Fw: Georgia's stance on climate change? Head in the sand

Via Creative Loafing Atlanta

(image credit: epa.gov)

My recent posts (forwards, rather) all dealt with climate change one way or the other. For today, I share with you an article that best pictures the reaction of conservative politicians of the Georgia Legislature to the idea of climate change. Some conservative lawmakers may find these basic facts useful. Then read the author's point concerning topics such as... Education... Transportation... Enjoy the article!

Fw: It is 3 minutes to midnight

Via CNN and Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

 (Image source: http://thebulletin.org/multimedia/it-3-minutes-midnight)

A few days ago, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists updated their disaster countdown clock. We are now 3 minutes to midnight. Midnight signifies the end of the world. The reasons cited for bringing us this close to doomsday?
- Nuclear weapons is still a real threat, notably from Iran and North Korea, and UN Security Council countries are keeping/modernizing a stock of nuclear heads, just in case.
- Climate change remains largely unaddressed by the world's top powers.

Read on here and here. Follow the link under image for the announcement.

Notes from Obama's State of the Union address

Tuesday evening during prime time was President Obama's annual State of the Union address, delivered at the United States Congress. The transcript has been made available here so the public could follow. The entire video of the speech, recaps of facts and figures, including infographics, are also posted on the White House website.

(Image: White House/YouTube)

Here are some notes, more or less paraphrased, I quickly jolted from President Obama's State of the Union address on the topics of energy, and climate:

• On energy:
• Record low gas prices this year will save a family $750 at the pump.
• U.S. is #1 worldwide in oil and gas.

• On the economy:
• Believes in "middle-class economy" where everyone gets - and pays - its fair share.
  Lowest unemployment rate in U.S. since 2008 Great Recession. 
• On climate:
• "No challenge poses a bigger threat to future generations than climate change." - We must act immediately and do everything we can to save our planet.
• 2014 was the warmest year on record (see my related post here), and all but one of the 15 warmest years are in the 21st century.
• Climate change is an "immediate risk to national security."
• The President will "not let Congress reverse the clock" on climate measures.
• The United States has come to an agreement with China to respond to climate change (e.g. by reducing emissions). Other countries are stepping up.
• See the President's plan on climate change on the White House website.

Two new findings on climate change [updated]

Two articles published in the last few days reveal a new twist in the magnitude of climate change.

(Image: nasa.gov)

This New York Times article reveals that 2014 has been the hottest year on record, with a bar chart showing evolution of temperature over last century. This article from Bloomberg goes further by animating superimposed monthly averages over 100 years, highlighting record years as they pass. You will see that the past 20 years have seen more record temperatures than the 80 years before then. The original publication (and the animation shown on this page) is from NASA/NOOA. Despite polar episodes and snow storms across the U.S., the warming trend is here to stay, and extreme weather such as draughts, super hot summers, violent storms, and cherry trees blooming in January (happened in 2013 in Atlanta) may become more common place.

To make matters worse, this Climate Central article reveals that sea level has been rising faster in recent years than initially thought. The authors of the study created a model that better captures contributions to sea level rise. The article raises the question about how this model will impact forecasts of sea levels in the future... no very reassuring to begin with.

These findings should serve as final warnings to those who are still skeptical about global warming. These articles might even try to tell us we have less time than initially thought to address climate change. Will we be up to the task?

Fw: Elon Musk to build Hyperloop test track

Via Business Insider

"Elon Musk Says He's Going To Build A 5-Mile Hyperloop Test Track, Probably In Texas." Read on here.

Stories on oil prices crash

(Photo: John Massie/Flickr - License)

For more than a month now, we have seen quite a few stories about the fall of oil prices. Here are a few catching headlines.And of course, you can monitor prices from my Fuel Economy page on this blog.

• Oil prices at $50: Why a barrel of crude costs less than your shoes (Christian Science Monitor) - Catchy headline that compares the price of oil with the price of an everyday item. See also this comparison with Frappuccino and other foods (ABC News).
• Market experts are wondering how low oil price could fall, and that shows on Bloomberg and CNBC. $45? $40? Or $35? Any better?
• For consumers, $2 per gallon prices (Car Connection) looks good. It's is apparently equivalent to $60M in tax credits (CNN).
• For the economy, in the short term it may improve (NYT), however in he long term, opinions are mitigated... is economic demand falling?
• For overall car fuel economy, large car sales seem to pick up (NPR), however car fuel economy progress may slow for a little while (Minnesota Public Radio).
• Airlines who started adding fuel surcharges starting 2007-2008 are not removing them anytime soon (USA Today) (except Alaska Air, for a limited time?)

Fw: California breaks ground on bullet train as climate solution

Via MSN News

At last, construction is starting for the first high-speed rail project in the US. The line will link downtown San Francisco to downtown Los Angeles in three hours and reduce emissions from car and air traffic. Read on here. Also visit the official page from the California High Speed Rail Authority.