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Delaying climate action will triple costs

by hanhuogekennog Posted on September 19, 2013

Delaying climate action will triple costs

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We can pay now, or we can pay later — with interest.

If the world puts off cooperative efforts to fight climate change until 2030, they will be more than three times as expensive as they would be in 2015.

That’s according to a study led by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, published Wednesday in the journal Environmental Research Letters. A team of researchers modeled the economic impacts of possible international climate agreements and found that if the world starts in 2015 to take the difficult but necessary steps to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius, then international economic growth would be crimped by 2 percent. But delaying those steps until 2030 would mean growth is curtailed by about 7 percent. (Those figures refer to the effect of climate policies during the first decade, not sustained impacts.)

In the following graph from the paper, the y-axis shows the reduction in worldwide economic growth, while the x-axis shows temperature rise. The bars on the right reference four scenarios: one in which the world starts taking action today to reduce emissions under a meaningful global agreement, and others in which action doesn’t start until 2015, 2020, or 2030.

Environmental Research LettersClick to embiggen.

When it comes to saving the planet, a penny saved is not a penny earned. Rather, a penny spent is nearly a nickel earned.

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.Find this article interesting? Donate now to support our work.Read more: Climate & Energy

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Delaying climate action will triple costs

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National Briefing | Midwest: Michigan: More Money to Combat Asian Carp

by Myrna Posted on July 24, 2013

A $50 million federal plan for keeping Asian carp from reaching the valuable fish populations of the Great Lakes calls for reinforcing electrical and other barriers and for field-testing other methods. See original article – National Briefing | Midwest: Michigan: More Money to Combat Asian Carp Related Articles Climate Change Slowdown is Due to Warming of Deep Oceans, Say Scientists Louisiana Agency Sues Dozens of Energy Companies for Damage to Wetlands Dot Earth Blog: Jim Hansen Presses the Climate Case for Nuclear Energy

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National Briefing | Midwest: Michigan: More Money to Combat Asian Carp

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Ice, ice, maybe: Snow and ice melting at record speed

by Grover Nusom Posted on July 19, 2013

Ice, ice, maybe: Snow and ice melting at record speed

By Claire Thompson

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Take a picture — it’ll last longer than the snow cover.

You may have noticed it’s been a hot summer so far. June temperatures were above average across the world, and both NASA and NOAA ranked the month among the top five warmest since record keeping began in the late 1800s.

Not surprisingly, snow extent in the Northern Hemisphere was at its third-lowest on record by June. But what makes the current paltry snow cover more significant is the fact that, just a few months ago, the Northern Hemisphere was unusually snowy — April 2013 had the ninth-highest snow extent since 1967. A month later, half that snow had melted away. The Washington Post reports:

“This is likely one of the most rapid shifts in near opposite extremes on record, if not the largest from April to May,” said climatologist David Robinson, who runs Rutgers University Global Snow Lab.

The snow extent shrunk from 12.4 million square miles to 6.2 million square miles in a month’s time. By June, just 2.3 million square miles of snow remained in the Northern Hemisphere (a decline of 63 percent from May), third lowest on record.

“In recent years it hasn’t seemed that unusual to have average or even above average winter snow extent rapidly diminish to below average values come spring,” Robinson said.

It’s the same story for ice. Although Arctic sea ice extent is not as low as it was in mid-July of 2012 (the year that Arctic ice dropped to its lowest level on record), over the last two weeks, the ice has melted 61 percent faster than average, with 51,000 square miles disappearing every day. The Arctic Sea Ice Blog writes that despite the slower start to this year’s ice-melting season, 2013 could still approach 2012’s record.

Meanwhile, new research from the State University of New York at Albany purports to have narrowed the window of when we can expect to see an ice-free Arctic to some time in the mid-2050s, under a high-emissions scenario (and with the way things are going, it’s hard to imagine any other scenario playing out over the next 40 years).

Mark Serreze of the National Snow and Ice Data Center thinks the ice will melt even sooner, according to NBC News:

“But I still think you are conservative here,” he [said of the SUNY-Albany study], sticking to his earlier projection of ice-free conditions by the year 2030. “Because what we’re seeing here is that the sea ice cover continues to surprise us.”

For example, he explained, there are poorly understood changes in the flow of ocean heat from the Atlantic to the Arctic, as well as evidence that the heat absorbed by the Arctic Ocean in the summer lingers around through the winter, affecting ice melt the following year.

It’s not just the amount of melting ice and snow but the speed at which they are melting that continue to increase, meaning the effects of warming snowball every year — pun intended.

Claire Thompson is an editorial assistant at Grist.

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Ice, ice, maybe: Snow and ice melting at record speed

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Leaner BP Blanches at Bill for Cleanup

by Carson Silverman Posted on July 11, 2013

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Inside of a Dog – Alexandra Horowitz

The bestselling book that asks what dogs know and how they think, now in paperback. The answers will surprise and delight you as Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist, explains how dogs perceive their daily worlds, each other, and that other quirky animal, the human. Horowitz introduces the reader to dogs’ perceptual and cognitive abilities and then draw […]

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Following Atticus – Tom Ryan

After a close friend died of cancer, middle-aged, overweight, acrophobic newspaperman Tom Ryan decided to pay tribute to her in a most unorthodox manner. Ryan and his friend, miniature schnauzer Atticus M. Finch, would attempt to climb all forty-eight of New Hampshire’s four thousand- foot peaks twice in one winter while raising money for charity. It wa […]

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How to Raise the Perfect Dog – Cesar Millan & Melissa Jo Peltier

From the bestselling author and star of National Geographic Channel’s Dog Whisperer , the only resource you’ll need for raising a happy, healthy dog. For the millions of people every year who consider bringing a puppy into their lives–as well as those who have already brought a dog home–Cesar Millan, the preeminent dog behavior expert, says, “Yes, […]

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The Honest Life – Jessica Alba

As a new mom, Jessica Alba wanted to create the safest, healthiest environment for her family. But she was frustrated by the lack of trustworthy information on how to live healthier and cleaner—delivered in a way that a busy mom could act on without going to extremes. In 2012, with serial entrepreneur Brian Lee and environmental advocate Christopher Gavigan, […]

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Kids Puzzle Fun #1 – Lovatts Crosswords & Puzzles

Junior puzzlers will enjoy hours of quality entertainment with the first issue of Kids Puzzle Fun! This interactive book features ‘Magic Touch’ drawing tools, allowing kids to solve the puzzles by using their finger as a pen. Magic Touch unites the tactile feel of a printed book with a superior digital format, resulting in a more natural, intuitive experienc […]

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The Art of Raising a Puppy (Revised Edition) – Monks of New Skete

For more than thirty years the Monks of New Skete have been among America’s most trusted authorities on dog training, canine behavior, and the animal/human bond. In their two now-classic bestsellers, How to be Your Dog’s Best Friend and The Art of Raising a Puppy, the Monks draw on their experience as long-time breeders of German shepherds and as t […]

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Apocalypse (Digital Collection) – Games Workshop

The greatest heroes of the age lead battalions of troops and tanks against the foe. Super-heavy war machines dominate the conflict like gods of battle as bombardments rain from the skies. This is war on a whole new level. Apocalypse is a new way of playing games of Warhammer 40,000. Allowing you to field as many miniatures as you like, in any combinati […]

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How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend – Monks of New Skete

For nearly a quarter century, How to Be Your Dog’s Best Friend has been the standard against which all other dog-training books have been measured. This new, expanded edition, with a fresh new design and new photographs throughout, preserves the best features of the original classic while bringing the book fully up-to-date. The result: the ultimate trai […]

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Apocalypse – Games Workshop

The greatest heroes of the age lead battalions of troops and tanks against the foe. Super-heavy war machines dominate the conflict like gods of battle as bombardments rain from the skies. This is war on a whole new level. Apocalypse is a new way of playing games of Warhammer 40,000. Allowing you to field as many miniatures as you like, in any combinati […]

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Warlords of the Dark Millennium: Ezekiel – Games Workshop

Ezekiel is the chief Librarian of the Dark Angels Space Marines; keeper of their most closely guarded secrets and ancient lore. As bearer of the Book of Salvation Ezekiel is an inspiration to his battle-brothers in combat, the powerful Librarian and sacred relic steadying them before the foe. About this Series: The galaxy burns with the fires of countless wa […]

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Leaner BP Blanches at Bill for Cleanup

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More Signs of ‘Peak Us’ in New Study of ‘Peak Oil Demand’

by Myrna Posted on July 10, 2013

A new study foresees declining demand for oil both through thriftier use and new fuel options. See the article here –  More Signs of ‘Peak Us’ in New Study of ‘Peak Oil Demand’ ; ;Related ArticlesDot Earth Blog: More Signs of ‘Peak Us’ in New Study of ‘Peak Oil Demand’Fiddling While the World WarmsDot Earth Blog: The Long Chain of Responsibility Behind an Oily and Deadly Train Wreck ;

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More Signs of ‘Peak Us’ in New Study of ‘Peak Oil Demand’

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Unlikely Partners, Freeing Chimps From the Lab

by Myrna Posted on July 8, 2013

A campaign to end biomedical experiments on humans’ closest primate relatives has pulled together two federal agencies and several animal welfare groups. Source: Unlikely Partners, Freeing Chimps From the Lab ; ;Related ArticlesPollution Leads to Drop in Life Span in Northern China, Research FindsPollution Leads to Drop in Life Span in Northern China, Study FindsTheodore Reed, Who Lifted National Zoo’s Profile, Dies at 90 ;

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Unlikely Partners, Freeing Chimps From the Lab

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Theodore Reed, Who Lifted National Zoo’s Profile, Dies at 90

by Myrna Posted on July 7, 2013

Mr. Reed was the keeper of the celebrity pandas Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, among other creatures, while he was the director of the National Zoo from 1958 to 1983. Visit site: Theodore Reed, Who Lifted National Zoo’s Profile, Dies at 90 Related Articles Theodore Reed, 90, Dies; Lifted National Zoo’s Profile In Europe, Greener Transit on Existing Infrastructure PETA Finds Itself on Receiving End of Others’ Anger

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Theodore Reed, Who Lifted National Zoo’s Profile, Dies at 90

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Seattle adopts plan for going carbon neutral — but will pot growers get in the way?

by Laura Brown Posted on June 19, 2013

Seattle adopts plan for going carbon neutral — but will pot growers get in the way?

By John Upton

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Holyhikaru

Seattle’s climate ambitions are thiiiis big.

Seattle has set itself an 86-page to-do list to help it reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

The city council on Monday voted unanimously to adopt the 2013 Seattle Climate Action Plan [PDF], which outlines a detailed process designed to achieve the heady goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions to zero in less than 40 years.

The council originally set its carbon-neutrality goal in 2011. Following work by consultants and staff, the city now has a plan laying out how that goal can be turned into reality. Next comes the hard part: actually doing all the climate-friendly stuff.

“While I’m pleased that Council adopted the Plan, we know the real work is just beginning,” said Jill Simmons, director of the city’s Office of Sustainability & Environment.

From an explainer piece published last month by The Seattle Times:

The plan will almost certainly be expensive. It calls for new funding to improve and expand bus service, to build the infrastructure to make it safer to walk or bike around, and to build out the region’s light-rail system, all to reduce the approximately 40 percent of greenhouse gases that comes from cars and trucks.

The plan also calls for making energy use more visible to consumers through smart meters and energy audits that could improve the largest and least efficient commercial and multifamily buildings. The city also could require energy-use disclosures when houses or apartments are rented or sold.

There is not yet a cost estimate, but ideas to pay for the plan include a 1.5 percent motor-vehicle excise tax, a renewed Bridging the Gap levy and other local funding that would be less regressive than the failed $60 car-tab fees.

Simmons’ office will finalize an implementation plan by October, identifying the specific roles that each of the city’s departments will play in reaching carbon neutrality.

But Washington state’s recent legalization of dope could hamper the city’s climate plan — not because its officials are too stoned to do the challenging jobs entrusted to them, but because indoor pot growers are massive energy hogs. From KUOW radio:

The City Council is also looking at zoning rules to allow indoor marijuana growing in Seattle. [Seattle City Council Member Mike] O’Brien said for him, that’s not compatible with addressing climate change.

“The idea that we’re going to take agriculture that traditionally grows outside using sunlight for energy and put that inside buildings and use electricity or other fuels to fuel growing — that creates a big problem for me,” he said.

A study last year in the Journal of Energy Policy found growing marijuana indoors currently sucks up the same amount of energy as two million average American homes. It also found that the industry generates greenhouse gases equivalent to that of three million cars.

O’Brien wants growers to strive for carbon neutrality, although he doesn’t know what that would look like at this point. One way to reduce energy consumption would be to grow marijuana outdoors.

Take heed, Seattle stoners: Help your city go green and carbon neutral by insisting on outdoor bud.

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who tweets, posts articles to Facebook, and blogs about ecology. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants: johnupton@gmail.com.

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Seattle adopts plan for going carbon neutral — but will pot growers get in the way?

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Support for climate action is the new normal in U.S.

by marsxxzaa Posted on May 24, 2013

Support for climate action is the new normal in U.S.

By John Upton

ShutterstockAmericans want more of this, despite what the fossil fuel companies might say.

Pick 100 Americans at random and line them up. Ask those who think the country shouldn’t do a damned thing to rein in its greenhouse emissions to please step forward.

Guess how many would do so?

Six.

Just six out of every 100 Americans believe there is absolutely no need for the U.S. to take action to reduce its emissions to help combat climate change.

That’s according to the latest survey result from an ongoing project that tracks public attitudes towards climate change. The project is run by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.

Those six people may look around awkwardly, feeling lonely and lied to by whichever media outlets convinced them that green energy was a fringe obsession of the lunatic left. Meanwhile, 59 of the people in our hypothetical lineup think the U.S. should reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions, regardless of what other countries do; 10 think the U.S. should take action only if other countries do the same; and 25 are shrugging their shoulders and looking at their feet, unable to state an opinion.

The finding is a reminder that resistance to green energy in America is not created by its people, but by the global fossil fuel companies that pollute its land and water, screw with its weather, manipulate its media, and lobby the living shit out of its lawmakers.

Other results from the survey, which was administered in April, were also encouraging. For example, 70 percent of the 1,045 people surveyed said global warming should be a medium to very high priority for Congress and the president.

Despite the survey’s lopsided results, there remain reasons to be discouraged. Support for action on climate change actually waned over winter — a time of year when the effects of global warming can be less obvious. Take this graph from the survey report as an example:

“Public Support for Climate & Energy Policies in April 2013″

Click to embiggen.

But it’s Friday, so let’s revel in the positive. According to a summary of the results, the majority of Americans support the following:

Providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (71%);
Funding more research into renewable energy sources (70%);
Regulating CO2 as a pollutant (68%);
Requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to pay down the national debt (61%);
Eliminating all subsidies for the fossil-fuel industry (59%);
Expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast (58%);
Requiring electric utilities to produce at least 20% of their electricity from renewable energy sources, even if it costs the average household an extra $100 a year (55%).

If only Congress would listen to the people instead of the fossil fuel donors and industry lobbyists, the U.S. could go green in next to no time.

John Upton is a science fan and green news boffin who

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Facebook

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blogs about ecology

. He welcomes reader questions, tips, and incoherent rants:

johnupton@gmail.com

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Pro-fracking petition with fake signatures embarrasses gas association

by sreg2 Posted on February 26, 2013

Pro-fracking petition with fake signatures embarrasses gas association

By John Upton

coloradoan.comThe oil and gas industry’s amateur attempt to mislead Fort Collins lawmakers.

Outlawing fracking in Fort Collins makes local business owners sad. At least, that’s what liars working for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association tried to tell local lawmakers.

Anders’ Auto Glass, Meneike Car Care Center, and Computer Renaissance were among 55 businesses whose names appeared with signatures on a petition that the association submitted to Fort Collins City Council. The petition urged city councilors to vote against a proposed ban on fracking within the city.

The petition failed. Following a two-hour Feb. 19 hearing, the council voted 5-2 to ban hydraulic fracturing in Fort Collins.

But it turns out that none of those three businesses support fracking in their town, they told Fort Collins Coloradoan reporter Bobby Magill. Why on earth would they?

Following up on a tip, Magill hit the phone and reached 33 of the businesses listed on the petition. A full two-thirds of those denied signing or endorsing a petition opposing a ban on fracking in Fort Collins. Not only was the petition a big fat lie, it was a laughably amateur effort to deceive the city’s lawmakers. From the Coloradoan:

Cali Rastrelli’s name is signed at the bottom of a petition submitted to the council. At the top, the petition says in bold letters, “Vote NO on the Fort Collins fracking ban.”

“Big Bill Pizza” is written in the blank where the signer could enter their business or organization.

“I haven’t signed any petition in the last month,” said Rastrelli, a Colorado State University student who lives in student housing. “I didn’t put my name on this. I’m not sure why somebody would have thought to sign my name.”

Big Bill Pizza, Rastrelli’s former employer, is in Centennial, and staff there were unaware of an effort to ban fracking in Fort Collins, said manager Leonna Gara.

Whoever signed Rastrelli’s name spelled it “Rasterelli.”

“I don’t know why I would have misspelled my own name,” she said.

The signatures were reportedly gathered by consulting company EIS Solutions. Memo to EIS and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association: Astroturfing shouldn’t be this hard! Hell, an intern going door to door with a bag of tacky corporate gifts and some printed propaganda should be able to return to the office with actual petition signatures.

By the end of last week, the association was acknowledging that “mistakes were made.” A subsequent internal audit “identified numerous areas for improvement.” Now association officials are trying to retract the petition. And they are failing. From Magill’s latest article:

“COGA has ascertained we made mistakes in the collection of signatures on a petition submitted to City Council last week opposing a ban on hydraulic fracturing,” COGA President and CEO wrote in an email to the council on Monday. “As a result, we withdraw that petition from the record.”

But Fort Collins city officials will not remove it from the public record, said Rita Harris, deputy Fort Collins city clerk.

“We’re not giving it back,” she said.

Once a petition is part of public record, it can’t be withdrawn, said City Councilman Gerry Horak.

If the oil and gas guys can’t get something like this right, why should they expect anybody to trust them to inject poisonous chemicals into their soil?

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Pro-fracking petition with fake signatures embarrasses gas association

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