Posted on June 15th, 2009 by admin
Today is Global Wind Day.
While there are some problems with relying on wind power for the bulk of our energy needs in the US, wind probably has a place to augment and help us meet our needs, especially if the US doesn’t quickly add more nuclear generation capability!
A short video from Wind Power Works
While I typically do not reproduce pages in whole, I am going to put the entire text of the Wind Day campaign here for your convenience. You should also go to the Global Wind Day site. Read more... (508 words, 1 image, estimated 2:02 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Human fault, Technology
Posted on June 13th, 2009 by admin
A new report from Oxfam has been released that states that the UK and the US must cut its output of carbon dioxide by 45% to prevent the catastrophe that awaits us. In addition, the poorer nations of the world would need to receive $148 billion US (90B £).
There does not appear to be any new scientific evidence of global warming in this paper. Instead it references the 2007 IPCC findings and then studies that financial impact of those assertions.
The Telegraph recently wrote a story on the report.
The UK needs to cut greenhouse gases by 45 per cent by 2020 to prevent the world “lurching into climate disaster”, according to a new report from Oxfam.
Read more... (422 words, estimated 1:41 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault
Posted on May 27th, 2009 by admin
The following is from the World Business Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen that was held the last few days.
As global business leaders assembled at the World Business Summit on Climate Change, we call upon our political leaders to agree an ambitious and effective global climate treaty at COP15 in Copenhagen. Sustainable economic progress requires stabilizing and then reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Success at COP15 will remove uncertainty, unleash additional investment, and bolster current efforts to revive growth in a sustainable way.
By addressing the magnitude of the climate threat with urgency, a powerful global climate change treaty would help establish a firm foundation for a sustainable economic future. This would set a more predictable framework for companies to plan and invest, provide a stimulus for renewed prosperity and a more secure climate system. Economic recovery and urgent action to tackle climate change are complementary – boosting the economy and jobs through investment in the new infrastructure needed to reduce emissions. Read more... (1354 words, estimated 5:25 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics
Posted on May 22nd, 2009 by admin
I don’t typically post news feeds here but I am making an exception in this case. It appears that the House committee has passed the bill to implement the foolish cap and trade (carbon trading) bill. Let’s hope that the larger House is more wise but I have my doubts.
This story is from AP.
By DINA CAPPIELLO and H. JOSEF HEBERT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation imposing the first nationwide limits on the pollution blamed for global warming advanced in the House late Thursday, clearing a key committee despite strong Republican opposition.
The Energy and Commerce Committee approved the sweeping climate bill 33-25 after repeatedly turning back GOP attempts to kill or weaken the measure during four days of debate.
Read more... (798 words, estimated 3:12 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics
Posted on May 9th, 2009 by admin
The LA Times is running with an article that says that the Obama administration will not reverse the Bush administration in using the scarcity of polar bears to curb emissions. About a year ago, the US listed the polar bear as a threatened species. The concern of many was that this ruling would be used to control, tax, and sue individual companies to reduce their CO2 output. The Bush administration said that wouldn’t be happening and now the Obama administration appears to agree.
I originally found this article by reading Watts Up With That so go over there and check out his handling of this story. Read more... (379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)
This is a preview of
U.S. global warming rules won’t change to help polar bears
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Click here to read the full post (379 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics
Posted on May 8th, 2009 by admin
Here is an excellent interview with famed scientist James Lovelock. Dr. Lovelock is best known for formulating the controversial Gaia hypothesis in the 1970s, which states that organisms interact with and regulate Earth’s surface and atmosphere. Later this year he will travel to space as Richard Branson’s guest aboard Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo.
If you read this site often, you know that I really don’t like carbon trading. I don’t think it will help solve any problems and it is only a way to tax people and push industries into doom. Dr. Lovelock appears to agree with me and he is a fairly strong supporter of the theory that global warming is man made. Read more... (736 words, estimated 2:57 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics, Technology
Posted on April 27th, 2009 by admin
Stupid title, I know. Everyone knows that the sun comes up in the East, water freezes to ice at 32F and politicians are all screwed up. It has become a fact of life just like death and taxes.
Right now, the Democrat party is in control of the US government. They have a majority in both houses and they control the executive branch. You would think that they could pull of their agenda of taxing energy use dramatically to change the production of carbon dioxide. But a little thing happened on the way to legislation - VOTERS! Read more... (487 words, estimated 1:57 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics
Posted on April 2nd, 2009 by admin
Mr. Tracinski at TIADaily.com had a very interesting commentary on the recent decision to treat carbon dioxide as a pollutant but not water vapor. While I think that his end conclusion that this could be the beginning of the end of a representative government are likely overblown, his logic and discussion is worth reading and considering.
I originally found this article at RealClearPolitics so please click over there if you want to read every sentence. Here are the highlights that I found interesting.
We all expect that there will be a contest in Congress this year over global warming and a “cap-and-trade” bill limiting carbon dioxide emissions. After all, the government cannot impose sweeping new controls on our lives without extensive public debate and a vote in Congress that must gain the support of a clear majority of the representatives of the people.
Read more... (743 words, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics
Posted on February 2nd, 2009 by admin
As a quick followup to my earlier posting on the 1,000 year irreversibility status of global warming. The folks over at RealClimate also did a story on this subject but they tried to make the distinction that “irreversible” does mean “unstoppable”. I think they are trying to play with words a bit but I will let you decide for yourselves. As I read the abstract of the study (below), I do not think that they are following the same logic that the original authors followed. That is okay though since science is all about discussing the different hypotheses and then testing them. Read more... (331 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
This is a preview of
Not cool anymore - followup (Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Greenhouse gas, Human fault, Politics, Weather science
Posted on February 2nd, 2009 by admin
I really can’t comment on the news that it will take 1,000 years to recover from today’s carbon dioxide pollution better than Mr. Taranto of the Wall Street Journal. Read more... (924 words, estimated 3:42 mins reading time)
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Filed under: Getting warmer, Human fault, Politics, Weather science