global warming

By Roger Annis - CounterPunch, September 14, 2016

Capitalism has run so amok, producing so much waste and life-destroying pollution, that scientists now say that Earth has entered an entirely new epoch: The Anthropocene

On September 5 in Cape Town, South Africa, members of the ‘Working Group on the Anthropocene’ presented findings of their research to the annual International Geological Congress. A research paper by the group of 35 scientists, commissioned by the Congress, was published in January of this year, concluding that a new, “functionally and stratigraphically distinct” unit of geologic time has begun.

Scientists term the new epoch ‘The Anthropocene’, meaning that human activity has become the dominant influence on climate and the environment. Earth’s biosphere has been so thoroughly altered by human activity that changes are now permanently inscribed in the rock and fossil record, just as earlier events such as asteroid impacts and the evolution of multi-celled life forms left their records.

The Anthropocene succeeds The Holocene, an epoch of approximately 12,000 years which was marked by relative climate stability. During the Holocene, average global temperatures varied by no more than one degree Celsius. Here are two articles reporting on what the scientists have reported:

* The Anthropocene epoch: Scientists declare dawn of human-influenced age, by Damian Carrington, The Guardian, August 29, 2016

“… The current epoch, the Holocene, is the 12,000 years of stable climate since the last ice age during which all human civilisation developed. But the striking acceleration since the mid-20th century of carbon dioxide emissions and sea level rise, the global mass extinction of species, and the transformation of land by deforestation and development mark the end of that slice of geological time, the experts argue. The Earth is so profoundly changed that the Holocene must give way to the Anthropocene.”

* Expert panel: The Anthropocene epoch has definitely begun, by Ian Angus, in Climate and Capitalism, Aug 29, 2016

“… changes to the Earth System that characterize the potential Anthropocene Epoch include marked acceleration to rates of erosion and sedimentation, large-scale chemical perturbations to the cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements, the inception of significant change to global climate and sea level, and biotic changes such as unprecedented levels of species invasions across the Earth. Many of these changes are geologically long-lasting, and some are effectively irreversible.”

A 12-minute interview with author Ian Angus on the findings and recommendations of the Working Group on the Anthropocene was broadcast on The Real News Network on September 4; watch or read it here.

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, May 31, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• It Is Time to Phase Out 9 Unnecessary Oil and Gas Tax Breaks - By staff, Center for American Progress, May 26, 2016
• Planetary Crisis: We are not all in this together - By Ian Angus, Climate and Capitalism, May 25, 2016
• Interview: Shell Must be ‘Held Accountable to the Future Now’ Says Indigenous Delegate from the Gulf of Mexico - By Kyla Mandel, DeSmog UK, May 24, 2016; [related]: Gulf Coast Activist Crashes Shell Meeting to Decry Destruction of Her Home - By Deirdre Fulton, Common Dreams, May 24, 2016
• Oil profits, pipelines and the human cost of regulatory capture - By Bruce Campbell, Rabble.Ca, May 24, 2016
• Burned By Slow Government Response To A Polluter, Residents Mistrust Cleanup Efforts - By Larry Buhl, DeSmog Blog, May 22, 2016 

The Man Behind the Curtain:

• Coalition’s great big climate hoax turns to outright denial - By Giles Parkinson, REnew Economy, May 27, 2016; [related]: Australia scrubbed from UN climate change report after government intervention - By Michael Slezak, The Guardian, May 26, 2016; [and]: Australian Government censors UNESCO report on Great Barrier Reef #ReefGate - By Jeff Englart, Storify, May 27, 2016
• Koch Controversy at George Mason University: Student Abandons Economics Major - By Connor Gibson, DeSmog Blog, May 27, 2016
• Top Obama Energy Official Says Administration Rejects “Keep It In The Ground” As Climate Strategy - By Justin Mikulka, DeSmog Blog, May 26, 2016
• CO Oil and Gas Industry Raises $6 Million To Fight Ballot Measures - By Dan Boyce, Inside Energy, May 25, 2016
• Exxon "Chose to Mislead": Granddaughter of Former Exxon Climate Scientist - By Steve Horn, DeSmog Blog, May 25, 2016; [related]: Granddaughter of Exxon Scientist Confronts CEO over Oil Giant’s Decision to Fund Climate Lies - Anna Kalinsky interviewed by Nermeen Shaikh and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, May 26, 2016
• All Vision and No Strategy? Shell Says No Thanks to a Better Life with a Healthy Planet - By Juliet Phillips, DeSmog UK, May 24, 2016
• Brazil minister ousted after secret tape reveals plot to topple President Rousseff - By Jonathan Watts, The Guardian, May 23, 2016; [related]: Wall Street’s New Man in Brazil: The Forces Behind Dilma Rousseff’s Impeachment - By José L. Flores, Counterpunch, May 26, 2016; [and]: The MST, Brazil's Biggest Social Movement, Promises to 'Intensify' Land Occupations in Fight Against Coup - By staff, Telesur, May 25, 2016; [and]: Brazil’s impeachment crisis is bad news for climate change - By André Guimarães and Stephan Schwartzman, Grist, May 27, 2016; [also]: This Confirms It was a Coup: Brazil Crisis Deepens as Evidence Mounts of Plot to Oust Dilma Rousseff - Maria Luisa Mendonça interviewed by Juan González and Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, May 27, 2016
• Climate denial arguments fail a blind test  - By Dana Nuccitelli, The Guardian, May 23, 2016
• Houston Chronicle Business Columnist Calls for Exxon Climate Denial Investigation, Slams Paxton, Cites DeSmog Research - By Brendan DeMelle, DeSmog Blog, May 23, 2016
• Let's give up the climate change charade: Exxon won't change its stripes - By Bill McKibben, The Guardian, May 20, 2016; [related]: Bill McKibben on Exxon, the Power of Divestment, and Being Targeted by Shadowy Right-Wing Group - Bill McKibben interviewed by Amy Goodman and Nermeen Shaikh, Democracy Now, May 26, 2016
• Momentum Builds in California to Hold Fossil Fuel Companies Accountable for Climate Science Misinformation - By Jason Barbose, Union of Concerned Scientists, May 18, 2016

Green is the New Red:

• Cove Point Defender Convicted of Making False Statement to Police - By Anne Meador, DCMedia Group, May 27, 2016
• In Honduras, USAID Was in Bed with Berta Cáceres’ Accused Killers - By Gloria Jimenez, Counterpunch, May 27, 2016; [related]: Obama Urged to Stop Funding Honduran Military as Questions Grow over US Role in Berta Cáceres’ Death - Annie Bird interviewed by Amy Goodman, Democracy Now, May 24, 2016

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, May 25, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• We have met the wrong enemy - By KC Golden, Climate Solutions, May 22, 2016
• Corporate media isn't reporting on climate change. And it's killing us - By Nick Fillmore, Rabble.Ca, May 19, 2016
• US Government's Own Report Shows Toxic TPP "Not Worth Passing" - By Deirdre Fulton, Common Dreams, May 19, 2016
• A signal of super-fires to come - By Nicole Colson, Socialist Worker, May 18, 2016
• Only Six Years After BP Oil Disaster, Gulf Coast Is Faced With New Drilling - By Kate Stringer, Yes!, May 10, 2016

The Man Behind the Curtain:

• Exposed: Spectra-Funded Group Lobbied for FERC Commissioner's Reappointment, Then FERC Approved Spectra’s Gas Pipelines - By Itai Vardi, DeSmog Blog, May 20, 2016
• 13 House Reps Sent Letters to 17 Attorneys General and 8 NGOs Defending Exxon - By Annie Leonard, EcoWatch, May 20, 2016; [related]: Fossil Fuel Industry-Funded Attorneys General Try to Block Exxon Climate Fraud Probe - By Elliott Negin, EcoWatch, May 20, 2016; [and]: New York Attorney General To House Republicans: Are You Kidding? - By Samantha Page, Think Progress, May 20, 2016; [and]: Texas Thinks The Investigation Into Exxon Is ‘Ridiculous’ - By Samantha Page, Think Progress, May 17, 2016; [and] Texas, Alabama Attorneys General Join Exxon's Battle Against Climate Probe - By David Hasemyer, Inside Climate News, May 16, 2016
• EELI’s Anti-EPA Suit Uses 'Exhibit A’ from Tobacco's RICO Loss - By ClimateDenierRoundup, Daily Kos, May 19, 2016
• Here’s One Way The Media Confuses The Public About Climate Change - By Joe Romm, Think Progress, May 19, 2016
• Malice at Malheur: the Movement to Privatize America’s Public Lands - By William deBuys, Counterpunch, May 19, 2016
• Kochs' Grassroots Leadership Academy Training Astroturf Army - By Mary Bottari, PR Watch, May 16, 2016
• National Research Council GMO Study Compromised by Industry Ties - By Wenonah Hauter, EcoWatch, May 16, 2016
• Prominent Oceans Scientist Fails to Disclose Funding From Fishing Industry - By Zachary Davies Boren, Truthout, May 16, 2016
• The Politics of Fertilizer and the Exxons of Agriculture - By Grain, In These Times, April 28, 2016

Greenwashers:

• Greenpeace activists scale British Museum to protest BP sponsorship - By Adam Vaughan, The Guardian, May 19, 2016
• The Humane Society and the Greenwashing of the TPP - By Richard Foster, Counterpunch, May 19, 2016
• Monsanto and the Poisoning of Europe - By Colin Todhunter, Counterpunch, May 18, 2016
• Set up for failure and corporate profit? The rotten core of the Green Deal - By Sue Roberts, The Ecologist, May 18, 2016

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, May 17, 2016

A supplement to Eco Unionist News:

Lead Stories:

• Capitalism cannot solve the climate crisis - By Bill Onasch, Socialist Action, May 15, 2016
• Life and Death in a Time of Rising Shutoffs - By Caitlin Munchick, CounterPunch, May 13, 2016
• Taking on the Sacred Cow of Big “Green” Energy - By Kollibri terre Sonnenblume, CounterPunch, May 13, 2016
• The ExxonMobil refinery that exploded in L.A. last year is up and running again - By Aura Bogado, Grist, May 12, 2016
• New BLM Logging Plan Would Generate More Economic Harm than Good - By John Talberth, Center For Sustainable Economy, May 10, 2016
• Mining a Heart of Gold? Slave Wages and Humanitarianism in Africa - By Yves Engler, CounterPunch, May 9, 2016
• Panhandling and Pandering in Our National Parks - By Kirsten Stade, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, May 9, 2016
• Orthodox Economics and the Science of Climate Change - By Mariano Torras, Monthly Review, May 2016

The Man Behind the Curtain:

• Client Alert: Law Firms Tell Fossil Fuel Companies They Could Be Next in "ExxonKnew" Probe  - By Steve Horn, DeSmog Blog, May 15, 2016
• Think Facts Matter? Try Attending a Friends of Science Event Headlined by Ezra Levant - By James Wilt, DeSmog Canada, May 15, 2016
• Proof That Koch-Backed Professors Are Using Universities To Spread Right-Wing Policies - By Casey Quinlan, Think Progress, May 13, 2016; [related]: Meet the Ayn Rand Enthusiast Whose Private College Empire Reaps a Fortune From the Government - By Sarah Lazare, Alternet, May 9, 2016
• Forecasting Failure - By Greg Muttitt, David Turnbull and Lorne Stockman, Oil Change International, May 12, 2016
• "You Have Been Fooled": AGU Reopens Exxon Sponsorship Review After Stinging Letter From Sen. Whitehouse and Rep. Lieu - By Graham Readfearn, DeSmog Blog, May 12, 2016
• Coal made its best case against climate change, and lost - By staff, Skeptical Science, May 11, 2016
• Exxon's Lawyer in Climate Science Probe Has History Helping Big Tobacco and NFL Defend Against Health Claims - By Steve Horn, DeSmog Blog, May 10, 2016
• This Election Inspired a John Grisham Novel: Now It Just Got Even Weirder - By Pema Levy, Mother Jones, May 9, 2016
• "We Were Booming and Now We're Dead" — How Nevada's Solar Industry Bright Spot Turned Dark - By Larry Buhl, DeSmog Blog, May 9, 2016
• ALEC Appoints New Chair to Climate Denial Task Force - By Jamie Corey, PR Watch, May 6, 2016

By Danny Chivers and Jess Worth - New Internationalist, December 12, 2015

Image, right: 'D12' day of action in Paris, France, 12 December 2015. by Allan Lisner, Indigenous Environment Network

Today, after two weeks of tortuous negotiations – well, 21 years, really – governments announced the Paris Agreement. This brand new climate deal will kick in in 2020. But is it really as ‘ambitious’ as the French government is claiming?

Before the talks began, social movements, environmental groups, and trade unions around the world came together and agreed on a set of criteria that the Paris deal would need to meet in order to be effective and fair. This ‘People’s Test’ is based on climate science and the needs of communities affected by climate change and other injustices across the globe.

To meet the People’s Test, the Paris deal would need to do the following four things:

• 1. Catalyze immediate, urgent and drastic emission reductions;
  
• 2. Provide adequate support for transformation;
  
• 3. Deliver justice for impacted people;
  
• 4. Focus on genuine, effective action rather than false solutions;

Does the deal pass the test? The 15,000 people who took to the Paris streets today to condemn the agreement clearly didn’t think so. Here’s New Internationalist’s (NI) assessment.

By Blake Deppe - People's World, December 4, 2015

PARIS -- In the Climate Generations event area here at COP 21, the Trade Union Forum on Climate and Jobs presented on Dec. 3 an event called Resisting Extreme Extraction. Labor organizations including the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), the Argentine Workers' Central Union (CTA), and the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) addressed the audience with a clear declaration: that fracking, in every country and every part of the world, has got to go.

These organizations are part of the Trade Unions for Energy Democracy, an initiative coordinated by the International Program for Labor, Climate and Environment (IPLCE). Their call for a global moratorium on the harmful natural gas extraction process is bolstered by the findings of Robert Howarth, the David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology and Environmental Biology at Cornell University. He published his findings about the disastrous effects of fracking in an article titled A bridge to nowhere: methane emissions and the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas, and shared them at COP 21.

"Natural gas is widely promoted as a 'bridge fuel,' " Howarth said, referencing the publication. "It is said that it allows continued use of fossil fuels while reducing greenhouse gas emissions compared to oil or coal. And since 2009, over 40 percent of natural gas has come from shale gas, which is such a driver for climate change, because of methane. Most climate scientists, in their studies, are focusing on carbon, but methane is 120 times more powerful while both gases are in the atmosphere."

He explained that carbon, of course, is the larger instigator behind climate change, as there is more of it in the atmosphere, but in terms of actually slowing global warming, there is a key difference between the two. "Because of its long residence time," he said, "reductions in carbon emissions can only slowly change the atmospheric concentration." On the other hand, "methane emissions reductions lead to almost immediate reductions in atmospheric concentration. If we cut methane emissions today, we could really slow warming and prevent the [planet] from exceeding that two degree mark."

What Howarth is referring to is the very goal of COP 21: to avert a planetary warming of two degrees Celsius. This is a slightly more realistic ambition - in comparison with last year's climate conference in Copenhagen, which sought to avoid 1.5 degrees of warming - and one based on assessments made on global warming by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

But curbing that methane output can best be done by putting an end to fracking, and increased transparency, based on recent studies not funded by the fossil fuel industry, is shifting public opinion on this false 'energy alternative.' "There have been about 32 new research papers published on fracking recently," said Hogarth. This, he conveyed, provides an excellent counterbalance to the problematic studies carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Environmental Defense Fund, with the latter in particular notorious for its biased and industry-collaborative approach. He said that both the agency and the EDF "misuse their instruments during their studies, and thus draw unrealistic conclusions about fracking. The truth is, it is globally warming the planet today."

By various - Carbon Trade Watch, December 2015

Over twenty years have passed since governments within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began to discuss the impending climate crisis. Year after year, we witness the talks moving further away from identifying the root causes of climate change while the increasing impacts affect even more peoples and regions. Every meeting has given more space for corporate involvement and less to the voices of those directly affected by these climate policies. Despite the promoters’ fancy “green” campaigns and videos, the main focus at the climate negotiations continues to be about saving the free-market economy for those who are holding the cards – the biggest transnational corporations and financial institutions. The same corporations that are largely behind the destruction of forests, rivers, diversity, territories – as well as the violation of human and collective rights and so on – are also the main polluters and plunderers of the Earth.

The climate crisis poses a real threat to the current economic model which is based on the continuous extraction and production of fossil fuels, hydrocarbons and “natural resources” such as land, minerals, wood and agriculture. If talks were to seriously address climate change, there would need to be a discussion on the many ways to support the hundreds of thousand of small-scale farmers, fishers, Indigenous Peoples, forest-dwelling communities and others whose territories and livelihoods are at risk from capital expansion, and how to transition to different economic systems where fossil fuels could be kept underground; where the consumption “mantra” would shift towards more local, diverse and collective discourses and practices. However, the hegemonic and colonial powers are once more violently closing doors, creating more “structural adjustments” and, ultimately, harming the people who are the least responsible for current and historical pollution levels suffering the most from the impacts.

The fallacy that we can continue with the same economic model is irremediably flawed, bankrolled by big polluters, and intrinsically linked to land and livelihoods grabbing, especially in the Global South. Nonetheless, mechanisms like carbon markets, which expand the extractivist and free-market logic, continue to be promoted as unilateral, program- matic “solutions” to mitigate climate change and address deforestation and biodiversity loss. From carbon trading to forests and biodiversity offsets, the climate crisis has been turned into a business opportunity, worsening the already felt impacts, especially for those who are the least responsible. Debates over molecules of carbon being accounted for and “moved” or “stored” from one location to the other detracts from the necessary debates on shifting away from extraction, unjust power structures and oppression. While being fully informed of the causes of climate change, international climate negotiations strive to ensure that the hegemonic economic model expands and rewards polluters.

The consequence is that “climate policies” (aka economic policies) finance the most destructive industries and polluters, often destroying genuinely effective actions that support community livelihoods and keep fossil fuels in the ground. Moreover, these policies further the “financialization of nature” process, which presupposes the separation and quantification of the Earth’s cycles and functions – such as carbon, water and biodiversity – in or-der to turn them into “units” or “titles” that can be sold in financial and speculative markets. With governments establishing legal frameworks to set these markets in place, they also have provided the financial “infrastructure” for negotiating financial “instruments”, by using derivatives, hedge funds and others. While financial markets have a growing influence over economic policies, the “financialization of nature” hands over the management to the financial markets, whose sole concern is to further accumulate capital.

Read the report (PDF).