| Global Show of Strength on Climate: Nearly 200 countries reaffirmed their unequivocal commitment for the Paris Agreement in the Marrakech Action Proclamation, demonstrating a show of strength amid fears that Trump would withdraw from the climate deal. “We call for the highest political commitment to combat climate change, as a matter of urgent priority,” reads the Proclamation. Forty-seven of the world’s most climate vulnerable nations, including Bangladesh, Ethiopia and Costa Rica, also pledged to aim for 100 percent renewable energy “as rapidly as possible.” Meanwhile, California is exploring whether it could join the climate talks as a sub-national party if Trump pulls the US out of the agreement. (MAP: Reuters, Climate Home, AP, Bloomberg, BusinessGreen $, Hindu, Morocco World News, News Ghana, Deutsche Welle, Mongabay. CVF: Climate Home, Sky News Australia, Weekly Times)
O’Reilly to Trump: “Accept the Paris Treaty”: Fox News host Bill O’Reilly called on Donald Trump to let US remain a member of the Paris Agreement “to buy some goodwill overseas.” O’Reilly claimed the deal “doesn’t really amount to much anyway,” despite the fact that global leaders and more than 365 top companies in the past week have reaffirmed their commitment to the agreement. (News: Mother Jones, Huffington Post, Grist. Commentary: The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer analysis)
SolarCity, Tesla Merger Approved: Shareholders approved the $2.6 billion bid by Tesla Motors to buy SolarCity, paving the way for the clean energy giant to become a one-stop shop for electric vehicles, rooftop solar and energy storage. “I think your faith will be rewarded,” Elon Musk said after the merger was approved by 85 percent of the company’s unaffiliated shareholders. Next year, Tesla plans to begin rolling out the $35,000 Model 3 sedan and a new solar roof. (LA Times $, Reuters, CNBC, USA Today,Wall Street Journal $, Bloomberg, Financial Times $, Greentech Media)
Exceptional Warming in the Arctic: Last month was the third warmest October on record behind 2014 and 2015, and the year-to-date remains the hottest on record, according to NOAA. The Arctic in particular has witnessed “a meteoric rise” in October heat and the exceptional warmth contributed to the region’s record low sea ice extent for the month, which clocked in at 28.5 percent below the 1981-2010 average. Presently, the North Pole is recording temperatures 36°F (20°C) above average. One of the clearest consequences of climate change is greater surface warming in the Northern Hemisphere high altitudes, including the Arctic. (News: AP, Climate Central, Washington Post $, Grist, Reuters, BBC, Mashable. Background: Climate Signals) |
