[GWSG] Woody biomass; EU greedheads; oil endgame; transition leaders; Jim and Sophie show; EU trading system

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Last fall Stephen Mulkey analyzed the burning of woody biomass to produce energy.  His essay clarifies the finding reported in the previous news list that considering the process lifecycle, burning wood can produce more carbon emissions than burning coal.  Any burning of biomass indeed requires a careful analysis of lifecycle if it is to serve as climate mitigation.  Mulkey considers much of the current practice as a destructive self-deception, like an alcoholic trying to deal with the problem by switching from whisky to beer.  https://environmentalcentury.net/2016/10/17/switching-from-whiskey-to-beer-and-the-false-promise-of-woody-biomass/



2.  Claude Turmes, who as a member of the EU Parliament helped shape their energy policy, has written a book describing how a lobbying group of fossil fuel industry representatives tried to destroy that policy in order to protect their old assets.  They have had some success in guiding public opinion with the notion that renewables are too expensive (they were expensive but aren't now), and some success damaging small new firms, but will eventually lose the game.  Eon, for example, has left the lobbying group and is attending the book's launch March 1.  Transition Energetique has not yet been translated into English.  http://energypost.eu/exclusive-interview-sneak-preview-energy-transition-architect-claude-turmes-tells-inside-story-eu-energy-policy/



3.  In the oil endgame, so far Saudi Arabia is refusing to support oil prices as it moves assets to renewables and Russia is attempting to subvert democracies to solidify the hold of fossil fuels (particularly theirs) on political power.  https://climatecrocks.com/2017/02/27/for-saudis-the-fragile-bubble-of-carbon-is-fading/



4.  China's coal use fell in 2016 for the third straight year, and Chinese solar capacity grew by 82%, wind by 13%.  http://www.climatechangenews.com/2017/02/28/china-coal-use-fell-again-in-2016-solar-capacity-increased-82/  India and several Latin American countries joined China as leaders in the energy transition.  http://www.ecowatch.com/global-renewable-energy-2290268181.html?utm_source=EcoWatch+List&utm_campaign=511c76bb55-MailChimp+Email+Blast&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_49c7d43dc9-511c76bb55-85965093



5.  James Hansen and his smart and pleasant granddaughter Sophie Kivlehan narrate a nine-minute video on the Children's Trust suit Sophie and her team have filed, Obama Missed a Golden Opportunity-But We Can Still Win!  On the same site is a good Hansen video from a year ago (but hardly dated): Ice Melt, Sea Level Rise and Superstorms.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgO7Kp2YUCU&feature=youtu.be



6.  The EU has revised their emissions trading system to produce a 2.2% yearly drop in emissions at least until 2024.   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/28/reform-of-eu-carbon-trading-scheme-agreed  ?

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