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U.S. government forecaster maintains outlook for strong El Niño this winter
Posted by Reuters: Chris Prentice on December 10th, 2015
Reuters: A U.S. government weather forecaster on Thursday said the El Nino weather phenomenon that is underway is expected to remain strong through the Northern Hemisphere winter 2015-16, before tapering off during the late spring or early summer.
The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), an agency of the National Weather Service, in its monthly forecast broadly maintained its outlook for strong El Nino conditions likely to persist through the winter.
"El Niño has already produced significant global impacts...
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Comments Off on U.S. government forecaster maintains outlook for strong El Niño this winterBeijing Looks Like Climate Horror Movie Right Now
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2015
Huffington Post: Beijing's air pollution has engulfed the famous landmarks of the Chinese city in clouds of smog, shut down outdoor activities and prompted the government to issue its first-ever "red alert" for pollution on Monday. Photos of the city look like something out of a climate horror movie.
The thick smog, which began rolling in last week, will take an even more apocalyptic turn from Tuesday to Thursday. For three days, the red alert will force the city's 20 million residents to stay home from school,...
Witnessing worst wildfire season in recorded history
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2015
Washington Post: The nation is closing in on its worst wildfire season in recorded history, with nearly 9.8 million acres already burned -- the equivalent of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and part of New Hampshire going up in flames.
Two large fires and more than 160 smaller ones remain active, and more fires are expected to be reported before the month ends. Together, they’re likely to push the 2015 total past the record 9.87 million acres burned in 2006.
The extent of scorched earth reflects a...
Rising seas expected sink islands near US capital in 50 years
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2015
New Scientist: The 700 or so people who live on the Tangier islands may be among the first climate refugees in the US when their current home disappears under water.
This could happen to much of the main island - located 170 kilometres south-east of Washington DC - in as little as 50 years, unless defences are built to hold back the rising tides.
"What`s amazing is that this is a short flight away from Washington DC, so it`s right in our backyard," says David Schulte of the US Army Corps of Engineers in Norfolk...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Rising seas expected sink islands near US capital in 50 yearsClimate negotiators face hurdles on key issues as deadline looms
Posted by New York Times: Coral Davenport on December 10th, 2015
New York Times: Less than two days before their deadline to conclude a sweeping new climate accord, negotiators from nearly 200 countries have yet to resolve major issues, such as how and when pledged cuts to carbon emissions would be verified. Lead negotiators said they were confident that a deal could still be reached — and perhaps in time to meet the Friday deadline. But some outside observers who have been monitoring the talks said that the compromises necessary to bring it across the finish line could weaken...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Climate negotiators face hurdles on key issues as deadline loomsAsia’s coastal cities face challenge of rising seas
Posted by Associated Press: Katy Daigle on December 10th, 2015
Associated Press: The future will be a watery one for some of the world's biggest cities.
Predicted sea level increases this century mean many face increased flooding, stronger storm surges and unpredictable weather. How well coastal cities can cope will dramatically affect quality of life and their economic destiny. Many of the biggest are in Asia, powering economies while housing hundreds of millions of poor in sprawling slums.
Scientists generally agree seas will rise an average of 1 meter (3 feet) this century,...
COP21: African campaigners demand compensation for global warming
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2015
Independent: African campaigners are demanding compensation for the huge damage being inflicted on the continent by global warming – a problem that has been caused by the rich countries but will hit poor nations the hardest.
As the United Nations summit to tackle climate change nears its conclusion, African politicians and NGOs are calling for the developed world to provide cash to help them deal with the consequences of a warming planet.
Compensation should cover everything from storm damage and crop failure...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on COP21: African campaigners demand compensation for global warmingChinese protesters clash with police over garbage dump
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 10th, 2015
Reuters: Chinese police have clashed with hundreds of protesters opposed to the construction of a rubbish depot because of health worries, residents and media said on Thursday, in the latest incident of public anger over the environment.
The demonstrators overturned a police car and scuffled with officers in the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, according to photographs on Weibo, China's version of Twitter, posted by the Jingchu Network, a website run by the provincial propaganda department.
Four residents...
Walker Rejects Criticism About State’s Water Protection Efforts
Posted by Wisconsinsin Public Radio: Rich Kremer on December 9th, 2015
Wisconsinsin Public Radio: Gov. Scott Walker is rebuking a claim by former state Department of Natural Resources officials that lawmakers are endangering water quality, saying the state is balancing environmental and economic concerns.
After 45 former DNR staffers sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency criticizing how the state is running its water protection program, the governor said he's proud that the number of DNR enforcement actions against property and business owners is on the decline.
"The...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Walker Rejects Criticism About State’s Water Protection EffortsUnited Kingdom: Cameron government rejected flood risk warnings from climate advisers
Posted by Guardian: Damian Carrington and Patrick Wintour on December 9th, 2015
Guardian: The UK government was warned by its official climate change advisers in October that it needed to take action on the increasing number of homes at high risk of flooding but rejected the advice.
The decision not to develop to develop a strategy to address increase flooding risk came just a few weeks before Storm Desmond brought about severe flooding in Cumbria, Lancashire and other parts of the north west causing an estimated £500m of damage.
The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) also told the...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Cameron government rejected flood risk warnings from climate advisers