Posts tagged with ‘Climate Change’

09-03-08 | The Hurricane Election?

If we’re focusing attention on storms in 2008, then let’s also pay serious attention to oft-neglected matters of hurricane preparedness policy.

09-03-08 | Western Forests Face a Flammable Future

Climate change is driving average temperatures upward, and the unmistakable long-term trend is toward a warmer, drier West. Firefighting alone can’t contend with growing fire danger; investment in strategic fuel reduction is the key.

08-25-08 | Without Better Calculations, It’s Just Carbon “Toe Prints”

Truck entering plantCorporations typically underestimate their carbon footprints by an average of 75 percent, according to a new study from Carnegie Mellon researchers. One of the major blind spots is in calculating the total greenhouse gas emissions from myriad supply chain inputs, as opposed to the direct emissions involved in primary operations.

08-18-08 | Cut It Out

electric mowerThis week on the EPA’s Greenversations blog: “Why do you use a gasoline, electric, battery-operated, or push lawn mower?” It’s an apt question, as personal decisions about lawn grooming implements are connected to matters of climate and energy.

08-07-08 | Program to Help Developing Nations Forecast Natural Disasters Loses Funding

Cyclone NargisThe National Center for Atmospheric Research has shut down a program that helps developing nations predict and prepare for natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and cyclones, Andrew Revkin reports in The New York Times. The program, called the Center for Capacity Building, was created in 2004.

08-01-08 | The Tipping Points

Like an unstable canoe that tips without warning, sudden climate changes can bring dramatic and unpredictable ecosystem transformations. If an abrupt change hit, would it doom our best efforts to save the planet?

07-30-08 | Last Shenanigans

How many more sordid tales concerning the Environmental Protection Agency can actually come out before November?

07-29-08 | Talking Carbon Tonight on Colbert

The Carbon AgeFormer Time magazine-reporter-turned-environmental-policy-analyst Eric Roston will make his Colbert Report debut tonight talking about his new book, The Carbon Age. Science Progress featured an interview with Roston earlier this month that ranged across the various scientific fields connected by the carbon atom.

07-15-08 | Hot Stuff

Randy Olson’s new global warming mockumentary, Sizzle, burns into your mind a lesson about how to reach broader audiences with science.

07-14-08 | The Cure That Could Be Worse Than The Disease

Could a mad scientist-like approach to reversing climate change provide our only remaining hope? A close look at geoengineering schemes.

07-09-08 | The Coming Global Warming “Scopes” Trial

Suing companies that pump greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere for damage to cities and states proved difficult a few years ago. But the latest court rulings could set the stage for a climactic battle over who pays for overheating the planet.

07-08-08 | We Are Living In a Carbon World

Carbon fuels evolutionary systems and climate change—and the story of this element cuts across a wide swath of scientific fields, underscoring much of the research that’s changing the way we think about everyday life.

07-01-08 | States Confront Climate Challenge As Bush Administration Continues Denial

The Pentagon’s dismissal of the EPA’s demand that it clean up Fort Meade and two Air Force bases is just the latest chapter in the saga of the administration’s denial and inaction on environmental and climate protection.

06-30-08 | A Stern Warning

According to Lord Nicholas Stern, the cost of ignoring climate change is higher than the cost of acting to mitigate it. He also says he underestimated the danger of inaction in his previous report.

06-30-08 | Gasping for Air

Human activity, from farming to energy generation, is upsetting ocean ecosystems and creating massive “dead zones” off our coasts. Unchecked, the number of such zones around the world will continue to grow.

06-17-08 | Watering the West

Fast-growing western states are making the link between land use and water management by taking a hard look at the reliability of water sources for new development.

06-12-08 | Our Dying Oceans

A growing body of research demonstrates that global waters are absorbing massive amounts of carbon dioxide, threatening species at the bottom of the food chain. So why are we still paying so little attention to climate change’s elephant in the room?

06-11-08 | A Peace Over Climate Science?

Now even the Bush administration basically admits that it misused and suppressed global warming information and the scientists who purvey it. Is the battle finally over?

06-03-08 | Looking Beyond Carbon

Though well understood, the challenges presented by the changing nitrogen cycle remain under-appreciated. A global integrated approach will be needed to mitigate its future impacts on the climate, ecosystem biodiversity, and human health.

06-02-08 | Brookings Report: Metropolitan Areas Have Less Carbon Emissions

Metropolitan areas are more energy-efficient than areas of less-dense development, according to a new analysis from the Brookings Institution; they also have smaller per-capita carbon emissions. Here’s a new mashup comparing the per-capita transportation emissions across the 100 metro areas in the study.

05-28-08 | The Price of Planetary Gambling

Why the economic side of the global warming debate needs a more balanced ledger.

05-21-08 | Bush Policy Failing to Curb Carbon Emissions

The U.S. Energy Information Administration released new numbers this week on U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from energy sources, and it turns out that our surprising 1.3 percent emissions decrease in 2006 was, indeed, a fluke caused by a milder winter and summer.

05-19-08 | Water in a Warming West

The Environmental Protection Agency identifies key steps to cope with the shrinking Rocky Mountain snow mass and subsequently depleted sources of water in the West.

05-16-08 | Climatologists Call For Investment in Computing Power to Improve Modeling

Cyclone NargisRamping up computing power for climate modeling can help researchers better understand and predict meteorological phenomena around the world, answer policy questions about the impact of climate change, and save lives from natural catastrophes.

05-14-08 | Yes, Virginia, There is a War on Science

Two writers claim there is no assault on the scientific information that informs public policy and don’t even bother engaging the facts of the case.

05-06-08 | The Staggering Cyclone Nargis Catastrophe

Death tolls continue to rise, a product of poverty, poor infrastructure, and a negligent government. Better forecasting for the North Indian region would be a start for protecting citizens from future cyclones. Democracy in Burma probably wouldn’t hurt, either.

04-30-08 | Enormously Pathetic Agency

There has been a near-complete breakdown at our central environmental regulatory agency under the Bush administration.

04-18-08 | What Money Can Buy

David Goldston wants to ask the big questions about federal science policy. Can the research establishment become unsustainably large? Are scientists always an asset to Congress? And what are the problems with current methods of creating science policy?

04-09-08 | The Readiness Is All

We desperately need to adapt our coastal infrastructure to climate change.

04-08-08 | Restoring the Waters

Progressive thinking takes a new turn in western water management, as states across the region, in cooperation with federal agencies, act to fix damaged rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

04-02-08 | Better Advice for Congress on Carbon Capture

After last week’s industry-led field hearing in North Dakota on carbon capture and sequestration, a Monday briefing on CCS hosted by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee was a breath of fresh air, with representatives from the scientific community and the UK.

04-02-08 | Just Coasting

When are Americans finally going to get accurate, timely information–not to mention action–from their government about global warming risks to the Gulf Coast and elsewhere? Part I of a two-part column series.

03-31-08 | The Dish: Sampling Science and Technology News - Mar. 31, 2008

petri dishThe Bush administration appeals court ruling on mercury pollution; the EPA faces congressional subpoena in wrangle over emissions regulations; Greenwire profiles CDC whistleblower; Tech companies call for increased H-1B visa cap; Al Gore launches new climate awareness campaign.

03-18-08 | Latest Economic Analyses of Lieberman Warner Don’t Account for Future Innovation

Two new studies on the potential economic effects of the Lieberman Warner bill appeared late last week. Both are only based on the potential of current technologies, and both of them will prove to be totally wrong.

03-07-08 | Heartland Blog Roundup

The Heartland Institute gathered a group of skeptics of global warming in New York City during Mar. 2 through Mar. 4. The conference speakers criticized the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Al Gore, the two winners of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize.

03-03-08 | Offsets We Can Trust

Provisions in the Lieberman-Warner bill would allow companies to meet some of their emissions targets by purchasing “offset” credits from reductions in emissions not covered under cap-and-trade. But current offsets markets are unregulated and unreliable. Hayes explains how to regulate offsets that will enable verifiable emissions cuts.

02-08-08 | Develop Good Biofuels

Two new studies highlight the need for tight environmental standards for biofuels to help us solve global warming.

01-25-08 | Effective Cap-and-Trade System Requires Credit Auction

Podesta at cap and trade hearingExperts testify that auction would foster green job growth, offset higher energy prices for low-income consumers, and fund R&D in alternative energy sources and technology.

01-24-08 | Global Trends in Energy Policy and Research Spending

GlobeEurope revises biofuels standards, NSF Science and Engineering Indicators in global context, and sub-national regions lead the world in climate policy.

01-22-08 | Agriculture, Technology, and Environmental Impacts In Developing Countries

FarmThree stories focusing on innovation and on the impact of climate change demonstrate the difficulty of fairly distributing the costs, risks, and benefits of technologies.

01-22-08 | The Dish: Sampling Today’s News - January 22, 2008

Petri dishIs the NIH monitoring conflicts of interest?; EPA won’t explain itself on nixing state emissions caps; controversial framing of new MRSA study; new paths to energy-efficient electronics.

12-20-07 | National Academies Explore Interdisciplinary Research

NAS logoThe National Research Council of the National Academies convened a symposium Wednesday to explore approaches among “Future Directions in Research at the Intersection of the Physical and Life Sciences.” The intersections up for discussion ranged across the research spectrum: from synthetic biology to geoengineering to bioterrorism.

12-19-07 | Kerry’s Energy Wager

Kerry at the Center for American Progress Action FundSenator John Kerry compares the decision to address carbon emissions with economic and policy reforms to Pascal’s Wager. “If we’re wrong,” he explained this morning at an event hosted by the Center for American Progress Action Fund, “we still have global development, clean air, a stronger economy here at home, healthier citizens, and no more addiction to the foreign oil that funds despots and terrorists.”

12-11-07 | Science Policy in the Science Times

Shinya YamanakaA profile of Shinya Yamanaka; developing a malaria vaccine; providing an overdose antidote to heroin addicts; the Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speeches.

12-10-07 | Blog Roundup: Dec 10, 2007

House of Representatives sealThe House Oversight Committee on Bush Administration interference with climate science; Atlantis grounded; framing nanotech; sex difference in math and science; Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies; VCs doubtful on carbon regulation from the government.

12-06-07 | Blog Roundup: Dec 6, 2007

Transparency for global health data; the legal status of embryos; the Bali Climate Declaration by Scientists; genome research open access; U.S. science education.

12-06-07 | Snap Observations: Dec 6, 2007

Shuttle Atlantis on launch padAtlantis launch moved; Facebook address online privacy concerns; energy and climate legislation makes headway in Congress; regulating airline emissions; commercial ventures to the moon.

12-04-07 | Science Times Policy: Dec 4, 2007

Hubble Space TelescopeThe future of the Hubble Space Telescope, a new map of Antarctica, post-Katrina mental health, and metaphors for the climate crisis: in this week’s Science Times section of The New York Times, several stories covering science, health, and technology policy.

11-30-07 | Gaming Climate Change Treaty Negotiations

Coal stackThe Bush administration wants to push clean-technology exports without taking meaningful measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at home. That’s the wrong message to send on the eve of a major global summit on climate change next week in Indonesia.

11-28-07 | Quick Study

Humans should be extremely cautious about meddling any further with the Earth’s atmosphere. But we should study the possibility nevertheless, in case someone else tries it—or in case we don’t have a choice.

11-28-07 | Capturing the Energy Opportunity

The Center for American Progress today releases the first pieces of Progressive Growth, its Economic Plan for the Next Administration, which includes a chapter on new energy solutions.

11-14-07 | Out of Balance

How U.S. media coverage of global warming finally moved past “he said, she said, we’re clueless.”

11-08-07 | Keep Your Eye On the Globe, Folks

Among the finalists for the Best Science Blog category in 2007 Weblog Awards is ClimateAudit.org, a site devoted to denying and downplaying the scientific data on global climate change.

11-02-07 | Five Frames of the Moment For Climate Change

EarthTalking about about climate change solely in terms of impending catastrophe may still be reasonable from a factual standpoint, but it may not be the most effective frame for debates on climate and energy policy. Here are four other frames in current discussions.

10-26-07 | The Heat is On

Why are we really upset by the editing of Center for Disease Control Director Gerberding’s written testimony to Congress on the health effects of climate change?

10-15-07 | Snap Observations: Research Corridors Drive the Economy, Congress Considers Science Funding

U.S. Capitol buildingThe University of Michigan is hosting a conference on developing technology corridors this week as the Senate considers two major appropriations bills that fund science agencies.

10-12-07 | The IPCC and Gore: Another Nobel for Science

Joseph Romm, climate advocate, on security through environmental peace, climate as a moral issue, and the bravery of scientists.

10-04-07 | A New Scientific Resolve

The shock of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik launch 50 years ago today reminds us at Science Progress that the United States can deploy its scientific prowess swiftly to meet sudden challenges. A new resolve is needed again today, this time from the entire global community, not just the United States, to meet very different but equally dire threats to humanity.
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