Los Angeles Times
One-third of Earth’s greenhouses gases come from the global food and agricultural system. That fact has the country’s major food service companies discussing ways to reduce the carbon emissions that comes from the food they serve. Bon Appetit, a restaurant, instituted a low carbon diet initiative that has dropped its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent. Food science is now looking beyond transportation as the main contributing factor to global warming. Researchers are tallying emissions related to many of the steps in the life cycles of a variety of foods. These life-cycle assessments will provide scientists with information on how food production is impacting global warming.
Journal News
Warmer summers and milder winters are in the future if global warming continues to raise temperatures in the upcoming decades. Oceanographer Mark Boardman worries that fast changes in temperatures and rainfall will affect some species’, ability to adapt. Jason Rech, who studies deserts and teaches geology at Miami University, says warmer temperatures could make countries closer to the equator even drier. According to his research, Jordan’s precipitation will drop 20 percent by the end of the century. “A lot of countries that are being affected are not the countries contributing to the problem,” he said.
Guardian News
Hydropower generates 80 percent of Iceland’s electricity needs, while geothermal energy generates 20 percent. This energy is harnessed by the drilling of areas near the country’s 600 hot springs. The steam released by the drilling, is used to turn turbines, which pumps up water that is piped to nearby settlements. Geothermal water is used to heat 90 percent of Iceland’s homes. The use of geothermal energy saves the country $100 million a year, and it lessens the country’s dependence on fossil fuels. Further research is being used to seek ways in using geothermal energy to power the country’s transportation vehicles.
Los Angeles Times
Globally the effects of global warming are becoming more evident. That couldn’t be clearer for the country of Bhutan. There, melting glaciers caused by global warming are becoming a danger. With the increase of the Earth’s temperature, 25 of its glacial lakes are in danger of overflowing. Warmer winters and earlier summers are also evidence of the impact of global warming on this country. The use of fossil fuels in neighboring countries such as India and China pollution is having an enormous impact on Bhutan’s environment because of the resulting pollution.
San Francisco Chronicle
In the state of California, proposals for a plan that would require businesses to pay fees for greenhouse gas emissions, is on the table for debate. If approved, 4.2 cents for every metric ton of carbon dioxide released will be charged by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. The fee could cost power plants $200,000 annually. “It’s not a fee that would mitigate the effects of carbon dioxide – to do that we would be planting trees and buying wind credits,” said Karen Schkolnick, the spokesperson for the agency. Opposing the proposal are businesses that are responsible for releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide on a daily basis.
RSS 2.0
