Weather, Water, Energy 10-24-06

The WWF (either the old World Wildlife Federation or a wrestling combine) has issued a report claiming the globe could suffer an eco-collapse by 2050 if current consumption levels aren't reduced. Basically, they're saying we need another planet or two to keep up at our pace. . . . The US and the EU are throwing in the towel on the Kyoto Protocol, it seems, agreeing to new talks to try to develop new plans. Yeah, good luck with that. . . . Coincidentally(?), the Christian Science Monitor reports that new efficiency standards for appliances by the US Dept of Energy are so low even the industries are protesting some of them. Yikes! (As usual, Climate Progress tells you all the implications.) . . . Speaking of as usual, Terra Daily is on fire with a wealth of stories, one on how global warming will threaten your health with far more than heat strokes, one on how rising seas and dammed rivers (or is it damned rivers?) will likely cause more flooding and expansion of Gulf Coast bays over the next century, one on how the generous government give-aways of emission trading permits in Europe is making those market efforts "pointless" (which was always the hidden joker in the "market solution"--it's called politics), one on the Inhofe-loving Howard government in Australia is launching a $500 m. effort against global warming (yes, "million," which shows how serious they are, but it is the Howard government), and finally, one pointing out that, when weighing the reemergence of nuclear power, we really do need to keep things like, oh, waste storage and weapons proliferation in mind. . . . A nice little story on wind power's present and future in southern CA. . . . This story captures well the politics of air and water policy, this time in CO where the Dem says, "let's set our own standards and be pro-active" and the Repub says, "but . . . but it'll hurt our business." When will these people learn to look down the road a little or just care about their grandchildren? . . . Speaking of CO, Shell says the future is good for shale there (not much news there, but I love the alliteration). . . . And the Four Corners area there is getting into serious air quality planning as pollution becomes more conspicuous.