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Stewardship Notes
- Scientists Duel with Letters on Global Warming
By E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D. (July 1, 2009)
On June 19, the Woods Hole Research Center released an open letter from scientists to the President and members of Congress calling for “strong leadership” to avert “a rapidly developing global climatic catastrophe.” The letter called for passage of the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill then pending in the House, now passed and moving to the Senate. But on July 1 another group of scientists released a letter in direct response, questioning the independence of the Woods Hole group because of ties with presidential science advisor John Holdren, “the same science advisor who has given us… CA
- Did EPA Muzzle Analyst’s Report?
By E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D. (June 30, 2009)
Last March Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) analyst Alan Carlin submitted a report that challenged the EPA’s intent to regulate carbon dioxide to reduce global warming. The 98-page report called the science underlying the EPA’s intents outdated and cited multiple refereed scientific and economic studies in recent years that show that human influence on climate change is minimal and efforts to fight it will cost far more than their effects will be worth. But Fox News reports that Carlin’s “boss told him in March that his material would not be incorporated into a broader EPA… CA
- CBO’s Smoke and Mirrors with Cap-and-Trade Cost Numbers
By E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D. (June 23, 2009)
The Heritage Foundation estimated a month ago that cap-and-trade legislation making its way through the House of Representatives would cost the average American household about $1,500 a year in higher energy bills and the American economy about $9.6 trillion in lost gross domestic product between now and 2035. But last week the Congressional Budget Office released a report claiming the bill would cost the average household only about $175 per year. The difference is stark. What’s up? A small part of the difference might be explained by changes in the bill over… CA
- Cutting CO2 Emissions While Still Using Coal
By E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D. (May 15, 2009)
Switching to other fuels isn’t the only way to reduce CO2 emissions. The New York Times reported May 11 that China’s adoption of high-tech coal-fired generating plants increases their efficiency in extracting energy from coal by 18% to 39%, allowing them to generate that much more electricity from the same amount of coal without raising CO2 emissions.
With alternative fuel technologies still having a tough time competing with fossil fuels on price, such technologies may be a more promising way of addressing fears of global warming--whether the fears are justified or not.
CA
- Sea Level: Models Versus Reality
By E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D. (April 23, 2009)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has created an Internet tool that simulates sea level rise. The Sea Level Affecting Marshes Model (SLAMM)-View (http://www.fws.gov/slamm/ and http://www.slammview.org) displays map pairs of the same area, each at different sea levels.
“Sea level rise is certainly one of the most pressing issues facing many coastal communities, as well as national wildlife refuges,” said Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge Manager Lou Hinds. “SLAMM will be used by many coastal refuge managers to involve the public in discussions concerning sea level rise as part of the Comprehensive Conservation… CA
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