[GWSG] Left outside in the heat; FL's tax system; Chevron's offsets; oil suits; S circulation slowing

[Tilley, Al]

1. Current emissions plans will leave us with 2.7C of warming. At that level, 2 billion people will be outside the upper limit of the historical human climate niche of an annual average temperature of 29C, 84.2F. Some people will attempt to adapt to the marginal living conditions (and suffer health losses), but many—perhaps half—are likely to seek a cooler climate elsewhere. An aggressive emissions reduction program could avoid some of the relocation. 60 million people live outside the niche now. Each rise of .1C drives another 140 million people outside it.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/22/global-heating-human-climate-niche

2. PhysOrg provides further information from the previous item’s study. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-limiting-global-15c-billions-dangerously.html
And BBC provides 5 minutes of visuals and interviews. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krVnQA_VEOs

3. Floridians are paying a climate tax through their property insurance rates. The largest home insurer in the state is Citizens, state-backed (in their fashion). Its cost is “almost 60% below the rate needed for premiums to be actuarily sound.” After a big storm or two, and after Citizens policy holders are assessed, every residential property policy will be hit with a multi-year surcharge to pay the balance of losses by the owners of mostly expensive coastal property. That is not widely known in Florida and may not be popular. https://climatecrocks.com/2023/05/23/5-ways-floridians-are-paying-a-climate-tax/

4.  Chevron had pledged to offset its carbon emissions. 93% of the offsets are worthless, and some may be harmful. The article discusses the largely bogus offset market.  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/24/chevron-carbon-offset-climate-crisis

5. Over two dozen states and cities are suing oil companies for damages from the climate crisis. The Supreme Court has made a helpful ruling. More damage has been done than will ever be rectified, but as Patrick Parenteau says, every penny counts, and rulings against the companies may have a chilling effect on their financial backing.   https://news.yahoo.com/more-two-dozen-cities-states-122730564.html

6. The Southern Overturning Circulation has slowed 30% since the 1990s, and is expected to slow even further. Weather patterns, marine ecosystems, and sea level will be affected drastically.  https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/may/25/slowing-ocean-current-caused-by-melting-antarctic-ice-could-have-drastic-climate-impact-study-says

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