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Archive for March 8th, 2014
Gov. Jerry Brown heckled by protesters opposed to fracking
Posted by Chronicle: Carla Marinucci on March 8th, 2014
Chronicle: Gov. Jerry Brown faced protests at the state Democratic Party convention Saturday from crowds of progressives opposed to fracking, even as he attempted to make the case that California has led the country on climate change and renewable energy issues.
"The challenge facing California is not just drought today; it's climate change, now and forever," said Brown, as dozens of party activists holding "Another Democrat Against Fracking" signs rushed to the front of the hall and stood in their seats...
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Study: Housing developments near drying forests a deadly combination in the West
Posted by Washington Post: Darryl Fears on March 8th, 2014
Washington Post: As the climate warms, forest fires in the West increasingly will feast on acres of dry brush, growing into giants. In a cycle that will become routine, homeowners will flee, while firefighters will rush toward their houses -- and away from areas where they could be putting out wildfires.
Bigger, unwiedly burns -- megafires -- are becoming the new normal, according to a new report, which points to several reasons: States such as California are getting parched more frequently by drought; housing...
From Drought, To Drenching? El Nino Likely To Return With Torrential Rain
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 8th, 2014
Associated Press: Warmer ocean temperatures off the California coast--and the massive impact on local and global climate--could be coming again, with predictions indicating an El Niño is possible this year.
The expected conditions would lead to more rain this coming winter, lessening California`s drought, and the southern states` drought, plus a milder winter for the nation`s frigid northern states, and fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
Mike Halpert, acting director of NOAA`s Climate Prediction Center, says the El...
California’s Brown hears fracking gripes
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 8th, 2014
Associated Press: In a year when California Democrats are worried about motivating their voters, Gov. Jerry Brown heard another unwelcome message Saturday: Some Democratic activists are bristling over his administration's policies on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.
Appearing at a state Democratic Party convention in Los Angeles, Brown found himself forced to speak over a noisy group of sign-waving protesters in his first major campaign speech since formally declaring his candidacy last month.
"Just listen...
Middle East drought a threat to global food prices
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 8th, 2014
Reuters: The Middle East's driest winter in several decades could pose a threat to global food prices, with local crops depleted and farmers' livelihoods blighted, U.N. experts and climatologists say. Varying degrees of drought are hitting almost two thirds of the limited arable land across Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian territories and Iraq. "Going back to the last 100 years, I don't think you can get a five-year span that's been as dry," said Mohammad Raafi Hossain, a U.N. Food and Agriculture...
Two million comments opposing tar sands expansion delivered to the US State Department
Posted by Vancouver Observer: None Given on March 8th, 2014
Vancouver Observer: The original plan of environmentalist groups in the U.S. was to deliver one million comments opposing Keystone XL to the State Department this morning. But the response from people all over North America speaking out against the Keystone XL pipeline and the Canadian tar sands has been so enormous, a coalition of youth-driven environmental groups will now be delivering upwards of two million signatures to the doorstep of the White House this morning.
Dozens of organizations, including 350.org,...
United Kingdom: Farmers’ fury after climate change expert claims
Posted by Western Gazette: None Given on March 8th, 2014
Western Gazette: Farmers have reacted angrily after the Government's climate change experts questioned whether it was fair to spend £100 million of taxpayers' money to save the Somerset Levels.
Climate expert Lord Krebs has sent a letter to Environment Minister Owen Paterson saying the Levels should not be made a special case and any plan should be good value for money. Earlier this week the Minister took receipt of an action plan outlining £100 million worth of measures that need to be taken to safeguard the...
New report warns of “cascading system failure” caused by climate change
Posted by Grist: None Given on March 8th, 2014
Grist: From roads and bridges to power plants and gas pipelines, American infrastructure is vulnerable to the effects of climate change, according to a pair of government reports released Thursday. The reports are technical documents supporting the National Climate Assessment, a major review compiled by 13 government agencies that the U.S. Global Change Research Program is expected to release in April. Scientists at the Department of Energy`s Oak Ridge National Laboratory put together the reports, which...
Over 95 pct of Chinese cities failed to meet environmental standards: minister
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on March 8th, 2014
Reuters: Almost all Chinese cities monitored for pollution last year failed to meet state standards, the vice-minister of environmental protection said on Saturday as he outlined the country's plans to redress the environmental consequences of rapid industrialization.
Out of the 74 cities that Beijing monitored, 71 had various degrees of problems, Wu Xiaoqing said at a news conference on the sidelines of the annual parliament session in Beijing.
Only Haikou in the island province of Hainan, the Tibetan...