Weekly Green: November 18, 2013

Hello and good afternoon all. Environmental headlines of the past week include:

• California fracking rules released;
• China will lead in clean energy by 2035, report says;
• Climate change: now accepted by majorities in so-called "red states;"
• Cloud seeding; Navy takes aim at sea otters; and much, much more.

» Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Green, a no-frills news roundup provided free of charge by the California League of Conservation Voters. If you're not a regular subscriber, sign up today! Get your free subscription here: http://ecovote.org/wg

Above the Fold

Brown releases proposed rules for fracking
The draft regulations on fracking would require state permits, testing of groundwater and notification of neighbors, and are called the toughest in the U.S.
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-fracking-regs-20131116,0,6099401.story

Report: China will be world leader in clean energy by 2035
The country is predicted to generate more renewable power than the US, EU, and Japan combined.
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/18/report_china_to_be_worlds_leader_in_clean_energy_by_2035_newscred/

Growing Clamor About Inequities of Climate Crisis
From the time a scientific consensus emerged that human activity was changing the climate, it has been understood that the nations that contributed least to the problem would be hurt the most. Now, even as the possible consequences of climate change have surged, no consensus has emerged over how to rectify what many call “climate injustice.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/17/world/growing-clamor-about-inequities-of-climate-crisis.html

Majority of red-state Americans believe climate change is real, study shows
Study suggests far-reaching acceptance of climate change in traditionally Republican states such as Texas and Oklahoma.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/13/climate-change-red-state-opinion-america-study

Challenge for the Philippines: 4 Million Displaced
As the Philippines begins to clean up after the worst typhoon in memory, it is faced with a huge problem of feeding and housing its displaced population. The government says that about 4 million people have been displaced, with some 350,000 living in about 1,500 evacuation centers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/world/asia/as-cleanup-begins-displaced-pose-a-challenge-for-philippines.html

In Somalia, The Other Natural Disaster That Nobody Is Talking About
A deadly cyclone slammed the Puntland region of Somalia last weekend to little international notice, wreaking havoc on an already impoverished population. The most recent death toll estimates at least 300 people dead, and the United Nations believes 30,000 people desperately require extensive aid — a number local authorities put closer to 50,000. Hundreds of people are still missing.
http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/11/17/2951131/somalia-cyclone/

More California Environmental News

Forum: New California Fracking Regulations Proposed
Last week, the California Department of Conservation released a draft of new regulations for hydraulic fracturing. The proposed regulations, and what they could mean for California's economy and environment, are discussed.
http://www.kqed.org/a/forum/R201311180900

California fracking law offers groundwater protection: regulator
California regulators said on Friday an enhanced monitoring regime for oil and gas production that is part of the state's new fracking regulations would shore up groundwater protection, a top concern in the growing state.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70401

State fails to keep track of dangerous materials shipped for disposal
On paper, California's rules on handling hazardous waste are among the nation's strictest. But there are huge holes in the system.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-hazardous-waste-20131117-m,0,558751.story

Coastal Commission delays action on Huntington Beach desalination plant
State coastal commissioners Wednesday postponed a vote on a proposed seawater desalination plant after concluding that they lacked the information to decide whether a key part of the proposal should be redesigned.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-desal-20131114,0,7690306.story

Navy Takes Aim at California Sea Otters
A Defense Authorization bill now on the floor of the U.S. Senate would exempt the Navy from environmental laws protecting California's southern sea otter population, and environmental activists are urging the language be stripped from the bill.
http://www.kcet.org/news/redefine/rewild/mammals/navy-takes-aim-at-californias-sea-otters.html

State approves wave of “offsets” to ease compliance with carbon rules
A total of 1.4 million carbon credits were OK’d by the agency Wednesday, which oversees implementation of AB 32, California’s landmark global-warming law. Each credit allows the holder to emit a ton of greenhouse gases.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/11/13/5908748/state-approves-first-wave-of-offsets.html

Top climate scientists call for fracking ban in letter to Gov. Jerry Brown
Twenty of the nation's top climate scientists have sent a letter to Gov. Jerry Brown, telling him that his plans supporting increased use of the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," will increase pollution and run counter to his efforts to cut California's global warming emissions.
http://www.mercurynews.com/science-environment/ci_24509392/top-climate-scientists-call-fracking-ban-letter-gov

Cloud seeding, no longer magical thinking, is poised for use this winter
Once viewed by some as a fringe science, cloud seeding has entered the mainstream as a tool to pad the state’s crucial mountain snowpack. New technology to manage the practice, and research that points to reliable results, have cemented cloud seeding as a dependable and affordable water-supply practice.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/11/11/5898983/cloud-seeding-no-longer-magical.html

Study: L.A. County Could Power Half of California With Rooftop Solar
Putting solar panels on suitable undeveloped rooftop space in Los Angeles County could create about half of the electrical power California needs on a typical summer day, and developing just five percent of that rooftop capacity would generate almost 30,000 jobs.
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/solar/photovoltaic-pv/study-las-rooftop-solar-potential-an-untapped-job-creator.html

Fracking raises fears -- and hopes -- of oil boom
The estimated amount of oil -- 15 billion barrels -- and the potential economic benefit -- up to 195,000 jobs, by one estimate -- has grabbed everybody’s attention.
http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/fracking-raises-fears-and-hopes-of-oil-boom/article_1bf9557e-4e57-11e3-952b-0019bb2963f4.html

Steep hike in flood insurance rates strikes rural areas
Big changes in federal flood insurance policy are beginning to strike in the Sacramento area, in some cases quadrupling the cost of coverage and threatening local real estate markets.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/11/16/5916933/steep-hike-in-flood-insurance.html

Radioactive poisoning may still be risk on Treasure Island, memo says
Department of Public Health surveyors found a half-inch wide radioactive disk under a grassy area between apartment complexes last March. The octagonal shard was so hot that holding onto it for an hour could cause radiation burns and hair loss, according to a memo.
http://cironline.org/node/5549

National and International Environmental News

'Superbugs could erase a century of medical advances,' experts warn
Doctors issue new warning of devastating effect of over-prescribing antibiotics for trivial ailments
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/superbugs-could-erase-a-century-of-medical-advances-experts-warn-8944617.html

Amazon deforestation increased by one-third in past year
Satellite analysis reveals that since 2000 an area equal to 50 soccer fields has been destroyed every minute.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/15/amazon-deforestation-increased-one-third

Emissions of CO₂ driving rapid oceans 'acid trip'
The world's oceans are becoming acidic at an "unprecedented rate" and may be souring more rapidly than at any time in the past 300 million years. In their strongest statement yet on the issue, scientists say acidification could increase by 170% by 2100.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-24904143

Climate Change Is Messing With Rainfall Across The Entire Planet
The redistribution of rainfall predicted by climate change modeling is playing out in real life, a new study by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has found. The research, published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first study to find the signal of climate change in global precipitation shifts across land and sea.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/12/2929091/rainfall-climate-change-patterns/

Interior secretary says Obama may bypass Congress on monuments
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell says she may advise Obama to act alone to create new national monuments if Congress doesn't act.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-interior-secretary-jewell-20131112,0,5444176.story

Banning CFCs successful in slowing global warming
The recent slowdown in global temperature increases is partially the result of one of the few successful international crackdowns on greenhouse gases.
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2013/11/cutting-emissions-really-does-slow-global-warming-study-finds

Much more national and international environmental news

Report says Europe cannot afford to give up climate leadership.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70359

Climate change making birds migrate earlier.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/13/climate-change-birds-...

US set to surpass Saudi Arabia as world’s largest oil producer.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/12/worlds-top-oil-producer_n_42587...

Green and consumer groups voice fears over proposed US-EU trade agreement.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70351

EU lawmakers fast track bill to withdraw carbon permits.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70347

UK said to need mega farms to keep food cheap.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/12/uk-mega-farms-food-pr...

Japan prepares to dump another $50 billion to clean up Fukushima nuclear site.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70352

Mexico battles over GMO corn.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70343

Operator prepares to remove Fukushima fuel rods this week.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70342

Africa's Lake Victoria in critical condition.
http://www.scidev.net/global/pollution/feature/modern-strains-put-lake-v...

Report on climate change depicts planet in peril.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-climate-change-20131112,0,6958165.story

Climate change a growing threat to agriculture.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/12/science/earth/warning-on-global-food-s...

Philippine delegates fast at climate talks, urge action.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70333

UN climate panel corrects numbers in climate report.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70330

By 2100 we'll be living in a world of garbage.
http://www.fastcoexist.com/3021151/by-2100-well-be-living-in-a-world-of-...

If you like seafood, you might want to stop polluting the ocean.
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/11/if_you_like_seafood_stop_polluting_the_o...

Industry's wall of secrets cracking in fracking wars.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70332

New invention harvests electricity from background radiation.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2493931/New-device-harvests-elec...

Climate change may magnify toxic chemical dangers.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/08/climate-change-chemicals_n_4240...

Deaths from heat waves expect to increase by a factor of 10 at mid-century.
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/08/2917691/heat-waves-ipcc-mort...

Talks seek modest UN climate deal.
http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/70321

EPA, Army Corps of Engineers to assert jurisdiction over all tributaries to navigable waters.
http://www.bna.com/epa-corps-propose-n17179879956/

No-till farming on the rise in US.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/11/09/no-till-farmi...

Australia on track for warmest year ever recorded.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/nov/10/australia-warmest-ever-cale...

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