HOT TOPICS/NEW POSTS

20 Apr
Posted on Author PAUL BELANGER 1

Northwest Geological Society (NWGS) talk May 11, 2021: Paleoceanographic history that led to our understanding of Cenozoic climate history and changing impact for the Pacific Northwest:

HOT TOPICS/NEW posts: updated 11/11/2020:

Biochar Webinars November and December 2020: Click here

Please visit other tabs for updates on activities (particularly Biochar, EEEF and OLLI tabs). For blogs and posts I post on Facebook at links here:

facebook Denver climate study group Facebook blogs I encourage all to keep looking at, or getting notices from Skeptical Science: http://www.skepticalscience.com/

Per request: https://lawshelf.com/videos/entry/greenhouse-gas-emissions-standards-in-the-united-states

 Older posts in 2017

Saturday August 5th, 2017: The Golden Real Estate talk show takes on climate change

OLLI WEST FALL CLASS – SEPTEMBER 26TH-OCTOBER 31ST – Tuesday a.m. 9:30-11:30: Contemporary Issues Regarding Climate Change and Solutions – Belanger OLLI West FALL 2017 – MORE TO FOLLOW SOON

Special screenings in the next couple of weeks of Al Gore’s new film on climate change–“An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.” The film received a 10-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film festival. CLICK HERE FOR MORE DETAILS

THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 29TH:

past teaching at OLLI West & OLLI South – SPRING 2017; click here for details

2017 blogs:

Bennet Urges President to Rescind Anti-Climate Executive Order click here for details

GUEST POST by Bill Ritter: Why states are pushing ahead with clean energy despite Trump’s embrace of coal click here for details

 Get involved: COME TO OUR Next monthly meeting of the Golden Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby will be on Saturday April 8 at 1030 AM at Jefferson Unitarian Church. Agenda includes: Tabling on Earth Day, City campaigns, Climate and Science Marches, Climate Solutions Caucus, and guest speaker Katherine Hammack, former Asst. Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment see citizensclimatelobby.org/

Imagining a World After Fossil Fuels – and Denver without a brown-cloud: www.stratfor.com/weekly/imagining-world-after-fossil-fuels

From AGU: Responding to Climate Change Deniers with Simple Facts and Logic:      A sequence of five questions and answers that can be used by scientists to communicate some simple concepts of climate change to broader audiences. click here for details

Climate Progress with or without Trump: click here for details

2016

11/4

Before the Flood – Full Movie | National Geographic: CLICK HERE

  • Published on Oct 30, 2016

  • Join Leonardo DiCaprio as he explores the topic of climate change, and discovers what must be done today to prevent catastrophic disruption of life on our planet.

October 2016 Newsletter: IBI Board commits to ambitious new Vision – 1 Billion tons of biochar per year! International Biochar Initiative added a new video.

BI Board commits to ambitious new Vision – 1 Billion tons of biochar per year!; IBI Memberships Now Available!; IBI Asia Launched in Nanjing, China; International Workshop on Biochar and Sustainable Agriculture; 3rd Asian Pacific Biomass Conference Re-cap; IBI responds to “Current economic obstacles to biochar use in agriculture and climate change mitigation”; Upcoming Calendar Events; Published in ISI journals in October 2016; Connect with IBI Members and Supporters

See biochar-international.org/newsletter

10/26

  •  Climate Skeptics: Peter Ward’s Ozone Depletion Theory.Author comment: “So in summary, his theory is garbage. Hopefully this can help steer people away from his ideas.”

    • #1 People don’t listen to scientists#2
    • #2 People love an underdog story
    • click here for more

    The Clinton team studied and rejected the wrong carbon tax; no, the right carbon tax would not be politically “lethal,” despite what hacked campaign emails say – click here

10/25

10/17-18

10/4

  • I have not posted since 6/11; however I have posted prolifically on the Denver Climate Study group face book page (https://www.facebook.com/denverclimatestudygroup/). Many times I have “hijacked” related interest posts from Citizens Climate Lobby – Denver managed by Becky Snell (https://www.facebook.com/CitizensClimateLobbyDenverChapter/#)
  • Posts that were shared on Facebook July-September:
  • Dark Money is re-shaping Arizona’s energy fights (click he
  • World passes 400 ppm “permanently” (click here)
  • Clean energy: the not-so-dirty secret to global economic prosperity (click here)
  • 2014 as turning point to business as usual regarding climate change; much due to China (click here)
  • EU Vote: Paris climate agreement is poised to become binding (click here); Including India (click here)
  • Hydropower is dirty (some vetting needed; click here)
  • Arctic sea ice – 2016, 2nd lowest (click here)
  • 10/3/16 discussion with Obama, Katherine Hayhoe and Leonardo DiCaprio (click here)
  • New kind of solar panel? Smart, stores energy and talks? (click here)
  • The new 238 mile range Chevy BOLT (click here)
  • WATCH: Republican Gov. Kasich went to the White House today to “support something that the president wants.” He explained why… (click here)
  • Tesla takes massing energy storage project in L.A. (click here)
  • Silent rooftop turbines (click here)
  • Solar costs hit new low (click here)
  • Senator Cory Garner says candidates who oppose fossil fuels “unfit” for office (click here)
  • Posted 8/31: Costa Rica was at 113 days on 100% renewable energy (click here)
  • Solutions Project –  the world can transition to 100% renewable electricity (click here)
  • August 2016 – 91,000 EVs sold in Europe in first half 2016 (click here)
  • US to create nationwide network of EV charging stations click here
  • Katherine Hayhoe on climate and our choices click here
  • California’s environmental policies are Bellwether for Economic growth – keep in mind 10th largest world economy click here
  • NOAA July 2016 global analysis click here
  • 2nd edition Bill Hay’s book: Experimenting on a small Planet: a history of Scientific Discoveries, a future of climate change and global warming  – 2016 click here
  • Making snow in summer illustrates need for a carbon tax click here
  • Yale Climate connections: Me vs. We: rethiking personal guilt click here
  • Climate change and Colorado’s air quality click here
  • Arctic Ice since 1990 video click here
  • Nuclear Energy: Key to climate fight, or dangerous diversion? click here
  • Climate change and Colorado’s air quality click here
  • Arctic Ice since 1990 video click here
  • Nuclear Energy: Key to climate fight, or dangerous diversion? click here
  • Trump may be making replublicans increasingly doubt global warming click here
  • Making sense of climate science denial (MOOC course) click here
  • High CO2 levels inside and out: double Whammy? click here
  • Oil price dilemma: the world may just need less fossil fuels to get by click here
  • GOP and Democratic platforms: stark differences on energy and climate click here
  • These are the best arguments from 3% of climate scientist skeptics? – Really? click here
  • Australia appoints “Mr Coal” as new climate change ministerclick here
  • Climate Inaction figures; campaign launches to combat Anti-Science Absurdity, promote a price on carbon click here
  • Steve House is working to redefine the Republican vision despite rocky start click here
  • You’ll never believe how cheap new solar power is click here
  • Jim Probst: We ignore climate change at what cost? click here
  • GAS PRICES FACT: Republican Politicians Want To Cut Big Oil’s Taxes Even More (from 2012) click here
  • On Monday, Will Senators Stand With The 99 Percent Or With Big Oil? (from 2012) click here
  • GAS PRICES FACT: Republican Politicians Oppose Ending Taxpayer Handouts To Big Oil (from 2012)click here
  • MIT announces Campaign for a Better World Comprehensive fundraising initiative aims to raise $5 billion to advance Institute’s work on some of the world’s biggest challenges. click here
  • New Energy Colorado (NECO) 501 c 3 education arm for COSEIA (Colorado Solar Energy Industry Associates) http://www.newenergycolorado.com/
  • It’s not your imagination: Climate change is making Colorado summers hotter and stickier click here
  • Exxon Is Still Helping Fund The Spread Of Climate Denial click here
  • Here’s A Look At How Catholic Churches Are Taking Pope Francis’ Climate Encyclical To Heart click here
  • AMAZING: The promise of solar power, made a century ago click here
  • Exxon Touts Carbon Tax to Oil Industry click here
  • Electricity in US, Canada and Mexico will be at 50% carbon-free in 9 years click here
  • Top science groups tell climate change doubters in Congress to knock it off click here
  • Falling Renewable Energy Prices Threaten Energy Storage. Here’s What We Need to Do. click here
  • One year later, how a Pope’s message on climate has resonated click here

6/11

  • June 9th PUC meeting 4- 6 p.m. – follow up:
  • Ron Larson and I both spoke up in 2.5 hour hearing from the public – links, if they exist will follow.
  • Speak out for Solar Thursday, June 9th at PUC hearing 4-6 p.m. –  speak out for solar/renewables! PLEASE DISSEMINATE!
  • Click here for email details about PUC meeting June 9th from Colorado Solar Energy Industries Association (COSEIA) requesting your participation at the meeting and/or if you cannot make it a request to let yourself be heard. SolarCoalitionhandout:
  • Ron Larson and I are both on the board for New Energy Colorado (NECO), a non-profit education are of COSEIA: http://www.newenergycolorado.com/ – HAVE a look/give us feedback

5/18

5/9: (updates coming from my Facebook posts – (click here if you have facebook)

  • Climate Change Guide February 13 ·The solar industry employs 3 times more workers than coal mining in the United States! http://bit.ly/1UI8JS8

  • “By the end of 2015, it employed a whopping 208,859 solar workers – more than tripling the 67,929 employed in coal-mining, and eclipsing the 187,200 employed in oil and gas extraction for the very first time.” via The Climate Council

    •  ·Republicans & Democrats Agree: U.S. Security Demands Global Climate Action (click here)

4/28:

  •  

    Germany’s Energy Transition – How citizens power created clean power

    Thursday, Apr 28, 2016, 7:00 PM

    Jefferson Unitarian Church
    14350 W. 32nd Ave. Golden, CO

    51 JCRES Meetup Members Went

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    Germany’s Energy Transition – How Citizens’ Power Created Clean PowerProf. Christoph Stefes, U. of Colorado, Denver & Ecologic InstituteGerman citizens have successfully pushed their government to plot an energy path away from fossil fuels and nuclear.  While this so-called Energy Transition or Energiewende is not perfect it shows that an indust…

    Check out this Meetup →

     

4/19:

4/10:

  • ONLY A CIRCULAR ECONOMY WILL LEAD TO PROSPERITY FOR ALL see: http://circulatenews.org/2016/04/only-a-circular-economy-will-lead-to-prosperity-for-all/

  • RELATED: Herman Daly’s Steady State Economics:  http://steadystate.org/herman-daly/

  • Wind, solar are crushing fossil fuel (click here)

  • A personal comment: For those that say it can’t be done, I say “GET OUT OF THE WAY OF THOSE THAT ARE DOING IT!”
  • 3/29:

  • Starts Wednesday 3/30: Earth’s Climate: Past, Present and Future and Reasons for Concern and potential solutions – 8 weeks: Wednesday a.m. March 30th – May 18th, 2016; (click here for details)

  • Great Barrier Reef Coral Bleaching: Heat stress linked to climate change is likely playing a central role in the bleaching event causing a widespread coral die-off in Australia’s iconic Great Barrier Reef. The devastation was recently brought to light thanks to video and photo documentation released by the CoralWatch team, a citizen science project led by Professor Justin Marshall from the University of Queensland. This past Sunday, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority raised the bleaching alert threat level to a peak of three, triggering its highest level of response to “severe regional bleaching” in the northernmost quarter of the 133,000 square mile park. (News: Guardian, Sydney Morning Herald $, Think Progress, VICE News, Mashable, EcoWatch, Times $, CNN. Commentary: Smithsonian, Jason Daley analysis, Brisbane Times, Andrew Picone op-ed)

  • The Early Anthropocene Hypothesis: An Update (click here)

    • For over a decade, paleoclimate scientists have argued whether the warmth of the last several thousand years was natural or anthropogenic. This brief comment updates that debate…..

  • New survey finds a growing climate consensus among meteorologists (click here) and more on FB at facebook.com/denverclimatestudygroup

  • see other posts at CitizensClimateLobbyDenverChapter/

  • and see http://climatenexus.org/ and their daily newsletter: changing the conversation on climate and clean energy solutions in the United States.

  • 3/15: Attribution of Extreme Weather Events in the Context of Climate Change (2016)

  • National Academy of Science: (Click here for free PDF download)

    • As climate has warmed over recent years, a new pattern of more frequent and more intense weather events has unfolded across the globe. Climate models simulate such changes in extreme events, and some of the reasons for the changes are well understood. Warming increases the likelihood of extremely hot days and nights, favors increased atmospheric moisture that may result in more frequent heavy rainfall and snowfall, and leads to evaporation that can exacerbate droughts.
  • 3/10: repeating posts in Denver climate study group Facebook facebook:

  • FOR TEACHERS: For teachers who want to teach the science behind climate change, this multimedia learning experience for students may be worth checking out. You can sign up to get it here –> http://ow.ly/YOE39

  • Sen. Matt Jones: West’s legacy depends on clean power system (CLICK HERE)

  • Most Americans Disagree With Their Congressional Representative On Climate Change (CLICK HERE)

  • EPA ozone data a jolt for Denver (CLICK HERE)

     

  • Every single state had temperatures warmer than “normal.” (CLICK HERE)

     
  • 3/2:

  • Register for March 11th, workshop: Climate & Colorado’s Water Future;https://www.yourwatercolorado.org/…/506-climate-a-colorados…

  • 2/25:

  • Colorado Renewable Energy Society Meeting (CRES) tonight: How To End Utilities’ Love Affair with Fossil Fuel. Ron Binz – click here for more infohttp://www.meetup.com/J-CRES/events/228480748/

  • Letter to AGU to cut EXXON: See the letter itself within the link of AGU’s reply (click here). Also see AGU’s clumate statement calling for urgent action at this link:http://news.agu.org/…/files/2013/10/AGU_Climate_Statement_n…

  • FROM PNAS: Seas are now rising faster than they have in 2,800 years, scientists say: (CLICK HERE)

  • If you are on Facebook friend and see other posts at https://www.facebook.com/denverclimatestudygroup/?fref=ts

  • 2/11: 

  • see Denver Climate Study group facebook page (CLICK HERE) where I post items and re-post many here; also see CCL Colorado facebook page (click here):

  • EEE meeting Monday 2/15 at Iliff 2 to 4 p.m.: Geoengineering and Carbon Pricing: Two Responses to Climate Change – click EEE tab (or click here)

  • from JPL:Study: Long-Term Global Warming Needs External Drivers (click here)

  • California And Massachusetts Lead U.S. Solar Boom (click here)

  •  Unusually warm Arctic winter stuns scientists with record low ice extent for January (click here)

  •  With Obama’s plan blocked, two Florida legislators are trying to turn the tide on Capitol Hill. (click here)

  • 1/30:
  • Supplement to my post on January 21st: Wind, solar power soaring in spite of bargain prices for fossil fuels (click here)
  • 1/27:

  • a reply: Let free market address climate change

  • 1/26: 3 POSTS – ALSO PUT ON FACEBOOK: 

  • Facebook page for https://www.facebook.com/denverclimatestudygroup/?fref=ts

  • An Interstate for renewable energy (click here)

  • Oil under $30 a barrel carries dangers for Colorado economy (click here)

  • Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Renewable Energy And Cheap Electricity (click here)

  • 1/25: Upcoming events Thursday 1/28 & Saturday 2/6: DOING RATHER THAN LISTENING:

  • 1) Th Jan 28: Taking the Climate Challenge. How to Create Concrete Plans to Lower Your Climate Impact. 7pm, sanctuary Jefferson Unitarian; Address: 14350 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401

     

  • In Taking the Climate Challenge participants will decide on a challenge they want to take on and then develop a plan on how to get there that has measurable results. We’re using a process called “rapid prototyping” with several facilitators helping us get there. This process is astoundingly effective and you might want to use it for completely different planning scenarios in the future. We’ll be joined by Kat Haber who also organized TEDx events.

    FLYER – ClimateColorado

  • 2) Sat, Feb 6: Workshop: Bringing the Climate Accord home: Decarbonizing One Community At a Time. Jefferson Unitarian

    ; Address: 14350 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401, (9:30a-2:30p, chapel)

  •  “Bringing the Climate Accord home” event is a nuts & bolts workshop led by Leslie Glustrom and Ken Regelson (both having spoken here before) and will help you gain the skills needed to help decarbonize your community’s electricity–the largest single step that can be taken in states like Colorado to do our part to address climate change. With a combination of inspiring speakers and hands-on trainings you will leave with the tools YOU need to do your part to bring the Paris Climate Accords to YOUR community. There’s a $30/$15 fee (includes lunch) but no one is turned away. Co-Sponsored with 350 Colorado. Clean Energy Action, and Frack Free Denver.

    FLYER – CLICK HERE

  • January 22nd:

  • International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)’s Report: “Renewable Energy Benefits: Measuring the Economics” provides the first quantification of the macroeconomic impact of doubling the global share of renewables in the energy mix by 2030: 92 page report link (click here)

  • January 21st:

  • Why clean energy is now expanding even when fossil fuels are cheap; Washington post article article by Chris Mooney reporting about Bloomberg New Energy Finance:  (click here)

  • What Will It Take For America To Go 100 Percent Renewable? (click here)

    – It took just three years for three U.S. cities to make the transition to 100 percent clean energy:Greensburg, KS, Burlington, VT and Aspen, CO.

    -Remember there’s more at: http://energyshouldbe.org/ where Ken Regelson suggests the nation in 20 years.

  • January 6-7th:

  • see venue change for Golden – CCL meeting on Saturday 1/9 meeting below January 4th

  • Ethics and Ecological Economics Forum (EEE) Meeting Monday January 11th at Iliff, 2 to 4:15:After Paris Conference on Climate Change; What Lies Ahead?

  • all invited see EEE tab (https://denverclimatestudygroup.com/?page_id=683) for more info

  • January 5th:

  • The power of the nudge to change our energy future: (Click here)

  • Is Carbon Capture really too expensive to capture:  (Click here)

  • BOTH ARE EXAMPLES of the paradigm shift we need to make from “it’s too expensive” or “it’ll take umpteen years to pay for itself” to thinking more than ourselves – or even our kids and grandkids. What right do we have to use non-renewable resources JUST for ourselves without a thought of the future (never mind the AGW issues)

  • November 28th, 2015: 

  • To Allow Lots of Renewables, Baseload Coal & Nuclear Must Go (3 min): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deWtgpheDJM

  • The myth of needing a Baseload (Balance is on the grid is essential): note that many islands have no baseload coal or nuclear at all (many of Hawaiian islands for example).

  • courtesy of Ken Regelson: http://EnergyShouldBe.org

  • November 24th, 2015/updated 11/29:

  • United Nations Conference on climate change: November 30th – December 11th, 2015: http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/

    10 VIDEOS TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE (click here)

  • California & Governor Jerry Brown – An Environmental Leader, Eyes A Key Role In Climate Talks (click here):

  • “And he met with Chinese leaders in September. The reason for all these meetings? “Troglodytes,” he says. That’s what Brown calls those who doubt climate change.”

  • MUST SEE: 100% Renewable Electric Energy in 20 Years (click here for that) and Ken Regelson’s web page); and also look at this: To Allow Lots of Renewables, Baseload Coal & Nuclear Must Go (3 min): (click here)

    • Actions you can do

    • used electric  cars with Colorado rebates (click here)

    • 4 more:

      – Amendment 37+ Renewable Energy Standard to 60%?
      – Million solar roofs by ’25 
      – Carbon Fee with dividend
       – CEBOR – Colorado Energy Bill of Rights

  • MAYOR HANCOCK’S SUSTAINABLE DENVER SUMMIT AT THE  UNIVERSITY OF DENVER: Thursday, December 3, 2015 (click here)

  • Elders Climate Action (click here)

  • November 19th, 2015: El Niño ‘is here, and it is huge,’ as officials race to prep for winter (click here)
  • November 8th, 2015:
  • story of climate change
  • Students watch glaciers melt, dive into the world’s coral reefs, and explore bike share programs all from their tablet! The Story of Climate Change is a new, active way of learning through multimedia to connect middle school students beyond pages and vocabulary words into the practical applications of climate science.
  • Each of The Story of Climate Change’s six chapters includes informative videos, fun interactive resources, critical thinking activities, as well as review and discussion questions to reinforce unit concepts. Keep students in tune with the latest climate science and research—all for FREE!
  • Dr. James E. Hansen, former NASA scientist and current Director of Program on Climate Science, Awareness, and Solutions at Columbia University endorsed the Story of Climate Change, “A story children need to read—and understand.” 
  • We also offer a FREE Teacher’s Guide for download, fully equipped with handy resources to help educators make the most out of every chapter.
Download for FREE on iBooks
  • October 26th, 2015: “CLIMATE 101″ WITH BILL NYE 
  • Take Climate 101 with Bill Nye (the Science Guy) and you’ll be schooled in the scientific fundamentals of climate change in under 5 minutes. Separate fact from fiction, and we can end the debate and denial and move on to solutions, together. Thank you Kathy Doyle!
    And a complementary  how GHGs work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=we8VXwa83FQ;
  • October 19th, 2015:  FACT SHEET: White House Announces Commitments to the American Business Act on Climate Pledge – “….81 companies will have signed the American Business Act on Climate Pledge to demonstrate their support for action on climate change and the conclusion of a climate change agreement in Paris that takes a strong step forward toward a low-carbon, sustainable future”…. click here for details
  • October 6th, 2015: Climate Change Is Not Our Fault – got your attention? read on:
  • ……”That’s because the real truth is this: While triggering climate change might not be our fault, not doing everything we can about it now that we know it’s happening — that would be our fault. Worse, it would be our failure as a species.” More at this link: http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/10/06/446109168/climate-change-is-not-our-fault “We did it by mistake. We did it using the gifts evolution bequeathed to us.” …”150 years ago when we started building that fossil-fuel based civilization, we had no idea of what we were doing.”

  • There’s been a lot of benefit, but now that we know what we are doing, if we don’t do anything about it, about making change to a new non-carbon based energy source.
  • “While triggering climate change might not be our fault, not doing everything we can about it now that we know it’s happening — that would be our fault. Worse, it would be our failure as a species.”
  • October 5th, 2015 – just posted on FB – but somehow disappeared: We need a social paradigm shift
  • Building a mud hut from scratch: This is a good example to illustrate how we need a paradigm shift away from the “we can’ts or it costs too much”, etc. regarding dealing with climate change. For those that say climate change is all GLOOM AND DOOM, I SAY: NO, instead look at it as a challenge; humanity has always been challenged – WE CAN DO IT! As quoted earlier – from What we know about Climate change by Kerry Emanuel.
  •  p.75-76; comment on p. 75 to “…we could elect and do nothing and gamble on a benign outcome. But if we are wrong we will saddle our grandchildren and their descendents (sic) with enormous problems. At the other, we could make serious economic and other tangible sacrifices that might prove unnecessary.”
    e.g. curb use of fossil fuels independent of climate/GHGs issues: At what point do we encourage alternative energy sources, despite some greater cost to us now, let’s bank it for our children
  •  which leads to this quote on p. 76: “…costs may be high and those paying them are not likely to be serious beneficiaries of their own actions. Indeed, there are few, if any, historical examples of civilizations consciously making sacrifices on behalf of descendents (sic) two or more generations removed.”
  • That’s what the discount rate is about. In that regard we need a social paradigm shift
  • If we are so concerned about leaving a national debt to our children and grandchildren, shouldn’t we put the costs of climate change as part of that equation?
  • For those that don’t accept climate change maybe it would be a good thing to limit CO2 into the atmosphere anyway, especially at the rates we are putting it into the atmosphere – BECAUSE OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION issues and the law of unintended consequences!
  •  and see Governor Ritter’s Sunday 10/4/2015 Perspective Opinion piece: http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_28911787/ritter:-pope-francis-and-the-grand-canyon
  • October 2nd, 2015: Record warmest September for Denver area by 1.1 degrees F, eclipsing normal average by 6 degrees – click here for article
  • 9/12/2015: we need a social paradigm shift
  • Book prerequisite request to my OLLI course (click on OLLI tab – or click here): What we know about Climate change by Kerry Emanuel.
     p.75-76; comment on p. 75 to “…we could elect and do nothing and gamble on a benign outcome. But if we are wrong we will saddle our grandchildren and their descendents (sic) with enormous problems. At the other, we could make serious economic and other tangible sacrifices that might prove unnecessary.”
    e.g. curb use of fossil fuels independent of climate/GHGs issues: At what point do we encourage alternative energy sources, despite some greater cost to us now, let’s bank it for our children
  •  which leads to this quote on p. 76: “…costs may be high and those paying them are not likely to be serious beneficiaries of their own actions. Indeed, there are few, if any, historical examples of civilizations consciously making sacrifices on behalf of descendents (sic) two or more generations removed.”
  • That’s what the discount rate is about. In that regard we need a social paradigm shift
  • 9/9/2015 – save the date: EEE meeting Monday 9/14/2015 2p.m. : click here for details 
  •  
  • *7/17/2015: Is there a mini ice age on the – as claimed by various denier sites stirring the pot (e.g. here)? See SkS post: No – it’s just another attempt to throw a curve ball your way – and not the first time: No, the sun isn’t going to save us from global warming Posted on 16 July 2015 by dana1981
  • * 6/2/2015 – The backfire effect; what happens when you challenge people on their worldview be it climate change, evolution, weapons of mass destruction, vaccinations, fracking: View this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtSk03efSqQ&feature=youtu.be
  • SOLUTION?: According to the lecture, “the evidence tells us that neutralising [the negative effect of misconceptions] won’t happen through engagement with the minority who deny climate science. Instead, it requires communication with the large, undecided majority. For this group, who are open to evidence, we need to explain two things – the science of climate change, and how that science can be distorted.” This means that the best way to approach individuals who are undecided about climate change is to talk to them about the science first and then explain the distortion of that science(supportive slides – click here).
“The slowdown in global warming is a subject of intense study. Is it a real physical effect, or a few chance cool years, or something more complex? Could it have been predicted? Can we understand it in retrospect? The following lecture and commentary from the Denial101x course attempt to summarize recent work on the subject. However it is a very fast-moving field, so this summary can only cover a small fraction of the material and will quickly become out-of-date (if it is not already so).” read on for extensive discussion
and video.
  • SEE MORE ON 6/6/2015 POST ABOVE
  • * 5/20/2015: Making sense of climate denial:

  • I’m in the 3rd week (to date of the 4th week; 7 total). You can download the video, transcripts and handouts. 

    I encourage all to at least look at week one, An overview of the climate controversy focusing on the consensus, psychology of denial and the spread of denial – the most tedious but I think the most rewarding. The others will be most factual to counter the things that are constantly misused to confuse and deceive the public for what are clearly political and ideological reasons – NOT scientific ones! Making Sense of Climate Science Denial

  • personal comment: “It’s time we all realize that yes, oil and gas helped us achieve what we have but it’s time and necessary to move on and step up to the plate for the next energy phase of humanity – for environmental, economic (we do eventually run out – ok – if not “run out” then non-economic), sustainable reasons.”
  • Triggered by Desmogblog email link whereby CERA “One of this year’s CERAweek themes was a “Turning Point for the Global Oil Industry.”  However, the turning point discussed was not how to deal with the impact of oil production and consumption on the climate, but instead on how to deal with all the new fracked oil coming out of the U.S. — and how to increase that production.”
  • * 5/5/2015: new post: Bjorn Lomborg on “It’s time to stop subsidizing fossil fuels” – click here; ….
  • Phasing out fossil fuel subsidies is an obvious target for the world’s next development goals. The world spends $548 billion subsidizing fossil fuels,
  • * 5/4/2015: new post: Slate.com: Why Climate Denial science is just hot air
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  • * 4/13/2015: April 23rd: “Earth Day Commemoration: Divest from the Old Way and Re-Invest in the New Way” –  Click here for details
  • A little humor: What if we create a better world
    climate-change-better-world-for-nothing-cartoon
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  • *4/9/2015: A History of Earth’s Climate – click here YouTube 11 minutes
  • Published on May 27, 2013: Earth had a climate long before we showed up and started noticing it and it’s influenced by a whole series of cycles that have been churning along for hundreds of millions of years. In most cases those cycles will continue long after we’re gone. A look at the history of climate change on Earth can give us some much needed perspective on our current climate dilemma because the surprising truth is, what we’re experiencing now is different than anything this planet has encountered before. So, let’s take a stroll down Climate History Lane and see if we can find some answers to a question that’s been bugging Hank a lot lately – just how much hot water are we in?
  • 3/19/2015: NOAA Global Analysis about significant climate anomalies – February 2015
  •  * 12/22/2014: TWO positive black swans/potential game changers -update:
  • 1. ENERGY (see more on Energy tab) BIG ENERGY NEWS – FUSION: Lockheed says makes breakthrough on fusion energy project: See http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/compact-fusion.html and
  • http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/15/us-lockheed-fusion-idUSKCN0I41EM20141015
  • comment from Ron Larson (with permission): “The lead person is a Dr. Thomas McGuire, talking in a video. I am hoping for their success – and for moving faster than they are projecting.Their claim is they are predicting success because they are going smaller than previous fusion programs.  I like that.  If successful, they can replace a lot of renewables in the electrical market area.  But decentralized solar could be unaffected if the fusion costs aren’t very very low (I have seen nothing on fusion costs – but they could be quite low if as small as they project for 100,000 population size).   They can do a lot of thermal loads, but not the small ones.  They will be doing little in replacing most fuel needs – but they are targeting airplanes.
  • All in all – good news for replacing fossil fuels.  Makes it much easier for renewables to replace the remainder.
  • Interesting to me because they claim they are duplicating the sun.  Also, part of my analytical background is in plasmas.”
  • 2. MITIGATION – Carbon negative technology: (see more on OTHER tab – BIOCHAR)

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