Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

Global warming may be having an adverse effect of hundreds of species of migratory birds in the United States. In the latest version of the annual State of the Birds report, the Interior Department claims that climate change is one of many environmental factors threatening bird populations by destructing natural avian habitats and lessening the availability of wetlands. The report asserts that coastal birds are the most directly threatened due to rising sea levels and rapidly changing marine environments.

Debate over the economic effects of California's first-in-the-nation global warming law flared this week, as a report was released claiming the law potentially will contribute to short-term job losses. Meantime, Lisa Jackson, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency claims there is a “misconception” in regards to the relationship between economic recovery and protecting the environment – with some people feeling the need to choose one or the other. “This is about rising to meet our most urgent environmental and economic challenges - not shrinking from them with the excuse that it’s just too hard,” Jackson said.

Lower levels of oxygen are being reported in the oceans and scientists are linking the findings to global warming. They warn that the oceans' complex undersea ecosystems and fragile food chains could be disrupted. In some areas in the Pacific Northwest, the almost complete absence of oxygen has left piles of Dungeness crab carcasses littering the ocean floor and killed off 25-year-old sea stars. In other spots, such as off the Southern California coast, oxygen levels have dropped roughly 20 percent over the past 25 years. Researchers recognize that areas of low oxygen have long existed in the deep ocean but say the depletion of oxygen recently reported is “striking.”

Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

PG&E Corporation Chairman, CEO and President Peter Darbee and Carnegie Institution climate change expert Christopher Field released a short whitepaper for business leaders and policy makers on the scientific and economic issues central to the current conversation on global climate change and the need for a response by government and business. “My hope is that it serves to inform and engage more leaders in this issue and, ultimately, helps drive the adoption of smart climate and energy policies for our country,” said Darbee.

Want to see scientific evidence supporting global warming? There’s an app for that. Australian solar physicist John Cook of Skeptical Science has created an iPhone app that includes numerous climate skeptic arguments as well as the science-based counterarguments. So far, there are 90 climate skeptic arguments included and, of course, the scientific responses to those. You can see graphs and links to scientific papers or other sources in there as well. Cook calls the app “imperative” to the climate debate and “pretty cool.”

The non-partisan United States Geological Survey recently reported that the ice shelves on the southern Antarctic Peninsula have been retreating at an increased pace threatening coastal communities and low-lying islands worldwide. Scientists claim the pattern could lead to further accelerated glacier retreat on the continent and ultimately, sea level rise. Scientific data shows every ice front in this section of the peninsula has been retreating from 1947 to 2009, but the most dramatic changes have come since 1990.
 

Posted by: Leonard Anderson

Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy and the environment caught our attention this week:

Major league baseball spring training begins next week and the greening of the sport continues to show no letup. The Minnesota Twins are installing a giant underground storage tank the size of a freight car to harvest and recycle rainwater at their new ball park, Target Field. The Twins may save more than two million gallons of water a year. The Rain Water Recycle System will purify rainwater for human consumption as well as maintenance and irrigating the field. It was designed by Pentair, a company specializing in water systems and storage. The Twins also are seeking a LEED (Leadership in Engineering and Environmental Design) certification for the new park.

Eco-minded residents of Berkeley are recycling and composting so much that the city's refuse revenues are down by $4 million, the biggest factor in a $10 million city budget deficit. Residents are switching to smaller trash bins which carry a lower collection rate. People are buying less stuff so there's less packaging and cardboard waste, and a failed business means there's no trash to collect. "Not only does the amount of garbage change with the economy, but the very nature of garbage changes," says Robert Reed, spokesman for Recology Sunset Scavenger, San Francisco's garbage company.

Car sharing memberships in North America soared by 117 percent between 2007 and 2009, according to the Frost & Sullivan research firm, and total membership is projected at 4.4 million in North America and 5.5 million in Europe by 2016. The firm estimates that each vehicle in a car sharing fleet replaced 15 personally owned vehicles in 2009 and car sharing members drove 31 percent less than when they owned a personal vehicle. This means fewer cars on the road and a reduction of more than 482,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Meanwhile, car sharing firm Zipcar Inc. has pulled the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrids from its fleet (less than 1 percent) due to the recall for a potential brake problem. Zipcar also has removed 2009 and 2010 Toyota Matrix models in a previous safety recall.

Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

There's much ado about numbers when it comes to an inaccuracy regarding a 2007 United Nations (UN) report on Climate Change that predicted the disappearance of all Himalayan glaciers by the year 2035. While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of the UN has since apologized for the typo, the body stands behind its overall finding that the glaciers are retreating and says the rest of the report is accurate, adding "small glaciers will probably disappear by the end of the century."

Two men falling on opposite sides of the global warming debate met in West Virginia at the University of Charleston as coal baron Don Blankenship and conservationist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. went head to head in a verbal bout. The 950 audience members were selected by each man's camp so it is highly unlikely anyone in the room was influenced by the debate - and neither man was willing to concede any ground on issues such as mountaintop mining, green job creation and greenhouse gases. Kennedy said surface mining helps to make West Virginia a poor state, while defacing majestic scenery, polluting air and water and shattering the quiet country existence of people who've called the mountains home for generations. Blankenship argued the mining keeps people employed, puts food on their tables and mortgage checks in the mail.

A lengthy letter to the governor of Louisiana by 32 scientists, including 27 from the state's universities, suggests he should rethink his opposition to regulation of carbon emissions. Scientists believe Louisiana's coastline is receding at alarming rates due to sea level rise, glacial melting and global warming. In December, Governor Bobby Jindal sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency demanding that it rescind its recent determination that greenhouse gases endanger present and future generations. Jindal also said the ruling could force Louisiana's jobs and industries to move overseas.  

Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

The majority of the world's largest investment managers are not factoring in climate-related trends when making investment decisions. A new report released by Ceres surveyed the world's 500 largest asset managers and claims they are ignoring "hidden risks" in the trillions of dollars of investment portfolios they oversee. The survey claims companies that are not prepared to adopt climate policies will face growing regulatory, litigation and competitive issues. The study also notes that close to half of the fund managers surveyed reported their clients did not ask them to consider climate risks or opportunities when making investments.

Global warming could shorten Rocky Mountain winters and put the region's forests in danger of severe forest fires and insect infestation. Those predictions come from a University of Montana professor and international climate change expert who says the real issue for Montana, Wyoming and Idaho is a longer dry season and a lack of water. He claims the shorter winters will result in fewer days of snow and earlier peak snowmelt, resulting in a lack of water for local rivers and reserves.

New research suggests the concentration of methane in the atmosphere is rising. Methane is said to be 25 times more potent than CO2 and studies recently completed near the northern tip of Russia and on the coast of New Zealand link global warming with the increases. Specific causes listed in the studies are unusually high temperatures in the Arctic and emissions from forest fires. In addition, scientists believe methane release from frozen depositories is happening at a faster rate than previously predicted, which may further accelerate global warming.

Posted by: Kory Raftery

If Jimmy Buffett were writing a theme song for PG&E's renewable energy department, his lyrics might read, "Mother, Mother Ocean: I have heard you call. I wanted to pull the power from your waters since I was three feet tall."

Looking to add to its diverse power mix, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has just signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force that will let the utility investigate the feasibility of a wave energy project off the coast of northern Santa Barbara County near Vandenberg Air Force Base. The project is part of the PG&E WaveConnect™ program, which includes a pilot study underway in Humboldt County.

PG&E has filed a preliminary permit application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to study the southern site for three years. If findings are favorable, the utility could seek a license to install wave energy conversion devices capable of producing as much as 100 megawatts of electricity. The clean power would feed into the existing electrical grid at Vandenberg Air Force Base, which in turn is connected to the PG&E grid.

Experts believe that wave energy off the 745 mile California coastline could produce more than a fifth of the state's energy needs. The Santa Barbara County Community Environmental Council's renewable energy blueprint calls for more than eight percent of the county's future energy mix to come from the ocean. But there are many hurdles to jump before arriving at those targets, including environmental and land use concerns,  grid connections and design evolution.

"You can't develop a technology unless you can test it," said Roger Bedard, ocean energy leader with Electric Power Research Institute. "In this country, we are challenged with inferior infrastructure in testing ocean energy devices. PG&E's WaveConnect™ projects will provide the infrastructure needed to test and refine emerging technologies."

Throughout the process, PG&E will continue to work closely with local communities and elected officials to understand and address their interests and concerns. The project is expected to have no significant impact on existing coastal activities such as surfing, hiking or whale watching. Development will only move forward if technical studies support its feasibility and if environmental studies show that the project will not have significant negative environmental and economical effects.

Currently, the Earth's oceans produce roughly 300 megawatts of electricity from various devices that convert energy from water movement or the natural temperature and salinity changes into usable power. Next year that number is expected to skyrocket when a 250 megawatt seawall dam comes online in South Korea. But wave power will continue to lag other renewable technologies without development assistance.

Ultimately, PG&E's WaveConnect™ projects will help emerging technology companies develop reliable and cost-effective wave energy devices, find funding and help PG&E and other utilities bring this innovative new source of clean energy to customers.

"If a utility is going to make it happen in this country, it's going to be PG&E," Bedard said.

 

Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Google CEO Eric Schmidt came together at Treasure Island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay to unveil a tool that they claim visually illustrates the impacts of global warming on the state of California. CalAdapt uses Google Earth to predict that global warming will reduce the snowpack in the Sierra Mountains, increase the likelihood of wildfires and put much of the San Francisco Giants energy conscious AT&T Park under five feet of water.

Developing countries may get a windfall of cash.  The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to channel around $700 million for expandable programs that mitigate global warming to its developing member countries. The money will be earmarked for climate investment and clean technology. The ADB recently announced Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States have already donated more than $6.1 billion to the bank for social and economic programs.

An Australian study links rising seawater temperature to aggressiveness in the feeding habits of fish leading one scientist to theorize about a surfer's greatest fear - that global warming could make sharks more hostile. Research conducted by the University of New South Wales found that just an uptick of two to three degrees caused some fish to be 30 times more aggressive than normal. One researcher said "he would be surprised" if it didn't crossover to sharks. "I would imagine it ought to affect sharks," said Dr. Peter Biro. "We think it is linked to the metabolism of the fishes and increases their need to feed."

Posted by: Leonard Anderson

Several items relating to the business and technology of clean energy and the environment caught our attention this week:

Norway has launched the world's first osmotic power plant to generate electricity by blending salt water and fresh water through a polymer membrane. Operated by Norwegian renewable energy company Statkraft, the pilot plant will generate 2-4 kilowatts of emissions-free electricity, enough to power a coffee maker, Reuters reports. The plant is driven by osmosis, drawing fresh water across the membrane toward the sea water. This increases pressure on the sea water, driving a turbine and producing electricity. Statkraft aims to begin building commercial plants by 2015.

The Maryland NightHawks, a minor-league basketball franchise, may be the first pro team in any sport to go green. The franchise has changed its name to the GreenHawks and attracted green sponsors like Honest Tea, Sweet Green and CarbonFund.org. "I've never been at a press conference talking about recycling," said Coach Rob Spon. There was also talk of a bamboo court, hemp nets and uniforms made from recycled materials. Go GreenHawks!

The Mother Nature Network web site is honoring chefs who practice sustainable cooking. This follows a list of top young farmers who provide locally-sourced, sustainable food. The new chef list recognizes some celebrities, including White House assistant chef Sam Kass, but Mother Nature Network's aim is to include cooks from around the country -- not just restaurant chefs but caterers and food-cart operators as well. Brittany Baldwin, who runs Portland Home Chef, a personal chef and catering service in Oregon, was recognized for using local ingredients as well as composting and recycling. 

Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

Former Vice President Al Gore stumped for sustainable construction practices at the annual U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) annual convention in Phoenix. Gore said "building green" would stimulate job growth and cut the nation's dependency on foreign oil. He also noted that environmental endeavors could land the U.S. roughly 2.5 million jobs in the next few years and urged Americans to lean on their lawmakers in order to make a difference when it comes to energy efficiency and the fight against global warming. "It's important to change the lights and the windows, but it's also important to change the laws and policies," he said.

A British television commercial continues to come under fire for what some are calling global warming scare tactics. Entitled "Bedtime Stories," the commercial shows a father reading his daughter a book about a "land where the weather was very strange." The story features a "CO2 monster" and animals drowning due to widespread flooding. Opponents feel the commercial is too scary for children and question whether the appeal to parental instincts will even work. Supporters say research shows 74 percent of people surveyed would change their behaviors and conserve energy if they believed climate change would have an adverse affect on their children.

A new report published by Environment and Energy Daily claims that global warming could have a negative impact on the water supply of the American West, with Las Vegas and Southern California being hit extremely hard should the water level in the Lake Mead reservoir continue to drop. Currently, the Hoover Dam supplies power and water to 17 U.S. states and Mexico but the water level behind the dam is at its lowest point since 1965, when officials diverted Colorado River flows into the newly constructed Lake Powell. One suggested cause is that a warming climate is more quickly evaporating the snow that feeds the Colorado River. If the water supply continues to drop, the impact could be huge. As Patricia Mulroy, general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority noted, "When you put it in perspective, the Colorado River soon will be servicing 30 million people. It also serves one of the most productive agricultural areas in the country in terms of winter fruits and vegetables, an integral part of the country's food supply."

Posted by: Kory Raftery

Several Stories on the science and politics of global warming caught our attention this week:

Scientists in India say their research proves that global warming is melting another major glacier.  Researchers at Kashmir University recently revealed findings that the Kolahoi glacier has gone from approximately five square miles to under four and a half over the last 40 years. The glacier helps about six million people in the area to sustain the industries of agriculture, horticulture, livestock production and forestry. "The study confirms the general trend that about 90 percent of all Himalayan glaciers are receding," said Rajeev Upadhay, a geologist who studies glaciers.

Tens of thousands of people banded together yesterday via the web to talk about Climate Change and participate in this year's "Blog Action Day". Though NEXT100 could not pin down a formal definition for the event, it seems everyone agrees the goal of the day is to spur a worldwide discussion on the debate surrounding global warming. We are told this is the third year intrepid typists are celebrating the day. Last year's topic was poverty.

In just 20 years, the top of the earth may look different from space during part of the year, according to a Reuters article. Ships may have a new route to travel north of Russia. And the Earth may flood - affecting one-fourth of the planet's population. Those predictions come from a professor of ocean physics out of London who says "based on seasonal variation of ice extent and thickness, changes in temperatures, winds and especially ice composition - that the Arctic will be ice-free in summer within about 20 years."