Environment

(By Juan Cole) The poet Robert Frost wrote, “Fire and Ice Some say the world will end in fire, Some say in ice. From what I’ve tasted of desire I hold with those who favor fire. But if it had to perish twice, I think I know enough of hate To say that for destruction […]

Climate Change

Less Food, More War: CO2 Driving Certain Global Warming, Rising Insecurity

Juan Cole

Climate change boosts conflict risk, floods, hunger: UN (via AFP) Soaring carbon emissions will amplify the risk of conflict, hunger, floods and mass migration this century, the UN’s expert panel said Monday in a landmark report on the impact of climate change. Left unchecked, greenhouse gas emissions may cost trillions… —— Related video: PBS […]

Climate Change

Ukraine wouldn’t be as much a Crisis if Europe had adopted Green Energy Faster

contributors

Originally published on EnergyPost.eu.By Sonja van Renssen Decisions on a new European climate and energy policy for 2030 are relegated to autumn as heads of state are caught up in the Ukraine crisis. At their spring summit in Brussels, EU leaders…

Climate Change

Israeli Kibbutz uses Robots To Combat Desert Dust that obscures Solar Panels

Juan Cole

The humble chore of cleaning solar panels plays a key role in solar cell efficiency, especially in desert regions where frequent dust storms and lack of rain combine to reduce panel output by up to 35 percent. That same lack of rain also presents a…

Climate Change

Climate Change is hitting us Now & will only Worsen: When will We Start Acting Like Adults?

contributors

(By Tom Giesen) Americans tell us through a recent Gallop poll that upward of 65% of them know global warming is happening. However, only 36% feel that it will pose a serious threat to their way of life. But that conclusion is dead wrong; our way of life is changing dramatically. The physical evidence across […]

Economy

Gaza’s Palestinians, Besieged by Israel, turn to Solar Power

Juan Cole

Here’s an excellent AFP film clip and article from a couple weeks ago that I think deserves a wider audience. Gazans turn to solar power as fuel crisis bites (via AFP) On the roof of Gaza City’s children’s hospital, a pristine row of solar panels gleams in the sunlight, an out-of-place symbol of modern, clean […]

Climate Change

Coal, Gas & Oil are Huge Water Hogs; Solar is a Water Saver

Juan Cole

Solar Power Is A Huge Water Saver (World Water Day Infographic) (via Clean Technica) Every year on this day since 1993, the community of nations has focused on the importance of fresh water and advocated for the sustainable management of freshwater resources. Severe droughts experienced recently in places like the American West, the… —– […]

Climate Change

Big Oil and Gas Wants your Drinking Water, Too: UN

contributors

(By Jacob Chamberlain) An unrelenting increase in energy production, including unconventional methods such as tar sands extraction and fracking, will severely damage the world's already dwindling water supply, the UN warned on Friday. "There is an increasing potential for serious conflict between power generation, other water users and environmental considerations," says the World Water Development […]

Climate Change

5 Signs Solar Power is Taking over the World

Juan Cole

(By Juan Cole) Burning fossil fuels (coal, natural gas and oil) is putting 32 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide annually into the atmosphere. Since CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat from the sun on earth and prevents it radiating back out to space, this unprecedented human output is causing climate disruption, a […]