[GWSG] Sensitivity lower?; renewable record; actionable info; electrifying; RFK on anti-renewables; Durban begins

[Tilley, Al]

1.  A Science article using historical data and climate modeling estimates the sensitivity of the climate to a doubling of CO2 at 1.7-2.6°C, lower than most previous estimates, including the 2007 IPCC sensitivity range of 2.0-4.5°C.  If the paper stands it will present us with some welcome additional time to arrive at a serious mitigation effort.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15858603  An abstract of the article:  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/11/22/science.1203513.abstract

2.  Global investments in new renewable power plants outpaced investments in new fossil fuel plants for the first time last year, $187 billion to $157 billion.  Thanks to Brian Paradise for the lead.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-25/fossil-fuels-beaten-by-renewables-for-first-time-as-climate-talks-founder.html

3.  At a world meeting of 1800 climate researchers in Denver on adaptation strategies, the buzz phrase was “actionable information”—not just generalizations about coming changes, but information on, say, how to size a storm-water pipe to anticipate changes in precipitation in the next 50 years in a given region.  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6059/1052.summary

4.  An analysis of what it would take to reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 finds that simply converting the power sources to renewables will not be enough.  The state will also have to electrify transportation and other sectors.  http://www.sciencemag.org/content/early/2011/11/22/science.1208365.abstract

5.  Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., counters right wing attacks on his involvement in the Ivanpah solar project and on renewable energy generally, providing a snapshot of the current battle lines in the drive toward energy conversion.  http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/271-38/8580-focus-big-carbons-sock-puppets-declare-war

6.  Representatives from 194 countries begin meeting in Durban, South Africa, today.  The UN climate conference runs through December 9.   http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/UN-Climate-Conference-Set-to-Begin-in-South-Africa-134572028.html  At the opening of the conference Christiana Figueres warned that several recent alarm bells rung by major authorities call for immediate action.  http://www.iol.co.za/scitech/science/environment/figueres-alarm-bells-are-ringing-now-1.1187230  Pope Benedict XVI also asked for a “responsible and credible” response in Durban.  In 2008 he added environmental destruction to the list of sins.  http://news.mongabay.com/2011/1127-hance_pope_durban.html  Some in Durban are planning an Occupy COP17 protest along the lines of the Occupy Wall Street protests.  2500 police are being dedicated to conference security.  http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/11/20111127104445682701.html  The 27-nation European Union called for an extension of the Kyoto agreement but warned that it cannot act alone.  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-27/eu-says-kyoto-extension-requires-road-map-for-climate-treaty.html  Wealthy nations, including the US, Japan, India, Brazil, Canada, and Russia, are said to be colluding to prevent an agreement until at least 2015.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15894948
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