[GWSG] UK climate assembly; rice yield; a better 2030; peatland C; fire ins. in CA; oil glut ahead; trees beat cows

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Invitations have been sent to 30,000 randomly chosen English adults to take part in a citizens’ assembly on the climate emergency. Eventually, 110 of them will participate in a series of four meetings to inform themselves in preparation for drafting a proposal of measures to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050. The final group will be demographically representative of the country.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/02/thousands-britons-invited-take-part-climate-crisis-citizens-assembly



2. As the climate heats toward 5C, by the end of the century rice yields could drop 40% and arsenic in the rice could double in those areas with that in their soil, according to a Stanford study. Half the world’s population depends on rice, the largest staple crop. New rice varieties may be more resilient, and we should be able to control emissions so as to avoid the 5C of additional heat which lies before us on our current path. Even if we avoid 5C, it is well to know that we should look out for a drop in rice yields and a growth in arsenic content as the heat mounts.  https://phys.org/news/2019-11-rice-yields-plummet-arsenic-future.html?utm_source=nwletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily-nwletter



3. A Danish MP describes life in 2030 if we succeed in our climate actions. It sounds pretty attractive—plant-based diet, more urban than suburban, rewilding going on all around us. Of course many of us will be living in a new area, and we’re likely to be facing some of the disruptive results of the great relocation in progress in 2030. Still, it is important to imagine the world we would like to build, and this little essay is an aid.  https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change-success-2030-prediction-2641184888.html?rebelltitem=2#rebelltitem2



4. Peatlands store significant amounts of carbon—more than forests. Scotland and other countries are restoring their peatlands, often drained for farms in the past, or recently converted to forests. https://www.dw.com/en/scotland-restores-its-peatlands-to-keep-carbon-in-the-ground/a-50915166?maca=en-VAM_volltext_ecowatch-28485-html-copypaste



5. 350,000 California homeowners have had their fire insurance cancelled. Others have seen their rates climb six-fold. Thanks to Ed Brock for this message. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-fire-insurance-premiums-pricing-out-homeowners-2019-11-01/



6. A coming glut of oil is bad news for oil prices. Oil companies will suffer and not be able to carry out plans for developing new sources. (Aw.) Dropping prices will allow higher gas taxes and give us funds for an energy transition. (Not observed by the NY Times, which is content to claim that this is bad news for climate mitigation. Not necessarily so.) https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/03/business/energy-environment/oil-supply.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_191104?campaign_id=2&instance_id=13526&segment_id=18491&user_id=8c547d53af6ff6fc7d49cb8612c07102&regi_id=436283741104



7. The Irish Times reports that forestry is more profitable than cattle farming. May it be so for pigs and chickens as well. The article does not address whether the advantage of forestry obtains in other countries.  https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/land-use-must-shift-from-beef-to-forestry-1.3979724

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