Massive Florida Floods–Climate Crisis AM Edition  3/29/24

Just weeks after Apple said it would not move into the EV and autonomous driving sector, one of the largest smartphone companies in the world launched its first car. Xiaomi, among China’s premier smartphone manufacturers, will sell The Speed Ultra 7 (SU7) sedan for between $30,000 and $41,000. Lei Jun,  Xiaomi CEO, said he wants to have a “dream car” that can compete with Tesla. Climatecrisis247 believes that Apple made the correct decision. No matter how strong Xiaomi’s smartphone brand is, its EV will compete with China’s EV giant BYD, Tesla, and many smaller competitors, as well as global giants such as VW and Ford. The EV market is flooded during a period when the industry is suffering from slowing sales. 

Climate Victim –Beer

Climate Victim –Amazon Forest

The price of cocoa has more than doubled to over $9,000 per metric ton this year. Because of poor growing conditions in the Ivory Coast and Ghana in western Africa, the supply of the commodity has plunged. However, supply is not the only reason cocoa prices have jumped. According to Axios, commodity trades have helped lift prices. “When contracts come due, cocoa producers generally have the physical beans necessary to close out their position. What they don’t have is the financial liquidity needed to meet margin calls against them as the spot price rises in the short term.” Climatecrisis247 believes that this is not the first time, nor will it be the last, that traders affect the price of a commodity that is not strictly tied to actual supply and demand. Chocolate manufacturers and consumers have to face the fact that high prices are not based on environmental problems in Ivory Coast and Ghana alone.

Florida Floods

Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson posted on X “In Florida, at 345-feet, Britton Hill is the highest elevation — the lowest highest elevation in United States. This makes Florida supremely susceptible to sea-level rise during Climate Change. In Florida, at 345-feet, Britton Hill is the highest elevation — the lowest highest elevation in United States. This makes Florida supremely susceptible to sea-level rise during Climate Change.” The post received over 5,000 comments. Climatecrisis247 believes that the post has little value. Typson is one of a long line of experts and supposed experts who have said Fliroda faces flood danger because of rising seas and hurricanes. The problem has raised insurance rates in the areas sharply, although little has been done with infrastructure to protect homes and other property. 

Methane Threat

A study in Science titled “Quantifying methane emissions from United States Landfills.” The authors wrote, “Methane is the most important trace greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide and anthropogenic emissions account for more than half of the global total. Landfills containing solid waste are potentially major sources of methane, but their importance has remained poorly constrained.” The New York Times noted, “The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that landfills are the third largest source of human-caused methane emissions in the United States, emitting as much greenhouse gas as 23 million gasoline cars driven for a year.” Climatecrisis247 believes that regulating them is impossible because of hundreds of such landfills. It is another example of climate change factors that are hard to control and, thus, remain a danger.