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Archive for January 20th, 2014
Neil Young says Alberta floods proof of climate change
Posted by Toronto Sun: Katie Schneider on January 20th, 2014
Toronto Sun: The city's flooded Saddledome this summer is proof climate change is real and Mother Nature should not be messed with, said Neil Young, repeating his tune about oilsands destroying First Nations.
During a stop in Calgary on Sunday with his Honor the Treaties concert series, the Toronto-born singer-songwriter faced the media to reinstate his stance of honouring First Nations treaties when it comes to oilsands development.
The concert series is raising money for the Athabasca Chipewyan First...
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Huge Rim Fire Gives Opportunity to Restore Forest Differently
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 20th, 2014
National Geographic: After fiery devastation comes rebirth, but in the case of last summer's massive Rim Fire in California, just how that regrowth is best accomplished remains a hot topic.
Started by a hunter's illegal fire that got out of control, the Rim Fire burned about 400 square miles (1,000 square kilometers) of forest in the Sierra Nevadas, from August 17 to October 24, 2013. Exacerbated by a heatwave and drought, the fire caused an estimated $54 million in damage and destroyed 11 homes, three commercial...
MEP pledges to help Britons resist fracking
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 20th, 2014
Guardian: Radical Green MEP Jose Bove has pledged to help British communities resist fracking by French oil company Total.
Last week, Total announced it was taking a 40% share in shale gas exploration and drilling in the East Midlands.
"We clearly need a moratorium at the European level against fracking. If needed, I will come to be in front of the police in Britain. I fought against Total, I know them. They tried to frack in France but we defeated them. I am happy to resume the battle here," said the...
Peru’s farmers fight climate change using modern and Inca techniques
Posted by Guardian: Laurence Caramel on January 20th, 2014
Guardian: When he is not watching his flock Silverio Chiquenayra-Quispe takes care of the Pumatalya weather station, located between the brightly coloured local council building, the chapel and the bovine artificial insemination centre. At 3,800 metres above sea level, on the high plateaus of the Andes, the little town is four hours by road from the provincial capital of Cusco in Peru.
Three times a day, at 7am, 1pm and 5pm, Chiquenayra-Quispe records the temperature, wind speed and rainfall. He takes readings...
Climate Proofing of Farms Seen Too Slow as Industry Faces Havoc
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 20th, 2014
Bloomberg: Climate change will play havoc with farming, and policy makers and researchers aren’t fully aware of the significance on food supply, according to the World Bank.
Earth will warm by 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) “in your lifetime,” Rachel Kyte, the World Bank’s vice-president for climate change, said at a meeting of agriculture ministers in Berlin over the weekend. That will make farming untenable in some areas, she said.
Extreme weather from China’s coldest winter in at least...
European Greens consider challenge to UK tax breaks shale gas drilling
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on January 20th, 2014
Guardian: European Greens are considering a challenge to the UK's tax breaks and incentives for shale gas under state aid rules, as the government holds out against a new renewable energy target for the EU.
Ministers have offered tax breaks to shale gas companies, and incentives to local communities to encourage them to accept drilling in their area. The government believes its plans comply with EU rules restricting state aid to companies.
On Wednesday, the European commission is expected to announce...
Australia: Inquiry into Gladstone dredging won’t stop new coal project, Greg Hunt says
Posted by Guardian: Oliver Milman on January 20th, 2014
Guardian: The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says the federal government's launch of an inquiry into dredging and dumping near the reef will not prompt it to delay its decision on whether to allow 3m cubic metres of sediment to be deposited within its world heritage area in a new coal port project.
Greg Hunt, the federal environment minister, is to ask an independent commission to investigate the Gladstone harbour dredging project.
The inquiry will look at whether there was a critical breakdown...
Drought Emergency Declared In California Gov. Brown
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 20th, 2014
National Public Radio: Jerry Brown says the state is facing possibly the worst drought it has ever seen since record keeping began about 100 years. For more on the drought and its impact, Renee Montagne talks to Michael Hanemann, professor of agricultural and resource economics at University of California, Berkeley.
Australia: Murray-Darling basin water sell-off — what you need to know
Posted by Guardian: Oliver Milman on January 20th, 2014
Guardian: The Murray-Darling basin is an enormous river catchment area centred on the Murray river, which runs along the Victoria-New South Wales border and ends in South Australia, and the adjoining Darling river, which stretches into NSW.
Covering around 1.06m square km, the basin encompasses around a seventh of Australia's landmass and is its most important agricultural region, containing nearly half of the nation's farms.
Fruit, vegetables, wool, dairy produce, wheat and livestock are produced in...
Water cycle amplifies abrupt climate change
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on January 20th, 2014
ScienceDaily: During the abrupt cooling at the onset of the so-called Younger Dryas period 12680 years ago changes in the water cycle were the main drivers of widespread environmental change in western Europe. Thus, the regional impacts of future climate changes can be largely driven by hydrological changes, not only in the monsoonal areas of the world, but also in temperate areas.
The role of the hydrological cycle during abrupt temperature changes is of prime importance for the actual impact of climate change...