Monday, April 30, 2007
News - 'Carbon credits' fueling debate - sacbee.com
News - 'Carbon credits' fueling debate - sacbee.com: "Schwarzenegger will buy 'carbon credits' in the Fred M. van Eck Forest, in the form of trees allowed to live and grow bigger and older so they can absorb more carbon dioxide. The purchase will offset some of the global-warming gas released during the governor's frequent trips by private jet.
The governor's plan has turned a spotlight on the growing market for carbon credits, even though critics say benefits are harder to verify in a forest conservation project like this. Planting new trees in bare ground would be preferable, they say."
The governor's plan has turned a spotlight on the growing market for carbon credits, even though critics say benefits are harder to verify in a forest conservation project like this. Planting new trees in bare ground would be preferable, they say."
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Canada to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2012 - Yahoo! News
Canada to ban incandescent light bulbs by 2012 - Yahoo! News: "Canada will ban the sale of inefficient incandescent light bulbs by 2012 as part of a plan to cut down on emissions of greenhouse gases, Natural Resources Minister Gary Lunn said on Wednesday.
Canada is the second country in the world to announce such a ban. Australia said in February it would get rid of all incandescent bulbs by 2009.
'Making the switch to more efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective things we can do to reduce energy use and harmful emissions,' Lunn told a news conference.
If households installed compact fluorescent bulbs -- which use about 75 percent less electricity than old-style bulbs -- they could save C$50 ($44) a year, he said."
Canada is the second country in the world to announce such a ban. Australia said in February it would get rid of all incandescent bulbs by 2009.
'Making the switch to more efficient lighting is one of the easiest and most effective things we can do to reduce energy use and harmful emissions,' Lunn told a news conference.
If households installed compact fluorescent bulbs -- which use about 75 percent less electricity than old-style bulbs -- they could save C$50 ($44) a year, he said."
Monday, April 23, 2007
Supreme Court to hear environmental case - Yahoo! News
Supreme Court to hear environmental case - Yahoo! News: "The Supreme Court is scheduled to consider an environmental case Monday that could make it easier for many industrial companies to recover some of the millions of dollars they've spent cleaning up hazardous waste sites.
The case involves the 1980 federal environmental law, known as 'Superfund,' that set up a process for rehabilitating polluted industrial areas. Under the law, if the Environmental Protection Agency sues a company to force it to clean up a site, that company can then sue other parties that contributed to the pollution for a share of the cleanup costs."
The case involves the 1980 federal environmental law, known as 'Superfund,' that set up a process for rehabilitating polluted industrial areas. Under the law, if the Environmental Protection Agency sues a company to force it to clean up a site, that company can then sue other parties that contributed to the pollution for a share of the cleanup costs."
Sunday, April 22, 2007
NYC pledges 1 million new trees by 2017 - Yahoo! News
NYC pledges 1 million new trees by 2017 - Yahoo! News: "One million new trees will join the urban landscape of New York City by the year 2017 to reduce air pollution, cool temperatures and help improve the city's long term sustainability, officials said Saturday.
The tree program is one of 127 environmental proposals that Mayor Michael Bloomberg was set to outline Sunday in a speech at the Museum of Natural History, timed with the observance of Earth Day."
The tree program is one of 127 environmental proposals that Mayor Michael Bloomberg was set to outline Sunday in a speech at the Museum of Natural History, timed with the observance of Earth Day."
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Schwarzenegger lets MTV 'pimp' his ride - Yahoo! News
Schwarzenegger lets MTV 'pimp' his ride - Yahoo! News: "In the latest promotion of his environmental agenda, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is scheduled to make an appearance Sunday on the popular MTV show 'Pimp My Ride.'
For the show, mechanics converted a 1965 Chevy Impala, installing an 800 horsepower engine that runs on biodiesel fuel and goes from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. The governor said the converted car's emissions of greenhouse gases will be 50 percent lower."
For the show, mechanics converted a 1965 Chevy Impala, installing an 800 horsepower engine that runs on biodiesel fuel and goes from zero to 60 mph in three seconds. The governor said the converted car's emissions of greenhouse gases will be 50 percent lower."
Thursday, April 19, 2007
CLIMATE CHANGE: Financial Risks to Federal and Private Insurers in Coming Decades are Potentially Significant
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07285.pdf?source=ra
The key assessments GAO reviewed generally found that rising temperatures are
expected to increase the frequency and severity of damaging weather-related
events, such as flooding or drought, although the timing and magnitude are
as yet undetermined. Additional research on the effect of increasing
temperatures on weather events is expected in the near future, including a
highly anticipated assessment of the state of climate science this year.
Taken together, private and federal insurers paid more than $320 billion in
claims on weather-related losses from 1980 to 2005. Claims varied
significantly from year to year—largely due to the effects of catastrophic
weather events such as hurricanes and droughts—but have generally
increased during this period.
The key assessments GAO reviewed generally found that rising temperatures are
expected to increase the frequency and severity of damaging weather-related
events, such as flooding or drought, although the timing and magnitude are
as yet undetermined. Additional research on the effect of increasing
temperatures on weather events is expected in the near future, including a
highly anticipated assessment of the state of climate science this year.
Taken together, private and federal insurers paid more than $320 billion in
claims on weather-related losses from 1980 to 2005. Claims varied
significantly from year to year—largely due to the effects of catastrophic
weather events such as hurricanes and droughts—but have generally
increased during this period.
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