[GWSG] Drought; munis and drought; corp. env. bill; Gulf adaptation bill; adaptation help; CA's RPS 33%/2020; Arctic set on warm

[Tilley, Al]

1.  The National Center for Atmospheric Research has released a projection of drought conditions through the rest of the century.  Generally, the mid and lower latitudes are due for a lot less water, and the high latitudes are due for a lot more.   http://www2.ucar.edu/news/climate-change-drought-may-threaten-much-globe-within-decades

2.  A report from Ceres and Water Asset Management (an investor group) faults municipal bond rating agencies for not paying attention to the impact of climate change on water supply.  The responses by the bond rating agencies, utilities, city managers, and others recorded in this story do not directly address the point.  A correction to include in bond ratings the effects of climate change on water supply would degrade the financial stability of many cities.  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/21/business/21water.html?emc=tnt&tntemail0=y

3.  Businesses do not now pay for loss of environmental services (such as water supply) caused by their operations.  A report commissioned by 13 nations and delivered at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity recommends that corporations be led to internalize some of those environmental costs, and be given financial support where their operations have a positive impact.  An administrator of the World Economic Forum believes that pressure from investors will lead to relatively quick action on this issue as resources dwindle.  http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/10/20/20greenwire-global-economy-must-tally-environmental-costs--4664.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

4.   A study by Swiss Re and Energy Corp. warns that the US Gulf Coast (minus FL) stands to lose $350 billion by 2030 if it fails to deal with climate change through adaptation measures.  http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2010/10/gulf_coast_land_loss_could_cos.html

5.  The White House has received a requested report from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research recommending increased support for cities planning adaptation to climate change.  The effort to provide regional cooperation, training, and shared data is not expected to be expensive.  http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2010/09/report-us-needs-national-strategy.html

6.  California’s Air Resources Board has raised the state’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 33% by 2020.  http://www.renewable-energy-news.info/california-renewable-energy-portfolio-standard-33-percent-by-2020/

7.  NOAA reports that the recent warming of the Arctic is unlikely to be reversed.  The pattern of a southern flow of winter Arctic air which caused storms and cold weather in the US last winter is also likely to persist, and sea level rise from melting Greenland ice sheets is accelerating.  A 3 minute video is offered as a summary of the report card.  http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/reportcard/