The Green Grok
blogging towards a more sustainable path with Dr. Bill Chameides
Counting All the Carbon: A Waxman-Markey Wart
by Bill ChameidesJul 02, 2009
filed under: land-use changes, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, global warming, carbon cycle, bioenergy, carbon, carbon dioxide emissions, biofuels
To love something means accepting it, “warts and all.” Well, here’s one Waxman-Markey wart I don’t even like: its failure to count all the carbon.
The Story That Wasn't: EPA 'Suppressed' Report Countering CO2 Endangerment Finding
by Bill ChameidesJul 01, 2009
filed under: Environmental Protection Agency, climate skeptics, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, climate change
A guy walks into a bar and says, “Did you hear the one about suppression at the EPA?” The bartender says, “Yeah, but did you hear the one about melting glaciers in the Himalayas?” “But that’s not funny,” the guy says. “Exactly,” replies the bartender.
HFCs: Stratosphere, No Problem. Climate, Another Story.
by Bill ChameidesJun 30, 2009
filed under: atmosphere, ozone hole, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), climate change, Montreal Protocol, global warming, research, ozone, paper, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), science, Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Hydrofluorocarbons or HFCs have replaced those nasty Freons to protect the ozone layer, but those HFCs can still wreak climatic havoc.
Climate Legislation: Countdown to the House Showdown
by Bill ChameidesJun 26, 2009
filed under: cap and trade, climate change, economics, legislation, global warming, Waxman-Markey climate bill, American Clean Energy and Security Act, policy, politics, carbon dioxide emissions
Two recent polls show that a large majority of Americans want the U.S. to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. On Friday the House delivered. Read the updated post.
Statistically Speaking: Quoth the Raven
by Bill ChameidesJun 25, 2009
filed under: animals, pollination, popular culture, agriculture, birds
In 1921, American ornithologist Edward Forbush wrote that thanks to birds, “forest and agricultural pests were reduced by 28 percent." The birds, he went on, helped prevent "$444,000,000 in crop and timber losses.” Let's take a look at some birds stats today.
To Geo-engineer or Not to Geo-engineer
by Bill ChameidesJun 24, 2009
filed under: fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, geo-engineering, climate change, oceans, phytoplankton, global warming, ocean acidification, science, carbon dioxide emissions
Imagine tinkering with the climate system to cancel out global warming — the stuff of mad scientists or global saviors?
Is There Enough Water to ‘Grow’ Ethanol?
by Bill ChameidesJun 23, 2009
filed under: natural resources, energy, corn, corn ethanol, legislation, water, ethanol, biofuels
A recent study points out that when it comes to water usage, where your ethanol is brewed really matters.
Cap and Trade Part 5: What’s With the Add-Ons?
by Bill ChameidesJun 22, 2009
filed under: cap and trade, greenhouse gas emissions, economics, legislation, Waxman-Markey climate bill, Washington Post, policy, carbon dioxide emissions
If Waxman-Markey has a cap and trade, why does it need all the other stuff like fuel-economy standards for cars, renewable electricity standards, and building codes?
Statistically Speaking: New Fuel Resources - Worth Drilling For?
by Bill ChameidesJun 19, 2009
filed under: U.S. Congress, oil, natural gas, energy, legislation, oil drilling, oil reserves, policy, politics, oil resources
A bill just passed by a Senate committee would open the eastern Gulf of Mexico to drilling. What's the potential gain?
Cap and Trade Part 4: Forests, Farms, and Offsets
by Bill ChameidesJun 17, 2009
filed under: cap and trade, climate, greenhouse gas emissions, offsets, climate change, economics, forests, global warming, ecosystems, carbon, carbon dioxide emissions, agriculture
What do you do if something emits greenhouse gases but is not under the cap? Use offsets.
