California’s energy transition—from a system powered by fossil fuels to one with one-third of the supply coming from renewable energy sources—while ambitious, is at risk of a policy failure if certain concerns outlined in a new report by the Little Hoover Commission aren’t addressed. These...
In The News
Commission Finds CA Energy Policies at Risk of Failure
December 7, 2012 |
Little Hoover Commission
Western Ecosystems Could Increase Carbon, Greenhouse-Gas Storage
December 7, 2012 |
USGS
A new assessment report by the USGS, the second in a series, found that ecosystems in the western U.S. were a net carbon sink between the years 2001 and 2005, meaning they took up carbon equivalent to 4.9 percent of the nation’s 2010 net fossil-fuel emissions. The authors of the report project that by 2050, these...
UCLA Outlines LA’s Sustainability Goals
December 7, 2012 |
UCLA
If Los Angeles could eliminate coal from its mix of energy sources, implement a myriad of measures including increasing the efficiency of natural gas-fired power plants, and ensure all residents have access to sustainable transportation options, the city could reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 30 percent below 1990 levels. This is just one set of recommendations for one target—...
Winter Outlook Grim for AZ, NM
November 30, 2012 |
CLIMAS
Warm temperatures and dry conditions prevailed across Arizona and New Mexico last month, according to the November Southwest Climate Outlook from CLIMAS. Over the last 30 days, temperatures in some parts of New Mexico reached over 5 degrees F above normal, and only a small portion of the state experienced average...
Pine Beetles Warm Surrounding Forest
November 30, 2012 |
Nature Geoscience
Warming temperatures have been attributed to increased pine beetle outbreaks in North America over the past few decades; now new research published in Nature Geoscience suggests that the beetles may in turn contribute to warming by increasing the temperature of the forests they inhabit by about...
Sea Level Rising Faster Than Predicted
November 30, 2012 |
Environmental Research Letters
Sea level has been rising 60 percent faster than the best estimates of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) over the past two decades, according to a new study published in Environmental Research...
Governance Changes Suggested to Maintain River Health
November 30, 2012 |
Nature Climate Change
Major river basins around the world, including the Colorado River Basin, have been severely impacted by long-term usage and increased water extractions leading to reduced outflows, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. The authors studied four major river basins: the...
U.S., Mexico Sign Colorado River Agreement
November 22, 2012 |
Department of the Interior
The United States and Mexico signed a major agreement this week aimed at guiding management of the Colorado River through 2017. This new agreement becomes part of the Law of the Colorado River, a set of agreements, compacts, laws, court decisions, and other guidelines for managing the river dating back to the Colorado River...
CA Carbon Auction a Success
November 22, 2012 |
California Air Resources Board
California’s first cap-and-trade auction of greenhouse gas allowances on November 14 was a huge success, with all of the permits allotted for this year being sold, according to the California Air Resources Board. The cap-and-trade program is an integral part of California’s plan to substantially cut the state...
NM Farmers Get Guidance for Coping with Drought
November 22, 2012 |
New Mexico State University
Move away from water-intensive crops, properly schedule irrigation, and scale back acreage to be planted: these are a few ways in which New Mexico farmers can prepare themselves for the effects of drought, according to a new publication by New Mexico State University. The authors offer suggestions on how farmers can cope with drought through...