[GWSG] An emergency; hopes and fears; US-China statement; white paint as a/c; big batteries surpass gas

[Tilley, Al]

1. A consensus is building that we are in a climate emergency, and should call it that. https://climatecrocks.com/2021/04/12/scientific-american-call-it-what-it-is/

2. The Biden administration’s plans and the improving financial position of renewable energy are lending new strength to the hope that we can cope with the climate emergency. The counterforces are daunting, and the hour is late. https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/climate-crisis-2050-goals-biden-administration-1154528/

3. The US and China account for almost half the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. On the occasion of John Kerry’s visit, China has agreed to cooperate with the US in climate action through the UN, through bilateral emissions reduction programs, and through financial support for developing nations. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/18/us-and-china-commit-to-cooperating-on-climate-crisis

4. A newly formulated white paint can reflect heat so efficiently that it cools surfaces below ambient temperature, lessening the need for air conditioning. It will be on the market in a year or two, costing no more than conventional paint. On a 1000 square foot roof the paint would have a cooling power of 10 kilowatts, more than most central air conditioners.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/15/whitest-ever-paint-could-help-cool-heating-earth-study-shows

5. Improvements in the large batteries used to back up power grids have made them faster and more reliable than gas peaking plants. They are also 17-30% cheaper, with the four hour batteries cheaper than the two hour. https://climatecrocks.com/2021/04/16/study-clean-energy-batteries-beat-gas-hands-down/

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