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News: Archive for April, 2009

Al Gore calls on world to burn less wood and fuel to curb 'black carbon' | guardian.co.uk

Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

‘Soot from engines, forest fires and partly burned fuel is collecting in Arctic and causing north pole to warm at alarming rate

The world must burn less diesel and wood, Nobel peace prize-winner Al Gore said yesterday, as the soot produced is accelerating the melting of ice in polar and mountainous regions.’

via Al Gore calls on world to burn less wood and fuel to curb ‘black carbon’ | Environment | guardian.co.uk.

Al Gore "Strongly Urges" Support of Climate Legislation

Monday, April 27th, 2009

April 24, 2009. Al Gore appeared before before the House Energy and Commerce Committee to support the proposed climate change bill:

“…moreover the best way to secure a global agreement that guarantees that other nations will also reduce their global warming pollution is for our country to lead the world in meeting this historic challenge”

Emission Free: 5 Huge Renewable Energy Projects to Watch For : Red, Green, and Blue

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

Quick summary of several large energy projects. Though emission free is a bit of an overstatement for a variety of reasons.

see Emission Free: 5 Huge Renewable Energy Projects to Watch For : Red, Green, and Blue.

China Plans 20 Dams on Yangtze River But Transparency Issues With EIA Process Remain : Red, Green, and Blue

Saturday, April 25th, 2009

The Chinese government has announced that it plans to build as many as 20 hydro electric projects on the Yangtze river by the year 2020. The projects would be aimed at quenching China’s increasing power demand and helping in flood control. However, many domestic and international experts warn about the ecological sensitivity of the area might not be strong enough to cope with such massive infrastructure projects.

via China Plans 20 Dams on Yangtze River But Transparency Issues With EIA Process Remain : Red, Green, and Blue.

Professor Dan Kammen speaking about Obama climate and energy policy

Friday, April 24th, 2009

UC Berkeley Professor Dan Kammen, coordinating lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and an advisor to Obama during the 2008 campaign, describes recent changes in Climate Change policy since Obama has been in office. In particular Kammen focuses on policy reversals announced by EPA’s Lisa P. Jackson which allow California to set higher air quality standards than national, and the pivotal decision to consider CO2 as a harmful greenhouse gas.


Dan Kammen speaking at UC Berkeley on Obama’s climate change approach

BBC NEWS | Next decade ‘may see no warming’

Monday, April 20th, 2009

‘The Earth’s temperature may stay roughly the same for a decade, as natural climate cycles enter a cooling phase, scientists have predicted.

…The key to the new prediction is the natural cycle of ocean temperatures called the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), which is closely related to the warm currents that bring heat from the tropics to the shores of Europe.’

via BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Next decade ‘may see no warming’.

Environmental Gains Lose Priority in China Amid Downturn – NYTimes.com

Saturday, April 18th, 2009

“DUANJIALING, China — Less than a year ago, officials were pressing mines and factories along this limestone belt of northern China to shut down or move away to clear the air of dust and smog for the Beijing Olympics.

Now, amid the global economic downturn, priorities have shifted.

Cumbersome environmental reviews have been accelerated, state bank loans are flowing freely again and workers are welding the grinding mills of Sanhe Yongsheng Cement, one of the new cement plants under construction not far from China’s capital.”

The article goes on to mention rapid approval of projects:

“In the rush to invest $585 billion in stimulus spending and revive flagging industrial production, China has at least temporarily backpedaled on some environmental restraints imposed, though with limited impact, during the country’s long boom.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection, citing the urgency of fighting the downturn, adopted a new “green passage” policy that speeds approval of industrial projects. In one three-day stretch late last year, it gave the green light to 93 new investment plans valued at $38 billion.”

via Environmental Gains Lose Priority in China Amid Downturn – NYTimes.com.

E.P.A. to Clear the Way for Regulation of Warming Gases – NYTimes.com

Friday, April 17th, 2009

WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday formally declared carbon dioxide and five other heat-trapping gases to be pollutants that threaten public health and welfare, setting in motion a process that for the first time in the United States will regulate the gases blamed for global warming.

via E.P.A. to Clear the Way for Regulation of Warming Gases – NYTimes.com.

Gavin Newsom: Power America With Ocean Energy

Friday, April 17th, 2009

“Offshore wind power is one promising source of energy that is commercially viable today. Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimate that the wind off America’s coast could generate nearly 1,000 gigawatts — a little more than the current U.S. electrical capacity.

Ocean power, while not as developed, is every bit as promising. California has more than 745 miles of coastline, and every mile has daily energy transfers in the form of waves, tides and current. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that more than a quarter of California’s energy demand could be met by technology that harnesses these forms of ocean energy. Economic projections indicate that ocean energy could become cost-competitive over the long term if governmental leadership exists to encourage investment in these technologies.”

via Gavin Newsom: Power America With Ocean Energy.

Newsom’s further comments (video) on long term issues for S.F. “…Even Obama is softening on cap and trade – and no one has the guts to do a carbon tax”

Ted Turner on Suicidal Destruction from Nuclear Weapons – Video

Friday, April 17th, 2009

The link between the environment and militarism is too often left unexamined. Accidental or intentional the use of nuclear weapons would have devastating environmental effects.

Ted Turner, founder of CNN:

“We have designed, built, deployed and armed our own suicidal destruction – now is that smart? No, so why don’t we get rid of them while we still can before the get rid of us”

See the Video on FORAtv.com