Closing Thought–13Feb17

Climate Change!

Today I would like to talk about climate change…..there is a wealth of articles written, research published and opinions ad nauseum……I am going to look at it from my small little slice of this globe…..

I have fruit trees….citrus, plum, peach, fig and olive…..most of these plants need “X” amount of cool to cold weather to make the fruit set for the harvest…..in the past I have harvested really large amounts……especially the plum and the peach….but in the last 5 years crops have been dismal…..with the exception of the citrus…they have loved the warmed temps…..everything else is suffering from these warmer temps…..it sucks!

I personally do not care what is causing it just that it is keeping me from my fresh fruit…..my consumption is way down…that makes for irritated chuq…LOL

Just yesterday we set a new record for that day in February….76 degrees….that sucks when it is still winter! So that damn woodchuck was full of sh*t as far as my region goes.

Got that off my chest….my day is over and relaxation is the rule for the rest of the day….see you tomorrow and thanx for the visits and the comments they are much appreciated. Peace out

Looky Looky Who Wants To Be A Czar

We have been watching as Pres.-elect Trump has been meeting this person and that….he is in search for key positions within his new government…and then there are those charges of nepotism…you know using his kids and family to load up the government positions….personally I think he is smarter than that….but there is one person in his family that might be a good choice.

The position is the new “climate czar” and the person is his daughter…..say what?

Politico is out with an interesting feature on Ivanka Trump that points out she might be the first “first daughter” in history to eclipse the first lady in influence. But perhaps the most intriguing part of the story is that it says she is planning to make climate change one of her “signature issues.” While the president-elect considers the issue to be mostly bunk, Ivanka Trump disagrees, and a source tells Politico that she’s already planning on how to make use of her public profile to push the issue. “If she can pull it off, her advocacy could come as a bit of solace to fearful Americans,” writes Annie Karni. She adds that nobody is closer to Donald Trump than Ivanka, who remains in relatively good standing in elite liberal circles.

Meanwhile, an analysis at the New York Times might also soothe fears of those who think a Trump White House will be disastrous in terms of progress on global warming. The gist of the piece by Eduardo Porter suggests that even if Trump reneges on last year’s Paris accord and kills Obama programs such as the Clean Power Plan, the momentum toward cleaner energy is impossible to stop. He cites a report by the Breakthrough Institute that suggests the importance of international treaties may be overstated when it comes to reducing carbon. The takeaway: “As long as [Trump] keeps the nation’s nuclear power plants online, continues tax incentives for wind and solar energy, and stays out of the way of the shale energy revolution, ‘the US might outperform the commitments that the Obama administration made in Paris,'” say the researchers.

Would she be a better choice? It depends…she will have her daddy’s ear and she thinks the climate change is a coming problem….it should work out for the better.

She has taken to meeting with Al Gore on the climate thingy….maybe she is serious…..

Ivanka Trump is meeting Monday with climate change activist and former vice president Al Gore.

The President-elect’s daughter, who reportedly wants to make global warming one of her signature issues, will meet with Gore at Trump Tower in Manhattan, according to transition spokesman Jason Miller.

Source: Ivanka Trump to meet with Al Gore | TheHill

Of course all this is speculative until he announces his choice….but it is a damn sight better than one of the toads that hates science.

Thoughts?

Admit Jimmy Carter Was Right

For decades Jimmy Carter has been the whipping post of the nose picking Right…..but his admin had some good program ideas that never got a chance….he also was instrumental to finding a peace, although not lasting, between Israel and Palestine, of which he gets little credit…..finally he was the closest thing we have had as president that is a true Christian…..

These days there is lots of back and forth on climate change or global warming or dinosaurs farts….science is ignored all in favor of some continuous BS….but Carter had an idea on this problem back in the 70’s and it was a good one…sadly he got no chance to put his ideas into motion……(and we know why don’t we?)…….

Americans, who hate to be told they must change, roundly condemned Jimmy Carter’s memorable “Crisis of Confidence” speech of July 15, 1979. In it, Carter outlined a program for achieving energy independence: “On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny.”

We admirers have long endured ridicule whenever we dared to defend Carter’s prescient plan for reducing U.S. dependence on oil.

But today, after all the abuse and scorn heaped on Jimmy Carter and his supporters, we find ourselves paying more than $4 a gallon at the pump to fill our hulking gas guzzlers.

It turns out that Carter was right after all.

Source: History News Network | Is it Safe Now to Admit Jimmy Carter Was Right?

They say hindsight is 20/20 but it would not be needed if there were more people of courage and vision like Jimmy Carter.

All I know is my area use to get 10-12 inches of rain during the summer months…..these days we are lucky to see 4….something is going on and something needs to be paid attention to or the results could be dire.

Migration And Climate Change

I want to touch on the subject of climate change….let me say here that I do not give a crap about your opinion on climate change…..regardless of your views the fact is that it is happening…..I will talk about its influence on the international situations…..

I recently wrote a post about what was happening in the Middle East with climate change…..it is getting hotter and hotter and drought is becoming a yearly norm….but no need to do much of a summary just read it for yourself…..

Source: Climate Change And The Middle East – In Saner Thought

I recently read an interview about the problems with migration and climate change…….

Climate change is now adding new layers of complexity to the nexus between migration and the environment.

Coastal populations are at particular risk as a global rise in temperature of between 1.1 and 3.1 degrees C would increase the mean sea level by 0.36 to 0.73 meters by 2100, adversely impacting low-lying areas with submergence, flooding, erosion, and saltwater intrusion, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

But even before such catastrophes strike, the 660 to 820 million people who depend on a fishing livelihood – more so subsistence-based traditional fisher families who already find catches sharply dwindling due to over-fishing – will have no option but to abandon both home and occupation and move.

Source: Crisis and Climate Change Driving Unprecedented Migration | Informed Comment

Climate change is a problem that is feeding the world’s problems….problems like conflict and migration and famine….many are trying to out run the problems….but unfortunately they cannot run fast enough to do so.

Climate Change And The Middle East

My readers know that I am forever watching international relations and looking for the causes of all the conflicts we are having these days. There is one area that is overlooked when analyzing security…..food and water….

Climate change is a hot button issue most of the time especially here in the US…..there are so many deniers that it becomes almost humorous (I said ALMOST)……

Regardless what one wants to believe there are changes occurring around the world in the climate that we all depend on for a living.

Look at California….the drought there and in parts of Ethiopia and yes even the Middle East are pointing to warning signs that too many are trying to ignore. Food is a extremely important section of what we all like to call “national security”. Why?

Hungry people and unemployed people when they feel they have NO other option will resort to violence in an attempt to satisfy their needs. What starts off as a protest on conditions and a government’s lack of interests can escalate into armed conflict and even a destructive civil war…..only need to look no further than Syria.

Food and water will be the next major obstacle to a peaceful world in the next decade……

The whole region, already arguably the least water-secure in the world, draws heavily on groundwater and desalinated sea water, and faces exceptional water-related challenges for the foreseeable future, says the WRI’s report: Ranking the World’s Most Water-Stressed Countries in 2040.
Water scarcity is one of the most urgent food security issues facing Near East and North Africa countries: fresh water availability in the region is expected to drop by 50% by year 2050.

Source: Is Climate Change drying out the Middle East even More? | Informed Comment

While the article focuses on Bahrain it will encompass the entire region very soon….

(Middle East map of Köppen climate classification; h/t Wikipedia)

“Within this century, parts of the Persian Gulf region could be hit with unprecedented events of deadly heat as a result of climate change, according to a study of high-resolution climate models,” a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) research warned.

The research–titled “Persian Gulf could experience deadly heat”, reveals details of a business-as-usual scenario for greenhouse gas emissions, but also shows that curbing emissions could forestall these “deadly temperature extremes.”

Source: Will Climate change make the Middle East Uninhabitable? | Informed Comment

I realize that these days the major concern is that ISIS will make gains in the Middle East and possibly endanger the world as a whole…..but to ignore the effects of climate on the region could be more dangerous than we think. Not to mention more volatile.

(Please if you would like to comment at least read the articles and comment on their conclusions)

News From The Climate Summit

Seriously I thought this was just another feel good summit where all parties get together and schmooze and back away saying progress was made but there needs to be more talk…..that is what I expected……and then I read where 195 countries came to an understanding……say whaaaaaaaat?

Against all odds, 195 countries agreed long enough on how best to fight global warming and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to come to a draft agreement at the ongoing UN climate talks on Saturday in Paris, CNN reports. While there are still a lot of issues to hammer out, participants are optimistic that having a rough blueprint done on schedule—a rare occurrence—will give ministers enough time to negotiate an unprecedented agreement next week, according to the Guardian. “It has laid a solid foundation for next week…like when we cook a meal you need to have all the seasonings and ingredients and recipes, but next week is the actual cooking,” China’s chief climate negotiator says.

One of the biggest sticking points left to negotiate is how much money and resources developed countries will give to help developing countries meet climate change goals, NPR reports. The only line in the draft plan currently addressing that issue—as quoted by CNN—reads: “Developed countries shall provide developing countries with long-term, scaled-up, predictable, new and additional finance, technology and capability-building.” While the same issue has proved an impossible hurdle toward previous climate change agreements, many remain optimistic this time will be different, NPR reports. “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” the French ecology minister quoted Nelson Mandela Saturday at the conference. “We will do it.”

like I said….I am just amazed that this much progress was made…..this is far from a done deal….but it is a lot closer than I had anticipated…..

I am sure I will hear from the deniers……that will be good…..I will probably ignore anything they have to say unless it is a rational local opposition….

The politics of climate change

World leaders went to Paris….not specifically in remembrance of those killed by the terrorist attack….nope…this time about 150 world leaders showed up for a summit on the climate.

After the speeches and the leaders go home the negotiations start to find common ground for a climate agreement…I believe there have been others….like Tokyo and Copenhagen….and the results were predictable….not a damn thing happened…..but now everything is different and the world is serious about finding a solution to this problem.

The biggest question is….if they somehow come up with an agreement will it be binding?

There are many opinions and this press is just one among many….

No sanctions for countries that renege on their commitments, therefore, no point in making a legally binding agreement?

Source: The politics of climate change – Al Jazeera English

The summit is a good thing….that is until you see who is the sponsor…..

Source: The Fossil Fuel Industry Is Bankrolling the Paris Climate Talks | Mother Jones

If there are any thoughts…..please share and we can discuss……

Latest Climate Talks

Paris is once again in the news and thank the gods it is not because of some mindless attacks this time…..

Paris has been the host city for the latest climate summit….my daughter sent me this cartoon…..sounds like some things never change…..especially the tone of every climate summit that I can remember…..

Are these summits doing good or are they just a “feel good” meeting?

Is The Persian Gulf Doomed?

The Persian Gulf has been a source of contention for centuries…..everybody that borders on the sea has claimed dominance at one time or the other….

The Persian Gulf seems to always be in the news…..either we are worried that someone will try to close it off or we hear all about the business opportunities if you happen to be a multi-national corporation to the proximity to Iran and the dangers that that might entail….

In case you are not aware of the location of what we call the Persian Gulf…..

Wars are being fought all around the Persian Gulf….Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen….something that has been a common denominator over the years….but there seems to be a new enemy of the region…..

A stark warning, even by the standards of climate research: If emissions continue at their current level, parts of the Persian Gulf region will simply become too hot and humid for people to survive in. Researchers say that by the end of this century, the combined heat and humidity “wet bulb” index in the region could hit 165 to 170 degrees during the worst heat waves, creating sauna-like conditions that even the healthiest person couldn’t survive in outdoors for more than six hours, the Smithsonian reports. The researchers, writing in the journal Nature, say conditions will exceed the “threshold for human adaptability” in cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and, on the other side of the Gulf, Bandar Abbas in Iran.

The researchers say that while air conditioning may keep wealthier areas inhabitable, that’s not an option for people in countries like Yemen. And in the years ahead, the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia could become exceptionally deadly in summer months. “Some of the scariest prospects from a changing clime involve conditions completely outside the range of human experience,” a Carnegie Institution for Science climate researcher tells the AP. “If we don’t limit climate change to avoid extreme heat or mugginess, the people in these regions will likely need to find other places to live.” The researchers say the deadly level of heat can be avoided with relatively modest emissions cuts, the Smithsonian notes

If the trend continues then the only thing the Persian Gulf will be noted for is……. OIL.

Keep in mind that the region we call the Sahara use to be a vast wetlands with a multitude of animals and people…..and as they say….look at it now.

In Saner Thought

"It is the duty of every man, as far as his ability extends, to detect and expose delusion and error"..Thomas Paine

Tag: Climate Change