Posted in Climate change Spotlight On Climate Sustainability

Global climate disasters – This is not the new normal

Spotlight on Climate by Stefan Sommer Saturday, December 18, 2021 2021 was yet again one of the hottest years on record. This past summer was the hottest summer on record for North America. Is this the…

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Posted in Analysis Climate change

2021 Arctic Report Card reveals a (human) story of cascading disruptions, extreme events and global connections

The report describes, rapid and pronounced human-caused warming continues to drive most of the changes, and ultimately is paving the way for disruptions that affect ecosystems and communities far and wide. Community members from Utqiagvik, Alaska,…

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Posted in Analysis Climate change

A quick guide to climate change jargon – what experts mean by mitigation, carbon neutral and 6 other key terms

by Wändi Bruine de Bruin, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences October 26, 2021 As a major U.N. climate conference gets underway on Oct. 31, 2021, you’ll be hearing a lot of technical terms…

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Kurt Thigpen was met with vitriol shortly after he became a school board member in Washoe County, Nevada. Credit: David Calvert, special to ProPublica
Posted in Analysis Coronavirus Pro Publica

We’re losing our humanity, and the pandemic is to blame

“What the hell is happening? I feel like we are living on another planet. I don’t recognize anyone anymore.”  by Sarah Smith, ProPublica October 8, 2021   Kurt Thigpen clenched his hands around the edge of…

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Posted in Arizona Climate change

Monsoons make deserts bloom in the US Southwest, but climate change is making these summer rainfalls more extreme and erratic

Lightning during a monsoon storm in southern Arizona, Saguaro National Park. (Photo: Pete Gregoire, NOAA) by Diana Zamora-Reyes, University of Arizona and Christopher L. Castro, University of Arizona October 5, 2021 If you’ve never lived in…

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Lake Mead, the nation’s largest freshwater reservoir, has been losing water because of epochal drought since 2000. Credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Posted in Climate change The West Water

40 million people rely on the Colorado River. It’s drying up fast.

One of the country’s most important sources of fresh water is in peril, the latest victim of the accelerating climate crisis. by Abrahm Lustgarten Friday, August 27, 2021   The Water Crisis in the West On…

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A gas flare is seen at an oil well site on July 26, 2013 outside Williston, North Dakota. Gas flares are created when excess flammable gases are released by pressure release valves during the drilling for oil and natural gas. (Photo: Andrew Burton/Getty Images)
Posted in Analysis Climate change

New UN report highlights ‘absolutely critical’ need to dramatically slash global methane emissions

“Reducing human-caused methane emissions is one of the most cost-effective strategies to rapidly reduce the rate of warming and contribute significantly to global efforts to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Thursday,…

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A view of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power's Pine Tree Wind Farm and Solar Power Plant in the Tehachapi Mountains on March 23, 2021 in Kern County.
Posted in Energy News Sustainability

Renewable energy smashes records in 2020

‘A Remarkable Story of Resilience and Hope “There is a huge amount to be done… The international community must look to this trend as a source of inspiration to go further.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer…

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Posted in Analysis Coronavirus

Why we can’t make vaccine doses any faster

President Biden has promised enough doses for all American adults by this summer. There’s not much even the Defense Production Act can do to deliver doses before then. by Isaac Arnsdorf and Ryan Gabrielson February 21,…

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Posted in Climate change News Oceans

New study finds sea level rise projections ‘are on the money’

“If we continue with large ongoing emissions as we are at present, we will commit the world to meters of sea level rise over coming centuries.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Tuesday, February 16, 2021 A…

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Swedish climate activists Greta Thunberg, Luisa Neubauer, Isabelle Axelsson, and Vanessa Nakate take part in a "Friday for Future" youth demonstration in a street of Davos on January 24, 2020 on the sideline of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting. (Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)
Posted in Climate change Environment Youth

#TheWorldIsWatching: youth activists direct ire over climate inaction at WEF elite

“If only leaders were as good [at] taking real action as they were giving speeches,” said Greta Thunberg. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 29, 2021 Young activists on Friday issued fresh warnings about the…

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Victor Garcia works to disinfect tables and clear finished plates at Fish restaurant in Sausalito, California, on Jan. 25. Fish was one of the first restaurants to re-open for outdoor dining after Governor Gavin Newsom lifted shelter-in-place orders. (JESSICA CHRISTIAN/THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE VIA GETTY IMAGES)
Posted in Coronavirus News

New Covid cases plunge 25% or more as behavior changes

by Christina Jewett January 28, 2021 A dozen states are reporting drops of 25% or more in new covid-19 cases and more than 1,200 counties have seen the same, federal data released Wednesday shows. Experts say…

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Posted in Air Polution Climate change News

Federal Court Strikes Down Trump Coal Power Plant Rule

‘Major Win for the Planet’ “This decision frees up the new Biden administration to begin working immediately on the science-based greenhouse pollution rules we desperately need to make up for lost time.” by Andrea Germanos, staff…

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Posted in Analysis Climate change News

Climate Emergency persists as 2020 ties for earth’s hottest year on record

“It took over 200 years for [atmospheric CO2] levels to increase by 25%, but now just over 30 years later we are approaching a 50% increase.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Friday, January 8, 2021 Highlighting…

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Posted in Air Polution Analysis Wild Fire

Wildfire smoke changes dramatically as it ages, and that matters for downwind air quality – here’s what we learned flying through smoke plumes

Wildfire smoke is far more complex and dynamic than meets the eye. It contains thousands of different compounds, most of which are molecules containing various amounts of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen atoms. by Brett B….

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Posted in Astronomy

About this year’s winter solstice and the great conjunction

by William Teets, Vanderbilt University Editor’s note: Dr. William Teets is the director of Vanderbilt University’s Dyer Observatory. In this interview, he explains what does and doesn’t happen during the winter solstice on Dec. 21. Another…

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Posted in Climate change Common Dreams News

Climate movement takes on big oil at the Hague

‘Historic Moment’ Friends of the Earth vs. Shell  “This is actually ‘the People versus Shell,’ a company that has got away with greenwashing for too long.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Tuesday, December 1, 2020 Representing…

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Posted in Analysis Coronavirus Medicine

Clots, strokes and rashes: is COVID a disease of the blood vessels?

by Will Stone Friday, November 13, 2020 Whether it’s strange rashes on the toes or blood clots in the brain, the widespread ravages of COVID-19 have increasingly led researchers to focus on how the novel coronavirus…

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Posted in Energy News Sustainability

Renewables on track to be largest source of global electricity in five years

“Renewable power is defying the difficulties caused by the pandemic, showing robust growth while others fuels struggle,” said IEA executive director Fatih Birol. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Wednesday, November 11 The International Energy Agency on…

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Posted in Analysis Elections Kaiser Health News Politics Race for the White House 2020

‘It’s science, stupid’: A school subject emerges as a hot-button political issue

  Victoria Knight October 30, 2020 At the top of Dr. Hiral Tipirneni’s to-do list if she wins her congressional race: work with other elected officials to encourage mask mandates and to beef up COVID-19 testing…

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Posted in Climate change Common Dreams Environment News Oceans

New study shows 50% coral decline on Great Barrier Reef

‘No Time to Lose’ “We expect this decline to continue,” predicted one of the study’s authors, who said that unless urgent climate action is taken, “the reef will be unrecognizable.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Wednesday,…

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Posted in Analysis Coronavirus Kaiser Health News

Signs of an ‘October Vaccine Surprise’ alarm career scientists

Liz Szabo, Kaiser Health News and JoNel Aleccia, Kaiser Health News September 21, 2020 President Donald Trump, who seems intent on announcing a COVID-19 vaccine before Election Day, could legally authorize a vaccine over the objections…

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President Donald Trump speaks during a briefing on wildfires with local and federal fire and emergency officials at Sacramento McClellan Airport in McClellan Park, California on September 14, 2020. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images)
Posted in Climate change Common Dreams Environment News Science

Trump spits climate denialism right in California’s face: “It’ll start getting cooler, you just watch”

“I thought I’d find it funny watching this, but instead it’s just chilling: as the West Coast faces a climate catastrophe, the president laughs at them and denies the problem exists.” by Jon Queally, staff writer…

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A burned Valero gas station smolders during the Creek fire in an unincorporated area of Fresno County, California on September 08, 2020. (Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Images)
Posted in Analysis Climate change Common Dreams Environment News Wild Fire

New study finds Planet heading toward temperature threshold not seen in 34 million years

Researchers behind the comprehensive study of Earth’s atmospheric record over tens of million of years say “immediate and stringent action” could prevent most dire outcomes. by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Monday, September 14 A newly published…

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