The Fall Issue

October 2021 | Issue 10 GrowingClimateSolutions.org

Here's What's Happening

Shade Make Everyone Cool

Seeds and All

Collier County League of Women Voters

The IPCC 6th Assessment Report calls out "Code Red "

From October 31 through November 12 world leaders will meet at the UN COP26 in Glasgow. Follow developments in global climate policies .. at

https://ukcop26.org/

Volunteers repotting tree saplings at Cheney Landscaping

As we approach fall, here's what's happening...

The start of October lets us bid farewell to the hottest average temperatures seen in the past 125 years – placing Summer 2021 “neck and neck with the Dust Bowl summer” - according to NOAA. In SWFL, rising temperatures are a significant climate threat for which our region must plan to adapt. Climate Central predicts that by the end of this century, the number of days that feel hotter than 105 ⁰ F will rise from about 25 per year now, to over 150 days, spanning about one-third of the year. Creating awareness of this climate impact and engaging in activities that promote adaptation have been a focus of some of our work this summer and are addressed as part of this newsletter. (Read more) 5.5 minute read

Living Greener

Shade Make Everyone Cool

A recent NOAA headline read that July 2021 was the hottest month ever recorded globally. And while today’s calendar announces the beginning of autumn, scorching daytime temperatures in the mid 90's^℉point to a lengthening duration of summertime highs. Even more concerning, the overnight low temperatures have crept up over the last 25 years, especially in urbanized areas, and they are warming faster than daytime temperatures. Hotter summers exacerbate health issues like heat stroke, COPD, asthma, sleep interruption, and even violence. There are also concerns about possible energy grid failures as air conditioners draw more electricity to cool homes for longer periods.

Although reducing greenhouse gas emissions and sequestering CO₂are key to halting warming temperatures, adapting our built environment is fundamental to minimizing the negative impacts of heat. Well before the ubiquitous presence of air-conditioning, architects and builders designed structures for natural passive cooling, relying on the orientation of windows, airflow and ventilation, cooling water features and shaded outdoor space. Today, increasing SHADE – all types of shade – is one of the most tangible solutions to heat, and one that can be done as a post-construction improvement.

Read More. (6.0 min read)

KING TIDES

The autumnal King Tides, the highest tides of the year reaching 3.44 over the annual average, are expected over the following dates. Residents of low-lying coastal property or flood-prone areas should monitor for light flooding.

October 7th-10th

November 5th-7th

Here is an explanation from NOAA

Partner Spotlight

Collier County League of Women Voters

With over 500,000 members nationwide and 29 local leagues across Florida, the League of Women Voters (LWV) serves as a powerhouse for information exchange on a variety of civic issues including climate solutions. A nonpartisan organization, LWV advances positive change through community action and citizen engagement, providing a broad perspective, informing voters, supporting “get out the vote” efforts for climate matters, and acting to hold elected officials accountable. Our teams encourage civic engagement by hosting webinars, sponsoring panel discussions, speakers and roundtables, writing blogs, OpEds and letters to the editor, and acting as a point of connection for partner organizations. LWV works with legislators and other elected officials, as well as government staff to define and develop policy founded on in-depth research and consensus.

The LWV declared Climate Change a key priority in 2020 and adopted a climate emergency mobilization resolution to affirm its commitment to "Immediate, wide-scale mobilization by the U.S. to restore, protect and fund an ecologically sustainable environment and climate, based on an interrelated approach that is environmentally sound, science-based, just and equitable, and dedicated to adequately addressing the scale and speed of the local climate change emergency. "

The LWV has since formed the U.S. Climate Team initially recruiting 900 members from across the country to fight climate change. The LWV’s U.S. Climate Team has representatives from all 50 states engaged in its core teams: the LWV US Climate Steering Team, Federal Legislation, Regulations and Policy, and Social Media. Issues of focus include putting a price on carbon, food, soil and agriculture, wildfires, electrification of buildings, climate justice, municipal climate action plans, and oceans. More. 3. minute read

Think Deeper...

by Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, Regional Director

IPCC 6th Assessment Calls Out 'Code Red'!

The IPCC report came out on August 9^th. If you don’t have the patience to read the 1300 page document or even the 40-page executive summary, here are select take-aways. More may follow in a future newsletter. Read the report here.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) 6^th Assessment Report issued earlier this month begins with the strongest language to date that, “It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and biosphere have occurred.” This statement is subsequently supported with quantified measures of greenhouse gas concentrations, global surface temperature data, over-land precipitation data, glacier ice retreat, and global sea-level rise. On each measure, the facts speak for themselves, together they validate what scientists, and now most citizens have accepted for years. Human activity, primarily fossil fuel emissions, but also methane and nitroxide, is warming the planet at an unprecedented rate. Read More 4 minute read

CLIMATE NEWS...HEADLINES WORTH READING

Start your summer reading and boost your climate IQ! For the latest in climate news, stay informed with the stories below, from climate-related weather to policy, we have you covered.

"The Growing Push for a Green Fed"

Axios

The Cost of Insuring Expensive Waterfront Homes is about to Skyrocket.

New York Times

NASA Finds Arctic Summer Sea Ice the 12 Lowest on Record

NASA Earth Science Team

World Now Sees Twice as Many Days Over 50C

BBC News