Eco Report – October 13, 2023

And now for your environmental reports:

Inside Climate Change brings up an issue rarely discussed. Religious beliefs may play an important role in whether someone believes humans are warming the planet by burning fossil fuels, new polls found. The findings come as Pope Francis released his latest papal letter, rebuking the “irresponsible lifestyle” of Westerners and chastising those who try to delay efforts to address the climate crisis or deny its very existence.

“Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident,” Francis wrote in his exhortation released Wednesday, urging world leaders to do far more to address global warming ahead of the COP28 climate talks next month. No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extreme weather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest. Apparently red states haven’t received the memo. Many candidates for the upcoming election make sure to emphasize how fervently they endorse coal.

—Norm Holy

Under the EU’s new policy, foreign companies must now report all the greenhouse gas emissions associated with certain imported goods: cement, steel, iron, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen fuel and electricity. Starting in 2026, any of those imports that don’t meet the bloc’s emissions standards will face an additional fee when crossing the border. Other goods will be considered for the tax in the coming years, the European Commission said.

The tax policy has drawn criticism from countries like China and Russia, which argue it undermines the principles of free trade and worsens geopolitical tensions. Supporters say the program is necessary to put EU companies on an even playing field with nations that have lower environmental standards. They also say it will incentivize industries to more quickly reduce their carbon emissions and encourage other countries to follow suit by adopting their own carbon tariffs.

—Norm Holy

The administration said oil and gas companies would be able to drill in just three new areas in the Gulf between 2024 and 2029, the smallest number of lease sales offered since the federal drilling program began decades ago. Under a new law, the government must offer leases for oil drilling before it can invite developers to build wind farms in federal waters. Producing clean electricity from wind turbines is one of President Biden’s top priorities as he tries to reduce the fossil fuel pollution that is dangerously heating the planet.

—Norm Holy

VOX reports In the last three months, a marine heat wave has been cooking the Caribbean, breaking down the relationship between coral and those symbiotic algae. Some shallow buoys in South Florida registered temperatures in excess of —100 F degrees in July, about as warm as a hot tub. And for weeks on end, reefs in the Florida Keys, the largest coral reef in the continental US, were soaking in 90-plus degree water. That’s well beyond the threshold for bleaching in this region.

“I’ve never seen anything like this in this area, period,” said Ian Enochs, a coral biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who’s been monitoring Florida’s reefs for more than a decade. This mass bleaching event has made an already bad situation worse. Well before summer, the area of healthy reefs in the Florida Keys had already declined by 90 percent, due to past heat waves, diseases, ocean acidification, and other threats. The majority of Florida’s reefs that remain, meanwhile, are eroding.

The bleached corals are an ongoing tragedy: Across the Florida Keys and throughout much of the Caribbean, coral reefs have bleached and many of them are dying. Some of these starving corals are literally centuries old. Others were planted recently to revive the reefs, and their bleaching represents a devastating setback for coral restoration. Forecasters are predicting the el nino event will continue into the summer of 2024. Thus, it would appear that any corals that survive bleaching this year will be weakened going into next year’s bleaching. Now the emphasis is on developing corals that are better able to tolerate high water temperatures. This could take several years.

—Norm Holy

We know our continued existence relies in part on preserving our planet’s remaining forests and protecting threatened species, said the Center’s Kristine Akland. “This project is completely out of step with both those urgent needs. We’re committed to stopping this devastating project before one tree is cut.”

U.S. government agencies are expected to quantify the climate impact of their actions under new guidance issued by President Joe Biden’s administration.  But the U.S. Forest Service decided to move forward with a logging project on the border of Yellowstone National Park without applying the new White House guidance, which would have involved a detailed projection of the resulting greenhouse gas emissions.

—Norm Holy

—Norm Holy

The full interview is available online as an Eco Report EXTRA in the archive of programs produced by Firehouse Broadcasting on our website at WFHB.org.

We also celebrate ecologists, tree huggers, soil builders and an assortment of champions who actively protect and restore our natural world, particularly those who are active in south central Indiana. All levels of experience and all ages are welcome, and we provide the training you’ll need.  WFHB also offers internships.  To volunteer for Eco Report, give us a call at (812) 323-1200, or e-mail us at: [email protected].

And now for some upcoming events:

Help plant native trees to reforest the old field at the Ferguson Dog Park located at 4300 N. Stone Mill Road in Bloomington on Saturday, October 14th, from 10 am to 1 pm.  This Fall Native Tree Planting will help migrating birds, pollinators, small animals and native plants.  Help make a difference.  Register at bloomington.in.gov/parks.