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News: Archive for August, 2009

UN tackles climate change effects | BBC NEWS

Monday, August 31st, 2009

‘The World Climate Conference [in Geneva] will look at ways to help countries cope with the effects of climate change, such as an increase in floods and drought.’

via BBC NEWS | Europe | UN tackles climate change effects.

China's BYD says Buffett wants to raise stake | Reuters

Monday, August 31st, 2009

‘HONG KONG (Reuters) – U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett intends to raise his stake in Chinese electric car and battery maker BYD Co Ltd (1211.HK), BYD’s chairman said on Monday, sending shares in his company up 8 percent.’

via China’s BYD says Buffett wants to raise stake | Reuters.

California mine digs in for green gold rush | Reuters

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Seeking to replace China as the leading supplier of these scarce materials, Colorado-based Molycorp Minerals LLC plans to reopen its long-idled quarry to resume extracting and refining thousands of tons of rare earth ore in the next few years.

via California mine digs in for green gold rush | Reuters.

As hybrid cars gobble rare metals, shortage looms | Reuters

Monday, August 31st, 2009

‘LOS ANGELES Reuters – The Prius hybrid automobile is popular for its fuel efficiency, but its electric motor and battery guzzle rare earth metals, a little-known class of elements found in a wide range of gadgets and consumer goods.’

via As hybrid cars gobble rare metals, shortage looms | Green Business | Reuters.

Clash in Alabama Over Tennessee Coal Ash – NYTimes.com

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

‘UNIONTOWN, Ala. — Almost every day, a train pulls into a rail yard in rural Alabama, hauling 8,500 tons of a disaster that occurred 350 miles away to a final resting place, the Arrowhead Landfill here in Perry County, which is very poor and almost 70 percent black.’

via Clash in Alabama Over Tennessee Coal Ash – NYTimes.com.

Analysis Shows America’s Heartland Hardest Hit by Climate Change with States Heating up 10+ Degrees

Friday, August 28th, 2009

‘ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FLORIDA — August 27, 2009 — A new tool that for the first time allows people to easily see how climate change will directly impact their states shows America’s heartland will suffer the greatest jump in temperatures over the next century – with some states potentially heating up more than 10 degrees F, according to an analysis by The Nature Conservancy.’

via The Nature Conservancy in Florida – Analysis Shows America’s Heartland Hardest Hit by Climate Change with States Heating up 10+ Degrees.

History can no longer guide farmers, investors: U.N. | Reuters

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

‘GENEVA Reuters – Climate change has made history an inaccurate guide for farmers as well as energy investors who must rely on probabilities and scenarios to make decisions, the head of a United Nations agency said on Wednesday.’

via History can no longer guide farmers, investors: U.N. | Green Business | Reuters.

AFP: Top UN climate scientist backs ambitious CO2 cuts

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

“As chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) I cannot take a position because we do not make recommendations,” said Rajendra Pachauri when asked if he supported calls to keep atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations below 350 parts per million (ppm).

“But as a human being I am fully supportive of that goal. What is happening, and what is likely to happen, convinces me that the world must be really ambitious and very determined at moving toward a 350 target,” he told AFP in an interview.

via AFP: Top UN climate scientist backs ambitious CO2 cuts.

Baoding, China, Becomes the World's First 'Carbon Positive' city – ABC News

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009

‘In three years, Yu has transformed Baoding from an automobile and textile town into the fastest-growing hub of solar, wind, and biomass energy-equipmentmakers in China. Baoding now has the highest growth rate of any city in Hebei Province. Its “Electricity Valley” industrial cluster – consciously modeled on Silicon Valley – has quadrupled its business.’

via Baoding, China, Becomes the World’s First ‘Carbon Positive’ city – ABC News.

China says climate talks stymied by political interests | Reuters

Monday, August 24th, 2009

‘BEIJING Reuters – Little progress has been made so far on a new pact to combat global warming, with “commercial and political interests” continuing to prevail, China’s senior climate change official said on Monday.’

via China says climate talks stymied by political interests | Green Business | Reuters.