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Climate – University of Copenhagen

January 13th, 2009

Copenhagen climate change activities in 2009:

“The next UN Climate Conference (COP15) will take place in November-December 2009 in Copenhagen. The University of Copenhagen will launch a series of climate activities in the run-up to the UN Conference. One of the main activities is an international research congress, which the University of Copenhagen, together with the partner universities in the IARU star alliance, will hold on 10-12 March 2009. Here the world’s top researchers will try and capture some of the enormous research energy currently being devoted to the elucidation, mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Information about all the climate activities taking place at the University of Copenhagen will be updated on this website.”

via Climate – University of Copenhagen.

Can U.S., China Team Up on Climate, Energy? – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com

January 10th, 2009

Both Mr. Obama and leaders in Beijing have said a top priority is using energy more efficiently and advancing non-polluting technologies. China also released several recent reports laying out financial and technical means for allowing industrialized countries to help cut the climate impact from its energy use.

via Can U.S., China Team Up on Climate, Energy? – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com.

China launches first coal-to-liquids project

January 10th, 2009

Shenhua Group, the country’s biggest coal producer, said on Jan 5 that its first direct coal-to-liquids (CTL) project, the first of its kind in China, had already started operation.

via China launches first coal-to-liquids project.

In China, Growth Still Trumping Green? – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com

January 10th, 2009

Despite the recent dive in China’s electricity generation in the recession, it’s clear the country’s drive to urbanize and industrialize is going to require ever more energy, and coal remains the fuel of first and last resort.

via In China, Growth Still Trumping Green? – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com.

China’s Power Surge Ends (for Now) – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com

January 10th, 2009

The extraordinary growth in power generation in China in recent years, which quickly vaulted the emerging industrial powerhouse to the top of the global list of carbon dioxide emitters, has collapsed under the weight of the global economic implosion — at least for now.

via China’s Power Surge Ends (for Now) – Dot Earth Blog – NYTimes.com.

Obama’s plan for recovery – includes solar, wind, and retrofits

January 8th, 2009

On Thursday, President-elect Barack Obama called for doubling production of alternative energy in the United States over the next three years as part of his “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.” In a speech officially rolling out the plan, he also set a goal of retrofitting more than 75 percent of federal buildings and 2 million homes to make them more energy-efficient.

via The first step toward recovery | Gristmill: The environmental news blog | Grist.

Article summarizing naysayers views

January 8th, 2009

Climate Deniers Gin Up Unscrupulous Science | StatesmanJournal.com | Statesman Journal.

Brazil to increase troops to protect Amazon

January 7th, 2009

Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said the government will increase the number of troops in the Amazon from 17,000 to 30,000 and build 28 new forts on Indian land and conservation areas of the world’s largest rain forest.

via Mercopress.

Simple recycling presentation

January 6th, 2009

Pretty basic, but might be entertaining or informative for school children.

Carbon footprint of meat based diet

January 6th, 2009

“Simply put, raising beef, pigs, sheep, chicken, and eggs is very, very energy intensive. More than half of all the grains grown in America actually go to feed animals, not people, says the World Resources Institute. That means a huge fraction of the petroleum-based herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers applied to grains, plus staggering percentages of all agricultural land and water use, are put in the service of livestock. Stop eating animals and you use dramatically less fossil fuels, as much as 250 gallons less oil per year for vegans, says Cornell University’s David Pimentel, and 160 gallons less for egg-and-cheese-eating vegetarians.”

via Audubon Magazine.

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