A 500 megawatt coal plant produces 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours per year, enough to power a city of about 140,000 people. It burns 1,430,000 tons of coal, uses 2.2 billion gallons of water and 146,000 tons of limestone. It also puts out, each year, a frightening list of noxious and toxic compounds. moreless

This Synthesis Report is based on the assessment carried out by the three Working Groups (WGs) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It provides an integrated view of climate change as the final part of the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). Topic 1 summarizes observed changes in climate and their effects on natural and human systems, regardless of their causes, while Topic 2 assesses the causes of the observed changes. Topic 3 presents projections of future climate change and related impacts under different scenarios. Topic 4 discusses adaptation and mitigation options over the next few decades and their interactions with sustainable development. Excellent example of the thinking and methodology, but not the most recent data. moreless

Tropical reforestation (TR) has been highlighted as an important intervention for climate change mitigation because of its carbon storage potential. TR can also play other frequently overlooked, but significant, roles in helping society and ecosystems adapt to climate variability and change. For example, reforestation can ameliorate climate-associated impacts of altered hydrological cycles in watersheds, protect coastal areas from increased storms, and provide habitat to reduce the probability of species’ extinctions under a changing climate. moreless

A forest is much more than what is seen, says ecologist Suzanne Simard. Her 30 years of research in Canadian forests have led to an understanding of how trees interrelate, often over vast distances. Understand the delicate balance of the forest and the concept of tipping points in forest health. moreless

US commitment to COP22. This document lays out a strategy to deeply decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050. This document has been presented immediately after the US 2016 election results. At this point in time, little is known about the future of these very worthwhile commitments. moreless

Wakeup call for climate realism. moreless

Climate change is a risk management challenge for society, with uncertain but potentially severe outcomes affecting natural and human systems, across generations. Managing climate-related risks will be more difficult without a base of knowledge and practice aimed at identifying and evaluating specific risks, and their likelihood and consequences, as well as potential actions to promote resilience in the face of these risks.An interesting article suggests that study of climate problems should move beyond the realms of physics and factor in socio-economic risk management. Much useful methodology already exists. moreless

De 2008 à 2011, une pause apparente du réchauffement global semblait sonner le glas de la thèse du changement climatique, pourtant prouvée par le recul historique de la banquise arctique en 2007 et le triplement constaté du rythme de montée des eaux au vingtième siècle (30 cm au lieu de 10 cm par siècle durant les 50 siècles précédents). moreless

In the summer of 2017, EP Senior Analyst Mark Nelson and EP Research Fellow Arun Ramamurthy took the analyses of energy decarbonization a step further. moreless

The Global Carbon Project (GCP) studies the integrated picture of the carbon cycle and other interacting bio-geochemical cycles, including biophysical and human dimensions and their interactions and feedbacks. Covers three themes: Diagnostics, Vulnerability and Carbon Management and policy. Much useful data. moreless