[GWSG] Not modelling Greenland; US to decarbonize; seaweed for cows; cooling clouds; Chinese warning; brewing plastics

[Tilley, Al]

1.  In the 32-minute video "Faster Than Forecast" Jason Box describes factors which prevent us from modelling the rate at which Greenland is losing ice (and therefore how fast it will cause sea level to rise).  He ends with his radical suggestions to reduce emissions.  https://climatecrocks.com/2016/10/29/the-weekend-wonk-jason-box-faster-than-forecast/



2.  U.S. climate negotiator Jonathan Pershing says that at the climate summit in Morocco Nov. 7-18 he will introduce scenarios to decarbonize our economy by 2050.  The scenarios require capturing and sequestering carbon from the use of natural gas.  http://www.bna.com/us-unveil-path-n57982079137/  The article asserts that natural gas is cleaner than coal.  That does not appear to be true (based as it is on unrealistically low leakage figures).  Even if it were true, gas would still be a major greenhouse emissions source.  The aim of decarbonization is the main point of the proposal.  The difficulty and expense of carbon capture and sequestration will supply pressure toward the introduction of scenarios based only on renewable power sources.


3.  Methane from livestock, mostly from cow belches, accounts for about 18% of greenhouse gas emissions.  Feeding cows their normal diet with a 2% addition of red seaweed reduces the methane in their burps by 60-70%.  (Garlic has a similar effect but then the cows produce milk with a limited audience-though I can imagine a nice cheese.)  Research is underway to produce the seaweed in enormous quantities.  http://inhabitat.com/how-seaweed-eating-super-cows-will-save-the-world/?utm_source=Inhabitat+Weekly+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=059992cba7-&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_edda39917e-059992cba7-207513645



4.  Unusual cloud cover in the past thirty years has slowed the pace of global heating.  The skies are expected to clear.  http://phys.org/news/2016-10-cloudy-feedback-global.html



5.  China's climate chief cautioned that would-be President Trump's plan to exit the Paris climate agreement would lose him the support of the American people and lead to social and economic decline.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/nov/01/china-criticises-donald-trumps-plan-to-exit-paris-climate-deal



6.  Fossil fuels are used to make succinic acid, from which plastics are produced.  Canada's BioAmber produces the acid from corn sugar and yeast and uses it to make products from paint to polyurethane.  The process is cheap and energy efficient.  Through similar fermentation California's Bolt Threads is developing fabrics which are biodegradable, unlike the fossil fuel-produced threads which constitute 90% of the plastic debris in the oceans.   https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/oct/31/fossil-fuels-environment-climate-change  ?

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