2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #51

Posted on 22 December 2024 by BaerbelW, Doug Bostrom, John Hartz

A listing of 25 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 15, 2024 thru Sat, December 21, 2024.

Based on feedback we received, this week’s roundup is the first one published soleley by category. We are still interested in feedback to hone the categorization, so if you spot any clear misses and/or have suggestions for additional categories, please let us know in the comments. Thanks!

Stories we promoted this week, by category:

Climate Change Impacts

• How much should you worry about a collapse of the Atlantic conveyor belt?  Scientists warned recently that the risk “has so far been greatly underestimated.”  by Bob Henson, Yale Climate Connections, Dec 11, 2024
• Shrinking wings, bigger beaks: Birds are reshaping themselves in a warming world   by Sara Ryding, Alexandra McQueen and Matthew Symonds, Phys.org – reposted from The Conversation, Dec 16, 2024
• New data shows just how bad the climate insurance crisis has become  Two congressional reports make clear that, with increasingly frequent hurricanes, floods, and fires, “the model of insurance as it stands right now isn’t working.” by Tik Root, Grist, Dec 19, 2024

Climate Law and Justice

• New Report Shows a Surge in European SLAPP Suits as Fossil Fuel Industry Works to Obstruct Climate Action  But experts say these “abusive” lawsuits, which are designed to demoralize and drain resources from activists, should be fought, not feared. by Stella Levantesi, DeSmog, Dec 17, 2024
• Montana top court upholds landmark youth climate ruling  Montana’s Supreme Court upholds a lower court’s decision siding with 16 youngsters arguing that the state violated their right to a clean environment. by Max Matza, BBC News, Dec 19, 2024
• Montana Supreme Court backs youth plaintiffs in groundbreaking climate trial   by Ellis Juhlin, NPR – Montana Public Radio, Dec 18, 2024

Climate Policy and Politics

• Anxious scientists brace for Trump`s climate denialism: `We have a target on our backs`  Experts express fear – and resilience – as they prepare for president-elect’s potential attacks on climate research by Oliver Milman, The Guardian, Dec 15, 2024
• 6 Fracking Billionaires and Climate Denial Groups Behind Trump`s Cabinet  Trump’s nominees are backed by major players in the world of climate obstruction – from Project 2025 and Koch network fixtures to oil-soaked Christian nationalists. by Joe Fassler, DeSmog, Dec 16, 2024
• A new podcast explores the `hot mess` of climate politics  Podcast from Citizen’s Climate Lobby talks about how the world of climate facts bridges political divides. by Flannery Winchester, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Dec 18, 2024
• Tim Ryan is a paid fossil fuel mouthpiece  Creating an atmosphere of confusion is a well-rewarded job of work, according to this article.  by Emily Atkin, HEATED, Dec 12, 2024
• Carbon tax had ‘negligible’ impact on inflation, new study says  University of Calgary professors find that prices are only 0.5% higher due to carbon tax and other measures by Peter Zimonjic, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Dec 12, 2024
• Nigel Farage Helps to Launch U.S. Climate Denial Group in UK  The Heartland Institute, which questions human-made climate change, has established a new branch in London by Sam Bright, DeSmog, Dec 19, 2024

Climate Science and Research

Climate Science and Research

Public Misunderstandings about Climate Science

Miscellaneous (Other)

• 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #50  A listing of 23 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, December 8, 2024 thru Sat, December 14, 2024. by Bärbel Winkler, Doug Bostrom & John Hartz, Skeptical Science, Dec 15, 2024
• As the Clock Ticks to Act on the Climate Crisis, N.C. Activists Target a `Carbon Plan`  Duke Energy’s fossil fuel buildout comes with a roadmap for increased carbon dioxide emissions that will blow past a previously set 2030 deadline for reductions. While regulators have approved, the climate community sees a difficult future. by Lisa Sorg, Inside Climate News, Dec 15, 2024
• Six things people say to avoid talking about the climate and human rights  “You can’t say anything these days!” by Cass Hebron and Issy Pountney, The Green Fix (on Substack), Dec. 18, 2024
• Alert fatigue: The phrase that defined our climate in 2024  From “carbon cowboys” to “snow loss cliff,” these 10 terms captured the spirit of the hottest year yet. by Kate Yoder, Grist, Dec 18, 2024
• Play for the planet: Five climate change games for the festive season  Skeptical Science’s own Cranky Uncle features in this roundup of fun ways to learn better thinking about our climate. by Lynda Dunlop and Prasad Sandbhor, Phys.org (from The Conversation), Dec 18, 2024
• CO2 emissions from new North Sea drilling sites would match 30 years` worth from UK households  New research comes as dozens of small potential fields have received some form of license from the government by Fiona Harvey, The Guardian, Dec 20, 2024
• 2024 Through the Eyes of a Climate Scientist   by Adam Levy, ClimateAdam on Youtube, Dec 20, 2024