Arizona Climate Change News
Stories in this feed are from newspapers in Arizona courtesy of Environmental Health News.
Debate over continued incentives for energy companies.
Public money supports the development of nearly every form of energy; several reports have attempted to quantify how much federal money is provided to energy, and what the voting public would prefer. Some experts say the the debate over subsidies boils down to debates over global warming.
Tucson power company is asked to stop burning coal.
With natural gas prices at their lowest levels in years, Tucson Electric Power Co. hasn't been burning coal at its south-side power plant lately. Environmentalists want to keep it that way.
Disturbing developments.
Companies sometimes promise customers that they'll invest in renewable energy, or plant trees to combat climate change, when selling products. It may not be that simple.
Military taps University of Arizona expertise to cope with impact of climate change.
The University of Arizona's Institute of the Environment will get close to $2 million in research grants over the next few years to help figure out how drought, dust storms, forest fires, lightning and rising temperatures could affect military defense bases across the American Southwest.
Endangered fish habitat expanded in Verde River watershed.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service has changed the status of two fish species from threatened to endangered and expanded their critical habitat, stating that the need for a change in status was due to drought, anticipated effects of climate change and an expanding population of predatory non-native fish.
State to scrap its clean car mandate.
The Brewer administration has taken the first steps to scrap rules to force Arizonans to purchase more fuel-efficient vehicles, citing a measure approved last year forbidding the state from regulating greenhouse gas emissions that are more stringent than federal laws unless approved by the Legislature.
Swirling dust is our destiny.
Nobody has a handle on Arizona's dust storms, known as haboobs. Scientists who study "Aeolian transport" say more research is needed but two things are clear: We have contributed to the problem, and it is going to get worse.
ASU experts say climate change outreach needed.
With Arizona likely to get hotter and drier in the coming years, grass-roots communication and outreach are at the forefront of environmental scientists' concerns, according to experts who spoke Thursday at Arizona State University.
Environmental studies popular, but course quality varies.
When Mesa High School science teacher John Jung launched a trial environmental-science program 18 years ago, only about a dozen students signed up. Now, Jung has more than 100 students in three classes, including an advanced-placement section with 30 students.
Climate Change Committee prepares for the heat.
Most people don't know Tucson has a climate change committee but it does. And according to the committee, Tucson is on average 2 1/2 degrees warmer now than it was in 1970.