[GWSG] Low clouds at risk; climate badge; 50% in Aus; old, thick plankton; don't show me; container houses; fossil-owned pols; free buses

[Tilley, Al]

1. As the world heats, low marine clouds may diminish or burn off entirely. That new insight appears to lie behind the higher estimates of climate sensitivity. Yale Environment 360 lucidly explains the feedbacks which amplify the effects of increasing carbon in the atmosphere, and recounts the history of the issue.   https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-clouds-are-the-key-to-new-troubling-projections-on-warming?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter



2. British climate scientist Ed Hawkins has created a striped badge which represents the global temperature changes from 1850-2019. Senators Tom Carper, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Chris von Hollen wore it a the State of the Union address, and it is appearing on social media. https://www.bbc.com/news/av/science-environment-51418310/climate-change-why-are-us-senators-wearing-this-symbol?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter



3. Large regions of Australia—West Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, and Queensland—are surpassing 50% renewable energy as prices fall. https://reneweconomy.com.au/west-australia-grid-officially-hits-more-than-50-renewables-for-first-time-21842/



4. 150 year old phytoplankton were much hardier with thicker shells than today’s. Ocean acidification probably plays a big role, Thanks to Brian Paradise for this and the following article. https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/02/plankton-shells-have-become-dangerously-thin-acidifying-oceans-are-blame



5. Florida residents shown maps indicating their property is at risk from sea level rise were less likely to agree that the climate is changing than were those who had not seen the maps. Party affiliation was associated with the strength of responses, though the general response crossed party lines. https://www.ecowatch.com/florida-coastal-flooding-maps-2645087745.html?rebelltitem=4#rebelltitem4



6. Two shipping containers have been adapted into an attractive home in Brazil. Providing cheap, sturdy housing will become a concern as climate drives relocations. https://inhabitat.com/shipping-container-retreat-in-brazil-is-inspired-by-tiny-homes/



7. As the climate crisis grows, fossil fuel corporations buy government support, including the suppression of dissent, for its pursuit of profit. “Last year, the world burned more fossil fuels than ever before.” George Monbiot surveys the politics of pollution. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/aug/07/fossil-fuel-lobby-pollute-politics-climate-crisis



8. Free public transportation (better put, public transportation at public cost) is a great way to ease some of the burdens of the transition to renewable energy. https://climatenewsnetwork.net/cities-turn-to-freewheeling-public-transport/

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