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Report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change presents "key global risks" that threaten humanity
The report is designed to identify the dangers that the failure to curb emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases present for the planet. CESP senior fellows and co-author of the report Terry Root and Stephen Schneider comment on the need for politicians and planners to know the worst-case scenarios and to begin taking action now.The encouraging message is that the problem can be fixed and scientists and politicians must work together to make that happen.
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March 21, 2007
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Scientists discuss the importance of ethics in creating a culture of sustainability
Addressing climate-change impacts is often more about ethics than economics, and universities have an especially important role to play in helping humans ensure the planet's sustainability, according to biological sciences professors Stephen Schneider and Paul Ehrlich, who participated in a Feb. 19 symposium, "The Science and Ethics of a Culture of Sustainability," at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in San Francisco.
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March 20, 2007
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FSE scholars urge the need for both research and education as Berkeley's new Energy Biosciences Institute moves forward.
The institute's primary goal will be facilitating the production of biofuels on a scale large enough to result in a net drop of carbon emission linked to vehicles. "The magnitude of the scientific and environmental challenges involved in raising (crop) yields and at the same time protecting the environment is underestimated," cautions FSE scholar Kenneth Cassman. Chris Somerville adds that socioeconomic research should be a substantial portion of that effort as well.
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March 19, 2007
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Global warming in the last 20 years has led to a decline in crop yields resultlng in an annual loss of $5 billion, says FSE scholars Lobell and Field
David Lobell and Chris Field released a report in the Environmental Research Letters journal on March 16, 2007 announcing that rising global temperatures are causing the loss of roughly 40 million tons of corn, wheat and barley production each year. Although yields in general are climbing due to technological improvements, higher temperatures have held yield potential down. "A key moving forward is how well cropping systems can adapt to a warmer world," Lobell said. "Investments in this area could potentially save billions of dollars and millions of lives."
Web page download available
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February 7, 2007
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Nature: Is the global carbon market working?
The Clean Development Mechanism can be viewed not only as a market, but also as a subsidy and a political mechanism. Michael Wara argues that it has been most effective, so far, in achieving its political goals.
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December 1, 2006
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Global impact of hydroelectric dams may be significant
Nature magazine included findings from PESD researcher, Danny Cullenward's work analyzing emissions of greenhouse gases from hydroelectric dams in the tropics. He estimates that dams release between 95 million and 122 million tonnes of methane per year. His work has also been featured in a recent report by Berkeley-based International Rivers Network and in the San Francisco Chronicle.
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November 16, 2006
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Climate expert Stephen Schneider leads communication seminar on climate change
This November marked the launch of the Woods Institute for the Environment's Inter-University Scholars Training Program. CESP research associate Michael Mastrandrea is one of fifteen university scholars participating in the program to improve understanding and communication between university researchers and California policymakers working on climate change.
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November 14, 2006
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Gretchen Daily launches new Natural Capital Project
The Natural Capital Project is an interdisciplinary research effort that seeks to recognize natural systems for their intrinsic and economic values and contributions to human well-being, and where ecosystems are viewed as assets.
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