As it becomes ever more apparent that consensus has formed on climate change, both scientific and popular, the next question is what action(s) the international community should take and, of course, how much will they cost? The book on this question was written by Nicholas Stern, former Chief Economist at the World Bank, and aContinue reading “Blogging the Stern Review: Introduction”
Tag Archives: Climate
Global Warming News You Can Use
Some of the best climate reporting recently has come out of Seth Borenstein of (I think) the Associated Press. (His stories are so often syndicated it can sometimes be hard to tell.) Here’s his latest, which looks at climate change from a practical–comfort–angle. If you live in an area where humidity is a part ofContinue reading “Global Warming News You Can Use”
Our Moral Footprint
Great headline in the New York Times atop an op-ed from Vaclav Havel on climate change. I think Havel is one of the great thinkers of our time, have read and reread the piece, and recommend it in full. But here’s what stands out to this reporter. Havel sees climate change not as a technicalContinue reading “Our Moral Footprint”
Diamond-Mining in Canada: Climate Change Hits A New Boomtown
Great story and conversation from Steve Inskeep of NPR, who recounts going to Yellowknife, Canada, on the edge of the Arctic Circle, which has become a boomtown thanks to diamond-mining..a boomtown now threatened by climate change. (National Public Radio helpfully provides a transcript and a slide-show.) But one of the charms of NPR is theirContinue reading “Diamond-Mining in Canada: Climate Change Hits A New Boomtown”
Jet Stream Shift Over Europe: Climate Change…or Not?
Below is a nice map, courtesy of the BBC, showing the shift in the jet stream bringing unprecedented rain and flooding to the UK. As Kim Murphy put it for the Los Angeles Times today: Few scientists are ready to immediately blame the quirky weather on global warming. For one thing, current climate change trendsContinue reading “Jet Stream Shift Over Europe: Climate Change…or Not?”
Good News Friday: Coal Plants Cancelled Nationwide
According to the Wall Street Journal, the coal industry is struggling to build new plants, because of fear of climate change. It’s a long story, so I’ll put a couple of other excerpts (one relating to Florida) below the fold, but here’s the lede:
From coast to coast, plans for a new generation of
coal-fired power plants are falling by the wayside as states conclude
that conventional coal plants are too dirty to build and the cost of
cleaner plants is too high.
[cut]
As recently as May, U.S. power companies had announced
intentions to build as many as 150 new generating plants fueled by
coal, which currently supplies about half the nation’s electricity. One
reason for the surge of interest in coal was concern over the higher
price of natural gas, which has driven up electricity prices in many
places. Coal appeared capable of softening the impact since the U.S.
has deep coal reserves and prices are low.
But as plans for this fleet of new coal-powered plants
move forward, an increasing number are being canceled or development
slowed. Coal plants have come under fire because coal is a big source
of carbon dioxide, the main gas blamed for global warming, in a time
when climate change has become a hot-button political issue.
Leader of UK Sees Climate Change in England Floods
According to a story in the BBC, Gordon Brown, the newly-appointed Prime Minister, has with other officials in his government attributed the "extraordinary" flooding in England this year to climate change. Mr Brown, in his No 10 press briefing, said climate change meant planning had to presume more extreme weather events. That included boosting urbanContinue reading “Leader of UK Sees Climate Change in England Floods”
As Teddy Roosevelt Said (Regarding Climate Change and other Difficult Matters)
"In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing. The worst thing you can do is nothing." As quoted by his great-grandson Theodore Roosevelt IV, a Republican environmental activist, who was on the scene in Florida this week as Arnold Schwarzenneger joined with Charlie Crist to celebrate the passingContinue reading “As Teddy Roosevelt Said (Regarding Climate Change and other Difficult Matters)”
Bush on Climate Change — Translated
A little late, but via Dan Froomkin’s hard-hitting column from the Washington Post, here’s Andrew Gumbel of The Independent translating the Prez’s speech last week on global warming: "’In recent years, science has deepened our understanding of climate change and opened new possibilities for confronting it." Translation: In recent years, my refusal to acknowledge theContinue reading “Bush on Climate Change — Translated”
I Am Sorry, Earth. As I Scar You, I Scar Myself: A Q & A with Dancer Monica Favand Campagna
This spring a small-but-innovative dance company in Southern California called TRIP Dance Theatre premiered a production in a Hollywood theater about what poet Gary Snyder calls "the war against nature." The dance was called "Poisoning the Well." Using delicate Asian-flavored music, played live, the dancers first appeared carrying water and gathering around a well. SlowlyContinue reading “I Am Sorry, Earth. As I Scar You, I Scar Myself: A Q & A with Dancer Monica Favand Campagna”
Kit Stolz 