[GWSG] Climate Trace; a/c efficiency; seafloor CH4; Apple's goals; hybrid plane; CH4 emissions suit

[Tilley, Al]

1. A new international project called Climate Trace will allow the tracking of emissions down to the level of factories, ships, and power plants. Previously we had to depend on governmental reports. Al Gore helped develop the project, which he called “a body cam for the planet”. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/how-a-new-effort-to-trace-emissions-led-by-al-gore-could-reshape-climate-talks/ar-BB16PJqK?ocid=msedgdhp



2. Energy efficiency will ease the transition to renewables by taking pressure off the supply end of our energy system. Better air conditioning efficiency could reduce emissions by 10-20% in the next forty years, according to a new report. And, by the way, why are we still allowing HFCs? https://phys.org/news/2020-07-cool-aircon-global.html



3. An active methane leak from the Antarctic sea floor would ordinarily have been consumed by bacteria before it reached the surface, but for some reason bacteria have been slow to develop. The implications for future leaks are uncertain but of concern. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jul/22/first-active-leak-of-sea-bed-methane-discovered-in-antarctica



4. Apple not only has announced an intention to become carbon neutral across “its entire business and manufacturing supply chain by 2030,” it intends to remove all the carbon it has ever emitted from the atmosphere by 2050. Amazon has set a target of 2040 for carbon neutrality. Thanks to Sylvia Gortz for the story. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53485560?utm_campaign=Carbon%20Brief%20Daily%20Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter

Wired supplies much more detail, including Apple’s development of recycling robots. Apple announced in 2018 that it had delivered on a pledge to power its operation renewably. Amazon has set a target of 2030 for its own operation on renewable energy, and plans to achieve 80% renewable energy supply by 2024. Greenpeace urges that we be suspicious of any plans which involve offsets rather than emissions reductions.  https://www.wired.com/story/apple-sets-climate-goals-for-2030/



5. Bristol’s Electric Aviation Group has announced plans to produce a hybrid 70-seater aircraft with a range of 920 miles. The British firm intends to improve its range and to move to an all-electric or carbon-neutral design as technology develops. https://climatecrocks.com/2020/07/21/electric-passenger-plane-to-be-whisper-quiet/



6. The Trump administration removed requirements that corporations report methane emissions and then cooked up a justification after the fact. We found out because 15 states sued over the removal of the emissions regulations and brought a file of documents to light. If the suit succeeds it will result in emissions controls for thousands of wells, storage facilities, and pipelines.  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/21/climate/trump-methane-climate-change.html

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