[May 12-18 '25] THE BRIEF
🚨 Amazon Die-Back Alert: 37% Risk as Policies Crumble
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.
🙀 #forests Amazon rainforest faces 37% risk of dieback if global warming exceeds 1.5°C
😻 #geothermal Indonesia pioneers geothermal energy for coffee production, expanding globally
😼 #wildlife Scientists reveal "beauty bias" threatens ugly but essential wildlife species
💩 #energy-efficiency Trump administration illegally rolls back appliance efficiency standards
This week’s highlights
This week brought a mix of alarming climate science, policy setbacks, and innovative solutions. From the Amazon rainforest approaching a critical tipping point to breakthrough geothermal applications in coffee production, these five stories capture the most significant developments in our rapidly changing climate landscape.
1. Amazon Rainforest Faces Critical Tipping Point
New climate modeling reveals a 37% chance that significant portions of the Amazon will undergo "dieback" if global temperatures exceed 1.5°C, transforming from rainforest into savanna. By 2300, this risk increases to 55%. The Amazon stores 15-20% of the world's freshwater, produces roughly 20% of the world's oxygen, and hosts over 3 million species. When it transforms, it stops absorbing carbon and starts releasing it, accelerating climate change in a dangerous feedback loop that could represent a point of no return for one of Earth's most critical ecosystems. Read more...
2. Trump Administration Rolls Back Energy Efficiency Standards
The Trump administration plans to roll back energy efficiency standards for household appliances, potentially adding hundreds of dollars to annual utility bills for average families. Environmental groups argue this violates existing law requiring efficiency standards to be strengthened, not weakened. Beyond immediate costs to consumers, this reversal undermines America's climate goals and energy security, as efficient appliances reduce peak electricity demand and greenhouse gas emissions while serving as infrastructure insurance during extreme weather events. Read more...
3. UK Invests £57m in Controversial Solar Geoengineering
The UK has committed £57 million to research solar geoengineering technologies that aim to reflect sunlight away from Earth, funding 21 projects globally from marine cloud brightening to stratospheric aerosol injection. This investment reflects growing acceptance that conventional mitigation may not be sufficient to prevent catastrophic warming. However, scientists stress geoengineering isn't a substitute for emissions reductions but rather a potential emergency measure with significant uncertainties and governance challenges that requires careful international coordination. Read more...
4. Indonesia Pioneers Geothermal Coffee Production
An Indonesian entrepreneur is revolutionizing coffee production by using geothermal energy to dry coffee beans, creating a more efficient and sustainable process than traditional fossil fuel methods. Muhammad Ramdhan Reza Nurfadilah harnesses natural steam to provide consistent heat and humidity control, resulting in higher-quality beans while eliminating emissions. With initial exports to Japan and European expansion planned, this innovation demonstrates how renewable energy can transform traditional industries, providing both environmental benefits and economic opportunities for rural communities. Read more...
5. US Electric Vehicle Adoption Lags Behind Global Leaders
The US is falling behind in electric vehicle adoption, with EVs accounting for only 10% of new car sales compared to China's dominant market position, creating serious implications for American industrial competitiveness. China has built a commanding lead in EV manufacturing, battery technology, and supply chains just as the global auto industry undergoes its most significant transformation since the car's invention. Political threats to EV incentives could further hamper adoption, risking America's position in the clean transportation transition and potentially making it a net importer of future mobility technologies. Read more...
That’s it for this week folks!
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See you all next week 👋