To Contain Global Warming, Fossil Fuel Use Must Fall Twice as Fast As Previously Thought

Fossil fuel use must fall twice as fast as thought to contain global warming - study

Climate Reality: Why Be Optimistic?

In his latest TED talk on February 23, 2016, Al Gore, founder and chairman of The Climate Reality Project, poses three questions that will determine the future of our planet – and why there’s good reason to be optimistic.

NYT: Seas Are Rising at Fastest Rate in Last 28 Centuries

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By JUSTIN GILLISFEB. 22, 2016

The article begins by saying, 

“The worsening of tidal flooding in American coastal communities is largely a consequence of greenhouse gases from human activity, and the problem will grow far worse in coming decades, scientists reported Monday.”  It states that the “ocean [is rising] at the fastest rate since at least the founding of ancient Rome” and “in the absence of human emissions, the ocean surface would be rising less rapidly and might even be falling.” 

Miami Beach, Charleston, S.C. and Norfolk, Va. are listed as places where “routine tidal flooding is making life miserable.”    

One of the two studies cited confirmed earlier findings that with emissions proceeding at the current rate, “the ocean could rise as much as three or four feet by 2100.”  And the prediction is that this could get much worse and the 22nd century “likely requiring the abandonment of many coastal cities.”

Conclusion: The Industrial Revolution, which produced huge increases in human-caused fossil fuel emissions, has caused sea levels to rise about eight inches since 1880 and global temperatures to increase about 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit. This latest forecast of sea level rise of about 3 - 4 feet by 2100 is slightly higher than the forecast of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which was 1.7 to 3.2 feet.  

Chatham County Commissioners Actions on Coal Ash (2015)

Source: "21 A-to-Z highlights of what the Chatham County Board of Commissioners accomplished in 2015"

"Chatham had no authority to stop 12 million tons of coal ash from being dumped in Moncure at the former Brickhaven clay pit.  We did send a resolution, dated Dec 15, 2014 opposing the disposal of coal ash in Chatham County and I detailed the problems with the permit at the State’s public hearing at our courthouse that month.  However, the “structural fill” permit was approved by the NC Division of Mining and Land Resources in 2015 and the work on expanding the clay pit (from 29 acres to, eventually, 350 acres) and making giant coal ash burritos is underway.  Trucks began hauling in late October, and several truck accidents occurred because of increased traffic.

"Coal ash transport changed from truck to primarily rail in January 2016 when the railroad spur was completed.  Over time, the county will receive $18 million ($1.50/ton) for taking this stuff.   The initial vote on the deal with Duke Energy was 3 to 2 (Karen Howard and Diana Hales, against).  In November 2015 the BOC agreed to spend the initial $6 million Duke Energy money on Moncure needs; almost $2 million will be spent on upgrading the Moncure fire department equipment and paying off their debt, as well as additional funds to finish the Sprout Youth Center in Moncure, citizen water testing, connections to county water as needed, air monitoring, and other contingencies as they occur.   Bottled water is now being provided (until connections are established to County water lines) to four residences in the area with high levels of hexavalent chromium, which was discovered in the county’s baseline water sampling.'

Coal Ash Disposal Public Discussion on February 20, 2016

Nick Torrey of the Southern Environmental Law Center to Speak

The Environmental Issues Team of the League of Women Voters of Orange, Durham and Chatham Counties is sponsoring a public discussion on disposal of coal ash on Saturday February 20, 2016, at 9:30 AM.

The discussion will be held in the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) Greenbridge Building located at 601 W. Rosemary Street, room 220, in Chapel Hill.

Nick Torrey of SELC will address issues concerning the disposal and storage of coal ash in our general area, as well as in Chapel Hill. This comes at the outset of the state’s public comment period during which we, as concerned and informed citizens, may wish to be involved.  Please come to learn more about this potentially harmful material and ways we may influence the disposal and storage decisions being made.

The discussion is free and open to the public.

The Value of Natural Areas and Ecosystem Services

NC State’s William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Biology Dr. Nick Haddad’s presentation regarding the value of natural areas and how to quantify the ecosystem services provided to us by those natural areas.

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What You Get When You Mix Chickens, China and Climate Change (New York Times)

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By Sonia Shah
February 5, 2016

Nobody knows just how this virus [the virulent Asian-origin virus] migrated over the oceans protecting the New World. But it’s possible that another consequence of human appetites — climate change — played a role. READ More....