[Feb 24-Mar 2'25] 🌋 Fungal Networks & Doomsday Vaults

Climate Hope Amid Volcanic Warnings

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekly Climate 🎉

References: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6].

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‼️ News you can't miss

Here's one important scary/bad (🙀), good (😻), interesting (😼) and fossil (💩) news item.

🙀 #volcano monitoring: Trump's budget cuts threaten Alaska's volcano monitoring systems as Mount Spurr shows increased activity, endangering air travel and losing critical real-time data.

😻 #seed preservation: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault has added 14,000 climate-hardy crop samples, strengthening global food security against climate threats.

😼 #fungi ecosystems: Mycorrhizal fungi networks function as "living algorithms," efficiently transporting nutrients to plants and sequestering carbon without a central nervous system.

💩 #BP strategy shift: BP abandons its climate commitments to invest $10bn annually in new oil and gas projects, claiming previous green strategies went "too far, too fast."

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👩‍⚕️ Status: Climate & Science

Let's look at how we're doing this week!

#volcano monitoring: Alaska's volcano monitoring efforts are at risk due to the Trump administration's budget cuts, potentially leading to a loss of real-time data and increased danger for air travel over the Aleutian Islands as Mount Spurr shows signs of increased activity.

#bird vulnerability: Research indicates that longer-lived bird species may be more vulnerable to climate change, as they adapt more slowly to rising temperatures compared to shorter-lived species that reproduce quickly. Areas with stable climates are seeing rapid temperature changes, putting long-lived birds at risk, particularly in Southeast Asia.

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📰 The 7 Grand Challenges

⚡️ Decarbonize Electricity

Clean electricity is the one do-or-die challenge we must solve.

#nuclear safety: Environmental advocates warn that the Turkey Point nuclear facility in Florida, now operating beyond its original permit, faces heightened risks from climate change, including flooding and contamination of local water sources, raising concerns about safety for millions nearby.

#solar adoption: Solar power is gaining traction among farmers despite some opposition, as it offers better financial returns than traditional crops. The industry is aligning with Trump's energy agenda, emphasizing energy independence and economic benefits, while facing challenges from misinformation and political shifts. Advocates believe that focusing on solar's affordability and resilience can help overcome resistance and continue growth at the state level.

🏘 Reduce impact of urban and rural areas

Lowering the impact of urban and rural areas.

#emissions reduction: The UK aims to cut emissions by 87% by 2040, potentially saving households £1,400 annually. Key strategies include electrification, heat pumps, and significant upfront investments, with a projected net cost of £108 billion by 2050.

#electric vehicles: The Trump administration plans to overturn California's ban on new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 using the Congressional Review Act, despite environmental groups arguing this move is illegal. California's waiver, allowing stricter clean air standards, is under threat as Republicans aim to challenge multiple climate regulations, potentially reshaping national policy on electric vehicles and emissions.

🛁 Clean non-electrifiable activities

Some activities we do today can't be electrified, these must be cleaned some other way.

#PFAS regulation: France has enacted a ban on PFAS in many products, but cookware is exempt due to lobbying by Tefal, raising concerns among health experts and environmentalists about the ongoing risks of these harmful chemicals. The law will take effect next year, with a broader EU ban under consideration.

🌳 Protect and grow nature

Nature is our ally, we must protect it and help it help us.