News: Archive for December, 2011
‘The tar sand mines in Alberta, source of the oil that may one day flow all the way from Canada to Texas through the Keystone XL Pipeline, are growing by enormous leaps and bounds. This superb series of satellite pictures, brought to you by National Geographic, tells the whole story.’
via Photos show Alberta tar sands expanding rapidly – latimes.com.
‘Why aren’t we seeing more coverage of climate change in the media? The issue is hardly going away. And now that world governments after Durban are not planning to take action ’til 2020, we need more coverage, not less.’
via James Thornton: Are Climate Change Reporters an Endangered Species?.
‘…Climate science already offers some insight. Researchers have proved that the temperature of the earth’s surface is rising, and they are virtually certain that the human release of greenhouse gases, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels, is the major reason. For decades, they have predicted that this would lead to changes in the frequency of extreme weather events, and statistics show that has begun to happen.’
via Climate Scientists Hampered in Study of 2011 Extremes – NYTimes.com.
‘WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday announced a tough new rule to limit emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances from sources such as power plants, a landmark measure that could prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.’
via EPA issues strong limits on mercury emissions from smokestacks – latimes.com.
‘On Wednesday, the European Union’s highest court fended off a challenge from the U.S. and established greenhouse gas emissions controls for all airlines flying anywhere in Europe. Airlines now will be required to pay or trade for gas emission allowances, beginning Jan. 1, although the first year is largely free of charge.’
via U.S. fights EU on airline carbon emissions – latimes.com.
‘WASHINGTON — The Obama administration on Wednesday announced a tough new rule to limit emissions of mercury, arsenic and other toxic substances from sources such as power plants, a landmark measure that could prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.’
via EPA issues strong limits on mercury emissions from smokestacks – latimes.com.
‘…For now, scientists have many more questions than answers. Preliminary computer analyses, made only recently, suggest that the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions could eventually become an annual source of carbon equal to 15 percent or so of today’s yearly emissions from human activities.’
via Warming Arctic Permafrost Fuels Climate Change Worries – NYTimes.com.
‘TOKYO — Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda of Japan has declared an end to the world’s worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl, saying technicians have regained control of reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.’
via Japan’s Prime Minister Declares Fukushima Plant Stable – NYTimes.com.
‘…Tom Goldtooth, Director of Indigenous Environmental Network based in Minnesota, USA does not mince words. “By refusing to take immediate binding action to reduce the concentration of greenhouse gas emissions, industrialized countries like the United States and Canada are essentially incinerating Africa and drowning the small island states of the Pacific. The sea ice of the Inupiat, Yupik and Inuit of the Arctic is melting right before their eyes, creating a forced choice to adapt or perish. This constitutes climate racism, ecocide and genocide of an unprecedented scale.”‘
via Indigenous Peoples Condemn Climate Talks Fiasco and Demand Moratoria on REDD+.
‘DURBAN, South Africa — After 72 hours of continuous wrangling, the 17th conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change wrapped up early Sunday with modest accomplishments: the promise to work toward a new global treaty in coming years and the establishment of a new climate fund.’