[GWSG] SST spikes; 1C target?; solar booms; coal to battery; long-range Toyotas; gas stations pose danger

[Tilley, Al]

1. Sea surface temperatures globally are at record highs. El Niño is partly to blame (though still in its early development stage), but cleaner shipping fuel, scarce Saharan dust, an underwater volcano, and general greenhouse gas contributions account for most of it.   https://phys.org/news/2023-06-ocean-temperatures-el-nio-blame.html
General global temperatures are high, but the global sea surface temperature is particularly concerning. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/15/record-temperatures-global-heating

2. Two British scientists make the case for a target of 1C of heating. (That, of course, requires removing carbon, and they will be glad to hear about SeaChange.) https://theconversation.com/limiting-global-warming-to-2-is-not-enough-why-the-world-must-keep-temperature-rise-below-1-207434

3. A manufacturing boom promises to double solar capacity by 2024-25, “raising the prospect of a chance to address the climate crisis at the speed the science dictates.” That hopeful projection is from Australia’s Climate Energy Finance, which considers even the newly optimistic expectations of the International Energy Agency as too timid by half.  https://reneweconomy.com.au/solar-pushes-global-grid-to-cascading-tipping-points-and-puts-science-targets-within-reach/

4. A 1600MW coal plant in Australia has been replaced by a big battery, a first for the country. Old infrastructure can be used—switchyards, substations, and power lines.  Many more such conversions are planned. https://reneweconomy.com.au/day-for-history-books-hazelwood-big-battery-first-to-be-built-at-site-of-a-former-coal-generator/

5. Toyota plans to introduce an electric vehicle in 2026 with a range of 600 miles; by 2028, the target is 900 miles. They also hope to cut costs. Toyota has a blemished record on tech projections, though. https://electrek.co/2023/06/13/toyota-claims-solid-state-ev-battery-tech-breakthrough/

6. Gas stations depend on gigantic buried gas tanks which leak. Even in normal operation, gas stations pose a hazard to their communities. In coastal areas, as ground water rises, they demand special clean-up efforts before they submerge. The US has over 145,000 gas stations. Oil companies have worked hard to avoid being responsible for their mess. Grist’s story is unusually thorough. https://grist.org/accountability/gas-stations-underground-storage-tank-leaks-environmental-disaster/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=daily
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