[GWSG] Lightweight algae; rapid extinction; revived XL; failing fracking; redoing the economy; old one undeveloped anyway

[Tilley, Al]

1. The spring phytoplankton bloom in the North Atlantic Ocean is “probably the largest annual biological carbon sequestration mechanism on the planet.” The algae are smaller than has been assumed, and the sink is thus smaller. How much smaller is not yet known, but the adjustment to our conception of the carbon cycle will be significant. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/apr/03/oceans-capacity-to-absorb-co2-overestimated-study-suggests



2. We are on track to render most of the earth uninhabitable. The general extinction is underway. A comparison with two past mass extinction events shows that ours is faster. https://theconversation.com/while-we-fixate-on-coronavirus-earth-is-hurtling-towards-a-catastrophe-worse-than-the-dinosaur-extinction-130869



3. Bill McKibben, aghast, describes how the oil companies have used the virus crisis to push ahead with construction of the XL pipeline, which will carry the filthiest oil from the Canadian tar sands to refineries at the Gulf of Mexico. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/apr/05/climate-crisis-villains-oil-industry-big-banks-pipelines



4. The good news is that the US fracking industry is collapsing. “At current prices, not one of the 100 largest fracking operations in the country can turn a profit.“ https://qz.com/1830456/how-the-coronavirus-is-disrupting-the-us-fracking-industry/?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter



5. The corona virus crisis could provide an opportunity to jumpstart a new low carbon economy, as the old one is disabled by lockdowns. https://reneweconomy.com.au/sorry-to-disappoint-climate-deniers-but-coronavirus-makes-the-low-carbon-transition-more-urgent-91465/



6. The US economy no longer deserved to be called developed even before the virus crisis. The necessary reconstruction gives us a chance to correct that. https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2020/apr/06/coronavirus-american-reaction-economy-covid-19

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