Green Options » global warming http://greenoptions.com/tag/global-warming Posts tagged 'global warming' Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:54:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Smart Plugs (TalkingPlugs) for Your Home http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:54:46 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/
Zerofootprint has created a new “TalkingPlug” that will help you to better monitor the energy usage of different appliances and electronics. How? By making your electrical sockets smarter.

Zerofootprint already helps corporations and governments in evaluating and reducing their carbon emissions through various methods. It also helps households through innovative technologies such as this one. This new TalkingPlug is for corporations or households (or anyone with electrical sockets) and will have an initial price tag of about $50. The price may go down considerably if it can make the product on a larger scale.

How does it work? What are its advantages compared to Google’s PowerMeter and other similar up and coming technologies?

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/smart-plugs-talkingplugs-for-your-home/feed/ New Zealand Environment Court Says No to Huge Wind Farm http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:26:46 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/
What would have been the Southern Hemisphere’s largest wind farm, a $2 billion NZD ($1.4 billion USD) and 630 MW wind farm in New Zealand, is not happening because New Zealand’s Environment Court says that it would ruin the surrounding landscape.

This project would have powered over a million homes and made a huge dent in New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is not happening now because of a group of NIMBY activists and the Environment Court’s ruling.

This is a huge blow, in itself, to renewable and wind energy proponents, but it also brings concerns for future wind energy projects.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/09/new-zealand-environment-court-says-no-to-huge-wind-farm/feed/ Maldives Goes from Underwater Meetings to Huge Wind Farm http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:03:15 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/
Maldives, one of the most beautiful nations on earth, held the artistic, theatrical event of an underwater government meeting last month, to try to bring more attention to the threats of climate change. Now, they are getting more practical but still grabbing headlines — they are looking to build a wind farm that will generate 40% of the island nation’s electricity needs.

The wind farm plans were announced earlier this week. The project will include 30 turbines and is expected to provide the nation with 75 MW of power, powering the capital city, their international airport, and more!

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/04/maldives-goes-from-underwater-meetings-to-huge-wind-farm/feed/ Climate Change Conference Calls on US for Reduction Targets http://sustainablog.org/2009/11/03/climate-change-conference-us-reduction-targets/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/11/03/climate-change-conference-us-reduction-targets/#comments Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:35:48 +0000 SolveClimate http://sustainablog.org/2009/11/03/climate-change-conference-us-reduction-targets/ This post was written by Stacy Feldman (reporting from Barcelona, Spain), and originally published at SolveClimate.

The United States must deliver concrete mid-term greenhouse gas reduction targets by next month or it will destroy efforts to achieve a framework for a global climate change deal in Copenhagen, United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer said Monday as a week of international talks on global warming began in Barcelona.

“I do not think the international community will accept an agreement that lacks clarity from the U.S. on targets,” de Boer said.

The Barcelona talks are the final five days of two years of global negotiations leading up to the crucial UN Climate Change Conference, from Dec. 7-18, in Copenhagen. De Boer’s worst fear now is that the Copenhagen conference will end with a lack of clarity on key issues and lead to a protracted political standoff.

“Negotiations must stop at Copenhagen. Otherwise negotiations will drag on when only the technical work should be going on,” he said.

A decision by the Obama administration to put a concrete 2020 target on the table could be the game changer for the world, he suggested.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/11/03/climate-change-conference-us-reduction-targets/feed/ GOP Will Cry in the Corner During Kerry-Boxer Markup http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:40:46 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/

The spookiest news I’ve heard so far this Halloween is the report from Politico.com that the seven Republican members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will boycott next Tuesday’s planned markup of the Kerry-Boxer climate legislation. Ah yes, the “screw you guys, I’m going home” tactic. How productive.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/31/gop-will-cry-in-the-corner-during-kerry-boxer-markup/feed/ The Danger of Staring too Close at 350 http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/the-danger-of-staring-too-close-at-350/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/the-danger-of-staring-too-close-at-350/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 20:22:09 +0000 Tom Schueneman http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/the-danger-of-staring-too-close-at-350/

The International Day of Climate Action last Saturday saw the power of grassroots activism leveraged by new media and social networking. Through an online and viral campaign, Bill Mckibben’s climate action group 350.org inspired an international response of more than 5,200 events in 181 countries. Hailed as the “most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history,” the action focused on a single number: 350. That’s the level in parts-per-million (ppm) many scientists now say is the safe level of CO2 in the atmosphere to avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

Focusing on that single number represents both the genius and the possible Achilles heal of the such a grassroots effort.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/the-danger-of-staring-too-close-at-350/feed/ SuperFreakonomics Redux: Even Congress is Riled Up http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:15:26 +0000 Dave Levitan http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/ Last week I wrote in this space that when faced with a problem (global warming, carbon dioxide emissions) that so clearly requires huge top-down action from governments the world over, what two contrarians write in a book doesn’t exactly bother me that much. It bothers Joe Romm at Climate Progress, clearly, and now, well, I’ve got even less company, because members of Congress are pissed off too.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/30/superfreakonomics-redux-even-congress-is-riled-up/feed/ Scientists Behaving Badly http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/scientists-behaving-badly/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/scientists-behaving-badly/#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:27:21 +0000 Steve Savage http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/scientists-behaving-badly/ Lab coats

The discussions following my two last posts about climate change opinion shifts and about an anti-science coalition have made it clear that one of the reasons people distrust science is that “Science” fails to speak with one voice.  There are definitely forces from the outside of Science that erode trust, but there are also internal issues.

The problem is that Science will not ever “speak with one voice.”  Scientists often have different opinions about a given topic.  Often that simply represents a healthy part of the scientific process.  When I hear someone say, “scientists don’t even agree about this!” I want to say, “you don’t know many scientists, do you!”  We are trained to questions assumptions and scrutinize analytical methods.  We are taught how to spot artifacts and how to come up with alternate hypotheses.  Some scientists get a little aggressive about this (there is usually at least one curmudgeon in every department).

There are definitely some topics that are so complex that it is impossible to be 100% sure about conclusions.  There are questions that are not amenable to running a controlled experiment.  These are all factors that make a topic like climate change so controversial.  These are legitimate reasons for the lack of a single “answer from science.”

All the above said, there are plenty of examples of scientific disagreements that arise from what can only, honestly be called bad science. Doing science well is non-trivial.  It requires a good deal of mental rigor and comprehensive information acquisition.  If we scientists are honest we all have to admit that we can fall short of the ideal “scientific method” at times.  Trust in “Science” ultimately means trusting “Scientists” and thats sometimes where the trouble starts.  There are 5 main ways that I can think of that scientsts can “behave badly.”  Maybe you can add some more.

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/30/scientists-behaving-badly/feed/ Senate Climate Bill Goes After Only 2% of American Businesses http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/28/senate-climate-bill-goes-after-only-2-of-american-businesses/ http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/28/senate-climate-bill-goes-after-only-2-of-american-businesses/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:17:11 +0000 Timothy B. Hurst http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/28/senate-climate-bill-goes-after-only-2-of-american-businesses/

Agriculture, transportation and small businesses exempt from Boxer-Kerry

Only 2% of companies are covered by the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, but that 2% represents 70% of US emissions, says Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), the bill’s co-sponsor.

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]]> http://redgreenandblue.org/2009/10/28/senate-climate-bill-goes-after-only-2-of-american-businesses/feed/ Is Global Scale Biofuels Production Good or Bad for Climate Change? http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 15:07:24 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/
There has been a lot of discussion over the last few years about biofuels and whether or not they are actually green, especially when produced on a large, global level.

A new study led by Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) senior scientist Jerry Melillo says no, they aren’t green (when it comes to climate change). However, there are still many important factors to keep in mind before claiming this is the end of a long and complicated discussion.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/28/is-global-scale-biofuels-production-good-or-bad-for-climate-change/feed/ New Japanese Prime Minister Offering Indonesia $400 Million in Climate Change Funding http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:50:15 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/
In an effort to help a major developing country (the 4th largest country in the world) deal with climate change appropriately, the new Prime Minister of Japan reportedly agreed to give Indonesia a $400 million loan for this last weekend.

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]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/new-japanese-prime-minister-offering-indonesia-400-million-in-climate-change-funding/feed/ Disturbing Trends in What Americans Believe about Climate Change http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/25/disturbing-trends-in-what-americans-believe-about-climate-change/ http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/25/disturbing-trends-in-what-americans-believe-about-climate-change/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:04:52 +0000 Steve Savage http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/25/disturbing-trends-in-what-americans-believe-about-climate-change/ Breakdown of who does not believe warming is real

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released results of a major survey tracking what people believe about “Global Warming.”  It is not encouraging!  Across age, gender, race, political affiliation, and religion there have been declines in the number of people who believe that human activity is involved and increases in the number of people who don’t think it is happening.  My own demographic (white, male, 54 years old, political Independent, Evangelical Christian) is among the most skeptical, though the Baby Boom slightly bucks the trend for age.  Some friends and I are working on a strategy to challenge the Church on this issue.

Breakdown of who does not believe humans are responsible

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]]> http://sustainablog.org/2009/10/25/disturbing-trends-in-what-americans-believe-about-climate-change/feed/ International Climate Action Day! 350!! http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/10/24/international-climate-action-day/ http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/10/24/international-climate-action-day/#comments Sat, 24 Oct 2009 16:40:45 +0000 Leslie Quigley http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/10/24/international-climate-action-day/ Today all over the world people are rallying on behalf of Mother Nature. People are holding up signs, waving around banners with the numbers 350! What does 350 mean?

Scientists say that currently we are at 350 parts per million which is the safe limit for humanity. Currently we are at 387 parts per million; of carbon dioxide that has entered into the atmosphere!

Today’s message is about taking action and sending a message. This December the world’s leaders will meet in Copenhagen to discuss the climate and amend the current climate treaty. It’s time to put pressure on our leaders to create a just climate treaty that meets the latest science. It’s time for us to recognize that our planet is in danger and needs our help!

I’m off to the local City Park with the kiddos where they plan to have a Pet Parade forSaving the Planet since our furry little friends are also affected by Global Warming.

So, let’s hear it! 350!! 350!!! 350!!

What are you doing on behalf of International Day of Climate Action?

This post contains additional media. Click here to view the full post.

]]> http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/10/24/international-climate-action-day/feed/ Alaska Vows To Fight Polar Bear Protection With Lawsuits, Disses Climate Change http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/alaska-vows-to-fight-polar-bear-protection-with-lawsuits-disses-climate-change/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/alaska-vows-to-fight-polar-bear-protection-with-lawsuits-disses-climate-change/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 22:54:48 +0000 Rhishja Larson http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/alaska-vows-to-fight-polar-bear-protection-with-lawsuits-disses-climate-change/ Polar bear with cubs for article about Alaska trying to remove polar bear protections

Now that the polar bear is about to receive over 128 million acres of critical habitat designation, the state of Alaska is taking legal action to challenge the decision.

Following the announcement that threatened polar bears are set to receive over 128 million acres of critical habitat designation, Alaska Governor Sean Parnell and Attorney General Dan Sullivan responded by taking legal action against federal protection of polar bears.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/23/alaska-vows-to-fight-polar-bear-protection-with-lawsuits-disses-climate-change/feed/ Environment Minister Suggests U-Turn on Indian Climate Policy… http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/environment-minister-suggests-u-turn-on-indian-climate-policy/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/environment-minister-suggests-u-turn-on-indian-climate-policy/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:21:00 +0000 Govind Singh http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/environment-minister-suggests-u-turn-on-indian-climate-policy/ Hillary Clinton and Jairam Ramesh
File Photo: Hillary Clinton and the Indian Environment Minister in New Delhi

..and then takes a U-Turn the very next day!

In a reported letter to the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, the Indian Environment Minister proposed a radical shift in India’s stand on climate change–away from its national position on climate negotiations–which India has backed since 1990 and which was defended robustly even in UN talks in Bangkok earlier this month.

Minutes after the news spread, political parties sitting in the opposition were quick to respond. Within the next few hours, the Environment Minister issued a clarifying statement for national media and the entire Nation!

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/22/environment-minister-suggests-u-turn-on-indian-climate-policy/feed/ Global Warming: Last Month was the Second Hottest September On Record http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/10/21/global-warming-last-month-was-the-second-hottest-september-on-record/ http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/10/21/global-warming-last-month-was-the-second-hottest-september-on-record/#comments Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:28:37 +0000 Daniel Hohler http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/10/21/global-warming-last-month-was-the-second-hottest-september-on-record/ Warming

This week The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) revealed that last month was the second hottest land and ocean temperature on record for the month of September. NOAA’s records date back to 1880. In the 100 plus year history, only September 2005 showed warmer temperatures.

This is a concerning trend, considering the 2 warmest months of September (the last month of summer) out of 129 years of record keeping, have been felt in the last 4 years. Scientists, researchers, and leaders in government and industry use NCDC’s monthly reports to help track trends and other changes in the world’s climate.

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]]> http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/10/21/global-warming-last-month-was-the-second-hottest-september-on-record/feed/ Arctic Seal Threatened By Global Warming Denied Protection By Obama Administration http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/19/arctic-seal-threatened-by-global-warming-denied-protection-by-obama-administration/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/19/arctic-seal-threatened-by-global-warming-denied-protection-by-obama-administration/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:53:43 +0000 Rhishja Larson http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/19/arctic-seal-threatened-by-global-warming-denied-protection-by-obama-administration/ Spotted seal for article about Endangered Species protections denied by Obama administration

The spotted seal, a sea ice-dependent Arctic species, has been denied Endangered Species Act protection by the Obama Administration.

Disappointment: The Center for Biological Diversity has announced that the Obama administration denied Endangered Species Act protection for the spotted seal, a species whose habitat is rapidly melting away due to global warming.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/19/arctic-seal-threatened-by-global-warming-denied-protection-by-obama-administration/feed/ After Maldives, India Sends Serious Message on Climate Change http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/18/after-maldives-india-sends-a-serious-message-on-climate-change/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/18/after-maldives-india-sends-a-serious-message-on-climate-change/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:18:35 +0000 Govind Singh http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/18/after-maldives-india-sends-a-serious-message-on-climate-change/ Maldives Government\'s underwater cabinet meeting

Chaired by President M. Nasheed, the Government of Maldives recently concluded the world’s first ever underwater cabinet meeting. The small island nation of Maldives will perhaps be the first country to go under water, if predictions based on climate change models come true.

The underwater meeting was called to raise this concern and put pressure on the West to act NOW, and for a fair deal at COP in Copenhagen this December. A day after the event, extensively covered by the media (View on: CNN | BBC), the Government of India has announced the setting up of a National institute for long-term research on climate change.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/18/after-maldives-india-sends-a-serious-message-on-climate-change/feed/ Underwater Government Meeting in Maldives! http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/10/maldives-government-ministers-meeting-under-water/ http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/10/maldives-government-ministers-meeting-under-water/#comments Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:14:04 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/10/maldives-government-ministers-meeting-under-water/

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed has told his cabinet members to get ready for an underwater cabinet meeting later this month.

Maldives is a collection of islands and atolls in the Indian Ocean that is less than 2 meters above sea level. Therefore, it is the first country expected to go underwater due to climate change.

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]]> http://ecoworldly.com/2009/10/10/maldives-government-ministers-meeting-under-water/feed/ Norway 1st Rich Nation to Commit to 40% Reductions http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/09/norway-1st-rich-nation-to-commit-to-40-reductions/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/09/norway-1st-rich-nation-to-commit-to-40-reductions/#comments Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:53:59 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/09/norway-1st-rich-nation-to-commit-to-40-reductions/

Norway committed to cut their greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2020 this week. This is the most ambitious goal of any rich nation to date.

Norway’s prime minister Jens Stoltenberg (just re-elected) is meeting the requests of many developing nations and environmental NGOs with this commitment.

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