When Rishi Sunak granted 27 new North Sea licences this week, he wasn’t thinking about the survival of the living world
Can you see it yet? The Earth systems horizon – the point at which our planetary systems tip into a new equilibrium, hostile to most lifeforms? I think we can. The sudden acceleration of environmental crises we have seen this year, coupled with the strategic uselessness of powerful governments, rushes us towards the point of no return.
And if you think anyone is listed in the wrong category, or if you have intel on a minister listed in the "unknown" category, please reach out the BC Climate Emergency Campaign Coordinator at www.bcclimateemergency.ca
United States domestic oil production hit an all-time high last week, contrasting with efforts to slice heat-trapping carbon emissions by the Biden administration and world leaders.
And it conflicts with oft-repeated Republican talking points of a Biden “war on American energy.”
Global temperatures soared to a new record in September by a huge margin, stunning scientists and leading one to describe it as “absolutely gobsmackingly bananas”.
After months of record planetary warmth, temperatureshave become even more abnormal in recent weeks — briefly averaging close to 2 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, a global warming threshold leaders are seeking to avoid.
"I thought we had seen exceptional temperatures back in July," said Zeke Hausfather, climate research lead for the payment company Stripe. "What we've seen this week is well above that."
“The planetary boundaries concept is a heroic attempt to simplify the world, but it is probably too simplified to be of use in practically managing Earth,” he continued. “For example, the damage and suffering from limiting global heating to 1.6 C using pro-development policies and major investments in adapting to climate change would be vastly less than the damage and suffering from limiting warming to 1.5 C but doing this using policies that help the wealthy and disregard the poor. But the concept does work as a science-led parable of our times.”
