Warmer waters, disease causing major reef die-off

Ahoy there, buccaneers. 'Tis I, returned from the briny depths for another fishy update. And this one's a sad tale, me hearties, for anyone who's ever appreciated the beauty of a coral reef. Even ye landlubbers out there may know what I mean, what with all your fancy "snorkel gear" -- me, I wouldn't be caught dead in a get-up involving the word snork, but you lot seem to enjoy it. And I enjoy the pointin' and laughin' from atop me crow's nest. Arrrr!

But I digress. Today, I share news of what some researchers are calling an "underwater Holocaust." They say record hot water temperatures followed by disease have caused the biggest loss of Caribbean reefs in history.

Brian F. Keane, renewable-energy marketer, answers questions

Brian Keane. What’s your job title? I’m president of SmartPower. What does your organization do? SmartPower is a national nonprofit...

A Swiftly Heating Planet

Spacecraft heads to Venus to get clues about global warming Venus coulda been a contenda. It’s just a little closer...

In China, Yu Xiaogang is helping locals fight back against dams

China has spent decades trying to harness its powerful river systems with dams. Enormous hydroelectric projects, most notably the Three...

Americans and Climate Change: Problem summary

"Americans and Climate Change: Closing the Gap Between Science and Action" (PDF) is a report synthesizing the insights of 110 leading thinkers on how to educate and motivate the American public on the subject of global warming. Background on the report here. I'll be posting a series of excerpts (citations have been removed; see original report). If you'd like to be involved in implementing the report's recommendations, or learn more, visit the Yale Project on Climate Change website.

Below the fold is an executive summary of the problems conference participants identified.

Umbra on water vapor and climate change

Dear Umbra, Coming from a scientific background, I was under the assumption that water vapor was the worst — or...

We’ve Got Poll, and We’re Super Bad

Polls find Americans worried about energy and climate problems To paraphrase Benjamin Disraeli, there are three kinds of lies: lies,...

Americans and Climate Change: The affliction of partisanship II

"Americans and Climate Change: Closing the Gap Between Science and Action" (PDF) is a report synthesizing the insights of 110 leading thinkers on how to educate and motivate the American public on the subject of global warming. Background on the report here. I'll be posting a series of excerpts (citations have been removed; see original report). If you'd like to be involved in implementing the report's recommendations, or learn more, visit the Yale Project on Climate Change website.

Yesterday we heard a theory about why and when climate change became a highly partisan issue (in short: when Clinton started championing it). Today we hear mixed feelings from conference participants. Should Democrats simply try to win, and thereby establish a mandate for change? Or should they try to lure Republicans into bipartisan consensus through incremental measures? I know where I come out on this question, but I'm curious to hear what you think.

Americans and Climate Change: Packaging climate change as an energy issue

"Americans and Climate Change: Closing the Gap Between Science and Action" (PDF) is a report synthesizing the insights of 110 leading thinkers on how to educate and motivate the American public on the subject of global warming. Background on the report here. I'll be posting a series of excerpts (citations have been removed; see original report). If you'd like to be involved in implementing the report's recommendations, or learn more, visit the Yale Project on Climate Change website.

Below the fold is the bulk of the report's third chapter, "Packaging climate change as an energy issue." It discusses how climate change can piggy-back on growing energy concerns. Tomorrow's excerpt will discuss the dangers of that strategy.