Ely Climate Change

March 30^th 2022

Hi Folks

Our next meeting will be April 5^th at 10am in the Senior Center. FYI the Tuesday Group meeting that day is “Emily Ford’s 1,200 Mile Winter Trek”.

For this month’s meeting I suggest we look at issues arising from the Russia/Ukraine war and energy supplies to Europe. Meeting climate change objectives is difficult in the best of times, but with the disruptions of war it becomes much harder. Russia has enormous natural resources and generates a lot of its income from exports of energy and grain. Europe imports a substantial amount of the natural gas it needs from Russia.  The natural gas pipeline Nord Stream 2 runs next to the currently operating Nord Stream pipe between Russia and Germany through the Baltic Sea. The Germans recently cancelled its operating license. Europeans are facing the probability of gas shortages (Austria, as an extreme example, imports 80% of its gas from Russia). Can/should the USA come to the rescue? Liquid natural gas (LNG) can be transported by sea but the infrastructure to handle the volume needed takes time to build. LNG is also dirtier than piped gas. Fossil fuel infrastructure has a long life. If it is built it will contribute its share of CO2 to the atmosphere. But if Europe runs out of gas for industry and heating there may be local or worldwide recession. There needs to be a big boost to local wind/solar/nuclear energy, but that infrastructure also takes time to build.

Daniel Yergin’s book “The New Map” has an excellent section on Russia and Ukraine. If you don’t have the book here is a link to a recent article Yergin on Putin  (This odd link is the only place I could find the article without a paywall.)

Here is a short article about Nord Stream 2 Nord Stream 2

Here is a 17 minute video (from Azerbaijan) about Russia’s geopolitics. (Tolerate or skip a couple of annoying ads) Russia Geopolitics

On a separate topic I am passing this note on from Veda Kanitz about an April 23^rd conference.

The recently released Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change confirms that we need urgent action on climate change to protect the health of current and future generations. Health professionals are positioned to lead the way, yet in this time of converging crises of climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and global conflict, it’s hard to sustain effort, or even know where to begin. We need multifaceted solutions that target both mitigation and adaptation while centering the needs of those most vulnerable to climate impacts, and at the same time we need to build and strengthen supportive communities to protect wellbeing. 

Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate and the University of Minnesota School of Nursing are sponsoring Code Blue for Patient Earth: Pathways to Resilience, a conference aimed at engaging health professionals in this critical work.  The conference will kick off on Friday, April 22 with an evening of community building and hearing the stories of Minnesota health professionals engaged in climate advocacy work. On Saturday, April 23, there will be a half-day of live virtual content on creating climate smart healthcare, navigating the mental health impacts of climate change, and advancing climate justice by addressing climate and health through an equity lens. Registration for community members is $10. For more information and to register, visit www.hpforhc.org/CodeBlue.

Finally a shout out for Emily Larson’s plans for Duluth to become carbon neutral!

Thanks

Barb

Jan 27th 2022

Hi Folks

Our next meeting will be Feb 1^st at 10am in the Senior Center. Yes, we are planning an in person meeting this month! Tuesday Group for that day will be given by Steve Hollenhorst. Steve is a prominent environmentalist and professor at Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University. He is spending a year in Ely. Prior to the TG talk he has agreed to meet with the climate group for an informal discussion. Given the current covid situation, there is some risk in an in person meeting. You are welcome to come if you are fully vaccinated and willing to wear a mask. As usual the TG talk will be zoomed. Thanks to Elton for setting this up.

During these cold days there should be plenty of time for reading. Here is an article on Steve’s recent work on Carbon Conservation Trusts and a primer for our meeting.

Steve Hollenhorst on Carbon Trusts

On other topics – the news comes so fast no-one can keep up. Here are a few interesting samples:

There was a recent Atlantic article on new cobalt mining in Colorado. This is similar to the mining proposed for Tamarack MN where Musk plans to buy the metals for Tesla batteries. Talon Metals and MinnPost – Cobalt mining for Tesla batteries  Thanks to Jeff for this link. It is interesting in that it brings the conflict between the need for new batteries to clean up transportation and the power grid, and the environmental problems associated with the minerals required. Here is the link: Atlantic article on cobalt mining   I do not know if the Atlantic has a firewall so I have copied the article into a word file which is attached.

Steve Perry’s recent email has an article from Steve Hanley on ExxonMobil. I have attached this too. It is worth your time!

Finally, and local to MN, Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate (HPHC) has an upcoming zoom with MN politicos. It is Tuesday Feb 8^th at 6pm. Here is their text:

Join us for HPHC’s first Climate Convo of 2022! Climate policy leaders Senators Frentz and Senjem and Representatives Long and Acomb will give us a preview of climate policy for the 2022 Legislative session. Come to listen, learn, and bring your questions. Additionally, in the half hour after our panel of legislators, we will hold a discussion on the policy work of HPHC for 2022. 

You need to sign up for this event. There is no charge. Here is the link:

Register for HPHC Climate Convo

Thanks

Barb

Nov 30th 2021

Hi Folks

Our next meeting will be Dec 7^th, at 10am at the Ely Senior Center. There is no Tuesday Group meeting that day. TG is on holiday break until January. With the covid surge continuing and omicron around the corner I hope that all climate attendees will be fully vaxed and masked. If you feel uncomfortable attending we understand. We do not have the capability to zoom, but if conditions continue to be challenging we must see what can be done.

We should review the proceedings of COP26 in Glasgow. This article in the journal “Nature” is long but good Nature article.  This summary from the BBC is much shorter BBC summary COP26

We should look at the actions in the US bipartisan infrastructure bill that was passed into law a couple of weeks ago.  Try this for a review Climate action in Infrastructure

And we should see what is in the “Build Back Better” bill that is still pending. Some items have been cut and some more may not survive but a lot of good legislation remains. Here is more info Build Back Better from Whitehouse

I have 2 books that I discovered in the last month and highly recommend. “The New Map” by Danial Yergin deals with energy, power, war and wealth in an era of climate change. Thanks to Duane for this find. “The Nutmeg’s Curse” by Amitav Ghosh shows how war, empire and genocide underpin ecological collapse and our climate crisis. Winter is a good time for reading, these are worth the effort.

Elton points out 2 recent letters in the Ely Echo. One from our very own Brian (on mining) and the other from Judith Thimke (Duluth CCL) about carbon pricing.

At our last meeting we discussed sending a letter to Gov. Walz in support of nuclear energy. Gerry Tyler and I are working on a draft. I will send it along to you before the meeting if I can. We can decide on modifications and what procedure to adopt at the meeting.

Thanks

Barb

Oct 28th 2021

Hi Folks

Our next meeting will be Nov 2^nd at 10am in the Senior Center. There is a lot to discuss. The news is full of climate issues with the start of the big meeting in Scotland and difficult negotiations on Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan. In addition we skipped discussing the IPCC’s Assessment Review 6, an important document.

Starting with Biden’s plan – what is in it seems to change every day. The link below gives the status today, but stay tuned. Some serious compromises have been made including dropping the Clean Electricity Performance Program which was a significant part of greenhouse gas reductions in the original $3.5B plan. Biden would like to claim some progress in Scotland as the many nations renegotiate their plans to reduce greenhouse gases.

Here is a link to the current state of negotiations: Whitehouse Briefing Room Oct 28th

There are many articles written about the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow. This is the most important climate meeting since Paris in 2015. It runs from Nov 1^st to Nov 12^th One useful link from the NY Times is a resource full of goodies. When you have time browse (or subscribe) here:   NY Times Climate Forward Oct 27th

Earlier this year the IPCC’s Assessment Review 6 (AR6) was released. The full report is almost 4000 pages. On a more realistic scale here is a 42 page summary labelled “For Policy Makers”. Even here you don’t need to read all the blurb. It does have the most relevant diagrams with explanations.  IPCC AR6 summary report

A much shorter alternative that is easier to absorb is this BBC summary  BBC review of AR6

Happy reading

Hope to see you Nov 2nd

Barb

b2jonesmn@gmail.com

Jeff Hanson told us about some regenerative agricultural techniques that improve soil fertility and enhance the soil’s carbon storage. The use of cover crops and low till practices also reduces the need for pest control. The sale of carbon offsets rewards the farmer.