After Paris Agreement, ‘The Age Of Fossil Fuels Is Over’

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In this week’s Fracked Earth News, this week’s top climate change and energy headlines include:

__The U.S. delegation to the Climate summit focused on developing an agreement that could withstand Congressional Republican attacks, which began in earnest as the conference wound down. As Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) said: “The president is making promises he can’t keep, writing checks he can’t cash, and stepping over the middle class to take credit for an ‘agreement’ that is subject to being shredded in 13 months.”

__Greenpeace maintains the Paris agreement signals “the age of fossil fuels is over,” indicates recognition of the need for action, but fails to achieve “global solidarity, including a way to make polluters pay for the damage they cause.” They forecast “opposition to fossil fuels all over the world.”

__”1356+ Sick, Dead or Dying,” proclaims a sign near the Pantex Plant outside Amarillo, Texas where nuclear weapons are assembled and dismantled. It’s gotten so bad that approval of claims for compensation and medical care has risen from 20% to more than 50%.

Paris: Tackling Climate Change Or Commodifying Nature?

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In this week’s Fracked Earth News, top energy and climate headlines include:

__Attention in Paris turned to health and the climate with “an unprecedented alliance of doctors, nurses, and other health professionals from every part of the health sector … calling on governments to reach a strong agreement at the UN climate negotiations.” 1700 organizations, 8200 hospitals and other facilities, 13 million professionals. Impressive.

__India has now snatched the title “Dirtiest Air in the World” from China. Particulate matter in the Delhi air at “hazardous” levels lately, and in Mumbai and Hyderabad, too. Causes: “exhaust, dust, smoke from wood and dung-fired stoves, burning leaves and industrial output.”

__Shell’s Puget Sound refinery released “hydrogen sulfide, hydrocarbons, mercaptans and pyrophoric iron” into the air during a routine shut-down. People on the nearby Swinomish Reservation got sick and Shell got fined $77,000. Exact impact on wildlife and aquatic reserves isn’t known.

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