RMCO's Newsletter |
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This is our latest monthly newsletter with information about news and developments on climate disruption and its impacts and on climate action in the West. You can sign up for our newsletter, which is sent out by email, by sending your own email to admin@rockymountainclimate.org. To see more, previous newsletters, continue clicking on "Next" on the bottom right of this and subsequent pages. |
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February 2012
Featured Item: Sudden Aspen Decline
A precipitous decline of aspens across the American West, known as Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD), has already killed nearly one-fifth of the tree's population in some places, with no re-growth of new aspens -- troubling researchers and Westerners of all stripes as it threatens to remake our picturesque Rocky Mountains. Alarmingly, the areas suffering Sudden Aspen Decline match up precisely with what researchers have said are areas that will no longer be suitable for aspens as human-caused climate change makes the West hotter and drier. That earlier work projects that by 2060 climate-changing pollution may have made unsuitable for aspens 40% to 74% of the West where aspens now are found. By 2090, 46% to 94% of the West's aspens could be eliminated. If future emissions of heat-trapping gases are high, the projections for aspen decline are correspondingly high. For those of us who love the West, there could hardly be a stronger case for keeping emissions down.
Now, a new study by Stanford researchers identifies a specific one-two punch of warm and dry winters and springs, followed by hot summers, as triggering a particular mechanism that causes SAD. Drought drives aspen die-off across western U.S., KSL.com, Jan. 2, 2012. According to the study, this deadly combination works its destruction on aspens by damaging the trees' ability to move water. Specifically, the trees stressed by drought of this type develop the equivalent of blood clots, severely hampering their ability to transport water from their roots up to and through their branches, which eventually produces mortality. As the new study points out, the conditions triggering this water-blocking mechanism are likely to become much more common with climate change. There is hope here, too. Aspens are beloved across the West and a key feature of our region's ecosystems and economies. They can serve as a rallying point and inspiration for change -- in how we think and how we act. And change we must, to protect our climate and keep the West such a special place in which to live, work, and play. News about RMCO and Partners
News about RMCO
RMCO's Hotter and Drier report detailing climate changes in the American West was used as a source for a recently published article, "Thirsty City," exploring water, infrastructure, and energy in the Southwest and appearing in a book titled The Very Hungry City.
News about RMCO Partners
Boulder County, with participation from the City of Boulder, is developing its Climate Change Preparedness Plan to help local residents and communities better prepare for changing conditions. The plan is in its draft stage and comments are welcome.
News about Climate Action
Heat-Trapping Gases
Study: Simple measures could reduce global warming, save lives, Washington Post, Jan. 12, 2012. Cutting emissions of methane and black carbon (or soot) -- two very potent heat-trapping pollutants -- could lead to some quick progress in reducing climate change and can be achieved by simple, inexpensive measures, according to a new study. Steps could include eliminating wood-burning stoves, reducing diesel emissions, and capturing methane from coal mines.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that under current law U.S. energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide will be 7.5% lower in 2020 than in 2005 and 3% lower in 2035. Annual Energy Outlook 2012, early release, Jan. 23, 2012. Among the causes cited by EIA are some recent important actions by national and state governments, including tougher national fuel-efficiency standards for new vehicles and state clean-energy standards for electricity generation. Additional government policies could make even more of a dent in heat-trapping pollution.
Online map shows biggest greenhouse gas emitters, New York Times, Jan. 11, 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a searchable computerized map with detailed information about the country's largest heat-trapping gas emitters, for the first time making such information publicly available. In the West, top emitters include coal-fired power plants in Montana and Wyoming. EPA: U.S. power plants main culprit behind greenhouse gases; Colstrip No. 8, Associated Press, Jan. 12, 2012.
Regional, State and Local Climate Policies
Nickels, McGinn have different green visions for city, Seattle Times, Jan. 7, 2012. The ultimate success of Seattle's aims to reduce its carbon emissions to pre-1990 levels by 2012 in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, an effort spearheaded by its former mayor, will remain unknown in the near future as the city is focused on other issues, including a more long-term goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Clean Energy
California orders hike in number of super clean cars, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 28, 2012. Again leading the way in curbing heat-trapping gas emissions from automobiles, California approved new rules last week requiring manufacturers to offer more zero- or very low-emission cars, including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid vehicles in California starting in model year 2018. The new rules would have the effect of making one out of every seven new automobiles sold in California ultra-clean by 2025. California imposes energy standards on chargers for mobile devices, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 12, 2012. The California Energy Commission approved energy standards for battery chargers that power cellphones, tablets, power tools, and hundreds of other portable electronic devices, a first-of-its-kind measure that promises big returns. The efficiency gains expected from the so-called "vampire" charging systems, which now waste as much as 60% of the electricity they pull form outlets, are expected to save $306 million in energy bills and enough electricity to power $350,000 homes.
Solar thermal advocates say Colorado is perfect for taking the heat, Denver Post, Jan. 25, 2012. A study says that Colorado's climate and other factors make it the best state for solar thermal systems in the country.
Colorado's future in renewable energy dims after years of growth, Denver Post, Jan. 22, 2012. With the state's renewable-energy standard on track for being met and federal incentives for the future development of renewable technologies uncertain, questions abound about whether Colorado's tremendous growth in clean energy jobs and investment over the past decade can be sustained. Study: Simple measures could reduce global warming, save lives, Washington Post, Jan. 12, 2012. Cutting emissions of methane and black carbon (or soot) -- two very potent heat-trapping pollutants -- could lead to some quick progress in reducing climate change and can be achieved by simple, inexpensive measures, according to a new study. Steps could include eliminating wood-burning stoves, reducing diesel emissions, and capturing methane from coal mines.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that under current law U.S. energy-related emissions of carbon dioxide will be 7.5% lower in 2020 than in 2005 and 3% lower in 2035. Annual Energy Outlook 2012, early release, Jan. 23, 2012. Among the causes cited by EIA are some recent important actions by national and state governments, including tougher national fuel-efficiency standards for new vehicles and state clean-energy standards for electricity generation. Additional government policies could make even more of a dent in heat-trapping pollution.
Online map shows biggest greenhouse gas emitters, New York Times, Jan. 11, 2012. The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a searchable computerized map with detailed information about the country's largest heat-trapping gas emitters, for the first time making such information publicly available. In the West, top emitters include coal-fired power plants in Montana and Wyoming. EPA: U.S. power plants main culprit behind greenhouse gases; Colstrip No. 8, Associated Press, Jan. 12, 2012.
Regional, State and Local Climate Policies
Nickels, McGinn have different green visions for city, Seattle Times, Jan. 7, 2012. The ultimate success of Seattle's aims to reduce its carbon emissions to pre-1990 levels by 2012 in accordance with the Kyoto Protocol, an effort spearheaded by its former mayor, will remain unknown in the near future as the city is focused on other issues, including a more long-term goal to be carbon neutral by 2050.
Clean Energy
California orders hike in number of super clean cars, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 28, 2012. Again leading the way in curbing heat-trapping gas emissions from automobiles, California approved new rules last week requiring manufacturers to offer more zero- or very low-emission cars, including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and plug-in hybrid vehicles in California starting in model year 2018. The new rules would have the effect of making one out of every seven new automobiles sold in California ultra-clean by 2025. California imposes energy standards on chargers for mobile devices, Los Angeles Times, Jan. 12, 2012. The California Energy Commission approved energy standards for battery chargers that power cellphones, tablets, power tools, and hundreds of other portable electronic devices, a first-of-its-kind measure that promises big returns. The efficiency gains expected from the so-called "vampire" charging systems, which now waste as much as 60% of the electricity they pull form outlets, are expected to save $306 million in energy bills and enough electricity to power $350,000 homes.
Solar thermal advocates say Colorado is perfect for taking the heat, Denver Post, Jan. 25, 2012. A study says that Colorado's climate and other factors make it the best state for solar thermal systems in the country.
Colorado's future in renewable energy dims after years of growth, Denver Post, Jan. 22, 2012. With the state's renewable-energy standard on track for being met and federal incentives for the future development of renewable technologies uncertain, questions abound about whether Colorado's tremendous growth in clean energy jobs and investment over the past decade can be sustained.
Preparedness
Federal and state agencies recently released a joint draft National Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy, aiming to provide a nationwide, unified approach to safeguarding the nation's biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and sustainable human uses of fish, wildlife, and plants in a changing climate. Now available for public review and comment, it looks to be an effective framework that a state or agency could use to do preparedness planning for species within its jurisdiction.
The reality of extreme weather, part 1 and part 2, Del Mar Times, Jan. 12, 2012. A public forum and workshop on extreme weather was organized at the behest of the California Governor's Office as part of a series of events focusing on climate change with the goal of guiding contingency plans for extreme-weather disaster response in the state. Presentations are available here.
Media Coverage Climate coverage down again in 2011, The Daily Climate, Jan. 3, 2012. Despite frequent weather extremes and disasters across the globe, media coverage of climate change declined 20 percent in 2011, dropping to 42 percent below its peak from just two years ago.
News about Climate Disruption
More Heat
At least three-quarters of climate change is man-made, Nature, Dec. 4, 2011. At least 74% of observed temperature increases across the globe over the past 60 years are attributable to human activity, according to a new study by Swiss climate modelers. The researchers pioneered a new method of attribution by analyzing changes in the balance of heat energy entering and leaving Earth, producing results remarkably similar to other attribution methods.
NASA Finds 2011 ninth-warmest year on record, NASA, Jan. 18, 2012. Included in this link detailing how nine of the 10 warmest years in the modern meteorological record have occurred since 2000 is an incredible video that visually depicts 131 years of global heating in 26 seconds. Very powerful and highly recommended.
Wildlife
University of Montana study links climate change, decline in songbird populations, Missoulian, Jan. 23, 2012. Decreasing snowpack above 8,000 feet in mountainous northern Arizona due to climate change has led to dwindling songbird populations there, according to a new study by two University of Montana scientists.
Ecosystems
What would dry winter mean for Utah's forests?, Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 9, 2012. A bare winter so far could have serious impacts on Utah's forests and other ecosystems of the Intermountain West, particularly in the form of increased wildfire and new waves of beetle epidemics next summer. Utah has been particularly dry, including the driest December on record. Utah's forecast is stuck on dry, Salt Lake Tribune, Jan. 4, 2012.
Home, home ... on less range, New York Times, Jan. 23, 2012. A study suggests a smaller cattle industry in California as a changing climate makes less of the state suitable for grazing, whether the future is hotter and wetter or hotter and drier.
New map for what to plant reflects global warming, Denver Post, Jan. 25, 2012. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has revised its official plant zones for gardeners, with a new map that moves most of some states into new zones (which are defined by expected winter minimum temperatures).
Water
Low snowpack signals water crisis at Lake Mead, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Jan. 23, 2012. After last winter bucked the recent trend with a great snowpack in the Colorado River basin, this winter so far is shaping up as one of the worst. In the past month, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's forecast of how Lake Powell will fare this year has plummeted, from a bullish rise of 11 feet to a quite bearish decline of 13 feet. 2011 was the driest year on record in Texas, Reuters, Jan. 7, 2012. Numbers from the National Weather Service confirm that last year was Texas' driest ever recorded -- and its second-hottest.
Good News of the Month: Conservation in the West Poll
Sometimes the fossil-fuel industry is seen as so important in the interior West that public support for progressive energy policies is assumed to be less strong here than elsewhere. But universal, strong support in six interior western states for more clean energy, less dependence on coal, and strong environmental regulations was documented by this year's Conservation in the West Poll, conducted for the State of the Rockies Project at Colorado College. Two-thirds of Westerners say the country's energy policy should favor clean energy over coal, oil, and natural gas. In every state, environmental regulations are seen as safeguards and protections, not as burdensome regulations. Utah, often seen as the most politically conservative of the surveyed states, views environmental regulation even more positively than do the other states.
Moreover, eliminating such regulations are not widely viewed as a great way to create jobs, while stimulating renewable energy development is. As a whole, the poll sheds exciting and positive light on Western viewpoints, revealing that attitudes across the West are more universal and shared, even in different states, than often seems the case.
Support RMCO and this Newsletter! Help keep the RMCO newsletter coming to your in-box. Please make a contribution to RMCO, in whatever amount you can afford, to help us continue to research, write, and deliver our monthly newsletter. Your contribution will also help with our other programs si we can continue working to keep the West special by reducing climate disruption and its effects here. And your contribution is tax-deductible, too. Use the "donate" button at the top of this page to make a contribution through PayPal. Thank you! Suggestions and comments are welcome! Stephen Saunders, RMCO president: saunders@rockymountainclimate.org |
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