[Mar 3-9'25] THE BRIEF
🧘♂️🔥 From Ancient Wisdom to Climate Nihilism: This Week's Carbon Crossroads
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.
🙀 #ClimateNihilism: Trump's actions reflect a nihilistic desire for destruction, prioritizing corporate profits over environmental protection while ignoring Earth's habitability.
😻 #GridFlexibility: Electric vehicle batteries could provide up to 114TWh of capacity by 2030, helping avoid renewable energy curtailment and offering significant savings to EV owners.
😼 #CarbonSequestration: Indigenous peoples' ancient biochar technique proves effective for carbon sequestration, retaining carbon for thousands of years while enriching soils.
💩 #MethaneEmissions: Congress voted to roll back the methane fee aimed at reducing emissions, a setback for efforts to cut this potent greenhouse gas from the energy sector.
This week’s highlights
This week brings a mix of concerning developments and promising innovations in the climate space. From Trump's continued dismantling of environmental protections to ancient indigenous techniques offering modern climate solutions, these stories highlight the complex landscape of our climate crisis. We also see how corruption threatens climate action globally, while technological advances in EV batteries show potential for transforming our energy systems.
Trump's Climate Nihilism Threatens Environmental Protection
Trump's administration continues to display a concerning pattern of prioritizing corporate profits over environmental protection. Recent actions reflect what critics describe as a "nihilistic desire for destruction," with policies that systematically dismantle environmental safeguards while promoting grandiose plans for space colonization that ignore Earth's habitability challenges. This approach echoes historical ideologies that reject care for the planet and humanity, raising serious concerns about the future of climate action in the United States. Read more...
EV Batteries Could Provide 114TWh of Grid Capacity by 2030
A promising new study reveals that electric vehicle batteries could provide up to 114TWh of capacity to power grids by 2030, offering a significant solution for renewable energy curtailment issues. Smart charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies show tremendous potential for enhancing grid flexibility, though barriers such as high implementation costs and lack of incentives need addressing. The research highlights substantial potential savings for EV owners who utilize these technologies, creating a win-win for both consumers and the energy transition. Read more...
Ancient Indigenous Biochar Technique Proves Effective for Carbon Sequestration
Indigenous peoples' traditional biochar technique, originally developed to enrich poor Amazon soils, is gaining recognition as a powerful tool for carbon sequestration. Recent studies confirm that biochar can retain carbon for thousands of years, making it an exceptionally effective method for long-term carbon storage. This ancient practice is now attracting attention in carbon credit markets and agricultural applications, demonstrating how indigenous knowledge can provide solutions to modern climate challenges. Read more...
Corruption Undermines Global Climate Efforts and Endangers Environmental Defenders
Corruption has become a pervasive threat to climate action worldwide, with bribery and conflicts of interest systematically undermining environmental protection efforts. The impact falls disproportionately on Indigenous communities, who face violence and exploitation when standing up for their lands. Research shows that over 200 environmental defenders are at high risk of intimidation and violence, particularly in countries with weak democratic principles. Experts are calling for robust anti-corruption policies to be integrated into climate initiatives, recognizing that addressing corruption is essential for effective climate action and protecting those on the frontlines. Read more...
Climate Change Significantly Increased South Sudan Heat Wave Intensity
A new scientific study has found that climate change substantially increased both the likelihood and intensity of a recent devastating heat wave in South Sudan. The extreme temperatures led to widespread school closures and created serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. Researchers warn that with continuing global temperature rise, such extreme heat events may become increasingly frequent in the region, posing ongoing challenges for a country already facing political instability and food insecurity. This case study provides further evidence of how climate change is already affecting vulnerable regions disproportionately. Read more...
That’s it for this week folks!
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See you all next week 👋