Climate Change

"Environment groups hail ‘momentous occasion’ but warn governments need to cut carbon emissions more steeply to avoid dangerous global warming".

"Wastewater treatment plants may be responsible for emitting up to 23 percent more greenhouse gas than previously thought because of fossil fuels in detergent-laden water from residential showers, household washing machines and industrial sites, new research shows."

"Climate change has emerged in Wisconsin as a wedge issue between Sen. Ron Johnson, the Republican incumbent, and challenger Russ Feingold, who has drawn attention to what he describes as Johnson's anti-science perspective on climate warming."

"Beaches in the Southeastern U.S. took a tremendous beating last month from Hurricane Matthew. The U.S. Geological Survey has found that the storm washed over and damaged 15 percent of sand dunes on Florida's Atlantic Coast, 30 percent along Georgia's coastline and 42 percent of the dunes on South Carolina beaches."

"The commitments made by governments on climate change will lead to dangerous levels of global warming because they are incommensurate with the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said that pledges put forward to cut emissions would see temperatures rise by 3C above pre-industrial levels, far above the the 2C of the Paris climate agreement, which comes into force on Friday."

"A steady increase in sea levels is pushing saltwater into U.S. wetlands, killing trees from Florida to as far north as New Jersey. But with sea level projected to rise by as much as six feet this century, the destruction of coastal forests is expected to become a worsening problem worldwide."

"California on Tuesday moved to ease water conservation rules for farmers in the northern and central parts of the state, a sign that a wet fall may portend an easing of the state's five-year drought."

"Nothing sells quite like celebrity. And Leonardo DiCaprio is working hard selling climate change. The A-List actor has crisscrossed the globe to raise awareness of the long-term health and wellbeing of our planet. Part of those travels aired Sunday on National Geographic: An hour-and-a-half long documentary looking at the impacts of—and alternatives to—our fossil fuel addiction."

"Facing opposition from politicians, this North Carolina scientist is urging coastal communities to get ready for rising water."

"Loraine Helber runs the public housing authority in Punta Gorda, Florida, a city of 18,000 just north of Fort Myers at the mouth of the Peace River. In March, she hopes to celebrate a milestone: the opening of new apartments for the elderly, replacing about 80 units destroyed by the hurricane."