Global Warming
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Global Warming
350.org Brought to you by Bill McKibben and his crew, 350.org is a web site about how and why we need to get to 350 parts per million of C02 in the atmosphere. Far from boring, it's the most important number in the world. It contains, rightly understood, the recipe for a very different world, one that moves past cheap fossil fuel to more sensible technologies, more closely-knit communities, and a more equitable global society.
The Debate Is Over
Woods Hole Research Center provides an excellent overview of link between atmospheric C02 concentrations and average global temperatures. They've got good graphics based on data covering 400,000 years from antarctic ice cores. Their graph is similar to the one Al Gore uses in An Inconvenient Truth.
6 Ex-Chiefs of E.P.A. Urge Action on Greenhouse Gases including 5 who served under republican presidents (January 19, 2006).
FightGlobalWarming.com offer ways for you to take action and learn about global warming. Brought to you by the non-profit Environmental Defense.
The Guide to Climate Change provided by the BBC explains the science.
Real Climate provides commentary on climate change by climate scientists.
How to Talk to a Global Warming Skeptic (13 March 2006) provides point by point rebuttals to climate change skeptics. It's provided by Coby Beck on his blog, A Few Things Ill Considered, and is endorsed by the folks at Real Climate (13 March 2006).
A study in Science Magazine (December 2004) provides a powerful summary of the scientific consensus on climate change. The authors analyzed "928 abstracts, published in refereed scientific journals between 1993 and 2003, and listed in the ISI database with the keywords "climate change" (9). The 928 papers were divided into six categories: explicit endorsement of the consensus position, evaluation of impacts, mitigation proposals, methods, paleoclimate analysis, and rejection of the consensus position. Of all the papers, 75% fell into the first three categories, either explicitly or implicitly accepting the consensus view; 25% dealt with methods or paleoclimate, taking no position on current anthropogenic climate change. Remarkably, none of the papers disagreed with the consensus position."
G8 Climate Statement (pdf) from 2004-2005, stating "We urge all nations...to take prompt action to reduce the causes of climate change..." This statement was signed by the Academy of Sciences of the G8 Nations. A follow up statement was issued in June of 2006 as Russia took over leadership of the G8.
The Moment of Truth is the title of an article on global warming by Al Gore that appeared in Vanity Fair Magazine.
Reviews of An Inconvenient Truth, the global warming documentary featuring Al Gore, are surprisingly emotional -- Roger Ebert writes: "In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to."
Time Magazine's recent cover story on global warming titled "Global Warming: Be Worried, Be Very Worried." (Mar. 26, 2006)
Policy Solutions
Avoided Deforestation Carbon Credits (Dec. 04, 2008) If we're going to solve climate change, we need to take advantage of the opportunity to reduce deforestation," says Duncan Marsh, TNC's director of international climate policy. "We have no choice." That's the promise of avoided deforestation, in which rich countries pay to keep rain forests standing and receive carbon credits in return. (via Time Magazine)
Personal Carbon Allowance is proposed by British Environment Environment Secretary, David Miliband, who said: "Imagine a country where carbon becomes a new currency. We carry bank cards that store both pounds and carbon points." (20 Jul 2006) Very cool concept for a hot world!
The Apollo Alliance for Good Jobs and Clean Energy brings together religious, labor and military leaders along with environmentalists who support a major initiative for clean energy independence. "A crash program for sustainable energy independence would create three million good jobs, free the nation from imported oil, and promote a healthier environment. States and cities are leading the way toward a clean energy future. Now, the time has come for our nation to take up the challenge."
Proposed federal legislation targeting climate change includes: the"Strong Economy and Climate Protection Act of 2006" introduced by Senator Feinstein (D-CA), which seeks to place market-based caps on GHG emissions; and the"Keep America Competitive Global Warming Policy Act of 2006" introduced by Representatives Udall (D-NM) and Petri (R-WI), which proposes a cap-and-trade framework.
Environmental Defense's Guide to what congress can do about global warming (08-Jun-2009). To summarize: institute a cap and trade program. There is some interesting stuff about how farmers can help to sequester carbon.
The People’s Ratification of the Kyoto Global Warming Treaty brought to you by KyotoAndBeyond.org
Politics
Climate chaos: Bush's climate of fear (1 June 2006) In this BBC documentary "some of America's leading climate scientists claim...that they have been censored and gagged by the administration."
Science
How Melting Glaciers Alter Earth's Surface, Spur Quakes, Volcanoes (JUNE 9, 2006) via the Wall Street Journal.
Nuclear Energy: Not a Climate Change Solution? via Worldchanging (12 Jun 06). The main argument here is that when uranium ore becomes less abundant, it will take more energy to extract the ore than can be generated by the ore. Plus there are all the usual concerns about building, securing and operating nuclear plants and disposing of the waste. This is based on a paper from the Irish sustainability think tank Feasta, titled Why Nuclear Power Cannot Be a Major Energy Source.
U.S. Businesses Support Federal Regulation of Green House Gas Emissions
American Public Power Association (August 28, 2006)
G.E., Wal-Mart, Exelon, Duke Energy (6 Apr 2006)
Business
World Resources Institute and Citigroup Team Up to Report on Solutions to Climate Change via Socialfunds.com (June 15, 2006). A previous report (June, 2005) by WRI and Merrill Lynch is titled "Energy Security and Climate Change: Investing in the Clean Car Revolution."
A new report from Lloyds of London (12 June 2006), called "360 Risk Project" says insurers must adapt to climate change or go bust according the Green Car Congress blog. The report states that temperatures, sea levels and rain fall amounts are all increasing faster than previously thought and that insurers need to take these trends into account.
State and Local Climate Change Efforts
ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability is an international membership association of local governments dedicated to addressing environmental problems through local actions.
Cities, States Aren't Waiting For U.S. Action on Climate via the Washington Post, August 11, 2006.
Go Green Davis Square: "The objective of this group is to to help businesses in Davis Square, Somerville, MA, to Go Green with environmentally friendly and economically sound innovations and practices. We will seek to make Davis Square a model of business-led environmental leadership. We will provide networking and educational services. Go Green Davis Square is comprised of a coalition of local businesses and non-profits. Its members include restaurant owners, landlords, service industry owners, community agency leaders, and residents who are all committed to creating a Green and robust business district."
