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Other NewsEditorialsIn defense of clean energy.After months of standing by as Republicans tried to gut environmental laws and discredit his clean energy initiatives, President Obama blasted Republicans for their single-minded commitment to fossil fuels, argued the case for a diversified energy strategy and dared to talk about climate change. New York Times Green energy isn't always good energy.Wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal seem mostly benign -- in part because they are still a small part of the energy equation. But when green gets big, it can be controversial. Christian Science Monitor Global warming's 'dirty laundry.'University of Virginia should disclose climate emails. Washington Times Obama has greens squirming a bit.When President Barack Obama promised this week to open 75 percent of potential offshore gas and oil resources to drilling and praised the controversial fracking method for extracting untapped oil reserves on land, a collective shudder went through his green constituency. Orange County Register OpinionCoal-fired pollution hurts children, the elderly.Recently released data highlight just how dirty PPL’s Colstrip plant is. When it comes to carbon dioxide pollution, PPL’s Colstrip plant is the dirtiest coal-burning power plant in the West. And CO2 is just the start. Add SO2, NO2, and water pollution. Billings Gazette A dangerous shift in Obama’s ‘climate change’ rhetoric.The Earth is still getting hotter, but certain terms have nearly disappeared from political vocabulary. Washington Post The environment in the State of the Union.President Obama says the United States is going to develop all forms of domestic energy, focusing on natural gas and clean renewables. But what he didn’t talk about in his State of the Union speech is equally interesting. Living On Earth Obama exaggerates role of federal government in natural gas boom.In the State of the Union, President Obama argued that government-enabled oil and natural gas technology was responsible for the oil and gas drilling doom sweeping the U.S. The president's claim that the federal government helped create the hydraulic fracturing boom is specious at best. US News & World Report |
California orders hike in number of super clean cars.California, long a national leader in cutting auto pollution, pushed the envelope further Friday as state regulators approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put significantly more pollution-free vehicles on the road in coming years. Los Angeles Times American coal: A burning issue.By some measures, coal is still going strong. It provides more of America’s electricity than any other fuel. Production has fallen off since 2008, but it remains high, as do prices, for which thank the developing world’s appetite. But if the raw numbers look good, the trends tell a different story. Economist Russian mariners prepare for ice-free Arctic Ocean.A relief mission through perilous, ice-choked seas was the first mid-winter fuel delivery to Alaska, capping a year of pioneering shipping as oil and gas development and climate change increase traffic along northern trade routes sought by centuries of Arctic explorers. Reuters A flaky winter in Yosemite.In this spine-country of grandeur and extremes, where people often mark time by natural events such as "the year of the big flood," this is the year of the weird winter. Even with California's volatile weather, where exceptions are the rule, the season has been the driest in 30 years. Without snow, hotels are offering rock climbing and archery to frustrated skiers. Los Angeles Times Deepwater Gulf, not shale, will drive long-term expansion of U.S. crude production -- EIA chief.The deepwater Gulf of Mexico will likely be more important to long-term U.S. oil production than shale formations, the chief of the Department of Energy's statistics branch said today. Greenwire Clean energy doesn't always bring security for military.Just north of Las Vegas, a shimmering array of solar panels captures energy from the blazing sun to power some of the Air Force's most advanced work, including testing and flying drones. E&E Daily Repeated drought in east Africa may prompt aid rethink.Rainfall patterns over east Africa have changed in a way that makes severe droughts more likely - and this means aid agencies need to rethink the way they operate. New Scientist First report on UK climate impact.Climate change this century poses both risks and opportunities, according to the first comprehensive government assessment of its type. The report warns that flooding, heatwaves and water shortages could become more likely. But benefits could include new shipping lanes through the Arctic, fewer cold-related deaths in winter and higher crop yields. BBC Overheating musk oxen.If you’re going to live in Norway you have to be a hardy creature, capable of enduring long, dark winters. But adaptation to the cold climate can sometimes be deadly if things warm up. Living On Earth |
Inside TDC
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ClimateWire 27 Jan
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Edinburgh Scotsman 24 Jan
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Yale Environment 360 27 Jan
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Bloomberg News 28 Jan
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Philadelphia Inquirer 27 Jan
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Portland Oregonian 25 Jan
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Saturday, January 28 2012
Top ConsequencesRussian mariners prepare for ice-free Arctic Ocean.A relief mission through perilous, ice-choked seas was the first mid-winter fuel delivery to Alaska, capping a year of pioneering shipping as oil and gas development and climate change increase traffic along northern trade routes sought by centuries of Arctic explorers. Reuters A flaky winter in Yosemite.In this spine-country of grandeur and extremes, where people often mark time by natural events such as "the year of the big flood," this is the year of the weird winter. Even with California's volatile weather, where exceptions are the rule, the season has been the driest in 30 years. Without snow, hotels are offering rock climbing and archery to frustrated skiers. Los Angeles Times First report on UK climate impact.Climate change this century poses both risks and opportunities, according to the first comprehensive government assessment of its type. The report warns that flooding, heatwaves and water shortages could become more likely. But benefits could include new shipping lanes through the Arctic, fewer cold-related deaths in winter and higher crop yields. BBC Overheating musk oxen.If you’re going to live in Norway you have to be a hardy creature, capable of enduring long, dark winters. But adaptation to the cold climate can sometimes be deadly if things warm up. Living On Earth Top SolutionsCalifornia orders hike in number of super clean cars.California, long a national leader in cutting auto pollution, pushed the envelope further Friday as state regulators approved rules to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and put significantly more pollution-free vehicles on the road in coming years. Los Angeles Times Clean energy doesn't always bring security for military.Just north of Las Vegas, a shimmering array of solar panels captures energy from the blazing sun to power some of the Air Force's most advanced work, including testing and flying drones. E&E Daily Climate change will be part of new National Forest plan.The new planning rule for the forest system seeks to deliver stronger protections for forests, water and wildlife, while supporting the economic vitality of rural communities. Colusa Sun-Herald Top CausesAmerican coal: A burning issue.By some measures, coal is still going strong. It provides more of America’s electricity than any other fuel. Production has fallen off since 2008, but it remains high, as do prices, for which thank the developing world’s appetite. But if the raw numbers look good, the trends tell a different story. Economist Deepwater Gulf, not shale, will drive long-term expansion of U.S. crude production -- EIA chief.The deepwater Gulf of Mexico will likely be more important to long-term U.S. oil production than shale formations, the chief of the Department of Energy's statistics branch said today. Greenwire Top PoliticsClimate change battle spills into the nightly weather report.The fight for hearts and minds when it comes to climate change has moved to a new battleground: your television set. Houston Chronicle ‘Skeptical’ environmentalist takes middle road in tackling climate change.In a conversation with Bjorn Lomborg, the first assertion he makes these days is that he is not a climate change denier. Calgary Herald David Cameron's eco-friendly image risks 'retoxification', warns WWF chief.The head of the charity that helped to arrange David Cameron's memorable husky photoshoot in the Arctic, launching the Conservatives' rebranding as the nice-not-nasty party, has warned that the PM's lack of leadership on environment issues risks "retoxifying" their image. The Guardian |
From the Daily Climate NewsroomThe scientist: Jim Hansen risks handcuffs to make his research clear.NASA's chief climate scientist built his career studying Earth's atmosphere and modeling humans' potential impacts on climate. Then he realized that laboratory work was only part of the equation. A Climate Query. more Low-carbon cement paves a development path (or sidewalk).Carbon emissions from cement are set to grow explosively as developing countries such as India create a "first-world" infrastructure. Scientists and entrepreneurs are struggling to push alternative technologies out of the lab and onto the street. more Pushed to brink, swans rebound with help from global warming.
(c) Jim Lawson
Hunted to near extinction in the 19th century, the trumpeter swan is taking advantage of warmer, longer summers to expand its range and numbers - one of the few good news stories of global warming, at least for now. more The skier: An industry exec takes stock of winter and prepares for change.Aspen Skiing Co. has a long reputation within the ski industry for efforts to reduce its environmental impact. Auden Schendler, the man overseeing Aspen's efforts, looks at the changes coming and says those efforts are not enough. A Climate Query. more Opinion: Much ado about methane.The climate change story has many frightening pieces. Methane venting from oceans and the Arctic has grabbed the public's imagination lately, but it is not the scariest part of the tale. more |
