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DrumBeat: February 4, 2009
The Oil Drum —
... on California waiver this week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday she hopes to reopen the public comment period this week on California's request for authority to cut tailpipe emissions.
"I think very soon. ... I'm hoping that it will be in the next few days," EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told Reuters when asked if notice would be published this week in the Federal Register of regulations.
California Farms May Die With Changing Climate
Chu warned of water shortages ...
California farms, vineyards in peril from warming, U.S. energy secretary warns
Peak Oil News —
... for California, his home state, the nation's leading agricultural producer. In a worst case, Chu said, up to 90% of the Sierra snowpack could disappear, all but eliminating a natural storage system for water vital to agriculture. "I don't think the American public has gripped in its gut what could happen," he said. "We're looking at a scenario where there's no more agriculture in California." And, he added, "I don't actually see how they can keep their cities going" either. LA Times
Chu: Climate Change is Apocalyptic, California Agriculture and Cities Could Disappear
Climate Change Blog —
Sometimes readers and even supporters of Climate Ark suggest we are excessively apocalyptic. Perhaps there is some redemption to our decade of providing a voice in the climate wilderness, as Steven Chu [search] -- Nobel laureate and Obama's Energy Secretary -- picks up in his first interview [ark] on some of our language and specific warnings regarding climate change and water shortages [search]. "I don't think the American public [ark] has gripped in its gut what could happen... We're looking at a scenario where there's no more ...
Energy Secretary: Climate change could wipe out Calif. farming
Environment —
Water, water everywhere... but not where Californians need it
Ecoearth.info Blog —
... that global warming could swamp some coastal regions more than others, leading to higher levels of water around California's coast than previously expected. Chu gave a chilling interview in the LA Times this week in which he warned that rapidly dwindling snow runoff from the western Sierra mountain range could herald the end of Californian agriculture, creating a dustbowl in the state by the end of the century. "I don't actually see how they can keep their cities going," he added. His concerns over water scarcity echo those of a ...
