Copout at COP

Posted on November 23, 2025 by Al Bergstein

The United Nations 30th annual Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) talks in Brazil ended  Saturday night.  The takeaway is that there is nothing going to be stopping our addiction to fossil fuels. In fact, the dealers of this addictive drug are now running the UN Climate show. 

The solution they come up with is to continue to not talk about the additive drug, nor how to get off it. They will simply send money to the victims of the crime. 

Are you an island nation that has been around for millennia and find yourself sinking out of sight? No worries, we’ll send you billions to move your butts to some other place where you are simply refugees. 

Are you an industrial nation choking in your car and coal pollution? We don’t really care. Fix it yourself or not. 

The U.N. continues to sink into irrelevancy, whether it’s trying to do something about global warming, the Ukraine war, the West Bank violence or the never ending terrorism of the Palestinian movements of Hamas and Hezbollah. As usual, we are all left to solve our problems for ourselves and luckily that does seem to happening without the U.N. in small ways around the globe. China continues to migrate to solar, cities like Paris and London convert inner cities to bike and pedestrian walkways significantly lowering air pollution.

Panama negotiator Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez railed against the deal in Brazil as COP drew to a close.

“A climate decision that cannot even say ‘fossil fuels’ is not neutrality, it is complicity. And what is happening here transcends incompetence,” Monterrey Gomez said. “Science has been deleted from COP30 because it offends the polluters. – The Associated Press

Here we are, 30 years into COP and we hear this kind of nonsense about the very people who claim to be wanting and in charge fixing this problem. 

The clear takeaway is that we are on our own, and if you live in a place most affected by climate change, you better build your own ark, because no one is coming to save any of us. 

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New Global Warming Research

Posted on February 14, 2025 by Al Bergstein

Rising temperatures are fueled, in part, by declining cloud cover — which could be a potential climate feedback loop. From Washington Post

Latest NASA data prior to Trump takeover.

“Two new studies offer a potential explanation: fewer clouds. And the decline in cloud cover, researchers say, could signal the start of a feedback loop that leads to more warming.”

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No Turning Back Now

Posted on January 13, 2025 by Al Bergstein

“To get people to act, my hypothesis is, you need to reach them not just by convincing them to be good citizens and saying it’s good for the world to keep below 1.5 degrees, but showing how they individually will be impacted,” says Eltahir, who specializes on the study of regional climates, focusing on how climate change impacts the water cycle and frequency of extreme weather such as heat waves.

Los Angeles, Lahaina, Paradise and & Northern California, Southern Oregon fires, Northern British Columbia and Alberta fires, Asheville NC and the floods of last winter’s massive hurricane, Europe’s fires across Spain, Portugal & Greece. All of this happened since we passed 1 Degree C. None of this is “normal” or something we have seen before. We are now over the “tipping point” and in uncharted lands. All we can do is do our best to prepare for what’s coming and help those impacted. Because we may be next. The same kind of wet winter that Southern California had last winter, is what is anticipated for us this winter. Meaning far more underbrush and fuel to burn if the summer is drier than usual. Let’s hope not. It’s time to wake up to the threat. Now.

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Energy & Climate Resilience Summit – October 29 & 30, 2024

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Al Bergstein

Date: Tuesday, October 29 – Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Location: 7 Cedars Hotel & Conference Center in Blyn, Washington 

Time: 9am-5pm with a networking reception to follow on Tuesday. A special hotel room rate will be offered, with a booking link provided in the invitation (coming soon).

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Interactive Timeline of The Hottest Summer in Human History.

Posted on September 30, 2023 by Al Bergstein

The Guardian has published a sobering look at a planet in runaway climate change. There is not a lot of time left to make the serious changes needed while our politicians take half measures at best. Could you live in 130 degree heat? It’s been happening this year in many places.

www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2023/sep/29/the-hottest-summer-in-human-history-a-visual-timeline

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The retreating glaciers of Puget Sound -Ecopugetsond.org

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Al Bergstein

Bad news on the glacial front. “When the snow leaves the mountains the world ends”-Native legend. Likely true for civiluzation on the peninsula. Our society here depends on it glacial runoff.

Puget Sound’s glaciers are melting rapidly due to climate change. The North Cascades mountains have lost about 56% of their glacial ice while estimates show that glaciers in the Olympics could be gone within the next 50 years. Scientists say salmon and other species could be hard hit as the region loses its “giant storage tank” of ice.

https://www.eopugetsound.org/

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Hydrogen Fuel may not be the salvation we have been told.

Posted on August 15, 2021 by Al Bergstein

New studies show the dangers in betting on hydrogen fuel. By the way, who has been promoting it’s use? The oil and gas industry, of course.

www.nytimes.com/2021/08/12/climate/hydrogen-fuel-natural-gas-pollution.html

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Extreme Weather Displaced a Record 7 Million in First Half of 2019 – NY Times

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Al Bergstein

An interesting article by the New York Times documenting how many people have been displaced by climate change related weather in the first half of this year alone. The only question left to ask is, who’s next?

www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/climate/extreme-weather-displacement.html

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The World Wastes Tons of Food. A Grocery ‘Happy Hour’ Is One Answer. NY Times

Posted on September 9, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Here’s a simple thing that all of us, myself included, can do to slow global warming. The article points out that food waste, the excess food that groceries and restaurants dump, along with the food that you and I throw out because it never got used in our fridges, is another significant cause of global warming. Why? Because all of it had used fossil fuel to plant, harvest and transport, and then, after it was near or after its’ use by date, was transported from the store to either a food bank, or landfill where it was composted, both using fossil fuel to do that job, and by the methane generated by it rotting in the landfill.

I’ve gone to using my bike to make much more frequent trips to the grocery store, or combining those trips with other trips. I buy in much smaller amounts, such as a quart rather than a gallon of milk. I rotate my vegetables and check the drawer daily. I’ve gone to buying less fruits and veggies at the market, more 1 at a time, rather than three or four that might sit and go to waste.

Here in Port Townsend, I know that the food bank works with NW Harvest and the local groceries to do their best to work excess food into the hands of those that need it and are not able to afford it.

Our refrigerators are geared towards waste. Very few of us really need the size of refrigerator that we have, but unless you design your kitchen yourself, all standard kitchens use about the same size large refridgerators. This is not true in Europe. And not having a standard refrigerator affects your house’s resell value. It’s all of a piece, that we are designing our way to a warming planet.

While a freezer does help reduce waste by prolonging the foods use by date, it also contributes to global warming itself.

The best we can do is to think through our food use. Slow the buying habit. As a challenge, try to buy your food the day you plan to eat it.

And perhaps discuss this with your local grocers. They want your business! It’s a low margin business.

www.nytimes.com/2019/09/08/business/food-waste-climate-change.html

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EVENT: State attorney general Ferguson, DNR commissioner Franz to speak Aug. 25 at Democrats’ annual Fish Feast

Posted on August 13, 2019 by garbl

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, undefeated in 22 lawsuits so far against the Trump administration, will be one of two keynote speakers Sunday, Aug. 25, at the 25th annual Fish Feast in Port Townsend of the Jefferson County Democrats. Its theme this year: “There’s a Lot on the Line.”

Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, who spearheaded the development of a 10-year statewide plan to fight and prevent wildfires, will be the other keynote speaker.

Tickets for the event at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds are available for $60 at jeffcodemocrats.com and by mail at Jefferson County Democrats, P. O. Box 85, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Tickets will also be available at the door (cash, check or card).

Doors open at 4 p.m. for the bar and socializing in the Erickson Building. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., and speakers begin at 6 p.m. The party donates one dollar of each ticket to the Jefferson County Fair Board.

“The Fish Feast is our major fundraiser of the year,” said party Chair Marty Gilmore. “Each ticket purchase supports the vital work we do year-round to elect Democrats! It’s also an opportunity to hear the latest on current issues from our guest speakers – and fun time to see friends.”

Recent successes by Ferguson’s office include the largest-ever trial award in a state consumer protection case, debt relief from predatory lending for hundreds of students, and defense of the constitution by defeating the Trump administration’s attempt to add a discriminatory citizenship question to the 2020 Census.

Franz’s office has led state efforts to make Washington’s lands resilient in the face of climate change, investing in carbon sequestration and clean energy with wind, solar and geothermal infrastructure. Her office has also allocated millions of dollars to struggling rural communities to spark economic opportunities.

Fish Feast attendees will also hear from U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, state Sen. Kevin Van de Wege, state Reps. Mike Chapman and Steve Tharinger, state party chair Tina Podlodowski, and local Democratic elected officials.

Before the feast is served, guests can mingle with candidates, campaigns, and organizations in Campaign Alley outside the Oscar Erickson Building.

Rep. Kilmer has sponsored tickets for 20 Young Democrats (under 35 years old). Contact Libby Wennstrom (360-301-9728) or Chelsea Pronovost (425-256-0626) to pre-register as a guest.

“We’re also offering 20 discounted tickets at our cost,” said Fish Feast organizer Claire Roney. “$25 each – first come, first serve.” For more information—or to volunteer for the Fish Feast, contact Roney at (360) 531-1177.

The Fish Feat menu will include sockeye salmon from Key City Fish, BBQed by chef Larry Dennison; shellfish from Taylor Shellfish; greens and veggies from local farms; rolls from Pane d’Amore; and cake. Beverages will include wine from the Wine Seller and beer from Port Townsend Brewing Co.

For more information about the Jefferson County Democrats, visit its website at jeffcodemocrats.com or its Facebook page, @jeffcodemocrats.

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July was Earth’s hottest month on record – Washington Post

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Al Bergstein

Like frogs in a pot of water, we think that it’s just incremental changes we are seeing. The President and his minions continue to say that it’s all a hoax and there’s nothing to worry about. More lies from the man who seems to never be able to tell the truth, nor even remember what he said the day before. As glaciers shring, and water tables in many places lower,  our sources for water are starting to dry up in some places. Maybe this will get through to people. Then there is rising sea levels, which we only now are starting to see in a certain locales.

July was Earth’s hottest month on record, beating or tying July 2016
July was Earth’s hottest month ever recorded, “on a par with, and possibly marginally higher” than the previous warmest month, which was July 2016, according to provisional data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service. This European climate agency will have a full report for all of July on Monday, but a spokesperson said enough data (through July 29) has already come in to make this declaration. Andrew Freedman reports. (Washington Post)

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Urban Planners take note – Greenland’s Collapsing Glacier Could Raise Sea Levels More than A Foot – Guardian

Posted on November 13, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Within the next decade, apparently, this melting glacier is likely to raise sea levels more than a foot. Very likely to cause higher high tides, more coastal inundation. Think of the coastal land  of Jefferson County, and think of what might be at threat. Port of Port Townsend comes to mind. Hwy 20 into town near the ferry dock. Planners need to start taking this melting very seriously. Especially when faced with angry homeowners that insist on living 50′ from the mean low tide. The cost of moving should be on them, not the taxpayers.

A major glacier in Greenland that holds enough water to raise global sea levels by half a metre has begun to crumble into the North Atlantic Ocean, scientists say.

The huge Zachariae Isstrom glacier in northeast Greenland started to melt rapidly in 2012 and is now breaking up into large icebergs where the glacier meets the sea, monitoring has revealed.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/nov/12/collapsing-greenland-glacier-could-raise-sea-levels-by-half-a-metre-say-scientists?utm_source=Sightline%20Institute&utm_medium=web-email&utm_campaign=Sightline%20News%20Selections

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Washington Tribe Confronts Climate Change, Sea Level Rise – Earthfix KUOW

Posted on November 10, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Climate change adaptation strikes home here on the west coast of the Olympic Peninsula. The Quinault Indian Nation is struggling sea level rise and the loss of the Anderson Glacier, which feeds the Quinault River.

TAHOLAH, Wash. – A big question will confront international leaders in the next round of climate talks in Paris: How do they help poor, island and coastal nations threatened by rising oceans, extreme weather and other climate change-related risks?

In the Northwest, sea-level rise is forcing a Native American tribe to consider abandoning lands it has inhabited for thousands of years. – Ashley Ahearn reports.

http://kuow.org/post/washington-tribe-confronts-climate-change-sea-level-rise?utm_source=Sightline%20Institute&utm_medium=web-email&utm_campaign=Sightline%20News%20Selections

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Patricia Becomes Strongest Hurricane Ever Recorded; Catastrophic Landfall Expected in Mexico Friday – Weather Channell

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Al Bergstein

I know that many of us travel to Mexico frequently, and many that go, go to the west coast. What is about to happen there today is very terrifying, and if you have friends down there, be ready to help in any way you can. This storm is bringing winds greater than Katrina or Sandy. Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Manzanillo (type in Manzanillo into Google Search and look at the photos of this beautiful little town that is about to be hit directly by this storm).  Upwards of 290,000 people may be affected by it (http://www.directrelief.org/2015/10/emergency-hurricane-patricia-mexico1022/). This is  another example what the scientists have told us of of global warming outcome, caused by our inability to wean our advanced society from fossil fuels. Stronger storms more frequently. CNN is reporting that, “Among other effects, El Niño has contributed to ocean waters off Mexico being 2 to 3 degrees warmer than usual”.

Of course, the west coast of Mexico is a place with many people who have never contributed to the problem of global warming, and are being made to suffer because of it.

The link to us is that we are also expecting El Nino to affect our waters here this winter, and likely some of our winter storms will be more intense because of it. Those living on the beach should be taking extra precautions this year. Storm surge and winds are likely to be much higher than normal.

A donation of whatever you can afford to the Red Cross or Direct Relief today might be appropriate.

http://www.redcross.org

http://www.directrelief.org

http://www.weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/hurricane-patricia-mexico-coast?_escaped_fragment_

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Heat and Drought. Is This The New Northwest? – Salish Sea Communications

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Good read from Mike Sato.
“Some summer: Consecutive days of record high temperatures, little rain and low river runoff, rising water temperatures in rivers and Puget Sound… You staying or planning to leave?…. ”

http://salishseacommunications.blogspot.com/2015/08/heat-and-drought-is-this-new-northwest.html

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Video: A dangerously hot Puget Sound – Seattle PI

Posted on August 6, 2015 by Al Bergstein

Worth a look.

So what will a hot world look like, especially here in the Puget Sound region? Well, check out this video built around a news conference put on by Washington’s Department of Ecology July 30 in Seattle for your answer. Jake Ellison reports. (SeattlePI.Com)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/bigscience/2015/08/05/video-a-dangerously-hot-puget-sound/#34453101=0

See also: Jellyfish boom prompts research by plane and boat http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/08/05/jellyfish-ecology-noaa-puget-sound/31194035/ Biologists with NOAA and the Department of Ecology are teaming up by plane and boat to track a jellyfish boom in Puget Sound. Alison Morrow reports. (KING)

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Is Anywhere on Earth Safe From Climate Change? – The Atlantic Monthly

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Al Bergstein

New article in the Atlantic Monthly, that explores the sweeping changes happening in the planet’s ecosystem, and what it means for all of us. Great read.

Relocating to a landlocked city isn’t enough .Put simply: Climate change poses the threat of global catastrophe. The planet isn’t just getting hotter, it’s destabilizing. Entire ecosystems are at risk. The future of humanity is at stake.

Is Anywhere On Earth Safe From Climate Change?

Free read, but subscribe to the Atlantic Monthly if you appreciate this kind of reporting.

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Toxic algae flourishes in warm water from California to Alaska, closing valuable fisheries – AP

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Al Bergstein

More reasons to demand international work cooperation on climate change. As our fishing and shellfish industry continues to get hammered by the effects of a heating planet, many political leaders continue to stick their heads in the sand and their hands in the pockets of individuals and businesses who are working to stop any progress on this.  While this particular ‘blob’ may eventually dissipate if and when the weather patterns change, the trend is definitively moving towards planetary conditions that could make this a new normal, not an aberration.

A vast bloom of toxic algae off the West Coast is denser, more widespread and deeper than scientists feared even weeks ago, according to surveyors aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel. This coastal ribbon of microscopic algae, up to 40 miles wide and 650 feet deep in places, is flourishing amid unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures. It now stretches from at least California to Alaska and has shut down lucrative fisheries. Shellfish managers on Tuesday doubled the area off Washington’s coast that is closed to Dungeness crab fishing, after finding elevated levels of marine toxins in tested crab meat. Phuong Le reports. (Associated Press)

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/33367837-76/toxic-algae-flourishes-in-warm-water-from-california-to-alaska-closing-valuable-fisheries.html.csp

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Inslee: I’ll use my authority to impose cap on emissions  – Seattle Times

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Al Bergstein

This is what is needed in the face of our drought, and the unprecedented warming of the seas that sustain us here in the Pacific NW. Leadership is needed. We voted for him to be a leader and that’s what we are getting. Thanks to Governor Inslee for not waiting for Republicans to come meet him halfway, because they have said repeatedly that they won’t. Given that a huge number of them represent some of the hardest hit areas of the state by this years drought, I suppose that means their constituents will suffer the worst. Maybe it will get them off the dime.

Frustrated by legislative inaction on climate, Gov. Jay Inslee plans to wield his administration’s executive authority to impose a binding cap on carbon emissions in Washington state. Inslee on Tuesday directed the state Department of Ecology to step up enforcement of state pollution laws and develop the emissions cap — aimed at enforcing greenhouse-gas-reduction targets that have been in state law since 2008. Jim Brunner and Hal Bernton report. (Seattle Times)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/inslee-acts-to-cap-carbon-emissions/

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Sobering news from one of the world’s top climate scientist – Washington Post

Posted on July 21, 2015 by Al Bergstein

One of the interesting recent revelations I’ve read is from Ray Kurzweil, who has shown that many if not most of human activity ends up generating exponential growth curves. In this major new scientific paper that has significant impacts for us along this coast, we see that ice loss due to global warming and the subsequent sea level rise may be showing this curve as well, instead of the ‘well behaved’ linear curve, so many scientists are hoping for.

This is must reading for anyone involved in planning low lying residential or commercial buildings on the Peninsula. The new estimates place sea level rise that we are starting to experience to be as much as ‘several meters” rather than the more conservative “1 meter” that his colleagues have been estimating. The notion of even seeing a 1 meter rise here in the next few decades will have significant impacts on many  ecosystems, and also low lying infrastructure such as the Port Townsend water treatment plant.

In the new study, Hansen and his colleagues suggest that the “doubling time” for ice loss from West Antarctica — the time period over which the amount of loss could double — could be as short as 10 years. In other words, a non-linear process could be at work, triggering major sea level rise in a time frame of 50 to 200 years.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/07/20/the-worlds-most-famous-climate-scientist-just-outlined-an-alarming-scenario-for-our-planets-future/?tid=hybrid_experimentrandom_2_na

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