[GWSG] E Ant. melt; Koch buys futures; S FL floats; 2C; sound models; $2.90/watt; fed flooding policy

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Totten Glacier, largest in the East Antarctic, is melting almost as fast as Pine Island in the West Antarctic.  Like Pine Island, Totten is grounded below sea level and is melting from the bottom.  It holds enough water to raise sea levels six meters.  http://www.smh.com.au/environment/climate-change/giant-east-antarctic-glacier-melting-with-warmer-oceans-20150127-12ypy4.html

2.  The Koch brothers are spending $889 million to influence the elections next year.  They are trading in futures—the indefinite one of of the world at large, and theirs alone, so long as their lives and oil holdings last.  http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/01/27/3615930/koch-brothers-climate-delay-889-million-2016-election/

3.  The Koch money is buying voices which by being noncommittal on climate defer action.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2015/01/30/republicans-and-climate-non-committalism/

4.  South Florida is being haunted by the prospect of rising insurance rates.  Meanwhile, some are planning floating villages for the wealthy.  Thanks to Lad Hawkins for the lead.  http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2015/02/climate-change-economics/parker-text

5.  A British study concludes that the world can make the transition to a sustainable economy and keep shy of a 2C warming limit without diminishing the current quality of life.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/28/yes-we-can-live-well-avoid-climate-change-disaster-says-uk-government

6.  A study published in Nature finds that climate models accurately predict warming over 15 and 62 year intervals.  The propaganda talking point of the absence of atmospheric warming recently depends on cherry picking a 15 year interval beginning in 1998, an unusually warm year, and ignoring oceanic heating.  http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-models-predict-warming-20150128-story.html

7.  A Deutsche Bank study shows the average cost of rooftop solar in the US to have been $2.90 per watt last year.  The price is predicted to fall 40% in the next two years.  http://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/29/solar-costs-will-fall-40-next-2-years-heres/?utm_source=Cleantechnica+News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=15250d314d-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-15250d314d-331994013
If the prediction holds, rooftop solar will still be 10% cheaper than at present after the current federal subsidy of 30% expires at the end of 2016.

8.  Any new construction using federal money, including infrastructure as well as buildings, must take into account flooding anticipated from climate disruption.  The new policy is open for public comment.  http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/us-plans-for-sea-level-rise
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