Hurricane Matthew Causes Record Flooding: Hurricane Matthew caused record-breaking rainfall, storm tides and historic flooding in the southeastern US after making landfall in South Carolina as a Category 1 storm. North Carolina residents are bracing for more flooding due to swollen rivers and at least 30 people have been reported dead across five states. In Haiti, the death toll has risen to over 1,000 and the UN has called for $120 million of emergency aid. Climate change amplified the worst impacts of Matthew, fueling record-breaking rainfall and adding to storm surge through sea level rise. ( US: New York Times $, ABC, Wall Street Journal $, NBC News, Reuters, BBC, USA Today, Gizmodo, NPR, Washington Post $, LA Times $, Public News Service, Mother Jones, VOA News, Florida Times Union. Haiti: New York Times$, Guardian, CNN, TIME, ABC Australia. Commentary: National Geographic, Laura Parker analysis; FiveThirtyEight, Eric Holthaus op-ed; AP, Seth Borenstein Q&A; LA Times, Michael Hiltzik column $; Mashable, Andrew Freedman analysis; TIME, Laurel Blatchford op-ed; New York Times editorial $. Background: Climate Signals)
Coal Worker Sparks Energy Debate: Climate change made a cameo appearance at the second presidential debate with an audience question. Illinois coal plant operatorKenneth Bone asked the candidates how their energy policies would meet the nation’s energy needs while remaining environmentally friendly and minimizing job losses. Hillary Clinton laid out her plan to fight climate change that includes renewable energy and natural gas as a “bridge fuel.” Donald Trump attacked the EPA for “killing energy companies” and said he supports “clean coal.” Clinton, along with former Vice President Al Gore, will campaign in Florida today with a focus on climate action. ( News: InsideClimate News, Huffington Post, CNBC, ThinkProgress, Courier-Journal, BusinessGreen $ Grist, Politico Pro $, The Hill, Utility Dive, EcoWatch. Commentary: Washington Post, Chris Mooney column $; Forbes, David Blackmon op-ed; Fortune, Katie Fehrenbacher analysis; Bloomberg editorial; Vox, Brad Plumer column; Washington Post, Erik Wemple column $; Gizmodo, Sophie Kleeman column; US News & World Report, Gene Karpinski op-ed; Slate, Daniel Gross column; Huffington Post, William S. Becker op-ed; New York Times; Robert B Semple Jr. column $; Grist, Ben Adler column)
Climate Change Linked to Western Wildfires: Climate change was responsible for 44 percent of the forest area burned in the western US from 1985 to 2015, according to a new study. Using modeled climate projections, the scientists also found that more than half of the dryness of Western forests since 1979 is the result of rising temperatures. Wildfire season across the western US has become more intense and longer, resulting in an exponential rise in firefighting costs. (New York Times $, Climate Central, Mercury News, Washington Post $, Independent, TIME)
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