[GWSG] SLR rate up; polar sea ice at record lows; thirsty children; CH4 leaks; coal plans, use decline

[Tilley, Al]

1.  China's average sea level rise since 1980 has been 3.2 mm/year.  Last year it was 38 mm.  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-climatechange-sealevel-idUSKBN16U0DR?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2Fenvironment+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Environment%29  Between November 2014 and February 2016, the World Meteorological Organization reports a global sea level rise average of 15 mm.  The figures for the average global sea level rise in 2016 are not available.   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/21/record-breaking-climate-change-world-uncharted-territory  NOAA continues to list the global average rate of sea level rise at 3.2 mm/year.  https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level  Obviously, the rate of sea level rise took a great leap last year.



2.  Sea ice in both the Arctic and the Antarctic are at record seasonal lows.  https://insideclimatenews.org/news/22032017/arctic-sea-ice-climate-change-global-warming



3.  UNICEF warns that one in four children will be living in areas without sufficient water by 2040 and called for collective action now to cope with the coming crisis.  http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp%3FNewsID%3D56400#.WNOhq_nyvIU



4.  Direct measurement by Purdue University scientists of methane leaks from natural gas refineries and power plants revealed leaks of 20-120 times previous estimates.  The leakage amounts to about 10% of US CO2-equivalent emissions, and negates any advantage natural gas might otherwise have enjoyed over other fossil fuels.  Current president Donald Trump has announced plans to cut EPA funding for enforcement of emissions controls and has asked for less information from the natural gas industry about emissions.   http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_round_up/2988788/natural_gas_leaks_from_power_plants_refineries_100_times_greater_than_thought.html



5.  The amount of coal power under construction fell by almost two-thirds last year.  Policy changes in China and India played a central role in the decline.  A record total of 64GW of existing coal capacity was retired.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/mar/22/coal-power-plants-green-energy-china-india  ?

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