[GWSG] Storm strength; eco-GNP; EPA ghg data; biod. threat; cities must mitigate; USN algae; geoeng. moratorium; CA c&t; EU C price

[Tilley, Al]

1.  A study published in PNAS predicts that warming will generally bring stronger storms to the southern hemisphere, weaker storms to the northern hemisphere in the summer and stronger in the winter.  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101025152249.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

2.  Ten nations will participate in a World Bank pilot project to include the costs of environmental degradation in national accounting.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11642538

3.  In March the EPA is due to receive data from the largest emitters of greenhouse gasses in the US.  Many of the companies are protesting the program, particularly the plans to make the data public.  http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101028/ap_on_bi_ge/us_greenhouse_gases_transparency

4.  A study by scientists from nine countries published in Science projects collapsing biodiversity unless climate change is brought under control by placing a price on carbon emissions, and unless a premium is placed on land restoration instead of land conversion.  The study finds that 2° of warming would be sufficient to convert the Amazon to dry grassland.  http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ips/1aa2af10cb1f6d92c30e06273217511c.htm

5.  An article in Nature argues that action by cities is crucial for climate change mitigation.  Two of the authors are involved in New York’s efforts to deal with climate change.  The article notes that mitigation and adaptation efforts are necessarily linked.  http://www.scidev.net/en/climate-change-and-energy/cities-are-crucial-for-climate-mitigation-1.html?utm_source=link&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=en_climatechangeandenergy

6.  The US Navy is testing algaic marine diesel fuel.  Thanks to Brian Paradise for the item.  http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/navy-unveils-first-great-green-fleet/  Biofuels from algae are expensive to produce but are predicted to grow rapidly in the next decade in a Pike research report.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/10/pike-research-algae-based-biofuels-production-to-reach-61-mgpy-by-2020?cmpid=WNL-Friday-October29-2010

7.   193 nations have approved a ban on geoengineering measures which might impact biodiversity until their implications are known and considered justified.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/29/AR2010102906365.html

8.  California’s Air Resources Board has approved a cap and trade program for large greenhouse gas emitters.  It will take effect in 2012.  Three Canadian provinces and the state of New Mexico are said to be considering joining CA in the program.  Approval of Proposition 23 by CA voters would negate this and the other provisions of the state’s climate legislation.  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/10/30/MNFL1G479U.DTL&type=green  The new cap and trade system is being given a “soft start,” with permits being given away to oil refineries and other pollution sources.  The free permits will be phased out over an eight year period.  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-10-28/oil-refiners-may-get-free-california-carbon-permits.html

9.  As the European Union issues fewer carbon emission credits, the price of carbon is expected to rise 42% over the next two years.  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-29/united-nations-carbon-credit-prices-may-rise-by-42-by-2012-barclays-says.html