Climate science warns that a permanent Dust Bowl is in store for the U.S. southwest — and many other parts of the world — post-2050 on our current emissions path (see USGS stunner: SW faces “permanent drying” by 2050 and NOAA stunner: SW faces permanent Dust Bowls). Turns out we’re already starting to see the shape of things to come.
Climate change, water shortages conspire to create 21st century Dust Bowl
Dust storms accelerated by a warming climate have covered the Rocky Mountains with dirt whose heat-trapping properties have caused snowpacks to melt weeks earlier than normal, worrying officials in Colorado about drastic water shortages by late summer.
Snowpacks from the San Juan Mountains to the Front Range have either completely melted or will be gone within the next two weeks, said Tom Painter, director of the Snow Optics Laboratory at the University of Utah and a leading expert on snowmelt.
The rapid melting is linked to a spate of intense dust storms that kick up dirt and sand that in turn are deposited on snow-topped mountains. The dust darkens the snow, allowing the surface to absorb more heat from the sun. This warms the snow — and the air above it — significantly, studies show.
Search for GOP votes starts (and ends?) with Bono Mack
In the Democrats’ hunt for votes to pass climate change legislation, California Rep. Mary Bono Mack represents something of a political outlier — a House Republican who doesn’t strongly oppose the bill.
The seven-term congresswoman insists that she is still undecided, saying she will not make a decision until after next week’s amendment process has run its course. But for House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Bono Mack remains the best hope of picking up a Republican vote.
‘Clunkers’ compromise veers off-course in Senate
A proposal to pay Americans to scrap their old cars and trucks for newer, more fuel-efficient ones ran into a road block this week, with Senate Democrats struggling to strike the same deal their House colleagues did a week ago.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) appears unprepared to sign on to the Senate effort if it mirrors the House compromise due to worries that environmental concerns were forced to take a back seat to the needs of the battered U.S. auto industry.
Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) is taking the lead in crafting the Senate-version of the “cash for clunkers” program and has said she is hopeful that it will be similar to the House version, which was brokered by President Obama.
Good for Feinstein — this “compromise” ain’t gonna do much for the climate (see ” ‘Cash for clunkers’ deal not a climate winner“).
Bush team still haunts environmentals
Environmentalists who see this year as their best hope for a major global warming bill can’t seem to escape a familiar foe: former Bush administration officials they fought year after year on energy and climate issues.
As the House Energy and Commerce Committee debates its ambitious cap-and-trade bill, environmentalists will find James Connaughton, President George W. Bush’s top environmental adviser, advocating for Constellation Energy. Karen Harbert, a top Bush Energy Department official, is now heading the energy practice at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “” a leading critic of Democratic climate change proposals. And F. Chase Hutto III, Vice President Dick Cheney’s energy and environment adviser, has formed ClearView Energy Partners, aimed at helping businesses navigate climate change legislation.
Curbing Emissions from Hospitals
Hospitals use a lot of power. The lights in emergency rooms burn around the clock. Outlets in the laboratories are taxed by computers, refrigerators and high-tech medical equipment. The air must be kept fresh and frosty to prevent the spread of germs, leaving air-conditioning and ventilation units on permanent overdrive.
All together, New York City hospitals are responsible for about 1.5 percent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions, city officials say, pumping them out at more than double the rate for a commercial office building. Energy is the second only to salaries in cost for hospitals, according to the Greater New York Hospital Association.
In California, Desalination of Seawater as a Test Case
The vast $320 million desalination plant approved this week by San Diego’s regional water authorities is likely to serve as a test case for whether such a large project can meet its goals while safeguarding its Pacific environment.
The plant, to be built near Carlsbad, north of San Diego, will be the first large-scale desalination operation on the West Coast and the largest in the hemisphere. “If they build it well and it operates well and the price is right, we will see more,” said Peter Gleick, the cofounder and president of the Pacific Institute in Oakland, Calif.
Nicholas Stern, CO2 and Urban Cycling
A roundup of Green Inc. news from Europe”¦
Enviros sue EPA over ocean acidification
An environmental group is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, seeking to have Washington coastal waters listed as impaired because carbon dioxide is making the ocean more acidic.
The Center for Biological Diversity said the EPA has failed to consider how ocean acidification is adversely affecting water quality and marine animals.
The complaint filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Seattle alleges the EPA violated the federal Clean Water Act by not listing Washington ocean waters as impaired, even though the group says research shows carbon dioxide in seawater is threatening marine ecosystems.
Compiled by Max Luken and Carlin Rosengarten
Previous in TP Climate Progress
Language Intelligence: Lessons on persuasion from Jesus, Shakespeare, Lincoln, and Lady Gaga
>>>All together, New York City hospitals are responsible for about 1.5 percent of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions
Health care costs more than you think!
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
EPA Hearing on Proposed Endangerment Findings for Greenhouse Gases Under the Clean Air Act
Contact: (News Media Only) Cathy Milbourn 202-564-7849 / 4355 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
All Other Inquiries: Erin Birgfeld, birgfeld.erin@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. – May 15, 2009) EPA will hold the first of two public hearings on Monday, May 18 regarding the agency’s proposed findings that greenhouse gases contribute to air pollution that may endanger public health or welfare. The proposed findings identify six greenhouse gases that pose a potential threat.
The hearing is an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to voice their opinions on the proposed findings.
WHAT: Public hearing on the proposed endangerment and cause and contribute findings
WHEN: Monday, May 18th, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
The hearing will continue into the evening to accommodate all members of the public who wish to comment.
WHERE: EPA Potomac Yard South Conference Center
2777 Crystal Drive, Room S-1204
Arlington, Va.
Written comments will be accepted until June 23, 2009. EPA will consider written comments submitted during the comment period with the same weight as oral comments presented during the public hearing.
Health care costs more than you think!
inneficiency would be one of the main causes of those costs, I live in canada and even with our far superios medical system if you just sit around an er room for a few hours the inneficiency is so blatant in everything from lighting to doctors use of their time. Our health care is a joke, yours is likely a latrine of bad planning.
One should not jump to conclusions…
A new study shows that wind farms and nuclear power plants are substantially better for avian wildlife than fossil-fueled power stations.
http://www.scitizen.com/stories/future-energies/2009/05/Save-Birds-by-Promoting-Wind-Energy/
…
average avian mortality for wind appears to be about 0.269 fatalities per GWh.
…
average avian mortality for fossil fueled power stations appears to be about 5.18 fatalities per GWh.
…
average avian mortality for nuclear systems is about 0.416 GWh.
Given the LCA EROEI and CF of corn grain ethanol, I think this is a bad idea:
.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
EPA Extends the Public Comment Period on E15 Application
Contact: Cathy Milbourn, (202) 564-7849 / 4355 / milbourn.cathy@epa.gov
(Washington, D.C. – May 15, 2009) EPA is extending the comment period by 60 days on a waiver application requesting an increase in the amount of ethanol blended into a gallon of gasoline to up to 15 volume percent (E15). The original public comment period was to end on May 21, 2009, and will now end on July 20, 2009.
The current limit on the amount of ethanol that can be blended into a gallon of gasoline is at ten volume percent ethanol (E10) for conventional (non flex-fuel) vehicles. Growth Energy and 54 ethanol manufacturers submitted the E15 waiver application on March 6, 2009. The statutory provision calls for EPA to make a decision within 270 days of receipt, which is December 1, 2009. The comment period extension will not change this timeframe.
More information and instructions for submitting comments: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/additive.htm
R139
Must see video. Nothing like hearing and seeing it from the horses mouth. This is a striking video of the chaps who produced the health report for the Lancet on CC.
Great quote>>>
“Climate Change is not an environmental problem. It’s a social problem.”
Major report warns of climate change risk to world health
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/major-report-warns-of-climate-change-risk-to-world-health-1684367.html
More on ocean acidification:
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=46869
Desalination ain’t cheap.
Uses energy, too.
No mention of climate change….
Canada’s churches look into impact of oilsands projects
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2009/05/17/edm-churches-oilsands.html
Alberta’s oilsands developments are coming under the scrutiny of church leaders from across the country.
“When you look at something as large as the oilsands…there are going to be people [in any one of our churches] who work in the industry as labour, who work in the industry as management, and [some] who very clearly oppose the industry,” Stratton said.
“The full range of experience is going to be there within the churches themselves.”
“You know, we have this very large industrial activity in northern Alberta that brings tremendous wealth to the country, thousands of jobs, so let’s look at it in its entirety.”
The goal is to look at the pros and cons of the oilsands and to come away with a better understanding of the issues, Stratton said, and it’s likely that some churches may take positions on how to move forward with oilsands development after the trip.
The delegation includes leaders from the Anglican Church of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee, Presbyterian Church of Canada, United Church of Canada, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, among others.