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Final call to save the world from ‘climate catastrophe’
It’s the final call, say scientists, in the most extensive warning yet on the risks of rising global temperatures.
Their dramatic report on keeping that rise under 1.5 degrees C says the world is now completely off track, heading instead towards 3C.
Keeping to the preferred target of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels will mean “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society”.
It will be hugely expensive – but the window of opportunity remains open.
Research: Pollinator habitats could be saved by solar power plants
Researchers at the U.S Department of Energy’s (DOE) Argonne National Laboratory are studying solar energy facilities with pollinator habitats on site. Through this effort they hope to rehabilitate declining pollinator populations that play an important role in the agricultural industries. The loss of such species could result in devastating crop production, costs, and nutrition on a global scale.
Currently, pollinators are responsible for pollinating nearly 75% of all crops used for food. However, because of the increase in man-made environmental stressors, their population continues to steeply decline.
The research team has been working on examining the potential benefits of establishing species’ habitat at utility-scale solar energy facilities to resolve the problem.
They have found that the area around solar panels could provide an ideal location for the plants that attract pollinators…
‘Connecting the dots’ between faith and climate change
Tackling issues like climate change or protecting the environment often requires a lot of boring, behind-the-scenes work, far from the spotlight.
“But sometimes you have to let your light shine,” said the Rev. Susan Hendershot Guy, president of Interfaith Power & Light. She’s not alone in this sentiment.
“There are a lot of people beginning to connect the dots between faith, the environment, climate change,” said the Rev. Ambrose Carroll, co-founder of Green the Church, a campaign to motivate environmental action in the African-American church community…
Politics: What’s Allowed?
“Can land trusts do advocacy?
Yes! Land trusts can advocate for policies that support conservation — and it’s one of our most important jobs. Think about it. Our elected representatives make decisions about conservation that can open huge opportunities — or shut them down. So, land trusts need to be just as good at building relationships with our elected officials as we are at building relationships with major donors and landowners.
People in land trusts often question whether it’s legal to get involved in politics. The answer is YES, you can advocate on issues, legislation, and ballot measures. But you do need to follow some relatively simple rules. Here’s an overview of the law…”
Get behind the bipartisan effort to confront climate change
Land trusts have an opportunity to take action and join those who recognize that land conservation won’t be enough to slow down climate change fast enough, or with enough impact. As part of their pledge to conserve the living things upon the rocks, that comprise the land they protect, slowing down climate change is central to their missions.
The latest polling from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication indicates that 77% of Americans support regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant and that 68% support taxing fossil fuel companies while equally reducing other taxes.
There is growing bipartisan support. Your representatives could use some support and encouragement, just like they do for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. As the Land Trust Alliance points out, land trusts can advocate. It’s a matter of what’s important to your work and mission…
It’s an Ecological Trap: Global warming can turn Monarch Butterflies’ favorite food into poison
“LSU researchers have discovered a new relationship between climate change, monarch butterflies and milkweed plants. It turns out that warming temperatures don’t just affect the monarch, Danaus plexippus, directly, but also affect this butterfly by potentially turning its favorite plant food into a poison.
Bret Elderd, associate professor in the LSU Department of Biological Sciences, and Mattnew Faldyn, a Ph.D. student in Elderd’s lab from Katy, Texas, published their findings today with coauthor Mark Hunter of the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and School of Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Michigan. This study is published in Ecology, a leading journal in this field…”
UNH research finds Maine forest management hampering ability of forests to reap climate benefits
Over the last 20 years, Maine’s forests have become younger and less dense. As a result, forests are not providing the most climate benefits that they could through carbon sequestration and storage.
However, more carbon could be stored over the next 100 years with less frequent harvests of smaller amounts of wood from each acre, according to new research from the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of New Hampshire.
Connecting the dots…climate change action and conservation
The Pacific Forest Trust was one of the leaders in the land trust community in talking about climate change. Their focus on forests, why they matter, and how they are impacted by climate change hasn’t slowed down as they step up to lead, again, in calling for climate change action.
Check out their recent newsletter that brings the reality home and includes steps on what they are doing.
Climate change is becoming a top threat to biodiversity
Warming rivals habitat loss and land degradation as a threat to global wildlife. Climate change will be the fastest-growing cause of species loss in the Americas by midcentury, according to a new set of reports from the leading global organization on ecosystems and biodiversity.
Neighborhood Sun to host free event at Eastern Shore Conservation Center
Increasingly, land trusts are finding ways to help their community connect the dots on why solar is related to their conservation work and how to sign up for local, often community, solar.
This past summer, the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy hosted a program with a local solar provider at their office. You can see their announcement here. Perhaps your local land trust could do this as well.