Jun

File The Day After
This is report on a workshop held by the Preventive Defense Project to look at possible responses to a nuclear attack on a U.S. city, including actions to recover from the first detonation and actions to prevent a second detonation. The report includes seven findings and recommendations for policymakers.
File Japanese testing cleaner coal-fired power plant
The Dallas Morning News (“Japanese testing cleaner coal-fired power plant,” 5/27/07) reported that Mitsubishi in September will open a demonstration plant that uses integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) to capture the carbon emissions from coal. While the technology costs 20 percent more than a conventional coal plant and there’s no proven way of disposing of the captured carbon, NRG Energy hopes to build a number of the plants in the US in anticipation of future carbon taxes.
File Global Outlook for Ice and Snow
A new report by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) finds that the futures of hundreds of millions of people worldwide will be affected by changes in snow cover, sea ice, glaciers and permafrost resulting from global warming. An estimated 40 percent of the world’s population could be affected by the loss of snow and glaciers on the mountains of Asia.
File Graphic of IGCC plant
 
File Farming out global warming solutions
Scientific American (“Combating Climate Change: Farming out global warming solutions,” 5/27/07) reports that a recent study published in Science magazine found that changes to agricultural practices and forestry management could contribute significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, buying time to develop alternative technologies.
File Abe comes to Earth’s rescue
The Asahi Shimbun (“Abe comes to Earth’s rescue with 2050 strategy,” 05/26/07) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo announced a new initiative to cut global greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050.
File China eyes 20-fold nuclear power boost
Yomiuri Shimbun (Akihito Teramura, “China eyes up to 20-fold N-power boost by end of ’30,” 5/27/07) reported that the Chinese government plans to increase its nuclear power generating capacity by between 15 and 20 times by 2030, raising it to between 120 million and 160 million kilowatts. China currently has 10 nuclear reactor with a generating capacity of 8 kilowatts.
File Japan PM’s Climate Change Plan Seen Lacking Teeth
Reuters (Elaine Lies, “Japan PM’s Climate Change Plan Seen Lacking Teeth,” 5/28/07) reported that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s plan to cut global greenhouse emissions in half by 2050 has come under criticism for lacking concrete steps or binding targets, and was denounced by some critics as an attempt to curry favor with the public before upcoming elections.