[Mar 31-Apr 6'25] 🐳 From Lonely Whales to Lawsuits

Amazon's Oil Rush Meets Helsinki's Green Push

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.

🙀 [#AmazonOil]: Amazon rainforest, one of Earth's crucial carbon sinks, is being targeted for oil exploration with nearly 20% of newly identified global oil reserves.

😻 [#EnergyTransition]: Helsinki successfully closes its last coal plant and transitions to renewable energy, actually reducing heating costs for consumers.

😼 [#MarineLife]: The "world's loneliest whale" singing at unique 52 Hertz frequency might be evidence of climate-induced hybrid species evolution.

💩 [#ChemicalIndustry]: Chemical industry groups attempt to dodge environmental responsibility by requesting Trump for pollution limit exemptions, potentially harming low-income communities.

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👩‍⚕️ Status: Climate & Science

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

[#Glaciers]: Retreating Arctic glaciers have revealed 2,500 km of new coastline and 35 new islands from 2000 to 2020, driven by rising temperatures. This phenomenon poses risks of landslides and tsunamis, while the implications for Arctic ecosystems remain uncertain.

[#MarineLife]: A unique whale, known as Whale 52, may be a hybrid of blue and fin whales, highlighting the impact of climate change on cetacean interbreeding. This phenomenon raises concerns about genetic diversity, conservation, and the ecological roles of these species as warming seas alter their habitats and mating patterns.

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📰 The 7 Grand Challenges

🏘 Reduce impact of urban and rural areas

Lowering the impact of urban and rural areas.

[#HeatPumps]: Heat pumps are efficient alternatives to fossil fuels but use refrigerants like R-410A, which have high global warming potential. The industry is transitioning to lower-impact refrigerants like R-454B and R-32, with future options including propane and CO2, which are more environmentally friendly. Proper manufacturing and maintenance can significantly reduce refrigerant leaks and climate impact.

[#EVPolicy]: California's plan to ban new gasoline-powered cars by 2035 faces a setback as the Senate parliamentarian rules that Republicans cannot use a legislative maneuver to repeal the federal waiver supporting it. This decision is seen as a victory for climate policies, allowing California to maintain its stricter emissions standards amidst opposition from the Trump administration.