The Weekly Planet: Measuring Earth’s temperature, chopsticks vs. trees, and the world’s 7 billionth person

By Eriq Gardner

We're taking a look at some of the stories affecting our planet. Here's some news you shouldn't miss.

Our lifetime will get unsafely hot without action
Two new research papers in the Nature journal warn that unless emissions of greenhouse gases are substantially reduced in the coming decades, the average temperature of the planet is likely to exceed a 2-degrees-Celsius rise. Reuters reports that’s the maximum “safe” limit set by industrialized nations in 2009. The scientists conclude that by 2030 – many of our lifetimes – large parts of the globe could begin experiencing extreme events like heatwaves. Other recent studies, even one partly funded by the conservative Koch brothers, says pretty much the same thing.

Airlines caught between a rock and a hard Republican place
The New York Times reports that lawmakers in the House of Representatives just passed “one of the stranger bills” ever to be considered by Congress. The European Union has told American airline carriers that all flights landing at EU airports must stick to emissions limits or incur penalties for producing emissions beyond their limit. Many House Republicans don’t like this measure, so they’ve approved a bill that makes it illegal for American airline carriers to participate in the EU cap and trade system.

How much wood does a chopstick chop?
China’s slow embrace of recyclable chopsticks could be costing a lot of trees. How much? According to statistics from the nation’s national forest bureau, each year about 3.8 million trees are used to produce 57 billion disposable pairs of chopsticks. The New York Times reports some activists in Asia are trying to raise awareness of the issue. Meanwhile, on a separate front, Treehugger shares details about the heroic efforts of one Johnny Appleseed from Baltimore who has personally planted nearly 14,000 trees in public parks and on sidewalks throughout the city.

Halloween Brings Scary Overpopulation Concerns
A milestone this month, as Planet Earth welcomes its 7 billionth person into existence. The United Nations says this baby will be born on Oct. 31, and in preparation, many are considering the world’s ever-more-strained resources. In particular, water usage and nutritious foods are in short supply, particularly in the poorest nations.

The iPod of Thermostats Is Coming
Speaking of milestones, this week marks the 10-year anniversary of the iPod, and if you’re wondering what the inventor of the gadget (sorry, not Steve Jobs) is up to in a time when global temperature levels continue to grow more dangerous, the guy is developing a new thermostat. Fast Company reports that Tony Fadell is now working on a device that makes home-energy management sexy. Here’s the video showing Fadell’s latest invention: