Transportation Archives - Global Warming is Real

Efforts to tacle accelerating drought and desertification take shape this year an Namibia

Worldwide Efforts to Combat Drought, Desertification to Take Shape in Namibia This Year

High-level representatives from 195 nations party to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification,, along with civic and environmental groups, will meet in Windhoek to assess progress and plan for future actions to address desertification, land degradation and drought, issues that now affect 168 nations at a cost of some $490 billion, not to mention the loss of lives, health, livelihoods, biodiversity and ecosystems.

New resiliency index announced with C40 Cities at the Clinton Global Initiative

Resiliency Index Will Assess Climate Risks for Cities

Working under the umbrella of C40 Cities, an international collaborative of cities working to assess and reduce their climate risk impacts, New York mayor Michael Bloomberg
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Global community risks catastrophic sea level rise if current fossil fuel and c02 emissions stay on track

Rising Temperature, Sea Level On Track to Wipe Out Major World Cities Former Shell Exec Tells UN

The global community of nations is headed for catastrophes on an unprecedented scope and scale if fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions continue on trend, according to the latest scientific evidence and research. Global average temperature is on a path toward a warming of 4 degrees Celsius, which could result in sea level rises of 70 meters (230 feet), wiping out major cities, including London, New York, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Climate change education is an essential part of a sustainable future for our children

The Promise of Climate Change Education Standards

“In order to learn the nature of the myriad things, you must know that although they may look round or square, the other features of
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This image from International Rivers demonstrates the vital need for international cooperation for dealing with the world water crisis

Solutions to the World Water Crisis Requires International Cooperation

Sharing water across international boundaries is a complex international challenge that requires coordinated water policy formulation and responsible governance. To meet global water requirements governments
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Insurance companies need to prepare for climate change risks

US Insurance Industry Ill-Prepared to Deal with Climate Change Risk, Impacts

Eleven extreme weather events took place in the US in 2012. Each left at least $1 billion in damages in their wake. Besides the cost
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Building efficiency is a growing trend serving both economic and environmental concerns

The Growth of Efficient Buildings

The area of building efficiency affords tremendous opportunities for both economic growth and reduced environmental impacts. Buildings are the single largest emitters of greenhouse gases.
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The Cuyahoga River is an iconic example of an environmental disaster turned into an environmental success story

Environmental Success Stories: Mercury, SLCPs and Many More

The overwhelming number of environmental calamities we face overshadows environmental success stories and this undermines efforts to build support for ecological action. People concerned about
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Video Friday: A Historical Perspective on Climate Change

I’ve noticed increased activity in the “twittersphere” this week trumpeting many of the well-worn memes of climate denial, apparently due to Barack Obama’s mention of climate
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Cities are where the most progress can be made to adapt to climate change and create a sustainable future

Meeting the Climate Challenge: Cities Plan for Worst and Hope for the Best

At the national and international level climate action is stalled under the unyielding weight of factionalism and meeting the diverse agenda of a global community. At
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A mighty industrial society discharges its waste unchecked into the environment. New reports emphasize the importance of understanding the relationship between the environment and the economy.

New Support for the Interconnectedness of the Environment and the Economy

Two new reports reiterate the scientific veracity of anthropogenic climate change while reinforcing the interconnectedness of the economy and the environment. The World Economic Forum
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Managing the water-energy nexus in a climate change world

The Water-Energy Nexus in a Climate-Changed World

Editor’s note: This post is a finalist in Masdar’s Engage blogging contest as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Special thanks to Tim Hurst and Nick Aster. The water-energy
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Crafting a Positive Environmental Narrative

Positive narratives may be our best hope for fostering desperately needed environmental action. Decades of ecological warnings have failed to produce the necessary societal changes. The enthralling
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Pessimism is Impeding Environmental Advocacy

While it is easy to understand why so many environmentally concerned people are fearful and pessimistic, these attitudes detract from the goal of improving our environment. Fear is well warranted, we
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40 Eco-Apps that Put Technology to Work for the Environment

Technology may not be a panacea to solve the climate crisis, but green applications (eco-apps) are helping to drive awareness and foster responsible action. There
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Archive for Transportation

Video Friday: Solar Impulse Sets Out Across America

By Thomas Schueneman · Comments (1) · Friday, May 3rd, 2013

We recently posted about a press conference we recently attended at Moffett Field outside San Francisco, California for a close-up look at Solar Impulse, the world’s most advanced solar-powered airplane. The preparations for the Solar Impulse Across America adventure have now come to fruition and the graceful bird took off early this morning into clear Bay Area skies. Solar Impulse will cross the US making 5 stops along the way, reaching its first stop at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport tomorrow, May 4th at about 1am, for an estimated flight time of 19 hours.

Subsequent stops include Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport; Lambert-St. Louis International Airport; Dulles International Airport and a final stop at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York. At each stop Solar Impulse will be on display for the public to see the groundbreaking airplane as it kicks off the Clean Generation initiative to raise awareness of the potential of clean and renewable sources of energy.

Follow progress of Solar Impulse live and stay tuned as we track progress of the airplane as she makes her way across the country in the coming weeks.

Featured image credit: Dominique Favre

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Categories : Energy, Renewable Energy, Solutions, Sustainability, Transportation

Tags : dulles international airport, lambert st louis, lambert st louis international airport, phoenix sky harbor, renewable energy sources, solar impulse, Solar Impulse Across America, solar powered airplane

The Newest Hybrid Cars to Reduce Environmental Impact

By Guest Post · Comments (1) · Monday, April 29th, 2013

Special feature by Maria Ortega

According to National Geographic, more than half the air pollution in the United States is caused by mobile devices, primarily by automobiles. These greenhouse gases that vehicles emit, such as carbon dioxide, are wreaking havoc on the ozone layer as well as polluting the soil and surface water in many cases.

Bottom line— while cars are an everyday necessity and convenience, they’re not doing the environment any favors. That’s part of the reason why the federal government is offering tax incentives to those who purchase hybrid or electric vehicles, as well as challenging automakers to develop vehicles by 2025 that are able to achieve 55 mpg on the highway. It’s a bold goal but, as you can see from how much cars are responsible for pollution, it’s a necessary one that’s becoming more important.

However, we’ll focus on some of the hybrids and electric vehicles that either greatly reduce or eliminate fuel emissions altogether, both new and used. Here’s a closer look: Read More→

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Categories : Green Economy, Solutions, Transportation

Tags : air pollution in the united states, chevy volt, fuel emissions, greenhouse gases, hybrid electric vehicle, toyota prius

Guide to Government Incentives for Green Commercial Trucks

By Guest Post · Comments (0) · Thursday, April 25th, 2013

There are many government incentives for fuel-efficient truck fleets There are numerous benefits for utilizing fuel efficient commercial trucks. In addition to being better for the environment, fuel-efficient trucks boosts your company image and positively impacts your bottom line.

While these vehicles are more expensive than their less-efficient counterparts, the U.S. government has set up incentive programs to provide loans, offset costs and offer tax credits and exceptions to help companies outfit their transportation operations with green fleets.

At the federal, regional and state level, there are five types of incentives for those that purchase new commercial vehicles or upgrade in fuel-saving trucking equipment:

Grants
Rebates and vouchers
Low cost loans
Tax credits
Tax exceptions

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Categories : Solutions, Sustainability, Transportation

Tags : Commercial Truck, Fuel Efficient, fuel efficient trucks, government incentives, Guide To Government, Incentive Programs, new commercial vehicles, state incentive programs, sustainable transporation, tax exceptions, trucking equipment

A More Energetic Atmosphere Leading to More Turbulence for Aviation

By Thomas Schueneman · Comments (0) · Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

New research shows that the North Atlantic will prove a bumpier ride for airliners from increased clear air turbulence from a warming atmosphere Clear air turbulence is the bane of air crew and passenger alike. Unlike easily recognizable turbulent air from mountain ranges and clouds, clear air turbulence is invisibile both to pilot and radar until it is encountered – and the drink ends up on your lap.

This sort of turbulence, lurking in the stratosphere where airliners operate, comes from the energy the pushes the jet stream and powers global atmospheric circulation patterns; great oceans of air that can unexpectedly toss a large airliner like a ship tossed in a turbulent sea.

New research just published in the journal Nature Climate Change suggests as the atmosphere warms the increased energy will speed up the jet stream and make moderate and severe turbulence much more likely for flyers crossing the through the North Atlantic, especially in the winter months.

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Categories : Climate, Climate Change and Civil Society, Climate Science, Global Warming News, Transportation, Video

Tags : Air, Air Turbulence, atmosphere, atmospheric circulation patterns, clear air turbulence, energetic atmosphere, global atmospheric circulation, increased turbulence global warming, Jet Stream, manoj joshi, Severe Turbulence, Turbulence, university of east anglia, Warm Atmosphere

Ford MyEnergi Campaign

By Guest Post · Comments (0) · Wednesday, April 3rd, 2013

By Ben Randalls

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Ford announced the launch of MyEnergi Lifestyle. The auto manufacturer partnered with Whirlpool, SunPower, Eaton and Nest Labs to create a product that connects plug-in vehicles to energy-smart appliances to the same database, instead of going to and from separate places. Once consumers are connected in the MyEnergi Lifestyle database, they can team-up their products with the grid to produce overall household energy efficiency.

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Categories : Efficiency, Energy, Green Economy, Renewable Energy, Solutions, Transportation