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Archive for July 21st, 2014
Climate: Meat turns up the heat as livestock emit greenhouse gases
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2014
ScienceDaily: Eating meat contributes to climate change, due to greenhouse gasses emitted by livestock. New research finds that livestock emissions are on the rise and that beef cattle are responsible for far more greenhouse gas emissions than other types of animals. It is published by Climactic Change.
Carbon dioxide is the most-prevalent gas when it comes to climate change. It is released by vehicles, industry, and forest removal and comprises the greatest portion of greenhouse gas totals. But methane and...
Posted in Water Conservation 
Comments Off on Climate: Meat turns up the heat as livestock emit greenhouse gasesCalifornia marks warmest winter and spring on record
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2014
Reuters: California had its warmest winter and spring on record this year, leading to stresses on water resources and agriculture, as well as increased risk of wildfire in the most populous U.S. state, the National Weather Service said Monday. In an overview of the nation's weather released on the agency's website, meteorologists said temperatures in California were about 5 degrees Fahrenheit above normal during the first six months of 2014, and just over 1 degree hotter than the previous record. "Despite...
Your Cheeseburger Is Leaving a Giant Environmental Footprint
Posted by LiveScience: Laura Geggel on July 21st, 2014
LiveScience: Beef production takes a big toll on the environment, according to one of the most comprehensive studies to date on livestock management in the United States.
To make one steak, 28 times more land, 11 times more irrigation water, five times more greenhouse-gas emissions and six times more fertilizer is needed compared to what's required for other sources of commonly eaten protein, like pork and poultry, the researchers found.
"We were trying to see how many resources we take from planet Earth...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Your Cheeseburger Is Leaving a Giant Environmental FootprintWashington state wildfire claims first fatality, weather improving
Posted by Reuters: Victoria Cavaliere on July 21st, 2014
Reuters: Cooler weather and lower winds aided firefighters on Monday as they battled a week-old wildfire in Washington state that has destroyed up to 150 homes, scorched a wide swath of wilderness east of the Cascade Mountains and left one person dead.
Several miles of containment lines have been put in place around the perimeter of the Carlton Complex Fire, which has burned through 243,000 acres since it was sparked by lightning on July 14, fire officials said.
A drop in temperatures on Sunday, with...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Washington state wildfire claims first fatality, weather improvingBeef’s greater environment burden
Posted by BBC: Matt McGrath on July 21st, 2014
BBC: A new study suggests that the production of beef is around 10 times more damaging to the environment than any other form of livestock.
Scientists measured the environment inputs required to produce the main US sources of protein.
Beef cattle need 28 times more land and 11 times more irrigation water than pork, poultry, eggs or dairy.
The research has been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
While it has long been known that beef has a greater environmental...
Climate Change Already Profound Impacts on Lakes in Europe
Posted by National Geographic: Lisa Borre on July 21st, 2014
National Geographic: For perspective on how climate change is affecting lakes, those of us here in the U.S. can just look across the pond, where scientists and the agencies involved in meeting the European Union’s Water Framework Directive have amassed an impressive body of research on the topic.
Not only are extreme weather events such as droughts and intense rainstorms becoming more common, climate warming is leading to increased algal growth and more frequent toxic algal blooms. It also affects the entire aquatic...
Posted in Water Conservation Comments Off on Climate Change Already Profound Impacts on Lakes in Europe