For the tourists thronging the streets and pavement cafes of Chamonix, the neck-craning view of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in the Alps, is as dazzling as ever. But the mountaineers who climb among the snowy peaks know that it is far from business as usual – due to a warming climate, the familiar landscape is rapidly changing. “Global climate change has serious and directly observable consequences in high mountains,” says Vincent Neirinck from Mountain Wilderness, a campaign group that works to preserve mountain environments around the world. One of the consequences of climate change is the ongoing retreat of glaciers. “In the Alps, the glacier surfaces have shrunk by half between 1900 and 2012 with a strong acceleration of the melting processes since the 1980s,” says Jacques Mourey, a climber and scientist who is researching the impact of climate change on the mountains above Chamonix. The most dramatic demonstration of glacial retreat is shown by … [Read more...] about Climate change is melting the French Alps, say mountaineers
Climate change
Big oil asks government to protect its Texas facilities from climate change
PORT ARTHUR, Texas -- As the nation plans new defenses against the more powerful storms and higher tides expected from climate change, one project stands out: an ambitious proposal to build a nearly 60-mile "spine" of concrete seawalls, earthen barriers, floating gates and steel levees on the Texas Gulf Coast. Like other oceanfront projects, this one would protect homes, delicate ecosystems and vital infrastructure, but it also has another priority: to shield some of the crown jewels of the petroleum industry, which is blamed for contributing to global warming and now wants the federal government to build safeguards against the consequences of it. The plan is focused on a stretch of coastline that runs from the Louisiana border to industrial enclaves south of Houston that are home to one of the world's largest concentrations of petrochemical facilities, including most of Texas' 30 refineries, which represent 30 percent of the nation's refining capacity. Texas is seeking at least $12 … [Read more...] about Big oil asks government to protect its Texas facilities from climate change
Health, climate change concerns inspire weekly vegetarian meals at Finland’s army canteens
Starting this autumn garrison canteens across Finland will begin offering vegetarian-only meals on a weekly basis. According to Major Eija Pulkki of the Defence Forces logistics centre, members of the Armed Forces will get to enjoy a fully vegetarian meal once a week. Since the garrisons serve two meals -- lunch and dinner -- catering services will ensure that one of them is vegetarian. The new menu will reflect the change, with two vegetarian meals each week – either at lunch or dinner time.The vegetarian menus will contain neither meat nor fish. However caterers will be allowed to use milk products and eggs to prepare dishes. Meal services provider Leijona Catering will henceforth be serving meals centred on potatoes and pasta with soya and quorn served as meat substitutes. According to canteen services manager Pulkki, all garrisons also provide vegan meals.More veggies for soldiersSo far all of Finland’s garrisons cater to vegetarians and overall, the Army has sought to … [Read more...] about Health, climate change concerns inspire weekly vegetarian meals at Finland’s army canteens
Coal comeback? EPA plan would prolong life for power plants seen as climate change culprit
Ledyard King USA TODAY Published 2:58 p.m. UTC Aug 21, 2018 WASHINGTON – Aging coal-fired power plants could get a new lease on life under an industry-friendly proposal by the Trump administration that would replace the Clean Power Plan, Barack Obama's signature plan to confront climate change. Unveiled Tuesday, the Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule would give states broad latitude to in how they would regulate power plant's greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. In the proposal's fine print is a note that the plan could cause an extra 1,400 premature deaths a year. "The ACE Rule would restore the rule of law and empower states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide modern, reliable, and affordable energy for all Americans,” EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler said in a statement. “Today’s proposal provides the states and regulated community the certainty they need to continue environmental … [Read more...] about Coal comeback? EPA plan would prolong life for power plants seen as climate change culprit
Heatwaves, wildfires and floods being caused by ‘stalling’ weather systems triggered by climate change
Extreme weather events like those that struck around the world this summer are resulting from human activity disturbing the enormous winds that circle the planet, according to a new study. The record-breaking heatwaves that struck from Japan to Algeria were seen by the climate change community as a sign of things to come, with many blaming conditions on steadily rising global temperatures. Weather becomes more extreme when instead of moving on it stays in the same place for days or weeks on end. Never-ending rainfall causes flooding, and prolonged sunny weather sparks droughts and wildfires. Evidence is now mounting to show that human-induced warming in the Arctic is distorting the planet’s natural circulation patterns such as the jet stream and making these “stalling” events more likely. “While it might not sound so bad to have more prolonged sunny episodes in summer, this is in fact a major climate risk,” said Dr Dim Coumou from the Potsdam … [Read more...] about Heatwaves, wildfires and floods being caused by ‘stalling’ weather systems triggered by climate change