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Robert S. Donovan/Earthjustice

Guest post: What the tiny remaining 1.5C carbon budget means for climate policy

Many folks aren't aware that there is a carbon "budget." Once we hit that level of climate pollution it will be difficult to scale it back in a manner that will avoid large-scale devastation to many of the plants, animals, farms, ranches — and our communities — as we know them.

The latest estimates from the Global Carbon Project (GCP) show that total worldwide CO2 emissions in 2022 have reached near-record levels.

The GCP’s estimates put the remaining carbon budget for 1.5C – specifically, the amount of CO2 that can still be emitted for a 50% chance of staying below 1.5C of warming – at 380bn tonnes of CO2 (GtCO2). At the current rate of emissions, this budget would be blown in just nine years.

While that is a disconcertingly short amount of time, the budget for 1.5C may actually be even tighter.

Andreas Habich

Communications, Community

Communicating the human causes of global warming increases public engagement

Communicating the impacts of climate change, and the drivers, is important in connecting people to solutions. This research conveys what that might look like.

Importantly, there were no backlash effects among Republicans, and in fact understanding increased among Republicans more than among Democrats, on average. This suggests that when informed about climate change causes, impacts, and solutions, most Americans will update their own climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy support….

Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media

Agriculture, Communications, Community

Three-quarters of Montana farmers, ranchers anxious about climate change, survey finds

Farmers and ranchers have depended on a relatively stable climate for generations. That's no longer possible. Conserving the land won't ensure agriculture survives, and farmers know it. We can help.

Paul Lachapelle of Montana State University says the growing risks and uncertainty are taking a toll on farmers’ and ranchers’ mental health.

He and co-researchers surveyed about 120 Montana farmers and ranchers.

“Nearly three quarters noted they were experiencing moderate to high levels of anxiety when thinking about climate change and its effects on their agricultural business,” Lachapelle says.

Communications, Community

Person to follow: Mara Hoplamazian

Mara Hoplamazian is a reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). They might be someone to keep on your radar, as a source for important news on climate.

Mara Hoplamazian reports on climate change, energy, and the environment for NHPR, part of our By Degrees initiative. They joined the station in 2021 as a Couch Fellow. Originally from Chicago, Mara earned their undergraduate degree in American Studies from Yale University. Mara uses the pronouns they/them/theirs. You can email them at mhoplamazian@nhpr.org, or get in touch through Twitter @/mara_hop.

CCL

Communications, Community, Take Action

Our solution to climate change? Democracy.

Conserving Carolina says, "Three cheers for our partners the Citizens Climate Lobby who successfully supported this [carbon tax credit] policy in Canada and who are mobilizing grassroots support for it in the U.S.! Citizen lobbyists are the heart of this campaign. If you want to be a part of the solution, find your local chapter of CCL and get involved." Check it out....

We empower everyday people to work together on climate solutions…

Judy Anderson

Communications, Community

Ensuring that NbS support thriving human and ecological communities

Over three days at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, the Nature-based Solutions Conference considered techniques such as forest creation or mangrove restoration, which are increasingly appearing in climate strategies.

Their mission is to enhance understanding of the value of nature-based solutions to societal challenges and to help ensure they support thriving human societies and ecosystems without compromising efforts to keep fossil fuels in the ground…

iStock

Communications, Community, Economy

Americans beginning to correlate extreme weather with a climate crisis, but purse strings are still tight

A recent poll found that 70% of Americans see climate change as a crisis or major problem. And while 78% of Americans reported being personally affected by extreme weather, only 39% are willing to take on costs to prevent it. Understanding what people care about and how they can see value in those changes will be important. Many are feeling the stress of inflation and uncertainty.

Broader socioeconomic factors are also affecting those who are experiencing weather events, and more importantly, how these parties can financially respond to these events — and thus how willing they are to pay even more.

For instance, only 29% of households that experienced extreme events had 100% of their damages covered by insurance. Renters though had it worse — with those who have experienced extreme events being uninsured 70% of the time…

iStock

Communications, Community, Take Action

A review of invasive species reporting apps for citizen science and opportunities for innovation

The Northwest Climate Adaption Center provides reliable and interesting information related to climate change impacts and solutions. This is a scientific article they posted that might be of interest.

While more reporting apps are developed each year, innovation across diverse functionalities and data management in this field are occurring separately and simultaneously amongst numerous research groups with little attention to trends, priorities, and opportunities for improvement.

This creates the risk of duplication of effort and missed opportunities for implementing new and existing functionalities that would directly benefit IAS research and management…

YaleCC

Communications, Community

Estimated % of adults who think global warming is happening

Here's the thing: an estimated 72% of Americans believe climate change is real. That's hopeful.

These maps show how Americans’ climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, and policy support vary at the state, congressional district, metro area, and county levels. NOTE: The Congressional District data are based on the 116th Congress. Recent and ongoing redistricting means that some of these data are not current (e.g. North Carolina) for the Congressional District level.

KatharineHayhoe.com

Communications, Community

Person to know: Katharine Hayhoe

Katharine Hayhoe is an amazing communicator, and advocate for climate change awareness. Talk about the work she is doing is a first step in talking about the change we wish to see.

Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist and Christian, is working to bring hope to the climate change debate.

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Wildlife

Guest post: What the tiny remaining 1.5C carbon budget means for climate policy

Communicating the human causes of global warming increases public engagement

Three-quarters of Montana farmers, ranchers anxious about climate change, survey finds

Person to follow: Mara Hoplamazian

Our solution to climate change? Democracy.

Ensuring that NbS support thriving human and ecological communities

Americans beginning to correlate extreme weather with a climate crisis, but purse strings are still tight

A review of invasive species reporting apps for citizen science and opportunities for innovation

Estimated % of adults who think global warming is happening

Person to know: Katharine Hayhoe

Community Consultants

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