Germany’s failed climate goals: A wake-up call for governments everywhere

By William Wilkes, Hayley Warren and Brian Parkin 15 August 2018 (Bloomberg) – Germany, the nation that did more than any other to unleash the modern renewable-energy industry, is likely to fall short of its goals for reducing harmful carbon-dioxide emissions even after spending over 500 billion euros ($580 billion) by 2025 to overhaul its […]

Death toll rises to 67 in Kerala floods, state’s worst flooding in 94 years – 35 dams opened for first time in history – Red alerts issued in 12 districts

15 August 2018 (Livemint) – Kerala today shut the Kochi airport till Saturday as rains returned to wreak more havoc in the state. Eighteen people have been killed so far today, and thousands others are being evacuated from the fresh Kerala floods. The state has opened 35 of its dams, a first in history. Kerala […]

At “America First Energy Conference”, solar power is dumb, liberals are wrong about sea level rise, climate science is a UN conspiracy, and White House officials celebrate oil exports

By Collin Eaton 9 August 2018 NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – Pumping carbon dioxide into the air makes the planet greener; the United Nations puts out fake science about climate change to control the global energy market; and wind and solar energy are simply “dumb”.These are among the messages that flowed from the America First Energy […]

The Economist: The world is losing the war against global warming

2 August 2018 (The Economist) – Earth is smouldering. From Seattle to Siberia this summer, flames have consumed swathes of the northern hemisphere. One of 18 wildfires sweeping through California, among the worst in the state’s history, is generating such heat that it created its own weather. Fires that raged through a coastal area near […]

“Red alert” looms as India reservoir reaches capacity – Heavy rain continues

Idukki, 8 August 2018 (Manorama) – The prospect of Idukki dam shutters at Cheruthoni being opened seemed imminent on Wednesday with the catchment area receiving over 128 mm rain in the intervening night [cf. Monsoon rains fill India reservoir to capacity – Kerala’s Idukki Dam floodgates may be opened after 26 years, forcing large-scale evacuation […]

“Lots of good news” but much more needs to be done for the planet, says UN environment chief

6 August 2018 (UN News) – Calling 2017 “the first year in human history” that more electricity was generated globally from the sun, than oil, gas and coal combined, Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has told UN news that “we are on track” but “we really need to speed up”.Southern […]

Losing Earth: The decade we almost stopped climate change

By Nathaniel Rich 1 August 2018 (The New York Times) – The first suggestion to Rafe Pomerance that humankind was destroying the conditions necessary for its own survival came on Page 66 of the government publication EPA-600/7-78-019. It was a technical report about coal, bound in a coal-black cover with beige lettering — one of […]

Monsoon rains fill India reservoir to capacity – Kerala’s Idukki Dam floodgates may be opened after 26 years, forcing large-scale evacuation downriver

By Chennabasaveshwar 4 August 2018Idukki, 4 August 2018 (Oneindia News) – The water level in Kerala’s Idukki dam touched 2396.34 feet on Saturday due to continuous heavy rainfall. The Full Reservoir Level (FRL) of the dam is 2403 feet.Idukki Dam is 554 feet (168.91 meters) tall, constructed between the two mountains – Kuravanmala (839 meters) […]

Climate Progress Dashboard: Marking progress one year on – One step forward, one step back

By Andrew Howard 17 July 2018 (Schroders) – The Climate Progress Dashboard was created to help Schroders’ analysts, fund managers and clients track climate action. Meeting global leaders’ commitments to limit temperature rises to 2°C will require action across a range of areas, by a range of stakeholders.The dashboard plots the long-run rise in temperatures […]

Laos dam disaster leaves 24 dead, scores missing – Dam failure exposes cracks in secretive government’s agenda

By Mike Ives 29 July 2018 ATTAPEU, Laos (The New York Times) – As heavy rains lashed southern Laos over the weekend, volunteers from many countries were continuing to help victims of earlier flooding caused by the failure of a foreign-funded hydropower dam.“It shows the spirit of humanity,” Yen Saisamon, a 17-year-old Laotian volunteer, said […]

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