CC NEWS FOR SEPT. 2011
On Feb. 4, 2011 Ira Flatow of NPR’s Science Friday hosted Kerry Emanuel, a climate science professor at MIT and an expert on hurricanes. Kerry authored an excellent book called Divine Wind: The History and Science of Hurricanes. The interview was called, Taking the Politics Out of Climate Science. Emmanuel is a conservative and a Republican, even though it seems that denying the science of climate change has become a litmus test for Republican candidates running for major political office. He has some very interesting views - well worth listening to. At: http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201102045
Another oldie but goodie from Science Friday is a Dec. 3, 2010 broadcast in which Ira Flatow interviewed Anthony Leiserowitz
Director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, and Bob Inglis, an outgoing Republican representative from the 4th Congressional District of North Carolina and former member of the House Energy Committee. Again, well worth listening to. At: http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201012031
On May 9, 2011 IPCC Working Group III on Climate Mitigation released the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN). It concluded that 80% of the world’s energy demand in 2050 could be supplied by six renewable energy resources: bioenergy, direct solar energy, geothermal energy, hydropower, ocean energy and wind energy. The press release is at: http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/press/content/potential-of-renewable-energy-outlined-report-by-the-intergovernmental-panel-on-climate-change
The Summary for Policy Makers is at:
http://srren.ipcc-wg3.de/report/IPCC_SRREN_SPM
On July 21 Chris Jordan-Bloch of Earth Justice posted a 7-minute video titled, An Ill Wind – The Secret Threat of Coal Ash. It shows a number of members of a Piute Indian tribe who have the misfortune of living with a coal-fired power plant just upwind of their village. The prevailing wind blows the fine particles containing chromium, arsenic and lead into their homes and lungs, causing unnecessary illness and death. The site allows you to sign a petition asking that coal ash be regulated as a hazardous waste – a common sense thing to do. At:
http://earthjustice.org/blog/2011-july/an-ill-wind-blows-in-moapa
On July 28 the Government Accountability Office issued a report titled, Climate Engineering: Technical Status, Future Directions, and Potential Responses. Climate engineering includes large-scale efforts to reduce the impacts of climate change, such as chemically removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or putting sulfate aerosols into the stratosphere to reduce the intensity of sunlight falling on Earth’s surface. A public opinion poll done as part of the study indicates that people generally support research, but are concerned about the possible adverse consequences of trying to modify Earth’s climate. At: http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-71
While the full report is 135 pages, a 1-page summary can be found at: http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1171high.pdf
Robert Bradley, The CEO of the Institute for Energy Research, posted an article on Forbes on Aug. 15 titled, Where Energy Federal Subsidies Really Go. He wrote that the federal government provided $37.2 billion in direct energy subsidies in 2010, an increase of more than $19 billion over 2007. He said that wind power was the largest recipient of federal energy dollars, with $5 billion in subsidies; solar got $1.13 billion. Biofuels (mostly ethanol) got $6.6 billion. When I add these numbers up, I get $12.7 billion, much less that half of the $37.2 billion total, yet he claims that federal spending to promote renewable energy has very little to show for the dollars spent, and that it’s part of the out of control federal spending driving the deficit. At:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2011/08/15/where-federal-energy-subsidies-really-go/
Bradley ignores the illness and death resulting from fossil fuel use, and the climate change costs of continuing to burn them. When I did a quick Google search for the Institute for Energy Research, I found a Sourcewatch report on the organization saying that the “think tank” has received funding from ExxonMobil and the Koch Brothers, is opposed to renewable energy, and thinks that climate change is a hoax. Nuf said? See:
http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Institute_for_Energy_Research
On August 18, NASA posted the first complete map of Antarctic ice flows, based on radar data from satellites. There is even a short video so that you can watch the flows. The report quoted Thomas Wagner, NASA's cryospheric program scientist in Washington, saying, "The map points out something fundamentally new: that ice moves by slipping along the ground it rests on. That's critical knowledge for predicting future sea level rise. It means that if we lose ice at the coasts from the warming ocean, we open the tap to massive amounts of ice in the interior." At: www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/aug/HQ_11-269_Glaciers.html
On August 19 the University of Delaware’s UDaily posted an article titled, Energy Conservation Initiative. It described the proceeds of a sale of a nearly $73 million bond, which, when added to $11 million from the state, will provide $84 million to promote energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy development in Delaware. Others may look at what Delaware has done as a model. At: http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2012/aug/SEU-081911.html
Bill Chameides, Dean of the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University, posted a Huffington Post story on August 23 titled, Confirmed: U.S. Emissions Up in 2010. He reported that CO2 emissions were up by 3.9% over what they were in 2009 – partly as a result of the economic recovery and partly because of a hot summer in 2010, with increased demands for air conditioning, much of whose electrical energy comes from coal. The article has a bar graph showing the sources of increased electrical generation in several states. Kentucky and Wisconsin got most of their increase from coal. California and Colorado got most of theirs from wind. Other states used natural gas. At:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-chameides/confirmed-us-emissions-up_b_934050.html
On August 24 the Yale Forum on Climate Change and the Media posted an article titled, Earth Science Teachers Surveying Members;
Climate Seen ‘Second Only to Evolution’ in Controversy. “The National Earth Sciences Teachers Association, NESTA, is asking its members and other teachers to respond anonymously to a 71-question “Survey Monkey” online questionnaire.” The results on the teaching of climate change in grades of K-12 will be posted in November. The article goes on to say, “Science magazine reported in its August 5 issue that “the U.S. political debate over climate change is seeping into K-12 science classrooms, and teachers are feeling the heat.” Reporter Sara Reardon wrote in that story of conflicts among secondary school science teachers, school boards, and sometimes parents and students over expectations to teach climate change science in a “balanced” way.” “Her article pointed to a law passed in 2008 in Louisiana listing climate change, along with evolution, as “‘controversial’ subjects that teachers and students alike can challenge in the classroom without fear of reprisal.”” At: http://www.yaleclimatemediaforum.org/2011/08/climate-seen-second-only-to-evolution-in-controversy/
On August 25 the Government Accountability Office (GAO) posted an interview with Dr. Timothy Persons, the Chief GAO scientist, about a recent report titled,
Climate Engineering: Technical Status, Future Directions, and Potential Responses. The interview can be heard or downloaded as a podcast at: http://www.gao.gov/podcast/watchdog_episode_69.html. The full report is available at:
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-71, and a 1-page summary of highlights is at:
http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d1171high.pdf
On Aug. 31 Justin Gillis of the NY Times posted an article titled, Documenting a Collapsing Ice Shelf. The article describes the breakup of the ice shelf in front of the Petermann Glacier in Northwestern Greenland. This is the first loss of a Greenland ice shelf this far north, and is consistent with rising temperatures of seawater in the area, though direct measurements of waters temperature beneath the shelf before it broke up are not available. At:
http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/documenting-a-collapsing-ice-shelf/
On Sept. 2 Helen Turner of WalesOnline posted an article titled, Scientist left speechless as vast glacier turns to water. The article quoted Dr Alun Hubbard from the Aberystwyth University’s Centre for Glaciology, after his return from the Petermann Glacier in northwest Greenland. He said: “Although I knew what to expect in terms of ice loss from satellite imagery, I was still completely unprepared for the gob-smacking scale of the break-up, which rendered me speechless. It was just incredible to see. This glacier is huge, 20 km across, 1,000 m high. It’s like looking into the Grand Canyon full of ice and coming back two years later to find it’s full of water.” At: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/go-green/go-green-climate/2011/09/02/scientist-left-speechless-as-vast-glacier-turns-to-water-91466-29349051/
On Sept. 7 the League of Women Voters, the Sierra Club, and a number of other organizations sent a letter to every member of the U.S. House of Representatives opposing the legislative agenda proposed by Majority Leader Cantor. If successful he would greatly reduce environmental protections for U.S. citizens and cause in untold death and illness – all in the name of promoting jobs and reducing the deficit. At: http://www.lwv.org/AM/Template.cfm?Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=17947
On. Sept. 7 Climate Communications hosted a press conference with expert reviewers discussing the connections between extreme weather and climate change. The full audio recording of the conference can be downloaded at: 9/7/11 Climate Communication Press Conference. The article has a number of interesting graphs and explanations, including why small increases in temperature can cause large increases in extreme weather events. At:
http://climatecommunication.org/new/articles/extreme-weather/overview/
On Sept. 8 the Department of Energy announced awards of $43 million over 5 years for 41 R&D projects to promote the development of the huge offshore wind resource waiting to be tapped off U.S. coasts. At: http://energy.gov/articles/department-energy-awards-43-million-spur-offshore-wind-energy. While the amount of money is small relative to federal subsidies for nuclear power and fossil fuels, it’s a step in the right direction.
On Sept. 10 a video aired on energyNow! called the “Oil Shockwave’ Simulation. The simulation involved an armed Al-Qaeda attack on a major oil processing plant in Saudi Arabia, causing a sudden drop in world oil supply. The video lasts about 5.5 minutes and shows how vulnerable we are to disruptions in oil supply, since we now import more than 60% of the oil we use. At: http://www.energynow.com/video/2011/09/09/oil-shockwave-simulation
energyNow! Is a weekly TV news magazine that deals with important energy issues, like the Keystone XL pipeline that would bring tar sands crude from Canada to Texas for refining.
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.
Sea Level Rise to Continue Despite Efforts to Reduce Emissions, Study Finds
A new study suggests that sea levels would continue to rise in the coming centuries even if all greenhouse gas emissions were halted today. The study by a University of Arizona-led team of researchers examined the interaction of the atmosphere and ocean during the warmest period of the Last Interglacial Period -- roughly 125,000 years ago. At that time, sea levels were roughly 26 feet higher than today. Average ocean temperatures, however, were only 0.7 degrees Celsius warmer than today. “This means that even small amounts of warming may have committed us to more ice sheet melting than we previously thought,” said lead author Nicholas McKay. The oceans warm more slowly than the atmosphere. Water also expands when heated. But the study also found that most of the sea level rise during ancient times was because of melting ice sheets, rather than the thermal expansion of water. The study has been accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters.
For additional information see: Science Daily
Volcanoes, Pollution Helped Curb Rate of Warming, Study Reports
Volcanic ash and man-made pollution from burning fossil fuels helped slow the rate of global warming in the past decade, a new study found. Although average global temperatures were higher in the 2000s than during the 1990s and 1980s, the rate at which the planet was warming slowed. Six French and American researchers, including staff at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and scientists at the University of Colorado, found the trend may be explained by an increase in the stratosphere of persistent aerosols that block sunlight. Although no massive volcanic eruptions have occurred since 1991, smaller eruptions occurred in 2006, 2008 and 2009. The addition of the volcanic ash to the haze of man-made pollution in the upper atmosphere was enough to help slow the rate of warming by 20 percent since 1998, according to the study. However, the brake on the rate of warming is only temporary. Eventually, the shading effect will be overwhelmed by greenhouse gases building in the atmosphere. The study provides more information on the interaction of forces shaping the global climate. It was published online July 21 in Science.
For additional information see: The Washington Post, ScienceNOW, Study Abstract
Climate Change May Doom Wisconsin Fish
University of Wisconsin at Madison researchers estimated that the cisco, a cold water fish and important food source for many of Wisconsin’s iconic game fish, could disappear from most of the state’s lakes by 2100 because of the warming climate. In a new study in the journal PLoS One, lead author Sapna Sharma found that climate change could pose a greater risk to the cisco than even invasive species such as the rainbow smelt. "By 2100, 30 to 70 percent of cisco populations could be extirpated in Wisconsin due to climate change," said Sharma. Cisco are found in approximately 170 inland lakes in Wisconsin currently, but face risks above habitat loss from invasive species because it depends on colder water.
For additional information see: Press Release, Abstract
Arctic Permafrost Melting Will Turn North from Carbon Sink to Source: Study
The layer of permanently frozen plant and animal matter in the Arctic, known as permafrost, will turn the region into a major source of carbon emissions if it melts, according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Previous predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimated that the far north would become a carbon sink as warmer temperatures allowed more vegetation to grow, which would store more carbon. The IPCC prediction, however, did not factor into its model the amount of stored carbon in permafrost that would be released from the warmer temperatures. The study predicted that the Arctic could release as much as 62 billion tons of carbon over the next 100 years, an amount equal to Canada’s 2009 carbon emissions. "This is just a fraction of the amount of carbon that we emit as a species per year, but it’s important," said lead author Charles Koven. "The big question is whether that’s going to continue.” In addition, annual emissions of methane, a much more potent greenhouse gas, are expected to double, according to researchers.
For additional information see: CBC
Tar Sands Pipeline Poised to Clear State Department Hurdle Amid Large Protest at White House
Amid a two-week long protest in front of the White House, the State Department was due to publish its final environmental assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline on August 26, which would make it easier for the pipeline to be built. The proposed pipeline would traverse several Western and Midwestern states to bring oil from tar sands in Western Canada to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Canada’s environment ministry estimated that production of the tar sands would double in the next decade and increase the greenhouse gas emissions from the country’s oil and gas sector by one-third. Meanwhile, the protest has resulted in the arrest of more than 275 demonstrators, including 350.org co-founder Bill McKibben. “This is the primary test for Obama and the environment in the period between now and the election. [Denial of the pipeline permit] is his chance to do something on his own, without interference from Congress,” said McKibben. Release of the final environmental assessment triggers a 90-day public comment period before the decision goes to President Obama for approval or denial. While TransCanada, developer of the pipeline, stated the United States would become more dependent on Nigeria, Venezuela, and Libya if the pipeline is not built, analysts note that the oil coming from Canada to be refined in Texas may very well end up in Latin America or Europe because the companies Shell, Total, and Valero, who have signed agreements to take oil from Keystone XL, run refineries in Texas’ free trade zone which makes it easier to ship oil overseas.
For additional information see: Washington Post, Guardian, Politico
Proposed Australian Coal Mine Taken to Court Over Climate Impact
Landowners and the environmental organization Friends of the Earth have filed a lawsuit against a proposed coal mine in Australia on the basis of climate change, on August 22. The case seeks to ban development of the $6.2 billion Wandoan mine, which would export approximately 30 million tons of coal per year. Litigants in the case said the project will cause irreversible damage to Australia’s natural icons like the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rain forests in the northeast from climate change. The mining company Xstrata will call witnesses who will testify to the local economic benefits of the mining project, while local landowners claim the project will destroy much of the region’s grazing and crop land as well as affect the air, soil and water quality, local wildlife and the health of livestock.
For additional information see: AFP, AUDIO: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Bhutan PM: Climate Change Impact on Our Hydrology is Severe
The prime minister of Bhutan, a country situated in the Himalayan mountains of Asia, issued a dire warning of the impending negative impacts of climate change on the productivity of his country. Speaking to Agence France Presse, Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley said that his country is already facing challenges from dryer winters and wetter summers. "The glaciers are retreating very rapidly, some are even disappearing. The flow of water in our river system is fluctuating in ways that are very worrying," he said. Bhutan gets the majority of its power from hydroelectric dams that are fed by glaciers in the Himalayan mountains. In the summer months, river systems are overflowing, threatening people who live in the valleys below. During the winter months, the rivers dry up much more than before, creating a shortage of hydroelectric power that the country relies upon. Bhutan has plans to build more hydroelectric capacity to foster its growth and export power to neighboring India. However, climate change threatens that plan. Bhutan will host a conference with India, Nepal, and Bangladesh in November to discuss ways to reduce climate change impacts on the Himalayas, which are a source of water for 1.9 billion people.
For additional information see: AFP
Study Proves that Climate Change is Tipping Point for World Conflict
On August 25, a study published in Nature found that during the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) weather pattern, civil conflict increased by six percent from non-weather related conflict. The ENSO cycle changes rainfall and temperatures throughout Africa, the Mideast, India, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Australia, and disrupts weather patterns in over 90 countries worldwide. Researchers used data from 1950 to 2004 to show that the probability of new civil conflicts in the tropics doubles during El Nino years compared to La Nina years. "What [the study shows] and [shows] beyond any doubt is that even in this modern world, climate variations have an impact on the propensity of people to fight," said Mark Cane, a scientist at Columbia University. Some scientists are skeptical of the connection the study drew between climate change and violence. "The study fails to improve on our understanding of the causes of armed conflicts, as it makes no attempt to explain the reported association between ENSO cycles and conflict risk," said Halvard Buhaug, of the Peace Research Institute. Though not all scientists agree on the correlation between El Nino and political instability, they do agree that at-risk governments could use the data to prepare for potential conflicts during times of ENSO-related weather.
For additional information see: AFP, Science Daily, Nature, Abstract
Drought Limits the Positive Effects of CO2 and Heat On Plant Growth in Future Climate
On August 23, a research paper in the journal Global Change Biology found that prolonged exposure to heat limits plant growth, even if there is an increase of CO2 in the atmosphere. The study concluded that prolonged exposure to heat dries the soil, effecting nitrogen production and plant growth. "When you've previously seen a significantly higher plant growth at elevated CO2 concentrations, it is typically because it has been controlled studies, where only the CO2 concentration was changed. We fundamentally had the theory that you have to look at the combination of the different climate variables, since the plants in the future will be exposed to multiple changes simultaneously," stated Klaus Steenberg Larsen, lead author on the study.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Abstract
Study Finds Mental Illness Increases as Result of Climate Change
A study released by the Climate Institute found that increased incidence of mental illness stemming from severe weather events will increase due to climate change. The study focused on the effects of Australia’s 10-year drought, the increased frequency and intensity of bush fires, and cyclones and floods. A loss of social cohesion after these events may lead to anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress and substance abuse, according to researchers. For example, the suicide rate in rural areas has increased by 8 per cent, while one in ten elementary school children have shown signs of post-traumatic stress disorder after Cyclone Larry in 2006. “[R]ecent conditions are entirely consistent with the best scientific predictions: as the world warms so the weather becomes wilder, with big consequences for people's health and well-being,” the report says.
For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald, International Business Times, Report
Reducing Soot Emissions May Be Fastest, Most Economical Approach to Global Warming
According to a new study, cutting soot emissions could be one of the fastest and more economical ways to reduce global warming. Soot emissions consist of tiny particles known as “black carbon” and come from diesel cars, buses, trucks, ships, aircraft, agriculture and construction machines and even from dung burned as fuel in developing countries. It warms the planet by absorbing light and emitting heat back into the atmosphere and also by blocking light reflected from Earth’s surface. Even though soot is second only to carbon in terms of its contribution to global warming, it is often overlooked in climate models. According to Stanford University’s Mark Z. Jacobson, author of the study, reducing soot emissions could lower the temperature in parts of the Arctic by up to 3 degrees Fahrenheit within just 15 years. The reason is that while carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere for years, soot only remains for a few weeks. Reducing soot emissions would have a more immediate impact on the atmosphere than reducing carbon emissions. Further, the technology already exists to reduce up to 90 percent of soot emissions in only 5-10 years if aggressive policies are enacted.
For additional information see: Science Daily, American Chemical Society
Heat-Related Deaths Among Elderly to Rise in California
An aging population and global warming will lead to a steep increase in heat-related deaths, according to a new report commissioned by the California Air Resources Board. The report found that heat spells lasting 10 days or more could rise two to 10 times by 2090 and the number of heat-related deaths among people 65 and older could rise five to 17 times. Researchers from the University of Miami and Kent State University used two climate models and various population growth and socio-economic scenarios to estimate the impacts in nine major urban areas of the state. Currently, an average of 508 elderly people die from excessive heat in these areas each year. “The public is generally under-educated about the dangers of extreme heat and heat waves," said the researchers. "Because of this, many of the most vulnerable people are unaware of the risks associated with excessive heat events or of the proper steps to take to reduce their risk to heat exposure.” The report recommends that California set up extreme heat warning systems to inform weather forecasters of which days are most dangerous to human health, and that every major California city establish a heat-health task force.
For additional information see: Environmental News Service, Orange County Register
Climate Change May Increase Asthma-Related Emergency Room Visits
A study conducted by researchers at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine has revealed that changes in atmospheric ozone levels could increase asthma attacks in children by an estimated 7.3 percent over 1990s levels by the 2020s. Researchers calculated the increase by comparing regional climate and air quality data to asthma-related emergency room visits for 14 counties within the New York Metropolitan area. They used regional and atmospheric chemistry models to simulate the expected changes in ozone levels for the months of June through August in the 2020s to determine the increases in asthma-related emergency room visits. While the median increase was 7.3 percent, each county varied from as low as a 5.2 percent increase to as high as a 10.2 percent increase. According to lead author Dr. Perry Sheffield, "This study is a jumping off point to evaluate other outcomes including cost utilization, doctors' visits, missed school days, and a general understanding of the overall burden of climate change on children with asthma." The study was published in the journal American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
GAO Study: Geo-Engineering Technologies Not Yet Ready to Combat Climate Change
Climate engineering technologies are not yet developed enough for large-scale implementation, according to a study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The proposed technologies fall into one of two categories: carbon dioxide removal or solar radiation management. Carbon dioxide removal would reduce atmospheric CO2 and, therefore, reduce heat trapped by the atmosphere. Alternatively, solar radiation management involves dispersing reflective materials into the atmosphere or space in order to scatter and deflect incoming radiation from the sun. The GAO ranked the “technological readiness” of each option on a scale of one to nine, with the “direct air capture of carbon dioxide” receiving a three, the highest rank. The GAO cited cost, effectiveness and adverse consequences as the highest causes for concern in geo-engineering technologies. The GAO also surveyed 1,006 U.S. adults unfamiliar with geo-engineering technology and stated that “when given information on the technologies, they tend to be open to research but concerned about safety.”
For additional information see: Scientific American, GAO Report
Climate Change Threatens California Chinook Salmon
A recent study found that populations of spring-run Chinook salmon may be depleted in California by the end of the century because the waters will be too warm to spawn. The researchers used a model of the Butte Creek watershed, and considered hydropowered dams located on the river, as well as several models that project climate change through 2099. Nearly every scenario suggested that rising temperatures will render the salmon incapable of spawning. According to the lead author of the study, the depletion of salmon is avoidable, but the solutions would affect hydroelectric power generation. One option would likely require reducing hydroelectric power generation during the warmest months, which are also the peak months for energy consumption in California. Other potential solutions include holding water for salmon at other locations, and dumping cooler water into the stream during heat waves. The study was published in the Journal of Water Resources and Management.
For additional information see: Summit County Voice, Science Daily, Abstract
Pole to Pole Data Collection Flights Reinforce Mathematical Models of Global Warming
Data collected from several years of pole-to-pole flights in a project known as HIAPER Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) reinforce the mathematical model predictions that climate change is impacted by human activities, according to scientists associated with the project. Data from HIPPO have been used to quantify processes of carbon cycling that are important in managing greenhouse gas emissions. The flights enabled scientists to observe the distribution of carbon dioxide (CO2) to test the predictions of previous mathematical models about climate change. One of the most significant research milestones for the project was quantifying seasonal fluxes of CO2 that are processed by the land plants and the ocean. The studies, which included collecting and quantifying over 80 different gases, also include strong evidence that areas of the ocean surface that have been exposed due to melting ice caps are emitting methane, a potent greenhouse gas. (emphasis added)
For additional information see: LA Times, Science Daily, Science News
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Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS FOR AUGUST 2011
CC NEWS FOR AUG. 2011
Sir Paul Nurse, the President of the British Royal Society, has recorded a 4-part series of YouTube videos, each about 15 minutes long, called Science Under Attack. He examines the difficulty scientists have in communicating with the public on complex issues like climate change. At: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRR0SavUHtw
NEEP (the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships) has posted useful information on the transition to much more energy efficient lighting. At: http://neep.org/uploads/NEEPResources/id719/Understanding%20the%20Lighting%20efficiency%20standards%20transition.pdf
The Union of Concerned Scientists has posted a Climate Hot Map showing impacts of climate change around the world on people, freshwater, oceans ecosystems and temperature – lots of good information. Take a look at: http://www.climatehotmap.org/
On July 14 the Associated Press published an article titled, Power company AEP puts hold on carbon capture project, cites economy, uncertain climate policy. The American Electric Power Company announced that it is putting on hold its plans to develop a commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in West Virginia. The project, partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, was to capture and store about 1.5 million tons a year of CO2 and store it deep underground. The reasons for stopping the work were the absence of a price on carbon emissions and a low price for natural gas, making it difficult to justify the expense of removing emissions from coal. At: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/power-company-aep-puts-hold-on-carbon-capture-project-cites-economy-uncertain-climate-policy/2011/07/14/gIQArTy5DI_story.html
On July 19 Look to the Stars announced that Al Gore has launched a new project called the Climate Reality Project. Mark your calendars now for September 14-15. He wrote:
"Using the same deceitful playbook as big tobacco used years before to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking, oil and coal companies and their allies are now deceiving the public about climate change. They have nearly unlimited resources to sow doubt, but we have one critical advantage: Reality is on our side."
“Climate Reality will start with a global event on September 14-15 called 24 Hours of Reality. Over 24 hours, in multiple languages and in 24 time zones, we will bring the world together to reveal the full truth, scope and impact of the climate crisis." See: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6638-al-gore-launches-climate-reality-project#ixzz1TErHI6Nc
Michael Ruppert’s Collapse Network posted a short YouTube video, Famine Stalks Southern Somalia, about the desperate situation of starving refugees who have fled in the face of a prolonged drought and civil war. At: http://www.collapsenet.com/free-resources/must-see-videos/item/1428-famine-stalks-southern-somalia
Unfortunately, climate models predict increasing drought if that part of Africa and in many other failed and failing states, including Yemen and Afghanistan, where water supplies are already inadequate for expanding populations.
On July 21 Alison Fitzgerald of Bloomberg News posted an article titled, Koch, Exxon Mobil Among Corporations Helping Write State Law. In it she described a legislative action group, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), funded by the Koch brothers, Exxon Mobil and others, which lets them work with state legislators and provides ‘model legislation” that promotes the financial interests and ideological agenda of the supporting companies. Bob Edgar, President of Common Cause, said, “This is just another hidden way for corporations to buy their way into the legislative process.” As a tax-exempt organization, ALEC doesn’t have to disclose its corporate donors, and Tea Party legislators can come to Washington with all expenses paid by supporting companies as “scholarship funds.” “ALEC was founded by the late Representative Henry Hyde of Illinois, a Republican who served in the U.S. Congress for 22 years, and the late political activist Paul Weyrich, who co- founded the Heritage Foundation.” It has been a major supporter of the TEA Party. It is a serious threat to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to deal with climate change. At: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-21/koch-exxon-mobil-among-corporations-helping-write-state-laws.html
You can see an excellent Bloomberg video about the history and anti-environmental views and actions of the Koch brothers at: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/70603974/
On July 25, 2011 Daniel Weiss and Arpita Bhattacharyya of the Center for American Progress posted Slideshow: Wet, Hot, Dirty American Summer - Top 10 American Vacation Spots the House’s Environment Spending Bill Could Ruin. It shows photos of 10 great vacation spots in national parks and tells how they could be spoiled if U.S. H.R. 2584, the Interior Environment FY 2012 Appropriations bill, became law. It’s an unparalleled assault not only on public lands, but also on protection of public health and welfare. Fortunately, Pres. Obama would veto it if it got through the Senate. At: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/07/climate_vacation.html
Yahoo!News posted an article on July 25 titled, Holy Land Clerics Launch Interfaith Earth Forum. It reported that Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in the Holy Land are planning to launch an interfaith environmental campaign, to include an international conference of religious leaders in New York ahead of the 2010 UN General Assembly. A statement calls on “all people of faith to reduce their personal emissions of greenhouse gases and to urge their political leaders to adopt strong, binding, science-based targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases in order to avert the worst dangers of climate crisis.” At: http://news.yahoo.com/holy-land-clerics-launch-interfaith-earth-forum-113212070.html
I recently learned about an organization based in Eugene, Oregon, called Our Children’s Trust – Protecting Earth’s Climate for Future Generations. It has a list of states showing climate impacts for each state. Legal petitions on behalf of children were filed in each state in May. Check it out at: http://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/legal-action/petitions
On July 27 there was a debate on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in Bergen New Jersey between Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club and Steve Lonegan of Americans for Prosperity, a far-right Republican organization that has opposed RGGI in favor of more fossil fuel burning. You can watch the debate at: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/16278902#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://americansforprosperity.org/072811-lonegan-scores-tko-vs-tittel-rumble-over-rggi-debate-0&medium=16278902
On July 29 the EPA posted a news release, President Obama Announces Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standard/Consumers will save $1.7 trillion at the pump, $8K per vehicle by 2025. The agreement included 13 major auto manufacturers and will nearly double the fuel efficiency per vehicle by 2025. Obama called it, “the single most important step we’ve ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” At: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/0019C092CCAE8AC2852578DC0056DED0
Jim Hansen recently posted a paper titled Baby Lauren and the Kool Aid, giving his thoughts on how to deal with the climate crisis, including the roles of nuclear power and renewable energy. It’s well worth reading. (Lauren is his new granddaughter.) At: http://www.columbia.edu/%7Ejeh1/mailings/2011/20110729_BabyLauren.pdf
The July 30 NY Times had an article by Mireya Navarro titled, Coming Together to Pray, and Also to Find Reduced-Rate Energy Deals. Faith communities in the Washington, DC area are coming together to negotiate both lower electric rates and more energy from renewable energy sources. In this way they can both use money to help the poor that would have gone to utility companies, and also fulfill their desire to be better stewards of God’s creation. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/science/earth/31churches.html?ref=science
Lisa Friedman has an article in the August 2 issue of Scientific American titled, Will Climate Change Make Life Harder for Girls? She points out that teenage girls - especially in developing countries - suffer disproportionately in droughts, floods and other natural disasters that are becoming more common as the climate changes. This is an issue of social justice that needs to be addressed. At: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=will-climate-change-make-life-harder-for-girls
NY Times blog Green has an article on Aug. 3 by John Broder titled, Climate Change an Extra Burden for Native Americans, Study Says. The report, by the National Wildlife Federation and others, says, “The high dependence of tribes upon their lands and natural resources to sustain their economic, cultural and spiritual practices, the relatively poor state of their infrastructure and the great need for financial and technical resources to recover from such events all contribute to the disproportionate impact on tribes.” This is yet another example of a lack of social justice, where those who are least responsible suffer most. At: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/climate-change-an-extra-burden-for-native-americans-study-says/
An article by Don Hopey in the Aug. 3 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was titled, EPA in 1987 Found fracking fouled well water in W. Va. He reported, “The EPA finding was unearthed by Environmental Working Group, which conducted a year-long investigation of the incident and released a report on the finding, "Cracks in the Facade," today.” This was a case nearly 25 years ago where the EPA established that drinking water wells were contaminated by fracking for natural gas. “In 2005 hydraulic fracturing was exempted from regulation and enforcement under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act based on a 2004 EPA study of fracked methane wells in coal beds.” At: www.post-gazette.com/pg/11215/1164864-100.stm
On August 4 the EPA issued a news release titled, Obama Administration Advances Efforts to Protect Health of U.S. Communities Overburdened by Pollution / Federal Agencies Sign Environmental Justice Memorandum of Understanding. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said, "All too often, low-income, minority and Native Americans live in the shadows of our society's worst pollution, facing disproportionate health impacts and greater obstacles to economic growth in communities that can’t attract businesses and new jobs.” At: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/28420A5AE8467CF5852578E200635712
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.
House Budget Writers Seek to Cut EPA Funding, Block CO2 Rules
The House Appropriations Committee passed a spending bill that cuts funding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and halts regulation of greenhouse gases for one year. The Republican-led committee reported the appropriations bill by a vote of 28-18 on July 12. The bill also includes spending cuts for other agencies. The bill now goes to the full House. Republicans said the EPA’s regulations and activities harm the economy. The bill, as reported, cuts the Obama Administration’s funding request for the EPA by 20 percent. It would also temporarily block greenhouse gas regulations on large industrial facilities. Since Jan. 2, proposals to build those facilities or modify existing facilities must include an analysis of the “best available control technology” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA plans to issue greenhouse gas limits for new power plants and oil refineries later this year.
For additional information see: Bloomberg, Federal Times
Researchers Find Oceans Absorbing Less Carbon Dioxide
Warmer global temperatures are reducing the ability of the oceans to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, according to a new study. Because CO2 dissolves in water, the oceans act as an important sink for CO2, absorbing about one-third of all human-caused carbon emissions. But warmer water cannot hold as much CO2. Any decrease in the rate of uptake may point to the need for more urgent steps to reduce CO2 emissions. Separating the effect of the natural variability from influence of changes in temperature has been difficult for researchers, however. University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists sought to overcome that challenge by combining existing data to examine three large ocean regions over a three-decade period. "Because the ocean is so variable, we need at least 25 years' worth of data to really see the effect of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere," said researcher Galen McKinley. "This is a big issue in many branches of climate science -- what is natural variability, and what is climate change?" The study, published July 10 in Nature Geoscience, provided some of the first observational evidence of the effect of climate change’s on CO2 absorption in the oceans.
For additional information see: Science Daily, VOA News, Study Abstract
Declines of Animals and Plants Matching Scientists’ Predictions
One in 10 species could face extinction by 2100 if the current rate of climate change continues, according to a new study that provides more evidence on the threat to global biodiversity. A University of Exeter research team assessed the risk of climate change to animals and plants by examining how earlier scientific predictions match actual data being recorded today. On average, scientists’ warnings were on the mark. “Our study is a wake-up call for action,” said lead author Ilya Maclean. “The many species that are already declining could become extinct if things continue as they are. It is time to stop using the uncertainties as an excuse for not acting. Our research shows that the harmful effects of climate change are already happening and, if anything, exceed predictions.” The Exeter team reviewed 200 predictions and compared them to 130 reports of actual changes to animal and plant populations. For years, scientists have tried to predict future effects of climate change, but those warnings were received cautiously because of uncertainty in how species would actually respond. Today, however, declines are being observed. In Yellowstone National Park, for instance, the population of the blotched tiger salamander is half the population recorded two decades ago. Similarly, the park’s population of spotted frogs fell by 68 percent, and the population of chorus frogs fell by 75 percent. The study was published July 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Time, Study Abstract
Research Shows Promise in Adapting Rice to Climate Change
Scientists are making progress in adapting a key food staple to the impacts of climate change. A U.S. Geological Survey-led research project successfully colonized two commercial varieties of rice with a type of fungi. The rice showed an increased tolerance to drought, which is important because scientists expect climate change to increase the duration and severity of drought in already water-scarce areas of the globe. Rice is a key staple of diets worldwide. It provides nearly half the daily calories for the world’s population. The next step for the research team is to confer greater heat tolerance to rice. Rice production decreases by 10 percent for each degree Celsius increase in temperature.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
Study: Rising CO2 Levels Trigger Release of Other Greenhouse Gases
Rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) will cause an increased release of nitrogen oxide (NO2) and methane from wetlands, forests and farmlands according to a study in the British journal Nature. More CO2 in the atmosphere causes many plants to grow faster and use water more efficiently, leaving more moisture in the soil. That allows soil microbes to produce more NO2 and methane, according to the lead author of the study, Kees Jan van Groenigen of Northern Arizona University. NO2 is about 300 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than CO2 and methane is about 21 times as powerful. The study suggested global warming could be occurring faster than previously thought and complex computer models used to project climate change may need to be adjusted.
For additional information see: Reuters
Climate Change to Increase Flood Plains
A study to be released later this summer will predict flood plains will grow 40-45 percent in the next 90 years. Stronger storms coupled with sea-level rise of 0.75 and 1.9 meters will force seawater deeper inland by 2100, according to the study, affecting millions of homes and businesses, and doubling the number of policies in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). According to geologist Mark Crowell, who is overseeing the study at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there is “a need for FEMA to incorporate the effects of climate change more directly into various aspects of the NFIP." The NFIP has not yet directly accounted for the impact of climate change on flooding. "We've got to start managing these issues now," according to David Maurstad who ran NFIP under President George W. Bush. Many in the insurance industry acknowledge increased financial losses from violent weather but blame increased population and the expansion of new construction.
For additional information see: New York Times
Climate Change to Cause More Frequent Fires in National Parks, Study Finds
According to a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, climate change will cause Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons to experience large fires more frequently. Over the past 10,000 years, fires have occurred in the area every 100 to 300 years. The study indicated that by the end of the century, large fires are likely to occur every 20 to 30 years and the average annual burn area will be almost 400 square miles. "What surprised us is how early the changes become so extreme," said lead author Anthony Westerling. "By mid-century, the climate conditions combined with fire frequency are going to be incompatible with the kinds of forests that grow there now. There is going to be a transformation of the landscape. It's going to look really different." The dominant lodgepole pines will not be able to regenerate in the short time span between fires and will give way to faster growing aspen, Douglas fir or shrubs and grasslands. Such changes will also impact the region’s wildlife, water flows and carbon storage, according to the study.
For additional information see: AFP, LA Times, Discovery, Abstract
Study: Conservative White Males More Likely to Be Climate Change Deniers
Conservative white males are more likely than other Americans to deny climate change, according to a new study in the journal Global Environmental Change. "The most prominent denialists are conservative white males," wrote co-authors Aaron M. McCright and Riley E. Dunlap. The researchers examined data gathered by the Gallup Organization during 2001 to 2010 from over 10,000 adults to determine attitudes about climate change. The analysis found 29.6 percent of conservative white males believed the effects of global warming “will never happen” and 58.5 percent do not believe global temperature increases are caused by human activity. Almost two-thirds (65.1 percent) of conservative white males said the media exaggerates climate change and 39.1 percent do not worry about global warming. The authors also found that conservative white males claimed a more thorough understanding of climate change than other adults, and those claiming the greatest understanding most likely to be the strongest deniers. "What is most sobering, especially for the scientific community and climate change communicators, is that climate change denial has actually increased in the U.S. general public between 2001 and 2010, although primarily due to a significant increase in the past two years which may prove abnormal in the long run," wrote the authors.
For additional information see: Guardian, Conservation Magazine, Abstract
Insurance Companies Probe Impact of Climate Change on Future Weather Events
Several major insurance companies are taking steps to include the future effects of climate change in their business models. Claims resulting from this year’s floods, droughts, wildfires, and other extreme weather events in the United States are expected to negate any profits for the insurance and reinsurance industry. “Last year in Texas it was all floods and this year it’s drought,” said Andrew Castaldi of Swiss Re America Corp., a reinsurance company. “Is that climate change or just natural variability? We’re investigating whether these phenomena are simply normal variability or normal variability with some climate change influence.” Insurance companies want to price the potential effects of climate change, and set aside appropriate capital reserves to handle future claims. “We don’t see it as a danger in the next 30 years, but if we don’t do something to contain greenhouse gas emissions now, this is definitely a challenge for the insurance business model in the second half of this century,” said Peter Hoppe of Munich Re, another reinsurance company.
For additional information see: CNBC, Munich Re News Release
Near-Record Melting of Ice in Arctic Ocean Opens Safe Route for Cargo
Ice cover in the Arctic melted to such an extent this summer that previously perilous waters are open to easy and safe navigation, the Russian climate monitoring agency reported. The melting is occurring at a near-record pace. “Since the beginning of August, icebreaker-free sailing is open on almost all the (northern shipping) routes,” the agency said in a statement posted Aug. 3 on its website. The Arctic Ocean could be entirely free of ice during the summer by 2050 if the current pace of melting keeps up. Russia would like the northern passage through the Arctic to rival the Suez Canal in moving cargo and become a year-round route. For cargo moving between European and Asian ports, the northern route is one-third shorter. Right now, it is used from July to November and ice-breakers ensure safe passage.
For additional information see: Reuters, Bloomberg
Small Increases in Water Temperatures Can Cause Collapse of Ice Shelves, Study Says
An analysis of prehistoric, large scale discharges of icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean shows small temperature increases of subsurface water can cause a rapid collapse of ice shelves. The findings indicate a 3-4 degree Celsius increase in water temperatures was enough to cause breakup of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in what is now Canada. According to the researchers, present day temperature increases and potentially shifting ocean currents could greatly increase ice melt and hasten sea level rise. The study was conducted by researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Wisconsin, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
Crops with Deeper Roots Can Lower CO2 Levels, Study Finds
Replacing today’s crops with deeper-rooted plants could dramatically lower atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, a new study found. Deeper root systems promote greater sequestration of CO2 in the soil. The University of Manchester study found that replacing today’s crops with new crops that have roots that extend one meter deeper into the soil could double the amount of CO2 sequestered in the soil from agriculture. Deeper-rooted crops also are more drought resistant. Most of today’s crops do not have root systems that extend below one meter. Many deeper-rooted plants exist, but have not been bred for agriculture. “While there is a way to go before such crops might have, for example, the grain yields of present day cereals, their breeding and deployment seems a very promising avenue for sustainable agriculture,” said study author Douglas Kell. The study was published in the Annals of Botany.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
Warming Could Aid Fungi in Attacking Forests, Study Finds
Climate change could weaken trees and make them more susceptible to devastating diseases from fungi, say researchers who studied a mass extinction of prehistoric conifer forests. Today’s trees are facing threats from fungi-related diseases, such as Dutch elm disease and sudden oak death. Scientists are interested in any link between changes in temperature and water availability and the resiliency of trees to disease. The study found that a mass die-off of prehistoric forests was aided by a rapid change in climate that weakened trees and made them less able to fight off attacks from fungi. The study was conducted by a biologist at the University of California-Berkeley and colleagues in Britain and the Netherlands who examined fossil records from around the globe. The study was published online Aug. 5 in Geology.
For additional information see: The Bay Citizen, UC Berkeley News Release, Study Abstract
Researcher Says Arctic Ice Vanishing Faster than Predicted
The Arctic Ocean may be free of sea ice during the summer much earlier than scientists previously believed because the ice is thinning four times faster than computer models have predicted, an Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report, which was issued in 2007, predicted a summer ice-free Arctic by 2100. In a new study, Pierre Rampal of MIT said summer ice will disappear much earlier, probably within a few decades. Thinner ice breaks up more readily, and can get carried on currents through the Fram Strait to warmer waters to the south, enhancing melting. The study will be published in a future edition of Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans.
For additional information see: The Vancouver Sun, MIT News Release
Scientists Find Forests Remove One Third of Fossil Fuel Emissions Each Year
The Earth’s forests absorb a staggering amount of carbon from the atmosphere each year, an amount equivalent to one-third of annual fossil fuel emissions, according to a new study. The study is the first to clearly identify volumes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) taken up by tropical, temperate and boreal forests. "What this research tells us is that forests play a much larger role as carbon sinks as a result of tree growth and forest expansion,” said study co-author Pep Canadell of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. The study also allows scientists to quantify the impact of deforestation, and it’s much bigger than previously thought. Authors say the study shows why re-growing forests and conserving forests are necessary to mitigating GHG emissions. The study was published online in Science.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
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Chad A. Tolman
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Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action
Sir Paul Nurse, the President of the British Royal Society, has recorded a 4-part series of YouTube videos, each about 15 minutes long, called Science Under Attack. He examines the difficulty scientists have in communicating with the public on complex issues like climate change. At: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRR0SavUHtw
NEEP (the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships) has posted useful information on the transition to much more energy efficient lighting. At: http://neep.org/uploads/NEEPResources/id719/Understanding%20the%20Lighting%20efficiency%20standards%20transition.pdf
The Union of Concerned Scientists has posted a Climate Hot Map showing impacts of climate change around the world on people, freshwater, oceans ecosystems and temperature – lots of good information. Take a look at: http://www.climatehotmap.org/
On July 14 the Associated Press published an article titled, Power company AEP puts hold on carbon capture project, cites economy, uncertain climate policy. The American Electric Power Company announced that it is putting on hold its plans to develop a commercial scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in West Virginia. The project, partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, was to capture and store about 1.5 million tons a year of CO2 and store it deep underground. The reasons for stopping the work were the absence of a price on carbon emissions and a low price for natural gas, making it difficult to justify the expense of removing emissions from coal. At: http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/power-company-aep-puts-hold-on-carbon-capture-project-cites-economy-uncertain-climate-policy/2011/07/14/gIQArTy5DI_story.html
On July 19 Look to the Stars announced that Al Gore has launched a new project called the Climate Reality Project. Mark your calendars now for September 14-15. He wrote:
"Using the same deceitful playbook as big tobacco used years before to mislead the public about the dangers of smoking, oil and coal companies and their allies are now deceiving the public about climate change. They have nearly unlimited resources to sow doubt, but we have one critical advantage: Reality is on our side."
“Climate Reality will start with a global event on September 14-15 called 24 Hours of Reality. Over 24 hours, in multiple languages and in 24 time zones, we will bring the world together to reveal the full truth, scope and impact of the climate crisis." See: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6638-al-gore-launches-climate-reality-project#ixzz1TErHI6Nc
Michael Ruppert’s Collapse Network posted a short YouTube video, Famine Stalks Southern Somalia, about the desperate situation of starving refugees who have fled in the face of a prolonged drought and civil war. At: http://www.collapsenet.com/free-resources/must-see-videos/item/1428-famine-stalks-southern-somalia
Unfortunately, climate models predict increasing drought if that part of Africa and in many other failed and failing states, including Yemen and Afghanistan, where water supplies are already inadequate for expanding populations.
On July 21 Alison Fitzgerald of Bloomberg News posted an article titled, Koch, Exxon Mobil Among Corporations Helping Write State Law. In it she described a legislative action group, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), funded by the Koch brothers, Exxon Mobil and others, which lets them work with state legislators and provides ‘model legislation” that promotes the financial interests and ideological agenda of the supporting companies. Bob Edgar, President of Common Cause, said, “This is just another hidden way for corporations to buy their way into the legislative process.” As a tax-exempt organization, ALEC doesn’t have to disclose its corporate donors, and Tea Party legislators can come to Washington with all expenses paid by supporting companies as “scholarship funds.” “ALEC was founded by the late Representative Henry Hyde of Illinois, a Republican who served in the U.S. Congress for 22 years, and the late political activist Paul Weyrich, who co- founded the Heritage Foundation.” It has been a major supporter of the TEA Party. It is a serious threat to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or to deal with climate change. At: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-21/koch-exxon-mobil-among-corporations-helping-write-state-laws.html
You can see an excellent Bloomberg video about the history and anti-environmental views and actions of the Koch brothers at: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/70603974/
On July 25, 2011 Daniel Weiss and Arpita Bhattacharyya of the Center for American Progress posted Slideshow: Wet, Hot, Dirty American Summer - Top 10 American Vacation Spots the House’s Environment Spending Bill Could Ruin. It shows photos of 10 great vacation spots in national parks and tells how they could be spoiled if U.S. H.R. 2584, the Interior Environment FY 2012 Appropriations bill, became law. It’s an unparalleled assault not only on public lands, but also on protection of public health and welfare. Fortunately, Pres. Obama would veto it if it got through the Senate. At: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/07/climate_vacation.html
Yahoo!News posted an article on July 25 titled, Holy Land Clerics Launch Interfaith Earth Forum. It reported that Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in the Holy Land are planning to launch an interfaith environmental campaign, to include an international conference of religious leaders in New York ahead of the 2010 UN General Assembly. A statement calls on “all people of faith to reduce their personal emissions of greenhouse gases and to urge their political leaders to adopt strong, binding, science-based targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases in order to avert the worst dangers of climate crisis.” At: http://news.yahoo.com/holy-land-clerics-launch-interfaith-earth-forum-113212070.html
I recently learned about an organization based in Eugene, Oregon, called Our Children’s Trust – Protecting Earth’s Climate for Future Generations. It has a list of states showing climate impacts for each state. Legal petitions on behalf of children were filed in each state in May. Check it out at: http://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/legal-action/petitions
On July 27 there was a debate on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in Bergen New Jersey between Jeff Tittel of the Sierra Club and Steve Lonegan of Americans for Prosperity, a far-right Republican organization that has opposed RGGI in favor of more fossil fuel burning. You can watch the debate at: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/16278902#utm_campaign=synclickback&source=http://americansforprosperity.org/072811-lonegan-scores-tko-vs-tittel-rumble-over-rggi-debate-0&medium=16278902
On July 29 the EPA posted a news release, President Obama Announces Historic 54.5 mpg Fuel Efficiency Standard/Consumers will save $1.7 trillion at the pump, $8K per vehicle by 2025. The agreement included 13 major auto manufacturers and will nearly double the fuel efficiency per vehicle by 2025. Obama called it, “the single most important step we’ve ever taken as a nation to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” At: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/0019C092CCAE8AC2852578DC0056DED0
Jim Hansen recently posted a paper titled Baby Lauren and the Kool Aid, giving his thoughts on how to deal with the climate crisis, including the roles of nuclear power and renewable energy. It’s well worth reading. (Lauren is his new granddaughter.) At: http://www.columbia.edu/%7Ejeh1/mailings/2011/20110729_BabyLauren.pdf
The July 30 NY Times had an article by Mireya Navarro titled, Coming Together to Pray, and Also to Find Reduced-Rate Energy Deals. Faith communities in the Washington, DC area are coming together to negotiate both lower electric rates and more energy from renewable energy sources. In this way they can both use money to help the poor that would have gone to utility companies, and also fulfill their desire to be better stewards of God’s creation. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/31/science/earth/31churches.html?ref=science
Lisa Friedman has an article in the August 2 issue of Scientific American titled, Will Climate Change Make Life Harder for Girls? She points out that teenage girls - especially in developing countries - suffer disproportionately in droughts, floods and other natural disasters that are becoming more common as the climate changes. This is an issue of social justice that needs to be addressed. At: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=will-climate-change-make-life-harder-for-girls
NY Times blog Green has an article on Aug. 3 by John Broder titled, Climate Change an Extra Burden for Native Americans, Study Says. The report, by the National Wildlife Federation and others, says, “The high dependence of tribes upon their lands and natural resources to sustain their economic, cultural and spiritual practices, the relatively poor state of their infrastructure and the great need for financial and technical resources to recover from such events all contribute to the disproportionate impact on tribes.” This is yet another example of a lack of social justice, where those who are least responsible suffer most. At: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/03/climate-change-an-extra-burden-for-native-americans-study-says/
An article by Don Hopey in the Aug. 3 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was titled, EPA in 1987 Found fracking fouled well water in W. Va. He reported, “The EPA finding was unearthed by Environmental Working Group, which conducted a year-long investigation of the incident and released a report on the finding, "Cracks in the Facade," today.” This was a case nearly 25 years ago where the EPA established that drinking water wells were contaminated by fracking for natural gas. “In 2005 hydraulic fracturing was exempted from regulation and enforcement under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act based on a 2004 EPA study of fracked methane wells in coal beds.” At: www.post-gazette.com/pg/11215/1164864-100.stm
On August 4 the EPA issued a news release titled, Obama Administration Advances Efforts to Protect Health of U.S. Communities Overburdened by Pollution / Federal Agencies Sign Environmental Justice Memorandum of Understanding. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said, "All too often, low-income, minority and Native Americans live in the shadows of our society's worst pollution, facing disproportionate health impacts and greater obstacles to economic growth in communities that can’t attract businesses and new jobs.” At: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/28420A5AE8467CF5852578E200635712
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.
House Budget Writers Seek to Cut EPA Funding, Block CO2 Rules
The House Appropriations Committee passed a spending bill that cuts funding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and halts regulation of greenhouse gases for one year. The Republican-led committee reported the appropriations bill by a vote of 28-18 on July 12. The bill also includes spending cuts for other agencies. The bill now goes to the full House. Republicans said the EPA’s regulations and activities harm the economy. The bill, as reported, cuts the Obama Administration’s funding request for the EPA by 20 percent. It would also temporarily block greenhouse gas regulations on large industrial facilities. Since Jan. 2, proposals to build those facilities or modify existing facilities must include an analysis of the “best available control technology” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA plans to issue greenhouse gas limits for new power plants and oil refineries later this year.
For additional information see: Bloomberg, Federal Times
Researchers Find Oceans Absorbing Less Carbon Dioxide
Warmer global temperatures are reducing the ability of the oceans to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, according to a new study. Because CO2 dissolves in water, the oceans act as an important sink for CO2, absorbing about one-third of all human-caused carbon emissions. But warmer water cannot hold as much CO2. Any decrease in the rate of uptake may point to the need for more urgent steps to reduce CO2 emissions. Separating the effect of the natural variability from influence of changes in temperature has been difficult for researchers, however. University of Wisconsin-Madison scientists sought to overcome that challenge by combining existing data to examine three large ocean regions over a three-decade period. "Because the ocean is so variable, we need at least 25 years' worth of data to really see the effect of carbon accumulation in the atmosphere," said researcher Galen McKinley. "This is a big issue in many branches of climate science -- what is natural variability, and what is climate change?" The study, published July 10 in Nature Geoscience, provided some of the first observational evidence of the effect of climate change’s on CO2 absorption in the oceans.
For additional information see: Science Daily, VOA News, Study Abstract
Declines of Animals and Plants Matching Scientists’ Predictions
One in 10 species could face extinction by 2100 if the current rate of climate change continues, according to a new study that provides more evidence on the threat to global biodiversity. A University of Exeter research team assessed the risk of climate change to animals and plants by examining how earlier scientific predictions match actual data being recorded today. On average, scientists’ warnings were on the mark. “Our study is a wake-up call for action,” said lead author Ilya Maclean. “The many species that are already declining could become extinct if things continue as they are. It is time to stop using the uncertainties as an excuse for not acting. Our research shows that the harmful effects of climate change are already happening and, if anything, exceed predictions.” The Exeter team reviewed 200 predictions and compared them to 130 reports of actual changes to animal and plant populations. For years, scientists have tried to predict future effects of climate change, but those warnings were received cautiously because of uncertainty in how species would actually respond. Today, however, declines are being observed. In Yellowstone National Park, for instance, the population of the blotched tiger salamander is half the population recorded two decades ago. Similarly, the park’s population of spotted frogs fell by 68 percent, and the population of chorus frogs fell by 75 percent. The study was published July 12 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Time, Study Abstract
Research Shows Promise in Adapting Rice to Climate Change
Scientists are making progress in adapting a key food staple to the impacts of climate change. A U.S. Geological Survey-led research project successfully colonized two commercial varieties of rice with a type of fungi. The rice showed an increased tolerance to drought, which is important because scientists expect climate change to increase the duration and severity of drought in already water-scarce areas of the globe. Rice is a key staple of diets worldwide. It provides nearly half the daily calories for the world’s population. The next step for the research team is to confer greater heat tolerance to rice. Rice production decreases by 10 percent for each degree Celsius increase in temperature.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
Study: Rising CO2 Levels Trigger Release of Other Greenhouse Gases
Rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) will cause an increased release of nitrogen oxide (NO2) and methane from wetlands, forests and farmlands according to a study in the British journal Nature. More CO2 in the atmosphere causes many plants to grow faster and use water more efficiently, leaving more moisture in the soil. That allows soil microbes to produce more NO2 and methane, according to the lead author of the study, Kees Jan van Groenigen of Northern Arizona University. NO2 is about 300 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than CO2 and methane is about 21 times as powerful. The study suggested global warming could be occurring faster than previously thought and complex computer models used to project climate change may need to be adjusted.
For additional information see: Reuters
Climate Change to Increase Flood Plains
A study to be released later this summer will predict flood plains will grow 40-45 percent in the next 90 years. Stronger storms coupled with sea-level rise of 0.75 and 1.9 meters will force seawater deeper inland by 2100, according to the study, affecting millions of homes and businesses, and doubling the number of policies in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). According to geologist Mark Crowell, who is overseeing the study at the Federal Emergency Management Agency, there is “a need for FEMA to incorporate the effects of climate change more directly into various aspects of the NFIP." The NFIP has not yet directly accounted for the impact of climate change on flooding. "We've got to start managing these issues now," according to David Maurstad who ran NFIP under President George W. Bush. Many in the insurance industry acknowledge increased financial losses from violent weather but blame increased population and the expansion of new construction.
For additional information see: New York Times
Climate Change to Cause More Frequent Fires in National Parks, Study Finds
According to a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, climate change will cause Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons to experience large fires more frequently. Over the past 10,000 years, fires have occurred in the area every 100 to 300 years. The study indicated that by the end of the century, large fires are likely to occur every 20 to 30 years and the average annual burn area will be almost 400 square miles. "What surprised us is how early the changes become so extreme," said lead author Anthony Westerling. "By mid-century, the climate conditions combined with fire frequency are going to be incompatible with the kinds of forests that grow there now. There is going to be a transformation of the landscape. It's going to look really different." The dominant lodgepole pines will not be able to regenerate in the short time span between fires and will give way to faster growing aspen, Douglas fir or shrubs and grasslands. Such changes will also impact the region’s wildlife, water flows and carbon storage, according to the study.
For additional information see: AFP, LA Times, Discovery, Abstract
Study: Conservative White Males More Likely to Be Climate Change Deniers
Conservative white males are more likely than other Americans to deny climate change, according to a new study in the journal Global Environmental Change. "The most prominent denialists are conservative white males," wrote co-authors Aaron M. McCright and Riley E. Dunlap. The researchers examined data gathered by the Gallup Organization during 2001 to 2010 from over 10,000 adults to determine attitudes about climate change. The analysis found 29.6 percent of conservative white males believed the effects of global warming “will never happen” and 58.5 percent do not believe global temperature increases are caused by human activity. Almost two-thirds (65.1 percent) of conservative white males said the media exaggerates climate change and 39.1 percent do not worry about global warming. The authors also found that conservative white males claimed a more thorough understanding of climate change than other adults, and those claiming the greatest understanding most likely to be the strongest deniers. "What is most sobering, especially for the scientific community and climate change communicators, is that climate change denial has actually increased in the U.S. general public between 2001 and 2010, although primarily due to a significant increase in the past two years which may prove abnormal in the long run," wrote the authors.
For additional information see: Guardian, Conservation Magazine, Abstract
Insurance Companies Probe Impact of Climate Change on Future Weather Events
Several major insurance companies are taking steps to include the future effects of climate change in their business models. Claims resulting from this year’s floods, droughts, wildfires, and other extreme weather events in the United States are expected to negate any profits for the insurance and reinsurance industry. “Last year in Texas it was all floods and this year it’s drought,” said Andrew Castaldi of Swiss Re America Corp., a reinsurance company. “Is that climate change or just natural variability? We’re investigating whether these phenomena are simply normal variability or normal variability with some climate change influence.” Insurance companies want to price the potential effects of climate change, and set aside appropriate capital reserves to handle future claims. “We don’t see it as a danger in the next 30 years, but if we don’t do something to contain greenhouse gas emissions now, this is definitely a challenge for the insurance business model in the second half of this century,” said Peter Hoppe of Munich Re, another reinsurance company.
For additional information see: CNBC, Munich Re News Release
Near-Record Melting of Ice in Arctic Ocean Opens Safe Route for Cargo
Ice cover in the Arctic melted to such an extent this summer that previously perilous waters are open to easy and safe navigation, the Russian climate monitoring agency reported. The melting is occurring at a near-record pace. “Since the beginning of August, icebreaker-free sailing is open on almost all the (northern shipping) routes,” the agency said in a statement posted Aug. 3 on its website. The Arctic Ocean could be entirely free of ice during the summer by 2050 if the current pace of melting keeps up. Russia would like the northern passage through the Arctic to rival the Suez Canal in moving cargo and become a year-round route. For cargo moving between European and Asian ports, the northern route is one-third shorter. Right now, it is used from July to November and ice-breakers ensure safe passage.
For additional information see: Reuters, Bloomberg
Small Increases in Water Temperatures Can Cause Collapse of Ice Shelves, Study Says
An analysis of prehistoric, large scale discharges of icebergs in the North Atlantic Ocean shows small temperature increases of subsurface water can cause a rapid collapse of ice shelves. The findings indicate a 3-4 degree Celsius increase in water temperatures was enough to cause breakup of the Laurentide Ice Sheet in what is now Canada. According to the researchers, present day temperature increases and potentially shifting ocean currents could greatly increase ice melt and hasten sea level rise. The study was conducted by researchers from Oregon State University, the University of Wisconsin, the National Center for Atmospheric Research, and the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology and was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
Crops with Deeper Roots Can Lower CO2 Levels, Study Finds
Replacing today’s crops with deeper-rooted plants could dramatically lower atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, a new study found. Deeper root systems promote greater sequestration of CO2 in the soil. The University of Manchester study found that replacing today’s crops with new crops that have roots that extend one meter deeper into the soil could double the amount of CO2 sequestered in the soil from agriculture. Deeper-rooted crops also are more drought resistant. Most of today’s crops do not have root systems that extend below one meter. Many deeper-rooted plants exist, but have not been bred for agriculture. “While there is a way to go before such crops might have, for example, the grain yields of present day cereals, their breeding and deployment seems a very promising avenue for sustainable agriculture,” said study author Douglas Kell. The study was published in the Annals of Botany.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
Warming Could Aid Fungi in Attacking Forests, Study Finds
Climate change could weaken trees and make them more susceptible to devastating diseases from fungi, say researchers who studied a mass extinction of prehistoric conifer forests. Today’s trees are facing threats from fungi-related diseases, such as Dutch elm disease and sudden oak death. Scientists are interested in any link between changes in temperature and water availability and the resiliency of trees to disease. The study found that a mass die-off of prehistoric forests was aided by a rapid change in climate that weakened trees and made them less able to fight off attacks from fungi. The study was conducted by a biologist at the University of California-Berkeley and colleagues in Britain and the Netherlands who examined fossil records from around the globe. The study was published online Aug. 5 in Geology.
For additional information see: The Bay Citizen, UC Berkeley News Release, Study Abstract
Researcher Says Arctic Ice Vanishing Faster than Predicted
The Arctic Ocean may be free of sea ice during the summer much earlier than scientists previously believed because the ice is thinning four times faster than computer models have predicted, an Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fourth Assessment Report, which was issued in 2007, predicted a summer ice-free Arctic by 2100. In a new study, Pierre Rampal of MIT said summer ice will disappear much earlier, probably within a few decades. Thinner ice breaks up more readily, and can get carried on currents through the Fram Strait to warmer waters to the south, enhancing melting. The study will be published in a future edition of Journal of Geophysical Research-Oceans.
For additional information see: The Vancouver Sun, MIT News Release
Scientists Find Forests Remove One Third of Fossil Fuel Emissions Each Year
The Earth’s forests absorb a staggering amount of carbon from the atmosphere each year, an amount equivalent to one-third of annual fossil fuel emissions, according to a new study. The study is the first to clearly identify volumes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) taken up by tropical, temperate and boreal forests. "What this research tells us is that forests play a much larger role as carbon sinks as a result of tree growth and forest expansion,” said study co-author Pep Canadell of CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency. The study also allows scientists to quantify the impact of deforestation, and it’s much bigger than previously thought. Authors say the study shows why re-growing forests and conserving forests are necessary to mitigating GHG emissions. The study was published online in Science.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study Abstract
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Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS FOR JULY 2011
CC NEWS FOR JULY 2011
On April 4 the EPA announced the formation of a faith-based and neighborhood partnerships initiative to support environmental education and healthier families. You can learn more about it at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D49A036B7F10292F85257876007036DE. You can subscribe to electronic newsletters about it and other topics at the EPA and other U.S. government agencies at: https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?origin=&code=USAEPA
Tim DeChristopher, a student at the University of Utah, crossed a threshold when he decided to engage in civil disobedience to interfere with a Dept. of the Interior auction of public lands for oil and gas drilling near Zion National Park in Utah. An article, Utah UU convicted for environmental activism, describing his conviction in federal court, appeared in the March issue of UU World at: http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/178994.shtml (UU stands for Unitarian-Universalist.) You can watch a short YouTube video of his statement after his conviction at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cae5Pr7CHgk A resolution by his church congregation, supporting his action, can be found at: http://slcuu.org/resolution-supporting-ethical-commitment-7th-principle
Tim is to be sentenced on July 26. His action raises the issue: When is peaceful civil disobedience the right thing to do?
In May, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP), the scientific arm of the eight-nation Arctic Council, issued a report titled, Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic. Among its findings are that temperatures during the period 2005-2010 have been the highest ever recorded in the Arctic and that the rate of warming is accelerating; temperatures in permafrost have increased by up to 2ºC, releasing unknown amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. Arctic glaciers, ice caps and the Greenland Ice Sheet contributed more than 40% of the global rate of sea level rise (about 3 mm/yr) between 2003 and 2008; sea level by 2100 may be higher by as much as 1.6 meters (5 feet). A 16-page Executive Summary is available at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/88367-arctic-ice-melt-2011-executivesummary.html
pv magazine ran an article by Jonathan Gifford on June 20 titled, Ceremony marks construction of the world’s largest solar power plant. It described a groundbreaking ceremony in Blythe, CA, in the Mojave Desert for two 242 MW solar thermal power plants. The plants should be connected to the grid in 2014. They are the first stage of a 4-plant facility with a total capacity of 1000 MW – comparable in scale to a coal or nuclear plant, and are expected to cost $2.8 billion. At: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/archive/2011/june/beitrag/ceremony-marks-construction-of-the-worlds-largest-solar-power-plant_100003391/
Living on Earth has a weekly environmental news and information broadcast distributed by Public Radio International (PRI). Energy and climate change issues are often featured. The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides major funding. You can read a transcript or listen to a recording of items of interest. On May 24 Flammable Gas In Drinking Water From Hydraulic Fracking aired. On June 24 there was a related item, Natural Gas and Greenhouse Gasses, pointing out that fracking may be leaking enough methane – a powerful greenhouse gas –to pose a problem for climate change. At: www.loe.org. Click on Show Archive to see past broadcasts.
The Institute of Physics has a web site physicsworld.com with a 2-minute YouTube rap titled, I’m a Climate Scientist. It’s fast-paced, but right on target. If you want to see more, there’s a 1-minute 43-second YouTube rap called, Supermodels Take it Off for Climate Change, showing what it takes to get down to 350 ppm. Both are at: http://physicsworld.com/blog/2011/05/the_climate_science_rap.html
Ian Urbina had an article in the NY Times for June 25 titled, Insiders Sound an Alarm Amid a Natural Gas Rush. Based on emails among market analysts and industry insiders, the golden age of gas from fracking shale may be overblown. In some cases wells are producing considerably less after only one year of operation, suggesting that they will not be productive for 10-15 years. In others, the value of the gas obtained doesn’t justify the costs of acquiring land and drilling. And of course the environmental damage to water and air has yet to be determined. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26gas.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2
The Solar Energy Industries Association has published its U.S. Solar Market Insight – 2010 Year in Review. The Executive Summary says, “ 2010 was a banner year for the solar energy market in the United States. In contrast to U.S. GDP growth of 2.8%, the U.S. solar market grew 67% in value in 2010. Not only did the market expand greatly, but it showed substantial diversity across market segments, geography, and technologies. Solar is growing quickly across the U.S. at the residential, commercial, and utility scale levels.” The U.S. market grew from $3.6B to $6.0 B in 2010. At: http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/SMI-YIR-2010-ES.pdf
The July issue of Scientific American has an article by Lee Kump, a professor of geosciences at Penn State University, titled, The Last Great Global Warming. In it he describes his recent work on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), an event 56 million years ago when a large release of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere caused an increase in global temperature of about 5°C (9°F) and an oceanic extinction event. His studies of drill cores from Spitsbergen Island in Norway showed that the release of between 3000 and 10,000 billion tons of carbon (GtC or petagrams of carbon) took longer than scientists had thought – perhaps 20,000 years. The average rate of carbon emissions then (about 1.7 GtC/yr) is much less that the current rate of about 9 GtC/yr from human burning of fossil fuels and forests. He writes, “Furthermore, glaciers and ice sheets are melting and driving sea-level rise; coral reefs are increasingly subject to disease and heat stress; and episodes of drought and flooding are becoming more common. Indeed, shifts in rainfall patterns and rising shorelines as polar ice melts may contribute to mass human migrations on a scale never before seen. Some have already begun.” “Current global warming is on a path to vastly exceed the PETM, but it may not be too late to avoid the calamity that awaits us.”
This article at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-last-great-global-warming follows one in the January issue of Scientific American titled, Casualties of Climate Change: Sea-level Rises Could Displace Tens of Millions at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=casualties-of-climate-change
John Farrell has an article in Grist for June 26 titled, Value of solar power far exceeds its cost. He writes, “Solar power has a monetary value as much as 10 times higher than its energy value, thanks to its ability to reduce peak demand on the transmission and distribution system, hedge against fuel price increases, and enhance grid and environmental security.” At: http://feeds.grist.org/click.phdo?i=28a0ec65c7c3fe28cf1f00d25c518a72
While I’m not sure about his economic analysis - as he doesn’t mention the health costs of electricity generation from fossil fuels or the damages of climate change - it is clear that a full life cycle analysis, including all externalities, is needed to compare energy technologies fairly.
John Vidal had an article in The Guardian for June 27 titled, Climate change hots up in 2010, the year of extreme weather. He pointed out that 2010 was a record-breaker in a number of ways. “A combination of abnormal climatic phenomena resulted in the year being the hottest, wettest, and in many cases also the driest and coldest in recorded history.” Climate change is more than just rising average temperatures; we are setting new records for extremes. At: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/27/climate-change-extreme-weather-2010/print
Jeff Donn of the Associated Press had an article in abc NEWS for June 28 titled, AP IMPACT: NRC and Industry Rewrite Nuke History. In it he points out that 40 years ago, when commercial nuclear power was getting its start in the U.S., the industry said that its plants were designed to operate for 40 years. But they are now saying that the plants can be safely operated for much longer – perhaps as much as 100 years. And the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) appears to be giving extensions with little or no inspection or serious consideration. At:: abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=13945405
Janet Raloff wrote an article in the June 29 issue of ScienceNews titled, AAAS board defends climate scientists. She quoted the following statement issued by the board of directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: “AAAS vigorously opposes attacks on researchers that question their personal and professional integrity or threaten their safety based on displeasure with their scientific conclusions.” At: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/331978/title/AAAS_board_defends_climate_scientists
On July 5 SolarIndustryMag.com reported that domestic production of renewable energy is now greater that that of nuclear power. In the first quarter of 2011 renewable energy sources produced 2.24 quadrillion BTUs – 11.7% of U.S. energy production, compared to 2.12 Quads for U.S. nuclear power. Renewable energy now provides 77% as much energy as domestic crude oil.
Daniel Strain has an article in the July 16 issue of ScienceNews titled, Collapsing Coastlines - How Arctic shores are pulled a-sea. He points out that warming seas and a shorter season of sea ice along the Alaskan coast are causing accelerating rates of loss of land. He writes, “In 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified 178 communities struggling with erosion in Alaska, three of which have perhaps a decade before collapsing completely.” Along one 60-kilometer stretch of Alaska's Beaufort Sea coast the mean annual erosion rate doubled from 6.8 meters per year from 1955 to 1979 to 13.6 meters per year from 2002 to 2007. The village of Shishmaref, facing severe coastal erosion rates, has elected to move a few miles inland. The cost may be $200 million. At: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/332007/title/Collapsing_Coastlines
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.
Poll Finds Most Americans Worried about Global Warming
Fifty-two percent of the American public is “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about global warming, nearly the same proportion as last year, according to the annual survey, Climate Change in the American Mind survey. Researchers at Yale and George Mason universities polled 1,010 American adults in May 2011 and found only small shifts in public opinion compared to 2010. Sixty-four percent of adults this year say the planet is warming, up from 61 percent in 2010. Only 47 percent, however, responded that human activity is the cause, down from 50 percent in 2010. Thirty-nine percent of respondents agreed that “most scientists think global warming is happening,” up from 34 percent in 2010.
For additional information see: New York Times, Study
Little Progress Made to Extend Kyoto Protocol at Climate Talks
The latest round of international climate talks ended June 17 as a top United Nations official pleaded for world leaders to break a stalemate. "Resolving the future of the Kyoto Protocol is an essential task this year and will require high-level political guidance," said Christina Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Figueres spoke to reporters in Bonn, Germany after delegates to the negotiations said little progress was made to extend Kyoto past its expiration in 2012. Japan, Canada and Russia won’t agree to an extension of Kyoto and are pushing for a new global pact with carbon dioxide (CO2) limits that would apply to all parties. Kyoto required industrialized nations to limit emissions but did not constrain developing nations. Developing nations, on the other hand, say industrialized nations that bear the historic responsibility for CO2 emissions in the atmosphere must take the lead. The United States is not a party to the treaty.
For additional information see: Reuters, Associated Press
Conference: International Community Must Focus on Climate Disaster Preparedness
International funding and cooperation are needed to allow people in climate vulnerable places to migrate to safer ground, delegates to the Nansen Conference on Climate Change and Displacement in the 21st Century said. Held June 6 and 7 in Oslo, Norway, the conference featured speakers who urged governments and international organizations to shift away from disaster relief in favor of disaster preparedness. Forecasting models are able to more accurately predict episodes of drought and flooding, presenters noted. Last year, millions of people across the globe, in places like Pakistan and China, were displaced by extreme weather events. “Human displacement due to climate change is happening now,” Jonas Gahr Store, Norway's minister of foreign affairs, told conference delegates. “There is no need to debate it.”
For additional information see: Inter Press Service
Study Says Electric Cars Produce Less CO2 Over Their Lifetimes than Gas Cars
Electric cars are still greener than conventional gasoline-powered cars, though it takes a lot of driving to realize a net savings in carbon dioxide (CO2), according to a new analysis that considers the entire lifespan of the vehicles. Largely because of the energy consumed in producing the battery for an electric vehicle, the car has to be driven at least 80,000 miles before it realizes a net savings of CO2 compared to a conventional car. Nearly half of the CO2 associated with an electric car over its lifespan is produced before it rolls out of the factory. The study was conducted for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, which is funded by the British government and industry. It found a standard gas-powered car produces 24 metric tons of CO2 over its lifetime, compared to 19 for a plug-in or battery electric vehicle. More work is needed to reduce CO2 emitted during the manufacturing of electric vehicles, the study says.
For additional information see: The Australian, News Release, Study
Tree Rings Show “Almost Unprecedented” Decline in Mountain Snowpack, Study Says
The decline in snowpack in the northern Rocky Mountains is “almost unprecedented” in magnitude in the past 800 years, a new study concludes. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Washington sought to evaluate the uniqueness of the late 20th and early 21st Century decline in snowpack by studying tree rings. Although this year’s snowpack is deep, the trend over the past few decades has been rapid springtime warming to diminish annual snowpack, which influences the growth of tree rings. "I think the findings are pretty significant," said lead author Greg Pederson of the USGS. "It means trees are telling the same stories as computer models and instrument records — that human greenhouse-gas emissions are contributing to the loss of snowpack." Many water supplies in the West rely on mountain snowpack. Today’s water management strategies may be based on assumptions that are no longer reliable, scientists say. The study was published in the journal Science.
For additional information see: The Oregonian, Seattle Times, Study Abstract
Supreme Court Turns Down Emissions Lawsuit; Says EPA Has Authority to Regulate CO2
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lawsuit brought by six states and several conservation groups that sought to force large utilities to cut emissions of greenhouse gases. In the June 20 decision, the justices said the courtroom is not the correct forum to control greenhouse gases. But the justices, including conservatives John Roberts and Antonin Scalia, reaffirmed that the authority to address greenhouse gas emissions rests with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2007, a divided court ruled 5-4 that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases. The EPA has issued one rule thus far requiring pre-construction permits to build or modify certain large industrial facilities that emit greenhouse gases, and plans to propose greenhouse gas standards for power plants and refineries in September. The plaintiffs, which included California, Connecticut, Iowa, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, believe the federal government is acting too slowly.
For additional information see: The New York Times, Associated Press
GAO: President, Congress Need to Set National Climate Change Priorities
Although federal funding for climate change activities is increasing, federal officials lack a shared understanding of the nation’s strategic priorities that would help guide that funding, a new GAO report found. Federal funding for climate change activities increased to $8.8 billion in 2010, up from $4.6 billion in 2003. More than half of the funding is spent on technology to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. At the request of Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), GAO surveyed and interviewed federal officials. GAO found federal officials do not have a shared understanding of strategic priorities. “This is in part due to inconsistent messages articulated in strategic plans and other policy documents,” GAO reported. The report recommended that the nation establish federal strategic climate change priorities. The report, “Climate Change: Improvements Needed to Clarify National Priorities and Better Align Them with Federal Funding Decisions,” was released June 20.
For additional information see: Markey Announcement, GAO Report
Report Calls for Urgent Cuts in CO2 to Save Dying Oceans
Climate change, pollution and overfishing are harming the oceans so rapidly that many marine species could be extinct within a generation, an international panel concluded. Marine scientists produced the report, which was released June 21 at a workshop at Oxford University that was organized by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO). “As we considered the cumulative effect of what humankind does to the ocean the implications became far worse than we had individually realized,” said Alex Rogers, scientific director of IPSO. “This is a very serious situation demanding unequivocal action at every level.” The report calls for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to the warming of ocean surface temperatures and ocean acidification. It also calls on governments to reduce pollution and enact sustainable fisheries policies. The cumulative effect of the multiple threats must be addressed urgently because the rate of degeneration in the oceans is greater than predicted, the report warns.
For additional information see: The New York Times, Science Daily, Report
Study Finds Link Between Temperature, Increasing Rate of Sea Level Rise
The Atlantic is rising at a greater rate today along the coast of the United States than at any time during the last 2,100 years, a new study found. The study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also discussed the link between changes in temperature and rates of sea level rise. “Sea-level rise is a potentially disastrous outcome of climate change as rising temperatures melt land-based ice and warm ocean waters," said Benjamin Horton, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. The current average sea level rise is 2.1 millimeters per year. The study verifies that today’s rate of sea level rise is unprecedented in the recent geologic past, scientists said.
For additional information see: Associated Press, Science Daily, Study
Scientific American Series Links Stronger Storms to Climate Change
Scientific American last week published a three-part series exploring the connection between climate change and extreme weather. The first story stated that the extreme weather predicted by climate models is now being observed across the globe. The second explained how rising global temperatures fuel stronger storms. And the third discussed how the world can manage the risks and adapt to a changing climate. The series was funded by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Scientific American had complete editorial control.
For additional information see: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Insurers Study Climate Change to Decide Rate Hikes in Alabama
Insurance companies are considering rate hikes for homeowners after devastating tornadoes caused $2.5 to 3.5 billion in losses on April 27 in Alabama. The amount of rate increases depends on whether or not the storms are considered a new normal pattern caused by climate change. At only halfway through the year, Alabama’s tornado total is already three times the average and there have been more F4 and F5 storms than any other year. According to Lee Bowron of the Birmingham actuarial consulting firm Kerper and Bowron, LLC, insurance rates are based on models that predict the frequency and intensity of disasters, and “re-insurers and insurers are now evaluating tornado risk in light of the recent outbreak.” Brian Thomas, a sustainability consultant who formerly worked in the reinsurance industry, says, "the global re-insurers are very concerned about climate change. As far as they are concerned, there is a pretty clear signal." However, a preliminary National Weather Service evaluation of climate variables known to cause tornadoes in the Southeast doesn't show a global warming-related trend that can be linked to the severe outbreak. While insurance companies may want to raise rates to compensate for the threat of climate change, they can only raise them so much before they begin to lose customers.
For additional information see: The Birmingham News
EPA Report Outlines Climate Adaptation Options for Coastline
A new federal report on climate adaptation suggests that development in some low lying coastal areas will have to give way to rising sea levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June released “Rolling Easements,” a primer for communities to preserve development rights of shoreline property owners while acknowledging that some coastal properties will be economically or environmentally infeasible to defend from rising sea levels. “Defending coastal development from the rising sea would prevent wetlands from migrating inland, expose large numbers of people to the hazard of living below sea level, and often cost more than what the property being protected is worth,” the report stated. The report detailed land-use and legal tools that would allow coastal development, but prohibit seawalls and shoreline protections from being built in some areas. Proposals include issuing regulations or transferring the rights to build shoreline protections from owners who would do so to organizations that would not. This allows property to be put to its highest use, but it can be converted to wetland or beach once it is threatened by rising seas.
For additional information see: The Washington Post, Report
Rockies Losing Colorful Flowers as Temperatures Rise, Study Finds
The colorful flowers that brighten the meadows of the Rocky Mountains in the middle of the summer are fading because of factors that include climate change, a new study found. As temperatures have risen in the high altitude meadows and conditions turned drier, the flowers have become less abundant, particularly during the middle of the summer. Not only would the Rockies lose a splash of color as the world turns warmer, but other species, such as pollinators, would be affected. “The resulting longer periods of flowering abundance in the middle of the summer season could negatively affect pollinators that are active throughout the season, and shifts in flowering peaks within habitats might create mismatches between floral resources and demand by pollinators with limited foraging ranges,” the study stated. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation. It appears in the July edition of the Journal of Ecology.
For additional information see: Los Angeles Times, Study Abstract
Survey Shows Who Americans Trust About Climate Change
A new survey suggests the urgency of climate change can be communicated if the right people engage local constituencies and explain how human activities are impacting local communities. "You can't talk about preparing for climate change in Seattle the same way you would in Phoenix,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, which released the survey results on June 27. The survey suggests many people remain uninformed about climate change but there is an opportunity to close the information gap. The survey found 39 percent of people were alarmed or concerned by climate change. On the other hand, 10 percent were dismissive, and may be unreachable because they distrust any source of data. A large sector of the public is in the middle, looking for information from trusted people who can explain why they are certain that humans are responsible for climate change. If more doctors, military officers, businesspeople or labor leaders speak out, the information gap may close. “We take our cues from key trusted individuals and organizations,” said Leiserowitz. “And different groups tend to trust different messengers.”
For additional information see: Reuters, Study
N.H. Governor Vetoes Plan to Leave Carbon Market
New Hampshire will stay in a regional carbon market after its governor vetoed a bill that would have led to its withdrawal. Gov. John Lynch said leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) would cost the state $16 million that the program raises through its carbon auctions. "I am vetoing this legislation because it will cost our citizens jobs, both now and into the future, hinder our economic recovery, and damage our state's long-term economic competitiveness," said Lynch. The 10-state program requires reductions of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and established the trading market. Power plants can buy allowances to cover their emissions and sell unneeded allowances on the market if they further reduce their emissions. Republican legislators in New Hampshire said leaving the program would lower costs for utilities and reduce electricity rates. RGGI has faced challenges in several states. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced in May that his state will leave the program later this year.
For additional information see: Reuters
British Columbia Carbon Tax Seen as Good for Environment
Nearly three-quarters of the residents of British Columbia believe their province’s carbon tax has been good for the environment, or feel neutral about it, according to survey results released June 30. Strategic Communications, Inc. conducted the poll of 830 people. It found 69 percent of residents are worried about climate change. This year, the carbon tax, introduced in 2008, costs $25 per ton for carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of oil, natural gas and coal. Next year, it rises to $30 per ton. Future rate hikes have not been determined; 51 percent of those polled do not support an increase in the carbon tax. Similar taxes apply to jet fuel, diesel, propane and other fuels. Both businesses and consumers pay the tax. The tax adds about $142 a year to the home heating bills of the average homeowner. The province claims the tax is revenue neutral because personal, corporate and small business income taxes were lowered.
For additional information see: Vancouver Sun, British Columbia Carbon Tax Website
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Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action
On April 4 the EPA announced the formation of a faith-based and neighborhood partnerships initiative to support environmental education and healthier families. You can learn more about it at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/D49A036B7F10292F85257876007036DE. You can subscribe to electronic newsletters about it and other topics at the EPA and other U.S. government agencies at: https://service.govdelivery.com/service/multi_subscribe.html?origin=&code=USAEPA
Tim DeChristopher, a student at the University of Utah, crossed a threshold when he decided to engage in civil disobedience to interfere with a Dept. of the Interior auction of public lands for oil and gas drilling near Zion National Park in Utah. An article, Utah UU convicted for environmental activism, describing his conviction in federal court, appeared in the March issue of UU World at: http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/178994.shtml (UU stands for Unitarian-Universalist.) You can watch a short YouTube video of his statement after his conviction at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cae5Pr7CHgk A resolution by his church congregation, supporting his action, can be found at: http://slcuu.org/resolution-supporting-ethical-commitment-7th-principle
Tim is to be sentenced on July 26. His action raises the issue: When is peaceful civil disobedience the right thing to do?
In May, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program (AMAP), the scientific arm of the eight-nation Arctic Council, issued a report titled, Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic. Among its findings are that temperatures during the period 2005-2010 have been the highest ever recorded in the Arctic and that the rate of warming is accelerating; temperatures in permafrost have increased by up to 2ºC, releasing unknown amounts of carbon dioxide and methane. Arctic glaciers, ice caps and the Greenland Ice Sheet contributed more than 40% of the global rate of sea level rise (about 3 mm/yr) between 2003 and 2008; sea level by 2100 may be higher by as much as 1.6 meters (5 feet). A 16-page Executive Summary is available at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/88367-arctic-ice-melt-2011-executivesummary.html
pv magazine ran an article by Jonathan Gifford on June 20 titled, Ceremony marks construction of the world’s largest solar power plant. It described a groundbreaking ceremony in Blythe, CA, in the Mojave Desert for two 242 MW solar thermal power plants. The plants should be connected to the grid in 2014. They are the first stage of a 4-plant facility with a total capacity of 1000 MW – comparable in scale to a coal or nuclear plant, and are expected to cost $2.8 billion. At: http://www.pv-magazine.com/news/details/archive/2011/june/beitrag/ceremony-marks-construction-of-the-worlds-largest-solar-power-plant_100003391/
Living on Earth has a weekly environmental news and information broadcast distributed by Public Radio International (PRI). Energy and climate change issues are often featured. The National Science Foundation (NSF) provides major funding. You can read a transcript or listen to a recording of items of interest. On May 24 Flammable Gas In Drinking Water From Hydraulic Fracking aired. On June 24 there was a related item, Natural Gas and Greenhouse Gasses, pointing out that fracking may be leaking enough methane – a powerful greenhouse gas –to pose a problem for climate change. At: www.loe.org. Click on Show Archive to see past broadcasts.
The Institute of Physics has a web site physicsworld.com with a 2-minute YouTube rap titled, I’m a Climate Scientist. It’s fast-paced, but right on target. If you want to see more, there’s a 1-minute 43-second YouTube rap called, Supermodels Take it Off for Climate Change, showing what it takes to get down to 350 ppm. Both are at: http://physicsworld.com/blog/2011/05/the_climate_science_rap.html
Ian Urbina had an article in the NY Times for June 25 titled, Insiders Sound an Alarm Amid a Natural Gas Rush. Based on emails among market analysts and industry insiders, the golden age of gas from fracking shale may be overblown. In some cases wells are producing considerably less after only one year of operation, suggesting that they will not be productive for 10-15 years. In others, the value of the gas obtained doesn’t justify the costs of acquiring land and drilling. And of course the environmental damage to water and air has yet to be determined. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/26/us/26gas.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2
The Solar Energy Industries Association has published its U.S. Solar Market Insight – 2010 Year in Review. The Executive Summary says, “ 2010 was a banner year for the solar energy market in the United States. In contrast to U.S. GDP growth of 2.8%, the U.S. solar market grew 67% in value in 2010. Not only did the market expand greatly, but it showed substantial diversity across market segments, geography, and technologies. Solar is growing quickly across the U.S. at the residential, commercial, and utility scale levels.” The U.S. market grew from $3.6B to $6.0 B in 2010. At: http://www.seia.org/galleries/pdf/SMI-YIR-2010-ES.pdf
The July issue of Scientific American has an article by Lee Kump, a professor of geosciences at Penn State University, titled, The Last Great Global Warming. In it he describes his recent work on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), an event 56 million years ago when a large release of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere caused an increase in global temperature of about 5°C (9°F) and an oceanic extinction event. His studies of drill cores from Spitsbergen Island in Norway showed that the release of between 3000 and 10,000 billion tons of carbon (GtC or petagrams of carbon) took longer than scientists had thought – perhaps 20,000 years. The average rate of carbon emissions then (about 1.7 GtC/yr) is much less that the current rate of about 9 GtC/yr from human burning of fossil fuels and forests. He writes, “Furthermore, glaciers and ice sheets are melting and driving sea-level rise; coral reefs are increasingly subject to disease and heat stress; and episodes of drought and flooding are becoming more common. Indeed, shifts in rainfall patterns and rising shorelines as polar ice melts may contribute to mass human migrations on a scale never before seen. Some have already begun.” “Current global warming is on a path to vastly exceed the PETM, but it may not be too late to avoid the calamity that awaits us.”
This article at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-last-great-global-warming follows one in the January issue of Scientific American titled, Casualties of Climate Change: Sea-level Rises Could Displace Tens of Millions at: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=casualties-of-climate-change
John Farrell has an article in Grist for June 26 titled, Value of solar power far exceeds its cost. He writes, “Solar power has a monetary value as much as 10 times higher than its energy value, thanks to its ability to reduce peak demand on the transmission and distribution system, hedge against fuel price increases, and enhance grid and environmental security.” At: http://feeds.grist.org/click.phdo?i=28a0ec65c7c3fe28cf1f00d25c518a72
While I’m not sure about his economic analysis - as he doesn’t mention the health costs of electricity generation from fossil fuels or the damages of climate change - it is clear that a full life cycle analysis, including all externalities, is needed to compare energy technologies fairly.
John Vidal had an article in The Guardian for June 27 titled, Climate change hots up in 2010, the year of extreme weather. He pointed out that 2010 was a record-breaker in a number of ways. “A combination of abnormal climatic phenomena resulted in the year being the hottest, wettest, and in many cases also the driest and coldest in recorded history.” Climate change is more than just rising average temperatures; we are setting new records for extremes. At: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/27/climate-change-extreme-weather-2010/print
Jeff Donn of the Associated Press had an article in abc NEWS for June 28 titled, AP IMPACT: NRC and Industry Rewrite Nuke History. In it he points out that 40 years ago, when commercial nuclear power was getting its start in the U.S., the industry said that its plants were designed to operate for 40 years. But they are now saying that the plants can be safely operated for much longer – perhaps as much as 100 years. And the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) appears to be giving extensions with little or no inspection or serious consideration. At:: abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=13945405
Janet Raloff wrote an article in the June 29 issue of ScienceNews titled, AAAS board defends climate scientists. She quoted the following statement issued by the board of directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science: “AAAS vigorously opposes attacks on researchers that question their personal and professional integrity or threaten their safety based on displeasure with their scientific conclusions.” At: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/331978/title/AAAS_board_defends_climate_scientists
On July 5 SolarIndustryMag.com reported that domestic production of renewable energy is now greater that that of nuclear power. In the first quarter of 2011 renewable energy sources produced 2.24 quadrillion BTUs – 11.7% of U.S. energy production, compared to 2.12 Quads for U.S. nuclear power. Renewable energy now provides 77% as much energy as domestic crude oil.
Daniel Strain has an article in the July 16 issue of ScienceNews titled, Collapsing Coastlines - How Arctic shores are pulled a-sea. He points out that warming seas and a shorter season of sea ice along the Alaskan coast are causing accelerating rates of loss of land. He writes, “In 2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers identified 178 communities struggling with erosion in Alaska, three of which have perhaps a decade before collapsing completely.” Along one 60-kilometer stretch of Alaska's Beaufort Sea coast the mean annual erosion rate doubled from 6.8 meters per year from 1955 to 1979 to 13.6 meters per year from 2002 to 2007. The village of Shishmaref, facing severe coastal erosion rates, has elected to move a few miles inland. The cost may be $200 million. At: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/332007/title/Collapsing_Coastlines
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.
Poll Finds Most Americans Worried about Global Warming
Fifty-two percent of the American public is “very worried” or “somewhat worried” about global warming, nearly the same proportion as last year, according to the annual survey, Climate Change in the American Mind survey. Researchers at Yale and George Mason universities polled 1,010 American adults in May 2011 and found only small shifts in public opinion compared to 2010. Sixty-four percent of adults this year say the planet is warming, up from 61 percent in 2010. Only 47 percent, however, responded that human activity is the cause, down from 50 percent in 2010. Thirty-nine percent of respondents agreed that “most scientists think global warming is happening,” up from 34 percent in 2010.
For additional information see: New York Times, Study
Little Progress Made to Extend Kyoto Protocol at Climate Talks
The latest round of international climate talks ended June 17 as a top United Nations official pleaded for world leaders to break a stalemate. "Resolving the future of the Kyoto Protocol is an essential task this year and will require high-level political guidance," said Christina Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Figueres spoke to reporters in Bonn, Germany after delegates to the negotiations said little progress was made to extend Kyoto past its expiration in 2012. Japan, Canada and Russia won’t agree to an extension of Kyoto and are pushing for a new global pact with carbon dioxide (CO2) limits that would apply to all parties. Kyoto required industrialized nations to limit emissions but did not constrain developing nations. Developing nations, on the other hand, say industrialized nations that bear the historic responsibility for CO2 emissions in the atmosphere must take the lead. The United States is not a party to the treaty.
For additional information see: Reuters, Associated Press
Conference: International Community Must Focus on Climate Disaster Preparedness
International funding and cooperation are needed to allow people in climate vulnerable places to migrate to safer ground, delegates to the Nansen Conference on Climate Change and Displacement in the 21st Century said. Held June 6 and 7 in Oslo, Norway, the conference featured speakers who urged governments and international organizations to shift away from disaster relief in favor of disaster preparedness. Forecasting models are able to more accurately predict episodes of drought and flooding, presenters noted. Last year, millions of people across the globe, in places like Pakistan and China, were displaced by extreme weather events. “Human displacement due to climate change is happening now,” Jonas Gahr Store, Norway's minister of foreign affairs, told conference delegates. “There is no need to debate it.”
For additional information see: Inter Press Service
Study Says Electric Cars Produce Less CO2 Over Their Lifetimes than Gas Cars
Electric cars are still greener than conventional gasoline-powered cars, though it takes a lot of driving to realize a net savings in carbon dioxide (CO2), according to a new analysis that considers the entire lifespan of the vehicles. Largely because of the energy consumed in producing the battery for an electric vehicle, the car has to be driven at least 80,000 miles before it realizes a net savings of CO2 compared to a conventional car. Nearly half of the CO2 associated with an electric car over its lifespan is produced before it rolls out of the factory. The study was conducted for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, which is funded by the British government and industry. It found a standard gas-powered car produces 24 metric tons of CO2 over its lifetime, compared to 19 for a plug-in or battery electric vehicle. More work is needed to reduce CO2 emitted during the manufacturing of electric vehicles, the study says.
For additional information see: The Australian, News Release, Study
Tree Rings Show “Almost Unprecedented” Decline in Mountain Snowpack, Study Says
The decline in snowpack in the northern Rocky Mountains is “almost unprecedented” in magnitude in the past 800 years, a new study concludes. Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Washington sought to evaluate the uniqueness of the late 20th and early 21st Century decline in snowpack by studying tree rings. Although this year’s snowpack is deep, the trend over the past few decades has been rapid springtime warming to diminish annual snowpack, which influences the growth of tree rings. "I think the findings are pretty significant," said lead author Greg Pederson of the USGS. "It means trees are telling the same stories as computer models and instrument records — that human greenhouse-gas emissions are contributing to the loss of snowpack." Many water supplies in the West rely on mountain snowpack. Today’s water management strategies may be based on assumptions that are no longer reliable, scientists say. The study was published in the journal Science.
For additional information see: The Oregonian, Seattle Times, Study Abstract
Supreme Court Turns Down Emissions Lawsuit; Says EPA Has Authority to Regulate CO2
The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lawsuit brought by six states and several conservation groups that sought to force large utilities to cut emissions of greenhouse gases. In the June 20 decision, the justices said the courtroom is not the correct forum to control greenhouse gases. But the justices, including conservatives John Roberts and Antonin Scalia, reaffirmed that the authority to address greenhouse gas emissions rests with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In 2007, a divided court ruled 5-4 that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases. The EPA has issued one rule thus far requiring pre-construction permits to build or modify certain large industrial facilities that emit greenhouse gases, and plans to propose greenhouse gas standards for power plants and refineries in September. The plaintiffs, which included California, Connecticut, Iowa, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, believe the federal government is acting too slowly.
For additional information see: The New York Times, Associated Press
GAO: President, Congress Need to Set National Climate Change Priorities
Although federal funding for climate change activities is increasing, federal officials lack a shared understanding of the nation’s strategic priorities that would help guide that funding, a new GAO report found. Federal funding for climate change activities increased to $8.8 billion in 2010, up from $4.6 billion in 2003. More than half of the funding is spent on technology to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. At the request of Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), GAO surveyed and interviewed federal officials. GAO found federal officials do not have a shared understanding of strategic priorities. “This is in part due to inconsistent messages articulated in strategic plans and other policy documents,” GAO reported. The report recommended that the nation establish federal strategic climate change priorities. The report, “Climate Change: Improvements Needed to Clarify National Priorities and Better Align Them with Federal Funding Decisions,” was released June 20.
For additional information see: Markey Announcement, GAO Report
Report Calls for Urgent Cuts in CO2 to Save Dying Oceans
Climate change, pollution and overfishing are harming the oceans so rapidly that many marine species could be extinct within a generation, an international panel concluded. Marine scientists produced the report, which was released June 21 at a workshop at Oxford University that was organized by the International Programme on the State of the Ocean (IPSO). “As we considered the cumulative effect of what humankind does to the ocean the implications became far worse than we had individually realized,” said Alex Rogers, scientific director of IPSO. “This is a very serious situation demanding unequivocal action at every level.” The report calls for cuts in carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to the warming of ocean surface temperatures and ocean acidification. It also calls on governments to reduce pollution and enact sustainable fisheries policies. The cumulative effect of the multiple threats must be addressed urgently because the rate of degeneration in the oceans is greater than predicted, the report warns.
For additional information see: The New York Times, Science Daily, Report
Study Finds Link Between Temperature, Increasing Rate of Sea Level Rise
The Atlantic is rising at a greater rate today along the coast of the United States than at any time during the last 2,100 years, a new study found. The study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences also discussed the link between changes in temperature and rates of sea level rise. “Sea-level rise is a potentially disastrous outcome of climate change as rising temperatures melt land-based ice and warm ocean waters," said Benjamin Horton, a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. The current average sea level rise is 2.1 millimeters per year. The study verifies that today’s rate of sea level rise is unprecedented in the recent geologic past, scientists said.
For additional information see: Associated Press, Science Daily, Study
Scientific American Series Links Stronger Storms to Climate Change
Scientific American last week published a three-part series exploring the connection between climate change and extreme weather. The first story stated that the extreme weather predicted by climate models is now being observed across the globe. The second explained how rising global temperatures fuel stronger storms. And the third discussed how the world can manage the risks and adapt to a changing climate. The series was funded by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Scientific American had complete editorial control.
For additional information see: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
Insurers Study Climate Change to Decide Rate Hikes in Alabama
Insurance companies are considering rate hikes for homeowners after devastating tornadoes caused $2.5 to 3.5 billion in losses on April 27 in Alabama. The amount of rate increases depends on whether or not the storms are considered a new normal pattern caused by climate change. At only halfway through the year, Alabama’s tornado total is already three times the average and there have been more F4 and F5 storms than any other year. According to Lee Bowron of the Birmingham actuarial consulting firm Kerper and Bowron, LLC, insurance rates are based on models that predict the frequency and intensity of disasters, and “re-insurers and insurers are now evaluating tornado risk in light of the recent outbreak.” Brian Thomas, a sustainability consultant who formerly worked in the reinsurance industry, says, "the global re-insurers are very concerned about climate change. As far as they are concerned, there is a pretty clear signal." However, a preliminary National Weather Service evaluation of climate variables known to cause tornadoes in the Southeast doesn't show a global warming-related trend that can be linked to the severe outbreak. While insurance companies may want to raise rates to compensate for the threat of climate change, they can only raise them so much before they begin to lose customers.
For additional information see: The Birmingham News
EPA Report Outlines Climate Adaptation Options for Coastline
A new federal report on climate adaptation suggests that development in some low lying coastal areas will have to give way to rising sea levels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in June released “Rolling Easements,” a primer for communities to preserve development rights of shoreline property owners while acknowledging that some coastal properties will be economically or environmentally infeasible to defend from rising sea levels. “Defending coastal development from the rising sea would prevent wetlands from migrating inland, expose large numbers of people to the hazard of living below sea level, and often cost more than what the property being protected is worth,” the report stated. The report detailed land-use and legal tools that would allow coastal development, but prohibit seawalls and shoreline protections from being built in some areas. Proposals include issuing regulations or transferring the rights to build shoreline protections from owners who would do so to organizations that would not. This allows property to be put to its highest use, but it can be converted to wetland or beach once it is threatened by rising seas.
For additional information see: The Washington Post, Report
Rockies Losing Colorful Flowers as Temperatures Rise, Study Finds
The colorful flowers that brighten the meadows of the Rocky Mountains in the middle of the summer are fading because of factors that include climate change, a new study found. As temperatures have risen in the high altitude meadows and conditions turned drier, the flowers have become less abundant, particularly during the middle of the summer. Not only would the Rockies lose a splash of color as the world turns warmer, but other species, such as pollinators, would be affected. “The resulting longer periods of flowering abundance in the middle of the summer season could negatively affect pollinators that are active throughout the season, and shifts in flowering peaks within habitats might create mismatches between floral resources and demand by pollinators with limited foraging ranges,” the study stated. The study was funded by the National Science Foundation. It appears in the July edition of the Journal of Ecology.
For additional information see: Los Angeles Times, Study Abstract
Survey Shows Who Americans Trust About Climate Change
A new survey suggests the urgency of climate change can be communicated if the right people engage local constituencies and explain how human activities are impacting local communities. "You can't talk about preparing for climate change in Seattle the same way you would in Phoenix,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, which released the survey results on June 27. The survey suggests many people remain uninformed about climate change but there is an opportunity to close the information gap. The survey found 39 percent of people were alarmed or concerned by climate change. On the other hand, 10 percent were dismissive, and may be unreachable because they distrust any source of data. A large sector of the public is in the middle, looking for information from trusted people who can explain why they are certain that humans are responsible for climate change. If more doctors, military officers, businesspeople or labor leaders speak out, the information gap may close. “We take our cues from key trusted individuals and organizations,” said Leiserowitz. “And different groups tend to trust different messengers.”
For additional information see: Reuters, Study
N.H. Governor Vetoes Plan to Leave Carbon Market
New Hampshire will stay in a regional carbon market after its governor vetoed a bill that would have led to its withdrawal. Gov. John Lynch said leaving the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) would cost the state $16 million that the program raises through its carbon auctions. "I am vetoing this legislation because it will cost our citizens jobs, both now and into the future, hinder our economic recovery, and damage our state's long-term economic competitiveness," said Lynch. The 10-state program requires reductions of carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and established the trading market. Power plants can buy allowances to cover their emissions and sell unneeded allowances on the market if they further reduce their emissions. Republican legislators in New Hampshire said leaving the program would lower costs for utilities and reduce electricity rates. RGGI has faced challenges in several states. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced in May that his state will leave the program later this year.
For additional information see: Reuters
British Columbia Carbon Tax Seen as Good for Environment
Nearly three-quarters of the residents of British Columbia believe their province’s carbon tax has been good for the environment, or feel neutral about it, according to survey results released June 30. Strategic Communications, Inc. conducted the poll of 830 people. It found 69 percent of residents are worried about climate change. This year, the carbon tax, introduced in 2008, costs $25 per ton for carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of oil, natural gas and coal. Next year, it rises to $30 per ton. Future rate hikes have not been determined; 51 percent of those polled do not support an increase in the carbon tax. Similar taxes apply to jet fuel, diesel, propane and other fuels. Both businesses and consumers pay the tax. The tax adds about $142 a year to the home heating bills of the average homeowner. The province claims the tax is revenue neutral because personal, corporate and small business income taxes were lowered.
For additional information see: Vancouver Sun, British Columbia Carbon Tax Website
If you would like to receive my Climate Change News automatically by email and don’t already, just send an email message to:
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Thanks,
Chad A. Tolman
chadtolman@verizon.net
Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS FOR JUNE 2011
CC NEWS FOR JUNE 2011
In January, the Energy and Environmental Study Institute (EESI) released a Fact Sheet called, A Snapshot of Renewable Energy Development. It focused on the current status of renewable energy for electricity generation, which has been growing rapidly and now produces 10.6% of U.S. electricity. The 12-page report describes capacity, project size, cost trends and construction timelines, and the impacts of renewable electricity technologies on carbon emissions. At: http://files.eesi.org/re_deployment_011211.pdf
In the last (May) issue of Climate Change News I mentioned a report from the National Academy of Sciences titled, Warming World: Impacts per Degree. The Energy and Environmental Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing on the report on April 25, and the presentations of the three speakers and their slides can be found online at: http://www.eesi.org/warming-world-impacts-degree-25-apr-2011
Looking at the impacts by degree C temperature increase gives policy makers a new way to look at climate change and to make informed decisions about what kinds of impacts are acceptable. The full National Academy of Sciences 298-page report, titled, Climate Stabilization Targets: Emissions, Concentrations, and Impacts over Decades to Millennia can be ordered or viewed online. At: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12877
I highly recommend World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse by Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute. It's available free online at: http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/wotebook.pdf
You can buy the book or join the Earth Policy Institute listserv at:
I’m a great admirer of Dr. James Hansen at Columbia University. The NY Times interviewed him in 2008, and you can see it on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVCMBozpoA0&feature=relmfu
On May 20, Need to Know on PBS did a piece by Laura LeBlanc titled, From allergies to deadly disease, feeling the effects of climate change. You can watch the 13.6-minute video at: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/environment/video-from-allergies-to-deadly-disease-feeling-the-effects-of-climate-change/9457/
Bill McKibben has a wonderful sardonic article in the Washington Post for May 23 titled, A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never! He reassures us with a quote from U.S. Chamber of Commerce, saying that there’s no need to worry because “populations can acclimatize to warmer climates via a range of behavioral, physiological, and technological adaptations.” At: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-link-between-climate-change-and-joplin-tornadoes-never/2011/05/23/AFrVC49G_story.html
Desiree Parker has an article in the May 24 Williamsburg Yorktown Daily titled, Planned Coal Plant Could Cost $200 Million In Health Costs, Report Finds. The Old Dominion Electric Cooperative plans to build a new 1,500-megawatt power plant in the town of Dendron, VA. A report by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation says that the health care costs associated with running it could be over $200 million per year. According to the report, the annual health impacts of the plant would include: chronic bronchitis, asthma-related emergency room visits, premature deaths, heart attacks, asthma attacks, and lost work days. At: http://wydaily.com/local-news/6533-planned-coal-plant-could-cost-200-million-report-finds.html
Matthew Wald has an article in the May 24 NY Times titled, Risk From Spent Nuclear Reactor Fuel Is Greater in U.S. Than in Japan, Study Says. He writes, “The report, from the Institute for Policy Studies, recommends that the United States transfer most of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel from pools filled with cooling water to dry sealed steel casks to limit the risk of an accident resulting from an earthquake, terrorism or other event.” One U.S. nuclear plant, Vermont Yankee, on the border of Mass. and Vermont, has more nuclear waste stored in a pool than all four similar units at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan. Moving all U.S. nuclear waste into dry storage might take 10 years and cost between $3.5 and $7 billion, but the costs could be much greater if we don’t take the precaution. One of the planes that hit the Twin Towers on 9/11 flew over the Indian Point nuclear complex on the Hudson on its way to NY City. At:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/25/business/energy-environment/25nuke.html
The Australian Climate Commission has issued a report titled, The Critical Decade: Key Messages. The Climate Spectator says, “Over many decades thousands of scientists have painted an unambiguous picture: the global climate is changing and humanity is almost surely the primary cause. The risks have never been clearer and the case for action has never been more urgent. Our Earth’s surface is warming rapidly and we can already see social, economic and environmental impacts in Australia. Failing to take sufficient action today entails potentially huge risks to our economy, society and way of life into the future. This is the critical decade for action.” At: http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/climate-commission-critical-decade
Switchboard, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Staff Blog, posted an article on May 25 by Kaid Benfield. It describes A Citizen’s Guide to LEED for Neighborhood Development, developed by the NRDC for local environmental groups, smart growth organizations, and others interested in making communities better and greener. It is available for free and can be downloaded at: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/knowing_when_its_green_a_citiz.html
The NRDC on May 26 issued a press release titled, New Poll Reveals New Jersey Residents Strongly Support Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative's Results. The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling showed that 74% of NJ residents support clean energy development in the state over importing fossil fuels – in spite of a well-funded disinformation campaign by a group calling itself Americans for Prosperity. Similar groups – probably funded by the Koch Brothers and other fossil fuel interests – have been active in a number of Northeastern states opposing any efforts to reduce GHG emissions. At: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2011/110526.asp
Do you remember when more doctors smoked Camels than any other cigarette?
The Washington Post for May 27 carried an article by Chico Harlan titled, Japan takes a shine to renewable energy. It says that Japan, as a result of the disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, is changing national energy policy to scale back nuclear power and develop wind and solar power to replace it. In the meantime, while the new energy sources come online, Japan will reduce its energy consumption and import more oil and natural gas. At: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-takes-a-shine-to-renewable-energy/2011/05/26/AGm8wuCH_story.html
A NY Times article on May 29 by John Broder said that ex-President Bill Clinton and ex-NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg are working together to help cities reduce their GHG emissions and deal with climate change. Cities are home to more than half of Earth’s people and are responsible for 70% of its GHG emissions. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/29/science/earth/29enviro.html?pagewanted=all
There is now a group working on a National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy for the United States. A Steering Committee is supported by staff from the Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and Native American tribal partners. You can learn more at:
http://www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov/management.php
Radio Netherlands Worldwide reported on May 30 that carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 were the highest in history – 30.6 Gt. The unwillingness of many countries to reduce their emissions makes it unlikely that global warming can be kept below 2º C (3.6º F). At: http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/co2-emissions-highest-ever-2010-iea-0
The NY Times for June 4 has an article by Justin Gillis titled, TEMPERATURE RISING - A Warming Planet Struggles to Feed Itself. It mentions that climate change is challenging the ability of farmers to feed the growing population. It will be important to develop new varieties and new techniques better adapted to the new conditions. At: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/science/earth/05harvest.html?pagewanted=2&_r=2
OilChange International has a Dirty Money Campaign aimed at exposing the financial contributions that dirty energy companies make to members of Congress to protect the companies’ interests. You can follow the money by Zip code, politician, or company. At: http://www.dirtyenergymoney.com/#
The NY Times reported the development of a new generation of commercially available LED light bulbs at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/05/magazine/bulb-in-bulb-out.html?scp=2&sq=Light%20Bulb&st=cse
On June 8 Heather Goldstone of WGBH (Boston) posted an article on her Climatide blog titled, The State of the Oceans 2011. In it she pointed out five threats to our oceans: 1) climate change, 2) acidification, 3) pollution, 4) over fishing and 5) ignorance. Heather is an oceanographer – well worth reading. At:
http://climatide.wgbh.org/tag/ocean-acidification/
On June 13 EnergyBiz ran an article by Ken Silverstein titled, Offshore Wind Hits Waves. It pointed out that offshore wind development in the U.S. is being slowed by a combination of regulatory hurdles and difficulty finding investors – in spite of the fact that offshore wind is growing very rapidly in many other parts of the world, including China. It appears that the first turbines in the water may be off the coast near Galveston Texas. Texas already leads the U.S. in onshore wind generation, with about 25% of the country’s total. At: http://www.energybiz.com/article/11/06/offshore-wind-hits-waves
Why is it so much easier for us to go to war than to develop a clean energy technology?
Robert Fri has a Voices piece on PBS Need To Know for June 14, titled, Action on climate change: Why now? He quotes a recent National Academy of Sciences report that says that though we don’t know exactly how or when the effects of climate change on humans and the environment will play out, “the environmental, economic, and humanitarian risks of climate change indicate a pressing need for substantial action to limit the magnitude of climate change and to prepare to adapt to its impacts.” At: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/voices/action-on-climate-change-why-now/9790/
The report was called America’s Climate Choices and was issued in May. A press release and a link to the full report can be found at:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12781
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.
UK Agrees to Two Decades of Drastic Emission Cuts
Cabinet ministers have agreed to a deal that will commit the United Kingdom to two decades of drastic greenhouse gas emissions cuts. Energy Secretary Chris Huhne announced last week that the government will fully accept the recommendations of an independent Committee on Climate Change that extended commitments to 2027, making the UK the only nation with legally binding commitments past 2020. The committee has recommended carbon emissions should be cut to 60 percent from 1990 levels by 2030, and eventually 80 percent by 2050. Ministers believe major companies involved in developing offshore wind technology, such as Siemens, Vestas, and General Electric, would be more willing to invest in Britain now that it is committed to expanding its renewable energy production. According to the committee, 16 billion pounds would need to be invested annually throughout the 2020’s and new policies would need to be implemented in order to meet the targets. In order to meet its goal, the country plans to replace a generation of aging nuclear power plants with new reactors, expand renewable energy, such as offshore wind power, geothermal energy, and use carbon sequestration.
For additional information see: The Guardian, Reuters
Climate Change a Contributing Factor to More Frequent Mississippi Floods
According to scientists, the increasing frequency and severity of Mississippi River floods are being caused by a combination of climate change and federal water projects over the past 100 years that have transformed the river into a waterway for shipping. The flooding of the Mississippi, as seen in recent weeks, was expected to occur once every 10 or 25 years, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. However, similar floods have occurred in 1995, 1996, 1998, and 2001. In 2008, the river experienced a flood that was expected once every 200 years, and in 1993 flood waters were at levels expected once every 500 years. The construction of locks, levees and weirs, they say, has caused the river to be unnaturally constrained, leading to higher flood water levels during heavy rains. Climate change, in addition, is leading to increased evaporation and, in turn, heavier rainfall.
For additional information see: NY Times, Scientific American
Study: Seaports Must Improve Infrastructure to Cope with Climate Change
A study published in the journal Climatic Change found that the majority of seaports around the globe are unprepared for the potentially damaging effects of climate change in the coming century. In a survey conducted on port authorities around the world, researchers found most of them do not know how to protect their facilities against rising sea levels and intense storms, which according to scientists are potential effects of climate change. Out of the 93 agencies representing major seaports around the globe who responded to the survey, fewer than six percent said that they plan to construct hurricane barriers within the next 10 years, and fewer than 18 percent had plans to build dikes or other storm protection structures.
For additional information see: Science Daily, UPI, Study
Scientists and Planners Agree Extreme Weather is the “New Normal”
On May 18, climate scientists and government planners stated that extreme weather patterns, such as increased rain, snow, floods, and droughts, are indicators of a new normal climate caused by climate change. "We are used to certain conditions and there's a lot going on these days that is not what we're used to, that is outside our current frame of reference," said climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe on a conference call with other scientists, civic planners and the giant Swiss Re reinsurance firm, organized by the Union of Concerned Scientists. Although they did not blame climate change for any specific event, all the participants cited human-caused climate change as one of the factors contributing to the more extreme weather.
For additional information see: Reuters
Texas Seeks to Overturn EPA’s Endangerment Finding
On May 23, the state of Texas, on behalf of 14 other states, filed an opening brief in a case seeking to overturn the “endangerment finding” announced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2009. The finding stated that greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and welfare, which gave the EPA the authority to regulate greenhouse gases under the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling EPA v. Massachusetts. Texas is challenging the finding on the grounds that it is "arbitrary and capricious,” words in the U.S. Code that are grounds for a reversal of the decision. The brief stated that the EPA "never provides criteria for determining when [greenhouse gas] emissions or climate change endanger public health or welfare,” as well as the possibility that people might adapt to or even combat the effects of climate change over the extended time period in which it occurs, reducing its effects on health and welfare. The brief was filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.
For additional information see: Texas Tribune, Brief
Report: California Needs to Take Aggressive Measures to Meet Emissions Goal
In a report titled "California's Energy Future¬¬: The View to 2050," scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory concluded that California can meet its goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. The report stated that the first 60 percent of emissions reductions could be met by aggressively implementing current technologies, including wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro and offshore marine energy. The remaining 20 percent would be attained through technological advancements in artificial photosynthesis, fusion energy, more efficient and sustainable biofuels, hydrogen fuel, more effective carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and advanced batteries for both vehicles and grid storage. The report also called for improvements to the electrical grid, to allow it to integrate more intermittent renewable sources and store more energy. In addition to faster development of renewable energy sources, scientists also stated that significant efficiency measures must be taken, retrofitting 1.8 percent of all buildings annually.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Report
Micronesia Challenges Czech Coal Plant Over Sea-Level Rise
Micronesia has mounted an unprecedented legal challenge against the Czech Republic's plans to expand a coal-fired power station more than 7,000 miles away. They claim the increased greenhouse gas emissions from the plant will contribute to global warming, potentially threatening the country, with many parts that lie just over three feet above sea level. If expanded, the power plant will emit over 40 times as much carbon emissions annually as Micronesia as a whole. Micronesia, along with Greenpeace, want the Czech government to carry out a study, called a Trans-Boundary Environmental Impact Assessment, to assess how pollution from the coal plant will affect the Micronesian archipelago. This type of study usually occurs between countries that share a border, but has never been done between countries from different regions before. The Czech environment ministry is expected to come to a decision regarding Micronesia’s case within two weeks.
For additional information see: Telegraph
Australian Climate Commission Suggests Immediate Action, End Logging in Old Growth Forests
A report issued by Australia’s Climate Commission stated that the evidence for global warming is now ''exceptionally strong and beyond doubt,'' and actions this decade will determine the impact of climate change for the rest of the century. The report concluded that the impacts of climate change are already being seen, despite the earth warming less than one degree Celsius so far. The commission addressed the issues of sea level rise and risks to the Great Barrier Reef, and suggested that carbon emissions must peak within the next few years, and then rapidly decline. The report also concluded that the country must end logging in old-growth forests with high carbon storage capacities, stating that it is one of the best ways of making timely cuts to Australia's greenhouse gas emissions while the slower energy transforming and transport systems unfold. "We need to use whatever means we can to sequester carbon but also start reducing emissions from industry. We need some sort of price on carbon. A price is unavoidable,” said Climate Commission chief, Tim Flannery.
For additional information see: Sydney Morning Herald 1, Sydney Morning Herald 2, Business Green, Report
IEA: CO2 Emissions Reached All Time High in 2010
On May 30, the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated that global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) reached their highest level ever in 2010, with the growth driven mainly by booming coal-reliant emerging economies. The agency also stated that 80 percent of the projected carbon emissions in 2020 will be “locked in” since they will be produced by power plants that are already running, or under construction. "This significant increase in CO2 emissions and the locking in of future emissions due to infrastructure investments represent a serious setback to our hopes of limiting the global rise in temperature to no more than 2.0 [degrees Celsius] (3.6 [degrees Fahrenheit])," said IEA chief economist Fatih Birol. According to scientists, if global temperatures rise over two degrees Celsius, the risk of severe climate change impacts, including flooding, storms, rising sea levels and species extinction, greatly increase. The UN climate talks, which will resume in Bonn on June 6, will focus on how to achieve the two degree Celsius target.
In related news, Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, stated that, "Two degrees is not enough- we should be thinking of 1.5 [degrees Celsius]. If we are not headed to 1.5 we are in big, big trouble." She said that the record emissions reported by IEA strengthens the need for urgent action on greenhouse gases.
For additional information see: AFP, Reuters, Guardian
Experts Discuss Ways to Help Threatened Island Nations Keep Sovereignty
Rising sea levels have put a number of small-island nations in the Indian and Pacific oceans at risk. At a three-day discussion at Columbia University last week, a collection of international lawyers and politicians began to find ways to use existing rules to allow many of these nations to continue as legal entities entitled to ocean fishing and mineral exploration rights, even if their entire populations were forced to relocate elsewhere. "It's important to maintain a government that can defend its interests in the international arena," said international law expert Jenny Grote Stoutenburg. Experts discussed the creation of new laws to address the fate of these island-nations, ways to clearly define their coastline as it currently exists, and how to deal with the relocation of the nations’ population if they are forced to relocate.
For additional information see: NY Times
Report Warns Food Prices Will Double without Global Action
A report published by Oxfam concluded that if global action is not taken to address issues such as climate change, failing biofuel policies, and stalling growth in agricultural yields, food prices will more than double over the next 20 years. The report suggested the price of key crops, like corn, would rise from 120 to 180 percent, with almost half the price increase attributed to climate change. Oxfam called for British Prime Minister David Cameron, among other G20 leaders, to implement measures that will stabilize food prices. These measures include increasing food reserves, removing agricultural subsidies, and decreasing support for biofuels that displace agricultural land that could be used for food production. The report also called on international governments to ensure that the Green Climate Fund, designed to help developing countries adapt to climate change, is put in place by this year’s climate summit in Durban, South Africa.
For additional information see: Business Green, BBC, Report
Climate Change To Increase Ozone-Related Illnesses
On June 2, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report, “Climate Change and Your Health: Rising Temperatures, Worsening Ozone Pollution”, stating that climate change could increase illnesses and affect health costs because of the increase of ground-level ozone. "Even a small increase in ozone due to a warmer climate would have a significant impact on public health," said report co-author Liz Perera. "It would mean more asthma attacks, respiratory illnesses, emergency room trips and premature deaths." The report found that 10 states with the largest numbers of urban residents, children, and senior citizens along with high levels of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compound emissions would be severely affected by ground-level ozone. These states include California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey and Virginia. If fossil fuel emissions continue to increase at today’s current rate, by 2020 the higher ozone levels could create 2.8 million additional serious respiratory illnesses.
For additional information see: USA Today, Union of Concerned Scientists Report
Rising Sea Levels Will Affect More Than Just Coastal Populations
In a report to be published in the upcoming issue of Population and Environment, researchers examine the impacts of rising oceans as one element of how a changing climate will affect humans. Researchers used existing climate projections and maps to predict which areas will be at risk from rising seal levels and storm surges, and then applied these predictions to projections of future populations. The study focused on four main areas, including the tip of the Florida peninsula, coastal South Carolina, the northern New Jersey coastline, and the greater Sacramento region of northern California. According to researchers, more than 19 million people will be affected by rising sea levels in the four study areas by 2030. The study was designed towards helping local authorities identify how to best deal with environmental impacts. "As we anticipate future events, future natural disasters, we've learned how dramatic it can be -- and there are things that can be done in advance to mitigate the extent of damage in a location," said Katherine Curtis, lead author of the study.
For additional information see: Science Daily, Study
California Planning for Rising Sea Levels
California would require certain public entities to draw up action plans to prevent or mitigate damage from rising sea levels under a bill approved by the state assembly on June 1. The legislation applies to about 75 coastal cities, counties, and harbor and sanitary districts that manage state-granted public lands that generate more than $250,000 in annual revenues, a category that includes facilities such as large public airports and ports. The bill states that rising sea levels from climate change will significantly affect the state’s economic and social future. Coastal activities contribute more than $50 billion to the state’s economy. The bill does not include any provisions requiring public entities to implement their action plans.
For additional information see: San Jose Mercury News, Text of Bill AB 752
Natural Gas Is Not the Solution to Climate and Energy Problems, IEA Warns
At a June 6 press conference, the executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that natural gas is not an energy panacea. “While natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel, it is still a fossil fuel,” said Nobuo Tanaka, IEA’s executive director in discussing new research by the agency. “Its increased use could muscle out low-carbon fuels such as renewables and nuclear, particularly in the wake of Fukushima. An expansion of gas use alone is no panacea for climate change." Gas companies are urging governments to support an expansion of natural gas, including the tapping of previously inaccessible shale gas through “fracking,” a process which is blamed for the contamination of water supplies. The IEA worries that low-cost natural gas would incentivize the building of gas-fired power plants while shelving plans for renewable projects.
For additional information see: The Guardian, IEA, World Energy Outlook
Climate Change Will Reduce Water for Farming, UN Agency Says
Climate change will siphon away the amount of water available to the world’s farmers, the United Nation’s food agency warned in a new report that calls for action to lessen the danger to both rural and heavily populated areas. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued its “Climate Change, Water and Food Security Report” on June 9. The report calls on countries to improve their management of water resources and urge farmers to adopt new crops and practices before more serious effects of climate change are felt. Regions already prone to water scarcity are at the greatest risk, but the FAO said the loss of glaciers from climate change “will eventually impact the amount of surface water available.”
For additional information see: Reuters, AFP, FAO Report
Today’s Heat Waves to Become Commonplace in 20 to 60 Years, Study Finds
Unprecedented summer heat will be here to stay within the next 20 to 60 years if greenhouse gas emissions continue to increase, a new study found. Stanford University researchers concluded that tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America could see the “permanent emergence of unprecedented summer” heat in the next two decades. In the middle latitudes of Europe, China and North America, today’s heat waves will become the new normal within 60 years. “According to our projections, large areas of the globe are likely to warm up so quickly that, by the middle of this century, even the coolest summers will be hotter than the hottest summers of the past 50 years,” said lead author Noah Diffenbaugh, an assistant professor of environmental Earth system science. The study will appear later this month in Climate Change Letters.
For additional information see: MSNBC, Stanford University
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Chad A. Tolman
chadtolman@verizon.net
Coalition for Climate Change Study and Action
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