Lightning expected to increase by 50 percent with global warming

By Robert Sanders13 November 2014 BERKELEY (UC Berkeley) – Today’s climate models predict a 50 percent increase in lightning strikes across the United States during this century as a result of warming temperatures associated with climate change. Reporting in the Nov. 14 issue of the journal Science [pdf], UC Berkeley climate scientist David Romps and […]

Australia repealed its carbon tax, and emissions are now soaring

By Brad Plumer6 November 2014 (Vox) – Back in 2011, Australia’s Labor Party enacted a national carbon tax as a way of tackling global warming. The tax took effect in 2012, and emissions promptly fell over the next two years. But the policy was also highly unpopular with voters. So, in July 2014, a newly […]

Graph of the Day: Trend in main indicators of drug supply and drug supply reduction, 2003-2013

(UNODC) – Trend in main indicators of drug supply and drug supply reduction, 2003-2013. Seizure data: annual report questionnaire supplemented by other official sources. Cultivation data: UNODC estimates based on national illicit crop monitoring systems supported by UNODC supplemented by other official data. a Including amphetamine, ecstasy-type substances, methamphetamine, non-specified ATS, other stimulants and prescription […]

Carbon dioxide surge drove greenhouse gas levels to new high in 2013 – ‘The laws of physics are non-negotiable. We are running out of time.’

By Tom Miles; editing by Stephanie Nebehay9 September 2014 GENEVA (Reuters) – Atmospheric volumes of greenhouse hit a record in 2013 as carbon dioxide concentrations grew at the fastest rate since reliable global records began, the World Meteorological Organization said on Tuesday. “We know without any doubt that our climate is changing and our weather […]

Can’t afford to wait: Why disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation plans in Asia are still failing millions of people

By Steph Cousins6 November 2014 (Oxfam) – Climate-related disasters and food crises are devastating thousands of lives and holding back development across Asia. A year after the devastating super-typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, Oxfam is calling for governments across Asia to increase efforts to address these challenges – and for them to be backed by […]

Infographic: The rise of suburban poverty in the U.S.

(Best MSW Programs) – What if I told you you were more likely to live in poverty living in the suburbs. Suburbs: 16.5 Million Americans live under the poverty line [2]Cities: 13.5 Million Americans live under the poverty line And that poverty is expanding faster in the suburbs than anywhere else. Increase since 2000:Suburban: 139%Urban: […]

Graph of the Day: California reservoir levels, 27 October 2014

28 October 2014 (Pacific Institute) – Statewide, California’s major reservoirs (representing nearly 27.1 million acre-feet of storage), are at about 28% of total capacity and 50% of normal. This week in… migratory birds Migratory bird species will likely have a difficult year. This past year, federal wildlife refuges reliant on the Central Valley Project only […]

Threatened with rising sea level, officials want South Florida to break off into its own state – ‘South Florida’s situation is very precarious and in need of immediate attention’

By Adrienne Cutway21 October 2014 (Sun Sentinal) – Officials in the City of South Miami have passed a resolution [pdf] in favor of splitting the state in half so South Florida would become the 51st state. Vice Mayor Walter Harris proposed the resolution and it passed with a 3-2 vote at the city commission meeting […]

IPCC Synthesis Report warns of ‘severe, widespread and irreversible’ effects of climate change

By Scott Sutherland, Meteorologist4 November 2014 (theweathernetwork.com) – It may not appear so, given its dire warning of “severe, widespread and irreversible” effects from climate change, but the latest IPCC report is really pulling its punches when it comes to delivering its message to the world. This report, the Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report, is […]

Record warmth in Western Europe – Record cold and snow in Eastern U.S.

By Christopher C. Burt3 November 2014  (wunderground.com) – The first weekend of November has brought an interesting contrast of weather regimes between the Eastern U.S. and Western Europe. All-time November warmth enveloped portions of Western Europe while the Eastern U.S. endured an early season snowstorm and some daily record low temperatures (in the Southeast). Western […]

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