[GWSG] Common species; CO2 emissions flat; composted biochar; tending the carbon bubble; EPA minus climate change

[Tilley, Al]

1. Focusing on the danger to rare species may lead us to miss a steep decline in common species. India's white-rumped vulture and the US rusty-patched bumblebee provide examples. Everything can end up rare. Thanks to Gabe Hanson for recommending Tragedy of the Common: The Extinction Crisis Extends Far Beyond Rare and Endangered Species. https://psmag.com/magazine/tragedy-of-the-common?ref=hvper.com



2. Global CO2 emissions for 2016 were flat for the third year in a row.  Figures are not yet available for nitrous oxide and methane. https://phys.org/news/2017-10-global-co2-emissions-stalled-year.html



3. Composted biochar develops an organic carbon coating which greatly improves its use as a fertilizer. Biochar could replace mineral nitrogen and liquid manure in agriculture, and is a promising way to sequester carbon on a large scale. https://phys.org/news/2017-10-carbon-coating-biochar-garden-greening-power.html



4. The carbon bubble will burst when investors no longer believe that the fossil fuel's industries sunk assets will provide returns. The Trump administration cannot prevent the economic dislocation of that burst, but they are intensifying its effect by artificially maintaining the bubble. https://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/theres-a-dangerous-bubble-in-the-fossil-fuel-economy-and-the-trump-administration-is-making-it-worse?mbid=nl_Daily%20102017&CNDID=18164692&spMailingID=12186678&spUserID=MTMzMTc5Njc3ODE1S0&spJobID=1261807229&spReportId=MTI2MTgwNzIyOQS2



5. An EPA web site meant to help local governments cope with climate change has scrubbed many of the recommendations, and removed all references to climate change. It is the first site to be restored to public view since EPA climate sites were removed on April 28. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/20/climate/epa-climate-change.html?_r=0 ?

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