Climate change could drive native fish out of Wisconsin waters, University of Wisconsin News, 8/16 A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found that an important forage fish, the cisco, could disappear from most of the Wisconsin lakes that it currently inhabits by 2100 as a result of climate change. [...]
Obstacles to Capturing Carbon Gas, NYTimes, July 31 Carbon capture and sequestration is a technology that traps carbon dioxide and stores it, usually underground in a geological formation. The process, already used by oil and natural gas companies, presents the opportunity for capturing CO2 from power plants and other sources of carbon emissions as a [...]
Sizzle Factor for a Restless Climate, NY Times, July 19 In the context of the recent East coast heat wave, NOAA’s recent finding that the last 10 years was 1.5 degrees higher than in the 1970s is particularly palpable. If trends continue, the number of days that exceed 95 degrees is expected to triple by [...]
Most Americans Want Scientists, Not Politicians, to Lead Climate Debate, Reuters, July 5 The ongoing Six Americas study, a nation-wide report conducted by Yale and George Mason Universities which reviews how Americans think about climate change, released its most recent results in late June. The study breaks Americans into six categories based on their level [...]
IEA Sees Record CO2 Emissions in 2010, Reuters, May 30 2010 saw that highest level ever seen of world-wide CO2 emissions, driven in large part by economic growth in coal-heavy countries, including China and India. Increased consumption of oil and natural gas were the next largest contributors to emissions levels. The Fukushima disaster and ensuing [...]
In a Changing Antarctica, Some Penguins Thrive as Others Suffer, NY Times, May 9 Adelie penguins, inhabitants of the northern edge of Antarctica, are considered to be a “bellwether” of climate change. This Antarctic Peninsula is one of the fastest warming places on Earth: average winter air temperature has risen an alarming 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit [...]
Droughts, Floods and Food, NYTimes, Feb. 6 Extreme weather events in 2010 are linked to the current global food crisis, in which the prices of wheat, corn, sugar, and oils have exploded. In combination with growing demand from developing nations and increased competition for crop land, extreme weather events such as droughts in Brazil, wildfires [...]
For Many Species, No Escape as Temperature Rises, New York Times, Jan. 21 Adding to existing stressors from deforestation and habitat loss, climate change is expected to further harm populations of mountain dwelling animals. While other species traditionally seek higher elevation in response to warming, mountains species cannot do so, as they are limited by [...]
Observations such as glacier retreat, decreasing Arctic sea ice, and rising sea levels, are consistent with rising temperatures and support the conclusion that Earth is warming.
This summer, the Earth Institute launched the Global Network for Climate Solutions (GNCS), a research-driven effort to inform and promote international climate change negotiations and activities on a country-by-country basis. Since then, the GNCS has begun facilitating the design of specific adaptation and mitigation efforts through a virtual network of international experts, universities, government agencies, research [...]
State of the Planet is a forum for discussion on varying viewpoints. The opinions expressed by the authors and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Earth Institute or Columbia University.
