THE BRIEF [Feb 12-18'24]
Welcome to this week’s edition of The Weekly Climate
References: [1], [2], [3], [4] and [5].
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‼️News you can’t miss
Here’s one important scary/bad (🙀), good (😻), interesting (😼) and fossil (💩) news item.
🙀 Amazon stress could lead to tipping point in 2050
😻 Global support for climate action is underestimated
😼 A new climate vulnerability index is out
💩 Oil industry deceived public on plastic recycling
This week’s highlights
[#tippingpoins] — This article discusses the concept of tipping points in complex environmental systems due to human activity. It highlights various examples such as melting glaciers, potential transformation of the Amazon rainforest, and the collapse of ocean currents. While there is no consensus on whether large-scale tipping points have been reached, these developments raise concerns about severe and irreversible changes. The article also mentions the possibility of positive tipping points, such as the decline in costs for renewable energy and changes in social norms.
[#plastic] — A report by the Center for Climate Integrity reveals that the plastics industry and Big Oil have deceived the public for over 50 years about the feasibility of recycling plastic. Despite knowing that plastic recycling is not technically or economically viable at scale, the industry has promoted recycling as a solution to plastic waste management. The report provides evidence that could support legal action against fossil fuel and petrochemical companies for their deception. Plastics manufacturers have funded and pushed recycling initiatives to avoid regulatory action, while knowing that only a small fraction of plastic waste can be recycled. The report highlights the industry's history of obfuscation and misinformation, which has contributed to the current plastic waste crisis.
[#wildfire] — The article discusses the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires around the world, highlighting recent devastating fires in various countries. It explores the factors contributing to the rise in wildfires, including climate change and fire suppression policies. The complexity of the issue is acknowledged, with both forest management and climate change playing a role in the current fire predicament. The article emphasizes the need to address both factors and the challenges of adapting to a changing climate and rising threats.
That’s it for this week folks!
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See you all next week 👋