This month has seen a number of studies showing that the much-discussed "hiatus" or "pause" in global warming reported by the IPCC two years ago was a misreading of the data. In the words of Nature: “The bottom line is that the IPCC reported that the rate of warming was less in the last 15Continue reading “The climate “pause” that didn’t refresh: Tom Toles”
Category Archives: climate
Global warming gas tax fails to outrage Californians
Don't tell anyone, but the California plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is working. So writes business columnist Michael Hiltzik in today's LATimes. He begins by quoting the leading state official on the subject of air pollution. "We think we do have a good story to tell," says Mary D. Nichols, chairwoman of the CaliforniaContinue reading “Global warming gas tax fails to outrage Californians”
Global weirding, vol. 9031
A big story from the Associated Press: Torrential downpours in Texas that have whiplashed the region from drought to flooding. A heat wave that has killed more than 1,800 people in India. Record 91-degree readings in Alaska, of all places. A pair of top-of-the-scale typhoons in the Northwest Pacific. And a drought taking hold in the East. "MotherContinue reading “Global weirding, vol. 9031”
Baseball manager and Twain on global warming
It's kind of random, but that's the uncanny nature of pop culture — when one looks for developments and change about an issue, you never know what you will catch. From the LA Times, the manager of the LA Dodgers, Don Mattingly, wonders if drier air, due to the drought in California, could be affectingContinue reading “Baseball manager and Twain on global warming”
GOP takes climate change denial to the next level
The GOP's war on science gets worse, writes Elizabeth Kolbert, noting that the House GOP cut $300 million from NASA's budget for earth sciences (including climate) on the childish old theory that ignoring a problem will make it go away. That same week The New Yorker, for which Kolbert writes, came up with an evenContinue reading “GOP takes climate change denial to the next level”
For Earth Day, Obama goes to Florida
Prez Obama appears to be really trying to reach the public re: climate change. He gave his usual good speech about the subject on Earth Day, but this one suspects his most convincing point on climate change may be a simple recitation of some personal facts. As he said yesterday: Just last weekend, Michelle andContinue reading “For Earth Day, Obama goes to Florida”
James Baldwin on climate science
Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. James Baldwin wasn't thinking of climate when he wrote that, but if you think about it, isn't that the logic of climate policy efforts today? Isn't that the hope, the idea that drives our science – to win the publicContinue reading “James Baldwin on climate science”
PDO turns positive: what does this mean for West Coast?
It's crazy how warm the Pacific is these days. Yet another story from the hard-working Chris Mooney at the Washington Post points to "the blob" of warmth in the Pacific off California. Here's a map of sea surface temperature anomalies that gives an idea of that blob: It's been extraordinarily warm in the Pacific, and inContinue reading “PDO turns positive: what does this mean for West Coast?”
California vs. the megadrought
Disasters by their nature are enormously loud, chaotic, disruptive events. Think the scream of hurricane winds, the crashing of boulders in floods, the phenomenal roar of a huge wildfire. Drought is different. Drought stays quiet. Its powers cannot be seen directly, save in the unblinking glare of the sun. Drought lacks drama. Yet — as oneContinue reading “California vs. the megadrought”
The emotional journey of climate change: Armitage
Twenty-odd years ago Bill McKibben called the climate crisis the biggest story in the world. Now, after years of scanty media coverage, by its own admission, The Guardian has launched a major effort to, in its own words, find a new narrative to tell a twenty year old story. They're going all out, with media (suchContinue reading “The emotional journey of climate change: Armitage”
Kit Stolz 