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Busy, destructive Atlantic hurricane season blows over

The Atlantic hurricane season officially ended Sunday, marking the close of the second-most-costly season since 2005, and the fourth-busiest season overall since 1944. This year was “the only year on record in which a major hurricane existed in every month from July through November in the north Atlantic,” according to the National Climatic Data Center.

On eve of U.N. climate conference, official warns against dirty energy

On the eve of the next round of United Nations climate-treaty talks in Poznan, Poland, U.N. climate chief Yvo de Boer warned the world’s nations against a “cheap and dirty” fix for the economy that could set back climate progress. “We must now focus on the opportunities for green growth that can put the global […]

Canadian government may fall, bring in greener coalition

It looks like Stéphane Dion might just make it to the Prime Minister’s office after all, at least for a little while. According to frenzied reporting out of Ottawa, opposition parties in Canada’s Parliament (who, while not forming the government, hold the majority of seats between them) are preparing to topple the Conservative government of […]

Perennial rice on the rise?

It was good to read this weekend in the Land Institute’s The Land Report that they’re now working hard to develop perennial rice varieties (in addition to their well-known perennial prairie polyculture experiment, which could transform large parts of the American plains back into a wildscape that produces lots of food). Because agriculture is technically […]

Green stuff from the L.A. auto show

We didn’t do much coverage of the L.A. Auto Show, because we don’t have the resources WE CONDEMN THE DECADENT LEMMING CARBURBAN FANTASIA! But I just read a bunch of stuff about it over on CNet’s CarTech blog, and some of it was quite cool. Probably the biggest news — something I may devote a […]

Public investment and regulation can be main means to green

In the face of economic catastrophe, yesterday’s controversial assertion has become today’s conventional economic wisdom. That lack of regulation is one root of the current depression is not only the view of liberals and moderates, but also of sensible conservatives. And the need for public investment to fight the depression is no longer in doubt […]

Is an economic downturn the perfect time for cap-and-trade?

The NYT has a piece about how the economic downturn may "limit moves on clean energy." This piece, like most of its ilk (they’re catnip to the media), is about 80 percent vaporware, built on quotes from people or countries that were resisting "moves on clean energy" before the downturn anyway. But it’s an excuse […]

Maddow eviscerates Bush

A closer look at Bush’s last-minute anti-environmental regs: [vodpod id=ExternalVideo.1011976&w=425&h=350&fv=launch%3D27934397%26width%3D400%26height%3D320]

Small tank + on-demand

Check out these “electric-hybrid” water heaters — on-demand heat, plus a small tank, cuts average yearly energy in half. (via ScientificBlogging)

Another climate impact comes faster than predicted

Energy companies remove the tops of entire mountains. Now it turns out humanity’s use of that coal is removing the tops of entire glaciers. Climate models have repeatedly underestimated the speed and scale of major climate change impacts (see list below). That is why climate scientists — and indeed everyone but the blinkered deniers — […]