A Return Of Nuclear Power –Climate Crisis AM Edition 3/21/24
The EPA issued new regulations to increase the number of EVs and hybrids on the road over the next several years. However, some powerful interests are or will challenge the decision. For car companies to comply, it is estimated that half of their vehicle sales would need to be “zero emission” by 2032. That, in all probability, means half of their fleets would need to be EVs. The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers will begin a campaign to undermine the ruling. Republican state attorneys general will likely oppose the plan. If Donald Trump is elected President, the plan could also change,
World Worst Air Pollution –Where Is It Happening?
America Climate –Where Is America’s Cleanest City?
Parts of Africa have already been hard hit by climate change, particularly drought and heat, and the problem worsened this year. In a study published by World Weather Attribution, titled “Dangerous humid heat in southern West Africa about 4°C hotter due to climate change”, the authors wrote, “The southern coastal zone of Western Africa – also called the Guinea zone – experienced abnormal early season heat in February 2024. A combination of high temperatures and relatively humid air resulted in area average Heat Index values of about 50°C, which is classified to be in the ‘danger’ level that is associated with a high risk of heat cramps and heat exhaustion.” Unfortunately, the region is not the only part of the world that has similar problems.
A New Climate Partnership
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Energy Agency (IEA) have created a partnership to combat climate change. Their leaders wrote: “Under the new phase of cooperation, the UNFCCC and IEA will focus on three key areas – tracking and reporting on the energy-related outcomes of the first Global Stocktake at COP28; building consensus on actions to deliver 1.5 °C-aligned energy transitions; and supporting the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. In addition, the two organisations will deepen their existing cooperation on data and capacity building.” The role of the IEA will be to track climate change metrics based on agreements at COP 28. Unfortunately, neither group has the power to create policies to regulate the actions of nations or industries.
Nuclear Power
Global warming has begun to resurrect interest in nuclear power, considered a clean form of energy. According to The Guardian, “…a new generation of advanced reactors is emerging, with designs that enable greater safety, more affordable sizes, and increased fabrication in factory-like settings”. This could replace fossil fuel sources of energy.
