Friday, May 07, 2021

Loose Feathers #800

White-crowned Sparrow / Photo by Tom Koerner/USFWS

Birds and birding news

Science and nature blogging

Biodiversity and conservation

Climate change and environmental politics

  • California is beginning steps to wind down oil production, starting with a ban on new fracking permits by 2024 and an end to all oil drilling by 2045.
  • The emissions goals set by wealthy nations would result in a global temperature rise of 2.4°C by 2100, which is significantly above the goal set by the Paris agreement.
  • The Biden administration is cancelling the portions of border wall paid for by the defense budget, but it has not announced what will happen with the parts paid for through the regular DHS budget.
  • A section of privately funded wall is still in litigation regarding its effects on the National Butterfly Center and whether it violates the boundary water treaty with Mexico.
  • The Gulf Stream is migrating closer to Atlantic Canada and blocking the colder Labrador Current. The change explains rapid warming in northeastern North America and has implications for fisheries.
  • The Biden administration has pledged to protect 30% of U.S. land by 2030, but the details are still unclear. Meeting the goal would probably require cooperation from private landowners.