News Roundup
‘Sometimes statistics collide at just the right time to paint a picture. China’s growing energy needs are resulting in a surge of industrial incidents, and there is little chance that the country’s string of environmental catastrophes are likely to ebb anytime soon.’
via I.H.T. Op-Ed Contributor – China’s Ticking Time Bomb – NYTimes.com.
‘NEW DELHI, Aug 17 Reuters – An Indian parliamentary panel will on Wednesday recommend changes to a bill aimed at opening up a $150 billion nuclear power market, including more compensation for accidents and extending liability to private suppliers.’
‘The panel will recommend the liability cap be trebled to $320 million, a member of the panel who asked not to be named, said.’
via UPDATE 1-India panel to suggest tougher nuclear liability bill | Reuters.
A $320 million liability cap couldn’t cover much in the event of a serious accident, which means this proposal amounts to a transfer of the cost of risk to the public.
‘France has launched a major investment program worth 1.35 billion euros $1.73 billion to support the development of biofuels and other renewable energy projects over the next four years.’
via France unleashes $ 1.74 billion for clean energy technologies.
‘Everyone knows that the American right has problems with science that yields conclusions it doesn’t like. Climate science — which says that we face a huge global externality that requires not just government intervention, but coordinated international action (black helicopters!) has been the target of a sustained, and unfortunately largely successful, attempt to damage its credibility.’
via First They Came For The Climate Scientists – Paul Krugman Blog – NYTimes.com.
‘…Seemingly disconnected, these far-flung disasters are reviving the question of whether global warming is causing more weather extremes.’
via In Weather Chaos, a Case for Global Warming – NYTimes.com.
‘Reuters – A federal judge on Friday banned the planting of genetically modified sugar beets engineered by Monsanto Co in a ruling that marks a major setback for the biotech giant.’
via U.S. judge bans planting of genetically engineered beets | Reuters.
‘Production of rice–the world’s most important crop for ensuring food security and addressing poverty–will be thwarted as temperatures increase in rice-growing areas with continued climate change, according to a new study by an international team of scientists.’
via Global Rice Production at Risk From Climate Change | Reuters.
‘VIENNA – A wind turbine on an acre of northern Iowa farmland could generate 300,000 dollars worth of greenhouse-gas-free electricity a year. Instead, the U.S. government pays out billions of dollars to subsidise grain for ethanol fuel that has little if any impact on global warming, according to Lester Brown.’
via Russia’s Agony a “Wake-Up Call” to the World | CommonDreams.org.
‘Fires, floods, locusts and droughts – a combination of crises that could mean higher food prices around the world over the next 12 months.’
‘Reuters – Global wheat markets reeling from Russian droughts, thousands of cattle killed by heat in Kansas, and countless crop acres wiped out by floods in Pakistan are glimpses of what can be expected as the world struggles to battle climate change.’
via Analysis: Extreme weather plagues farming, talks flounder | Reuters.