[GWSG] Fossil ins. rise; legis. profile; MIT's natl. index; France guilty; diet change; target hit; net zero profitable

[Tilley, Al]

1. Insurers are limiting coverage of a growing number of fossil fuel projects, and raising rates on those they will insure. https://climatecrocks.com/2021/02/01/insurance-industry-pulling-plug-on-fossil-fuels/

2. The Biden administration is attempting to multiply efforts to control emissions. NPR provides an overview of the legislative situation. https://www.npr.org/2021/02/02/963014373/how-fast-will-biden-need-to-move-on-climate-really-really-fast

3. The MIT Technology Review is offering a Green Future Index which estimates the general progress and commitment of 76 nations toward a carbon free future and ranks them. “It measures the degree to which their economies are pivoting to clean energy, industry, agriculture, and society through investment in renewables, innovation and green finance.” The display is an interactive map. US is number 40; our neighbors are Canada, 4th, and Mexico, 36th. Surely we shall improve. A linked report provides details.  https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/01/25/1016648/green-future-index/?utm_source=engagement_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=site_visitor.unpaid.engagement&utm_content=02.03.subs&mc_cid=8cfb665ad4&mc_eid=fc22084f2f

4. A French court has held France guilty of failing to address the climate crisis and for not keeping its promises to reduce emissions. The suit was brought by four environmental groups, including Greenpeace France, and backed with a petition signed by 2.3 million citizens. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/03/court-convicts-french-state-for-failure-to-address-climate-crisis

5. A UN report concludes that a plant-based diet is crucial to preserving endangered species and dealing with the climate crisis. In the US a switch from beef to beans would free up 42% of cropland for better uses.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/03/plant-based-diets-crucial-to-saving-global-wildlife-says-report#:~:text=The%20global%20food%20system%20is,damage%2C%20according%20to%20a%20report.

6. Germany set an ambitious goal of reducing emissions 40% by the end of 2020, and beat it with a 42% drop in emissions on a 1990 base. The economy minister credited the EU emissions trading program. The corona virus slowdown helped, but was not crucial to success, he said.  https://phys.org/news/2021-02-germany-goal-greenhouse-emissions.html

7. A study by the US National Academies of Sciences found that the costs of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 would be more than repaid by the public health savings alone. https://www.ecowatch.com/net-zero-emissions-2050-2650275117.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1

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