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Archive for October 29th, 2012
United Kingdom: 20 Climate Change Activists Shut Down UK’s Gas-Fired Power Plant
Posted by EcoWatch: No Dash For Gas on October 29th, 2012
EcoWatch: This morning, more than 20 climate change activists evaded security to shut down the UK’s newest gas-fired power station. They climbed two smokestacks at EDF Energy’s West Burton plant in Nottinghamshire, England, and have abseiled down the insides of the chimneys. They are now setting up camp in tents suspended from ropes inside the flues. As long as they hold their position above the furnaces the plant is unable to operate.
The occupation fires the starting gun on a huge nationwide battle over...
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Pinpoint global warming impacts on South Pacific rainfall
Posted by Summit Voice: None Given on October 29th, 2012
Summit Voice: While some weather observations and climate models suggest specific global warming impacts to southern hemisphere weather patterns, a new study by the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa suggests rainfall will be affected by two competing factors.
In the South Pacific, these two effects -- an increase due to overall warming and a decrease due to changes in atmospheric water transport -- may cancel each other out, resulting in highly uncertain rainfall projections....
Shale gas benefits called into question
Posted by Financial Times: None Given on October 29th, 2012
Financial Times: The US shale gas boom is not curbing global greenhouse gas emissions as much as some of its proponents claim, according to a study by British climate change researchers.
The reason is that although the so-called shale revolution has led to the US burning less coal, a far dirtier fossil fuel than natural gas, more American coal is being exported, so the overall benefits of switching fuels is not so great.
The report is the latest in a stream of studies examining the environmental impact of natural...
Thawing permafrost could lead to massive carbon release
Posted by TG Daily: Kate Taylor on October 29th, 2012
TG Daily: As much as 44 billion tons of nitrogen and 850 billion tons of carbon stored in arctic permafrost could be released into the environment over the next century by the effects of global warming.
This is roughly the amount of carbon stored in the atmosphere today, and its release could have a serious impact onecosystems, the atmosphere, and water resources including rivers and lakes.
"This study quantifies the impact on Earth's two most important chemical cycles, carbon and nitrogen, from thawing...
Hurricane Sandy causes evacuations, closings throughout East Coast
Posted by Washington Post: Ashley Halsey Iii, Annie Gowen and Mark Berman on October 29th, 2012
Washington Post: Hundreds of thousands of East Coast residents had moved to higher ground on Monday, and cities announced shutdowns that typically occur after several feet of snow, as the mammoth storm system known as Hurricane Sandy conspired to assault the most populous part of the United States. The Washington region’s entire public transit system — Metro, Virginia Railway Express and the Maryland Transportation System — ceased Monday operations, leaving residents to either drive themselves to work or stay home....
Asia–Pacific Analysis: Solving the water dilemma
Posted by SciDevNet: Crispin Maslog on October 29th, 2012
SciDevNet: The Pacific islands are surrounded by water, yet inhabitants face severe water shortages. Crispin Maslog highlights potential solutions.
As we approach the end of the 'Water for Life' Decade in 2015, concerns over water availability in the Pacific island nations have taken an urgent turn.
In October last year, big headlines about two idyllic South Pacific island nations, Tokelau and Tuvalu, which are facing a water crisis, made a splash in the Asia--Pacific region. After six months without...
The dash for gas is a dangerous gamble
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Guardian: So, are the "No dash for gas" protesters perched atop the cooling towers of the new West Burton gas-fired power station in Nottinghamshire right? They argue:
The new 'dash for gas' will leave us dependent on a highly polluting and increasingly expensive fossil fuel for decades to come. It would make even our modest carbon reduction targets impossible to hit, and cause household energy bills to soar even further.
The answer is mostly yes, for reasons I'll explain below. So why is the new dash...
New UN “atlas” links climate change, health
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Associated Press: The two U.N. agencies for health and weather services have created a new "atlas" of scientific data that they say offers fresh evidence of the links between climate change to outbreaks of meningitis, malaria and other diseases. The World Health Organization director-general says the manual, which includes maps, tables and graphs, provides a practical guide to "climate-sensitive diseases" that decision-makers and leaders can use as a tool for prevention. Dr. Margaret Chan told reporters Monday in...
Zimbabwe turns to drought-resistant crops
Posted by AlertNet: Madalitso Mwando on October 29th, 2012
AlertNet: As planting season approaches amid concerns about successive poor harvests, research into drought-resistant seeds is gaining momentum in an indication that the Zimbabwean government is waking up to the reality of climate change.
Earlier this month, the country's Meteorological Services Department announced that another drought is likely during what should be the rainy season.
Zimbabwean farmers have suffered a succession of poor harvests with yields far below what the country needs, forcing...
Atlas of health and climate launches new collaboration between public health and meteorological communities
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on October 29th, 2012
Reuters: As the world's climate continues to change, hazards to human health are increasing. The Atlas of health and climate, published today jointly by WHO and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), illustrates some of the most pressing current and emerging challenges.
Droughts, floods and cyclones affect the health of millions of people each year. Climate variability and extreme conditions such as floods can also trigger epidemics of diseases such as diarrhoea, malaria, dengue and meningitis, which...