We’ve hit a milestone in CO2 concentration in Earth’s Atmosphere: 400ppm. Why is it important? Because it is a record high.
The Guardian has put together an interactive explainer to put this milestone into context. It’s very well done and worth a visit.
Today is the 43rd Earth Day – and one that the media generally reported was not well reported on, but I did manage to round up some great articles from around the web for this week’s green reading. For fun facts, cool perspectives and straight up awkward takes on Earth Day, read on:
This Date in Science: Why Celebrate Earth Day on April 22? – EarthSky
Spoiler alert: it used to be arbor day, which is the origin of the tradition of planting trees on Earth Day
Earth Daze: What Happened to the Environmental Movement? – Time Magazine
For a broader perspective
Earth Day? This Year Aim for Earth Week - Fox News (editorial note: trying not to act surprised)
For practical tips on having an impact beyond just Earth Day
And on a lighter note…
Awkward Things to Do on Earth Day – Awkward List Blog
Just discovered this blog. Totally obsessed.
It feels like a shift is underway when a business magazine has a cover as straightforward as this and democrats are winning senate seats. Exciting times ahead.
In this week’s Green Reading, Newsweek’s Green Rankings, Energy Efficiency, Natural Gas and a little Politics. Great pre-debate reading if you want to beef up on energy markets and policy before it kicks off tonight.
Politics up front:
Obama and Romney, Oil and Science – Dot Earth blog
Facts, figures and follow-up from the last debate
Q&A: Back to the Future with Environmental Bipartisanship - Green Blog @ NYT
Q&A with Rob Sisson, the president of ConservAmerica, and David Yarnold, the president of the National Audubon Society, about their new alliance’s efforts to find common ground and give Republicans “cover” and a base of support when they seek to discuss habitat, climate or pollution.
Climate Change: Will Presidential Candidates Pass the Brick Wall Test? – Huffington Post Green
The Executive Director of the Global Campaign for Climate Action on the key question to key in mind when (if?) candidates debate climate change
Second Presidential Debate: Who Won on Energy? – National Geographic
They are running a pole over at National Geographic’s blog. Obama is leading by quite a bit!
Natural Gas:
After the Boom in Natural Gas – New York Times
Fascinating read on the impact financing structures have had on natural gas prices
Why There’s No Such Thing as Cheap Gas - Huffington Post Green
Why gas isn’t cheap on our wallets or the environment
Gas Prices Could Drop by 50 cents by November. Unrelated: Gas Production is Up - Grist
Yet another good explanation of what actually drives energy prices. (Hint: it’s not domestic gas production)
Fracking’s Dark Side Gets Darker: The Problem of Methane Waste - NRDC Blog
Great post on the wastefulness of fracking, including links to more reading on the topic
Energy Efficiency:
Newsweek’s 2012 Green Rankings: This Time It’s Serious – Green Biz
Joel Makower makes the point that this is the first time the rankings have used consistent methodology, allowing year over year comparison and draws some conclusions.
Raise the Voltage in the Energy Debate – Huffington Post Green
An analysis of the candidates policies (including calling out energy efficiency as missing component #1 from Romney’s plan!)
Benchmarking Drives 7% Cut in Building Energy – Greentech Media
EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager releases its latest data
How Collaboration Can Keep Clean Tech Going - GigaOm
How big companies like GE play a role in overcoming the ecosystem challenges inherit in widespread adoption of green technologies.
I’ve been wondering about this lately: what is the real connection between climate change and what feels like more extreme weather lately? I’m certainly not the first person to ask this question, as evidenced by legislatures, reporters and scientists writing about it quite a bit lately. Here are a few resources to get you started on thinking about your own conclusions on this topic:
Cheat Sheet: Connection Between Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events
The World Resources Institute published a fact sheet pulling together stats, quotes and research from twenty sources on the linkages. Download it here.
Scientific Editorial: Nature on Extreme Weather
A recent editorial from Nature (arguably the most respected scientific journal) says the evidence is not yet there to support that link. Here is their editorial on extreme weather.
A quote comparing the state of the research to athlete performance as a result of steroid use sums up the state of the debate:
“ For any one of his home runs… you would not know for sure whether
it was caused by steroids or not…. But you might be able to attribute his
increased number to the steroids.”
What do you think? Correlation? Causation? An increase in “home runs”?
