[GWSG] Fuels video; refugee film; CO2 traps from China & US; diesel frack; Hansen paper; 85% less; 2 new talks; temp tracks agree

[Tilley, Al]

1.  300 years of fossil fuels in 300 seconds—a video from The Ecologist.  http://www.theecologist.org/tv_and_radio/tv/694561/a_300year_history_of_fossil_fuels_in_300_seconds.html

2.  The documentary Climate Refugees records the experiences of people now displaced by climate change and speaks to the growing number who will be.  The link has the trailer and, if you are in the Jacksonville area, a chance to buy tickets for the Jan. 31 showing at the 5 Points Theater.  http://www.5pointstheatre.com/movie/climate-refugees/

3.  China is reporting a new and cheaper way to remove CO2 from flue gasses ($30/ ton of CO2 instead of $100) but it may come down to cheaper labor and materials.  If the process is as cheap and efficient as advertised it could have an impact on energy supply plans (though secure sequestration would remain a crucial problem).  http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110118/full/469276a.html

4.  An experimental process removed 97% of the CO2 in simulated flue gas and converted most of it to calcium bicarbonate.  The plan is to dump it into the ocean where it can be used by marine life and will help neutralize the growing acidity.  The process speeds up one found naturally.   http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/01/110119151820.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

5.  Fracking to obtain natural gas has been exempted from the Safe Drinking Water Act since 2005.  One reservation was that the use of diesel fuel for fracking was regulated.  The EPA has quietly required that companies obtain permits before using diesel fuel.  The industry claims not to use it when it might pollute drinking water but has vigorously resisted the new requirement.  The issue is a reminder that CO2 in flue gasses is not the only difficulty with natural gas as an energy source.  After all, it is a fossil fuel and nothing will control leaks and other kinds of incidental emissions.  http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/19/19greenwire-epa-posts-frack-rules-without-explanation-oil-30043.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

6.  A draft paper by James Hansen and Makiko Sato warns that paleoclimate and satellite data indicate a possible sea level rise of several meters for this century.  Further, a temperature rise of 2° C and atmospheric content of of 450 ppm of CO2 (often suggested as mitigation targets) are “prescriptions for disaster.”  “Rapid reduction of fossil fuel emissions is required for humanity to succeed in preserving a planet resembling the one on which civilization developed.”  http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2011/20110118_MilankovicPaper.pdf

7.  A U. of Cambridge study concludes that world energy use could be reduced 85% through existing designs for buildings, vehicles, and industrial equipment.  http://pubs.acs.org/cen/news/89/i04/8904scene1.html

8.  The UN is scheduling two further climate talks for 2011, bringing the total to four.  The first will occur in April and the second in June.  http://www.canada.com/technology/ramp+climate+change+talks+2011/4137567/story.html

9.  The four major international trackers of global temperatures agree closely on the pattern of warming.  NASA has released images indicating the agreement.  http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0119-hance_nasa.html