[GWSG] EPA on CH4; Islamic climate call; normalizing resettlement; green grazing; CO2 to C fibers; coal CCS failing; new calf in G'land

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Think Progress has provided an overview of the EPA proposals on controlling methane emissions.  (We do need more on the current leakage unrecognized by the EPA, and the prospect of controlling it.  I'm sure there are other issues and will try to provide info as I can.)  http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/08/18/3692669/new-methane-rule/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cptop3



2.  Islamic leaders from 20 countries have called for Muslims to care for the earth, and for government leaders to cease using fossil fuels by 2050.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/aug/18/islamic-leaders-issue-bold-call-rapid-phase-out-fossil-fuels



3.  To deal well with the growing number of climate refugees we must cease regarding resettlement as an unforeseen crisis and commence planning for it as a normal state of affairs.  (For example, in Florida we have seen no public address of the prospect that the 6m people south of Lake Okeechobee, and most of the coastal population of the areas north of that, will need to be resettled in the near future.  Without planning it will become a daunting crisis.)  http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/aug/18/mass-migration-crisis-refugees-climate-change



4.  Forcing livestock to rotate grazing areas allows the vegetation to put down deep roots, sequestering significant amounts of carbon, and renders the area much more drought and flood resistant.  The livestock are better fed, too, and the land supports a much wider range of life forms, from soil bacteria to plants, birds and insects.  The technique is free of fertilizer, pesticides, and herbicides.  The ranchers are happier.  A 12 minute video explains.  http://www.greenbiz.com/article/rise-soil-carbon-cowboys?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRouu67JZKXonjHpfsX56%2BskXK%2B1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4JTMBhI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSLHEMa5qw7gMXRQ%3D  In my reading the best discussion of this, along with many other fascinating food-and-climate related matters, is Dan Barber's The Third Table.



5.  A new process removes CO2 from the air to produce carbon fibers cheaply.  The developers are hopeful that the process can be scaled to remove significant carbon from the atmosphere.  http://www.technologyreview.com/news/540706/researcher-demonstrates-how-to-suck-carbon-from-the-air-make-stuff-from-it/  New Scientist adds details, including some further skeptical comments and replies from the developers.  https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn28069-turning-co2-from-air-into-car-parts-may-help-carbon-capture-pay/



6.  The builder of the first US coal plant with carbon capture and sequestration is facing bankruptcy due to the construction delays and rising costs.  http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/owner-of-first-clean-coal-plant-in-us-faces-bankruptcy-over-soaring-ccs-costs-87137



7.  Greenland's Jacobshavn glacier has tripled the pace of its slide to the sea since the 1990s.  It just calved an enormous chunk of ice, perhaps its largest, which is probably not good news for its future.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/08/19/one-of-the-worlds-fastest-melting-glaciers-may-have-just-lost-its-biggest-chunk-of-ice-ever/  ?

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