Climate Change This Week: Drought Refugees, Solar Keeps Surging, and More!

Climate Change This Week: Drought Refugees, Solar Keeps Surging, and More!
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Today, the Earth got a little hotter, and a little more crowded.

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Beautiful Tropical Gem - toucans live in tropical forests, and will disappear with them.

Forests: the cheapest way to store carbon

OO Earth To Lose An India-Sized Chunk Of Its Tropical Forests By 2050 - new research suggests that tropical forests may be disappearing even faster than we thought.

Related Headline:

2015-09-08-1441734928-2350712-ForestBleuLacGabonSourcedanielglick.netccr293.jpg
Keeping It Green: Gabon is working to balance competing demands of retaining biodiversity and mitigating climate change with the immediate needs of its people. Source danielglick.net

OO Gabon: Protecting Vital Forests, And Communities

OO Northern Forests Face Onslaught From Heat, Drought - it's not just ice that's disappearing up north.

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MELTING OF THE ARCTIC

OO Last of the Arctic Ice - loss of summer ice is catastrophic for all life that depends on it -- and that includes us, because it shields the planet from a significant amount of sunlight (read heat).

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2015-09-08-1441734989-8978017-iceecosystemwww.npolar.noCreditAudunIgesundNorwegianPolarInstituteccr293.jpg
Not Just Ice - the rapidly disappearing Arctic ice supports a rich, unique ecosystem - and is a vital planetary thermal shield for Earth. And we're losing it. Credit Audun Igesund, Norwegian Polar Institute

Related Headline:

OO Disappearing Sea Ice Forces 1000s Of Walruses To Haul Out
On Alaska Coast
- the 7th time in 9 years...

2015-09-08-1441735022-4383242-risingsealevelssealevelsoncitiesMiamiSourcewww.washingtonpost.comccr292.png
Miami Will Flood Further ultimately sinking beneath the waves as rising sea levels engulf the city.

OO Greenland Melt Prompts NASA Fears
Of Coastal Flooding Worldwide
- as the increasing speed of melting glaciers there is leading to higher sea levels threatening coastal communities worldwide.

Related Headline:

2015-09-08-1441735052-3142039-coastalfloodingKatrinaGaryNicholsUSNavyatWikimediaCommonscctw95.jpg
More Katrinas? As Louisiana starts a multi-billion-dollar program to rebuild its coast, evidence increases that its efforts will be challenge by rapid sea level rise. Credit Gary Nichols US Navy at Wikimedia Commons

OO Rising Sea Levels Threatens New Orleans

OO Sea Levels Will Rise, Experts Warn, And 'It's Not Going To Stop.'

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2015-09-08-1441735085-9807365-solarpanelswbloomingflowerplantOxfordshireUKCreditDanielLealOlivasatAssociatedPressccr293.jpg
Solar Power is Blooming Credit Daniel Leal-Olivas at Associated Press

OO Cheapest Oil Ever Won't Slow Down The Clean Energy Revolution because oil does not compete with clean energy: it's used for vehicles and industry, not producing electricity.

Meanwhile, rooftop solar power continues its explosion in US sales:

"America generates 20 times as much solar power
as we did in 2008 --
20 times.

Last year was solar's biggest year ever.
Prices fell by 10%; installations climbed by 30%.

Every three minutes,
another home or business in America goes solar.

Every three weeks,
we install as much solar capacity
as we did in all of 2008."

- President Barack Obama, 2015.

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2015-09-08-1441735158-451901-colorfulseaslugnudibranchIndoPacificSourceimgur.comccr293.jpg
Lighting Up the Ocean: one of many colorful sea slugs. The US government has urged the international community to focus more on the impact of climate change on oceans. Source imgur.com

OO Ocean Warming And Acidification Needs More Attention, Argues US

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2015-09-08-1441735188-5965455-glaciercentralasiaSourcewww.businessinsider.comccr293.jpg

OO Central Asia: Crucial Water Source Melting Away Fast - glaciers there have melted at 4x the global average since the early 1960s, shedding 25+% of their mass, says a recent study.

They are a critical source of water for people in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and part of NW China.

Related Headline:

OO Hot Summer Fuels Dangerous Glacier Melting In Central Asia

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2015-09-08-1441735219-8934171-AlaskaKivalinaIslandstormerosionSourceTDCccr293.jpg

OO This Is Climate Change:
Alaska Village Struggles As The Sea Chews Up Its Island
- as the Arctic warms and more intense storms erode shores even more.

Related Headline:

OO Obama's Alaska Visit Puts Climate In Forefront

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@@ Bill Maher to Politicians: What Are You Going to Do About Climate Change? - here, he squares off with Rick Santorum, one many presidential candidates.

OO Maher Battles Santorum on Climate Change:
How Am I on the Pope's Side and You're Not?

Related Headline:

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Scottish wind turbines

OO Party Leaders In Scotland Make Climate Change Pledge - why won't ours in the US?

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DRYING OF THE WEST

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OO California Climate Researchers Sound The Alarm: It Will Get WORSE

Related Headline:

OO As the West Dries Up, So Do Fish & Fishing - Oregon and Washington state have closed many recreational and commercial fishing spots as falling water levels are decreasing habitat, warming the remainder and help fish diseases flourish - all harmful to fish.

Speaking about salmon hatchlings, one Washington state official observed,
"Those fish trying to live in the fresh water for the year are gone, toast.

We're having impacts on fish right now, but that won't be felt until adults don't show up in future years."

2015-09-08-1441735319-8864416-babysealionsSourceTDCccr293.jpg
Dead Baby sea lions have dramatically increased for the past 3 years, as climate change drives away their food sources, says a NOAA scientist at the National Marine Mammal Laboratory.

OO Baby Sea Lions Are Dying in California.Takeaways:

  • Warm Pacific water is driving away food fish
  • Young pups can't swim far or deep enough to feed
  • Strong El Nino, predicted for late 2015, will worsen conditions
  • Warmth spurs toxic algal bloom, poisoning remaining food

@@ Sea Lions, Poisoned From Toxic Algae, Are Having Seizures

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2015-09-08-1441735347-6232809-urbantreescoolheatislandSourceurbantreekc.comccr293.jpg
Urban trees cool the heat in cities and towns. Source urbantreekc.com

OO Plants Essential To Ease Urban Heating says a new study that analyzes urbanization impacts across the US.

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2015-09-08-1441735375-3335399-GreatBarrierreefcoralsturtleSourcetravelingearth.comccr288.jpg
Home to Nemo and Friends the Great Barrier Reef is the largest, most diverse coral reef in the world. Source traveling-earth.com

OO Great Barrier Reef: Climate Change Is Biggest Threat To Native Species - tropical species with narrower ranges are more likely to die out in a rapidly warming climate, scientists say, as 'invaders' encroach on established lifeforms.

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CLIMATE ACTION

OO Green Group Poll: 'Overwhelming Majority' Backs Obama Climate Rule - 6 in 10 voters.

Related Headline:

OO Another Benefit Of Obama's Climate Initiative: Breathing Easy - as air quality improves.

OO Clean Air Regs Did Not Prevent Job Growth in the fossil fuel industry, at least in Colorado and Wisconsin, where state mandates adopted regulations now being proposed nationally by the EPA.

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CUTTING CARBON - OR NOT

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Source www.audubon.org

OO Flawed Carbon Credit Scheme Increased Emissions Greatly - because it was so open to abuse, especially by Ukraine and Russia, most of its allowances lacked environmental integrity, says a new report.

OO California: $2+ Billion In Cap-And-Trade Funds Boosting
Rail, Housing, Clean Cars
as CA starts to dole out the funds from cutting carbon emissions.

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Gone, But Not Forgotten...

@@ Stephen Colbert on Republican Climate-Change Denialism: "We're not scientists" - nor are they responsible politicians, passing a feeble buck like that.

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Credit Tom Toles at the Washington Post

OO Climate Contrarian Studies Have 3 Flaws in Common - they

  1. present selected data (ie, "cherry-pick" data)
  2. contain implausible physics
  3. lack consensus on alternative explanations for climate change

... all of which is not found in the 97% of climate change papers that present overwhelming consensus on that global warming is due to the combustion of fossil fuels.

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GEOTHERMAL NEWS

2015-09-08-1441735536-3901927-OsornoVolcano570ChilemehDSCN5812ccr253_resize.jpg
Osorno Volcano is just one of many Chilean volcanoes that indicate the huge potential for geothermal power, a clean renewable source, in Chile.

OO Plant In Chile Opens South America's Doors To Geothermal Energy

Related Headline:

OO Kenya, Turkey Exceed Geothermal Power Goals as geothermal energy becomes competitive with solar and wind sources, says a new analysis. Takeaways:

  • Geothermal capacity grows steadily
  • Up to 40% of a project's cost is determining feasibility, making financing challenging
  • Developing nations need130+ billion to meet goals

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CANADA DRY

2015-09-08-1441735570-7368741-CanadaDrylogoSourcewww.caribbeanmarketingdirector.comccr293.jpg

Not Just a Soda Anymore - after contributing to global warming, Canada is getting nature's revenge: drought, heat, fire.

OO Canada: Suffers Drought, Heat, Fires As Earth Gets Warmer - the snowy Great White North has discovered it's not being spared from global warming.

Related Headline:

OO Canadian Medical Association Divesting Fossil Fuel Holdings - hoping to send a powerful symbolic message that climate change is an urgent health concern.

2015-09-08-1441735645-1644364-CanadascientistheroTonyTurnerTDCccr293.jpg

OO Canada: Environmental Hero Punished - government scientist Tony Turner, exercising his right to free speech, has been put on leave with pay for performing a song urging voters to oust the anti-environmental Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

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MIDEAST DRYING

2015-09-08-1441735679-724784-IrandroughtSourceAmirHosseinKhouzestanatISNAccr276.jpg
Tehran has already run out of its local source of drinking water, as a burgeoning population and drought takes its toll. Source Amir Hossein Khouzestan at ISNA

OO Middle East To Be Hit Hardest by Future Water Stress - shows a new global analysis of future water stress under various scenarios. Combine that with some nuclear capability, waring religious factions, political instability and too many people - and just imagine the outcome!

Syria is just a preview...

OO Middle East, Israel To Be Water Scarce By 2040 - says a new study, with Gaza running out of drinking water in 5 years; climate change, population growth to make region among most 'extremely highly stressed' for water.

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2014-04-25-DITV507mb2.jpg

OO What The Climate Movement Can Learn From The War On Smoking - Takeaways:

  • start with simple messages, repeated frequently, from trusted advisers
  • make "the [promoted changes in] behaviors easy, fun and popular."

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AFRICA CLIMATE REFUGEES

2015-09-08-1441735709-1844734-zimbabwebananafarmsinfertileeasthighlandsCreditAndrewMambondiyaniaatTRFccr293.jpg
Unpromised Land: Banana farms in the fertile east highlands are off limits to drought migrants, who must squat illegally on government owned lands to raise enough food for themselves. Credit Andrew Mambondiyania at TRF

OO Zimbabwe: Fleeing Drought, Migrants Squat Illegally In The Fertile East on government-owned land.

OO To Stem Migrant Flow, Tanzania Offers Climate-Stressed Farmers Loans


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If we do not grow sustainably,
Our children will die inhumanely.

2015-09-08-1441735810-2620425-deadSyrianmigrantboydrownedSourcewww.tym.com.mtccr293.png
Migration Disaster - epitomized in this poor drowned child, a Syrian migrant. A potent mix of overpopulation, extreme drought and government corruption in Syria has started a civil war and tragic mass migration of desperate people.

OO Migrant Crisis: More Troubles In Hungary
As Austria, Germany Near Tipping Point

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Recognize The Population Factors Behind Headlines - and start sharing them with your family and friends. Overpopulation is rarely mentioned, but plays a big part in conflicts worldwide, especially as the resulting consumption makes vital resources scarce.

And there are many more actions you can do, right here.

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SOLAR KEEPS DRIVING

2015-04-13-1428953864-5684679-solarkeepsdrivingwww.solarkingu.comccr272.jpg
Source www.solarkinguk.com

OO US Utility-Scale Solar Generation Is 31 Times Higher
Today Than a Decade Ago
- thermal technologies created the first surge, but then PV started dominating.

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OO Obama Calls Out Koch Brothers for Opposing Solar Power

OO U.S., India Compete to Have World's Largest Solar Power Field with the US Navy building the largest US one for its bases.

OO Michigan Tea Party Lawmaker:
'We Should Be Incentivizing Solar as Much as Possible'
amen, brother.

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Source www.trust.org

OO Dubai: "Smart" Solar Palm Trees Power Wi-Fi, Phones - cool! when will the US get these?

OO Storage Installed With Solar in Germany Increasing by 35% a Year

2014-01-31-geostellargetcleanenergy.png

Check it out here, right now!

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GOOD CLEAN NEWS

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Source kids.britannica.com

OO Smart Utility Rates Could Slash Grid Investment Costs, Monthly Bills - $9 billion in annual savings in the residential sector alone, says a new analysis.

OO Wind Power Wins Big Under The Clean Power Plan as a major compliance solution for many states and utilities.

OO The Big Change In Powering Homes: Use It When Cheapest - with smart technology that alerts users to when power is cheapest. This "demand flexibility" helps save money and helps utilities avoid demand overloads.

2015-09-08-1441735978-9068363-Tesla2015ModelSP85DSourceTeslaMotorsccr293.jpg
Off the Consumer Charts - the Tesla 2015 Model S P85D. Source Tesla Motors

OO New Tesla Breaks Consumer Reports' Ratings Scale - the car is that good.

OO General Mills Sets Ambitious Goal For Greenhouse Gas Cuts - planning to invest $100+ million in energy efficiency and clean energy within its own facilities worldwide, and partner with suppliers to foster more sustainable agricultural practices.

OO How Do You Sell Electric Vehicles In Asia? Try 2-3 Wheelers as cheaper EV alternatives for developing countries.

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OO $5 Million Invested to Grow Grid-Scale Energy Storage

OO Distributed Energy at Center of DOE's New $1 Billion Loan Guarantee Fund - a first-ever roadmap for how solar, storage and flexible demand can aggregate for federal backing.


OO Moving Renewable Power to Market Cheaply:
"Wind By Wire" (HVDC) for 2 Cents/KW-Hour

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WHAT DOESN'T WORK

Fossil Fuel Follies

2015-09-08-1441736059-2177291-ChristopherHornerlawyerhoundsclimatescientistsfundedbycoalTDCccr293.jpg
Christopher Horner, a climate denying attorney who often derides scientists as "communists" and frauds, is funded by big coal.

OO Attorney Hounding Climate Scientists Covertly Funded By Coal Industry

OO 'Supergiant' Gasfield Discovered Near Egypt - just what the Mideast needs: more climate change! Although this fossil fuel burns cleaner than coal, don't be fooled: the mining emissions make natural gas as dirty as coal, studies have shown.

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WHY WE SHOULD ACT NOW: RISING RISKS

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Daily Climate Change: Global Map of Unusual Temperatures, Sept 8, 2015

How unusual has the weather been? No one event is "caused" by climate change, but global warming, which is predicted to increase unusual, extreme weather, is having a daily effect on weather, worldwide.

Looking above at recent temperature anomalies, much of the US and the waters surrounding it are experiencing warmer than normal temperatures: the eastern Pacific warm spot continues to prevent much rain from reaching California, sending it into further drought. California climate scientists warn it will get even worse.

Note how unusually warm Greenland is: glaciers there are melting far more rapidly than thought - with all that water going towards sea level rise.

Much of the areas surrounding the North Pole are experiencing much warmer than normal temperatures - not good news for our Arctic thermal shield of ice. Hotter than usual temperatures continue to dominate human habitats.

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There is, of course, much more news on the consequences and solutions to climate change. To get it, check out this annotated resource list I've compiled, "Climate Change News Resources," at Wordpress.com here. For more information on the science of climate change, its consequences and solutions you can view my annotated list of online information resources here.

To help you understand just what science does and does NOT do, check this out!

Every day is Earth Day, folks, as I was reminded by these orchids I photographed one summer. Making the U.S. a global clean energy leader will ensure a heck of a lot more jobs, and a clean, safe future. If you'd like to join the increasing numbers of people who want to TELL Congress that they will vote for clean energy candidates you can do so here. It's our way of letting Congress know there's a strong clean energy voting bloc out there. For more detailed summaries of the above and other climate change items, audio podcasts and texts are freely available.

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