[GWSG] Bonn conference; US isolated; satellite wreckers; plastic concrete; seven megatrends; renewables on the way

[Tilley, Al]

1. The Guardian sets the context of the COP 23 meeting in Bonn November 6-23. Basically, we hope to keep the spirit of the Paris agreement alive, though without comparably dramatic new actions. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/05/the-cop23-climate-change-summit-in-bonn-and-why-it-matters



2. Syria has signed the Paris accords. The US is now the only nation on earth not to have committed to climate action. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/07/climate/syria-joins-paris-agreement.html?smid=tw-nytclimate&smtyp=cur&_r=1

The truth is that most of us are committed to climate action. http://climatecommunication.yale.edu/publications/paris_agreement_by_state/  We need leaders who represent that commitment. For me, that would mean replacements up the line from my city councilman through the mayor, the governor, and my state representatives to the President. (Senator Nelson gets to stay.)



3. Four US satellites have been tracking polar sea ice. One has broken down. Its replacement was in storage but has been destroyed by congressional order. https://climatecrocks.com/2017/11/06/see-no-evil-trumpgop-trashing-our-eyes-in-the-sky/



4. MIT undergraduates have discovered that adding irradiated, pulverized plastic bottles to cement produces a concrete that is 20% stronger. Adding such a filler reduces the carbon footprint of concrete and allows new uses for it, as well as finding a place for our mountains of plastic water and soda bottles. http://news.mit.edu/2017/fortify-concrete-adding-recycled-plastic-1025



5. Damian Carrington, the Guardian's environment editor, identifies seven megatrends which explain why Christiana Figueres thinks we should be able to beat the 2020 deadline for beginning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first trend is plant-based meat. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/08/seven-megatrends-that-could-beat-global-warming-climate-change



6. A Finnish report to the Bonn delegates observes that the transition to 100% renewable energy is already underway, and projects that it will be cheaper than current energy and create significantly more jobs. "There is no reason to invest one more dollar in fossil fuel or nuclear power production", said Energy Watch Group president Hans-Josef Fell. "Renewable energy provides cost-effective power supply." "All plans for further expansion of coal, nuclear, gas and oil must be stopped. More investment needs to be channeled into renewable energies and the necessary infrastructure. Everything else will lead to unnecessary costs and increasing global warming."   http://mailchi.mp/climatenewsnetwork/100-renewable-electricity-in-reach-by-2050?e=ea792e87f2 ?

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