Climate Change News - May 7, 2018 | Newsletter

A multi-year scientific expedition to be led by scientists from the United Kingdom and United States will study how climate change is affecting Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier. Photo courtesy of NASA via wikipedia.org.

Seventeen States Sue Trump Administration to Preserve Fuel Efficiency Standards

On May 1, California joined 16 other states in suing the Trump administration for its plans to roll-back federal vehicle fuel efficiency standards. The targeted rules would require the entire vehicle fleet for model years 2022-2025 to achieve 36 miles per gallon on average by 2025, an improvement of 10 mpg over the existing standard. California and the Obama administration had agreed to the rules in 2012, establishing a unified efficiency standard. California is the only state allowed to set more stringent vehicle standards than EPA as a means of combatting pollution, but 13 states and the District of Columbia have also adopted California's standards. Trump administration officials and auto industry representatives have argued that the standards are too stringent and would lead to higher vehicle prices. California counters that EPA's plan to repeal the rules is not backed by any new research and would violate the Clean Air Act. Auto industry leaders and President Trump were planning on meeting soon to discuss the issue.

For more information see:

CBS News, Bloomberg

Study: Pruitt's Industry Focus Bringing EPA Closer to "Regulatory Capture"

A new study in the American Journal of Public Health concluded that the Environmental Protection Agency is at risk of "regulatory capture," meaning that the agency prioritizes industry concerns over the public interest. The study conducted lengthy interviews with 45 former and current members of the agency and examined data gathered by a watchdog group to assess where EPA may be headed. The study observes that EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, who faces at least 10 on-going investigations related to his actions at the agency, has gone to "extraordinary lengths ... to preserve secrecy and autonomy from the EPA career staff." The study documents how Pruitt's policy decisions have undermined the agency's public health mission, such as accepting little-to-no input from staff and scientists and dismissing long-standing scientific practices. The industry-oriented approach is also reflected in Pruitt's political appointments, drawn almost exclusively from industry. Pruitt has tried to revoke or delay at least 30 existing rules and presided over a 60 percent reduction in civil penalties, as well as an overall decline in regulatory enforcement during his first six months on the job.

For more information see:

InsideClimate News

America's Eastern Seaboard Experiencing Escalation of "Sunny Day Flooding"

Locations across the East Coast of the United States are experiencing frequent nuisance flooding decades sooner than scientists anticipated. One study estimates sea levels are rising at an inch per year in areas ranging from North Carolina to Florida. This increase is most frequently experienced during tidal flooding (also known as "sunny day flooding"), which can temporarily inundate low-lying areas, damage buildings, and block roads. The cost of dealing with such hazards can add up over time, especially for smaller communities with fewer fiscal resources. According to NOAA, this type of flooding will continue to grow in frequency and reach. For instance, Charleston, SC experienced tidal flooding during 50 days in 2016, versus four days 50 years ago. Wilimington, NC saw 84 days of tidal flooding in 2016. A recent report from NOAA stated, "It is important for planning purposes that U.S. coastal cities become better informed about the extent that high-tide flooding is increasing and will likely increase in the coming decades."

For more information see:

News and Observer

U.S. Government to Spend Millions to Move Alaskan Village Threatened by Coastal Erosion

The Denali Commission, an independent federal agency, has decided to spend $22 million to help a village in Alaska move to higher ground as coastal erosion and flooding threaten its existence. The small village of Newtok has a population of 375 and is located about 500 miles west of Anchorage. The village is at risk of disappearing as the nearby Ninglick River gains roughly 70 feet each year, threatening to destroy homes and major facilities within a few years. Fifteen million dollars in funding will come from a March 2018 federal spending bill, while the rest will come from pre-existing agency funds and a required match by the Alaskan state government. With this amount, roughly 13 houses can be relocated to a new site located nine miles inland, in addition to the construction of new water, electric, and transit infrastructure. The commission's plan entails the renovation and delivery of abandoned barracks buildings from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to keep costs down. The relocation effort started 20 years ago and agencies have spent about $47 million so far, but the estimated total cost for the whole operation is estimated at $150 million.

For more information see:

Anchorage Daily News

Specific Guidelines to Implement Paris Climate Agreement Remain to Be Determined

Bringing the Paris Climate Agreement to life has proven tricky. It is essential to work out the critical rules and procedures governing the agreement, especially with the November 2018 deadline quickly approaching ahead of the next climate summit in Poland. Negotiators have had two years to figure out the fine print of the agreement, but have not yet completed their work. The one degree Celsius of global warming that the world has experienced to date is already contributing to deadly droughts, floods, and accelerated species extinctions. Former chief U.S. climate diplomat Todd Stern said, "Gradualism won't get the job done. We can't produce the results those scenarios call for without full-on commitment." In 2017, global CO2 emissions increased 1.4 percent, showing the need for more immediate action from participating countries. Wealthy and developing countries are having disagreements over the type of policies to implement. Wealthy nations prefer strict regulations with exceptions for the poorest countries, but developing countries prefer more flexible regulations that allow each country to do what they can. Measurement and verification methods and the delivery of promised financial aid are also topics of debate.

For more information see:

Japan Times

Study: Southern Hemisphere Expected to Suffer Disproportionately from Climate Impacts

A new study appearing in the journal Science Advances is asserting that "the countries that have contributed least to climate change, and are most vulnerable to extreme events, are projected to experience the strongest increase in [climate] variability. These changes would therefore amplify the inequality associated with the impacts of a changing climate." The researchers found that tropical countries, which tend to be less wealthy and emit far fewer greenhouse gases than more developed nations, could face severe extremes in temperature in the future. These significant swings can harm agriculture and public health. The simulations conducted for the study also illustrated that if the Amazon region were to dry out, this could result in 15 percent more regional climate variability for every one degree Celsius of global warming. Mass tree die-offs in the Amazon would only serve to increase atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and feed even more warming.

For more information see:

Washington Post

Women, Disproportionately Affected by Climate Change, Take the Lead to Address It

As climate change impacts intensify, women in rural communities in developing countries are facing higher risks since they are often responsible for work heavily tied to the land. However, in Guatemala, women are taking a lead role in addressing climate change. In 2017, the Ut'z Che' network of community forestry groups gathered women from across the country to share their experience in water conservation, sustainable forestry, and farming. They also learned how to empower themselves and leverage their legal rights. Women are increasingly using their knowledge and urging those in power to address communal issues, such as drought and deforestation. Eleanor Blomstrom, co-director of the women's advocacy group WEDO, noted, "[Women] get in touch with others and so it builds their capacity to engage with local governments and even then, to figure out how to make their stories visible on the international stage." But women still face challenges in this process, especially those from unequal societies. For example, without land titles, women from Guatemala find it difficult to make an impact. Another challenge is to ensure female representation and involvement in action plans from the start.

For more information see:

Christian Science Monitor

Sea Level Rise and Human Activity Threaten South Florida's Coastal Ecosystems

The mangroves of southeast Florida are gradually retreating inland as an increase in sea level threatens to drown them. However, the trees are being fenced in by a mandmade levee and are now expected to be submerged within 30 years. Researchers from Florida International University (FIU) discovered the mangroves were moving at a rate of 100 feet per year before they encountered the flood barrier for Miami-Dade County. The mangroves are essential buffers against storm surges and salt water intrusion, while also providing habitat for marine organisms. The trend is especially relevant to the future of the Everglades, which consists of marshes, mangroves, and pine flatwoods. The Everglades relies on a steady flow of fresh water to survive, but coastal salt water intrusion is threatening the habitat's future. Water diversion for agriculture and homebuilding has also contributed to the Everglades shrinking by roughly half over the past century. FIU geologist Randall Parkinson said, "Sea level rise could be more than 20mm [0.79in] a year by the end of the century and there's no way our coastal habitats will keep pace with anything more than 10mm a year."

For more information see:

Guardian

Climate Change Increases Risk from Mosquito-Borne Diseases in South Florida

Higher temperatures brought on by climate change are increasing the range and biting season of many types of mosquitoes, including those that are carriers of viruses like Zika and dengue. Climate change may also increase the chance that mosquito-borne diseases largely eliminated from the mainland United States (such as yellow fever) may return. According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control, the incidence of insect-borne diseases have tripled between 2004 and 2016. These effects have been deeply felt in South Florida, where the warm and wet climate is ideal for mosquitoes. The risk is elevated further when combined with Florida's influx of international visitors from countries that are currently grappling with these diseases. During Florida's Zika outbreak, tourism declined amid public health fears. Since 2016, Florida has had over 1,500 cases of Zika, but its 30 cases in 2018 have all been travel-related. The outbreaks caused Miami-Dade County to increase its Mosquito Control Division budget from $2 million to $16 million to better prepare for the extended mosquito season.

For more information see:

Miami Herald

U.S. and U.K. Scientists Lead Expedition to Examine Melting Antarctic Glacier

Scientists from the U.S. National Science Foundation and the U.K.'s Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) are leading a five-year project to examine the Thwaites Glacier in west Antarctica. Satellites show that the Thwaites Glacier is melting faster due to climate change and has already been responsible for four percent of global sea-level rise. The project aims to figure out the mechanism leading to the Thwaites' melting and whether it could collapse in the future, which could result in more than 2.5 feet of additional sea-level rise. The expedition will use numerous instruments and techniques while enlisting the help of remote-controlled submersible vessels to gather data. Researchers will study the way ocean water moves beneath the glacier, drill for sediment samples to better understand the Earth's past warming events, and map out the ice stream's behavior. Duncan Wingham, chair of NERC, said the expedition is essential to understanding the changes taking place in the region, since the Thwaites Glacier is "one of the least explored parts of the Antarctic continent."

For more information see:

Guardian, BBC