[GWSG] Emergency action; coal power shrinks; but emissions rise?; finding new fields; Key Largo wades; Orsted flourishes

[Tilley, Al]

1. The Gainesville, FL City Council has declared a state of climate emergency. The U of FL’s Stephen Mulkey has recorded a 40-minute illustrated talk on why an emergency exists and what we can do about it. For example, the top priorities he suggests for emergency planning are food, water, and energy security; the fourth is public health. https://environmentalcentury.net/2019/11/23/why-climate-change-is-an-emergency-the-case-for-florida/



2. Coal-fired electricity is expected to decline 3% this year. It may be enough to stall global emissions. China is building more coal plants but using them less.  https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/nov/25/global-use-of-coal-fired-electricity-set-for-biggest-fall-this-year



3. On the other hand, the World Meteorological Organization is recording a record 408 ppm of CO2 and sees no signs of a slowdown. The heating effect of greenhouse gasses is now 43% greater than in 1990, with 17% of that produced by methane.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/25/climate-heating-greenhouse-gases-hit-new-high-un-reports



4. A report from the Stockholm Environment Institute indicates that fossil fuel companies continue to pursue more fuel that we must not burn, and our largest governments are egging them on. CA may be the first oil producer to begin shutting off the spigots.  https://e360.yale.edu/features/the-new-climate-math-the-numbers-keep-getting-more-frightening



5. People in Key Largo, flooded for the last 82 days, are adjusting to the partially submerged life. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/24/us/florida-keys-flooding-king-tide.html



6. The financial success of Denmark’s energy company Orsted (formerly Danish Oil and Gas) in converting to wind power indicates that the energy transition will not only be necessary for the climate but good for business.  Orsted is building the first US offshore wind farm off the east coast. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/commentary/article-denmark-shows-the-world-how-to-go-from-black-to-green-in-a-hurry-as/

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