Damage from climate change may cost Alaska $10 bln - Yahoo! News: "Larsen led a study with a team of engineers to calculate how Alaska will cope with the highest temperatures it has experienced in the last 400 years, according to data gathered from ice cores.
'There is a rough magnitude of between $5 and $10 billion of public infrastructure that's vulnerable to climate change just in Alaska,' Larsen said on Monday night.
Permanently frozen ground, or permafrost, covers nearly two-thirds of the massive state but buildings, pipelines, roads and bridges crumble as it melts, he said at this week's meeting in Belize of Arctic peoples and tropical islanders who are suffering the worst effects of global warming."
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Schools turning eco-friendly - Yahoo! News
Schools turning eco-friendly - Yahoo! News: "It's part of a 'green school' movement that is growing in popularity nationwide, with schools leaning toward solar panels, living roofs and wetlands. School districts say the environmentally friendly properties save energy costs while educating students about the world around them.
'In the past 6 months, it's been overwhelming,' said Lindsay Baker, manager of the U.S. Green Building Council's school certification program. 'There is a general agreement in schools that this is the issue that schools need to be thinking about."
'In the past 6 months, it's been overwhelming,' said Lindsay Baker, manager of the U.S. Green Building Council's school certification program. 'There is a general agreement in schools that this is the issue that schools need to be thinking about."
Pelosi: Climate change is a reality - Yahoo! News
Pelosi: Climate change is a reality - Yahoo! News: "Her trip comes ahead of next week's Group of Eight summit and a climate change meeting next month involving the leading industrialized nations and during a time of increased debate over what should succeed the Kyoto Protocol, a 1997 international treaty that caps the amount of carbon dioxide that can be emitted from power plants and factories in industrialized countries. It expires in 2012.
President Bush rejected that accord, saying it would harm the U.S. economy and unfair excludes developing countries like China and India from its obligations. Pelosi, who strongly disagrees with that decision and many other of Bush's environmental policies, said Friday she said she wants to work with the administration rather than provoke it."
President Bush rejected that accord, saying it would harm the U.S. economy and unfair excludes developing countries like China and India from its obligations. Pelosi, who strongly disagrees with that decision and many other of Bush's environmental policies, said Friday she said she wants to work with the administration rather than provoke it."
Thursday, May 24, 2007
'New' Prince Charles waxes eco-friendly - Yahoo! News
'New' Prince Charles waxes eco-friendly - Yahoo! News: "To create its first 'green' figure, workers recycled wax from a 1989 figure of the Prince of Wales and updated it with 82 pounds of organic beeswax, 55 pounds of clay and fiberglass. Artists used organic pigments to color the skin.
Sculptors worked only with their hands and in daylight to cut down on electricity usage. Workers rode bicycles to attend planning meetings during the four-month project.
The remaining carbon the process generated was to be offset by the planting of three trees in Cornwall."
Sculptors worked only with their hands and in daylight to cut down on electricity usage. Workers rode bicycles to attend planning meetings during the four-month project.
The remaining carbon the process generated was to be offset by the planting of three trees in Cornwall."
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Cheaper solar power heads mainstream - Yahoo! News
Cheaper solar power heads mainstream - Yahoo! News: "Solar power should become a mainstream energy choice in three or four years as companies raise output of a key ingredient used in solar panels and as China emerges as a producer of them, according to a report by an environmental research group.
Investors have flocked to solar and other renewable energy sources amid worries about the high costs of oil and natural gas and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar is the fastest growing energy source, but still provides less than 1 percent of the world's electricity, in part because its power can cost homeowners twice as much as power from the grid.
But costs could fall 40 percent in the next few years as polysilicon becomes more available, Sawin said,
More than a dozen companies in Europe, China, Japan, and the United States will boost production over the next few years of purified polysilicon, which helps panels convert sunlight into electricity, and is the main ingredient in semiconductor computer chips, according to the report."
Investors have flocked to solar and other renewable energy sources amid worries about the high costs of oil and natural gas and greenhouse gas emissions. Solar is the fastest growing energy source, but still provides less than 1 percent of the world's electricity, in part because its power can cost homeowners twice as much as power from the grid.
But costs could fall 40 percent in the next few years as polysilicon becomes more available, Sawin said,
More than a dozen companies in Europe, China, Japan, and the United States will boost production over the next few years of purified polysilicon, which helps panels convert sunlight into electricity, and is the main ingredient in semiconductor computer chips, according to the report."
G8 summit is "litmus test" for U.S. on warming: U.N. - Yahoo! News
G8 summit is "litmus test" for U.S. on warming: U.N. - Yahoo! News: "A meeting of rich nations next month in Germany will be a 'litmus test' of how the United States plans to help the world fight climate change, the head of the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) said on Tuesday.
The United States, the world's biggest polluter, said this month it would continue to reject targets or plans to cap greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming that it fears could jeopardize economic growth."
The United States, the world's biggest polluter, said this month it would continue to reject targets or plans to cap greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming that it fears could jeopardize economic growth."
NYC's taxi fleet going green by 2012 - Yahoo! News
NYC's taxi fleet going green by 2012 - Yahoo! News: "The city's yellow taxi fleet will go entirely hybrid within five years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Tuesday.
Nearly 400 fuel-efficient hybrids have been tested in the city's taxi fleet over the past 18 months, with models including the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h and the Ford Escape.
Under Bloomberg's plan, that number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008, then will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012, when every yellow cab — currently numbering 13,000 — will be a hybrid."
Nearly 400 fuel-efficient hybrids have been tested in the city's taxi fleet over the past 18 months, with models including the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h and the Ford Escape.
Under Bloomberg's plan, that number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008, then will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012, when every yellow cab — currently numbering 13,000 — will be a hybrid."
Monday, May 21, 2007
Polar bears at risk as warming thaws icy home - Yahoo! News
Polar bears at risk as warming thaws icy home - Yahoo! News: "Time may be running out for polar bears as global warming melts the ice beneath their paws.
Many scientific studies project that warming, widely blamed on emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, could melt the polar ice cap in summer, with estimates of the break-up ranging from decades to sometime beyond 2100.
Bears' favorite hunting ground is the edge of the ice where they use white fur as camouflage to catch seals.
'If there's no ice, there's no way they can catch the seal,' said Sarah James of the Gwich'in Council International who lives in Alaska. 'Gwich'in' means 'people of the caribou,' which is the main source of food for about 7,000 indigenous people in Alaska and Canada."
Many scientific studies project that warming, widely blamed on emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, could melt the polar ice cap in summer, with estimates of the break-up ranging from decades to sometime beyond 2100.
Bears' favorite hunting ground is the edge of the ice where they use white fur as camouflage to catch seals.
'If there's no ice, there's no way they can catch the seal,' said Sarah James of the Gwich'in Council International who lives in Alaska. 'Gwich'in' means 'people of the caribou,' which is the main source of food for about 7,000 indigenous people in Alaska and Canada."
Smithsonian toned down exhibit on Arctic - Yahoo! News
Smithsonian toned down exhibit on Arctic - Yahoo! News: "The Smithsonian Institution toned down an exhibit on climate change in the Arctic for fear of angering Congress and the Bush administration, says a former administrator at the museum.
Among other things, the script, or official text, of last year's exhibit was rewritten to minimize and inject more uncertainty into the relationship between global warming and humans, said Robert Sullivan, who was associate director in charge of exhibitions at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Also, officials omitted scientists' interpretation of some research and let visitors draw their own conclusions from the data, he said. In addition, graphs were altered 'to show that global warming could go either way,' Sullivan said."
Among other things, the script, or official text, of last year's exhibit was rewritten to minimize and inject more uncertainty into the relationship between global warming and humans, said Robert Sullivan, who was associate director in charge of exhibitions at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History.
Also, officials omitted scientists' interpretation of some research and let visitors draw their own conclusions from the data, he said. In addition, graphs were altered 'to show that global warming could go either way,' Sullivan said."
Staples starts computer recycle program - Yahoo! News
Staples starts computer recycle program - Yahoo! News: "Staples Inc. is expanding its electronics waste recycling program by accepting used computers and monitors that can now be dropped off for a $10 fee at any of the office products chain's 1,400 U.S. locations during store hours.
The step by the world's largest office products supplier follows similar initiatives by many computer makers and retailers to confront the growing environmental and public health risk posed by discarded computers and other electronic gadgets containing toxic metals and chemicals."
The step by the world's largest office products supplier follows similar initiatives by many computer makers and retailers to confront the growing environmental and public health risk posed by discarded computers and other electronic gadgets containing toxic metals and chemicals."
Schwarzenegger accuses government on warming - Yahoo! News
Schwarzenegger accuses government on warming - Yahoo! News: "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and fellow Republican Gov. Jodi Rell of Connecticut accused the U.S. government on Monday of 'inaction and denial' on global warming.
'It's bad enough that the federal government has yet to take the threat of global warming seriously, but it borders on malfeasance for it to block the efforts of states such as California and Connecticut that are trying to protect the public's health and welfare,' the governors wrote in The Washington Post.
These two states and 10 others have approved plans for tougher standards than those imposed by the government to limit vehicle emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
But the states can't put the new standards into practice without a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency, which has not yet granted one, 16 months after California first requested it."
'It's bad enough that the federal government has yet to take the threat of global warming seriously, but it borders on malfeasance for it to block the efforts of states such as California and Connecticut that are trying to protect the public's health and welfare,' the governors wrote in The Washington Post.
These two states and 10 others have approved plans for tougher standards than those imposed by the government to limit vehicle emissions of the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
But the states can't put the new standards into practice without a waiver from the Environmental Protection Agency, which has not yet granted one, 16 months after California first requested it."
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Climate changes said harm sunflowers - Yahoo! News
Climate changes said harm sunflowers - Yahoo! News
Imagine the Sunflower State without its sunflowers. That's one of the dire predictions contained in a new report on global warming released by the National Wildlife Federation, which says the Kansas state flower could move north to other states in a few decades.
Increasingly warm temperatures also could mean the end of the state tree, the eastern cottonwood, according to "The Gardener's Guide to Global Warming."
Imagine the Sunflower State without its sunflowers. That's one of the dire predictions contained in a new report on global warming released by the National Wildlife Federation, which says the Kansas state flower could move north to other states in a few decades.
Increasingly warm temperatures also could mean the end of the state tree, the eastern cottonwood, according to "The Gardener's Guide to Global Warming."
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Coalition to Make Buildings Energy-Efficient - New York Times
Coalition to Make Buildings Energy-Efficient - New York Times: "Under a plan developed through the William J. Clinton Foundation, participating banks would provide up to $1 billion each in loans that cities or private landlords would use to upgrade energy-hungry heating, cooling and lighting systems in older buildings.
The loans and interest would be paid back with savings accrued through reduced energy costs, organizers of the initiative said at a news conference in Manhattan. Typically, such upgrades can cut energy use and costs by 20 percent to 50 percent, they said."
The loans and interest would be paid back with savings accrued through reduced energy costs, organizers of the initiative said at a news conference in Manhattan. Typically, such upgrades can cut energy use and costs by 20 percent to 50 percent, they said."
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
16 cities to get financing to 'go green' - Yahoo! News
16 cities to get financing to 'go green' - Yahoo! News
Sixteen cities around the world will get financing to "go green" by renovating buildings they own with technology designed to cut carbon emissions, former President Clinton announced Wednesday.
Clinton's foundation has created an arrangement among four energy service companies and five global banking institutions that will result in major environmental upgrades in the cities, which include New York, Chicago, Houston, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Berlin, Tokyo and Rome.
Sixteen cities around the world will get financing to "go green" by renovating buildings they own with technology designed to cut carbon emissions, former President Clinton announced Wednesday.
Clinton's foundation has created an arrangement among four energy service companies and five global banking institutions that will result in major environmental upgrades in the cities, which include New York, Chicago, Houston, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Berlin, Tokyo and Rome.
Greenpeace builds replica of Noah's Ark - Yahoo! News
Greenpeace builds replica of Noah's Ark - Yahoo! News: "Environmental activists are building a replica of Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat — where the biblical vessel is said to have landed after the great flood — in an appeal for action on global warming, Greenpeace said Wednesday.
'Climate change is real, it's happening now and unless world leaders take urgent, decisive and far-reaching action, the next decades will see human misery on a scale not experienced in modern times,' said Greenpeace activist Hilal Atici. 'Those leaders have a mandate from the people ... to massively cut greenhouse gas emissions and to do it now.'"
'Climate change is real, it's happening now and unless world leaders take urgent, decisive and far-reaching action, the next decades will see human misery on a scale not experienced in modern times,' said Greenpeace activist Hilal Atici. 'Those leaders have a mandate from the people ... to massively cut greenhouse gas emissions and to do it now.'"
California-Sized Area of Ice Melts in Antarctica - Yahoo! News
California-Sized Area of Ice Melts in Antarctica - Yahoo! News: "Warm temperatures melted an area of western Antarctica that adds up to the size of California in January 2005, scientists report.
“Antarctica has shown little to no warming in the recent past with the exception of the Antarctic Peninsula,” said Konrad Steffen of the University of Colorado, Boulder. “But now large regions are showing the first signs of the impacts of warming as interpreted by this satellite analysis.” "
“Antarctica has shown little to no warming in the recent past with the exception of the Antarctic Peninsula,” said Konrad Steffen of the University of Colorado, Boulder. “But now large regions are showing the first signs of the impacts of warming as interpreted by this satellite analysis.” "
Monday, May 14, 2007
Brazil to be site of Live Earth concert - Yahoo! News
Brazil to be site of Live Earth concert - Yahoo! News: "The concert, which is expected to unite at least one million people, will be the only one of the seven simultaneous concerts held on July 7 that will be free, Gore said.
'An estimated 2 billion people will be watching around the world, but the single largest event anywhere in the world will be here in Rio. I want to invite every person who cares about the environment in Brazil to come to the event here in Rio,' Gore said"
'An estimated 2 billion people will be watching around the world, but the single largest event anywhere in the world will be here in Rio. I want to invite every person who cares about the environment in Brazil to come to the event here in Rio,' Gore said"
World's mayors meet at New York climate change summit - Yahoo! News
World's mayors meet at New York climate change summit - Yahoo! News: "Mayors and business leaders from more than 40 of the world's biggest cities were gathering in New York Monday for a summit devoted to combating climate change and cleaning up the environment.
Leaders from Seoul to Sydney and Mumbai to Mexico City are expected at the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, billed as helping to reduce cities' greenhouse gas emissions and develop more energy-efficient infrastructure."
Leaders from Seoul to Sydney and Mumbai to Mexico City are expected at the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, billed as helping to reduce cities' greenhouse gas emissions and develop more energy-efficient infrastructure."
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Asia's high-rise gardeners unearth key to cooler cities - Yahoo! News
Asia's high-rise gardeners unearth key to cooler cities - Yahoo! News: "In cramped cities, owning green space ties into wider issues of who can afford what, said Singaporean academic Lai Ah Eng, who studies community social relations.
Now governments are touting greenery's many benefits. As well as reducing air and noise pollution, plants lower ambient air temperatures through evapo-transpiration, and by blocking heat from the sun with their leaves.
Beijing has pledged to add 100,000 square meters of roof gardens every year from 2007-2010. And last month Singapore, the 'garden city,' unveiled its first 'green' housing estate, with walls of cooling greenery hardwired into its architecture.
'From the scientific point of view, every plant produces a cooling effect,' said Professor Nyuk Hien Wong, of the Department of Building at the National University of Singapore, who designs the green walls.
'The rule of thumb is one degree less is a five percent (energy) saving.' "
Now governments are touting greenery's many benefits. As well as reducing air and noise pollution, plants lower ambient air temperatures through evapo-transpiration, and by blocking heat from the sun with their leaves.
Beijing has pledged to add 100,000 square meters of roof gardens every year from 2007-2010. And last month Singapore, the 'garden city,' unveiled its first 'green' housing estate, with walls of cooling greenery hardwired into its architecture.
'From the scientific point of view, every plant produces a cooling effect,' said Professor Nyuk Hien Wong, of the Department of Building at the National University of Singapore, who designs the green walls.
'The rule of thumb is one degree less is a five percent (energy) saving.' "
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Migratory birds, whales confused by warming: U.N. - Yahoo! News
Migratory birds, whales confused by warming: U.N. - Yahoo! News: "Birds, whales and other migratory creatures are suffering from global warming that puts them in the wrong place at the wrong time, a U.N. official told 166-nation climate talks on Monday.
'They are the most visible warning signs -- indicators signaling the dramatic changes to our ecosystems caused in part by climate change,' he told delegates on the opening day of a May 7-18 U.N. meeting searching for new ways to offset warming."
'They are the most visible warning signs -- indicators signaling the dramatic changes to our ecosystems caused in part by climate change,' he told delegates on the opening day of a May 7-18 U.N. meeting searching for new ways to offset warming."
Monday, May 7, 2007
Obama faults U.S. automakers - Yahoo! News
Obama faults U.S. automakers - Yahoo! News: "Uttering words not often spoken in Detroit, Obama said U.S. energy policy must change in order to help domestic automakers answer the rising global demand for efficient autos.
Obama said his plan encourages domestic automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by giving them health care assistance for retirees. Federal financial assistance would cover 10 percent — up to $7 billion — of automakers' annual legacy health care costs through 2017, under Obama's plan, which would require automakers to invest at least half of their health care savings into technology to produce fuel-efficient cars.
As a second choice, Obama's plan would provide $3 billion to automakers over 10 years to help retool plants to make fuel-efficient cars and trucks."
Obama said his plan encourages domestic automakers to make fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles by giving them health care assistance for retirees. Federal financial assistance would cover 10 percent — up to $7 billion — of automakers' annual legacy health care costs through 2017, under Obama's plan, which would require automakers to invest at least half of their health care savings into technology to produce fuel-efficient cars.
As a second choice, Obama's plan would provide $3 billion to automakers over 10 years to help retool plants to make fuel-efficient cars and trucks."
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Switch to organic crops could help poor - Yahoo! News
Switch to organic crops could help poor - Yahoo! News: "Organic food has long been considered a niche market, a luxury for wealthy consumers. But researchers told a U.N. conference Saturday that a large-scale shift to organic agriculture could help fight world hunger while improving the environment. "
Climate Change, Not Humans, Trounced Neanderthals - Yahoo! News
Climate Change, Not Humans, Trounced Neanderthals - Yahoo! News: "Neanderthals disappeared from Earth more than 20,000 years ago, but figuring out why continues to challenge anthropologists. One team of scientists, however, now says they have evidence to back climate change as the main culprit.
The Iberian Peninsula, better known as present-day Spain and Portugal, was one of the last Neanderthal refuges. Many scientists have thought that out-hunting by Homo sapiens and interbreeding with them brought Neanderthals to their demise, but climate change has also been proposed. "
The Iberian Peninsula, better known as present-day Spain and Portugal, was one of the last Neanderthal refuges. Many scientists have thought that out-hunting by Homo sapiens and interbreeding with them brought Neanderthals to their demise, but climate change has also been proposed. "
Friday, May 4, 2007
Climate plan arms world for key talks - Yahoo! News
Climate plan arms world for key talks - Yahoo! News: "From nuclear power to reforestation to better toasters, the world now has a game plan from climate experts for fighting global warming, a report their chief scientist says will have a 'profound influence' on upcoming negotiations.
American officials questioned the economic cost, and the Chinese questioned whether fast results could be achieved. But a leading expert said there was little choice.
'If we continue doing what we are doing now, we are in deep trouble,' said Ogunlade Davidson, co-chairman of the U.N.-sponsored group that produced the report, approved by consensus by more than 120 nations Friday at the end of a weeklong meeting."
American officials questioned the economic cost, and the Chinese questioned whether fast results could be achieved. But a leading expert said there was little choice.
'If we continue doing what we are doing now, we are in deep trouble,' said Ogunlade Davidson, co-chairman of the U.N.-sponsored group that produced the report, approved by consensus by more than 120 nations Friday at the end of a weeklong meeting."
445 a hotly debated number at conference - Yahoo! News
445 a hotly debated number at conference - Yahoo! News: "445 was the hot number at this week's climate change conference in Bangkok.
For the United States, China and India, that number — which represents parts per million of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — came to symbolize a cap on emissions that would hurt their economies.
European countries, by contrast, used the figure as a rallying cry to save the planet."
For the United States, China and India, that number — which represents parts per million of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere — came to symbolize a cap on emissions that would hurt their economies.
European countries, by contrast, used the figure as a rallying cry to save the planet."
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Experts target rice as climate culprit - Yahoo! News
Experts target rice as climate culprit - Yahoo! News: "As delegates to a climate conference here debate how to reduce greenhouse gases, one of the problems — and a possible solution — lies in the rice fields that cover much of Thailand, the rest of Asia and beyond.
Methane emissions from flooded rice paddies contribute to global warming just as coal-fired power plants, automobile exhausts and other sources do with the carbon dioxide they spew into the atmosphere.
In fact, the report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meeting this week in Bangkok concludes that rice production was a main cause of rising methane emissions in the 20th century. It calls for better controls."
Methane emissions from flooded rice paddies contribute to global warming just as coal-fired power plants, automobile exhausts and other sources do with the carbon dioxide they spew into the atmosphere.
In fact, the report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change meeting this week in Bangkok concludes that rice production was a main cause of rising methane emissions in the 20th century. It calls for better controls."
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Arctic ice cap melting 30 years ahead of forecast - Yahoo! News
Arctic ice cap melting 30 years ahead of forecast - Yahoo! News: "The Arctic ice cap is melting much faster than expected and is now about 30 years ahead of predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.S. ice expert said on Tuesday.
This means the ocean at the top of the world could be free or nearly free of summer ice by 2020, three decades sooner than the global panel's gloomiest forecast of 2050."
This means the ocean at the top of the world could be free or nearly free of summer ice by 2020, three decades sooner than the global panel's gloomiest forecast of 2050."
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