[GWSG] Holdren vs. Pielke; infrared power; watered deserts; fracking crazy; Apple snub; EU survey; earth C; CA C tax study

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Presidential science advisor John Holdren testified to the Senate that drought in the US West is linked to climate change.  Roger Pielke Jr. attacked him with some widely publicized claims which Holdren undertook to challenge in a careful response which presents a survey of scientific findings on the relationship between climate change and drought.   http://climatecrocks.com/2014/03/01/head-meet-platter-holdren-does-not-hold-back-on-anti-science-poser-pielke/    Joe Romm adds some details of the exchange and many harsh observations on Pielke.  http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/03/03/3349411/john-holdren-roger-pielke-climate-drought/

2.  A Harvard team has proposed earth’s infrared radiation as a new renewable energy source in a PNAS article: “. . .the power is modest but real.”  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140303154015.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28Latest+Science+News+--+ScienceDaily%29

3.  Sea water might be used to grow algae for biofuels in deserts; food (the author does not specify the edibles) might also be raised.  http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/03/water-water-everywhere-green-deserts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=water-water-everywhere-green-deserts

4.  Fracking both uses water liberally and endangers what is left.  David Suzuki observes that to trade water for fuel is crazy.  http://ecowatch.com/2014/02/18/trading-water-for-fuel-fracking-crazy/

5.  Apple’s CEO invited a right wing group to sell its shares if it did not approve of the corporation’s plans to power itself renewably.  Thanks to Tom Larson for the story.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/03/tim-cook-climate-change-sceptics-ditch-apple-shares  Apple is one of 140 CA firms which signed a call for emissions cuts and clean tech investment.  http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2014/03/03/apple-gap-intel-throw-weight-behind-climate-declaration?mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRolsq3LZKXonjHpfsX56%2BskXK%2B1lMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4CScVkI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSLHEMa5qw7gMXRQ%3D

6.  80% of Europeans agree that fighting climate change and increasing energy efficiency will boost jobs and the economy; 90% consider climate change a serious problem.  http://www.enn.com/climate/article/47114?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ClimateChangeNews-Enn+%28Climate+Change+News+-+ENN%29

7.  Land restoration programs can restore soil fertility and contribute significant carbon storage.  Biochar and new discoveries in soil biology could play a part in the effort.    http://e360.yale.edu/feature/soil_as_carbon_storehouse_new_weapon_in_climate_fight/2744/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+YaleEnvironment360+%28Yale+Environment+360%29

8.  A study of the effects of a carbon tax on California’s economy indicates that the highest tax level, $200 per ton, produces more jobs than no tax at all—and more jobs than lower tax rates.  The study also produced interesting comparisons between using the tax to cut other taxes and returning the revenue to the general population (“tax and dividend”).    http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/03/04/3356461/california-carbon-tax-200-ton/
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