[Oct 9-15'23] Solar waste is a myth
Fossil fuels doubling down on fossil investments, climate change data is telling us something new and World Bank wants to take fossil fuel subsidies away.
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekly Climate 🎉
References: [1], [2], [3], [4], [5] and [6].
‼️News you can’t miss
Here’s one important scary/bad (🙀), good (😻), interesting (😼) and fossil (💩) news item.
🙀 Fossil fuel industry is doubling down on investments in fossil fuels
😻 Yes solar panel waste is a myth (compared to other energy sources)
😼 Climate change data is telling us something new.
💩 World Bank aims to redirect fossil fuel subsidies to climate change initiatives
👩⚕️ Status: Climate & Science
Let’s look at how we’re doing this week!
[#herenow] — Global temperatures have reached dangerous new highs, with 2023 projected to be the hottest year on record. The acceleration of global warming over the past 15 years indicates that the effects of climate change will become more severe, including extreme heat waves, wildfires, and sea level rise. While there are divisions among climate scientists, the data shows a worrying trend of increased warming. The acceleration aligns with climate models' projections and emphasizes the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to clean energy to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. If you want to dive deeper into this summer’s relentless heat, then here’s an interesting interactive article on the heat map of the Earth this past summer.
📰 The 7 Grand Challenges
⚡️Decarbonize Electricity
Clean electricity is the one do-or-die challenge we must solve.
[#solarwaste] — A new opinion essay published in the journal Nature Physics debunks concerns about the toxicity of solar panels and the volume of panel waste. The essay highlights that the amount of panel waste is minimal compared to other waste categories, and solar panels do not contain harmful levels of toxic materials. The solar industry is also taking steps to reduce waste and improve recycling efforts. The essay aims to increase public understanding of health and safety issues related to solar power.
🏘 Reduce impact of urban and rural areas
Lowering the impact of urban and rural areas.
[#priceparity] — According to CleanTechnica, the prices of Tesla Model 3 and Model Y have dropped below those of their gasoline-powered equivalents, reaching a tipping point on price parity. With recent price cuts, the cost of a basic Model Y is now $43,990 and the Model 3 is $38,990 before rebates. Both models qualify for the full federal EV tax rebate, making them even more affordable. The shift to point-of-sale rebates starting in 2024 is expected to further advance the adoption of electric vehicles and help achieve the Biden administration's goal of EVs accounting for half of new car sales by 2030.
[#apartmentEVowners] — Apartment dwellers who own electric vehicles (EVs) face challenges in accessing convenient charging infrastructure. Research suggests that increasing home charging access, investing in charging infrastructure, providing rebates for charger installation, and implementing innovative solutions like inductive charging technology can help address this issue. Additionally, partnerships with businesses and workplaces to install chargers and building codes requiring EV charging in commercial apartment construction can expand charging availability. Increasing home charging access can also reduce the need for non-residential chargers. Overall, a combination of approaches is needed to support EV owners who live in apartments… (or you know, you could get a free charger for your building from us at Elby ;) (painful ad I’m sorry had to do it..))
[#carboncorrectionfactor] — The article discusses the proposal of a "carbon correction factor" for trucks in the EU Commission's CO2 regulation. While truckmakers and the oil industry have expressed satisfaction and opposition respectively, environmental groups argue for stronger CO2 targets and caution against including fuels in the regulation. The article highlights the economic and environmental implications of electrifying trucks versus using e-fuels, as well as the limited availability of alternative fuels. The introduction of a carbon correction factor is seen as a strategy to maintain demand for fossil fuels rather than promoting climate ambition or alternative fuels. The importance of investment certainty and regulatory clarity for the zero-emission truck industry is emphasized.
🌳 Protect and grow nature
Nature is our ally, we must protect it and help it help us.
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