[GWSG] Water shortage; pledges studied; FL gagged & tied; FL PSC; price of energy; India's solar plans

[Tilley, Al]

1.  A billion people now lack access to safe water and the problem is becoming more severe.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/08/how-water-shortages-lead-food-crises-conflicts



2.  Nicholas Stern led a British team which analyzed existing climate mitigation pledges and estimates that if implemented they would lead to emissions over a third beyond a pattern which would hold warming to 2°C.  The study concludes that we must increase our pledges, invest in clean energy, and create a way to decrease future emissions.  http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/07/climate-summit-pledge-fail-carbon-cuts-temperature-rise



3.  Employees of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection have been forbidden to uses the terms "climate change," "global warming," and "sustainability," according to former employees.  The unwritten policy went into effect in 2011 with the advent of Governor Rick Scott.  DEP spokespeople deny that there is such a policy (though it is clear from publications and speaking instructions that there is).  "Sea level rise" was also on the proscribed list.  It was to be called "nuisance flooding."  Apparently the DEP may now mention it, but reading from Florida's failures it must not be their policy to plan for it or to do anything about mitigating it.  http://www.naplesnews.com/news/politics/state-environmental-officials-ordered-not-to-use-the-terms-climate-change-or-global-warming_86527936  The Miami Herald details how the Scott administration has gutted state environmental programs and prevented public education on climate.  http://www.miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article12983720.html



4.  Governor Scott has appointed Jimmy Patronis, the former chair of ALEC in Florida, to the state's Public Service Commission, which oversees utilities.  http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/fl-sgcol-oped1024-20141023-column.html  ALEC's national agenda for the year includes doing away with the Environmental Protection Agency and limiting the power of public service commissions over coal plants.  http://floridapolitics.com/archives/2183



5.  The discussions of energy prices almost universally ignore the real costs.  While you and I know better, it is helpful to be reminded that the cost of a gallon of gasoline should include an extra $3.80 and that the price of coal-fired energy ought to be quadrupled in comparisons with renewable energy. http://cleantechnica.com/2015/03/08/true-cost-emissions-factored-gasoline-cost-3-80-gallon-pump-price-new-research-finds/?utm_source=Cleantechnica+News&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8161023292-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_term=0_b9b83ee7eb-8161023292-331994013



6.   India announced a goal of 100 gigawatts of new solar power by 2020.  Last month Prime Minister Modi collected pledges for 166 gigawatts.   http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535551/indias-ambitious-bid-to-become-a-solar-power/?utm_campaign=newsletters&utm_source=newsletter-weekly-energy&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20150309
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