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News: Archive for September, 2009

NASA data: Greenland, Antarctic ice melt worsening

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

‘These new measurements, based on 50 million laser readings from a NASA satellite, confirm what some of the more pessimistic scientists thought: The melting along the crucial edges of the two major ice sheets is accelerating and is in a self-feeding loop. The more the ice melts, the more water surrounds and eats away at the remaining ice.’

via NASA data: Greenland, Antarctic ice melt worsening.

Obama's remarks to the United Nations Climate Conference

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

See video link

Obama spoke before the United Nations Climate Conference today, reaffirming his commitment to strong action on climate change, and calling for coordinated international efforts and an agreement in Copenhagen,

“Each of us must do what we can when we can to grow our economies without endangering our planet — and we must all do it together. We must seize the opportunity to make Copenhagen a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change.”

The President clearly acknowledged the historical responsibility of the developed nations for existing green house gas emissions, even mentioning the United States by name, while adding, “But those rapidly-growing developing nations that will produce nearly all the growth in global carbon emissions in the decades ahead must do their part as well.”

“What we are seeking, after all, is not simply an agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions. We seek an agreement that will allow all nations to grow and raise living standards without endangering the planet. By developing and disseminating clean technology and sharing our know-how, we can help developing nations leap-frog dirty energy technologies and reduce dangerous emissions.”

U.N. Climate Conference Opens With Call for Unity – NYTimes.com

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

‘UNITED NATIONS — Some 100 heads of state gathered at the United Nations on Tuesday for an unprecedented daylong conference on combating climate change, which President Obama and other leaders acknowledged was a difficult issue to agree on but was crucial for the future health of the planet.’

via U.N. Climate Conference Opens With Call for Unity – NYTimes.com.

Big Oil Goes Green | Newsweek.com

Monday, September 21st, 2009

‘Big Oil is going to be an increasingly important investor in alternative energy. Venture-capital money has dried up. But with oil at $70 a barrel, the internal venture arms of the major oil firms are increasing the amount and percentage of in-vestment going to alternatives.
… If the new projects coming online this summer are any indicator, alternatives may soon be awash in black gold.’

via Big Oil Goes Green | Newsweek Environment | Newsweek.com.

So Much Food. So Much Hunger. – NYTimes.com

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

‘Dr. Borlaug, who died at age 95 on Sept. 12, led the so-called Green Revolution that created bumper crops in once impoverished countries like Mexico, India and Pakistan. In lauding Dr. Borlaug’s achievements, the United Nations’ World Food Program said he had saved more lives than any man in history.’

via So Much Food. So Much Hunger. – NYTimes.com.

Everest memento for Obama to show climate change impact | Green Business | Reuters

Sunday, September 20th, 2009

‘KATHMANDU Reuters – Nepal’s sherpa community is sending a piece of rock from Mount Everest to U.S. President Barack Obama to underscore the impact of global warming on the Himalayas.’

via Everest memento for Obama to show climate change impact | Green Business | Reuters.

BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Harrabin's notes: Shipping out

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Global shipping contributes about a billion tonnes of CO2. That’s more than the entire economies of Germany or the UK.

via BBC NEWS | Science & Environment | Harrabin’s notes: Shipping out.

EPA delays 79 permits for Appalachian surface mines | McClatchy

Monday, September 14th, 2009

‘WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that 79 applications for surface coal-mine permits in Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio and Tennessee might violate the nation’s Clean Water Act and require closer scrutiny.’

via EPA delays 79 permits for Appalachian surface mines | McClatchy.

Clean energy to create more jobs than coal: study | Reuters

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

‘OSLO Reuters – A strong shift toward renewable energies could create 2.7 million more jobs in power generation worldwide by 2030 than staying with dependence on fossil fuels would, a report suggested Monday.’

via Clean energy to create more jobs than coal: study | Green Business | Reuters.

Global Warming: 2 German Cargo Ships Pass Through 'Arctic Passage'

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

‘FRANKFURT — Two German merchant ships have traversed the fabled Northeast Passage after global warming and melting ice opened a route from South Korea along Russia’s Arctic coast to Siberia.’

via Global Warming: 2 German Cargo Ships Pass Through ‘Arctic Passage’.