tagged w/ Greenhouse Gases
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They look like giant fly-swatters but could this be how technology will save our asses from extinction?
Scientists reckon 100,000 artificial trees could be deployed to within about 10 - 20 years to soak up carbon emissions.
These pictures actually do look pretty cool and algae strips on buildings might be what it takes - geo-engineering they call it.
Thoughts?They look like giant fly-swatters but could this be how technology will save our asses... more
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New research appearing in the online issue of the Proceedings of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientists and a group of international researchers found that climate model quality does not affect the ability to identify human effects on atmospheric water vapor. Since atmospheric water vapor is an important driver of temperatures and rainfall, the results of this study will help convince skeptics that man's impacts are causing at least part of the problem.
The physics that drive changes in water vapor are very simple and are reasonably well portrayed in all climate models, bad or good.
More water vapor - which is itself a greenhouse gas - amplifies the warming effect of increased atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide.
Previous LLNL research had shown that human-induced warming of the planet has a pronounced effect on the atmosphere's total moisture content. In that study, the researchers had used 22 different computer models to identify a human "fingerprint" pattern in satellite measurements of water vapor changes. Each model contributed equally in the fingerprint analysis. "It was a true model democracy," Santer said. "One model, one vote."
But in the recent study, the scientists first took each model and tested it individually, calculating 70 different measures of model performance. These "metrics" provided insights into how well the models simulated today's average climate and its seasonal changes, as well as on the size and geographical patterns of climate variability.
This information was used to divide the original 22 models into various sets of "top ten" and "bottom ten" models. "When we tried to come up with a David Letterman type 'top ten' list of models," Santer said, "we found that it's extremely difficult to do this in practice, because each model has its own individual strengths and weaknesses."
Then the group repeated their fingerprint analysis, but now using only "top ten" or "bottom ten" models rather than the full 22 models. They did this more than 100 times, grading and ranking the models in many different ways. In every case, a water vapor fingerprint arising from human influences could be clearly identified in the satellite data.
"One criticism of our first study was that we were only able to find a human fingerprint because we included inferior models in our analysis," said Karl Taylor, another LLNL co-author. "We've now shown that whether we use the best or the worst models, they don't have much impact on our ability to identify a human effect on water vapor."
Photo shows total amount of atmospheric water vapor over the oceans on July 4, 2009. These results are from operational weather forecasts of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasting.
For more information:
https://publicaffairs.llnl.gov/news/news_releases/2009/NR-09-08-01.htmlNew research appearing in the online issue of the Proceedings of the U.S. National... more
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By studying this hole in the atmosphere of Jupiter, which was caused by a huge asteroid the size of Earth hitting it, scientists have determined that life on Earth may have been caused by asteroids.
According to these scientists, the water and greenhouse gases brought by the asteroids and spread into what has become the atmosphere after the collisions is what allowed Earth to block the radiation from the sun, which was much stronger back then, and foster life.
In addition, the scientists are led to believe that the Earth is much older than previously thought:
"New evidence is changing our understanding of Earth's origins. Known as the Late Heavy Bombardment, researchers say the showers of cosmic rock that pummeled Earth 3.9 billion years ago may have fostered life on Earth, not annihilated it. WSJ's Robert Lee Hotz reports."
Link provides a great, short video that explains it. Jordan Maxwell doesn't sound so crazy after all.By studying this hole in the atmosphere of Jupiter, which was caused by a huge... more
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Greenpeace has had quite a bit of coverage of late on TreeHugger with their latest actions of climbing Mount Rushmore to put pressure on politicians regarding climate change, and climbing to the roof of HP to get the company to remove toxins from their products. We wondered whether some of their actions would have impact. Well, here is one campaign Greenpeace has been pushing that has resulted in positive change. Thanks to their Kleercut campaign against Kimberly-Clark - makers of Kleenex, Scott and Cottonelle brands - the company has resolved to get all of its wood fiber for tissue products from environmentally responsible sources.
Working with Greenpeace on a new set of supply chain standards, the company has enhanced the Endangered Forests and increased the use of both Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified fiber and recycled fiber. By 2011, Kimberly-Clark will ensure that 40% of its North American tissue fiber is either recycled or FSC certified, and the larger goal is to get to 100%.
"We are committed to using environmentally responsible wood fiber and today's announcement enhances our industry-leading practices in this area," said Suhas Apte, Kimberly-Clark Vice President of Environment, Energy, Safety, Quality and Sustainability. "It is our belief that certified primary wood fiber and recycled fiber can both be used in an environmentally responsible way and can provide the product performance that customers and consumers expect from our well-known tissue brands. We commend Greenpeace for helping us develop more sustainable standards."
Congrats, Greenpeace, on a victory for forests. Considering the sheer amount of tissue products sold by Kimberly-Clark, this is a substantial improvement.Greenpeace has had quite a bit of coverage of late on TreeHugger with their latest... more
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Credit will enable completion of facility that will supply up to eight percent of the country’s electricity in a sustainable mannerCredit will enable completion of facility that will supply up to eight percent of the... more
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(The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E), a high-resolution passive microwave Instrument on NASA’s Aqua satellite, shows the state of Arctic sea ice on September 10 in this file image released September 16, 2008.)
Regions of Arctic tundra around the world are heating up very rapidly, releasing more greenhouse gases than predicted and boosting the process of global warming, a leading expert said on Wednesday.
Professor Greg Henry of the University of British Columbia also said higher temperatures meant larger plants were starting to spread across the tundra, which is usually covered by small shrubs, grasses and lichen. The thicker plant cover means the region is getting darker and absorbing more heat.
He said tundra covers about 15 percent of the world's surface and makes up around 30 percent of Canadian territory.
Henry, who has been working in the Arctic since the early 1980s, said he had measured "a very substantial change" in the tundra over the last three decades, citing greater emissions and plant growth.
Since 1970, he said, temperatures in the tundra region had risen by 1 degree Celsius per decade -- equal to the highest rates of warming found anywhere on the planet.
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More at link.(The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E), a high-resolution passive... more
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the 1% Brown Bag Lunch Series
(full disclosure: i do some work with 1% for the Planet... i am also a behemothic fan of this enviro. org)
so here's the scoop...
every couple months or so, the top players from environmental cause groups will lead a call to discuss and answer all of your questions on specific environmental issues (this month's topic: U.S. climate change policy)
while you have to be a member of 1% for the Planet (these are businesses that give at least 1% of annual sales to environmental cause groups) or an environmental cause on their receiving end to sit in on the call...
...1% has opened up a pre-call question period to all (through next monday 7/27), which the earth-loving experts will try to directly address during the call (send questions to @1percentFTP on Twitter) -- and THEN, the audio will get posted after the call for all to hear (just wander over to the 1% blog @ www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/blog)
clip from announcement:
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"On Tuesday, July 28 at 1:00 pm (EST), we will hold the first of our 1% Brown Bag Lunch conference call for our 1% community of 1% Member businesses and approved environmental organizations.
Our good friends and 1% Recipient organization, Clean Air–Cool Planet, will lead the first call of the series. For about an hour, we will learn about the latest in climate and energy legislation in Washington, D.C., the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), which currently resides in the Senate. The historic bill aims to put a price on the emissions of greenhouse gases created in the United States. The plan may transform the way we support our economy’s growing energy demands, use our transportation systems, and invest in businesses and technology."the 1% Brown Bag Lunch Series
(full disclosure: i do some work with 1% for the... more
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LEAKED GOVERNMENT LETTER by a highly reliable government source marked HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL – FOR YOUR EYES ONLYLEAKED GOVERNMENT LETTER by a highly reliable government source marked HIGHLY... more
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The green movement, driven by a hyper "global citizen" fanaticism, is going to have disastrous results in our nation.
As a point of discussion, I'll point out two articles:
G8 leaders claim historic breakthrough on new deal to tackle global warming
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6670327.ece
And:
Senators attack carbon tax proposals on US imports
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f91e0ff4-6bf2-11de-9320-00144feabdc0.html
In the first, the so-called "leaders" of the G8 agreed "to the goal of keeping the world’s average temperature from rising more than 2C (3.6F)."
This single "goal" reveals an astonishing--nay, SHOCKING--arrogance by these leaders. The presuposition that 8 nations can actually control global temperatures is either indicative of supreme ignorance or complete stupidity. The "science" on this issue is far from complete, and there is a growing chorus of scientists now numbering in the thousands that contest the notion that 1) the globe is continuing to heat (it may instead actually be cooling), and 2) that human impact on any global temperatures is miniscule at best.
But without getting into the "truth" behind global warming, the idea that WE puny humans can control the temperature of the entire planet is simply laughable. We cannot even predict the numbers of hurricanes in the current season, much less the paths of said hurricanes, yet they think they can actually control global temperatures?
The second article demonstrates how the policies they wish to use will negatively impact our nation. They are imposing a massive new tax on United States corporations to penalize them for "carbon emmissions". There is NO doubt--not even among Democrats--that this tax will further hobble our corporations, causing massive job loss and probably drive MORE corporations out of the country, because nations like China have been exempted from these idiotic policies, thus creating an imbalanced and unequal "playing field".
Their proposed solution was to place “border tax adjustments” on the imports from nations that don't impose similar taxes. But whoa, that would be criticized by the WTO. So they are backing down, and instead will just leave the imbalance and "HOPE" that our corporations will survive in spite of the stupid laws.
Folks, your Green Fanatics have hijacked the country and are going to destroy our economy.The green movement, driven by a hyper "global citizen" fanaticism, is going... more
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The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation declares July 5th to be
WORLD INTERDEPENDENCE DAY.
We are as global citizens interdependent on world mitigation to avoid an uncertain future that may prove difficult if not impossible for those that will follow us in the decades to come.
Climate change has no national boundaries and neither should our agreement to act.
The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation calls upon those that can choose to be global statesmen to secure a safe future, to recognise our interdependence and act not with nationalistic focus but as global citizens.
In December in Copenhagen should you fail to agree with national agendas carried with you, you will have failed the interdependence of all to a safe future.
SEAL THE DEAL in Copenhagen http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation declares July 5th to be
WORLD INTERDEPENDENCE DAY.... more
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WORLD INTERDEPENDENCE DAY
July 5th 2009
We are not independent of the actions of all other global citizens.
While our independence as individuals and as nations is a right to act as such, our individual and national emissions will continue to impact all impartially. Climate change has no national boundaries and neither should our agreement to act.
The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation calls upon those that can choose to be global statesmen to secure a safe future, to recognise our interdependence and act not with nationalistic focus but as global citizens.
In December in Copenhagen should you fail to agree with national agendas carried with you, you will have failed the interdependence of all to a safe future.
SEAL THE DEAL in Copenhagen http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/
http://www.greenhouseneutralfoundation.org/interdependence.htm
http://tinyurl.com/mnvf8r
Media Contact:
Bob Williamson
Founder and Chair
Greenhouse Neutral FoundationWORLD INTERDEPENDENCE DAY
July 5th 2009
We are not independent of the actions... more
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Methane has at least 20 times the heat-trapping effect of an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide. As warmer air thaws Arctic soils, as much as 50 billion metric tons of methane could be released from beneath Siberian lakes alone, according to Walter's research. That would amount to 10 times the amount currently in the atmosphere.Methane has at least 20 times the heat-trapping effect of an equivalent amount of... more
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While it's still too early to say whether the 2009 melt will exceed the record 2007 melt -- the annual low-point isn't reached until September -- the trend line for 2009 for the first time has dipped below 2007, according to the latest data from the National Snow and Ice Data Center.
Another record would be startling, but not surprising. Just 30% of the sea ice in the Arctic at the height of the winter freeze was thicker multi-year ice, leaving 70% susceptible to rapid melting. The amount of ice in the Arctic as of February 2009 -- the height of the annual freeze -- was the lowest on record. Most arctic scientists now say they expect an ice-free Arctic in summer within the next three decades -- far ahead of the projections in the last comprehensive United Nations report on global warming.
The melting of Arctic sea ice is one of the clearest signals of global warming, and a leading indicator of what is to come. The melting is also an example -- one of many -- of a positive feedback loop that scientists expect will accelerate global warming: As sea ice melts, the darker water that is exposed absorbs more of the sun's energy, which leads to warmer waters and more melting ice.
end of excerptWhile it's still too early to say whether the 2009 melt will exceed the record... more
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The Japanese Prime Minister anounced this week the new emission target for 2012. The new target has been called ambitious by the Japanese government and insufficient by some third parties. However, who can set the apropiate balance between fostering a weakened economy and take the leadership in greenhouse reduction when the United States, China, Russia and India are not taking part in dealing with this most important issue?The Japanese Prime Minister anounced this week the new emission target for 2012. The... more
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lulo5
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2 years ago
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Congress is all but abandoning President Barack Obama's goal of producing fully one-quarter of the nation's electricity from renewable sources — wind, solar and the like — by 2025, though a push for at least some increase is making headway.
Both the House and Senate are considering legislation that would establish the first national requirement for electric utilities to generate a certain percentage of their power from renewable energy — from wind turbines and solar cells to biomass and geothermal sources.
To gain wider congressional support, the proposals have been whittled back. They now pale in comparison to what Obama repeatedly has maintained is feasible and necessary to shift the nation away from coal and other fossil fuels and to clean energy sources. This shift, he argues, is needed to combat climate change and make the nation more energy independent.
Marchant Wentworth of the Union of Concerned Scientists said that the exemptions and other provisions amount to a "backdoor way of reducing the requirement." He said when all the fine print is taken into account, the Senate proposal may require as little as 8 or 9 percent renewable energy and the House version only slightly more.
Mark Sinclair, whose Clean Energy States Alliance works with state renewable energy programs, maintains that the congressional mandates "are very weak and really will not require any additional renewables beyond what states already are doing."Congress is all but abandoning President Barack Obama's goal of producing fully... more
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For months the United States and China, by far the world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, have been warily circling each other in hopes of breaking a long impasse on global warming policy.
They are, as President Obama’s chief climate negotiator puts it, “the two gorillas in the room,” and if they do not reach some sort of truce, there is no chance of forging a meaningful international treaty in Copenhagen later this year to restrict emissions.
“This is going to be one of the most complex diplomatic negotiations in the history of the world,” said Representative Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, co-sponsor of an energy bill being debated in the House, who just returned from a week in China.
Many take the simple fact that the two nations, jointly responsible for more than 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, are even talking seriously to each other about the issue as a propitious sign after years of mutual distrust.For months the United States and China, by far the world’s two biggest emitters... more
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STOPlasticBags
A GLOBAL PETITION TO BAN THE BAG
Sign here ……… http://www.greenhouseneutral.net/blog.asp
Introduced just over 30 years ago in 1977, the ugly truth about our plastic bag addiction is that society's consumption rate is now estimated at well over 500,000,000,000 (that's 500 billion) plastic bags annually, or almost 1 million per minute.
The Greenhouse Neutral Foundation and its many friends and allies all around the world on Saturday September 26 2009 will call for the world to BAN THE BAG. Our vision will be that by the turn of the clock at midnight on December 31st 2010 they will be BANNED forever globally.
Sign here ……… http://www.greenhouseneutral.net/blog.asp
By signing this petition today you will have taken a simple step to make this happen.
Why is this so important?
Some of the ugly facts:
Once brought into existence to tote your purchases, they'll accumulate and persist on our planet for up to 1,000 years.
The U.S. goes through 100 billion plastic shopping bags annually. An estimated 12 million barrels of oil is required to make that many plastic bags. That’s more than 1,200 bags per US resident, per year. Four out of five grocery bags in the US are now plastic.
The average family accumulates 60 plastic bags in only four trips to the grocery store.
Australia, a country of only some 22 million or so, consumes about 6.9 billion plastic bags each year, that's 326 per person. According to Australia's Department of Environment, an estimated 49,600,000 annually end up as litter.
Every single piece of plastic ever manufactured is still on the planet.
It is in use, intact in landfills, as windblown litter, and also toxically contaminating global river systems and oceans.
There is an estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic in each square mile of ocean. Plastic bags cause over 100,000 sea turtle and other marine animal deaths every year when animals mistake them for food.
There are over 3,300 deaths of children each year in the US alone who die from asphyxiation from plastic bags.
WSJ Target, the second-largest retailer in the U.S., purchases 1.8 billion bags a year. In the U.S. alone $4 billion per year is spent by retailers giving away free plastic bags.
The simple act of saying NO to plastic bags is something every global citizen can do.
We have the choice and, the reasons to are clear.
Throughout the ongoing campaign Countries will be petitioned to implement a total ban on the use of plastic bags and confirm a date for their eradication.
Companies who presently support the use of plastic bags will be highlighted for their environmental impact and disregard to the outcome of their actions.
Consumers who support the use of plastic bags will be educated on the outcome of their choice and encouraged to say NO to plastic bags. Each high quality reusable bag used has the potential to eliminate an average of 1,000 plastic bags over its lifetime.
By signing this petition today you will have taken a simple step to make this happen. Spreading the word to BAN the BAG will be an environmental achievement you can, and will be proud of.
Sign here ……… http://www.greenhouseneutral.net/blog.asp
Thank you from Bob Willamson Founder & Chair and all at the Greenhouse Neutral Foundation and the global team of STOPlasticBags.STOPlasticBags
A GLOBAL PETITION TO BAN THE BAG
Sign here... more
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Ghosts of Abu Ghraib
"How could ordinary American soldiers come to engage in such monstrous acts?"
Video Documentary
For the first time, GHOSTS OF ABU GHRAIB features both the voices of Iraqi victims (interviewed in Turkey after arduous attempts to meet with them) and guards directly involved in torture at the prison. Conducted by Kennedy, these remarkably candid, in-depth interviews shed light on the abuses in an unprecedented manner.
http://informationclearinghouse.info/article22731.htmGhosts of Abu Ghraib
"How could ordinary American soldiers come to engage in... more
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WASHINGTON — President Obama announced tough new nationwide rules for automobile emissions and mileage standards on Tuesday, embracing standards that California has sought to enact for years over the objections of the auto industry and the Bush administration.
“For the first time in history, we have set in motion a national policy aimed at both increasing gas mileage and decreasing greenhouse gas pollution for all new trucks and cars sold in the United States of America,” Mr. Obama said in remarks from Washington, flanked by officials from Michigan and California.
The rules, which will begin to take effect in 2012, will put in place a federal standard for fuel efficiency that is as tough as the California program, while imposing the first-ever limits on climate-altering gases from cars and trucks.
The effect will be a single new national standard that will create a car and light truck fleet in the United States that is almost 40 percent cleaner and more fuel-efficient by 2016 than it is today, with an average of 35.5 miles per gallon.
Environmental advocates and industry officials welcomed the new program, an accord that Mr. Obama said “would have been considered impossible” in the past.
But they welcomed it for different reasons. Environmentalists called it a long-overdue tightening of emissions and fuel economy standards after decades of government delay and industry opposition. Auto industry officials said it would provide the single national efficiency standard they have long desired, a reasonable timetable to meet it and the certainty they need to proceed with product development plans.
End of excerpt
Source: The New York Times Online
It's important to notice that this IS a historic measure, whether you disagree with it or not is beyond the point.WASHINGTON — President Obama announced tough new nationwide rules for automobile... more
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