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IN TODAY’S RADIO REPORT: Gov. Bobby Jindal jumps into the 2016 race — So, what’s his position on climate change?; Deadly heat wave in Pakistan; Two new studies find climate change potentially ‘catastrophic’ for human health; PLUS: Court orders Dutch government to cut carbon emissions in landmark ruling… All that and more in today’s Green News Report!
Green News Report
with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen
6/25/2015
‘Green News Report’ – June 25, 2015 | With Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen... · · · · · ‘Green News Report’ – June 25, 2015 | With Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen...
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IN ‘GREEN NEWS EXTRA’ (see links below): Genetically Modified Salmon: Coming To A River Near You?; Pacific Trade Authority Bill Wins Final Approval in Senate; House Passes Bill To Undermine Obama’s Climate Rules; House Approves Bill To Overhaul Chemical Regulation; Oil and Gas Industry Fuels Up Advocacy Arm for 2016… PLUS: Lake Mead Sinks To Record Low, Risking Water Shortage… and much, MUCH more! …
STORIES DISCUSSED ON TODAY’S ‘GREEN NEWS REPORT’…
- Gov. Bobby Jindal Jumps Into 2016 Presidential Race:
- What does Bobby Jindal believe? Where the candidate stands on 10 issues (PBS NewsHour)
- VIDEO: Governor Bobby Jindal Presidential Campaign Announcement (C-SPAN)
- Bobby Jindal: White House ‘science deniers’ (Politico):
Pressed on what he meant by calling the administration “science deniers,” Jindal pointed to “their approach to energy policy,” saying the White House should push for building the Keystone pipeline and blasting Environmental Protection Agency regulations.
- EPA Report: The High Cost of Climate Change:
- Global Climate Action: A Win for the U.S. (EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Medium) [emphasis added]:
Based on rigorously peer-reviewed scientific research, the report examines two possible futures?-?one in which we do nothing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and one with global action. The results are crystal clear: climate action pays.
- E.P.A. Warns of High Cost of Climate Change (NY Times):
In the absence of global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, the United States by the end of the century may face up to $180 billion in economic losses because of drought and water shortages, according to a report released Monday by the White House and Environmental Protection Agency.
- Lancet Report: “Potentially Catastrophic” Human Health Impacts From Climate Change:
- Risk of Extreme Weather From Climate Change to Rise Over Next Century, Report Says (NY Times)
- Climate change threatens 50 years of progress in global health, study says (Guardian UK):
But slashing fossil fuel use also presents greatest global opportunity to improve people’s health in 21st century, says Lancet and UCL commission.
- VIDEO: British Researchers: Climate Change Threatens 50 Years of Medical Advances (NBC)
- Extreme Weather: Pakistan Heat Wave Kills 800+:
- Pakistan Morgues Run Out of Space as Heat Wave Kills More Than 1,000 (Reuters):
The worst heat wave to hit Pakistan’s southern city of Karachi for nearly 35 years has killed more than 1,000 people, a charity said on Thursday, as morgues ran out of space and public hospitals struggled to cope.
- Pakistan heatwave: Death toll over 800 in Sindh (BBC)
- Study sees a ‘new normal’ for how climate change is affecting weather extremes (Washington Post):
“I think the attribution community has been very conservative, they always start from scratch, from a null hypothesis that there’s no influence of humans,” said Trenberth. “Yet we’ve proved over and over that there is, so why do we do it that way?”
- Landmark Court Ruling Orders Dutch Government to Cut Carbon Emissions:
- Netherlands Ordered To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions (BBC):
A Dutch court has ordered the government to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by 2020, in a case environmentalists hope will set a precedent for other countries.
- Dutch government ordered to cut carbon emissions in landmark ruling (Guardian UK):
Dutch court orders state to reduce emissions by 25% within five years to protect its citizens from climate change in world’s first climate liability suit
- The Dutch Ruling On Climate Change That Could Have A Global Impact (NPR):
In a ruling that could echo far beyond the Netherlands, a Dutch court has sided with an environmental group and said the government must cut carbon emissions by 25 percent in five years in order to protect the country’s citizens.
‘GREEN NEWS EXTRA’ (Stuff we didn’t have time for in today’s audio report)…
- Genetically Modified Salmon: Coming To A River Near You? (NPR):
While the debate over whether to label foods containing GMO ingredients plays out across the country, another engineered food has long been waiting to hit grocery stores: genetically modified salmon.
- Pacific Trade Authority Bill Wins Final Approval in Senate (NY Times):
The Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to legislation granting President Obama enhanced power to negotiate major trade agreements with Asia and Europe, sending the president’s biggest end-of-term legislative priority to the White House for his signature.
- House Passes Bill To Undermine Obama’s Climate Rules (Huffington Post):
The House passed legislation Wednesday evening allowing states to opt out of the Obama administration’s plan to regulate emissions from power plants by a vote of 247-180.
- House Approves Bill To Overhaul Chemical Regulation (AP):
The House on Tuesday approved a bipartisan bill that would update regulation of harmful chemicals for the first time in nearly 40 years.
- Oil and Gas Industry Fuels Up Advocacy Arm for 2016 (The HIll):
The American Petroleum Institute is reviving its election advocacy arm in an attempt to convince voters to choose candidates who support the priorities of the oil and natural gas industry in 2016.
- As Clock Ticks, Divide Jeopardizes Renewal of Key Law (E & E Daily):
A deep rift threatens the future of one of the nation’s oldest and most popular conservation laws as it enters its final 100 days of authorization.
- Duke Energy To Close 12 NC Coal Ash Ponds (Charlotte News-Observer):
Duke Energy’s plan to dig up 12 more coal ash ponds, announced Tuesday, means the company now aims to excavate 24 of its 36 ponds in the Carolinas.
- Lake Mead Sinks To Record Low, Risking Water Shortage (Arizona Republic):
Lake Mead sunk to a record low Tuesday night, falling below the point that would trigger a water-supply shortage if the reservoir doesn’t recover soon.
- Study: The World Is In The Midst Of A Mass Extinction, And Humans Are To Blame (Climate Progress):
In the last century, certain kinds of animals have gone extinct up to 100 times faster than usual, according to new research.
- Every country is now pledging to tackle CO2 emissions. It’s still not enough. (Vox.com):
In other words, if the world wants to stay below 2°C of global warming – which has long been considered the danger zone for climate change – these pledges are only a first step. Countries will have to do a whole lot more than they’re currently promising. And the IEA has a few ideas for what “do a whole lot more” might entail.
…
1. Increase energy efficiency in the industry, buildings, and transport sectors.
2. Progressively reduce the use of the least efficient coal-fired power plants and banning their construction.
3. Increase investment in renewable energy technologies in the power sector from $270 billion in 2014 to $400 billion in 2030.
4. Gradually phase out fossil fuel subsidies to end-users by 2030.
5. Reduce methane emissions in oil and gas production. - Now’s Your Chance to Help Save the Imperiled Monarch Butterfly-and Get Paid to Do So (Take Part) [emphasis added]:
Another threat, according to Grant, has been well-intentioned individuals who have planted a tropical form of milkweed, which competes with native varieties and is not beneficial to monarchs or other pollinators.
FOR MORE on Climate Science and Climate Change, go to our Green News Report: Essential Background Page
But exactly how bad is still an open question, and a lot depends not only on how we react, but how quickly. The rate at which humans cut down on greenhouse gas emissions–if we do choose to cut them–will have a large bearing on how the world turns out by 2100, the forecasts reveal.
Restraining global warming to no more than 2 degrees Celsius will require changing how the world produces and uses energy to power its cities and factories, heats and cools buildings, as well as moves people and goods in airplanes, trains, cars, ships and trucks, according to the IPCC. Changes are required not just in technology, but also in people’s behavior.
Time to think about what the lake and river system under Antarctica, which “rivals the Amazon basin,” is going to do if its waters become agitated or warmed (Weekend Rebel Science Excursion – 45).
Same with Greenland.
“We don’t know” is not scientific enough.