We’re going to need a bigger boat

FOLLOW US SUBSCRIBE   Net-zero emissions—when the amount of carbon dioxide released is offset by what we take out—has achieved new prominence as data show we'll have to get there by midcentury to avoid the more catastrophic—and perhaps irreversible—effects of the climate crisis. So how do we do it? We'll have to stop using vehicles powered by fossil fuels, abandon coal and retrofit buildings that currently use natural gas for cooking and heating. Bio-based fuels for aviation and carbon-capture technology for cement factories and chemical refineries will be required, too. And we'll probably be eating a lot more vegetarian hamburgers. It would cost the U.S. $1 trillion a year. Of course, the current political reality in Washington makes all of this unlikely. —Josh Petri   "I'm worried. We're all worried about it for the elderly. We're worried about it because we could see people's power shut off not for a day or two but potentially a week." —California Governor Gavin Newsom, discussing a plan by the state's biggest utility to cut power on high-wind days to avoid triggering wildfires. The strategy could plunge millions of residents into darkness.     Top stories Guyana is pioneering an approach to protecting the trees that cover more than four-fifths of its territory. To make the rainforest last, the country is using it up slowly. Louisiana on Wednesday issued a sweeping blueprint—the first of its kind in the U.S.—for managing the ongoing population movement away from its coastal areas, and preparing inland communities to receive an infusion of people. Some Democrats are seeking to extend tax credits worth billions of dollars for wind and solar industries that are set to expire next year.  Cities are proving more nimble in the fight against climate change than national governments. These are the ones doing the most to combat global warming.  Offshore wind is going to need bigger boats. Much bigger. Only about a dozen ships in the world can install a wind turbine. A shortage is looming—and shipowners don't know how big the next generation of vessels has to be.   What we've been reading A new United Nations report found that the planet may lose as many as one million plant and animal species, thanks to human activity. This extinction crisis is one of the most dramatic impacts of the climate crisis so far. But at least it offers clear targets for improvement. Washington Governor Jay Inslee's presidential campaign is focused on addressing the climate crisis. The candidate just released the second plank of his platform: the Evergreen Economy Plan. It's his vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045. Developers are designing flood- and hurricane-resistant houses. Scientists are developing new fuels. Mental health professionals are preparing, too. The American Psychiatric Association has climate related sessions planned for its annual meeting.   You received this message because you are subscribed to the Bloomberg Climate Changed newsletter.     Unsubscribe | Bloomberg.com | Contact Us Bloomberg L.P. 731 Lexington, New York, NY, 10022