Weather, Water, Energy 2-1-07

This will have an impact. Swiss bank wants clients to think about climate change in making their investment decisions, especially since it's obvious regulation will be a big part of their future. Business can shape what we do more than government frankly, so this is good news, but we'll see what US banks do, won't we? . . . Some states do get it. VT is joining MA in an effort to draw and grow the "green" businesses that the response to global warming is already generating. Wish I had some money to invest. And NJ may join CA as the second state to call for mandatory caps on greenhouse emissions. At least this legislator gets it: "The federal government has failed us miserably, so we have to do this at the state level," Stender said. "This is my priority and I'm working to make it a priority for New Jersey. We're talking about our survival on this planet." Maybe IL will be with them if it follows the recs of an enviro group there. Don't know how much power they have but any group with a spokesperson who can come up with "it's not rocket science, it's political science" is all right in my book. . . . And this shows that many mayors, such as Pittsburgh's, also see the opportunities. . . . Tomorrow's the big day for the IPCC report, as this and this report. Here's a couple of relevant items you may be interested in:

By 2100, retired snowbirds will be joined by "sun birds" – who flee north to escape oppressively hot, humid summers not just in Miami, but Milwaukee as well. In the US West, deep mountain snows – currently a key natural reservoir for fresh water – will virtually vanish. And while the growing season will expand by about a month, urban gardeners will spend more time indoors as higher temperatures help boost smog at ground level.

One rule of thumb: Wet areas will get wetter and dry areas will get drier. The most rapid warming is expected over the continents. In essence, climate bands move north, giving Wisconsin the kind of summers once limited to places like southern Mississippi. Warming in northern North America and north-central Asia would be largest in winter. Already, disappearing sea ice, melting permafrost, shifts in vegetation, and melting Greenland ice are signaling the changes under way in the far north. . . .

David Roberts calls out yet another moronic piece seeking the “moderate” high ground on DANGEROUS GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE, as if Nature gives a rat’s ass about tolerance of other people’s ill-informed and deliberately self-serving arguments.

“We're going to have to cast off this collective illusion if we want to make any progress in this country. We can start by telling the truth about the political history of the climate debate: conservatives, acting on behalf of corporate interests, intentionally generated confusion and delay. That's the long and short of it. You can add nuance 'til the cows come home, but the fact remains that there is no commensurate sin on the "other side." There is no other side of any size or influence. There's only The Rest of Us, who agree that global warming is a big problem that requires immediate, concerted action. The resistance to acknowledging this basic state of affairs is so deep in the subconscious of self-appointed centrists and mainstream media that I despair of ever dislodging it.” . . .

Here's the big elephant in the middle of the global warming room, the refugees from the changed nations whom everyone seems to think will just genially sit there taking it all in. Good luck to us all with that one. . . . A British study tells us that the folks with the wealth to do air travel will pay any tax on that travel that the government wants so it wouldn't have much effect. They recommend carbon credits instead. Maybe. But there's no more evidence those credits will get the job done either, is there? . . . One reason climate models have a hard time is that things like wet peat moorlands may have a positive impact absorbing CO2 for a while but, with warming, may dry enough to end up releasing greenhouse gases. This article recommends reclaiming and protecting the ones we have. Sounds like a no-brainer. Wanna bet on it? . . . Finally, one of my favorite causes, telecommuting, receiving great coverage and support from the Christian Science Monitor. Great overview. In our "digital" world, there really is no excuse for this not becoming a top priority for every organization that can do it, especially government, as this demonstrates. What they didn't mention was the money to be saved by governments on building maintenance and rental plus utilities as well as on fleet, not to mention the reduced carbon fuel use. And that money could go directly back to the R&D that we haven't been doing on alternative energy sources. It's just a matter of time as costs rise. Might as well do it now and look smart. Or at least semi-serious.