IN TODAY'S RADIO REPORT: Record breaking weather extremes are the new normal; Surprise! 'Conservative' media disinforms the public; Fossil fuel industry showers Republicans with campaign cash; Seattle's community solar; PLUS: The FATBERG that threatened London ... All that and more in today's Green News Report!
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IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): What are the most climate-friendly cars?; Solar wars in Arizona; South Korea launches world's first road-powered electric charging system; Wind power cheaper than coal, natural gas; TN sells out of solar credits in 1 day; Wells run dry in KS; Native Americans arrested protesting tar sands on tribal lands; Sea level rise threatens major American cities - does anyone care?; BP CEO says he's done paying oil spill claims; How does Elon Musk's Hyperloop work? ... PLUS: How a powerful group of corporations quietly tried to roll back clean energy standards, and failed miserably ... and much, MUCH more! ...
STORIES DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S 'GREEN NEWS REPORT'...
The New Normal: State of the Climate Report 2013:
2012 global temperatures among top 10 warmest, NOAA report says (Baltimore Sun)
READ the report: BAMS State of the Climate - 2012: Bulletin of the American Meterological Society (Natl Snow & Ice Data Center, NOAA)
AUDIO: NOAA announces key findings from the State of the Climate in 2012 report (NOAA.gov)
Global Scientists Shocked by True Scale of Ocean Warming (Environment News Service):
Warming oceans are causing marine species to change their breeding times and shift their habitats toward the poles much faster than land-based species, finds new research by scientists at 17 institutions across the world.
Today's Climate Change Proves Much Faster Than Changes in Past 65 Million Years (Scientific American): Climate change is occurring 10 to 100 times faster than in the past and ecosystems will find it hard to adjust
UK Met Office Climate Portal
Blunt AGU: "Human-induced climate change requires urgent action":
American Geophysical Union: Human Activities Are Changing Earth’s Climate and the Harmful Impact of that Change on Society (AGU.org) [emphasis added]:
”AGU has a responsibility to help policy makers and the public understand the impacts our science can have on public health and safety, economic stability and growth, and national security,” said Gerald North, chair of AGU’s Climate Change Position Statement Review Panel....It also calls greater attention to the specific societal impacts we face and actions that can diminish the threat.”
Full AGU Statement: Human-induced climate change requires urgent action (AGU.org): "Extensive, independent observations confirm the reality of global warming."
AUDIO: Earth Scientists Pin Climate Change Squarely On 'Humanity' (NPR)
Charts: Two Big Climate Stories You Didn't Read About In The New York Times (Media Matters)
"Conservative" Media Misinforming Public on Climate Change:
Study Finds 5 Ways Conservative Media Erode Trust In Scientists (Media Matters) [emphasis added]:
The study suggests that watching and listening to outlets like Fox News and The Rush Limbaugh Show may be one reason that only 19 percent of Republicans agree that human activity is causing global warming, despite the consensus of 97 percent of climate scientists. The Yale researchers depicted five tactics used by conservative media to erode trust in scientists, which Media Matters illustrates with examples.
6 Signs Your "Scientist" Might Not Be A Scientist (Media Matters)
Republicans Raking in Fossil Fuel Campaign Cash:
Republicans Raking in Fossil Fuel Campaign Cash: (The Hill's e2 Wire):
GOP candidates snagged 85 percent of the $2.6 million in contributions from the oil and gas industry, OpenSecrets data shows, citing July 29 data released by the Federal Election Commission.
How A Powerful Group Of Corporations Quietly Tried To Roll Back Clean Energy Standards, And Failed Miserably (Climate Progress):
When the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, wants a law passed, it has all the resources to make that happen.
...
With funding to the tune of $500,000 from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch’s foundations from 2005-2011, and $1.4 million from Exxon Mobil this past decade, it shouldn’t be a surprise that ALEC has had many successes in its 40 years of existence.
Congressional Republicans Promoting Climate Science Denial:
AUDIO: Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) Believes Global Warming Is 'Fraudulent Science' To Promote Wind Farms (Brad Johnson, Hill Heat)
Rep. King: Global warming ‘more of a religion than a science’ (The Hill's e2 Wire)
How Crazy the House GOP has Become (Grist) [emphasis added]:
I was convinced at the time, and remain convinced, that this was a deliberate strategy on the part of conservatives: flood the zone and overwhelm the ability of the press, public, and political opposition to react. When you have power, use it to help your friends and secure future power; do not hesitate; do not ask permission.
Seattle City Light Launches Community Solar Projects (City of Seattle, Seattle.gov)
The FATBERG That Threatened London - Keep Grease Out of Sewers!:
VIDEO: Fatberg ahead! How London was saved from a 15-tonne ball of grease (Guardian UK): Team of sewerage workers took three weeks to clear bus-sized toxic ball of fat that threatened to flood streets with sewage
Britain's biggest 'fatberg' removed from London sewer (BBC): The blockage was discovered after residents in nearby flats complained they couldn't flush their toilets. Thames Water believe if it wasn't removed it could have led to sewage flooding homes, streets and businesses.
'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (Stuff we didn't have time for in today's audio report)...
How A Powerful Group Of Corporations Quietly Tried To Roll Back Clean Energy Standards, And Failed Miserably (Climate Progress):
When the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, wants a law passed, it has all the resources to make that happen.
...
With funding to the tune of $500,000 from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch’s foundations from 2005-2011, and $1.4 million from Exxon Mobil this past decade, it shouldn’t be a surprise that ALEC has had many successes in its 40 years of existence.
Solar Flame War in Arizona, Coming Your Way Soon (Climate Crocks):
I’ve posted several times, and I’m repeating every where I go, that we are heading for a electric utility train wreck in this country if we do not reconfigure our regulatory and pricing structure for the grid to reflect the emerging disruptive effects of solar and renewable technology. The New York Times recently reported on utilities beginning to push back against consumers who want to place solar panels on their rooftops.
GE’s Brilliant Wind Turbine — Wind Power Cheaper Than Coal Or Natural Gas (Clean Technica)
A closer look: Brilliant turbine with short-term battery storage (Wind Power Engineering): The Frequency Regulation app provides stability to the grid by letting turbines respond to fluctuating power demand, which varies throughout the day.
Which are the most climate-friendly cars? It depends. (Climate Central)
World’s first road-powered electric vehicle network switches on in South Korea (Extreme Tech)
How does Elon Musk’s SF-to-LA-in-30-minutes Hyperloop work? (Extreme Tech)
Wells Are Running Dry In Parts Of Kansas (NPR)
Ozone-Protection Treaty Had Climate Benefits, Too, Study Says (Science Daily)
Food Plus Electricity: Solar Cells and Crops can Share the Sun (Climate Crocks)
Solar demand in Tennessee exceeds TVA cap in less than one day: (Lightwave Solar TN): Industry group urges TVA board to increase solar program capacity, align solar programs with market demand
Native Americans Arrested While Protesting Tar Sands Equipment Transport Through Tribal Lands (Climate Progress)
BP CEO Says He’s Done Paying For The Deepwater Horizon Disaster (Climate Progress): BP's chief balked at the amount the company owes for the worst oil disaster in American history.
We are consigning hundreds of coastal cities to destruction. Who cares? (Grist)
Court rules against Pebble for buying inside information about mine foes. (Anchorage Daily News)
Antarctic Coastal Permafrost Melting Faster Than Expected (Climate Crocks)
Metabolix engineers plants to make cheaper, cleaner bioplastic (Gizmag)
Worse floods ahead for UK as climate warms, say scientists (Guardian UK): Airborne corridors which carry huge volumes of water, are set to get larger, causing more catastrophic floods
Fukushima leaks: Japan PM steps in (Guardian UK): Shinzo Abe promises 'firm measures' after nuclear plant operator Tepco admits radioactive water is escaping
Screw Your Salmon And Your Virgin Wilderness, Alaska, America Hungers For Molybdenum (Wonkette)
Skeptical Science: Get the FULL DEBUNKING of ALL Climate Science Denier Arguments
Warning: Even in the best-case scenario, climate change will kick our asses (Grist)
FOR MORE on Climate Science and Climate Change, go to our Green News Report: Essential Background Page
NASA Video: Warming over the last 130 years, and into the next 100 years:
Video Proof That Global Warming is a 'Hoax'!: NASA Temperature Data 1888-2011 (The BRAD BLOG):
NASA climate change video: This is the U.S. in 2100 (NASA).