"Nature and man together cooked up the disaster in the Philippines. Geography, meteorology, poverty, shoddy construction, a booming population, and, to a much lesser degree, climate change combine to make the Philippines the nation most vulnerable to killer typhoons, according to several scientific studies."
"The U.S. and European Union blocked a proposal supported by 130 nations including Brazil and China that would use pollution levels dating back to the industrial revolution to help set limits on emissions in the future."
"The Tennessee Valley Authority, one of the nation’s five biggest users of coal for electricity generation, said Thursday it would close down eight coal-fired power units with 3,300 megawatts of capacity."
Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting is accepting applications for its 16th Annual Science Immersion Workshop for Journalists: Climate Change in Coastal Ecosystems. The workshop runs from June 1 through June 6, 2014 at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, one of the nation’s premier oceanographic research institutions. Deadline: Feb 7, 2014.
"Desperation gripped Philippine islands devastated by Typhoon Haiyan as looting turned deadly on Wednesday and survivors panicked over shortages of food, water and medicine, some digging up underground water pipes and smashing them open. Five days after one of the strongest storms ever recorded slammed into cities and towns in the central Philippines, anger and frustration boiled over on Wednesday as essential supplies dwindled. Some survivors scrawled signs reading 'Help us'."
"WASHINGTON -– Walmart, the world's largest retailer, has received positive press in recent years for its promises to go green. The company began issuing an annual Global Responsibility Report in 2005. It announced plans to slash emissions in its supply chain in 2010. The company pledged this year to expand the use of renewable energy. But according to a report released Wednesday, Walmart's green pledges remain more hype than reality."
"This year is the seventh warmest since records began in 1850 and rising sea levels caused by climate change are aggravating the impact of storms such as Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday."
As science celebs praised Carl Sagan for the opening of a collection of his papers at the Library of Congress, they also lamented the mounting attacks on science by opponents of climate change controls.
"MIAMI -- A day before federal wildlife officials are set to send a message to poachers by destroying 6 tons of ivory, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced a $1 million reward program to combat the illegal wildlife trafficking trade."
"House lawmakers are expressing optimism about a landmark Senate compromise to reform the country’s chemical safety law."
