Author: vandy

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New IPCC climate report: Massive change is already here

The IPCC released a report today stating that climate change is having a staggering effect on our oceans and ice-covered areas of the earth. More than 100 scientists from around the world contributed to the latest report by the IPCC, which found that profound and potentially devastating consequences lie ahead for marine life, Arctic ecosystems and entire human societies if climate change continues unabated. Read the report here: https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/home/

“As a result of excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the ocean today is higher, warmer, more acidic, less productive and holds less oxygen,” said Jane Lubchenco, a former administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “The conclusion is inescapable: The impacts of climate change on the ocean are well underway. Unless we take very serious action very soon, these impacts will get worse — much, much worse.”

“The climate emergency is a race we are losing — but it is a race we can win if we change our ways now,” U.N. Secretary General António Guterres told world leaders Tuesday in his latest attempt to spur action. “Even our language has to adapt: What once was called ‘climate change’ is now truly a ‘climate crisis.’ … We are seeing unprecedented temperatures, unrelenting storms and undeniable science.”

Read the Washington Post Summary here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/09/25/new-un-climate-report-massive-change-already-here-worlds-oceans-frozen-regions/

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What is this IPCC that Greta Thunberg is talking about?

You have likely seen Greta Thunberg on TV or the internet this week. She testified before the US Congress and the United Nations. She is remarkably consistent in referring policy and law makers to an IPCC report.

First, who is the IPCC? The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change. The IPCC was created to provide policymakers with regular scientific assessments on climate change, its implications and potential future risks, as well as to put forward adaptation and mitigation options.

The report that Ms. Thunberg references can be found here: https://www.ipcc.ch/site/assets/uploads/sites/2/2019/05/SR15_SPM_version_report_LR.pdf

The 2018 report is a comprehensive summary of the science behind climate change, potential impacts and an assessment of the risks.

I encourage you to read the summary and see why Ms. Thunberg is pleading with policy and law makers to read the report.

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100 million tons a day vs 4,000 tons a year

The Sleeping Bear Tree Farm captures approximately 4,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. That seems like a lot of carbon until you know that world-wide, 100,000,000 tons of man-made green-house gases are released every day.

Trees are very good at carbon capture. An average tree captures over 40 pounds of carbon dioxide a day. Scientists are now saying that planting trees can be part of the climate crisis solution, but creation of man-made green-house gases must stop.

Use your voice. Use your vote. Take action.

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If Climate Change is so urgent, why is it not on the front page of the paper?

It is. This week there are multiple front page stories:

The Amazon, Siberia, Indonesia: A world of fire https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/28/climate/fire-amazon-africa-siberia-worldwide.html

EPA to Roll Back Regulations on Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/29/climate/epa-methane-greenhouse-gas.html

Trump pushes to allow new logging in Alaska’s Tongass National Forest https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/trump-pushes-to-allow-new-logging-in-alaskas-tongass-national-forest/2019/08/27/b4ca78d6-c832-11e9-be05-f76ac4ec618c_story.html

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“This is extraordinarily harmful”

“This is extraordinarily harmful.” Rachel Kyte, the United Nations special representative on sustainable energy, said today.

The NY Times reported that the Trump administration will announce that it will “sharply curtail the regulation of methane emissions….” The EPA will will eliminate federal requirements that oil and gas companies install technology to inspect for and fix methane leaks from wells, pipelines and storage facilities.

Exxon and BP America are opposed to the rule change. Susan Dio, the Chair of BP America wrote an op-ed article in March 2019 saying that “regulating methane is the right thing to do for the planet.”

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“The World’s Lungs are Burning”

There is a 79% increase in fires in the Amazon rain forest from the same time period in 2018.

Deforestation caused the loss of 8.9 million acres of primary rain forest, an area equal to the size of Belgium. If enough rain forest is lost and can’t be restored, it will become a savanna, loosing much of its carbon storing ability.

The Amazon rain forest produces over 20% of the world’s oxygen supply. It stores over 2.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year.

Survival of the Amazon rain forest is key to reducing the global climate crisis.

For more information on this topic:

The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/world/amp-stories/amazon-fires-causes-rainforest-climate-change/?noredirect=on

The New York Times https://nyti.ms/2ZwdB9i

The Telegraph (UK) https://youtu.be/MSL4fr6mOh4

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Climate Reality Leadership

What Is a Climate Reality Leader?

The Climate Reality Leadership Corps is a global network of activists committed to spreading awareness of the climate crisis and working for solutions to the greatest challenge of our time.


The program takes great leaders and makes them exceptional, providing training in climate science, communications, and organizing to better tell the story of climate change and inspire communities everywhere to act. The result is a dynamic group of world-changers shaping the conversation on climate everywhere from family dinners to international summits and building a twenty-first century movement for solutions. (from the Climate Reality Project website, www.climaterealityproject.org)

Vandy Johnson, Sleeping Bear Tree Farm’s Managing Member, completed training on August 4, 2019. He is now a volunteer Climate Reality Leader joining the over 20,000 members of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. His focus will be on 100% Clean Utility Power and the effects of Climate Change on forests and wild life.

Want to learn more about the climate crisis? Watch Al Gore explain climate change in five minutes: https://youtu.be/jOKqYtRDGak