Good morning! Today, we focus on the environment. On the menu, in no particular order:
Climate change report: it may be worse than we thought. Climate change “guru” James Hansen, a former NASA researcher, and others warn that “…the current rate of global warming could raise sea levels by “several meters” over the coming century…”, with devastating impacts for coastal cities across the globe. Related to the rise in sea levels? More devastating storms. Hansen shares his conclusions in a paper published in Atmosphere Chemistry and Physics. Hansen is considered “the father of modern climate change awareness.” Read this piece by Oliver Millman; it appears in The Guardian. The research (co-authored by 18 other scientists), was published in Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics.
Improving human health and helping the environment? An Oxford University study appearing in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences affirms a growing body of evidence that eating less meat and consuming a (mostly) plant-based diet might not only help human health, but also have a big pay-off for the health of our planet. And…it may be very good for the global economy, too. The figures relating both the possible reduction in global mortality and food-related greenhouse gas emissions are stunning. “Making these changes, the study estimates, could also save up to $31 trillion…” Elizabeth Grossman summarizes the study’s findings in a #mustread piece for Civil Eats.
How is climate change impacting agriculture? It depends. A University of California study published in California Agriculture showed mixed impacts. The study examined twelve crops in Yolo County. Walnuts proved the most vulnerable; processing tomatoes and alfalfa acreage might increase, as winters grow warmer. Learn more here.
Turning pig poop into energy. Duke Energy has announced “it is expanding its renewable energy from livestock waste.” After methane collected from pig and chicken waste is refined, the company estimates it will generate enough electricity “to power about 10,000 homes a year.” This could help both the environment and producers, who struggle with waste management. “It would be very nice for the producer to be able to find another stream of income,” said Jay Sullivan, a fourth-generation farmer…” An interesting read by Emery Dalesio, a journalist with the Associated Press. This piece appeared in the New York Times.
On #WorldWaterDay: Q&A with Peter Hanlon. While El Niño has made a dent in California’s drought, the water crisis is not over. California is not alone; water is a scarce resource around the globe. Look for information about water issues today, which is World Water Day. We spoke with expert Peter Hanlon about water conservation…and learned a lot!
Have a great day!