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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/live/2017/jan/19/global-warning-live-from-the-climate-change-frontline-as-trump-becomes-president
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Global warning: ominous signs for climate in Trump administration – live | Global warning: ominous signs for climate in Trump administration – live |
(35 minutes later) | |
12.03am GMT | |
00:03 | |
HOUR 17: Answers from Antarctica | |
Elle Hunt | |
Another hour has passed – here’s what we’ve covered: | |
20 January being Penguin Awareness Day, we’ve duly raised your awareness of penguins (let us know below the line if you’d like to be made more... aware) | |
We heard how residents of the Solomon islands are working to strengthen forests, mangroves, reefs and other natural ecosystems that provide natural barriers to climate change | |
How a seawall constructed in 1880 in Dunedin, in New Zealand’s South Island, has proved an inadequate barrier given contemporary challenges | |
The Australian Antarctic Division’s Jason Roberts on his daily flights out over Antarctica – and what he sees | |
And a selection of your thoughtful, interesting comments – please keep them coming! | |
As Mikey mentioned, we’re about to hear from Jason for a real-time interview conducted – hopefully not-at-all haphazardly – between the Casey Station on Antarctica and the Guardian offices in Sydney. | |
We’ve passed a selection of questions you’ve already left for him in the comments, but do send on some more. | |
11.50pm GMT | |
23:50 | |
As mentioned below, we have Jason Roberts on standby at Casey Station in Antarctica ready to answer your questions about his work (see previous post), about Antarctica, or anything else! | |
Fire your questions at us in the comments below or tweet them to me at @mikeyslezak. We’ll get them to Roberts and post the answers shortly. | |
11.47pm GMT | |
23:47 | |
Jason Roberts is currently living and working at the Australian Antarctic Division’s Casey Station on Antarctica. | |
Speaking exclusively with the Guardian this week, Roberts explained why he takes a plane out over Antarctica each day, measuring what’s underneath the ice. | |
The work is trying to understand what controls changes in the ice, as the climate warms. | |
“The last time we were in what’s called an interglacial - when we didn’t have the big ice sheets in the northern hemisphere – that was about 120,000 years ago when the climate was about what it’s like now,” Roberts says. | |
“And all the evidence from around the world suggests that sea level was several meters higher than where it currently is.” | |
But where exactly all that sea level rise came from is a mystery Roberts is trying to solve. Check out the interview we prepared earlier. | |
NOTE: We have Roberts on standby, ready to answer your questions. Leave them in the comments below, or tweet them to @mikeyslezak and we’ll come back here with his responses. | |
11.44pm GMT | |
23:44 | |
Elle Hunt | |
This comment, from NoMoreMrNice, praises the live blog form as a means of capturing the complexity of climate change. (In the interests of balance, I’ll try single out some critical comments soon, don’t worry!) | |
Thank you for this; I've had a full on day at work, so am only catching up on it now, but it's very worthwhile and has been well done. | |
One benefit of this approach is that it reflects the complexity of climate change. Stories on one aspect are often bedeviled by comments of the 'what about....' nature. It's very hard to keep seeing the issue in the round, as a political, personal, societal, scientific and economic risk and opportunity. But it's so important to see how the parts do fit into the whole. Thank you. | |
As NoMoreMrNice notes, one of the challenges of reporting on climate change is making it seem like an immediate issue that’s unfolding now, rather than something intangible, far away in the future. These real-time, around-the-world updates are giving – if you’ll excuse the buzzword – a holistic view of the problem. | |
A few commenters have suggested that we should run the blog for another 24 hours, or at least do so more regularly – though it’s dependant on resourcing of our offices in London, New York and Sydney, the warm response below the line is certainly an incentive to do so! | |
11.38pm GMT | 11.38pm GMT |
23:38 | 23:38 |
Eleanor Ainge Roy | Eleanor Ainge Roy |
St Clair beach in Dunedin is threatened by sea level rise. | St Clair beach in Dunedin is threatened by sea level rise. |
The first seawall was constructed in 1880 to protect the homes and businesses of low-lying South Dunedin, land which experts say should never have been built upon. | The first seawall was constructed in 1880 to protect the homes and businesses of low-lying South Dunedin, land which experts say should never have been built upon. |
The original seawall is evident in this picture, and was made of loose rocks and debris. The current wall is made of concrete and is six metres high. It is a great place to eat fish and chips while watching the pacific ocean hurl itself against the man-made barrier. | The original seawall is evident in this picture, and was made of loose rocks and debris. The current wall is made of concrete and is six metres high. It is a great place to eat fish and chips while watching the pacific ocean hurl itself against the man-made barrier. |
“We have a duty and responsibility to inform people about what risks they face living in a coastal environment,” says Dr Sharon Hornblow, a natural risks analyst for the Otago Regional Council. | “We have a duty and responsibility to inform people about what risks they face living in a coastal environment,” says Dr Sharon Hornblow, a natural risks analyst for the Otago Regional Council. |
“With the issue of sea-level rise we are looking at big storms increasing in frequency and severity...so people that would ordinarily have a fairly low risk of being flooded by the sea may now expect that adverse event to happen every ten years rather than every 100 years.” | “With the issue of sea-level rise we are looking at big storms increasing in frequency and severity...so people that would ordinarily have a fairly low risk of being flooded by the sea may now expect that adverse event to happen every ten years rather than every 100 years.” |
11.31pm GMT | 11.31pm GMT |
23:31 | 23:31 |
Elle Hunt | Elle Hunt |
Thanks for all your comments below the line – it’s great to see so lively a discussion. This, from Uli Nagelb, was interesting in light of earlier debate over reference to “climate deniers” in the US: | Thanks for all your comments below the line – it’s great to see so lively a discussion. This, from Uli Nagelb, was interesting in light of earlier debate over reference to “climate deniers” in the US: |
Very good initiative! I think the conversation here in the US is shifting - it seems that even previous climate deniers (Pruitt, Zinke, Perry) are now saying that climate change is real, however, they are not willing to say that it is entirely human induced and can be controlled by changing our behavior fast. We need to address that point more than just the fact that the climate is changing. And the idea of showing positive actions around the world is very good! Maybe another 24 hours! Thanks for all you do! | Very good initiative! I think the conversation here in the US is shifting - it seems that even previous climate deniers (Pruitt, Zinke, Perry) are now saying that climate change is real, however, they are not willing to say that it is entirely human induced and can be controlled by changing our behavior fast. We need to address that point more than just the fact that the climate is changing. And the idea of showing positive actions around the world is very good! Maybe another 24 hours! Thanks for all you do! |
Earlier in the blog, we referred to “climate sceptics (or doubters, if you prefer that word)”; challenged in the comments, my colleague Emily Wilson had this to say: | Earlier in the blog, we referred to “climate sceptics (or doubters, if you prefer that word)”; challenged in the comments, my colleague Emily Wilson had this to say: |
I'm told even the word 'sceptic' is extremely toxic in the US | I'm told even the word 'sceptic' is extremely toxic in the US |
It goes to show how loaded this debate continues to be in the face of apparently indisputable facts. The question of how to bridge the gaps between the two groups remains, as pointed out in this highlighted comment: | It goes to show how loaded this debate continues to be in the face of apparently indisputable facts. The question of how to bridge the gaps between the two groups remains, as pointed out in this highlighted comment: |
Great effort by the Guardian, but there's obviously a problem of preaching to the converted. What are the best ways to persuade the skeptics? | Great effort by the Guardian, but there's obviously a problem of preaching to the converted. What are the best ways to persuade the skeptics? |
That’s something that we aim to keep at the forefront of our minds in our coverage of climate change, far beyond singular initiatives such as these. (While it’s great to see the suggestions we keep the blog going for longer, I don’t think Mikey Slezak would be very happy with me for committing to another 24-hour stint – as passionate as he is about rising seawaters.) | That’s something that we aim to keep at the forefront of our minds in our coverage of climate change, far beyond singular initiatives such as these. (While it’s great to see the suggestions we keep the blog going for longer, I don’t think Mikey Slezak would be very happy with me for committing to another 24-hour stint – as passionate as he is about rising seawaters.) |
11.17pm GMT | 11.17pm GMT |
23:17 | 23:17 |
Eleanor Ainge Roy | Eleanor Ainge Roy |
Last year five islands in the Solomon islands were consumed by rising oceans. The impoverished Oceanic nation, home to 640,000 people, has seen annual sea levels rise by as much as 10mm in the last 20 years; Choiseul Province, home to 20,000 people, was forced to relocate its provincial hub. | Last year five islands in the Solomon islands were consumed by rising oceans. The impoverished Oceanic nation, home to 640,000 people, has seen annual sea levels rise by as much as 10mm in the last 20 years; Choiseul Province, home to 20,000 people, was forced to relocate its provincial hub. |
Fred Patison, the country manager for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, says residents of Choiseul were attempting to strengthen their ecosystems to reinforce their natural safeguards against climate change. | Fred Patison, the country manager for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, says residents of Choiseul were attempting to strengthen their ecosystems to reinforce their natural safeguards against climate change. |
Speaking via Facebook messenger from his office in the capital Honiara, Patison says the Solomons have limited resources, so helping the local people preserve and care for their native forests, reefs and mangroves is the most straightforward action. | Speaking via Facebook messenger from his office in the capital Honiara, Patison says the Solomons have limited resources, so helping the local people preserve and care for their native forests, reefs and mangroves is the most straightforward action. |
“Ecosystem-based adaptation” is, for now, affordable and easily communicated – “although at some point relocation may become an option.” | “Ecosystem-based adaptation” is, for now, affordable and easily communicated – “although at some point relocation may become an option.” |
He adds that the Solomons were getting uncomfortably hot – a trend noted in other Pacific islands. | He adds that the Solomons were getting uncomfortably hot – a trend noted in other Pacific islands. |
11.07pm GMT | 11.07pm GMT |
23:07 | 23:07 |
According to Sydney Aquarium, today is penguin awareness day. | According to Sydney Aquarium, today is penguin awareness day. |
As they point out, penguins are threatened by climate change as ice melts and sea level rises. | As they point out, penguins are threatened by climate change as ice melts and sea level rises. |
#PenguinAwarenessDay, did you know that the curious birds are under threat from #GlobalWarning but also plastic pollution from humans? | #PenguinAwarenessDay, did you know that the curious birds are under threat from #GlobalWarning but also plastic pollution from humans? |
And for your enjoyment, the Australian Antarctic Division have posted this adorable video of penguins being, well, penguins. (And soon we’ll be heading to Antarctica, hearing from a scientist working there right now.) | And for your enjoyment, the Australian Antarctic Division have posted this adorable video of penguins being, well, penguins. (And soon we’ll be heading to Antarctica, hearing from a scientist working there right now.) |
Happy #penguinawarenessday! Adélie penguins are determined walkers averaging 2.5 km/h. Join our Q&A 1-2pm AEDT at https://t.co/WUlx7WwSnm pic.twitter.com/BDPpGKKrJl | Happy #penguinawarenessday! Adélie penguins are determined walkers averaging 2.5 km/h. Join our Q&A 1-2pm AEDT at https://t.co/WUlx7WwSnm pic.twitter.com/BDPpGKKrJl |
Updated | Updated |
at 11.12pm GMT | at 11.12pm GMT |
11.06pm GMT | 11.06pm GMT |
23:06 | 23:06 |
HOUR 16: Into the Asia Pacific | HOUR 16: Into the Asia Pacific |
Elle Hunt | Elle Hunt |
Good morning from Sydney, Australia – my name is Elle Hunt and I’m helping Mikey Slezak co-pilot the blog in its final eight-hour stretch. | Good morning from Sydney, Australia – my name is Elle Hunt and I’m helping Mikey Slezak co-pilot the blog in its final eight-hour stretch. |
In the past hour, we’ve learned about: | In the past hour, we’ve learned about: |
the impact of rising sea levels in the low-lying Pacific island of Kiribati | the impact of rising sea levels in the low-lying Pacific island of Kiribati |
how much greenhouse gas the world is emitting right now (warning: this carbon countdown clock, updating in real time, may spike your anxiety) | how much greenhouse gas the world is emitting right now (warning: this carbon countdown clock, updating in real time, may spike your anxiety) |
the latest on the toxic debate about renewable energy in Australia. The good news: voters aren’t convinced that it’s forcing prices up | the latest on the toxic debate about renewable energy in Australia. The good news: voters aren’t convinced that it’s forcing prices up |
Coming up, we’ll head to Antarctica with Jason Roberts of the Australian Antarctic Division, who will be joining us for a real-time Q&A from 11am AEDT. | Coming up, we’ll head to Antarctica with Jason Roberts of the Australian Antarctic Division, who will be joining us for a real-time Q&A from 11am AEDT. |
Watch his upcoming video interview and let us know what questions you have for him in the comments or on Twitter: I’m @mlle_elle, Mikey’s @MikeySlezak, and the hashtag we’re using is #GlobalWarning. | Watch his upcoming video interview and let us know what questions you have for him in the comments or on Twitter: I’m @mlle_elle, Mikey’s @MikeySlezak, and the hashtag we’re using is #GlobalWarning. |
Thanks for joining us. | Thanks for joining us. |
10.44pm GMT | 10.44pm GMT |
22:44 | 22:44 |
Here in Australia, there’s been a toxic debate about renewable energy. The fossil fuel industry, conservative media and the coalition government have been trying to link blackouts in South Australia, which have been caused by extreme weather, to the high proportion of renewables in that state. | Here in Australia, there’s been a toxic debate about renewable energy. The fossil fuel industry, conservative media and the coalition government have been trying to link blackouts in South Australia, which have been caused by extreme weather, to the high proportion of renewables in that state. |
They’ve also been arguing that rising power bills around the country are a result of increases in renewable energy in the grid. | They’ve also been arguing that rising power bills around the country are a result of increases in renewable energy in the grid. |
But today, just as another extreme storm causes a large blackout in South Australia, we have polling from GetUp showing Australians have not been swayed by these arguments. | But today, just as another extreme storm causes a large blackout in South Australia, we have polling from GetUp showing Australians have not been swayed by these arguments. |
Just over 17% of voters said they thought renewable energy was to blame for rising power prices. | Just over 17% of voters said they thought renewable energy was to blame for rising power prices. |
Read the full story here: | Read the full story here: |