Seto reports urban land use change has been and will continue to be one of the biggest human impacts on the terrestrial environment
In a study recently released in the Journal of Climate, Center fellow Karen Seto finds first empirical evidence for an 'urban precipitation deficit'. Her team analyzed Landsat satellite images to determine the explosive growth in the Pearl River Delta in China, and then compared that to monthly climate data from 16 meteorological stations.

BP Foundation awards $7.5 million to Stanford for research on energy markets
The BP Foundation has awarded a five-year, $7.5 million grant to Stanford University's Program on Energy and Sustainable Development to support research on modern energy markets. The foundation is funded by BP, one of the world's largest energy companies. "BP's support has allowed our program to study the world's most pressing energy problems, such as global warming, energy poverty, and the prospects for the world oil market," said program director and Stanford law Professor David Victor. "In addition to BP Foundation support, we learn from BP's experience as an energy company because they operate in all the markets where we do research--such as in China and India."

CESP Co-Director Stephen Schneider honored with Clean Air Award
CESP Co-Director Stephen Schneider was one of nine local organizations, businesses and individuals honored last week with a 2007 Clean Air Award in recognition of his exemplary leadership in fighting global warming.