| May 2006
Climate Change | Environment |
D1 - Climate Change: Reducing the Threat of Climate Change in the U.S.: A Survey of Activities
Worldwatch Institute, Online Feature, various pagings
This website provides a list of federal legislation, regional, state and community initiatives as well as corporate programs that address issues related to CO 2 emissions and climate change in the United States. Despite these initiatives the Worldwatch Institute constitutes “[w] hile states, businesses, communities, the non-profit sector, and other groups are doing more and more in the United States to address climate change, many charge that the U.S. is failing to do enough to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on the national level. Indeed, despite the many activities and commitments to reduce emissions around the country—including those listed above—cumulative U.S. efforts fall short of steps being taken today in the European Union, Japan, Canada, and several other countries around the world. The United States can and must do more.” Fulltext
D2 - Cool Cities. Solving Global Warming One City at a Time. Sierra Club’s Guide to Local Global Warming Solutions
Brand, Glen; Bell, Brendan
Sierra Club, March 2006, 16p.
“The purpose of this guide is to provide a resource for citizens and local officials who are ready to take real action to reduce energy waste and heat-trapping global arming pollution in their communities. In the following pages, you will find inspiring city success stories from a broad range of cities, from larger metropolitan centers such as Salt Lake City, St. Paul, and Charlotte to smaller cities like Twin Falls, Idaho, and Waverly, Iowa. The strategies that these and other Cool Cities are pursuing fall under three categories: Cleaner Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy . Every one of these local solutions is already saving taxpayer dollars and improving public health by reducing energy waste and pollution. ” Glen Brand and Brendan Bell are affiliated with Sierra Club’s Global Warming and Energy Program. Fulltext
D4 - The Dangers Of Ocean Acidification
Doney, Scott
Scientific American, vol. 294, no. 3, March 2006, pp. 58-65
Global warming and the rise of ocean levels has attracted a great deal of attention recently, but a lesser-known effect of mankind's burning of fossil fuels has been its effect on the acidity levels in the world's oceans. About half of all the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution has been absorbed by the ocean. The absorbed CO2 is turned into carbonic acid, and lowers the pH level, adversely affecting the ability of many forms of marine life, such as coral and shellfish, to build hard parts out of calcium carbonate. The author notes that, within a century, the Southern Ocean will become corrosive to the tiny shellfish that form a key link in the marine food chain. While some species of phytoplankton might benefit from the growing presence of CO2 in the ocean, the increased oceanic acidity levels will have a harmful effect on other forms of marine life. Scott C. Doney is a senior scientist in the department of marine chemistry and geochemistry at the Woolds Hole Oceanographic Institution. Fulltext
D5- Tracking U.S. Groundwater
Alley, William M.
Environment, April 2006, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 10-25
”Because groundwater is invisible, its users often take it for granted. Tracking U.S. groundwater poses a number of challenges for scientists and policymakers because it eludes technology and crosses jurisdictional boundaries. This article explains how better monitoring and management of this resource could lead to a more sustainable water supply for the future.” William M. Alley is chief of the Office of Ground Water at the U.S. Geological Survey. Fulltext
D6 - Federalism and U.S. Water Policy: Lessons for the Twenty-First Century
Gerlak, Andrea K.
Publius, Spring 2006, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 231-257
“This article traces five historical streams of water policy in the United States, revealing the strain and stresses of intergovernmental relations pertaining to water resource management. It finds that water policy is increasingly characterized by pragmatic federalism emphasizing collaborative partnerships, adaptable management strategies, and problem and process orientation. The evolving nature of federal-state relations, characterized by expanding federal authorities and increased state capacity, coupled with a rise of local watershed groups and greater ecological concern, calls for improved coordination. Yet challenges resulting from policy fragmentation and ecosystem complexity remain. Continued calls for greater integration will likely be heard as federal-state relations continue to evolve.” Andrea K. Gerlak is affiliated with the University of Arizona. Fulltext
D7 - Restoring Rivers
Palmer, Margaret A. and J. David Allan
Issues in Science and Technology, Winter 2006, vol. 22, no. 2, online edition
”More than one-third of rivers in the United States are impaired or polluted.” The degradation of rivers and streams has enormous consequences that may be prevented by ecological restoration. “River restoration means repairing waterways that can no longer perform essential ecological and social functions such as mitigating floods, providing clean drinking water, removing excessive levels of nutrients and sediments before they choke coastal zones, and supporting fisheries and wildlife. Healthy rivers and streams also enhance property values and are a hub for recreation.” This article outlines approaches to river restoration and makes suggestions for improvement and better coordination. Margaret A. Palmer is professor and director of the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory at the University of Maryland’s Center for Environmental Science in Solomons, Maryland. J. David Allan is a professor at the School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Fulltext
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