GlobalWarmingisReal contributor Anders Hellum-Alexander wraps-up the climate and environmental news headlines for the past week:
- CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) is the international mechanism for protecting species in peril, but it is not doing its job. In the UK the cod population has finally fully collapsed and no government organization ever stepped in and stopped the abuse.
- As for global agreements on climate change the world’s governments have decided to respond to the world’s most difficult challenge with inaction. China seems to be doing the most to confront climate change, even though they refuse to cooperate during UN Climate Change meetings.
- Technology Review comments on The Quest, a book that refutes “peak oil” theory. The basic premise is that some other discovery or technology will prolong our dependence on oil. While true, that sounds like a future with an insecure foundation.
- Ingeniousness people and the natural environment scored a victory when a judge in Brazil halted all disruption of the Xingu river for a dam project.
- A bacteria is killing trees in Florida at an alarming rate. And, warmer winters in the US is allowing the bark beetle to sweep through and kill our Midwest forests.
- The University of Texas is fueling a renewed effort to develop the technology of producing algae biofuel for cars.
- Europe uses the “precautionary principle” when it comes to human health and the environment; one example is France’s decision to stop natural gas fracking within its borders.
- The US government finishes handing out loan guarantees to solar companies after the Solyndra disaster.
- The hybrid car market seems to be developing much quicker than the electric car market.
- Finally, a wall plug-in device that lets you turn off your appliances remotely.
- Say hello to windows that let a building “breath.”
