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Archive for November 23rd, 2012
Scottish Parliament rejects Trump’s anti-wind farm campaign
Posted by BusinessGreen: Jessica Shankleman on November 23rd, 2012
BusinessGreen: Scottish MSPs have dismissed claims by US tycoon Donald Trump that wind farms will destroy the country's tourism industry, following an inquiry into Scotland's renewable energy targets.
The Scottish government's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, today reported on their findings, concluding Scotland can feasibly deliver 100 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
However, the report argues the goal can only be met if the government and industry overcome a series of barriers...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Scottish Parliament rejects Trump’s anti-wind farm campaignClimate change evident across Europe, confirming urgent need for adaptation
Posted by Nanowerk News: None Given on November 23rd, 2012
Nanowerk News: Climate change is affecting all regions in Europe, causing a wide range of impacts on society and the environment. Further impacts are expected in the future, potentially causing high damage costs, according to the latest assessment published by the European Environment Agency this week. The report, ‘Climate change, impacts and vulnerability in Europe 2012’ finds that higher average temperatures have been observed across Europe as well as decreasing precipitation in southern regions and increasing...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Climate change evident across Europe, confirming urgent need for adaptationUnited Kingdom: Flooding: what you should do and how to claim on your insurance
Posted by Guardian: Mark King on November 23rd, 2012
Guardian: The Midlands and south-west England have been battered by rain and gales, flooding homes and businesses and causing tens of thousands of pounds of damage.
The band of heavy rain, accompanied by winds of 70mph, trundled across much of the country from the north-west, bringing with it chaos. But forecasters have said a brief reprieve on Friday would be followed by another weather front arriving at the weekend, this time from the south-west.
Here's your guide to protecting yourself from, and dealing...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United Kingdom: Flooding: what you should do and how to claim on your insuranceWhen the damage is done
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 23rd, 2012
IRIN: UN climate change talks in Doha could be on the verge of adding a focus on "loss and damage" to its framing of the global response to climate change. The new issue area would supplement existing emphases on the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change - underscoring the growing realization that simply adjusting to a warmer world may no longer be an option.
There is no agreed-upon definition for "loss and damage", but the phrase broadly refers to a range of harms incurred in developing countries...
Microsoft to debut sewage-powered data centre
Posted by BusinessGreen: James Murray on November 23rd, 2012
BusinessGreen: With the world's leading IT companies rushing to develop renewable energy projects to power their giant data centres, Microsoft might be about to take the prize for the most unlikely clean power source -- sewage.
US firm FuelCell Energy this week revealed it is working with the IT giant on a trial that could see biogas from a waste water treatment facility in Wyoming utilised by a fuel cell, providing "ultra-clean and carbon-neutral electricity" to a Microsoft data centre.
The initial trial...
World’s youngest species
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on November 23rd, 2012
BBC: When it comes to evolution, the world's youngest species can teach us more than the oldest, says BBC Nature editor Matt Walker.
When we think of evolution, we think old.
It's as natural as evolution itself. We think old, because it acts across vast time scales, and we see its hand down the ages, epochs and eras. Our focus on evolution as a grand old thing might partly explain our enduring fascination with extinct ancient beasties such as the dinosaurs.
But when we think of evolution, we...
United States: Sinkholes in Far Rockaway Caused by Storm-Damaged Pipes, City Says
Posted by New York Times: Colin Moynihan on November 23rd, 2012
New York Times: Residents in Far Rockaway, Queens, have endured their share of hardships caused by Hurricane Sandy, with many still recovering from flooded basements and the loss of electricity. But as the flooding receded, some said, they began noticing a problem they had not anticipated: sinkholes were appearing in areas that had seemed solid and stable before the storm. “I’m worried that my house is going to sink,” Eleanor Alexandre said recently, surveying one of the holes, which was several feet behind her...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on United States: Sinkholes in Far Rockaway Caused by Storm-Damaged Pipes, City SaysClimate change and impact on NE water resources
Posted by Assam Times: None Given on November 23rd, 2012
Assam Times: Various aspects of impacts of climate change on the water resources of the NE region as well as results from contemporary research relevant to the region and especially the Upper Brahmaputra basin area were in focus in a one day workshop on 'Adapting to Climate Change Impacts on Water in the Upper Brahmaputra basin in Northeast India' that was held at the Shankardev Sabha Kakhya of the Dibrugarh Hanumanbux Surajmal Kanoi (DHSK) College on November 17th, 2012.
The workshop was organised by Aaranyak...
Chasing Ice: A New Documentary Melts a Climate Change Skeptic’s Heart
Posted by Huffington Post: Michael Rose on November 23rd, 2012
Huffington Post: Lord Voldemort, in the Harry Potter series, was referred to as "He who must not be named," out of fear of being found by the "Dark Lord" and killed by his group of dastardly wizards and witches. During the recent presidential campaign talking about global climate change became as taboo as shouting out "Voldemort." Whether the Koch brothers, Karl Rove, Fox News, or any other modern-day practitioner of the dark arts of political skullduggery, would have cast a super Pac funded spell on any candidate...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Chasing Ice: A New Documentary Melts a Climate Change Skeptic’s HeartUnited Kingdom: Clean energy decision is delayed
Posted by BBC: Roger Harrabin and Anthony Reuben on November 23rd, 2012
BBC: The government has published details of its long-awaited Energy Bill designed to keep the lights on, bills reasonable and emissions down.
The bill will provide £7.6bn towards low-carbon electricity infrastructure by 2020, which energy firms welcomed.
But a decision about setting carbon emission targets for 2030 has been delayed until 2016, after the election.
Labour said this was a "humiliating failure" by the Lib Dems, who want gas banished from the electricity system.
Environmentalists...