to overflow.
“Local media said the Sarapiqui, Puerto Viejo, and Tigre rivers were overflowing, resulting in “serious” damage in several communities.”
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/3-dead-over-2-000-111822300.html
“CRAZY HEAT IN THE CARIBBEAN:
“All Caribbean islands are smashing every Dec record with margins never seen in climatic history… GRENADA Crazy Min 27.6C [81.7F] today smashed in pieces its national record… Two more Dutch Caribbeans territories had their December hottest nights in history: Tmin 26.8 St Maarten; Tmin 26.6 St Eustatius.”
https://x.com/extremetemps/status/1864359506043691347
“In Mexico, Heat Waves Are Even Killing Younger Adults…
“Unexpectedly, the team also found that a large number of children under 4 and adults aged 18 to 34 were dying from the heat — but at more moderate conditions than those affecting older adults.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/health/heat-deaths-young-adults.html
“Texas water and the economic miracle are at risk of evaporating…
“Fossil fuels have been driving much of the growth… But water is crucial to this industry, as much of the production comes from fracking. However, in the midst of a mega-drought that has lasted several decades, driven largely by global warming, water has become a source of major concern.”
“Climate and environment updates: America will soon need a ‘shocking’ amount of power.
“”The era of flat power demand is behind us,” the report found. “Over the past two years, the five-year load growth forecast has increased by almost a factor of five.” …That means the country’s demand for electricity is estimated to increase by nearly 16% by 2029.”
https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/climate-environment-updates/?id=115115959
“How climate risks are driving up insurance premiums around the US – visualized…
“Concern over the climate crisis may evaporate in the White House from January, but its financial costs are now starkly apparent to Americans in the form of soaring home insurance premiums – with those in the riskiest areas for floods, storms and wildfires suffering the steepest rises of all.”
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/05/climate-crisis-insurance-premiums
“Climate change poses significant risk to pension funds…
“North American pension funds could see returns decimated by 50 per cent if worst case scenario climate change forecasts materialise by 2040, industry research reveals.”
“Decline of Reflective Low Clouds May Have Contributed to Recent Record Heat…
“When famed climate scientist James Hansen warned of that effect in 2021 and projected a steep acceleration of warming, his findings were criticized by some other scientists as over-emphasizing the role of sulfate aerosols. But aerosol-focused research since then, as well as continued warming into 2024, seems to support his conclusions.”
“The first 11 months of 2024 averaged 1.589°C over the 1850-1900 IPCC pre-industrial baseline.
“The future of civilzation is going in exactly one direction, and it starts with a ‘C’.”
https://bsky.app/profile/climatecasino.net/post/3lcfurhan422b
“Plans to stabilise Earth’s climate rely on emerging carbon removal technology – we need to get moving…
“Earth is hurtling towards a climate catastrophe, with more than 3°C of warming under current global policies. We must do everything we can to avert disaster, which means slashing emissions as much as we possibly can, and removing what’s left.”
“Why ‘Tipping Points’ Are the Wrong Way to Talk about Climate Change…
“Instead, the authors argued, more tangible and immediate climate emergencies — such as extreme weather events, which are worsening around the globe as temperatures rise — may be more likely to inspire a greater sense of urgency among policymakers and the public.”
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/climate-tipping-point-language-doesnt-spur-action/
“Meta-analysis of current global warming impacts suggests a third of all species could be extinct by 2100…
“…some cases of chain-reaction extinctions could occur, in which a small animal goes extinct and then a larger animal that feeds on it consequently goes extinct.”
https://phys.org/news/2024-12-meta-analysis-current-global-impacts.html
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Holy moly, thats more of each of “things are worse than expected”, “significant crop failures expected” and “intersection of environmental damage and conflict” than I’ve ever seen in a single post. The Balkans, north Africa, even more of the middle east and north western South America could easily blow up next year. A billion refugees by 2030 looks entirely likely. Also if things in the USA get as bad as some of those articles suggest, especially if the grid’s reliability quickly deteriorates there are going to be a lot of very pissed off gun owners.
And do the journalists who write these things really think there is the slightest chance of carbon capture working at scale or do the just have no way of writing what they really think if they want anyone to read it.
“A billion refugees by 2030 looks entirely likely.”
George, the article about climate refugees fleeing to Europe (which, a.) is itself the world’s fastest warming continent and b.) is going to be increasingly hostile to immigrants as it continues to decline economically) suggests that 1.2bn people could be displaced by 2050.
Honestly, whether it is 2030 or 2050, the thought of that many desperate people on the move, and the sort of destabilisation it implies, blow my mind.
A problem I have with a lot of those sort of studies is they only seem to look at one (sometimes two) aspects of the issue, e’g. climate change or water shortages or resource depletion or conflict. Not everything piled on top of each other. Once food or fuel get even a bit short people will start fighting each other for what’s available and with increased intensity as the shortfalls get worse. They will also accelerate environmental destruction in their desperation, so everything cascades to chaos quickly. By the 2050s there will be little oil, especially diesel, available for export (so Europe might not have much agriculture or industry and be a place people want to leave), about half of the world’s large aquifers will be dry or on their last legs, a large portion of presently cultivated land will be so degraded as to be nearly barren, large portions of the tropics and the middle east will be too hot to survive, and every body would be fighting everybody else at some level for day to day survival. Almost everybody would be looking to move if there was only somewhere to move to that looked a bit like it did in the 1970s.
We missed you, Pan – hope medical went well. Yes, in going dark for a few days, you gave the human world a chance to come its senses, and look there it is, today, exactly what we have all been waiting for!
From the ABC (whatever hedge fund controls those letters now) “Climate Desk”:
“The good news is we know how to turn the tide and avoid the worst possible outcomes. However, understanding what needs to be done can be confusing due to a constant stream of climate updates, scientific findings, and critical decisions that are shaping our future.
That’s why the ABC News Climate and Weather Unit is cutting through the noise by curating what you need to know to keep the people and places you care about safe. We are dedicated to providing clarity amid the chaos, giving you the facts and insights necessary to navigate the climate realities of today — and tomorrow.”
GOOD NEWS! Didja hear that! Humanity can “turn the tide” – hold on, is that really the metaphor that will win the day, you curators? Tippling points being semi-discredited by that twisty-turny non-study, it’s now “turn the tide” (by what mechanism does the tide turn other than collapse or immovable Nature?) to get us out of the human predicament – via the Australian whizbangs:
“Carbon dioxide removal is now essential, along with deep and urgent emissions reduction. We must get moving on permanent carbon dioxide removal if we are to preserve the planet for future generations.”
However, it should duly be noted that the photo Pan uses for this day’s curated good news is of an ice-freed Arctic, which includes no humans, and thus there is no “navigating” being done by anything other than tiny living things.
Also, I think James Hansen is very mad in that photo, pointing his finger at – whom exactly? Anti-nuclear activists? Anti-carbon tax folks? His former mentor George W.?
Let’s get moving – deep and urgent, more studies, more IPCCs, more data centers and more manufacturing, more fracking, more droughts, more cars piled up on each other, more heat, more deaths – there’s movement for ya, aimed at “averting the worst possible outcomes,” and settling for just the merest fraction south of the worst of the worst.
Indeed! It is truly getting comical! If I just stay informed at the ABC Climate desk, we can stay safe.
I am numb to the denial now. I am enjoying political debates all the more, as people seem to actually believe all of that shit matters at this point. We are so obviously a bunch of mind numbed automotrons hell bent of living an ever more extravagant life. What a joke the collective human aspirations have become. I am convinced that if it were possible for humans to live long enough to witness the consequences of their actions, we would ride this growth train till the oceans actually boiled.
“I am numb to the denial now.”
Phillip, if you are talking specifically about climate denial, it still gives me the odd flash of irritation, so I steer clear whenever possible.
“We missed you, Pan – hope medical went well.”
Thank you, Martin. It was actually my youngest who had the medical but it was routine and nothing to keep me up at night. And I got to wander around the busy Glasgow streets feeling like I’d just landed from Mars, which I find oddly enjoyable, so it was all good.
It was actually Michael Mann who was uppermost in my mind when I posted that image of Hansen in stern, finger-wagging mode. This was Mann’s November 2023 position on Hansen’s “Global Warming in the Pipeline” paper, which is increasingly vindicated by additional studies + real-time data:
“University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann, who insisted that warming is steadily increasing but not accelerated, posted a rebuttal to Hansen’s claims and said climate change right now is bad enough and there’s no need to overstate the case.
“Mann said the warming the world is seeing is what has long been predicted and is not the indication of something unusual or acceleration.”
https://www.voanews.com/a/is-global-warming-accelerating-experts-disagree-/7339957.html
TOASTED
More cheery, chipper, upbeat climate reports! 😉
I’ve got several 4 letter & other risque words to express how I feel about a planet of 8 billion plus fools that will die dumb.
“My starting point today is the growing threat of climate change. Tackling this challenge is crucial if we want to ensure that the Arctic remains the place it is today. But the issue is of global significance: If we lose the Arctic, we lose the whole world.”
Try to get this into those thick skulls, immigrants, refugees, religions, cultures, races, political brainwashed, money grubbers & parents.
“No one can escape the effects of global warming. At the moment, the problem is most acute in the North. The former UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon has called the Arctic “the Ground Zero for climate change.” The average temperature has risen twice as fast in the Arctic as in most other regions. The summer ice cover reached an all-time low in 2016 and recent reports indicate that this winter has not fully rectified the situation.” –
President Niinistö in North Russia – April 2017
https://finlandtoday.fi/president-niinisto-in-north-russia-if-we-lose-the-arctic-we-lose-the-world/
We don’t lose the world, we lose the only habitat on which we depend on, to O-word. Nothing I’ve read mentions the delusion that has brought us to this point. Denial is not some evil in the physical world. It is in the realm of the monkey mind. Regardless of how horrible things become, remember: It’s not our fault.
PS – No need to buy any cold weather clothing for the future? 😉
Yes, Glad to hear all went well and missed your reports. The only report of mine is something that should not surprise anyone here;
Goldman Sachs quits global climate coalition for banks
By Simon Jessop and Virginia Furness
December 6, 2024
https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/goldman-sachs-quits-global-climate-coalition-banks-2024-12-06/
LONDON, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab said it has quit a sector coalition aimed at aligning bank lending and investment activities with global efforts to fight climate change, becoming the most high-profile member to leave the group.
The U.S. investment bank’s decision comes against a backdrop of pressure from some Republican politicians who have suggested that membership of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) could breach anti-trust rules.
Yes, indeed, we must all follow the prime directive rule…bless their little ethical hearts…we all know from TR, all are just going through the motions of appearances…it’s not our fault, we have no choice..
8 minutes of fun & games? Well, that’s how we have approached the environment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxUcPmXIR6A