[GWSG] Committed slr; PNAS on cc; human rights; cool roofs; Reddit ban; $1b/year; tax meat?

[Tilley, Al]

1.  A new study of sea level rise finds that it is occurring twice as fast as at any time in the past two million years.  At current levels of CO2 we are already committed to about two feet of rise by midcentury and about eight feet by the next century’s end, continuing to a rise of 25-30 feet.  The lead author: “We must virtually immediately take measures of carbon reduction.”  Stefan Rahmstorf:  “The study confirms, from a geological perspective, that our current greenhouse gas emissions are committing our planet to a sea level rise of several meters.”    http://www.nbcnews.com/science/melting-ice-sleeping-giant-will-push-sea-levels-higher-scientist-2D11741831

2.  A study in PNAS estimates that changes in fresh water availability could double the loss of agricultural capacity due to climate change.  Changes in water distribution have the potential to diminish the loss.  http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/5339/20131217/freshwater-loss-could-double-agricultural-losses-tied-to-climate-change.htm   Another study in the same issue warns that water scarcity in general is expected to increase, with major regional variations.  The southern US is among the areas anticipated to suffer.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/12/131216154853.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29
Other studies in this special edition of PNAS combine to present a picture of overlapping impacts which will degrade the lives of essentially everyone.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/earth-insight/2013/dec/17/planet-climate-change-risk-drought-famine-epidemic

3.  As climate disruption weakens human societies at all levels from the family up, human rights will erode.  http://www.aljazeera.com/humanrights/2013/12/how-climate-change-destroys-human-rights-20131217174532837148.html

4.  Los Angeles is the first major US city to require cool roofs on all new and refurbished homes.  Reflective roofing can cut energy use by 15% in southern areas.  http://e360.yale.edu/digest/los_angeles_becomes_first_major_us_city_to_adopt_cool_roof_rule/4031/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YaleEnvironment360+%28Yale+Environment+360%29

5.  Reddit has banned climate disruption denying posts from its science site.    http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/19/newspapers-ban-climate-deniers-reddit-science

6.  The first comprehensive study of the effort to prevent action on climate in the US found that up to $1 billion a year goes to the effort, mostly from the wealthy individuals who have replaced corporations as the primary funders of the effort.  Three quarters of the funds come through trusts and other instruments which conceal the identity of the donors.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/20/conservative-groups-1bn-against-climate-change

7.  A Nature Climate Change article recommends taxing meat from ruminants, the largest single human-related source of methane emissions.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/dec/20/tax-meat-cut-methane-emissions-scientists
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