Another Week of Global Warming News, March 16, 2014

This weekly posting is brought to you courtesy of H. E. Taylor. Happy reading, I hope you enjoy this week's Global Warming news roundup

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Sipping from the Internet Firehose...

March 16, 2014

• Chuckles, COP20+, GCF, Tactics, RS/NAS, Warnings, Ides of March, Energiewende
• World Bank, Global Legal Framework, Cook
• Fukushima: Note, News, Anniversary, Policies, Related Papers
• Melting Arctic, Methane, Antarctica
• Food: Crisis, Fisheries, Svalbard, GMOs, Production
• Hurricanes, Notable Weather, New Weather, GHGs, Carbon Cycle, Aerosols
• Climate Sensitivity, Ozone, Temperatures, Satellites, Paleoclimate, Historical Climate
• Biosphere, Extinctions, Bees & CCD
• Impacts, Forests, Climate Refugees, Smog & Health
• Wildfires, Corals, Glaciers, Sea Levels, Floods & Droughts
• Mitigation, Transportation, Buildings, Sequestration, Geoengineering
• Journals, Misc., Science Orgs, DIY Science, Models, Free Science, Policy, Advocacy
• International Politics: UN, Carbon Trade, Carbon Tax, Hormuz, South China Sea
• Treaties, Ukraine, Misc., Law & Activism, Activism, Polls, H2O Biz, Education
• National Politics: Britain, Europe, Australia, Abbott, CSG, MDBP
• India, China, Japan, Asia, Middle East, South America
• Canada, Lac-Mégantic, Pipelines, Salmon, BC, Tar Sands, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Canadiana
• America, Keystone, Spills & Leaks, Birth Control, All-Nighter, Haboob
• Keeling, 2014, Obama, USAdmin, Congress, Lobbyists
• Ecological Economics, IPAT, Apocalypso, Media, Books, Video, Courts
• Energy, Transitions, Energy Investments, Fracking, Coal, Oil & Gas, Fossil Fuel Corps
• Oil Transportation, US Tar Sands, Peak Oil, Biofuel
• Wind, Solar, Nukes, Nuclear Waste, Grid, Utilities, Efficiency, Cars, Energy Storage
• Business, Insurance, Quotes, Carbon Lobby, Miscellaneous, Useful Links
• Shameless Self Promotion, A Simple Plea, .sig

Live and direct from the laugh, it's funny, damnit department:

• 2014/03/10: uComics: (cartoon - Wiley) Done with Winter!
• 2014/03/11: uComics: (cartoon - Wiley) Testing the hypothesis
• 2014/03/12: uComics: (cartoon - Wiley) Why Is There Still Snow?
• 2014/03/13: uComics: (cartoon - Wiley) The Arrival of Spring
• 2014/03/14: uComics: (cartoon - Wiley) Snow Angels
• 2014/03/15: uComics: (cartoon - Wiley) Flamethrower
• 2014/03/12: uComics: (cartoon - Auth) Raining Money
• 2014/03/10: Onion: Report: Ocean Levels Could Rise Foot Or More If Lots Of People Go Swimming

You've heard of realpolitik, well here is another slice:

• 2014/03/12: WiredSci: Snowstorm Spawns Most Hilariously Comprehensive Forecast Ever
  

  Looking ahead to COP20 and future international climate negotiations:

  • 2014/03/14: RTCC: Climate change "bad boys" must make amends, say Marshall Islands
  • 2014/03/14: RTCC: As it happened: UN climate change talks in Bonn, closing session
  • 2014/03/13: RTCC: Formal talks on UN climate change deal will 'start in June'
  • 2014/03/13: RTCC: Shell warns global climate deal will affect profits
  • 2014/03/12: RTCC: UN climate envoys hail momentum, but warn time running out
    Negotiators say progress has been made at Bonn talks, but some warn time is running out to deliver a draft text by Lima
  • 2014/03/11: RTCC: Old splits emerge as UN climate envoys seek path to 2015 deal
    Brazil, China and Saudi Arabia say they have no intention of discussing tough emission cuts at Bonn meeting Leading developed and developing countries still appear to have vastly different views on how a global climate change deal could work, UN negotiations in Bonn today illustrated.
  • 2014/03/11: RTCC: Venezuela's 2014 climate summit faces credibility crisis
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Bangladesh warns of rising climate change costs as donations plummet
  • 2014/03/10: CleanTechnica: Advantages Of A Global Strategy For Carbon Emissions Reduction
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: As it happened: UN climate change summit opens in Bonn

  The wrangling over the Global/Green Climate Fund proceeds:

  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): UN climate change adaptation funds not reaching Pacific island nations, Tuvalu minister Elisala Pita says
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Kiribati minister says Pacific nations pushed aside in race for UN funds

  Someone has recycled that olde "buy them out" tactic:

  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Deal of the century: buyout the US coal industry for $50bn

  Further on that Royal Society/Natioan Academy of Science report:

  • 2014/03/14: ERabett: The Royal Society Answers Questions

  What do we have for warnings this week?

  • 2014/03/11: RTCC: Australia warned to prepare for hotter summers

  The Ides of March:

  • 2014/03/14: BBerg: Trade Concern Limits Rich-Nation Effort to Cut Carbon
    The U.S. will struggle to endorse a climate treaty that hurts trade while Brazil and India want richer countries to take the lead in limiting environmental change as global warming talks in Bonn enter their final day. A climate pact without emission-reduction commitments from emerging nations will be a hard sell to the U.S. public, Trigg Talley, the country's climate envoy, told delegates at the United Nations-led talks. Brazil's envoy Jose Domingos Miguez called on developed nations to act now on global warming or "we are going to suffer the consequences."
  • 2014/03/12: TruthOut: Developed Nations Give Up on Stopping Climate Change, Turn to Mitigating Impact, Largely Abandoning Third World
  • 2014/03/11: WaPo:B: Four reasons why the fight against climate change is likely to fail

  How is the German Energy Transition [Energiewende] going?

  • 2014/03/16: SciAm:PI: Will Germany really phase out nuclear by 2021?
  • 2014/03/13: GET: Seehofer Shifts on Südlink
  • 2014/03/12: WNN: Coal taints Germany's energy mix
  • 2014/03/12: GET: The Economic or Competitive Advantages of the Energiewende for Germany
  • 2014/03/11: GET: German imports of nuclear power -- the myth revisited
  • 2014/03/10: GET: 50 shades of green: what determines our electricity future?
  • 2014/03/10: GEB: Initiativkreis Ruhr Committed to Energiewende, But Demands Adjustments

  What's the World Bank up to?

  • 2014/03/12: Guardian(UK): World Bank facing renewed pressure over loan to Honduran palm oil firm
    Campaigners want support for company accused of links to murder, kidnapping and forced evictions to be withheld

  The world inches toward creating a global legal framework for ecological crime:

  • 2014/03/12: Resilience: Joseph Sax's Quest: Legal Protection for Collective Interests

  John Cook and friends continue their point-counterpoint articles:

  • 2014/03/15: SkS: 2014 SkS Weekly News Roundup #11
  • 2014/03/14: SkS: 30 US Senators Speak Up4Climate Science by dana1981, Sarah
  • 2014/03/13: SkS: A Hack By Any Other Name - Part 5 by Bob Lacatena
  • 2014/03/12: SkS: Global warming not slowing - it's speeding up by James Wight
  • 2014/03/11: SkS: Climate change and sensitivity: not all Watts are equal by John Abraham
  • 2014/03/10: SkS: GWPF optimism on climate sensitivity is ill-founded by dana1981
  • 2014/03/09: SkS: 2014 SkS Weekly Digest #10 by John Hartz

  A note on theFukushima disaster:

  It is evident that the Fukushima disaster is going to persist for some time. TEPCO says 6 to 9 months. The previous Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, said decades. Now the Japanese government is talking about 30 years. [Whoops, that has now been updated to 40 years.]
  And the IAEA is now saying 40 years too.
  [Now some people are talking about a century or more. Sealing it in concrete for 500 years.]
  We'll see.
  At any rate this situation is not going to be resolved any time soon and deserves its own section.
  Meanwhile...
  It is very difficult to know for sure what is really going on at Fukushima. Between the company [TEPCO], the Japanese government, the Japanese regulator [NISA], the international monitor [IAEA], as well as independent analysts and commentators, there is a confusing mish-mash of information. One has to evaluate both the content and the source of propagated information.
  How knowledgeable are they [about nuclear power and about Japan]?
  Do they have an agenda?
  Are they pro-nuclear or anti-nuclear?
  Do they want to write a good news story?
  Do they want to write a bad news story?
  Where do they rate on a scale of sensationalism?
  Where do they rate on a scale of play-it-down-ness?
  One fundamental question I would like to see answered:
  If the reactors are in meltdown, how can they be in cold shutdown?

  Not much good news coming out of Fukushima:

   

  • 2014/03/15: EneNews: Fairbanks city council unanimously passes Fukushima monitoring resolution: Alaska and U.S. West Coast in danger...
  • 2014/03/13: NatGeo: Why the Cancer Cases in Fukushima Aren't Likely Linked to the Nuclear Disaster
  • 2014/03/13: BNC: Fukushima - Jim Green's distractions and James Hansen's warning
  • 2014/03/13: EneNews: Gundersen: Fukushima will be bleeding into Pacific for next 100 years -- Such a worldwide catastrophe -- Molten cores being released into groundwater and moving off site -- 'Radioactive lake' developing beneath reactors...
  • 2014/03/13: FukuLeaks: NRC Hid Information On Fukushima From Public
  • 2014/03/13: FukuLeaks: Fukushima Cesium Found On Vancouver Beach
  • 2014/03/12: BizSpectator: Fukushima apologies and apologists
  • 2014/03/12: FukuLeaks: Fukushima Unit 4; 462 Fuel Assemblies Removed
  • 2014/03/12: EneNews: Official: Japan will be ruined if public doesn't realize they're being exposed to Fukushima radiation...
  • 2014/03/12: PostMedia: Troubled waters: Nuclear radiation found in B.C. may pose health concerns
    Discovery of Fukushima radioactivity raises concerns for local marine life, and the effect it may have on humans
  • 2014/03/11: EneNews: Japan ex-Prime Minister: Fukushima very close to 'China syndrome'...
  • 2014/03/11: EneNews: NBC: US officials "hid concerns... as Fukushima melted'...
  • 2014/03/11: DemNow: Ex-Japanese PM on How Fukushima Meltdown was Worse Than Chernobyl & Why He Now Opposes Nuclear Power
  • 2014/03/11: DeutscheWelle: Fukushima's radiation victims
  • 2014/03/11: EneNews: AP: Radioactive material spews into air & sea at Fukushima -- Asahi: Exposure levels spike -- Nuclear Expert: We don't even know where 3 melted reactor cores are... it's not under control at all...
  • 2014/03/10: EneNews: Anonymous Senior Tepco Employee: No one knows what to do at Fukushima, it's impossible to fix -- Reactors not under control -- "We just can't deal with the melted fuel"
  • 2014/03/10: NHK: Hundreds sue operator of Fukushima plant and govt
  • 2014/03/10: Reuters: The children of Japan's Fukushima battle an invisible enemy
  • 2014/03/10: NBC: U.S. Nuclear Agency Hid Concerns, Hailed Safety Record as Fukushima Melted
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Fukushima operator may have to dump contaminated water into Pacific
    Senior adviser to Tokyo Electric Power says controlled release into sea is much safer than keeping contaminated water on-site
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Fukushima disaster: Plan to send residents home three years after nuclear accident labelled 'irresponsible'
  • 2014/03/09: NYT: After Fukushima, Utilities Prepare for Worst
    Peach Bottom, Pa. - Stored near the twin nuclear reactors here, safely above the flood level of the Susquehanna River, is a gleaming new six-wheel pickup truck with a metal blade on the front that can plow away debris from an earthquake or other disaster. Attached to the back is a trailer that carries a giant diesel-powered pump that can deliver 500 gallons of water a minute. If the operators at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan had owned such equipment when the tsunami struck three years ago Tuesday, they might have staved off disaster, plant operators say. Now, here at the Peach Bottom nuclear plant, which has the same design as Fukushima Daiichi, engineers and technicians are busy applying such lessons, preparing for a worst-case scenario even worse than the plant's designers envisioned in the 1970s. "After Fukushima, we have to ask, what if we were wrong?" said Michael Pacilio, Exelon's chief nuclear officer, showing off the truck and other purchases.
  • 2014/03/09: EneNews: NBC Nightly News: 'Has Radiation Entered Our Food Supply Chain?' -- USA Today: News getting worse at Fukushima, widespread suspicion leaks into ocean 'underreported'...
  • 2014/03/09: Guardian(UK): Fukushima's children at centre of debate over rates of thyroid cancer
  • 2014/03/01: TBAS: Prologue to catastrophe by Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Nuclear Accident & Masaharu Fujiyoshi

  The three year anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and meltdown was widely commented:

  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: Fukushima anniversary: Japan remembers
    Much remains unsettled three years later: emotions, the death count, and the future of nuclear energy in Japan.
  • 2014/03/11: DeutscheWelle: Japan marks the third anniversary of the Fukushima tsunami-quake disaster
  • 2014/03/11: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3 Years On
  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: Japan marks Fukushima disaster anniversary
    Nation marks third anniversary of earthquake and tsunami which triggered world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.
  • 2014/03/11: NPR: Three Years From Meltdown, Japanese Nuclear Plant Still Struggles
  • 2014/03/11: NHK: Japan marks 3rd anniversary of 3/11 disaster
  • 2014/03/11: GLaden: The Fukushima Alternative [anniv]
  • 2014/03/11: FukuLeaks: SimplyInfo.org Fukushima 3rd Anniversary Reports
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3rd Anniversary; Unit 1 Technical Report
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3rd Anniversary; Technical Report Unit 2
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3rd Anniversary; Technical Report Unit 3
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3rd Anniversary; Technical Report Unit 4
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3rd Anniversary; Technical Report - Water
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Fukushima 3rd Anniversary; Technical Report - Plant Conditions
  • 2014/03/10: FukuLeaks: Worldwide Anti Nuclear Protests On Eve Of Fukushima 3rd Anniversary

  Post Fukushima, nuclear policies are in flux around the world:

  • 2014/03/12: Asahi: [Editorial] Government must face problems inherent in nuclear energy
  • 2014/03/12: NBF: China is back to raising nuclear energy build targets after lowering them after Fukushima
  • 2014/03/12: CNN: How Fukushima changed world's attitudes to nuclear power
  • 2014/03/11: FuturePundit: Japan Policy Change Back Toward Nuclear Power
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Argument over nuclear reactors on third anniversary of Fukushima disaster
    It's been three years since Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster that forced 150,000 people from their homes. Now the Japanese prime minister wants to send them back and restart nuclear reactors. But three former Japanese prime ministers say the plans are irresponsible.
  • 2014/03/10: WSWS: Japanese government signals restart of nuclear power plants

  What do we have for Fukushima related papers this week?

  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (abs) Radiation dose rates now and in the future for residents neighboring restricted areas of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by Kouji H. Harada et al.

  The Arctic melt continues to garner attention:

  • 2014/03/15: Dosbat: PIOMAS Gridded Data: February 2014
  • 2014/03/13: SciAm:Obs: Mathematical Patterns in Sea Ice Reveal Melt Dynamics
  • 2014/03/12: GLaden: How much will the Arctic Sea ice melt this year?
  • 2014/03/12: PSinclair: In Arctic Svalbard, the End of a Warm, Dry Winter [A]
  • 2014/03/12: RScribbler: Arctic Heat Drives Sea Ice Back Into Record Low Territory At Top of Melt Season
  • 2014/03/12: ArcticNews: Has the descent begun?
  • 2014/03/11: PSinclair: February Sea Ice Fourth Lowest in Sat Record
  • 2014/03/10: NASA: NASA Data Sheds New Light on Changing Greenland Ice
  • 2014/03/10: CCP: NASA data shed new light on changing Greenland ice
  • 2014/03/10: PSinclair: Arctic Death Spiral Very Much Alive
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: Arctic melt 'speeding up' say scientists
  • 2014/03/09: PSinclair: Dr. Jason Box in Svalbard, Part 2: Tracking the Polar Vortex 2014

  That Damoclean sword still hangs overhead:

  • 2014/03/12: RScribbler: The Arctic Methane Monster's Nasty Little Helpers: Study Finds Ancient, Methane Producing, Archaea Gorge on Tundra Melt
  • 2014/03/10: ArcticNews: M4.5 Earthquake hits Gakkel Ridge
  • 2014/03/10: CCP: Methane-producing microbe blooms in permafrost thaw

  While in Antarctica:

  • 2014/03/12: TheConversation: How wind helps Antarctic sea ice grow, even as the Arctic melts
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Global warming to leave Antarctic vulnerable to invasive species: Australian researchers
  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): What's going on with global warming and Antarctica's growing sea ice?
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Storms whip up differences in polar sea ice
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Global warming to leave Antarctic vulnerable to invasive species: Australian researchers

  The food crisis is ongoing:

  • 2014/03/16: al Jazeera: Palestinians protest UN food cuts in Gaza
    Cuts to the UN Relief and Works Agency food programme have left thousands of Palestinian refugees without support.
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): 16,000 livestock lost in Vic bushfires
  • 2014/03/11: AllAfrica:IFRC: Zimbabwe: A Grandmother's Struggle to Feed Four Grandchildren in Drought-Prone Zimbabwe
  • 2014/03/10: Grist: It takes HOW much water to make Greek yogurt?!
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): WA farmers battle to keep stock alive in the dry
    Many farmers in southern Western Australia are working around the clock to keep their stock alive after a long, dry summer.
  • 2014/03/09: CBC: Middle East drought could spark higher food prices -- Two-thirds of arable land hit by drought

  The state of the world's fisheries is a concern. See also:

  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Severe Drought In California May Force State To Truck 30 Million Salmon To The Pacific Ocean
  • 2014/03/12: BBC: Scottish salmon exports to US hit £200m mark
  • 2014/03/12: Grist: "More fish in the sea" is not a reason to keep overfishing
  • 2014/03/10: CBC: Loblaws to stock ASC-approved, sustainably farmed salmon
    Will be 1st retailer in North America to sell Atlantic salmon approved by Aquaculture Stewardship Council
  • 2014/03/10: Grist: Alpha & Omega-3s: Salmon farmers' quest for the ultimate green feed

  Regarding the Svalbard Seed Vault:

  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Australia adds 10,000 samples including native plants to the [Svalbard] Global Seed Vault in Norway
  • 2014/03/11: KSJT: Earth Island Journal: Indian journalist does the small story and the big one about heroic seed banker

  Regarding the genetic modification of food:

  • 2014/03/15: SciAm:GB: Golden Rice Opponents Should Be Held Accountable for Health Problems Linked to Vitamain A Deficiency
  • 2014/03/14: DailyMail(UK): Scientists' hidden links to the GM food giants: Disturbing truth behind official report that said UK should forge on with Frankenfoods
    Government advisory body presented an 'independent' report on Thursday - It was used to support a bid to speed up the use of GM food in the UK - But in fact all five authors have a vested interest in promoting GM crops
  • 2014/03/14: UN: Steady increase in incidents of genetically modified crops found in traded food, UN agency reports
  • 2014/03/14: UK Govt: Letter advising the Prime Minister on the risks and benefits of GM technologies
  • 2014/03/13: BBC: A new report on genetically modified (GM) crops, commissioned by the prime minister, calls for more UK field trials and fewer EU restrictions
  • 2014/03/11: CBC: GMO salmon firm, AquaBounty, applies to sell in Canada
    Company that produces genetically modified eggs in P.E.I. awaits answer about selling in U.S.

  And how are we going to feed 9 billion, 10 billion, 15 billion?

  • 2014/03/14: FAO: Asia-Pacific countries adopt roadmap to push toward goal of zero hunger
    Regional Conference adopts FAO work priorities for Asia and the Pacific to address "magnitude of challenges" in improving food security
  • 2014/03/13: Resilience: Permablitz -- A Blitzkrieg of Permaculture Awesomeness
  • 2014/03/12: TreeHugger: Can we prevent a food breakdown? by Lester Brown
  • 2014/03/12: EurActiv: UN rapporteur emphasises North's responsibility in food challenge
  • 2014/03/12: Grist: Wish you could fertilize crops with pee? Urine luck
  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: Somali farmers benefit from al-Shabab reforms
    In Somalia's breadbasket, many welcome al-Shabab's move to expel foreign aid groups and build canals.
  • 2014/03/10: FAO: Asia and the Pacific must increase food production to meet future demand
  • 2014/03/10: UN: Asia and the Pacific must boost food production to meet future demand
  • 2014/03/10: UN: UN expert calls for bridging gap between urban consumers and local food producers
  • 2014/03/10: Grist: Dairy tale: New tech could turn small farms into the land of milk and money
  • 2014/03/10: Eureka: Agroforestry can ensure food security and mitigate the effects of climate change in Africa

  The Western Pacific was active, but elsewhere it was quiet.
  First, Tropical Cyclone Lusi threatening Northern New Zealand:

• 2014/03/15: MODIS: Tropical Cyclone Lusi (18P) in the South Pacific Ocean [on Mar.12]
• 2014/03/15: ABC(Au): Strong wind warnings in place in New Zealand as ex-Tropical Cyclone Lusi passes North Island
• 2014/03/14: Eureka: NASA sees an extra-tropical Lusi north of New Zealand
• 2014/03/13: NASA: NASA Sees Wind Shear Affecting Tropical Cyclone Lusi
• 2014/03/12: Eureka: NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Lusi over Vanuatu
• 2014/03/10: Eureka: NASA satellites eye troublesome Tropical Cyclone Lusi
  

  Tropical Cyclone Gillian spun around the Gulf of Carpentia, faded and then returned:

• 2014/03/14: Eureka: NASA's TRMM satellite eyeing Tropical Cyclone Gillian's rebirth
• 2014/03/13: NASA: NASA Sees Tropical Cyclone Gillian's Remnants Hoping for Comeback
• 2014/03/12: Eureka: NASA sees ex-Tropical Cyclone Gillian in Australia's Gulf of Carpentaria
• 2014/03/11: NASA: NASA Saw Some Power in Tropical Cyclone Gillian Before Making Landfall
• 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Cyclone watch: authorities monitor Gillian, Hadi off northern Queensland coast
  

  Earlier in the week, Tropical Cyclone Hadi faded before landing:

• 2014/03/12: NASA: NASA Sees Remnants of Tropical Cyclone Hadi in So. Pacific
• 2014/03/11: Eureka: NASA eyes 2 tropical cyclones east of Australia
  NASA's Aqua and TRMM satellites have been providing rainfall data, cloud heights and temperature and other valuable information to forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center as they track Tropical Cyclones Hadi and Lusi in the South Pacific.
• 2014/03/10: NASA: Gillian and Hadi Spell Double Tropical Trouble Around Queensland
  

  While elsewhere in the hurricane wars:

• 2014/03/12: Grist: That new-car smell is making Hurricane Katrina survivors sick
• 2014/03/11: UN: Philippines: UN agency pledges long-term support for typhoon-stricken farmers, fishers
• 2014/03/10: FAO: FAO Director-General meets typhoon-stricken farmers in the Philippines
  Commits to long-term livelihood support for farming and fishing communities
• 
  

  This week in notable weather:

   

  • 2014/03/16: ABC(Au): Thousands without power as storms hit NSW
    Wild storms have cut power to more than 30,000 homes in the New England region of New South Wales. The storm cells swept up the state's coast from Sydney, with Tamworth, Barraba, Inverell and Walgett the hardest hit.
  • 2014/03/14: Wunderground: Winter of 2013 - 2014: Top-10 Coldest in Midwest; Warmest on Record in California
  • 2014/03/13: NASA: New Satellite Movie Shows Massive Eastern U.S. Cool Down [over Mar.11-13]
  • 2014/03/13: Wunderground: Snowiest Winter on Record in Portions of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
  • 2014/03/12: CBC: Coast guard warns of bad ice year for Atlantic Canada ships -- 10% more ice this year compared to the 30-year average
  • 2014/03/12: al Jazeera: Spring snow hits northern India
    The Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir has experienced some disruptive March snow.
  • 2014/03/12: CNN: U.S. storm spreads wintery misery
  • 2014/03/10: Wunderground: Great Lakes Ice Cover Peaks at 2nd Highest Level on Record

  Polar Vortex? Rossby Waves? Blocking Patterns? Arctic Oscillation?
  What is the Arctic melt doing to our weather?

  • 2014/03/13: RScribbler: Global Warming and a Mangled Jet Stream: Germany Breaks All-Time Record Highs for Early March, Aswan Egypt Experiences First Rainfall Since 2012
  • 2014/03/10: TP:JR: The Coal Industry Uses The Polar Vortex To Argue For More Coal. Here's Why It's Wrong

  As for GHGs:

  • 2014/03/15: QuarkSoup: What if CO2 Gets Really High (say, 1000 ppm or higher)?
  • 2014/03/15: TCoE: From the archives: 2C and 400ppm
  • 2014/03/14: RScribbler: CO2, Earth's Global Thermostat, Dials Up to Record 401.6 ppm Daily Value on March 12
  • 2014/03/13: Hypergeometric: The Pumphandle - CO2 emissions by latitude
  • 2014/03/11: GEB: UBA: German Climate Protection Goal in Danger as Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rise by 1.2% in 2013
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: Germany's carbon targets in doubt as emissions rise in 2013
  • 2014/03/10: EurActiv: Car coolant rejected by Daimler is safe: EU scientists
    EU scientists have found that the new car coolant [R1234yf] at the centre of a dispute that has pitched regulators against Germany and its luxury carmaker Daimler does not pose any serious safety risks, the European Commission said on Friday.

  And in the carbon cycle:

  • 2014/03/11: Eureka: Ocean food web is key in the global carbon cycle
  • 2014/03/10: USDA:FS: Predation on invertebrates by woodland salamanders increases carbon capture

  Aerosols are making their presence felt:

  • 2014/03/16: MODIS: Dust storm over the Persian Gulf [on Mar.12]
  • 2014/03/15: IOTD: Haze Replaces Winter Fog in California [on Jan.17]
  • 2014/03/14: CBC: Paris pollution hits life-threatening level
  • 2014/03/12: Guardian(UK): Nine Chinese cities suffered more days of severe smog than Beijing
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: India pollution linked to Himalaya glacier melt

  Regarding Climate Sensitivity:

  • 2014/03/15: TMasters: Does the Shindell (2014) apparent TCR estimate bias apply to the real world?
  • 2014/03/12: TP:JR: NASA Study: Climate Sensitivity Is High So 'Long-Term Warming Likely To Be Significant' [Shindell - c sensit]
  • 2014/03/12: RTCC: NASA: global warming could be 20% higher than previous estimates
    Research focused on the climate sensitivity of the atmosphere suggests recent 'cooling' spell could be a blip Global temperatures are likely to increase in line with previous estimates, despite a recent slowdown in warming, says a new study by NASA.
  • 2014/03/12: ATTPh: Shindell 2014

  Some new gases to threaten the ozone layer:

  • 2014/03/11: TheConversation: Earth's ozone layer threatened by new man-made gases
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Four new ozone-depleting gases detected
  • 2014/03/09: BBC: Mysterious new man-made gases [CFC-112, CFC112a, CFC-113a & HCFC-133a] pose threat to ozone layer
    Scientists have identified four new man-made gases that are contributing to the depletion of the ozone layer. Two of the gases are accumulating at a rate that is causing concern among researchers.
  • 2014/03/09: Guardian(UK): New ozone-destroying chemicals found in atmosphere
    Mysterious compounds undermining recovery of giant ozone hole over Antarctica, scientists warn
  • 2014/03/09: BBC: Mysterious new man-made gases pose threat to ozone layer

  As for the temperature record:

  • 2014/03/13: RealClimate: Can we make better graphs of global temperature history?
  • 2014/03/15: Moyhu: Adjustable plotting for multiscale global temperatures
  • 2014/03/14: Moyhu: February GISS Temp down by 0.25°C
  • 2014/03/13: Moyhu: TempLS global temp down 0.20°C in February
  • 2014/03/12: DeutscheWelle: Europe on track for hottest March on record
  • 2014/03/11: NASA: Long-Term Warming Likely to Be Significant Despite Recent Slowdown
  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: Australia's 'angry summer'
    After the country's hottest year on record, the summer has ended with yet more weather records being broken

  Meanwhile in near earth orbit:

  • 2014/03/11: IOTD: Rainfall Going Global [1998 - 2011]

  While in the paleoclimate:

  • 2014/03/15: Guardian(UK): What killed off the giant beasts -- climate change or man?
  • 2014/03/12: NatureN: Diminutive dinosaur stalked the Arctic
    Fossils of a pint-sized tyrannosaur from Alaska suggests seasonal variation may have influenced its body size.

  And in historical times:

  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Mild weather may have propelled Genghis Khan's rise
  • 2014/03/10: TheConversation: Wet climate helped Genghis Khan conquer Asia

  What's the State of the Biosphere?

  • 2014/03/11: Eureka: Global survey of urban birds and plants find more diversity than expected
    The largest analysis to date of the effect of urbanization on bird and plant species diversity worldwide confirms that while human influences such as land cover are more important drivers of species diversity in cities than geography or climate, many cities retain high numbers of native species and are far from barren environments.
    [...]
    Working group members compiled the global dataset for birds in 54 cities and for plants in 110 cities. The majority of urban bird and plant species they found are native, they write, and cities even support populations of 36 threatened bird and 65 threatened plant species. But across the study, cities supported about 92 percent fewer bird species and 75 percent fewer native plant species than expected for similar undeveloped lands, a "substantial decline" that is best explained by human-built features such as land cover and city age.

  And on the extinction watch:

  • 2014/03/16: SciAm:EC: Sunday Species Snapshot: Panamanian Golden Frog
  • 2014/03/15: TravellingTaxonomist: Presence of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Native Amphibians Exported from Madagascar
  • 2014/03/14: SciAm:EC: Tea and Consequences: Unsustainable Cultivation Puts Honeybush Tea at Risk
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Cassowary numbers in north Qld at all-time low, conservationists say
  • 2014/03/12: SciAm:EC: Roosevelt's Barking Deer, Unseen for 85 Years, Photographed in Vietnam
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Researchers air fears for Murray turtle population
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Endangered tinker frog: world-first breeding program may help frog fight deadly [Chytrid] fungus

  The bees and Colony Collapse Disorder are a constant concern. And then, there are the Neonicotinoids:

  • 2014/03/13: ABC(Au): Honey industry wants higher levy to keep pests out
    The Australian Honey Bee Industry Council is urging beekeepers to commit to a higher honey levy to maintain biosecurity.
  • 2014/03/11: Nation: Warning Signs: How Pesticides Harm the Young Brain

  More GW impacts are being seen:

  • 2014/03/15: Grist: Scientist would study climate change's effects on turtles, if not for climate change
  • 2014/03/14: Grist: What these historical kings and marauders can teach our leaders about climate change
  • 2014/03/12: ULiverpool: Tropical grassy ecosystems under threat
  • 2014/03/11: RNE: US govt: Climate change threatens energy infrastructure

  And then there are the world's forests:

  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Asia-Pacific countries failing to stop forest loss, UN warns

  Climate refugees are becoming an issue:

  • 2014/03/09: BBC: 42 African migrants have drowned when their boat capsized off the coast of Yemen

  Aerosols affect the climate, but they also affect people's health:

  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Panasonic First Multinational Company To Pay Air Pollution Hardship For Overseas Workers In China
  • 2014/03/12: TP:JR: Italian Judge Orders Shutdown Of Coal Plant Following Deaths And Disease

  As for heatwaves and wild fires:

  • 2014/03/14: NASA: Southeastern Fires Consist of Prescribed and Wild
  • 2014/03/12: MODIS: Fires in Indochina [on Mar.7]
  • 2014/03/09: DD: Study: Housing developments near drying forests a deadly combination in the West

  Corals are a bellwether of the ocean's health:

  • 2014/03/10: TheConversation: Reef authority caught between the devil and the deep blue sea

  Glaciers are melting:

  • 2014/03/13: FaGP: Heaney Glacier and Cook Glacier Retreat, South Georgia Island
  • 2014/03/10: FaGP: Purvis Glacier Retreat, South Georgia Island
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: India pollution linked to Himalaya glacier melt

  Sea levels are rising:

  • 2014/03/12: Maribo: Changing tides, by more (or less) than you might think

  As for hydrological cycle disruptions [floods & droughts]:

  • 2014/03/14: IOTD: Flooding in Bolivia [Mar.2013 vs Feb.2014]
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): NSW needs 'a big flood' to break drought - one third of the state is still in the grip of a drought
  • 2014/03/13: UCSD: Number of Days Without Rain to Dramatically Increase in Some World Regions
    First-of-its-kind analysis considers the effects of climate change on a daily basis
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Severe Drought In California May Force State To Truck 30 Million Salmon To The Pacific Ocean
  • 2014/03/13: Tamino: New Mexico Snow
  • 2014/03/13: GLaden: What is causing the California drought?
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Fact Check - How severe is the drought in Queensland and New South Wales?
  • 2014/03/10: PSinclair: All Wet on Drought
  • 2014/03/10: Tamino: California Drought
  • 2014/03/09: DD: In California's time of drought, turning to Native traditions to plead for rain...

  First, stop subsidizing fossil fuels
  Second, put a price on carbon
  Third, begin to reduce the human population
  And elsewhere on the mitigation front:

  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Chabazite comes to the aid of pig farmers in Italy and France
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Biochar revolutionary's manifesto for food and fuel
  • 2014/03/10: ERW: Ocean acidification of the depths is hard to mitigate

  Consider transportation & GHG production:

  • 2014/03/12: CleanTechnica: We Can Learn From The Success Of Japanese High-Speed Rail
  • 2014/03/10: Grist: Mass transit ridership grows from pathetically low to just low
  • 2014/03/10: EnvEcon: "Use of Public Transit in U.S. Reaches Highest Level Since 1956"
  • 2014/03/10: FuturePundit: Railroads Evaluating LNG Locomotives
  • 2014/03/10: TreeHugger: 10.7 Billion trips taken on transit in America last year, the most since 1956

  While in the endless quest for zero energy, sustainable buildings and practical codes:

  • 2014/03/15: CleanTechnica: "Passive House Revolution" Shows The Rise Of Extremely Efficient Houses
  • 2014/03/11: CleanTechnica: Effective Wood-Foam Insulation Developed By Researchers At Fraunhofer

  As for carbon sequestration:

  • 2014/03/12: Guardian(UK): Can Kemper become the first US power plant to use 'clean coal'?
    A $5bn facility to capture carbon and pump it underground could provide a lifeline for the dirtiest of fossil fuels, but many remain unconvinced
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Renewable energy will not solve climate change
    Renewable energy and energy efficiency are not the solutions to climate change. Instead we need to more closely examine carbon capture and storage.

  Large scale geo-engineering keeps popping up:

  • 2014/02/12: PLoS One: A Risk-Based Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering by Angus J. Ferraro et al.
  • 2014/03/13: Forbes: The World We Made: Jonathon Porritt
  • 2014/03/11: ClimateEng: [press review] CE effectiveness/side effects (on Keller, et al. (2014))

  Meanwhile in the journals:

  • 2014/02/12: PLoS One: A Risk-Based Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Stratospheric Aerosol Geoengineering by Angus J. Ferraro et al.
  • 2014/03/11: HESS: A spatial bootstrap technique for parameter estimation of rainfall annual maxima distribution by F. Uboldi et al.
  • 2014/03/10: HESS: Antecedent flow conditions and nitrate concentrations in the Mississippi River basin by J. C. Murphy et al.
  • 2014/03/11: HESSD: Hydroclimatic regimes: a distributed water-balance framework for hydrologic assessment and classification by P. K. Weiskel et al.
  • 2014/03/11: HESSD: Hydrologic landscape classification assesses streamflow vulnerability to climate change in Oregon, USA by S. G. Leibowitz et al.
  • 2014/03/10: HESSD: Satellite radar altimetry for monitoring small river and lakes in Indonesia by Y. B. Sulistioadi et al.
  • 2014/03/11: OS: Geostrophic currents and kinetic energies in the Black Sea estimated from merged drifter and satellite altimetry data by M. Menna & P.-M. Poulain
  • 2014/03/11: TC: Limitations of using a thermal imager for snow pit temperatures by M. Schirmer & B. Jamieson
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (abs) Dicer-like 3 produces transposable element-associated 24-nt siRNAs that control agricultural traits in rice by Liya Wei et al.
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (ab$) Eukaryotic algal phytochromes span the visible spectrum by Nathan C. Rockwell et al.
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (abs) Radiation dose rates now and in the future for residents neighboring restricted areas of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant by Kouji H. Harada et al.
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (ab$) Chemical-biogeographic survey of secondary metabolism in soil by Zachary Charlop-Powers et al.
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (abs) Obstacles to integrated pest management adoption in developing countries by Soroush Parsa et al.
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (abs) Climate change mitigation through livestock system transitions by Petr Havlík et al.
  • 2014/03/11: PNAS: (ab$) Agreeing to disagree on climate policy by Geoffrey M. Heal & Antony Millner
  • 2014/03/11: ACP: Space-based observations of fire NOx emission coefficients: a global biome-scale comparison by A. K. Mebust & R. C. Cohen
  • 2014/03/11: ACPD: Global emissions of HFC-143a (CH3CF3) and HFC-32 (CH2F2) from in situ and air archive atmospheric observations by S. O'Doherty et al.
  • 2014/03/11: ACPD: An improved dust emission model with insights into the global dust cycle's climate sensitivity by J. F. Kok et al.
  • 2014/03/11: ACPD: New emission factors for Australian vegetation fires measured using open-path Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy - Part 2: Australian tropical savanna fires by T. E. L. Smith et al.
  • 2014/03/13: Eureka: UCLA study yields more accurate data on thousands of years of climate change
  • 2014/03/12: BGD: CO2 and CH4 in sea ice from a subarctic fjord by O. Crabeck et al.
  • 2014/03/11: BGD: Assessing effects of permafrost thaw on C fluxes based on a multi-year modeling across a permafrost thaw gradient at Stordalen, Sweden by J. Deng et al.
  • 2014/03/13: CP: The challenge of simulating the warmth of the mid-Miocene climatic optimum in CESM1 by A. Goldner et al.
  • 2014/03/13: CP: Reconstruction of the March-August PDSI since 1703 AD based on tree rings of Chinese pine (Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) in the Lingkong Mountain, southeast Chinese loess Plateau by Q. Cai et al.
  • 2014/03/13: CP: Assessing the impact of Laurentide Ice Sheet topography on glacial climate by D. J. Ullman et al.
  • 2014/03/12: CP: Inorganic geochemistry data from Lake El'gygytgyn sediments: marine isotope stages 6-11 by P. S. Minyuk et al.
  • 2014/03/11: CP: Uncertainties in the modelled CO2 threshold for Antarctic glaciation by E. Gasson et al.
  • 2014/03/11: CP: Forward modelling of tree-ring width and comparison with a global network of tree-ring chronologies by P. Breitenmoser et al.
  • 2014/03/13: CPD: Changing climatic response: a conceptual model for glacial cycles and the Mid-Pleistocene Transition by I. Daruka & P. D. Ditlevsen
  • 2014/03/13: CPD: Sediment sequence and site formation processes at the Arbreda Cave, NE Iberian Peninsula, and implications on human occupation and climate change during the Last Glacial by M. Kehl et al.
  • 2014/03/15: BGD: The effect of drought and interspecific interactions on the depth of water uptake in deep- and shallow-rooting grassland species as determined by 18O natural abundance by N. J. Hoekstra et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ESDD: Contrasting roles of interception and transpiration in the hydrological cycle - Part 2: Moisture recycling by R. J. van der Ent et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ESDD: Contrasting roles of interception and transpiration in the hydrological cycle - Part 1: Simple Terrestrial Evaporation to Atmosphere Model by L. Wang-Erlandsson et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ACP: Retrieval of methane source strengths in Europe using a simple modeling approach to assess the potential of spaceborne lidar observations by C. Weaver et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ACP: The Arctic summer atmosphere: an evaluation of reanalyses using ASCOS data by C. Wesslén et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ACPD: Long-term trends in aerosol and precipitation composition over the western North Atlantic Ocean at Bermuda by W. C. Keene et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ACPD: Climatology of stratocumulus cloud morphologies: microphysical properties and radiative effects by A. Muhlbauer et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ACPD: Improved model of isoprene emissions in Africa using OMI satellite observations of formaldehyde: implications for oxidants and particulate matter by E. A. Marais et al.
  • 2014/03/14: ACPD: A global model simulation of present and future nitrate aerosols and their direct radiative forcing of climate by D. A. Hauglustaine et al.
  • 2014/03/13: HESS: Socio-hydrologic drivers of the pendulum swing between agricultural development and environmental health: a case study from Murrumbidgee River basin, Australia by J. Kandasamy et al.
  • 2014/03/12: HESS: Phosphorus transport and retention in a channel draining an urban, tropical catchment with informal settlements by P. M. Nyenje et al.
  • 2014/03/12: HESS: Operational reservoir inflow forecasting with radar altimetry: the Zambezi case study by C. I. Michailovsky & P. Bauer-Gottwein
  • 2014/03/14: HESSD: A seasonal agricultural drought forecast system for food-insecure regions of East Africa by S. Shukla et al.
  • 2014/03/12: HESSD: Protecting environmental flows through enhanced water licensing and water markets by T. Erfani et al.
  • 2014/03/14: OSD: Sensitivity of phytoplankton distributions to vertical mixing along a North Atlantic transect by L. Hahn-Woernle et al.
  • 2014/03/13: OSD: Variability of water mass properties in the Strait of Sicily in summer period of 1998-2013 by A. Bonanno et al.
  • 2014/03/13: TC: Simulation of wind-induced snow transport and sublimation in alpine terrain using a fully coupled snowpack/atmosphere model by V. Vionnet et al.
  • 2014/03/05: PLoS One: Presence of the Amphibian Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in Native Amphibians Exported from Madagascar by Jonathan E. Kolby
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:Nano: (ab$) Electrically tunable excitonic light-emitting diodes based on monolayer WSe2 p-n junctions by Jason S. Ross et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:GeoSci: (ab$) Co-evolution of eukaryotes and ocean oxygenation in the Neoproterozoic era by Timothy M. Lenton et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:GeoSci: (ab$) Solar forcing of North Atlantic surface temperature and salinity over the past millennium by Paola Moffa-Sánchez et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:GeoSci: (ab$) Newly detected ozone-depleting substances in the atmosphere by Johannes C. Laube et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:GeoSci: (ab$) Production of sulphate-rich vapour during the Chicxulub impact and implications for ocean acidification by Sohsuke Ohno et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:CC: (ab$) Climate projection: Testing climate assumptions by David A. Stainforth
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:CC: (ab$) Distinct effects of anthropogenic aerosols on tropical cyclones by Yuan Wang et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:CC: (ab$) Fewer large waves projected for eastern Australia due to decreasing storminess by Andrew J. Dowdy et al.
  • 2014/03/09: Nature:CC: (ab$) Inhomogeneous forcing and transient climate sensitivity by Drew T. Shindell
  • 2014/03/10: AGWObserver: Papers on GHG emissions from bioenergy related land-use

  As for miscellaneous science:

  • 2014/03/15: QuarkSoup: Private Funding of $cience
  • 2014/03/14: CLBook: Demonstrating climate variability
  • 2014/03/12: SciAm:PI: Wind turbines could reduce damage from hurricanes without breaking themselves
  • 2014/03/11: TMasters: How sensitive are the Otto et al. TCR and ECS estimates to the temperature and ocean heat datasets?
  • 2014/03/11: USGS: Amazon Carbon Dynamics: Understanding the Photosynthesis-Climate Link
  • 2014/03/10: CCP: "Global increase in record-breaking monthly-mean temperatures," by D. Coumou, A. Robinson & S. Rahmstorf, Clim. Change 118 (2013); doi: 10.1007/s10584-012-0668-1
  • 2014/03/10: Hypergeometric: MIT Climate CoLab Contests: U.S. Carbon Price, and Federal Agency Climate Mitigation Options

  In the science organizations:

  • 2014/03/13: ScienceInsider: Swiss Government to Offset ERC Funding Block
  • 2014/03/12: ScienceInsider: U.K. to Shower Money on Three Big Science Projects
  • 2014/03/11: NatureN: China goes back to basics on research funding
    Core science gets budget boost in a bid to change research culture and increase innovation.

  More DIY science:

  • 2014/03/11: BBC: Citizen science study to map the oceans' plankton
    A study is calling on the world's sailors to help map the oceans' phytoplankton, microscopic plants that form the bedrock of marine food chains. Researchers have developed an app for people to submit readings from Secchi disks - a method used since 1865.

  What's new in models?

  • 2014/03/15: SimpleC: Real-world grounding could cool 21st century outlook

  What developments in the ongoing struggle for Open Science?

  • 2014/03/14: NatureNB: The new dilemma of online peer review: too many places to post?

  Regarding Science and Policy:

  • 2014/03/12: NatureN: Policy: The art of science advice to government
    Peter Gluckman, New Zealand's chief science adviser, offers his ten principles for building trust, influence, engagement and independence.

  Regarding Advocacy:

  • 2014/03/14: ToledoBlade: Science strikes back
    Science has been under siege for years by some religious leaders over evolution, global warming, the age of the Earth and universe, and even the question of when life begins. And while the faith vs. science struggle appears to be heating up again, there's been a significant strategic shift in the centuries-old conflict. Scientists are fighting back.

  Meanwhile at the UN:

  • 2014/03/12: WMO: WMO and UNITAR cooperate on climate services

  And on the carbon trading front:

  • 2014/03/14: EurActiv: EU ruled out 2030 offsets due to carbon market drought
    The EU had little choice in proposing not to outsource more of its emission cuts abroad to meet a proposed 40% reduction in greenhouse gas output by 2030 because the slow pace of global talks to develop new carbon markets gave it nothing to buy, a senior EU official said.
  • 2014/03/11: BBerg: Emissions Pioneer Losing Clout as EU Ban Looms: Carbon & Climate
    Thirteen years after the United Nations set up the first carbon emissions market, the global trading system's influence is waning as it gives way to local and regional plans to combat climate change. Fewer markets are accepting UN Certified Emissions Reductions, credits created from investment in carbon-reduction programs, as nations from China to California adopt their own standards. In Europe's $54 billion market, where lawmakers are tackling a record glut, utilities and manufacturers from EON SE to Thyssenkrupp AG may reach the limit on the CERs they can use by March 2015, data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance show. The slide in demand for UN credits is hurting the worldwide effort agreed at Kyoto in 1997 to keep increases in temperatures, blamed for floods, droughts and rising sea levels, to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) from pre-industrial times. There's no global alternative...

  The idea of a carbon tax is still bouncing around:

  • 2014/03/12: Tyee: What Has BC's Carbon Tax Shift Done? Six years in, measuring the results in five charts
  • 2014/03/12: RNE: UK nuclear power plant builders want higher carbon tax

  On the international political front, tensions continue as the empire leans on Iran:

  • 2014/03/14: WNN: Russia, Iran discuss further reactors
    Russia and Iran have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement for the construction of two more units at the Bushehr nuclear power plant. The first unit at Bushehr, completed by Russia, is already in full operation.
  • 2014/03/14: Rediff:B: Oman shows the way for India by M K Bhadrakumar
  • 2014/03/13: IndRus: US dictates India's Iran ties by M K Bhadrakumar
    The reality is that the Indian-Iranian relationship atrophied in the recent years in almost direct proportion to the rising US-Iranian tensions and is nowhere near its full potential.

  South [& East] China Sea tension persists:

  • 2014/03/14: BBerg: Philippines to Let U.S. Build Military Facilities on Bases
    The Philippines will let the U.S. build facilities inside the Southeast Asian nation's military bases, under a pact that would boost the American troop presence there at a time of rising tensions with China. Philippine concern about access to U.S. facilities on its bases was "sufficiently addressed" and the two countries will hold further talks later this month as they seek to wrap up an agreement,
  • 2014/03/13: WSWS: Japanese government seeks to whitewash crimes against "comfort women"
  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: South China Sea disputes: The gloves are off
    Southeast China Sea disputes have entered a dangerous stage, as China steps up its territorial claims.

  These 'free trade' treaties should be called the corporate control treaties:

  • 2014/03/15: EUO: Germany opposes EU-US investor protection scheme
    EU and US trade negotiators completed the fourth round of trade talks on Friday (14 March), but were tight-lipped after Germany joined France in calling for controversial rules on investor rights to be left out of an agreement. The mechanism, known as investor state dispute settlement (ISDS), allows companies to take legal action against governments if their decisions risk undermining their investments.
  • 2014/03/14: Guardian(UK): What does the biggest free trade deal in history mean for the environment?
  • 2014/03/11: NakedCapitalism: Trans-Pacific Partnership Reveals Deadly Cost of American Patents
  • 2014/03/11: EurActiv: Green party leaks confidential TTIP paper
    Top European lawmakers from Germany's Green Party leaked a confidential document last Friday (7 March) regarding talks over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), arguing that the disclosure is in the "public interest" and for the "protection of democracy". EurActiv.de reports. On Friday (7 March), high-ranking German MEPs from the European Greens leaked a confidential document from the Council of Ministers regarding the ongoing TTIP negotiations. "TTIP threatens to take away democracy's means for social and environmental management of the internal market," Green MEP Sven Giegold warned, defending the decision to publish the document.
  • 2014/03/10: CCurrents: Corrupt Trade And Investor Agreements: Facilitating Corporate Plunder
  • 2014/03/10: Monbiot: All Give and No Take
    Do those negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership have any interest in democracy? Here's a test.
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Give and take in the EU-US trade deal? Sure. We give, the corporations take
  • 2014/03/10: Asia Times: Lives at stake in TPP trade deal
    [...] For the TPPA can cut off the potential supply of cheaper generic medicines that can save lives, especially when the original branded products are priced so sky-high that very few can afford them.

  The huffing and puffing over Crimea and Ukraine is coming to a head:

  • 2014/03/14: CleanTechnica: The Impact Of The Ukrainian Crisis On The Gas Market
  • 2014/03/14: CleanTechnica: Putin Can't Turn Off Europe's Wind
  • 2014/03/13: EurActiv: Business calls on shale gas to end Russian dependence
    In the wake of the Ukraine crisis, the European Union should put an end to its dependence on Russian gas imports by being "less emotional" about shale gas exploration, says the head of BusinessEurope, the EU employers' association.
  • 2014/03/12: NakedCapitalism: Washington Does Not Have a Natural Gas Weapon Against Moscow
  • 2014/03/11: SciAm: Can U.S. Fracked Gas Save Ukraine?
  • 2014/03/11: EurActiv: South Stream pipeline project frozen over Crimea crisis
    EU Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger is to delay talks with Russia over the South Stream pipeline project, aimed at importing Russian gas via the Black Sea. His spokesperson said yesterday (10 March) that the EU executive had to take into account broader political developments, including the Crimea crisis.
  • 2014/03/10: SciAm:PI: For Russia, natural gas weapon works both ways
  • 2014/03/10: EurActiv: 'Visegrad 4' [Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia] want US gas to cut dependence on Russia
  • 2014/03/09: TP:JR: Rand Paul Says He Would Respond To Ukrainian Crisis By 'Drilling In Every Possible Conceivable Place'
  • 2014/03/09: RI: Ukraine, Russia and the nonexistent U.S. oil and natural gas "weapon"
  • 2014/03/09: Resilience: Ukraine, Russia and the nonexistent U.S. oil and natural gas "weapon"
  • 2014/03/07: MoJo: What the Ukraine Crisis Means for the Energy Industry
    Four ways that energy politics are shaping the standoff with Russia.
  • 2014/03/06: FP: How the American shale gas boom can weaken Russia's hand in Ukraine

  As for miscellanea, it remains to be seen what this portends if anything:

  • 2014/03/14: EurActiv: Obama and EU unite on climate change draft
    US President Barack Obama and EU leaders meeting in Brussels this month are set to throw their combined weight behind tackling climate change, in a show of developed world solidarity on the need for a new global deal, leaked documents suggest.
  • 2014/03/14: EUO: US and EU in climate change pledge - likely to disappoint environmentalists

  The issue of the law and activism is playing out around the world:

  • 2014/03/14: DeSmogBlog: Chevron RICO Verdict Sets Dangerous Precedent For Activists
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Australian Anti-Protest Law Targets Environmental Activists With Fines And Jail
    Australia's state of Victoria passed the Summary Offences Act Tuesday, giving police extraordinary power to disperse protests, imprison and fine those who don't comply, and ban repeat offenders from certain areas. Police would be able to order protesters to disperse if they are blocking the entrance to a building, blocking people or traffic, or if they are expected to turn violent, which would apply without much difficulty to most protests.
  • 2014/03/13: WSWS: Greek students face prosecution for protests
    In April, 21 Greek students will be tried for participating in a 2011 school occupation. They face prison sentences of up to six months. Their prosecution is aimed at criminalizing anyone who protests against cuts in education, as austerity measures are intensified.

  What are the activists up to?

  • 2014/03/16: WtD: 30,000 march in Melbourne: images of ordinary Australians fighting for climate justice
  • 2014/03/15: TP:JR: Photos: Thousands Turn Up For California's Largest-Ever Rally To Ban Fracking
  • 2014/03/11: CCP: The Student Who Took on Venoco
    The oil giant says it didn't use acid to get offshore oil -- intern disagrees
  • 2014/03/10: DeSmogBlog: Green Army Prepares to Battle Louisiana Legislators To Protect Water From Oil Industry Threats

  Polls! We have polls!

  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Poll shows opposition to World Heritage de-listing...
  • 2014/03/13: USAToday: Poll: Global warming no big threat to USA life
    Gallup finds only 36% believe climate change will seriously affect their lives
  • 2014/03/13: Grist: Americans respond to climate change by yawning at it, poll finds
  • 2014/03/10: TreeHugger: Should Daylight Savings Time be scrapped? (Survey)

  Regarding Water Politics and Business; See also:

  • 2014/03/15: JFleck: Morelos Dam, Minute 319 and replumbing the Colorado River Delta
  • 2014/03/15: JFleck: When there is less water, people use less water, Texas edition
  • 2014/03/14: JFleck: Why is Paso Robles failing to self-regulate groundwater?
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): SA Water considers desal plant to combat Orroroo's salty water
  • 2014/03/12: CBC: Lethbridge declares state of emergency over water problem -- Picture Butte, Coaldale and Coalhurst also warned about water
  • 2014/03/11: JFleck: Metering water sales
  • 2014/03/10: al Jazeera: Debunking some myths about Israel's water politics
    Ending the occupation is a crucial first step if Israel wants real peace with its neighbours.
  • 2014/03/10: TruthOut: New Mexico: Where Polluting Groundwater Is Legal

  Regarding science education:

  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Chief Scientist opens new centre to boost hands-on learning in Canberra
  • 2014/03/13: SciAm:RS: A Travesty of an Education
  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: The great Texas textbook debate
    The state's board of education has an outsize influence on which textbooks are used by schools throughout the US.
  • 2014/03/09: ClimateCouncil: Free Online Course: Everything You've Ever Wanted to Know About Climate Change

  While in the UK:

  • 2014/03/13: BBC: Payouts for flood victims reach nearly £450m, insurers say
  • 2014/03/13: BBC: Fracking 'could harm wildlife'
    Fracking has the potential to devastate wildlife habitats across the UK, says research commissioned by leading wildlife and countryside groups. The report Are We Fit to Frack? was launched by six organisations including the National Trust and the RSPB.
  • 2014/03/12: BBC: Scottish salmon exports to US hit £200m mark
    The value of salmon exports to America has seen a four fold increase in five years reaching £200m last year. The Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO) described the figures as a "major breakthrough". Salmon is Scotland's largest food export and the global retail value of Scots farmed salmon is more than £1bn.
  • 2014/03/11: BBC: Barton Moss fracking camp protesters in eviction appeal
  • 2014/03/10: BBC: Floods give jobs market 'unexpected boost', says Manpower
  • 2014/03/10: Resilience: The United Kingdom: Bad Circumstances and Bad Policy
  • 2014/03/09: Guardian(UK): Green deal finance company falls foul of advertising watchdog

  And in Europe:

  • 2014/03/16: CBC: France curbs Paris car drivers to combat dangerous smog -- Paris drivers can only use cars on alternate days...
  • 2014/03/15: BBC: Paris restricts car use after pollution hits high
  • 2014/03/15: TP:JR: Smog-Covered Paris Offers Free Public Transportation In Bid To Reduce Pollution
  • 2014/03/14: CBC: Paris pollution hits life-threatening level
  • 2014/03/14: EurActiv: EU ruled out 2030 offsets due to carbon market drought
    The EU had little choice in proposing not to outsource more of its emission cuts abroad to meet a proposed 40% reduction in greenhouse gas output by 2030 because the slow pace of global talks to develop new carbon markets gave it nothing to buy, a senior EU official said.
  • 2014/03/13: EurActiv: Building efficiency sector: 'The 2030 debate was a set-up'
    The EU's climate establishment rigged the debate on 2030 targets with stacked projections for energy efficiency savings discounts, and wildly optimistic assumptions about the carbon market, according to buildings efficiency industry and NGO sources.
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: Three EU countries hit 2020 renewable benchmarks early
  • 2014/03/12: RTCC: EU backs big curbs on superstrength greenhouse gases
  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Reducing Europe's carbon: set bold targets and aim for the impossible
  • 2014/03/11: EurActiv: Liberian campaigner calls for EU action on logging law dodgers
    An award-winning Liberian environmental campaigner has called on the EU to act against 20 member states which have still not implemented a timber regulation to combat illegal logging, a year after it came into force. New research from the environmental group Client Earth shows that eight EU countries have done nothing to transpose the law, while ten have only produced draft legislation. A clear majority of countries have no penalties in place to deal with illegally-logged timber entering the bloc.
  • 2014/03/11: EurActiv: Germany expects quick deal over 'ambitious' EU climate goals
    Despite persistent opposition from some EU member states, German environment minister Barbara Hendricks said she expects an agreement over the EU's proposed climate and energy package for 2030...
  • 2014/03/11: NatureNB: Switzerland to provide grants while European funding is on hold
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: Germany's carbon targets in doubt as emissions rise in 2013
    New lignite-fired power stations prompt rise in Germany's CO2 emissions, tarnishing the country's green revolution Germany's emissions rose in 2013 as new coal-fired capacity offset the impact of new wind and solar, further underlining the paradox of the country's energy policy and difficulty in meeting future carbon reduction targets.
  • 2014/03/10: EurActiv: EU countries must share responsibility for refugees, Sweden insists
  • 2014/03/10: EurActiv: Car coolant rejected by Daimler is safe: EU scientists

  Meanwhile in Australia:

  • 2014/03/16: ABC(Au): SA election: all eyes on independents as hung parliament looms
    South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has begun courting two key independents who could hold the balance of power in the state. Labor has defied campaign predictions in South Australia and remains in the hunt to continue its reign for a fourth consecutive term, with a hung parliament heading the pack of predicted outcomes. The election remains too close to call, with about 260,000 votes - many of them pre-poll absentee and postal votes - still to be counted.
  • 2014/03/16: WtD: 30,000 march in Melbourne: images of ordinary Australians fighting for climate justice
  • 2014/03/16: WtD: 30,000 march in Melbourne: more images
  • 2014/03/16: WtD: 30,000 March for climate and social justice: more images
  • 2014/03/16: RNE: Centralised to decentralised energy: What does it mean?
  • 2014/03/15: ABC(Au): Liberals swept to power in Tasmania, Labor hopeful of clinging to power in South Australia
  • 2014/03/15: ClimateShifts: Bernie Fraser: 'brazen falsehoods' and 'misinformation' have confused a switched-off and fed-up public
  • 2014/03/15: ABC(Au): South Australian Election 2014
  • 2014/03/14: Guardian(UK): Syrians on Manus Island offered repatriation despite prospect of 'certain death'
  • 2014/03/14: WSWS: Final two Australian state Labor governments face defeat
  • 2014/03/14: TheConversation: Big solar could boost Australia's power, if renewables funding stays
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Senate to inquire into Government's environmental offset policy
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): 16,000 livestock lost in Vic bushfires
    The Department of Environment and Primary Industries in Victoria has finished its audit of livestock that died in the state's bushfires last month. Sixteen-thousand sheep and cattle died in and after the fires. That's more than the number lost on Black Saturday in 2009.
  • 2014/03/14: RNE: WA electricity market review eyes elephant in the room
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Weekend elections: Labor in trouble in Tasmania and SA, says Antony Green
  • 2014/03/13: Guardian(UK): Bill Shorten to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with 'market-based system'
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: ACT ready to tackle "wind antis" head on
  • 2014/03/13: PeakEnergy: Running on empty: Australia's dependence on imported fossil fuels
  • 2014/03/13: PeakEnergy: AGL Energy wind farms running near 50% capacity
  • 2014/03/13: ABC(Au): Tasmania's World Heritage Area: World Heritage Committee advisor raises concerns over plan to reduce protected area
  • 2014/03/13: ABC(Au): Mine fire contained but family faces long wait before they can return to Morwell South
    [...]
    Insurance assessors have told her it will take anywhere from six months to a year to make the family's dust and ash-caked home inhabitable again.
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Australian Anti-Protest Law Targets Environmental Activists With Fines And Jail
  • 2014/03/12: TheConversation: Stronger laws needed to prevent another Hazelwood coal mine fire
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): ACT Government to source wind energy from NSW farms for 80,000 Canberra homes
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Morawa Shire says solar plans 'beyond capacity' of council
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Darwin spends the day sweltering without electricity
  • 2014/03/12: RNE: Pollie Watch: Will SA Liberals kill wind energy jobs, investment?
  • 2014/03/12: RNE: ACT to auction 200MW of wind farm capacity
  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Tony Abbott and Bill Shorten battle over what's best for Western Australia
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Look out for friend's mental health during drought: RFDS
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Inquiry with coercive powers to examine Morwell fire and fallout
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Ta Ann's future in Tasmania not dependent on peace deal survival
    Timber business Ta Ann is not expected to leave Tasmania if a new Liberal Government dismantle the Tasmanian Forests Agreement (TFA). The TFA, also known as the forest peace deal, was signed by industry and environmental groups after years of tough negotiations.
    [...]
    The Liberals are standing by their pledge to kill off the deal if they win Saturday's poll.
  • 2014/03/11: RTCC: Australia warned to prepare for hotter summers
    Latest Climate Council report says extremes of 2013/2014 'Angry Summer' likely to intensify Australia's government has been warned it must prepare for hotter summers and rising numbers of bushfires as a result of climate change.
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Clive Palmer investigated by Tasmanian Electoral Commission over possible advertising breach
  • 2014/03/10: TheConversation: Reef authority caught between the devil and the deep blue sea
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Climate action call as 'another angry summer' breaks 156 heat records
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Climate change: surfers told to expect fewer large waves on east coast [of Australia]
  • 2014/03/10: JWright: Greens' Scott Ludlam slams Abbott government
  • 2014/03/09: TheConversation: Surf's down: climate change likely to bring fewer big waves
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Big waves predicted to drop along Australia's east coast
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Producers forced to sell cattle
    More than 3,700 head of cattle were yarded at Toowoomba today, the biggest offering in seven years. Elders agent Darren Hartwig says the dry conditions are forcing producers to offload stock as they just can't afford to feed them.
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): WA farmers battle to keep stock alive in the dry
    Many farmers in southern Western Australia are working around the clock to keep their stock alive after a long, dry summer.
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Tasmanian farmers affected by the forest peace deal in land management limbo
  • 2014/03/10: RNE: Graph of the Day: Australia's 5 million "solar heroes"
  • 2014/03/10: RNE: Top WA solar postcodes have lower than average incomes
  • 2014/03/10: RNE: WA launches review into unsustainable electricity market
  • 2014/03/10: RNE: Demand changes and solar impact continue to shock experts
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Hazelwood mine fire now controlled after burning for a month
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Climate Council report: More than 150 weather records broken last summer, climate change cited as reason
  • 2014/03/09: TP:JR: UN Officials Speak Out On Climate Change As Australian Drought Deepens

  Now we get to watch the suppository of wisdom destroy what little Australia has done to fight climate change:

  • 2014/03/14: WSWS: Australian refugee camp atrocity: The class issues
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Poll shows opposition to World Heritage de-listing...
  • 2014/03/14: RNE: 14 things we learned -- and the Abbott government didn't
  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): Fact Check - Tony Abbott not telling the full story on Alcoa and the carbon tax
  • 2014/03/13: ClimateShifts: Is Australia shooting itself in the foot with reef port expansions?
  • 2014/03/13: TheConversation: Is Australia shooting itself in the foot with reef port expansions?
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: Abbott climate policy guided by business, not science: Fraser
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Ken Henry says raising GST inevitable, criticises PM over replacement of Treasury boss Martin Parkinson
  • 2014/03/12: Guardian(UK): 'March in March' doesn't offer credible alternatives
    Instead of licking its wounds and working on new ideas, the Australian left has focused on tearing the government down. This won't work
  • 2014/03/12: AIMN: MARCH IN MARCH And why I support it
  • 2014/03/12: WSWS: Australian government defies UN call to release refugee detainees
  • 2014/03/12: RNE: RET cuts will slash green investment, destabilise grid, lift prices
    A new report has found that the winding back or scrapping of Australia's Renewable Energy Target would set new-build energy generation back by 10 years, cost billions in lost renewables investments, drive up power prices and destabilise the grid.
  • 2014/03/11: TheConversation: Environmental legal aid slashed when Australia needs it most
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): WA Senate election: PM Tony Abbott calls mining, carbon taxes 'anti Western Australian' in pitch to voters
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): NSW Liverpool Plains farmers want action on drought help
  • 2014/03/09: AIMN: Introducing one of Tony Abbott's climate science experts
  • 2014/03/09: WtD: Conspiracy theorist appointed Tony Abbott's climate science adviser?

  The fight over coal seam gas continues:

  • 2014/03/13: ABC(Au): Wattle Range Council seeks stricter fracking controls
    Wattle Range Council is calling on the next state government to establish appropriate distances between tourism and towns in the region and unconventional gas exploration.
  • 2014/03/13: ABC(Au): CSG protestors converge on Dubbo MP's office
    The Member for Dubbo Troy Grant has met a deputation of farmers who are concerned about Coal Seam Gas operations in the Pilliga forest. The group gathered at the Nationals MP's office this morning asking him to endorse of the "Narrabri Resolution", which is a statement supported by 600 farmers calling for the protection of water and land. Anne Kennedy from the Great Artesian Protection Group says she feels Mr Grant is giving the benefit of the doubt to CSG operators, defying the wishes of his electorate.
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): EPA questioned over its handling of aquifer contamination
    Back home now and public health experts and environmentalists are expressing alarm that the New South Wales Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) did not compel the mining giant Santos to do follow up testing when it discovered the mine's coal seam gas operations had led to uranium contamination of an aquifer. There are also questions about why the EPA fined Santos only $1,500 when the uranium in the aquifer was at nearly 20 times the recommended levels.
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Concerns raised over EPA response to aquifer uranium contamination by CSG company Santos
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): [NSW minister for resources, Anthony Roberts] concerned about CSG shelf companies
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Santos denies aquifer contamination
    Coal seam gas company Santos has denied an aquifer in north-west NSW has been contaminated by water leaking from a storage pond.
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Coal seam gas debate fires up in central west NSW
    A flurried Twitter exchange over the development of a coal seam gas industry near Dubbo on the western plains of NSW has sparked a feisty debate between the member for Dubbo Troy Grant, and Greens Senator Jeremy Buckingham.
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Coal seam gas leak in NSW unites farmers and green groups
    Farmers in the Pilliga Forest region of New South Wales are today demanding that the Santos energy company leave the area immediately, following revelations about its uranium contamination of a local aquifer. The state environmental protection agency found that the company's coal seam gas activities caused more than 20 times the safe level of uranium to contaminate the aquifer and fined the mining giant $1,500. A local farmers' alliance called Lock the Gates has now joined forces with green groups to call on the Government to immediately abandon its deal with Santos to accelerate the progress of coal seam gas drilling in the region.
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): Coal seam gas opponents 'scaremongering' over groundwater contamination at Pilliga gas project in NSW [says Santos]

  After years of wrangling, the Murray Darling Basin Plan is in place, but the water management fights are far from finished:

  • 2014/03/14: ABC(Au): SA Water considers desal plant to combat Orroroo's salty water
  • 2014/03/12: ABC(Au): Commonwealth to open tender for more NSW water
    Irrigators in the northern NSW Peel Valley will have a chance to bid for water this week, as the Commonwealth puts some more of its allocation on the temporary market.
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Water authority offers assurances as Lake Menindee drops to 5 per cent capacity
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): State election unlikely to change SA's Basin funding cut
    South Australia seems likely to halve its funding to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority regardless of who wins the state election on Saturday. The current Labor government has previously announced its intention to cut its contribution to river maintenance and other programs by $14 million. That's in retaliation against New South Wales, which has more than halved its own contribution to the Basin Authority.
  • 2014/03/10: ABC(Au): High uptake for emergency water infrastructure
    A Queensland environmental group says the water infrastructure rebate has been the most effective drought assistance measure offered by the Federal Government. The Northern Gulf Resource Management Group says at least 100 landholders in North Queensland have been able access the 75 per cent rebate so far.

  And in the Indian subcontinent:

  • 2014/03/14: RNE: India's likely new PM big fan of solar, not of coal
    [...]
    Narendra Modi, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party who is currently leading in the polls in the lead-up to the general election in May, is in fact a big fan of solar - and pioneered the first incentives for large scale solar power in 2009.
  • 2014/03/12: TheConversation: Hard Evidence: does GM cotton lead to farmer suicide in India?
  • 2014/03/12: WSWS: India's election campaign goes into high gear
  • 2014/03/12: BBerg: Modi Signals Solar Revolution for Power Market: Corporate India
    Narendra Modi hasn't said much about how he'd govern India if he wins the general election in May. One thing is clear: he's signaling a clean energy revolution to end blackouts and revive economic growth. The election frontrunner pioneered India's first incentives for large-scale solar power in 2009 in sun-baked Gujarat province a year before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh backed the technology. Modi also shook up utilities, giving his state uninterrupted electricity supplies, a rarity in India.

  While in China:

  • 2014/03/13: SMH: China reconsiders carbon tax, citing Australia's planned repeal
    [...]
    The Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission have both said a tax on carbon emissions might be implemented in addition to China's planned emissions trading scheme, its main policy to combat climate change, although studies are still being carried out on how it would work
  • 2014/03/13: ABC(Au): Chinese Premier [Li Keqiang] vows to stabilise growth, use 'iron fist' against pollution
  • 2014/03/13: RTCC: China's 'war on smog' won't cut CO2 by much: research
  • 2014/03/12: Guardian(UK): Nine Chinese cities suffered more days of severe smog than Beijing
  • 2014/03/12: RTCC: Smog will drive China climate action, says France foreign minister, Laurent Fabius
  • 2014/03/10: DD: China's toxic air pollution resembles nuclear winter, say scientists...

  In Japan:

  • 2014/03/14: RTCC: Tokyo to reach CO2 targets without its carbon trading scheme
    Tokyo will meet carbon reduction targets without the need to use carbon credits in its emissions trading scheme, mainly as a result of increased energy efficiency after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster threatened a crunch in power supply.

  And elsewhere in Asia:

  • 2014/03/11: UN: After Maldives high court removes election officials, Ban urges respect for rule of law

  In the Middle East:

  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Iran's government steps up efforts to tackle pollution
    After years of opacity on the subject, the administration has admitted that the main source of the smog is sub-standard gasoline
  • 2014/03/10: CleanTechnica: Middle East North Africa Area To See Renewable Energy Boom

  And South America:

  • 2014/03/12: al Jazeera: Bachelet sworn in again as Chile's president
    Moderate socialist Michelle Bachelet takes oath of office eight years after she became first female to assume the post.
  • 2014/03/11: al Jazeera: El Salvador presidential vote a near tie
    Initial results showing a narrow victory for former rebel leader prompt challenger to cry foul.
  • 2014/03/10: DemNow: Leftist Ex-Rebel Holds Narrow Lead in El Salvador After Entering Race as Heavy Favorite

  In Canada, neocon PM Harper, aka The Blight, pushes petroleum while ignoring the climate and ecology:

  • 2014/03/16: NorRe: Sabotaging Environment Canada
  • 2014/03/15: Tyee: Facing Millions in Cuts, Environment Canada Prepares to Get Lean
    Harper government releases a rather trim three-year budget for the department
  • 2014/03/13: TheCanadian: Canada Revenue Agency audits environmental groups
  • 2014/03/14: DeSmogBlog: Joe Oliver Draws Criticism For Calling Canada a "21st Century Energy Superpower"
  • 2014/03/12: DeSmogBlog: More than 1000 Jobs Lost, Climate Program Hit Hard in Coming Environment Canada Cuts
  • 2014/03/12: Creekside: EPIC's epic NEP - Part 2
  • 2014/03/09: Creekside: EPIC's epic National Energy Program

  Resonances of the Lac Mégantic tragedy linger:

  • 2014/03/14: WSWS: Investigations into Lac-Mégantic rail disaster show government culpability
  • 2014/03/11: CBC: Lac-Mégantic train crash a wake-up call for U.S. rail safety

  Pipelines - Natural Gasand Liquids:

  There are getting to be so many pipelines, one almost needs a scorecard:

  1. The TransCanada West-East pipeline has passed the first stage
  2. The battle over the Northern Gateway pipeline rages on
  3. The Kinder Morgan expansion remains controversial
  4. Alberta is usually good for a random spill
  5. The Enbridge Line 9 reversal has been approved by the NEB
  6. The ancient Enbridge Line 5 runs under the Straits of Mackinac
  7. Enbridge has announced a Line 3 rebuild

  The battle over the Northern Gateway pipeline rages on:

  • 2014/03/12: TheCanadian: Harper Government's Enbridge pipeline decision expected mid-June
  • 2014/03/12: TheCanadian: Oil transport engineers say Enbridge tanker plan unsafe

  The Enbridge Line 9 reversal has been approved. Let the lawsuits begin:

  • 2014/03/09: DeSmogBlog: Canada Approves Enbridge Line 9 Reversal: Tar Sands Crude to Flow to Montreal

  Enbridge has announced a Line 3 rebuild:

  • 2014/03/06: VanObs: Two giant oil pipelines proposed to speed "doubling" of tar sands
    Two major oil pipelines -- the most expensive in Canada -- passed key hurdles this week: Energy East and Line 3 Replacement. Observers say they lead to "massive" environmental and economic consequences.

  What's the state of the West Coast salmon fishery?

  • 2014/03/14: WCEL: Urgent: Act now to protect Canada's wild fish
  • 2014/03/11: TheCanadian: Missing fish farms offer clue to anticipated 70 million sockeye return

  Meanwhile in BC:

  • 2014/03/14: WCEL: The strengths and weaknesses of the new Water Sustainability Act [BC pol]
  • 2014/03/13: TheCanadian: BC's wolf management remains a poisonous secret
  • 2014/03/12: Tyee: What Has BC's Carbon Tax Shift Done? Six years in, measuring the results in five charts
  • 2014/03/12: PostMedia: Troubled waters: Nuclear radiation found in B.C. may pose health concerns
  • 2014/03/12: TheCanadian: Chilliwack residents unmask hazardous waste plant flaws
  • 2014/03/10: DeSmogBlog: Sierra Club, Wilderness Committee Taking B.C. Fracking Water Case to Supreme Court Next Week

  Meanwhile in that Mechanical Mordor known as the tar sands:

  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: Patients Are Already Suffering From Tar Sands, Nurses Say
  • 2014/03/13: Resilience: Alberta Regulator Quietly Halts Steam Bitumen Mining Near Fort Mac
  • 2014/03/12: Eureka: Most of the sand in Alberta's oilsands came from eastern North America, study shows
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: Company In Charge Of Ongoing Tar Sands Leaks [CNRL] Wants To Try Again At The Same Site
  • 2014/03/11: PostMedia: CNRL has second application to resume production at leak site
    Oilsands giant Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. made a second application last month to resume oil production on its leaking Cold Lake site before completion of the investigation into why four sites are oozing bitumen to the surface. More than 11,000 barrels have come to the surface in the last 10 months, among the province's largest spills, and there is no way to stop the leaking. Ten months after the leaks were discovered, the company is eager to resume production.
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Alberta Doctor: Canada Is "Lying" About Health Impacts of Tar Sands

  Also in Alberta:

  • 2014/03/14: TheCanadian: My life as the son of an Alberta oil man
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: In Alberta, Oil Industry Helping Formulate Elementary School Education
  • 2014/03/11: G&M: For China, an oil sands investment that can't be blocked - buy undeveloped land instead of companies
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Alberta Partners with Major Oilsands Companies to Develop Kindergarten to Grade Three Curriculum
  • 2014/03/10: TheCanadian: CNRL faces charges over potentially deadly gas leak near First Nation

  In Ontario:

  • 2014/03/14: CBC: Enbridge seeks 40% natural gas price increase
    This extremely cold winter may soon start affecting wallets in Ontario, as Enbridge Gas Distribution plans to increase the price of natural gas by 40 per cent. Enbridge applied to Ontario regulators for the price increase in the energy rates it charges millions of natural gas customers in the province. The increase needs to be reviewed by the Ontario Energy Board before being implemented on April 1.

  While in la Belle Province:

  • 2014/03/15: CBC: Quebec sovereignty talk masks an inconvenient truth
  • 2014/03/10: DClimenhaga: PKP to run for PQ: Why PKP, with SNN and CPC PMO spell SOS for Canada, which could be FUBAR
  • 2014/03/09: CBC: Pierre Karl Péladeau to run for PQ in Saint-Jérôme

  As for miscellaneous Canadiana:

  • 2014/03/10: CBC: Loblaws to stock ASC-approved, sustainably farmed salmon
    Will be 1st retailer in North America to sell Atlantic salmon approved by Aquaculture Stewardship Council

  And on the American political front:

  • 2014/03/15: Wunderground:RR: No Energy Policy and Even Less Climate Policy
  • 2014/03/15: PSinclair: In the "Show Me" State: More Conservatives Waking Up to Renewables
  • 2014/03/15: DeSmogBlog: New Business Coalition Forms in Colorado to Fight Anti-Fracking Movement
  • 2014/03/14: CCurrents: Realistic Left Politics In Texas
  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: Minnesota Adopts First Statewide Method For Calculating The Value Of Solar Power
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: In Wyoming, Drillers Are One Step Closer To Disclosing What's In Fracking Fluid
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: Graph of the Day: California's blue-print for 100% renewables
  • 2014/03/13: ICN: Climate Change Showdown in Florida Governor's Race
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Fracking Is Creating A Rift Between Governor Jerry Brown And Some California Democrats
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: Albany Places Moratorium On Crude Oil Port Expansion
  • 2014/03/12: TP:JR: North Carolina Environmental Agency Removes Climate Change Links From Website
  • 2014/03/12: DemNow: Nader on Senate's Climate Stance, "Insanity" of U.S. Nukes, & Why Obama's Min. Wage Hike Falls Short [check transcript]
  • 2014/03/12: CleanTechnica: SEIA Calls On Obama To Revaluate Investment Tax Credit Phase Out
  • 2014/03/12: Grist: That new-car smell is making Hurricane Katrina survivors sick
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: Legislation Killing Indiana's Successful Energy-Efficiency Program Moves To Governor's Desk
  • 2014/03/11: WaPo:B: How talking about climate change might actually help Democrats win elections
  • 2014/03/11: LA Times: Alaska's 'road to nowhere' is still a boondoggle by Bruce Babbitt
    Nearly two decades later, building a road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge at taxpayer expense is still a bad idea.
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: Who's Behind Alaska's 'Road To Nowhere'?
    [...]
    Despite the claims of Murkowski and conservative commentators that the road is needed to help residents get access to health care, former Interior Secretary Bruce noted in an op-ed published Tuesday in the Los Angeles Times that the original purpose of the road -- when it was initially proposed in the 1990s -- was to expedite the shipping of seafood from the canneries of King Cove to Cold Bay.
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: U.S. Homeowners, Especially Republicans, Want To Be Able To Choose Clean Energy
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: Top To Bottom: How Climate Change Threatens America's Fossil Fuel Energy Systems
  • 2014/03/11: WSWS: Twenty-six died from the cold in Chicago area this winter
  • 2014/03/10: AutoBG: Big Oil says California's cap-and-trade system will raise gas prices
  • 2014/03/10: DeSmogBlog: Green Army Prepares to Battle Louisiana Legislators To Protect Water From Oil Industry Threats
  • 2014/03/10: TP:JR: Spraying Toxic Coal Ash Is A Cheap And Popular Way To De-Ice Roads

  The Keystone XL wheel grinds slowly. And it grinds woe:

  • 2014/03/16: DeSmogBlog: The "Significance" Trap: New Economic Analysis Finds that Keystone XL Would Increase Tar Sands Production, Carbon Emissions
  • 2014/03/15: TheCanadian: Democrats' election-year debate over Keystone XL pipeline
  • 2014/03/15: DeSmogBlog: Debunked: Eight Things the U.S. State Keystone XL Report Got Wrong About the Alberta Oilsands
  • 2014/03/13: CBC: Keystone XL rejection would 'make Mr. Putin's day,' James Jones says [Ukraine]
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: 5 Things We Learned From Today's Senate Hearing On Keystone XL
  • 2014/03/13: PSinclair: State Department's Keystone Eval: "Oh, Well, Since We're Screwed Anyway..."
  • 2014/03/13: DeSmogBlog: General James Jones Didn't Disclose Industry Ties Before Testimony at Keystone XL Hearing
  • 2014/03/11: CSW: Upcoming Senate hearing on Keystone XL National Interest Determination
  • 2014/03/11: EENews: KEYSTONE XL: U.S. oil just 8% of pipeline's daily haul, TransCanada tells State Dept.
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Alberta Doctor: Canada Is "Lying" About Health Impacts of Tar Sands

  Leaks and spills:

  Jeez! It's getting hard to keep all the spills and leaks straight. You need a map. Let's see...:

  1. In North Caroline, Duke Energy spilled coal ash slurry into the Dan River
  2. In West Virginia, Patriot Coal spilled coal ash slurry into Fields Creek
  3. In West Virginia, Freedom Industries spilled coal cleaning chemicals into the Elk river
  4. In Michigan, Enbridge spilled dilbit into the Kalamazoo River
  5. In Arkansas, Exxon, spilled dilbit into the suburb of Mayflower
  6. In the Gulf of Mexico, BP and company had the Deepwater Horizon oil spill
  7. In West Virginia, Gary Partners spilled black water into a creek
  8. In North Dakota, oil and chemical spills typify boom times
  9. In Alaska, the Exxon Valdez is an oldie and a baddie
  10. On the Mississippi, an oil barge leaked
  11. Alpha Natural Resources is being fined for 6,000 Clean Water Act violations in 7 years

  In North Carolina, Duke Energy spilled coal ash slurry into the Dan River:

  • 2014/03/14: CDreams: State Regulators in Bed With Duke Energy: Internal Docs
    Emails show state regulators worked with corporation to undermine lawsuits from environmental groups
  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: New Emails Suggest Coal Ash Polluter Helped State Regulator During Investigation
  • 2014/03/11: RT: Duke Energy CEO: Customers will foot bill to clean up toxic coal lagoons
    Duke Energy faces a $1 billion price tag to clean its coal ash waste pits in North Carolina after the company leaked around 35 million gallons of toxic coal slurry into the Dan River last month. Who will pay the bill? Customers, says Duke's CEO.
  • 2014/03/10: RawStory: NC cuts 13 percent of water protection agency only weeks after massive coal ash spill
  • 2014/03/08: NewsObserver: Duke Energy's $1 billion cleanup: Who would pay?

  The BP disaster continues to twist US politics:

  • 2014/03/14: BBC: US lifts BP government contract ban
  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: Four Years After Deepwater Horizon Disaster, U.S. Agrees To Let BP Oil Rigs Back Into The Gulf

  Alpha Natural Resources is being fined for 6,000 Clean Water Act violations in 7 years:

  • 2014/03/14: Grist: Coal companies get hit where it counts for polluting Appalachian water supplies [Alpha Natural Resources]

  The GOP War on Women continues. See also:

  • 2014/03/15: Guardian(UK): US judge strikes Arkansas' 12-week abortion ban
  • 2014/03/13: TRP: Your State Sucks: Missouri Legislature Busy Debating Laws to Shut Down Its One Abortion Provider

  A group of some 25 US Senators speechified climate change all night:

  • 2014/03/14: Grist: What was the point of the Senate's climate talkathon? Changing the terms of the political debate
  • 2014/03/14: Guardian(UK): 30 Senators stay up for climate change - a turning point for US policy?
  • 2014/03/11: Tamino: Grading the U.S. Senate: Climate Crisis All-Night Session
  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Senate Democrats pull all-night speechathon on climate change
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: What Dr. Seuss Would've Liked About The Senate's Climate Change All-Nighter
  • 2014/03/11: HillHeat: #Up4Climate Speeches From Leahy, Shaheen, Udall, Heinrich, Wyden
  • 2014/03/11: Grist: Who had the best one-liners at the Senate's climate slumber party?
  • 2014/03/11: RTCC: US Senate debates climate change through night
  • 2014/03/10: DD: Climate change keeps a quarter of the U.S. Senate up all night
  • 2014/03/10: NYT: Senate Democrats' All-Nighter Flags Climate Change
  • 2014/03/10: HillHeat: #UpForClimate Climate All-Nighter
  • 2014/03/10: TP:JR: 28 Reasons Why 28 Senators Are Talking About Climate Change All Night
  • 2014/03/10: GLaden: Senate Climate Change All Nighter #Up4Climate
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Democrat senators to stage all-night session of climate change speeches
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Democratic senators: climate-change all-nighter is opening salvo on issue
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Sleepless in the Senate: Democrats pull all-nighter for climate change -- live
  • 2014/03/10: TP:JR: 28 Senators Are Staying Up All Night To Bring Attention To Climate Change
  • 2014/03/10: UCSUSA:B: Four Climate Change Facts To Keep the Senate Up All Night
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: US senators to hold marathon debate on climate change
  • 2014/03/09: ERabett: The Whitehouse Marathon

  This would be funny if it weren't so pathetic:

  • 2014/03/14: RawStory: Anti-Muslim bigots freak out when Texas TV station warns of oncoming haboob
  • 2014/03/15: PSinclair: Panic Over Muslim Terrorist Haboob in Texas

  The Keeling Carbon Monitoring Project still need funding:

  • 2014/03/11: Wunderground: Save the Keeling Curve!

  Looking ahead to the 2014 & 2016 elections:

  • 2014/03/10: TDC: Election 2014: Does climate change stand a chance against the oil boom?
    Record-breaking domestic oil production is likely to swamp any effort to inject climate concerns into 2014 mid-term elections -- and could even cost Democrats the Senate.

  At what point do you stop listening to the pretty lies and realize you've been had?

  • 2014/03/14: QuarkSoup: Keystone Doesn't Matter
  • 2014/03/11: CDreams: Unions Rail Against Obama Proposal to Privatize "New Deal" Success Story
    [...]
    Tucked away in President Obama's 2014 budget proposal released early last week, say union critics, is a renewed proposal by the administration to destroy one of the last remaining success stories that resulted from Franklin Delano Roosevelt's "New Deal" more than 80 years ago. According to reporting by The Hill on Tuesday, Obama's inclusion of a previously floated plan to privatize the Tennessee Valley Authority -- created by FDR and Congress in 1933...

  The actions of the Obama administration are being watched closely:

  • 2014/03/14: Grist: EPA gives BP a big "welcome back" kiss
  • 2014/03/14: CleanTechnica: Noose Tightens Around Fugitive Emissions [admin]
  • 2014/03/13: RetractionWatch: In sharp resignation letter, former ORI director Wright criticizes bureaucracy, dysfunction
  • 2014/03/13: CleanTechnica: Obama Wants To Eliminate Tax Breaks For Oil Companies
  • 2014/03/12: ScienceInsider: Top U.S. Scientific Misconduct Official Quits in Frustration With Bureaucracy
  • 2014/03/11: NatureN: Obama's budget request falls flat -- Hopes dim for a science-funding increase in 2015
  • 2014/03/10: NBC: U.S. Nuclear Agency Hid Concerns, Hailed Safety Record as Fukushima Melted
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: John Kerry issues seven point climate change plan
  • 2014/03/11: RNE: US govt: Climate change threatens energy infrastructure
  • 2014/03/09: DenverPost: Colorado coal revenues high, but GAO says sloppy leasing cost millions
  • 2014/03/09: Guardian(UK): [Letters] Defuse this carbon bomb, Mr Kerry

  As for what is going on in Congress:

  • 2014/03/14: UCSUSA: Senate Vote to Roll Back Flood Insurance Reform Increases Climate Risk, Taxpayer Burdens
  • 2014/03/14: Grist: Congress backpedals, restores cut-rate flood insurance for risky homes
  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: 'Clean Energy' House Candidate Consulted For Koch-Tied Climate Deniers
  • 2014/03/13: ScienceInsider: First Step for FIRST Bill Exposes Party Differences
  • 2014/03/13: ERabett: Since no bunny reads comments
  • 2014/03/13: NatureNB: US Senate votes to confirm astrophysicist France Córdova as NSF director
  • 2014/03/12: ScienceInsider: FIRST Bill Draws Early Opposition
  • 2014/03/11: Wonkette: Science Expert Steve Stockman Laughs At Democrats' Junk Science And Lightbulb Tyranny [congress]
  • 2014/03/10: ScienceInsider: FIRST at Last: Controversial Bill Introduced to Guide U.S. Science Policies
  • 2014/03/10: Harpers: The Congressional Research Service Teaches Science to Congress
  • 2014/03/10: NYT: Coal to the Rescue, but Maybe Not Next Winter
    [...]
    Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the ranking Republican on the Senate Energy Committee, told utility regulators in a speech on Feb. 11 that the recent frigid weather had provided "a glimpse of the challenge that lies ahead." American Electric Power, which serves Columbus and a vast area of the Midwest, was running 89 percent of the coal plants that it must retire next year, she said. "That raises a very serious question," she said. "What happens when that capacity is gone?" The coal plants are dirty, and expensive compared to natural gas at summertime prices. But coal is far less prone to price jumps or to shortages, and in a cold snap, it looks like a bargain.
  • 2014/03/10: DeSmogBlog: Environmental Review Thrown Out By House Legislation

  What are the lobbyists pushing?

  • 2014/03/10: TP:JR: ALEC Launches New Effort To Influence Local Government Policy
  • 2014/03/07: RepublicReport: Chart: Koch Spends More Than Double Top Ten Unions Combined

  The movement toward a long term ecologically viable economics is glacial:

  • 2014/03/15: CCurrents: Biocultural Heritage: The Foundation of A Sustainable Economy

  IPAT [Impact = Population * Affluence * Technology] raised its head once again:

  • 2014/03/13: NBF: UN and other population forecasts for Nigeria and the World have been revised upward for 2050 and 2100

  Apocalypso anyone?

  • 2014/03/16: CCurrents: 'Collapse' Of Modern Civilization A Real Possibility: Study
  • 2014/03/14: Guardian(UK): NASA-funded study: industrial civilisation headed for 'irreversible collapse'?
    Natural and social scientists develop new model of how 'perfect storm' of crises could unravel global system A new study sponsored by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has highlighted the prospect that global industrial civilisation could collapse in coming decades due to unsustainable resource exploitation and increasingly unequal wealth distribution. Noting that warnings of 'collapse' are often seen to be fringe or controversial, the study attempts to make sense of compelling historical data showing that "the process of rise-and-collapse is actually a recurrent cycle found throughout history." Cases of severe civilisational disruption due to "precipitous collapse - often lasting centuries - have been quite common."
  • 2014/03/14: Asia Times: Usury in the USA
  • 2014/03/13: P3: McPherson's Evidence That Doom Doom Doom
  • 2014/03/13: Tyee: A Millennial Asks: Are We Screwed?

  How do the corporate media measure up?

  • 2014/03/14: CensoredNews: News Spin
  • 2014/03/12: CSW: New York Times op-ed asks wrong questions on climate change and California drought
  • 2014/03/11: FAIR: CBS Fails to Disclose Energy Guest's Industry Ties
  • 2014/03/11: Atlantic: Why Cosmos Can't Save Public Support for Science
  • 2014/03/10: AlterNet: Neil deGrasse Tyson Chastises Media For Giving 'Flat Earthers' Equal Time in the Climate Change Debate
  • 2014/03/09: TP:JR: Edward R. Murrow, 60 Years Ago: Those Who 'Keep Silent' Share 'Responsibility For The Result'[media]

  While activists search for effective communication techniques:

   

• 2014/03/13: TheConversation: Facts won't beat the climate deniers -- using their tactics will
• 2014/03/12: Grist: Want everyone else to buy into environmentalism? Never say "Earth"
  

  Here is something for your library:

  • 2014/03/16: Grist: Keystone XL and the energy rush that could change America forever
    [Book Excerpt] _BOOM: Oil, Money, Cowboys, Strippers, and the Energy Rush That Could Change America Forever_ by Tony Horwitz
  • 2014/03/11: Tyee: [Book Review] _Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster_ by David Lochbaum, Edwin Lyman, Susan Q. Stranahan, and the Union of Concerned Scientists

  And for your film & video enjoyment:

  • 2014/03/16: CCP: Girl asks actual climate expert: What could happen?
  • 2014/03/16: ATTPh: Climate denialism
  • 2014/03/15: PSinclair: The Weekend Wonk: Living with the North Dakota Oil Boom
  • 2014/03/13: Hypergeometric: The Pumphandle - CO2 emissions by latitude
  • 2014/03/13: GLaden: What is causing the California drought?
  • 2014/03/13: PSinclair: New Video: California Drought - Natural, Man Made, or Both?
  • 2014/03/13: PSinclair: Solar - "..The most charismatic power technology ever. "
  • 2014/03/13: PSinclair: Rapping the Solar Revolution
  • 2014/03/13: PSinclair: Creationist Outrage on Cosmos/Tyson
  • 2014/03/11: PSinclair: Tyson on Flat Earthers. Sagan on Climate Change
  • 2014/03/11: PSinclair: Economist: The Future of Solar Energy

  Meanwhile among the 'Sue the Bastards!' contingent:

  • 2014/03/14: DeSmogBlog: Columbia River Coal Pollution Lawsuit Against BNSF Railway Moves Forward As New Research Raises Air Quality Concerns On Seattle Rail Lines
  • 2014/03/14: DeSmogBlog: Chevron RICO Verdict Sets Dangerous Precedent For Activists
  • 2014/03/14: UCSUSA:B: Another Step Forward for Cape Wind: Federal Court Upholds Decade-Long Review Process
  • 2014/03/13: PeakEnergy: Exxon CEO Sues Against Fracking
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Judge Says Broomfield's Anti-Fracking Ballot Measure is Valid [Colorado]
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Italian Judge: Coal Plant Caused Over 400 Deaths, Orders Shutdown
  • 2014/03/11: Yahoo:Reuters: Anti-fracking activist barred from 40 percent of Pennsylvania county
  • 2014/03/11: PSinclair: Renewable Energy is Unlimited. Unfortunately, So is Ignorance.
  • 2014/03/11: BBC: Barton Moss fracking camp protesters in eviction appeal
  • 2014/03/10: DeSmogBlog: Sierra Club, Wilderness Committee Taking B.C. Fracking Water Case to Supreme Court Next Week
  • 2014/03/10: NHK: Hundreds sue operator of Fukushima plant and govt

  Developing a new energy infrastructure is a fundamental challenge of the current generation:

  • 2014/03/14: NBF: Large thermoelectric power from a combination of magnets and superconductors that could get close to the Carnot limit
  • 2014/03/13: ERW: Harvesting Earth's infrared energy
  • 2014/03/13: CleanTechnica: Yes, Space Solar Power Is A Real Thing
  • 2014/03/13: SciNow: The Key to the Next Energy Revolution?
  • 2014/03/12: SciAm:PI: With Wiki Energy, Pecan Street Project shares the largest residential energy database with the world
  • 2014/03/12: UCSUSA:B: Michigan Can Triple Its Use of Renewable Energy at Virtually No Additional Cost
  • 2014/03/12: UCSUSA: Renewables Could Meet Nearly a Third of Michigan's Energy Needs

  What do you have in energy comparisons and transitions?

  • 2014/03/14: CleanTechnica: Solar Less Than 5¢/kWh In Austin, Texas! (Cheaper Than Natural Gas, Coal, & Nuclear)
  • 2014/03/13: CleanTechnica: Wind Leaves Nuclear Behind In China

  What's changing in energy investments?

  • 2014/03/10: RNE: Clean energy investors abandon Australia, head overseas

  Hey! Let's contaminate the aquifers for thousands of years! It'll be a fracking gas!

  • 2014/03/15: TP:JR: Photos: Thousands Turn Up For California's Largest-Ever Rally To Ban Fracking
  • 2014/03/13: Grist: Fracking halted at Ohio site following earthquakes
  • 2014/03/13: TP:JR: In Wyoming, Drillers Are One Step Closer To Disclosing What's In Fracking Fluid
  • 2014/03/13: BBC: Fracking 'could harm wildlife'
  • 2014/03/13: EnvEcon: Is the fracking industry shaking in their boots?
  • 2014/03/12: OilChange: Ohio Fracking Well Suspended After Quakes
  • 2014/03/12: ColumbusDispatch: Ohio officials tight-lipped on fracking, Monday's earthquakes
  • 2014/03/11: CCP: The Student Who Took on Venoco
    The oil giant says it didn't use acid to get offshore oil -- intern disagrees
  • 2014/03/11: Yahoo:Reuters: Anti-fracking activist barred from 40 percent of Pennsylvania county
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Fracking in Public Forests Leaves Long Trail of Damages, Struggling State Regulators
  • 2014/03/10: DeSmogBlog: Testimony Reveals Record 36% of North Dakota Fracked Gas Was Flared in December

  On the coal front:

  • 2014/03/12: RNE: Hazelwood owner [GDF Suez] told to shut Italian coal plant blamed for deaths
  • 2014/03/11: DeSmogBlog: Italian Judge: Coal Plant Caused Over 400 Deaths, Orders Shutdown
  • 2014/03/09: BBerg: Polar Vortex Emboldens Industry to Push Old Coal Plants

  On the gas and oil front:

  • 2014/03/14: BBerg: Closing oil prices Friday
    OIL (US$/bbl)
    Dated Brent Spot....108.21
    WTI Cushing Spot.....98.89
  • 2014/03/14: CBC: Natural gas turned into usable fuels with cleaner, cheaper new method
  • 2014/03/13: ETI:RRapier: [Natural] Gas Inventories Reach 11-Year Low
  • 2014/03/13: V V: Why doesn't Big Oil fund alternative climate research?
  • 2014/03/12: CassandrasLegacy: Depletion is winning
  • 2014/03/12: TP:JR: Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas Is A Dreadful Idea For The Climate
  • 2014/03/11: FuelFix: Keystone XL southern leg having major effect on US oil hub
    The southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline has drained oil supplies at the Cushing, Okla. hub to their lowest levels in more than two years, according to a federal report released Tuesday.
  • 2014/03/10: ICN: U.S. Propane Shortage Provides Lessons For Debate Over Oil and Gas Exports
    Supply troubles foreshadow the kinds of ramifications Americans could face if natural gas exports get accelerated or the oil export ban is lifted.

  In the gas and oil corps:

  • 2014/03/13: RTCC: Shell warns global climate deal will affect profits
  • 2014/03/13: BBC: Royal Dutch Shell admits 'challenging' 2013
    [...]
    Annual profits at Royal Dutch Shell fell to $16.75bn (£10.05bn) in 2013, from $27bn in 2012.
  • 2014/03/10: WSWS: Tesoro refinery barred inspectors from site of accident in California

  Ships and boats and trains -- How to tranport the stuff?

  • 2014/03/14: DeSmogBlog: Why Nothing Will Happen On Oil by Rail Safety
  • 2014/03/12: Resilience: Seattle Council to Governor: Protect this City (And the Climate) from Oil Trains
  • 2014/03/11: CBC: Lac-Mégantic mayor lobbies Washington for more rail safety
    Colette Roy-Laroche tells U.S. legislators the Quebec town's tragedy must not be in vain
  • 2014/03/11: CBC: Lac-Mégantic train crash a wake-up call for U.S. rail safety
  • 2014/03/10: Grist: Grainspotting: Farmers get desperate as coal and oil take over the rails
  • 2014/03/09: NatJo: Major Gaps in Plan to Slow Down Oil Trains
    A safety push by the government and rail industry only covers 46 urban areas.

  Marvelous! Now the USA has their own Mechanical Mordor:

  • 2014/03/15: PSinclair: The Weekend Wonk: Living with the North Dakota Oil Boom
  • 2014/03/14: DemNow: "Utah's Carbon Bomb": State Plots Massive Tar Sands & Oil Shale Projects Despite Climate Concerns
  • 2014/03/14: SciAm:PI: Here's where all the US shale oil and gas wells are - map
  • 2014/03/12: TP:JR: Radioactive 'Oil Socks' Found Illegally Stockpiled In Abandoned North Dakota Gas Station

  Yes we have a peak oil sighting:

  • 2014/03/12: Resilience: The Crocodiles of Reality

  Biofuel bickering abounds:

  • 2014/03/14: Monbiot: The Biogas Disaster -- How the perverse consequences of a great idea are destroying the natural world
  • 2014/03/14: Guardian(UK): How a false solution to climate change is damaging the natural world
    In growing maize for biogas, the crop that does most damage to the soil is being specifically exempted from the rules
  • 2014/03/12: ETI:RRapier: Why Biofuels Tend to be Costly
  • 2014/03/11: ABC(Au): Aussie alternative energy company in US pig manure biogas project
  • 2014/03/11: NatureN: Cellulosic ethanol fights for life
    Pioneering biofuel producers hope that US government largesse will ease their way into a tough market.

  The answer my friend...

  • 2014/03/14: UCSUSA:B: Another Step Forward for Cape Wind: Federal Court Upholds Decade-Long Review Process
  • 2014/03/13: CleanTechnica: Teaching An Old Wind Turbine New Tricks
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: ACT ready to tackle "wind antis" head on
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: Vestas replaces GE as world's top wind turbine installer in 2013
  • 2014/03/11: CleanTechnica: GE Awarded Sweep Of European Wind Contracts
  • 2014/03/10: CleanTechnica: Vestas Unveils Taller Wind Turbine For Low Wind Locations

  Meanwhile among the solar aficionados:

  • 2014/03/16: IOTD: Harvesting Sunlight on the Playa [Ivanpah on Dec 25,2013]
  • 2014/03/15: CleanTechnica: NREL Correlates Solar Policy Successes & Failures
  • 2014/03/14: TreeHugger: Strawberry Trees offer free public solar charging for gadgets
  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: Minnesota Adopts First Statewide Method For Calculating The Value Of Solar Power
  • 2014/03/13: RNE: Enphase says Australia could become second biggest market [for micro-inverters]
  • 2014/03/12: RNE: Cheapest solar -- SunEdison sells solar PV output at 5c/kWh
  • 2014/03/12: CleanTechnica: Only 613 MW Of PV Installed In France In 2013, FiT Domestic Content Bonus May Get Scrapped
  • 2014/03/11: CleanTechnica: Trina Solar: 3.6-3.8 GW Of PV Modules Shipping In 2014
  • 2014/03/11: CleanTechnica: Atomically Thin Tungsten Diselenide-Based Solar Cells Created -- Flexible, Ultra-Thin, & Semi-Transparent
  • 2014/03/11: CleanTechnica: 4.58 GW Of Solar PV Added In Japan
  • 2014/03/11: TreeHugger: Most Americans want solar, so why aren't they going solar? (Charts)
  • 2014/03/11: TP:JR: California Set Back-To-Back Solar Records Last Week
  • 2014/03/11: RNE: China's giant 1.1GW solar PV project kicks off
  • 2014/03/11: RNE: Can rooftop solar change political power in Australia?

  The nuclear energy controversy continues:

  • 2014/03/14: DemNow: "A Slow Genocide of the People": Uranium Mining Leaves Toxic Nuclear Legacy on Indigenous Land
  • 2014/03/14: Smithsonian: Forests Around Chernobyl Aren't Decaying Properly
    It wasn't just people, animals and trees that were affected by radiation exposure at Chernobyl, but also the decomposers: insects, microbes, and fungi
  • 2014/03/13: CBC: Cameco is now mining and shipping uranium at its long-delayed Cigar Lake mine in northern Saskatchewan
  • 2014/03/13: FukuLeaks: German Nuclear Industry Faces Slew Of New Problems
  • 2014/03/12: WNN: EDF's emergency response force in place
    All four of EDF's regional nuclear emergency bases are now in full operation. Proposed following the Fukushima accident, these will be capable of rapidly responding to a serious accident at any French nuclear power plant.
  • 2014/03/12: TreeHugger: The debate over nuclear power: An engineer looks at the issues
  • 2014/03/11: DemNow: Chomsky: From Hiroshima to Fukushima, Vietnam to Fallujah, State Power Ignores Its Massive Harm
  • 2014/03/11: TruthOut: Study: Nuclear Reactors Are Toxic to Surrounding Areas, Especially With Age
  • 2014/03/11: BBC: Dounreay reactor fault: Statement due from Richard Lochhead
    Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead is to make a statement to MSPs about a radiation problem at a nuclear test reactor in the Highlands. On Thursday UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said a radioactive discharge had been discovered at the Vulcan reactor at Dounreay in 2012. However, the Scottish government has said it was not informed at the time of the incident.
  • 2014/03/10: UCSUSA:B: The U.S. MOX Program: Going, Going, Gone?
  • 2014/03/09: BBC: Sellafield controlled shutdown investigation under way
  • 2014/03/09: APR: More Nuclear Energy for Mexico?

  Nuclear waste storage requires _very_ long term thinking:

  • 2014/03/14: EneNews: Video: Gov't official 'chokes up' over WIPP problems -- Needs 15-second pause at community meeting -- President of nuclear dump replaced...
  • 2014/03/14: FukuLeaks: DOE Admits Major String Of Safety Failures At WIPP
  • 2014/03/13: AbqJournal: WIPP replaces president, project manager
  • 2014/03/10: EneNews: TV: Officials now confirm Plutonium and/or Americium reached Carlsbad, New Mexico's 10th most populated city...
  • 2014/03/09: EneNews: "Truly an operational nightmare" at WIPP -- Radiation level doubles at location far from leak; Carlsbad monitor jumps around 40% -- Residents plead for more info...

  More people are talking about the electrical grid:

  • 2014/03/16: RNE: Centralised to decentralised energy: What does it mean?
  • 2014/03/14: Grist: Blacking out America would be a cinch, because there's not enough distributed solar
  • 2014/03/14: UCSUSA:B: Grid Security and Renewable Energy: Too Much Information, or Not Enough?
  • 2014/03/12: ICN: N.Y. Regulator, Con Ed Embrace Plan to Climate-Proof Power Grid
    First-in-the-nation ruling requires New York's biggest utility to integrate climate science into all of its planning, construction and budget decisions.
  • 2014/03/11: NatureN: Energy: Islands of light -- More than a billion people lack electricity, but now microgrids are powering up rural areas
  • 2014/03/10: PSinclair: Energy Storage + Solar = A Game Changer

  How are the utilities adjusting (or not)?

  • 2014/03/14: RNE: Why the potential for grid defection matters
  • 2014/03/14: RNE: WA electricity market review eyes elephant in the room
  • 2014/03/14: RNE: Horizon Power ponders end of centralised generation
  • 2014/03/12: PSinclair: More on Utility Death Spiral in Germany
  • 2014/03/12: PSinclair: Solar City and Tesla: Old Energy's Worst Nightmare

  And then there is the matter of efficiency & conservation:

  • 2014/03/12: UCSUSA:B: How to Rescue Us from High Energy Bills? Energy Efficiency!
  • 2014/03/04: Fraunhofer: LED lamps: less energy, more light
    LEDs are durable and save energy. Now researchers have found a way to make LED lamps even more compact while supplying more light than commercially available models. The key to success: transistors made of the semiconductor material gallium nitride.
  • 2014/03/10: UW: Scientists build thinnest-possible LEDs to be stronger, more energy efficient

  Automakers & lawyers, engineers & activists argue over the future of the car:

  • 2014/03/15: UKISS: Why hydrogen-powered cars will drive Elon Musk crazy
  • 2014/03/10: CleanTechnica: LA Apartment Building Offers Tenants Free EV Charging
  • 2014/03/10: CleanTechnica: BYD Sells Another 2,200 Electric Buses & Taxis in China
  • 2014/03/10: TCoE: CCB: 3 Civics and 7 Leafs v1.0

  As for Energy Storage:

  • 2014/03/15: Eureka: A battery that 'breathes' [lithium-air] could power next-gen electric vehicles
  • 2014/03/13: PeakEnergy: Liquefied Air to Store Energy on U.K. Grid
  • 2014/03/12: RNE: Thinking big on energy storage can, and will, save money
  • 2014/03/10: RealEconomics: Will liquid metal electrical storage actually work?

  The reaction of business to climate change will be critical:

  • 2014/03/13: Asia Times: Mars joins forest-friendly palm-oil push
    Multinational food giant Mars has unveiled a new set of guidelines aimed at ensuring that its palm oil supply lines are completely traceable and sustainable by next year.
  • 2014/03/11: PSinclair: As Major Companies Initiate Carbon Pricing - Another CEO tells Climate Deniers: Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way [biz]
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Richard Branson tells climate deniers to 'get out of the way'
  • 2014/03/10: RTCC: Richard Branson: business must 'stand up to climate deniers'

  Insurance and re-insurance companies are feeling the heat:

  • 2014/03/13: BBC: Payouts for flood victims reach nearly £450m, insurers say
    More than £446m is set to be paid to those whose properties were damaged by the winter floods, insurers have said. Updated figures from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) show the total includes £276m to home owners.

  Anything in pithy (or piffling) quotes this week?

  • 2014/03/10: GreenGrok: Climate Chatter: Kerry Statements and the Waffling Winds of Changing Positions

  The carbon lobby are up to the usual:

  Note: You may notice my denialist coverage flagging. I am finding it increasingly difficult to give any attention to these people.

  • 2014/03/11: Hypergeometric: The Skeptical Science Attack: Where My Professional World and My Vocation Converge
  • 2014/03/13: Tamino: New Mexico Snow
  • 2014/03/13: ERabett: Early Footnoteology
  • 2014/03/12: Guardian(UK): Bjørn Lomborg: the climate-centric agenda is squeezing out other issues
  • 2014/03/14: TP:JR: 'Clean Energy' House Candidate Consulted For Koch-Tied Climate Deniers
  • 2014/03/15: HotWhopper: Hansen: "This is game over" and Anthony Watts tells a big fat lie!
  • 2014/03/15: DeSmogBlog: Is Organised Climate Science Denial Criminally Negligent?
  • 2014/03/14: QuarkSoup: How Does Victor Davis Hanson Get Up in the Morning?
  • 2014/03/16: HotWhopper: WUWT denier is horrified by opinions about climate
  • 2014/03/15: V V: Do climate dissenters like climate change?
  • 2014/03/11: HotWhopper: Anthony Watts and Andrew Bolt want "Lights out for the Great Barrier Reef"
  • 2014/03/10: Guardian(UK): Global Warming Policy Foundation optimism is unjustified, but a positive step
  • 2014/03/09: ATTPh: Lukewarmers

  So why is nothing getting done?

  • 2014/03/11: Guardian(UK): Why is there no Manhattan Project to tackle climate change?

  As for climate miscellanea:

  • 2014/03/13: KSJT: The most important topics of 2014, according to Upworthy's followers
  • 2014/03/14: USGS: Value of U.S. Mineral Production Decreased in 2013
  • 2014/03/10: RealEconomics: Another green success story
  • 2014/03/10: Moyhu: Interactive graphics gallery
  • 2014/03/09: Stoat: Cambridge half; and misc

  And here are a couple of sites you may find interesting and/or useful:

  • Wiki: Nabucco pipeline [aka Turkey-Austria gas pipeline]
  • Wiki: South Stream
  • Climate Council -- Australians deserve independent information about climate change, from the experts
  • ClimatePolicy - An AMS Project
  • Wuskwatim
  • Wiki: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
  • Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
  • Pacific Coast Collaborative
  • Trillionth Tonne
  • Save ELA
  • Jeff Rubin - Blog
  • Manitoba Eco-Network

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  Low Key Plug

   

  My first novel _Water_ was published in May 2007. An Introduction is available.
  My most recent novel _The Bottleneck Years_ is being serialized online atmy siteand on AFTIC at Table of Contents
  If you want further information, see A Gentle Introduction. If you want a copy, see The Deal.
  An overview of my writing is available here.

  A Simple Plea

  Webmasters, web coders and content providers have mercy on your low bandwidth brethren. Because I am on dial-up, I am a text surfer -- no images, no javascript and no flash. When you post a graphic, will you please use the alt text field ... and when you embed a youtube/vimeo/flash video, please add some minimal description. Thank you.

  <regards>

  -het

  P.S. Recent postings can be found in the week archive and the ancient postings can be accessed here, which should open to this.

  I notice moyhu has set up a monster index to old AWoGWN on AFTIC.

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  "For those of us in the Pacific, silly discussions about the scientific truth of climate change are futile." -Phillip Muller, foreign minister of the Marshall Islands,

  • Global Warming Links
  • Global Warming News Archive
  • Energy
  • Energy News
  • Environmental Issues
  • ---
  • H.E. Taylor (homepage)

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  Last modified March 16, 2014