Climate Links March 2019 #1

Climate Change Is Here—and It Looks Like Starvation. Ben Ehrenreich, The Nation. Mar. 1, 2019.

But don’t expect to hear about it on the nightly news.

Our planet just set a scary new carbon dioxide record. Eric Holthaus, grist. Mar 6, 2019.

This year’s carbon dioxide level is expected to peak around 415 parts per million in May. 

There hasn’t been this much carbon dioxide in our planet’s atmosphere since before cars started clogging the roads a century ago, before agriculture was developed 10,000 years ago, and before modern humans evolved more than a million years ago. We have reached not only a new phase of civilizational history, but a new phase of our species’ history. 

In recent years, the rise in the planet’s carbon dioxide levels has picked up speed. That’s in line with scientists’ predictions of a planet creeping toward [past?] dangerous and irreversible tipping points, and highlights the dangers of collective foot-dragging on shifting to a carbon-free economy.

Heatwaves sweeping oceans ‘like wildfires’, scientists reveal. Damian Carrington, Guardian. Mar. 4, 2019.

Extreme temperatures destroy kelp, seagrass and corals – with alarming impacts for humanity

Marine heatwaves threaten global biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services. Dan Smale et al, Nature Climate Change. March 4, 2019.

Abstract
The global ocean has warmed substantially over the past century, with far-reaching implications for marine ecosystems1. Concurrent with long-term persistent warming, discrete periods of extreme regional ocean warming (marine heatwaves, MHWs) have increased in frequency2. Here we quantify trends and attributes of MHWs across all ocean basins and examine their biological impacts from species to ecosystems. Multiple regions in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans are particularly vulnerable to MHW intensification, due to the co-existence of high levels of biodiversity, a prevalence of species found at their warm range edges or concurrent non-climatic human impacts. The physical attributes of prominent MHWs varied considerably, but all had deleterious impacts across a range of biological processes and taxa, including critical foundation species (corals, seagrasses and kelps). MHWs, which will probably intensify with anthropogenic climate change3, are rapidly emerging as forceful agents of disturbance with the capacity to restructure entire ecosystems and disrupt the provision of ecological goods and services in coming decades.

Resource extraction responsible for half world’s carbon emissions. Jonathan Watts, Guardian. Mar. 12, 2019.

Extraction also causes 80% of biodiversity loss, according to comprehensive UN study

Wallace Smith Broecker, the 'grandfather' of climate science, leaves a final warning for Earth. James Rainey, NBC. Mar. 3, 2019.

Days before his death, Wallace Broecker urged scientists to consider deploying a last-ditch solar shield to stop global warming.

To fear or not to fear? Grist. Mar. 2, 2019.

David Wallace-Wells and Eric Holthaus discuss telling stories about the end of the world, facing climate fears, and finding hope in the face of doomsday studies.

Canada just joined IRENA - and here is why it matters. Jonny Tiernan, CleanTechnica. March 4, 2019.

In January of 2019, Canada officially joined the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), becoming the 160th member of the global intergovernmental organization.