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Nation’s Largest Wind Project Gets Approval: The Iowa Utilities Board approved the nation’s largest wind energy project, which would power 800,000 homes once completed. The 2000-megawatt Wind XI project should be completed by the end of 2019. “Wind energy helps us keep prices stable and more affordable for customers, provides jobs and economic benefits for communities and the state, and contributes to a cleaner environment for everyone,” said Bill Fehrman, the CEO of the utility behind the project. (AP, Quad Cities Online)
Trouble Brewing for Coffee Crops: Climate change could reduce global coffee production 50 percent by 2050, endangering the livelihoods of more than 120 million of the world’s poorest people. According to a new report, rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are already impacting coffee crops from Africa to Central America, and the effects will worsen in the coming decades. Coffee is the second most valuable commodity exported by developing countries, worth $19 billion worldwide. For consumers, reduced production would mean lower quality and higher prices. (The Guardian, ABC Australia, AAP)
Big Trouble for Little Krill: Antarctic krill could be in dire straits due to sea ice decline and changing ocean conditions, according to a new study. The tiny creatures, which are a crucial part of the Antarctic food chain, could lose up to 80 percent of their suitable habitat by 2100. Krill populations have declined more than 70 percent over the past 40 years in some regions, and a further decline would have “consequences for the Antarctic marine food web, having both ecological and commercial ramifications.” (Climate Central)
It’s an Election Issue: Presidential nominees Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump hold radically different views on climate change and how – if at all, in Trump’s case – the issue should be addressed. The Earth has had three record hot years in a row with deadly heat waves scorching cities, sea level rise swamping coastlines and diseases threatening public health. Government action can make a difference on climate issues, as evidenced by the Reagan-approved Montreal Protocol and George H.W. Bush’s campaign to reduce acid rain. For not just America but the world, climate change matters in this election. (AP) |
