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Archive for February, 2013
Climate change impacts absent from redrawn flood maps
Posted by InsideClimate: Katherine Bagley on February 7th, 2013
InsideClimate: When the federal government released updated flood maps for the New York City region last week, residents were shocked to find that the number of houses and businesses in the region's flood zone had doubled since the maps were last revised, in 1986. But it now appears that those maps might have underestimated the extent of New York's flood risk, because they don't factor in the effects of future climate change. Scientists say that by the 2080s, sea levels off the city's coast could rise by as much...
US water system under stress, firms warn
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 7th, 2013
Bloomberg: Leaks and investment delays threaten the US water system, exposing the value of a commodity that in short supply disrupts businesses, according to a web campaign.
The "Water is Your Business" site went live today, sponsored by the National Association of Water Companies and US Chamber of Commerce. It urges companies to stop neglecting infrastructure upgrades as water use for energy and electricity production doubles worldwide in the next 25 years, according to International Atomic Energy Agency...
US could fall short of 2020 climate goal
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 7th, 2013
Washington Post: The United States is not on track to meet its international commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the World Resources Institute. The new findings examine the impact of the U.S. energy and transportation sectors as well as sources such as methane releases from landfills. The study gives a pessimistic view of the future even though carbon emissions have fallen in recent years because of the economic downturn and increased use of natural...
Eve Ensler connects the dots between violence against women and violence against the planet
Posted by Grist: Lisa Hymas on February 7th, 2013
Grist: Eve Ensler made it OK to say the word vagina out loud. Could she now inspire more of us to say climate change too?
Ensler, the artist and activist behind The Vagina Monologues, is currently making a big push to promote One Billion Rising, a global event planned for this coming Valentine`s Day, aka V-Day. She`s calling for people everywhere to "dance, rise up, and demand an end to violence against women." The campaign was inspired by a U.N. estimate that one in every three women will experience...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Eve Ensler connects the dots between violence against women and violence against the planetMarco Rubio: Another Senator Who Doubts Global Warming
Posted by Slate: Phil Plait on February 7th, 2013
Slate: Picking out one United States legislator for antiscientific thinking is quite a chore since the field is so crowded. But Marco Rubio (R-Fla) deserves a bit of extra attention; for one thing he sits on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. For another, he appears to be one of the Republican White House hopefuls for at least the next election cycle. For a third, I'm still not terribly happy about his comments on the age of the Earth.
So, given all that, when he casts doubt...
Muddy River Restoration A Response To Climate Change
Posted by WBUR: Monica Brady-Myerov on February 7th, 2013
WBUR: Though Boston was largely spared by Hurricane Sandy, a new study says if the storm had hit at high tide, 6 percent of the city would have been flooded.
One of the most vulnerable flood areas in the city is along the Muddy River in the Fenway. After nearly two decades of planning and negotiations, city, state and federal agencies are now beginning a project aimed at protecting the city from flooding by restoring the Muddy River to its original state.
You might be familiar with the jug handle,...
Nigeria: Climate Change Must Be Taken Seriously – Saraki
Posted by Daily Trust: Alex Abutu on February 7th, 2013
Daily Trust: Senator Bukola Saraki, Senate Committee Chairman on Environment has urged the federal government to take serious the issues of climate change following the devastating flood that ravaged the country in 2012. Saraki, in an interview with Daily Trust said "the issue of climate change is something that must be taken seriously in Nigeria as years go by. We must also accept that some of the behaviours of our people in the aspect of where we build and the kind of infrastructure we put up can also be a...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Nigeria: Climate Change Must Be Taken Seriously – SarakiClimate change threatens food security
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 7th, 2013
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: TIM PALMER: The Asia Pacific region faces a dramatic collapse in food production if the planet continues tracking towards dangerous climate change. A new study warns that in the worst case, staple crops could fall by around 20 per cent, with the number of children suffering malnutrition surging. Environment reporter Sarah Clarke. SARAH CLARKE: With climate scientists warning of a long term global warming trend, the forecast across the Asia Pacific region is one of greater variability. The potential...
World food prices stable in Jan after three months of falls: FAO
Posted by Reuters: Catherine Hornby on February 7th, 2013
Reuters: World food prices stabilized in January after falling in the previous three months, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday, but it warned that adverse crop weather could cause violent price spikes due to tight grains stocks.
Global food prices surged in mid-2012 following the worst U.S. drought in more than half a century and dry weather in other key grains exporters, raising fears of a food crisis similar to the one in 2008.
But prices eased in the last three months of 2012 due to...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on World food prices stable in Jan after three months of falls: FAOThe mystery of the disappearing Arctic ice
Posted by Financial Times: None Given on February 7th, 2013
Financial Times: Much of the world’s growing fascination with the Arctic centres on climate change and how it is opening up this vast icy wilderness. But figuring out the rate at which the Arctic is likely to thaw has proved to be extremely difficult. Scientists have known for decades that the Arctic was warming twice as fast as the rest of the world, and that the area covered by sea ice that thaws each summer, then refreezes as winter sets in, has been steadily shrinking. But the rate of this melting has sometimes...