Hurricane Matthew Threatens the Caribbean: Category 4 Hurricane Matthew shows no signs of weakening as it roars towards the Caribbean, where it is expected to make landfall today. The storm is the most powerful to form in the Atlantic in almost a decade, and has prompted the evacuation of all non-essential personnel from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. With forecasts of up to 40 inches of rain in some areas, Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic face the threat of up to 11-foot storm surges, flash floods and mudslides. The hurricane could pose a threat to the East Coast of the US by week’s end. (News: CNN, Reuters, Washington Post $, USA Today, ThinkProgress, Wall Street Journal $, ABC News, Miami Herald, Independent, VOA News, Jamaica Gleaner, AP, WFTV, NBC News, BBC News. Commentary: Pacific Standard, Eric Holthaus analysis)
Parched California Enters New Water Year: California’s 2016 water year ended Fridaywith lower-than-expected rainfall and a “snow drought” as the state’s snowpack measured well below average. Water year 2016, which ran from Oct. 1st to Sept. 30th, was officially categorized as “dry” statewide, continuing California’s five-year drought. The onset of the new water year has brought attention to the record reliance on groundwater by farmers and water wars between corporations and residents. (News: LA Times $, Lake County News, New York Times $, Sacramento Bee, San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Commentary: Wired, Nick Stockton column; Fresno Bee editorial)
India Ratifies Paris Agreement, Nearing Entry Into Force: India, the world’s fourth largest carbon emitter, officially ratified the Paris Agreement on Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, Oct. 2nd. With 62 countries accounting for 51.89 percent of global emissions having formally joined, all eyes are on the European Union, whose members agreed to fast track ratification on Friday. The EU collectively contributes 12.1 percent of global emissions and their expected ratification by October 7 would mean the Agreement would enter into force just in time for 22nd Conference of the Parties in Marrakech. (India: AP, Reuters, Washington Post $, Climate Home, BBC News, NPR, Hindu, Times of India, Independent, TIME, IB Times $, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera. EU: AP, Guardian, Reuters, Bloomberg, InsideClimate News, Wall Street Journal $) |