[GWSG] Greenland's lakes; threatened diversity; ag planning; biofuels dicey; thin solar; Delhi mandate; Sen. Whitehouse's campaign; VA ministers rebel

[Tilley, Al]

1. In the summer, interconnected lakes appear on the surface of Greenland's ice sheets. When one drains, it stresses the ice, cracking it and setting off the drainage of other lakes, further destabilizing the whole sheet. Greenland is now losing a billion tons of ice a day, causing a millimeter of sea level rise a year. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180314092305.htm



2. From a quarter to a half of the species in the most biodiverse areas could become locally extinct by the end of the century. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180313225505.htm



3. Planning could save almost 90% of the species otherwise lost to agricultural expansion. Unfortunately, resistance to planning is anticipated in the most affected countries. https://news.mongabay.com/2018/03/better-agricultural-planning-could-prevent-88-of-biodiversity-loss-study-finds/



4. While biofuels can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, they are unlikely to be worth much without careful planning informed by a price on carbon. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2018/mar/14/biofuels-can-help-solve-climate-change-especially-with-a-carbon-tax



5. Monocrystalline solar cells use 40% less raw material, are lighter and more efficient than conventional cells, and are cheaper both to manufacture and install. A new Japanese manufacturing process promises to improve production of the cells. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-03/tiot-mst031518.php



6. New Delhi is providing a 30% subsidy for solar power and making it mandatory for cooperative housing. http://www.asianage.com/metros/delhi/160318/solar-panels-soon-to-be-must-on-rooftops.html



7. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has been giving a speech on the necessity of climate action to a mostly empty senate chamber every week the senate has been in session since 2012. To mark the 200th speech, 19 Democratic colleagues joined him. The story profiles Whitehouse and interviews him on why he has become more hopeful recently.  https://mashable.com/2018/03/17/sheldon-whitehouse-200-climate-change-speeches/#aE57uKK0GsqZ  The annoying audio override which may prevent you from hearing the brief tape of Whitehouse's speech arises from the clip after the article, which you can pause if you would like to hear the senator.



8. Black ministers in Virginia have successfully countered a racist propaganda campaign funded by the Koch brothers to promote the use of fossil fuels. https://cleantechnica.com/2018/03/17/black-ministers-virginia-tell-koch-brothers-shove-petrodollars/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+IM-cleantechnica+%28CleanTechnica%29 ?

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