The Pacific walrus, hampered by vanishing sea ice in Arctic waters, deserves protection under the Endangered Species Act but must wait in line behind more imperiled animals, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman said on Tuesday. An agency spokesman said difficulty in obtaining an accurate walrus population count and lingering uncertainty about how their numbers may have declined also were factors in the "warranted but precluded" recommendation (Reuters, 2/9/11).

Thawing permafrost is triggering mudslides onto a key road traveled by busloads of sightseers. Tall bushes newly sprouted on the tundra are blocking panoramic views. And glaciers are receding from convenient viewing areas, while their rapid summer melt poses new flood risks. These are just a few of the ways that a rapidly warming climate is reshaping Denali, Kenai Fjords, and other national parks in Alaska (Reuters, 2/12/11).

A U.N.-commissioned report says climate change is becoming a major obstacle for a 2004 global treaty aimed at cutting people's exposure to 21 highly dangerous chemicals. The report highlights the dangers of landfills leaking due to flooding or other extreme weather linked to rising temperatures. Chemicals stored in waste dumps to be incinerated or removed later could simply wash away, become more volatile, or escape in the warmer weather through gas emissions. The report also says some of the most vulnerable people live in Arctic regions and places affected by malaria (AP, 2/21/11).

House Passes Spending Bill: Slashes EPA Funding, Authority to Regulate GHGs

Climate Change Will Bring More Monster Winter Storms

More Pasture-Raised Cattle Would Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Farmers who raised their beef cattle on pasture instead of Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) can significantly reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the beef industry. According to a new report, U.S. beef cattle emit 160 million metric tons of GHGs every year, and by raising beef cattle in pasture, farmers can reduce their annual global warming impacts by as much as 140 million metric tons, which is equivalent to removing 21 million passenger vehicles from the roads (Sustainable Business, 2/2/11).

The United Nations' top climate change official said that food shortages and rising prices caused by climate disruptions were among the chief contributors to the civil unrest coursing through North Africa and the Middle East. Christiana Figueres, executive secretary of the United Nations climate office, said that climate change-driven drought, falling crop yields and competition for water were fueling conflict throughout Africa and elsewhere in the developing world. She warned that unless nations took aggressive action to reduce emissions causing global warming, such conflicts would spread, toppling governments and driving up military spending around the world (New York Times, 2/15/11).

Green Economies for Growth, Urges UN

Investing $1.3 trillion each year in green sectors would deliver long-term stability in the global economy, a UN report has suggested. Spending about 2 percent of global GDP in 10 key areas would kick-start a "low carbon, resource efficient green economy", the authors observed. They also recommended following policies that decouple economic growth from intensive consumption. The report, produced by experts from developed and developing nations, suggests that the green economy model would deliver higher annual growth rates within 5-10 years than a business-as-usual scenario (BBC, 2/21/11).

Earth Could Get Warmer Even with Zero Emissions Scenario

Heavy Rains Linked to Humans

An increase in heavy precipitation that has afflicted many countries is at least partly a consequence of human influence on the atmosphere, climate scientists reported in a new study. In the first major paper of its kind, the researchers used elaborate computer programs that simulate the climate to analyze whether the rise in severe rainstorms, heavy snowfalls, and similar events could be explained by natural variability in the atmosphere. They found that it could not, and that the increase made sense only when the computers factored in the effects of greenhouse gases released by human activities like the burning of fossil fuels (New York Times, 2/16/11).

Two "Once-in-a-Century" Amazon Droughts Concern Scientists

Last year's drought in the Amazon raises concerns about the region's capacity to continue absorbing carbon dioxide, scientists say. The 2010 Amazon drought was more widespread and devastating to the region's rainforests than the 2005 drought that was labeled as a "once-in-a-century" occurrence. In drought years, the Amazon region changes from being a net absorber of carbon dioxide into a net emitter. As the frequency of drought years increases, scientists suggest the days of the Amazon forest curbing the impact of rising greenhouse gas emissions may be coming to an end (BBC News, 2/3/11).

A new study found that ocean acidification and global warming will compound local impacts like overfishing and nutrient runoff pollution and weaken the ability of the world's coral reefs to survive, especially those that exist around developing countries. According to scientists, a failure to stabilize the rising levels of atmospheric CO2 is likely to lead to the loss of reefs. Local management to maintain high species biodiversity and prevent excess runoff from the land will play a "critical role" in maintaining coral reef resilience (Science Daily, 2/17/11).

Contrasting Stories on Climate Change and Migration

Increasing floods, droughts, and storms will prompt many millions of people to migrate to safer areas, according to a forthcoming report from the Asian Development Bank. "In the past year alone, extreme weather in Malaysia, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka has caused temporary or longer-term dislocation of millions," the organization said  (New York Times, 2/7/11). A contrasting report issued by the International Institute for Environment and Development found that climate change will not trigger international mass migrations. Researchers observed that people affected by environmental degradation tended to stay within their home country's borders by moving short distances for short periods of time. According to the study, displaced people often moved to neighboring towns or urban centers in attempts to stay as close to their original homes as possible (Guardian, 2/4/11).