CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS FOR APRIL 2011

CC NEWS FOR APRIL 2011

Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute posted a Plan B Update on March 23 titled, CAN THE UNITED STATES FEED CHINA? In it he pointed out some disturbing trends in China that will have a major impact on U.S. food prices. While China has worked hard to remain self sufficient in food production, it imports 80% of its soybeans. Over-pumping of ground water for irrigation and plowing dry soils in Northwestern China - coupled with climate change – is leading to expanding deserts and dust storms reminiscent of the American dust bowl described in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath. There is also a rising demand for grains as meat consumption increases, and a conversion of farmland into roads and parking lots as the number of cars sold rapidly expands. The only country with the capacity to supply the projected increasing grain shortage in China is the U.S. Esta una problema. At:

www.earth-policy.org/plan_b_updates/2011/update93

Paul Gipe on March 25 posted an article in RenewableEnergyWorld.com titled, New Record for German Renewable Energy in 2010. He reported that Germany set a new world record of installing 7,400 MW of solar PV in one year. In 2010 it produced 30% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. After the recent nuclear accident and radiation leaks in Japan, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel closed two nuclear reactors permanently, and another five temporarily. She also called on her government to revisit its controversial decision to extend the life of its aging reactors. At: http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/03/new-record-for-german-renewable-energy-in-2010

The on-line peer reviewed journal, Sustainability, has a special issue on the subject of environmental laws and sustainability, at: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability/special_issues/env-laws

Eric Niller wrote an article in the Washington Post for March 20 titled, King crabs invade Antarctica. It used to be too cold for king crabs in the shallow waters off the Antarctic Peninsula, but now they are arriving in large numbers. The impacts of these invasive crabs on the ecosystem are unknown, for the sea creatures there have not been exposed to crabs for millions of years. At: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/king-crabs-invade-antarctica/2011/03/01/ABCyN52_story.html

The 90-minute film Plan B – Mobilizing to Save Civilization, with Lester Brown and Matt Damon is available online during April at: http://video.pbs.org/video/1864227276/

Earthjustice.org has a couple of great short videos about fracking (hydraulic fracturing for natural gas – now growing rapidly with little or no control). At: http://earthjustice.org/our_work/campaigns/fracking-gone-wrong-finding-a-better-way

The Center for American Progress released an excellent brief by Tom Kenworthy, Daniel J. Weiss, Lisbeth Kaufman, and Christina C. DiPasquale on March 21 titled, Drilling Down on Fracking Concerns - The Potential and Peril of Hydraulic Fracturing to Drill for Natural Gas. In it they reported that there are many questions about fracking for natural gas from shale that need to be addressed, including: What toxic materials are added to the fracking fluid to release the gas, and where to they go?; How much radioactivity is flushed out of the ground and is it dangerous?; and How much methane, CO2 and other gases are emitted to the atmosphere? A complete life-cycle analysis is clearly needed. At: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/03/fracking_concerns.html

The American Solar Industries Association has released the Executive Summary of its report, U.S. Solar Market Insight – 2010 Year in Review. It covers Solar photovoltaics (PV), Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), and Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC). The total value of these technologies increased in 2010 from $3.6B to $6B – let by solar PV. It’s growth rate has averaged nearly 70% a year for the past decade – though it still represents only a small fraction of U.S. electricity consumption. At: http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/SMI-YIR-2010-ES.pdf

Eliot Caroom of the Star Ledger wrote an article March 27 titled, Google backs power cable for N.J. offshore wind. The power cable would be capable of carrying 6,600 GW of electrical power along the sea floor, about 10-12 miles off shore – initially from Egg Harbor Township in Atlantic County, NJ to Indian River, DE. Eventually it would cost about $5 billion and stretch for 350 miles, linking offshore wind farms along a heavily populated stretch of coast and capable of supplying power to 6 million homes. The laying of cable needs to proceed in tandem with building the wind farms along it so that the transmission line is available when they start up. At: http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2011/03/google_backs_huge_power_cord_f.html

One advantage of an extended system like this is that connecting wind turbines over a large area reduces the problem of intermittency, since the wind is very likely to be blowing somewhere along the line. This reduces the need for backup power, e.g., from gas-fired generators.

Elizabeth Kolbert has an article in the April 2011 issue of National Geographic titled, The Acid Sea. In it she points out that, since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, humans have released more than 500 billion tons (Gt) of CO2 into Earth’s atmosphere – by burning fossil fuels and forests - increasing the acidity or concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in the oceans by about 30% and decreasing pH (a logarithmic scale like the Richter scale for earth quakes) by about 0.1 unit. If present emissions trends continue, we could increase acidity by 150% above what it was decreasing pH by another 0.4 unit. All of the effects of this large increase are not known, but it could kill coral reefs, clams and oysters, destroy habitat for many fish species, and adversely affect phytoplankton (small floating plants with calcium carbonate skeletons) at the base of the oceanic food chain. Something like what humans are doing happened 55 million years ago at the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), when a large increase in CO2 concentration raised global average temperatures by several degrees and resulted in the extinction of many species of sea life.

Judi Greenwald of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change posted a blog on March 28 titled, All Energy Sources Entail Risk, Efficiency a No-Brainer. In it she gave a nice summary of the risks we assume in the production and use of our many sources of energy: nuclear, coal, oil, natural gas, and renewable energy sources. All have positive and negative features – some more than others. Reducing energy waste and using energy more efficiently is a no-brainer – something we can all do to save both money and the environment. At: http://www.pewclimate.org/blog/greenwaldj/all-energy-sources-entail-risk-efficiency-no-brainer

ABC World News for March 29 had an article by Jim Sciutto titled, Oklahoma Town Fears Cancer, Asthma May Be Linked to Dump Site. The town of Brokoshe, OK has a pile of fly ash from coal burning power plants six stories high that gets an additional 80 truckloads of fly ash each day. Of the 20 homes close to the dump, 14 have one or more people with cancer. It appears that toxic heavy metals are leached out of the pile by rainwater and blown into the air by wind. At:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/oklahoma-town-fears-cancer-asthma-linked-dump-site/story?id=13240312&page=1

Beth Buczynski reported on April 5 in Crisp Green that Vestas – anticipating large growth in the North Sea offshore wind turbine market - has announced the production of the V164-7.0 MW turbine, designed for harsh marine environments. With a blade length of 80 m (over 260 feet), the new turbine is the largest in the world. At:

http://crispgreen.com/2011/04/new-offshore-wind-turbine-can-withstand-rough-seas/

Matthew Wald wrote an article for the NY Times on April 11 titled, Physicist Reviews Nuclear Meltdowns. In it he reported that the three partial recent meltdowns bring the total worldwide to a dozen since 1957 – meaning that experience shows that these incidents have happened about 8X as frequently as the U.S. safety goal. Based on the global fleet of 439 reactors and past experience, we can expect serious damage to a reactor core somewhere every three years. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/science/12nuclear.html

It’s no wonder that private insurance companies won’t issue policies for nuclear power plants. See: http://www.portlandtribune.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=130092786058118600

Wendy Koch of USA Today wrote an article on April 12 titled, California sets highest green power goal. She reported that Governor Brown has now signed legislation, requiring utilities to get 33% of their energy from renewable energy sources by 2020 – the highest green power goal in the country. Colorado is second with 30% by 2020. At: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/maps/renewable_portfolio_states.cfm

A good explanation of Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS), with a listing by state, can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_portfolio_standard#United_States

Things are changing so rapidly that it’s hard to keep such lists up to date. Delaware is listed as 20% by 2019, but a new law passed in 2010 makes it 25% by 2025, with 3.5% of that solar.

On April 14 the NY Times published an article by Anne Mulkern of Greenwire titled, EPA Supporters Work to Snag Women With Focus on Family Health. Since many in Congress seem to doubt climate science, those who oppose having the EPA stripped of its authority to control emissions dangerous to human health and welfare are turning the focus to health issues and women, who support EPA authority by large margins. At: http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/04/14/14greenwire-epa-supporters-work-to-snag-women-with-focus-o-22088.html

Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri, Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), spoke recently at the University of Delaware. An article about his talk appeared in the UDaily on April 15. His entire presentation can be viewed as a podcast. At: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2011/apr/climate-pachauri-041511.html

GENewscenter.com issued a news release on April 19 titled, Google, Itochu And Sumitomo Join GE And Developer Caithness Energy As Owners Of World’s Largest Wind Farm, In Oregon. It announced a joint effort to build the 845 MW capacity Shepherds Flat wind farm near Arlington, Oregon. It will be the world’s largest. The $2 B project will supply enough power for more than 235,000 American homes. At: http://genewscenter.com/Press-Releases/Google-Itochu-And-Sumitomo-Join-GE-And-Developer-Caithness-Energy-As-Owners-Of-World-s-Largest-Wind-Farm-In-Oregon-3008.aspx

The following items are from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Carol Werner, Executive Director. Past issues of its newsletter are posted on its website under "publications"
 at http://www.eesi.org/publications/Newsletters/CCNews/ccnews.htm

EESI’s newsletter is intended for all interested parties, particularly the policymaker community.

China to Revise Strategy for Meeting New Emissions Targets

On March 6, the chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), Zhang Ping, announced that China will not repeat the mistakes it made in 2010 as it strives to meet its strict new emissions and energy savings targets for 2011-2015. China’s industrial sector was deeply affected by last-minute efforts to meet the mandatory 2006-2010 target to improve energy efficiency by 20 percent. Some regions took measures as extreme as restricting power supplies to meet the targets, which Zhang noted was “not appropriate.” Zhang said China “basically” met the 2006-2010 target, with energy intensity, or the amount of energy required per unit of GDP growth, dropping by 19.1 percent. To meet its goal of reducing 2005 levels of carbon by 40-45 percent by 2020, China aims to reduce energy intensity by an additional 16 percent before the end of 2015, and carbon intensity by 17 percent, Premier Wen Jiabao said. Beijing is encouraging provinces to rely on market mechanisms, such as cap and trade systems rather than relying on direct administrative orders to meet the new targets.

For additional information see: Reuters

Climate Change Affecting Coffee Supply, Commodity Prices

On March 9, The Seattle Times and the New York Times reported on the vulnerability of coffee crops to climate change, and what implications the lower crop yield has for coffee drinkers and companies like Starbucks. Planters in Costa Rica now cultivate arabica coffee beans at nearly 7,000 feet, roughly 2,000 feet higher than usual, once they noticed that weather patterns were shifting. Average temperatures in Colombia’s coffee regions have risen nearly one degree, and in some mountain areas the increase has been double that. At higher temperatures, the plants’ buds do not ripen at the appropriate time; and devastating fungi that could not previously survive the cooler mountain weather can now wreak havoc on coffee crops. Yields have dropped significantly in the last decade, and almost all tropical species are more sensitive to climate change since they can only withstand a narrow band of temperatures. Farmers in Costa Rica and Colombia have coped with droughts, mudslides, erratic rains, and changes in temperature over the past few years. Researchers and experts are trying to help coffee farmers adapt to the climate changes by developing hardier varieties of coffee or recommending strategies to protect the environment and grow better coffee by planting shade trees and planting in curved terraced rows to prevent massive water runoff. Heavy rains last fall drove coffee prices to record levels, which were reflected in the increased price on some drinks at coffee retailers in the United States.

For additional information see: The Seattle Times, New York Times

Researchers Map Human Vulnerability to Climate Change

On March 7, a study published in the journal Global Ecology and Biogeography found that climate change will have the greatest impact on populations least responsible for causing it. Researchers at McGill University mapped human vulnerability to climate change by combining climate change data with censuses covering roughly 97 percent of the world’s population in order to project potential changes in local populations by 2050. The map showed that those likely to be most vulnerable to climate change inhabit low-latitude hot regions, such as central South America, the Arabian Peninsula, and much of Africa. The researchers explained that these populations already experience difficulty adapting to hot conditions, and an increase in temperature over the next few decades will make living increasingly difficult. Scientists predict that human populations living in high-latitude temperate zones will be less affected by warming temperatures. The study showed inequities in the causes and consequences of climate change, as countries that have contributed most to climate change based on their average per capita carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are predicted to be the least vulnerable to its impacts.

For additional information see: The Times of India, USA Today, Map

Report Outlines New Challenges for U.S. Navy as Climate Change Progresses

On March 10, the National Research Council published a report that found the U.S. Navy should prepare now for the effects of climate change. Conducted at the request of the Navy, the report recommended the Navy strengthen its capabilities in the Arctic as new sea lanes begin to open up, creating a new geopolitical situation in which multiple countries vie for oil and gas previously covered by sea ice. In addition, the report recommended the Navy prepare for more humanitarian missions, which could represent the biggest change to naval operations, and analyze potential vulnerabilities of seaside bases and facilities. “Even the most moderate predicted trends in climate change will present new national security challenges for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard,” said Frank L. Bowman, co-chair of the committee that wrote the report and a retired U.S. navy admiral. “Naval forces need to monitor more closely and start preparing now for projected challenges climate change will present in the future.”

For additional information see: New York Times, Press Release, Report

New York, Others Prepare for Supreme Court to Hear GHG Public Nuisance Lawsuit

On March 14, New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of six states and New York City in a public nuisance lawsuit against five utilities over their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Filed in 2004, the lawsuit considers whether states and other entities have the right to sue major utilities because their power stations are causing a public nuisance with their GHG emissions. The states named in the lawsuit are New York, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Rhode Island, Vermont, plus New York City. The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the states’ right to bring the suit, American Electric Power Co. Inc. v. Connecticut in 2009. However, the electric companies, American Electric Power, the Southern Company, Xcel Energy, the Cinergy Corporation and the Tennessee Valley Authority, appealed and the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments next month and decide on the case in July. 
In related news, on March 11, New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow informed the U.S. Supreme Court that her state will withdraw from the public nuisance lawsuit. In a statement to the Associated Press, Dow’s spokesperson said, “Considering the Supreme Court's ruling and the Obama Administration's subsequent position that the EPA must determine an appropriate plan of action, it does not make sense to incur further taxpayer expense on an unnecessary lawsuit." Wisconsin withdrew from the lawsuit in February.

For additional information see: Business Green, Environmental Leader, NY Attorney General’s Brief, NJ.com

Vermont Governor Takes Stance Against Emissions

Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin announced last week that Vermont will join in filing motions in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. He also stated that Vermont had taken legal action to defend the state’s right to address the harm caused by climate change and air pollution from coal-fired power plants. Vermont, eight other states, and New York City filed two lawsuits in support of the federal government’s decision to approve mandatory greenhouse gas reporting requirements for emissions from petroleum and natural gas systems. “I am committed to aggressively fighting interstate air pollution and climate change. . . Climate impacts in Vermont include the loss of our hardwood trees, including sugar maples, the spread of insect pests impacting our forests, waters and public health and increased soil erosion,” said Shumlin.

For additional information see: Brattleboro Reformer

Climate Change Will Reduce Joshua Tree Habitat

A new study led by the U.S. Geological Survey has found that climate change in the Southwest will likely eliminate Joshua trees from 90 percent of their current habitat within 60 to 90 years. The study included models of future climate, an analysis of the climatic tolerances of the species in its current range, and the fossil record to project the future survival and distribution of Joshua trees. The research team was able to reconstruct how the Joshua tree responded to a similar climate warming 12,000 years ago, and concluded that the trees’ ability to spread into suitable habitats after the sudden climate change was limited by the extinction of large mammals that previously dispersed its seeds over long distances. Today, Joshua tree seeds are spread by small rodents such as squirrels and pack rats, which are not able to travel as far. This limited ability of rodents to disperse seeds, along with many other factors, will likely slow Joshua tree migration to about six feet per year, which is not enough to keep up with the rising temperatures according to researchers.

For additional information see: UPI, USGS

Ocean Currents Trap Much More Carbon Relative to Organisms

On March 21, research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research found that ocean currents sequestered much more carbon than biological mechanisms than previously thought. According to researchers, oceans absorb approximately 30 percent of the carbon dioxide emitted by humans into the atmosphere. The ocean traps, or sequesters, the carbon in two ways: one through a biological process whereby carbon is used for the photosynthesis of microscopic phytoplankton, and moves up the food chain, and the other through the physical movement of ocean currents whereby ocean circulation pulls down carbon-saturated surface water toward the bottom of the ocean. Researchers used data from a specific region in the North Atlantic to implement high resolution numerical simulations to quantify how much carbon each process sequesters. They found that currents made up the vast majority of carbon sequestration, compared to the biological process, by a factor of 100 to 1. Authors noted that there are still several areas in need of research on ocean sequestration of carbon, such as the length of time currents keep carbon deep underwater before it returns to the surface, whether the proportionality between the physical and biological processes are similar in other areas of the ocean, and how climate change will affect these mechanisms.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

China Announces New Goals to Lower Carbon Footprint

On March 28, China announced its new 2011 targets for energy and water efficiency and for carbon emission reductions. The goals include a reduction of carbon emissions by 4 percent below 2010 levels, and a reduction in water usage by 7 percent. These cuts are part of a wider plan to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions 18 percent by 2015, as well as to achieve a 30 percent reduction in water consumption. By 2020, China hopes to reach a 40-45 percent reduction in energy consumption from 2005 levels. China will explore the use of “market mechanisms” to lower its emissions, with the majority of the burden being placed on large industrial enterprises.

For additional information see: Reuters, Xinhua

New Study Simulated Warmer Climate Effects on Wheat

In a recent study published in Global Change Biology, scientists used heaters to simulate a temperature rise of 2-6 degrees Fahrenheit to study the predicted climate change effects on wheat fields in Arizona and found that the heaters accelerated growth, increased soil temperatures, reduced soil moisture, induced mild water stress on the crops and had a nominal effect on photosynthesis. The heaters were used from December through early January, on wheat that was planted in September. Bruce Kimball, the study’s author, found that although rising temperatures could be beneficial to farmers in northern latitudes, the agricultural losses in tropical and southern countries are projected to far outweigh the benefits in the north. According to a 2010 study conducted by Christopher Muller of The World Bank, wheat-growing areas of northern India, Australia and the American Midwest are projected to see 20 to 50 percent drops in yields by 2050, and although areas in some northern regions may see increases up to 100 percent, they are much less expansive. Muller’s study concluded that better breeding and engineering technology would be needed to increase overall yields. (emphasis added)

For additional information see: NY Times, Kimball Study, Muller Study

Study Contends Rise in Wind Speeds Over Oceans

A study in the journal Science indicated that over the past 25 years, average wind speeds over the oceans have risen significantly, as have wave heights. Researchers stated that these changes are not necessarily a result of climate change. However, the higher wind speeds could lead to greater evaporation, adding to the increase from global warming, which in turn could increase precipitation worldwide. The average wind speed has increased about 0.25 percent every year for the past two decades, whereas the increase in wave heights was not as significant.

For additional information see: ABC News, SMH, Study

Study Contends Over One Billion People Will Face Water Shortages by 2050

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences estimated that over one billion people will face water shortages by 2050 as climate change worsens the negative effects of urbanization. The study assumed the minimum amount of water needed per person per day for cooking, cleaning, drinking, bathing, and toilet use, was 100 liters (on average, Americans use 376 liters per day). The biggest shortages will be seen in developing countries like India and China, which are undergoing an unprecedented urban shift as people flock to cities from rural areas. Along with creating sanitation problems in the affected cities, the shortage could also harm wildlife if the cities are forced to pump in water from outside sources. India’s Western Ghats region, a potential source of outside water, is home to over 300 species of fish, 29 percent of which are unique to that area. Lead author of the study Rob McDonald stated, “If cities are essentially drinking rivers dry, that has really bad effects on the fish and the reptiles and everything else in the river.” The study suggested that increased water-use efficiency in the agricultural and residential sectors could potentially solve this problem.

For additional information see: AFP, Study

Scientists Calculate Melt Rate of Patagonian Glaciers

In a study published in Nature, scientists found that the recent melt rate of glaciers in Patagonia has increased by a factor of ten compared to the melt rate since the 19th century. By observing distinct landscape markings, scientists were able to determine the maximum advance of the Patagonian glaciers during what is known as the “Little Ice Age” which ran from the 16th to 19th centuries. They compared ice lost since the Little Ice Age to the amount lost in recent decades to determine the increased melt rate. This increase, authors noted, is contributing to rising sea levels at an alarming rate. Neil F. Glasser, lead scientist of the study, stated that the trends in glacial melting, “mirrors the significant rise in global temperatures detected over the past 30 years. . . providing support for the assertion that glacier recession can be attributed to recent warming.” (emphasis added)

For additional information see: NY Times, BBC, Study

Climate Change Leads to Spread of Malaria in Africa

As the climate warms in East Africa, infected mosquitoes are expanding their range and spreading malaria, according to new research by the International Research Institute for Climate and Society. Temperatures have increased significantly since the 1980s in the Kenyan Highlands, and residents of the Highlands, who normally do not get malaria, are especially susceptible to the disease since they have no built up immunity for it, according to Dr. Maria Neira, director of public health and environment for the World Health Organization. “As temperatures have been increasing, the mosquitoes that are transmitting the disease have better conditions to breed, reproduce, and transmit the disease. Vector-borne diseases are expanding their reach and death tolls," she stated.

For additional information see: ABC News, Scientific American, Book

Antarctic Penguins Suffering from Effects of Climate Change

A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science found that climate change is affecting both chinstrap penguin and Adelie penguin populations through reductions in their food supply. Krill, the penguins’ main food source, requires sea ice to reproduce. The reduction in sea ice from climate change has led to an 80 percent decrease in krill populations since 1970. Over the past decade, chinstrap penguin populations have fallen by 4.3 percent a year, and Adelie penguin populations have fallen 2.9 percent a year. According to the study, fewer fledgling penguins are surviving to adulthood, causing some penguin colonies to fall by half. The penguins face more danger as krill fisheries in the Southern Ocean expand.

For additional information see: Mongabay, Reuters, NY Times, Study

Ancient Fossil Record Informs Future Climate Patterns

In a study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, UCLA geoscientists constructed an ancient climate record by analyzing fossilized mollusk shells . The study used two geochemical techniques to determine the summertime Arctic temperatures during the early Pliocene epoch (3.5 million to 4 million years ago), in which the shells were formed, and found that temperatures may have been 18 to 28 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than today. Carbon dioxide (CO2) levels from the Pliocene epoch remained near the current value of 400 parts per million (ppm) for thousands of years, possibly indicating how warm the planet may get if CO2 levels are stabilized at modern levels. The results of the study supported previous climate models which predicted summertime sea ice will be eliminated in the next 50 to 100 years. By evaluating the isotopic content of oxygen from both fossilized mollusk and plant samples, scientists were able to determine the temperature at which the specimens originally formed, eliminating the need for ice cores which only provided climate information up to 800,000 years ago, during which CO2 levels were never above 280 to 300 ppm. Scientists created an additional method that determined how much of the rarest isotopes of carbon and oxygen are present in just the mollusk sample, which yielded results consistent with the original method. Data from these methods were in sync with three entirely different approaches, proving them to be reliable.

For additional information see: Science Daily, Study

Cornell Study on GHG Impact of Fracking Released

A Cornell University study published in Climate Change Letters concluded natural gas produced by a drilling method called “hydraulic fracturing,” or “fracking,” could contribute more to global warming than previously thought. The findings are controversial due to previous estimations that natural gas had a fraction of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of coal, and “shale gas” has been widely credited in many circles for keeping energy prices low during the recession. According to the study, however, the production of gas from shale produces much higher methane emissions, a GHG many times more potent than carbon dioxide, which is enough to negate the carbon advantage that it has over coal and oil when they’re burned for energy. “The [greenhouse gas] footprint for shale gas is greater than that for conventional gas or oil when viewed on any time horizon, but particularly so over 20 years. Compared to coal, the footprint of shale gas is at least 20 percent greater and perhaps more than twice as great on the 20-year horizon and is comparable when compared over 100 years,” stated Robert Howarth, one of the authors of the study.

For additional information see: Time, NY Times, Study

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CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS FOR MARCH 2011

CC NEWS FOR MARCH 2011

On Feb. 17 Paul Epstein and 10 co-authors published an important paper in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences titled, Full cost accounting for the life cycle of coal. The abstract says, “Each stage in the life cycle of coal—extraction, transport, processing, and combustion—generates a waste stream and carries multiple hazards for health and the environment. These costs are external to the coal industry and are thus often considered “externalities.” We estimate that the life cycle effects of coal and the waste stream generated are costing the U.S. public a third to over one-half of a trillion dollars annually. (emphasis added) Many of these so-called externalities are, moreover, cumulative. Accounting for the damages conservatively doubles to triples the price of electricity from coal per kWh generated, making wind, solar, and other forms of nonfossil fuel power generation, along with investments in efficiency and electricity conservation methods, economically competitive.” The authors estimate that these “external” costs, which are borne by the public but don’t show up in your electric bill, may be 18¢/kWh or more. At:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1749-6632.2010.05890.x/abstract

Todd Woddy has an article in the Feb. 23 NY Times titled, Solar Energy Faces Tests On Greenness. He writes, “Just weeks after regulators approved the last of nine multibillion-dollar solar thermal power plants to be built in the Southern California desert, a storm of lawsuits and the resurgence of an older solar technology are clouding the future of the nascent industry.” The problem is that these large renewable energy plants are to be built on environmentally sensitive lands, and are being legally challenged by conservation, labor and American Indian groups – making it difficult to get financing. My view is that any new large-scale renewable energy projects should be carefully reviewed and environmental impacts minimized – keeping in mind that alternative fossil fuel power is likely to have serious environmental consequences itself. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/24/business/energy-environment/24solar.html

The Philadelphia Inquirer for Feb. 16 has an article titled, NJ wind project still blowing forward. Fishermen’s Energy of New Jersey is hoping to build the first U.S. offshore wind farm in state waters off Atlantic City. It will be small – 6 turbines with a combined capacity in strong wind of 25 MW – but could be first, since the permitting process is simpler in state waters close to shore. One thing that will help the financing is Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) whose price has yet to be determined but which were established in principle by the NJ Board of Public Utilities. RECS provide a way to reimburse the generator on the basis of the number of MWh (megawatt-hours) generated. A REC worth $100 per MWh would pay the generator 10¢/kWh. At: http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/greenliving/Wind_projects_still_blowing_forward.html

PennEnergy has a February 18 article titled, Vestas, WindPlus enter floating offshore wind turbine project agreement. Vestas, a global leader in wind technology, has signed an agreement with WindPlus, a joint venture company, to test the combination of a Vestas 2 MW turbine and a WindFloat semi submersible floating platform (presumably tethered to the ocean floor). If successful, this will open up large areas of the ocean deeper than available to current offshore wind turbines, which are mounted on a monopole driven into the sea floor at depths of 50 m or less. At:
http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/3623685421/articles/pennenergy/power/renewable/2011/february/vestas_-windplus_enter.html

On Feb. 28 Andrew Restuccia in E2 Wire posted an article titled, Report: Regional cap-and-trade program improved state economies. He wrote that, contrary to the claims of some, that the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has provided a number of economic benefits to the states involved. Eighty percent of the proceeds raised by the states by the sale of CO2 emission allowances has been used to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy – resulting in $3-4 in cost savings for every $1 invested – while promoting green jobs. It has been a win-win for the environment and the economy. At: http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/146475-report-regional-cap-and-trade-program-improved-state-economies

Brian Vastag has an article in the March 6 Washington Post titled, Shifting spring: Arctic plankton blooming up to 50 days earlier now. Satellite photos show both the earlier retreat of Arctic sea ice in the summer and the earlier blooming of plankton – tiny floating plants and animals at the base of the food chain. The blooms, which appear green because of the chlorophyll in the phytoplankton and last for a week or two, are appearing 50 days earlier than they were just 14 years ago. This could be a real problem for other species. “Ecologists worry that the early blooms could unravel the region's ecosystem and "lead to crashes of the food web".” At: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/06/AR2011030602931.html

On March 6 the Sierra Club issued a report by Jennifer Perrone and Mark Kresowik titled, A Clean Northeast – Moving the Northeast Beyond Coal and Toward a Clean Energy Future. It said that the U.S. Northeast (from Maine west and south to New York and Washington DC) spends more than a billion dollars a year to import coal for electricity and has some of the oldest (some 70 years old) and dirtiest power plants in the country – many not far from population centers, which suffer the consequences of the pollution they emit – with the largest number of fatalities in Pennsylvania. The report urges that these coal plants be phased out and replaced by a combination of better energy efficiency and clean renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. At:
http://www.sierraclub.org/coal/resources/downloads/BeyondCoal_NEReport.pdf

On March 8 the EPA announced an update of its eGRID (Emissions and Generated Integrated Resource Database), a user-friendly tool that allows Americans to understand who provides their electrical power and the health and environmental impacts of that electricity generation. eGRID contains emission information for nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). NOx and SO2 contribute to unhealthy air quality and acid rain, while CO2, CH4 and N2O are greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Get information about eGRID at: http://www.epa.gov/egrid
Power Profiler is another, related tool. By entering a Zip code and selecting a utility you can learn about where your electricity comes from and what it does to air quality and the environment. At: http://www.epa.gov/powerprofiler

I recently finished reading World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse by Lester Brown. It's a great read and is available free online at:
http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/wotebook.pdf

On March 9 Lester Brown in an Earth Policy Institute Plan B Update titled, Why World Food Prices May Keep Climbing, announced that the cost of grain on the world markets in February was the highest on record – about twice what it was in 2006 – as a result of demand outpacing supply. Consumption was greater than production last year by 60 million tons – made possible by dipping into strategic reserves. Yields suffered last year as a result of droughts in some areas (Russia and the U.S.) and floods in others (Pakistan and Australia). The increase in global oil prices because of fighting in Libya is not helping. At: www.earth-policy.org/plan_b_updates/2011/update92

The March 9 Washington Post had an article by Brian Vastag titled, Ice sheets melting faster than earlier estimates.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/09/AR2011030904803.html)
It was based on a paper by E. Rignot and others in Geophysical Research Letters titled, Acceleration of the contribution of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets to sea level rise. (http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2011/2011GL046583.shtml) The latter reported that in 2006 the Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets lost a combined ice mass of about 465 Gt (billion tons), causing a global sea level rise (SLR) of about 1.3 mm per year. Even more important is that the combined ice mass loss is accelerating at a rate of about 36 Gt/yr2. This means that the rate of loss is increasing by 36 Gt/yr each year. If this acceleration continues, loss of polar ice will be the dominant source of SLR by century’s end.

On March 10 the American Nurses Association (ANA) posted a press release titled, ANA SPEAKS OUT ON HEALTH IMPACT OF PROPOSED CUTS TO EPA BUDGET AT CAPITOL HILL EVENT. The event at the Dirkson Senate Office Building, led by Senator Barbara Boxer of California, included six senators and speakers from a number of professional health care societies. Sarah Bucic, a nurse and founder of the Delaware City Environmental Coalition, spoke eloquently on behalf of the ANA against the efforts of some members of Congress to reduce funding for the EPA, thereby reducing its ability to protect public health. At: http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/MediaResources/PressReleases/2011-PR/Proposed-Cuts-to-EPA-Budget.aspx

Have you lost confidence in the U.S. Congress? The March 13 Washington Post has an article by Darryl Fears titled, EPA chief Lisa Jackson perpetually on Capitol Hill hot seat. The inane questioning of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson by some Republican members of the House – who want to cut the budget of EPA by 30% so that it won’t have the resources to regulate emissions under the Clean Air Act – beggars belief. Read it for yourself at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/epa-chief-lisa-jackson-perpetually-on-capitol-hill-hot-seat/2011/03/08/ABOKT7T_story.html

The University of Delaware’s Professor Willett Kempton - in the College of Earth, Ocean and the Environment - gave a lecture on March 18 in which he said that by 2030 the U.S. could generate 54 GW (gigawatts) of electrical power with offshore wind at a cost of 7 cents/kWh – less than what many electricity suppliers like Delmarva Power and Light are now paying for energy that comes mostly from fossil fuels. Offshore wind power will not only be less expensive, but will come without the huge negative health, climate and national security impacts of failing to phase out fossil fuels. At:
http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2011/mar/wind-energy-kempton-031811.html

In a NY Times article of March 20 titled, Tweety Was Right: Cats are a Bird’s No. 1 Enemy, Elisabeth Rosenthal reported a recent study in the Journal of Ornithology showing that cats kill about 500 million birds each year – about 1000 times the number killed by wind turbines. While that ratio is expected to decrease as wind power becomes a major supplier of electricity, cats will still be a major killer – second only to collisions with buildings, windows, and towers. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/science/21birds.html?_r=2&hpw
One benefit of offshore wind power is that transmission lines connecting wind farms to each other and to the grid can be under water.


The following items are from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI), Carol Werner, Executive Director. Past issues of its newsletter are posted on its website under "publications"
 at http://www.eesi.org/publications/Newsletters/CCNews/ccnews.htm
EESI’s newsletter is intended for all interested parties, particularly the policymaker community.


UN Official Warns that Climate Change Could Lead to Global Instability

On February 15, in a speech to Spanish lawmakers, Christiana Figueres, head of the UN climate office, warned that unless countries took firm action to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the impact of climate change on water supplies, weather patterns, and sea levels could cause widespread domestic and international conflict. Specifically, Figueres mentioned how climate-related drought, falling crop yields, and competition for water were fueling mass conflict in the Middle East and North Africa, and she urged defense chiefs to invest larger sums of their military budgets in climate change mitigation measures instead of increasing budgets for weaponry. She referred to the January riots in Tunisia over rising food prices, along with government repression and high unemployment, that unseated the country’s longtime president. She noted that a third of all Africans live in drought-prone regions, and that by 2050 as many as 600 million Africans would face difficulty obtaining water. According to military leaders around the world, detrimental effects of climate change can act as “threat multipliers,” which can add stress to nations that already face the burdens of poverty and social instability.
For additional information see: The New York Times, Business Green, AP

Climate Change Impacts Could Cause Massive Food Disruptions

In a Bloomberg television interview on February 15, Olam International Ltd. predicted that global food prices will face “massive disruption” from the impacts of climate change. Diminishing food supplies around the globe have pushed the UN Food & Agriculture Organization’s (UNFAO’s) World Food Price Index to a record for a second month in January. Corn futures rose 90 percent in the past year, while wheat rose 80 percent and soybeans jumped 49 percent due to extreme weather events that ruined harvests in Russia, Australia, Canada, and parts of Europe. Shrinking food supplies around the globe have made food less available and more expensive, which has prompted governments to increase their purchasing of food commodities such as corn and wheat. While food prices have become too high for some developing countries to buy agricultural products, which raises the risk of food riots, other countries that have intensified their food hoarding have seen little impact on prices because supplies are sufficient. Stockpiles of corn and wheat are dwindling while demand is rising. According to analysts, globally, farmers will need two perfect harvests during 2012 to bring stockpiles back to acceptable levels. Olam officials expressed that the world currently is experiencing disruptions with grains, cotton, and coffee, which will keep food prices high.
For additional information see: Bloomberg

Climate and Energy-Related Shareholder Resolutions Increase for Oil, Coal, Power Companies

On February 17, investors announced the filing of 66 climate and energy-related shareholder resolutions with 41 coal, electric power, and oil companies in the 2011 proxy season, which makes 2011 a record year for shareholder participation in the energy sector. This marked a 50 percent increase in resolutions over the 44 resolutions filed last year. Thus far, a total of 96 resolutions concerning energy and climate have been filed with U.S. companies, which includes businesses with a more indirect exposure to climate-related trends such as real estate, building, financial services, and food firms. Ceres, a green investor group, helped coordinate the filings. An official explained that challenges facing the energy sector are more complicated than before, so investors are worried that companies are placing too much emphasis on higher-risk carbon-intensive strategies rather than exploring viable clean energy opportunities.
For additional information see: CNBC, PR Newswire, Ceres Press Release

Climate Change Poses Risk to Investors

On February 16, the global investment consultancy Mercer released a report which found that institutional investors could lose trillions of dollars in future decades as a result of climate change. Mercer described climate change as a systemic risk because it challenges the conventional allocation of assets and requires new ways of assessing change risks and climate policy, such as global warming policy raising the cost of carbon emissions from power companies, aluminum smelters, and transportation. Some of the risks related to climate change include more extreme weather, continued delay in climate policy by national governments, and uncertainty over a new global climate pact. while the report found renewable energy, agriculture, and infrastructure as opportunities. The report, written as an investment guide, examined four climate policy scenarios, which ranged from regional divergence on climate change policy action to a total breakdown in efforts to fight climate change. The study found that the costs of impacts on the environment, health, and food security, mostly related to adaptation spending, could exceed $4 trillion by 2030. Needed investment in low-carbon technologies could exceed $5 trillion by 2030. The authors also estimated a $110 per ton cost on carbon emissions in the most likely scenario, but added that continued delayed action on climate change could result in $220 per ton cost on carbon by 2030. They concluded that taking action earlier on climate policy was the least disruptive course of action and the best scenario for investors.
For additional information see: Reuters, Asset International for Institutional Chief Investment Officers, Sustainable Business

Major Precipitation Events Linked to Human Climate Change Activity

On February 16, a study published in Nature found that the increase in heavy precipitation in many countries is partially due to human influence on atmospheric patterns, mainly through releasing greenhouse gases (GHGs) by burning fossil fuels. The researchers used computer models to analyze trends from 1951-1999 to find out whether the increase in severe weather events could be explained by natural variability in the atmosphere, and concluded that it could not. The key finding of the study was that the likelihood of an extreme precipitation event occurring on any given day had risen by 7 percent since the 1950s, a percentage “well outside the bounds of natural variability,” according to researchers. A rise in the frequency of weather extremes related to precipitation has been an underlying prediction of climate scientists for decades, but this study was the first of its kind to attribute heavy precipitation events to global warming.
For additional information see: The New York Times, NPR, Nature, Time , Sydney Morning Herald

Earth Could Get Warmer Even with Zero Emissions Scenario

On February 15, a study published by researchers at the University of Washington in Geophysical Research Letters found that global warming will continue even if all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions stopped, since GHG levels already emitted are likely to persist in the atmosphere for thousands of years. The authors said this is because aerosols, tiny particles in the atmosphere that reflect solar energy back into space and counteract global warming, would only stay in the atmosphere a few weeks once emissions stopped, while GHGs would continue to trap heat in the atmosphere. The current global temperature is already about 1.5°F higher than pre-Industrial Revolution levels, and in the best-case scenario, the global temperature would decline, but remain 0.5°F more than pre-Industrial Revolution levels. It is also possible that temperatures would rise to 3.5°F higher than pre-Industrial levels, which climate scientists say is a threshold temperature for climate-related damage to occur. The study’s authors noted that the overall effect of aerosols is the largest uncertainty in climate research, but they were confident that some warming would occur even if all emissions stopped now.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract

Study Estimates 190 Billion Tons of Carbon Released from Permafrost by 2200

On February 16, a study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers published in the journal Tellus found that up to 190 billion tons of carbon could be released into the atmosphere from thawing permafrost due to climate change, which is the equivalent of half the amount of carbon that has been released into the atmosphere since the Industrial era began. If the planet warms at a faster pace, up to 60 percent of Earth’s permanently frozen ground will disappear by 2200 as a result of warming temperatures, emitting massive quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere and further speeding up climate change. Previous studies have shown that carbon has begun to leak out of permafrost in Alaska and Siberia, but this is the first study to make estimates of future carbon release from thawing permafrost. According to scientists, carbon that would be released from melting permafrost must be incorporated into global warming strategies and models because if the released carbon from permafrost is not accounted for, we will overshoot the desired atmospheric CO2 concentration and end up with a warmer climate than intended. The authors of the study noted that humans can slow down the thaw rate by cutting emissions now, staving off the worst-case scenario of rapidly melting permafrost releasing huge amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
For additional information see: Science Daily, AFP, The Canadian Press, Study Abstract

Denmark and Britain Call for Bigger EU Emissions Cuts

On February 24, Denmark and Britain called on fellow European Union (EU) members to adopt more ambitious targets for cutting carbon emissions, while Denmark presented its own vision for energy supplies in 2050, showing how it could become independent of coal, oil, and natural gas by mid-century. In a joint statement, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Lykke Friis and British Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne, said the EU’s forthcoming 2050 road map needs to offer a “cost-effective, credible and ambitious pathway” to enable member states to take Europe beyond the “cul-de-sac” of the current 20 percent cut target. The EU’s current goal is a 20 percent cut in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2020, compared to 1990 levels. Proponents of a more aggressive goal argue that the EU should move to a 30 percent emissions cut, which they say will give Europe the chance to dominate the global market in clean technology. Meanwhile, a report for the German government found that the current target is too weak to mobilize innovation, and that raising the target level would increase European GDP by up to $842 billion and create 6 million additional jobs. The European Commission likewise found that moving the target higher could be “cost-effective.”
For additional information see: The Guardian, Reuters

Climate Change Could Lead to Greater Exposure to Toxic Chemicals

On February 21, a UN-commissioned report warned that rising global temperatures that cause extreme weather could significantly increase the risk of toxic spills, making it difficult to meet the targets set by the 2004 Stockholm Convention that were designed to reduce exposure to 21 dangerous chemicals. The report said that risks of exposure could increase if more stockpiles and landfills leak due to flooding, or other extreme weather, since chemicals stored in stockpiles or waste dumps could wash away, become more volatile, or escape through gas emissions before they are incinerated or safely removed. These chemicals pose a proven risk to human and environmental health, as they persist in human bodies and can damage reproductive systems, lead to mental health problems, cause cancer, or impede growth. The report also said that climate change could lead to greater use of some pesticides, such as DDT, which is used to control malaria. Warmer temperatures could also make the chemicals more volatile because vapor pressure increases exponentially with temperature, and added heat will make them more volatile.
For additional information see: Business Green, AP

Frequent, Extensive Fires Turns Alaskan Forests From Carbon Stores to Generators

On February 20, a study published in the journal Nature Geoscience found that climate change is causing wildfires to burn larger areas of Alaskan trees and char the groundcover more severely, turning black spruce forests from carbon sinks into carbon sources. Scientists said that Alaskan soils have acted as huge carbon sinks since the proliferation of black spruce forests, but with more frequent and extensive burning in recent decades, the forests have lost more carbon in fire events than they have historically been able to take up between fires. A significant portion of forest carbon is stored in moss, peat, and leaf litter layers that cover the ground, which are most likely to burn in a fire. In addition to releasing carbon emissions, burning the ground layer affects the regulation of soil climate, maintenance of permafrost, and the types of tree that can grow back. New forests likely to grow back after repeated fires would likely be weaker carbon sinks than black spruce forests.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract

Warming Leads to Prolonged Allergy Season in North America

On February 21, a study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that increased warming, particularly in the northern portion of North America, correlates to the prolonged fall pollen season. The research found that from 1995 to 2009, ragweed pollen season has increased by 16 days in Minneapolis; 13 days in LaCrosse, WI; 25 days in Winnipeg, Canada; and 27 days in Saskatoon, Canada. Upper latitudes have been warming faster than lower latitudes, and scientists and health officials found no appreciable warming in Texas, Arkansas, or Oklahoma. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, about 50 million Americans have allergies. In many cases, allergies can trigger more severe problems like asthma, and one of the dangers with the lengthening season is pollen’s potential to overwhelm immune systems. The findings support a 2010 study by the National Wildlife Federation that found ragweed growth rates and pollen counts increased with global warming.
For additional information see: The Daily Climate, Science Daily, Study Abstract

Upton and Inhofe File Bill to Permanently Block EPA from Regulating GHGs

On March 3, Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) and Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) introduced legislation intended to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gases (GHGs) from power plants, factories, and refineries. Named the “Energy Tax Prevention Act”, the companion bills, H.R. 910 and S. 482, have 9 co-sponsors in the House, including Democrats Nick Rahall (D-WV), Dan Boren (D-OK), and Collin Peterson (D-MN), and, in the Senate, 42 Republican co-sponsors as well as Joe Manchin (D-WV). The bill would allow many of the Clean Air Act programs to continue, but prevent the EPA from using its authority regulate carbon dioxide. A deal brokered with the automobile industry to limit GHGs from cars and light trucks would be allowed to continue until 2016, but not further. State-adopted GHG regulations would be allowed to continue. Rep. Upton is Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Sen. Inhofe is the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
For additional information see: New York Times , Politico, AP, Bill Information

RGGI Member States Invest $404 Million In Efficiency

On February 28, member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction program, announced in a report that they have invested more than half their carbon permit auction proceeds, roughly $404 million, into energy efficiency. To meet its goal of a 10 percent reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 2018, the RGGI holds quarterly auctions of CO2 permits, which have raised nearly $780 million since 2008 despite a recent dip in auction prices to $2 a short ton. About 80 percent of the proceeds have gone to programs that cut energy demand, foster the growth of alternative energy, and help the poor pay energy bills, while 52 percent of the proceeds have gone specifically to programs to improve energy efficiency, such as replacing boilers and caulking windows in businesses and homes. The RGGI called the energy efficiency programs the most cost-effective tool for reducing GHG emissions.
For additional information see: Reuters, RGGI Report Press Release

China’s Environmental Minister Issues Warning on Economic Development and Climate

On February 28, China’s Environment Minister Zhou Shengxian issued a warning about the effects of unrestrained development on China’s air, water, and soil quality, saying that the nation’s current path could stifle long-term economic growth and fuel social instability. China has become the leading emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), due to its growth in energy consumption, its dependence on coal for 70 percent of its energy needs, and its increasing demand for oil. Mr. Zhou said the government will take a more aggressive role in determining whether development initiatives contribute to climate change through a new risk assessment system. Mr. Zhou’s comments were echoed by Prime Minister Wen Jiabao on the same day, who suggested that the nation would seek to embrace tighter environmental regulations this week. “We must not any longer sacrifice the environment for the sake of rapid growth and reckless roll-outs,” said Mr. Wen, who lowered China’s target for average GDP growth, from 7.5 percent to 7 percent, in a move that suggested China would reconsider emphasizing economic growth above all else.
For additional information see: The New York Times, Reuters, BBC

Climate Change Threatening Survival of Lodgepole Pine in Pacific Northwest

On February 28, a study published in the journal Climatic Change found that the range of the lodgepole pine tree is shrinking as a result of climate change, and could disappear from most of the Pacific Northwest by 2080. Warming temperatures, less winter precipitation, earlier loss of snowpack, and more summer drought appear to be affecting the range of the lodgepole pine, while simultaneously attracting bark beetles that attack the tree species. The lodgepole pine thrives in cold temperatures and plays a key role in many ecosystems in western North America, but scientists predict that the tree will only be able to survive in 17 percent of its current habitable range. The pine can occupy vast areas following major fires where extreme cold temperatures, poor soils, and branch-breaking snows make it difficult for other tree species to compete or survive. According to the study, climate change forces will have decreased the Pacific Northwest range of lodgepole pine by 8 percent by 2020, and by 2080, scientists predict that it will be almost absent from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
For additional information see: EurekAlert, The New York Times, Science Daily, Oregon State University Press Release, Study Abstract

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Chad A. Tolman
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Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action