2019 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #1
A chronological listing of news articles posted on the Skeptical Science Facebook Page during the past week, i.e., Sun, Dec 31, 2018 through Sat, Jan 5, 2019
Editor's Pick
A Terrifying Sea-Level Prediction Now Looks Far Less Likely
But experts warn that our overall picture of sea-level rise looks far scarier today than it did even five years ago.
A boat floats in Neko Harbour, Antarctica, in February 2018. (ALEXANDRE MENEGHINI / REUTERS)
One of the scariest scenarios for near-term, disastrous sea-level rise may be off the table for now, according to a new study previewed at a recent scientific conference.
Two years ago, the glaciologists Robert DeConto and David Pollard rocked their field with a paper arguing that several massive glaciers in Antarctica were much more unstable than previously thought. Those key glaciers—which include Thwaites Glacier and Pine Island Glacier, both in the frigid continent’s west—could increase global sea levels by more than three feet by 2100, the paper warned. Such a rise could destroy the homes of more than 150 million people worldwide.
They are now revisiting those results. In new work, conducted with three other prominent glaciologists, DeConto and Pollard have lowered some of their worst-case projections for the 21st century. Antarctica may only contribute about a foot of sea-level rise by 2100, they now say. This finding, reached after the team improved their own ice model, is much closer to projections made by other glaciologists.
A Terrifying Sea-Level Prediction Now Looks Far Less Likely by Robinson Meyer, Science, The Atlantic, Jan 4, 2019
Links posted on Facebook
Sun Dec 30, 2018
- New research, December 17-23, 2018 by Ari Jokimäki, Skeptical Science, Dec 28, 2018
- Cyprus to face increased water shortages due to climate change, CNA News Service/Cyprus Mail, Dec 29, 2018
- Vital ecosystems in tidal flats lost to development and rising sea levels by Lisa Cox, Environment, Guardian, Dec 28, 2918
- Opinion: Our house is on fire, and many Albertans want more lighters, Opinion by Joe Vipond & Noel Keough, Calgary Herald, Dec 29, 2018
- 2018 Was A Milestone Year For Climate Science (If Not Politics) by Christopher Joyce, NPR News, Dec 27, 2018
- 9 questions about climate change you were too embarrassed to ask by Brad Plumer, Brian Resnick & Umair Irfan, Energy & Environment, Vox, Dec 28, 2018
- Bloomberg slams Trump on climate change, which Brown likens to Nazism by Tom McCarthy, Environment, Guardian, Dec 30, 2018
- This Year’s Natural Disasters Show Climate Change’s Dire Consequences Are Already Here by Sarah Ruiz-Grossman, HuffPost, Dec 30, 2018
Mon Dec 31, 2018
- Building blocks of ocean food web in rapid decline as plankton productivity plunges by Jane Adey, CBC News, Dec 22, 2018
- Going Nowhere Fast on Climate, Year After Year, Opinion by Paul Bledsoe, New York Times, Dec 29, 2018
- Canada spawns its own yellow vest protests – with extra rightwing populism by Leland Cecco, Guardian, Dec 20. 2018
- The case for “conditional optimism” on climate change by David Roberts, Energy & Environment, Vox, Dec 31, 2018
- Climate change takes toll on French oyster farmers, Agence-France Presse, Dec 31, 2018
- Extreme weather in 2018 was a raging, howling signal of climate change by Joel Achenbach, Science, Washington Post, Dec 31, 2018
Tue Jan 1, 2019
- Meet the Press just modeled what it looks like to take climate change seriously by Eric Holthaus, Grist, Dec 31, 2018
- Biologist wants to use green roofs, help her city cope with extreme weather by Sarah Kennedy, ChavoBart Digital Media/Yale Climate Connections, Dec 24, 2018
- New Chinese Solar Plant Undercuts Cost Of Coal Power by John Parnell, Forbes, Dec 30, 2018
- In the hot seat: Joelle's journey from the dole to a global role by Julie Perrin, Environment, Sydney Morning Herald, Dec 30, 2018
- U.S. Taxpayers on the Hook for Insuring Farmers Against Growing Climate Risks by Georgina Gustin, InsideClimate News, Dec 31. 2018
Wed Jan 2, 2019
- Heatwave bakes Australia for 7th straight day as northern cyclone brews by Alison Bevege, Reuters, Dec 30, 2018
- Almost all countries have fallen short on climate change commitments by Adam Wernick, Public Radio International (PRI), Jan 1, 2019
- An unexpected side effect of drought: Higher carbon emissions. by Alejandra Borunda, Environment, National Geographic, Dec 21, 2018
- What the Believers Are Denying by Ibram X Kendi, Ideas, The Atlantic, Jan 1, 2019
- Momentum is growing': reasons to be hopeful about the environment in 2019 by Fiona Harvey, Environment, Guardian, Jan 2, 2018
- Intensifying climate change protests 'could rival Vietnam War activism' by Malcolm Sutton, ABC News (Australia), Dec 17, 2018
- Unable to Challenge Climate Science, Trump’s EPA Targets Climate Law by Phil Newell, Nexus Media News, Dec 18, 2018
Thu Jan 3, 2019
- Analysis: UK electricity generation in 2018 falls to lowest level since 1994 by Simon Evans, Carbon Brief, Jan 3, 2019
- How we can combat climate change by Staff, Opinions, Washington Post, Jan 2, 2019
- A 10-step plan for Congress to save the climate, Opinion by V. Ramanathan, The Hill, Jan 2, 2019
- Texas has enough sun and wind to quit coal, Rice researchers say by Erin Douglas, Business, Houston Chronicle, Jan 2, 2019
- The term ‘eco-terrorist’ is back and it’s killing climate activists by Justine Calma & Paola Rosa-Aquino, Grist, Jan 2, 2019
- Climate Costs in 2018: Top 10 Disasters Cost $85 Billion by Dana Drugmand, Climate Liability News, Jan 3, 2019
Fri Jan 4, 2019
- Renewables overtake coal as Germany's main energy source by Vera Eckert, Reuters, Jan 3, 2019
- Why should I sacrifice when big companies are to blame for climate change? Ask Umbra by Eve Andrews, Grist, Jan 2, 2019
- Climate Change in Europe in 2018: The Evidence, Special Report by Rafa Cereceda, Darin Graham & Seana Davis, EuroNews, Jan 3, 2019
- Without Trump, local governments spend millions to protect against climate change by Trevor Hughes, USA Today, Jan 3, 2019
- Shutdown, Drilling and Coal: The Trump Administration’s Holiday Gifts to the World by Tara Lohan, The Revelator, Jan 2, 2019
- Climate movement should focus on winning 2020 presidential election by Nives Dolsak & Assem Prakash, The Hill, Jan 4, 2019
- How the Partial Government Shutdown Is Hampering Climate Efforts by Mark K Matthews, E&E News/Scientific American, Jan 4, 2019
- Al Gore: America Is Close to a ‘Political Tipping Point’ on Climate Change by Edward Isaac-Dovere, Politics, The Atlantic, Jan 3, 2019
Sat Jan 5, 2019
- Watching the World Burn: Truthout Readers Share Their Climate Stories by Dahr Jamail, Environment & Health, Truthout, Jan 4, 2019
- Heatwave wilts Australia's southeast, fanning fire, health concerns by Byron Kaye, Reuters, Jan 4, 2019
- Can Trump's new science adviser convince him that climate change is real? by Brandon Miller, CNN, Jan 3, 2019
- A Terrifying Sea-Level Prediction Now Looks Far Less Likely by Robinson Meyer, Science, The Atlantic, Jan 4, 2019
- New Congress Members See Climate Solutions and Jobs in a Green New Deal by Marianne Lavelle, InsideClimate News, Jan 3, 2019
- Guest post: A Met Office review of the UK’s weather in 2018 by Mark McCarthy, Carborn Brief, Jan 4, 2019
- Pelosi Says House to Revisit Climate Plan Based on 2009 Bill by Ari Natter & Anna Edgerton, Bloomberg News, Jan 4, 2019
Posted by John Hartz on Saturday, 5 January, 2019
