The biodiversity of species and their rates of extinction, distribution, and protection. Science 30 May 2014: 344 (6187), 1246752 [DOI:10.1126/science.1246752] “A principal function of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is to “perform regular and timely assessments of knowledge on biodiversity.” In December 2013, its second plenary session approved a program to begin a global assessment in… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: Climate Change
Good Country website and the Good Country Index – a new way of looking at the world
Simon Anholt: “The idea of the Good Country Index is pretty simple: to measure what each country on earth contributes to the common good of humanity, and what it takes away. Using a wide range of data from the U.N. and other international organisations, we’ve given each country a balance-sheet to show at a glance whether… Continue Reading
New GAO Reports – Climate Change Adaption, Nuclear Security, Prescription Drugs, Border Security
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION: DOD Can Improve Infrastructure Planning and Processes to Better Account for Potential Impacts, GAO-14-446: Published: May 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 30, 2014. NUCLEAR SECURITY: NNSA Should Establish a Clear Vision and Path Forward for Its Security Program, GAO-14-208: Published: May 30, 2014. Publicly Released: Jun 30, 2014. PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: Comparison of DOD, Medicaid, and Medicare Part D Retail… Continue Reading
Climate-Smart Development: Adding Up the Benefits of Actions that Help Build Prosperity
“This report describes efforts by the ClimateWorks Foundation and the World Bank to quantify the multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits associated with policies and projects to reduce emissions in select sectors and regions. The report has three objectives: 1) to develop a holistic, adaptable framework to capture and measure the multiple benefits of reducing… Continue Reading
Are We Killing the Rain? Meditations on the Water Cycle and, More Particularly, on Bioprecipitation
Cohen, Jane M., Are We Killing the Rain? Meditations on the Water Cycle and, More Particularly, on Bioprecipitation (April 30, 2012). Water International, iFirst, 2012, pp. 1–13; Energy Center Research Paper No. 2014-02. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=2458027 “Multi-disciplinary research on “bioprecipitation” advances the hypothesis that atmospheric ice nucleators of biological origin may be a highly-adapted causal… Continue Reading
State & Trends Report Charts Global Growth of Carbon Pricing
“Globally, 39 national and 23 sub-national jurisdictions have implemented or are scheduled to implement carbon pricing instruments, including emissions trading systems and taxes. The world’s emissions trading schemes are valued at about $30 billion, with China now housing the world’s second largest carbon market, covering the equivalent of 1,115 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.… Continue Reading
Energy sector faces increasing pressures from climate change – new report
World Energy Council – “The energy sector is facing increasing pressures from climate change. All segments of the industry will be affected by the changing global climate and the policy responses to it. So says a briefing published jointly by the World Energy Council (WEC), the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), the… Continue Reading
NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index
NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory, James.H.Butler; Stephen.A.Montzka; Updated Spring 2014. “The Annual Green House Gas Index (AGGI) is a measure of the warming influence of long-lived trace gases and how that influence is changing each year. The index was designed to enhance the connection between scientists and society by providing a normalized standard that can be easily understood… Continue Reading
GEF Countries Meet with a Strong Mandate for Environmental Action
“The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Operations Council and Assembly meet this week with a new record level of pledges to support developing countries in their work to prevent environmental degradation. A new publication, When Foundational Acts Generate Significant Impacts, looks at GEF projects channeled through the World Bank Group, from support for low-carbon cities and renewable energy sources to… Continue Reading
Climate Change, Migration, and Nontraditional Security Threats in China
Complex Crisis Scenarios and Policy Options for China and the World, By Michael Werz and Lauren Reed | May 16, 2014 “Climate change, migration, and sociopolitical conflicts associated with China’s epic economic transformation over the past 35 years are coming to a head in this second decade of the 21st century. These interlaced dynamics are causing internal upheaval and… Continue Reading
West Antarctic Glacier Loss Appears Unstoppable
NASA news release: “A new study by researchers at NASA and the University of California, Irvine, finds a rapidly melting section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet appears to be in an irreversible state of decline, with nothing to stop the glaciers in this area from melting into the sea. The study presents multiple lines of… Continue Reading
Changing Climate Is Affecting Agriculture in the U.S. – USDA
“Climate change presents real threats to U.S. agricultural production, forest resources, and rural economies. These threats have significant implications not just for farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners, but for all Americans. Land managers across the country are already feeling the pressures of a changing climate and its effects on weather. As these risks continue and… Continue Reading
