National Research Council (Download prepublication version with free registration) www.nap.edu/catalog/12898.html [Abstract] One of the most critical issues facing the United States today is the proper management of our water resources. Water availability and quality are changing due to increasing population, urbanization, and land use and climate change, and shortages in water supply have been increasing … Continue reading »
Posted on May 3, 2010 …
Alternatives to Traditional Transportation Fuels 2008
US EIA http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/atftables/afv-atf2008.pdf This annual report presents information on alternative fueled vehicle supply, inventory and alternative fuel consumption in the United States. Data series are presented at various levels including vehicle type, weight class, fuel type, state geographic location, and user group.
Cost Estimate : H.R. 5019 Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010
Congressional Budget Office http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/114xx/doc11469/hr5019.pdf [Summary] H.R. 5019 would authorize appropriations totaling $6.6 billion for programs to increase the energy efficiency of residential properties. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost $6.6 billion over the 2010-2015 period. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go … Continue reading »
Vulnerability of Bangladesh to Cyclones in a Changing Climate : Potential Damages and Adaptation Cost
World Bank / by Susmita Dasgupta, Mainul Huq, Zahirul Huq Khan, Manjur Murshed Zahid Ahmed, Nandan Mukherjee, Malik Fida Khan, and Kiran Pandey http://tinyurl.com/22whzn2 [Abstract] This paper integrates information on climate change, hydrodynamic models, and geographic overlays to assess the vulnerability of coastal areas in Bangladesh to larger storm surges and sea-level rise by 2050. … Continue reading »
Accommodating Migration to Promote Adaptation to Climate Change
World Bank / by by Jon Barnett and Michael Webber http://tinyurl.com/2encfka [Abstract] This paper explains how climate change may increase future migration, and which risks are associated with such migration. It also examines how some of this migration may enhance the capacity of communities to adapt to climate change. Climate change is likely to result … Continue reading »
Enterprise Recovery Following Natural Disasters
World Bank / by by Suresh de Mel, David McKenzie, and Christopher Woodruff http://tinyurl.com/23mc62h [Abstract] Using data from surveys of enterprises in Sri Lanka after the December 2004 tsunami, the authors undertake the first microeconomic study of the recovery of the private firms in a developing country following a major natural disaster. Disaster recovery in … Continue reading »
Density and Disasters : Economics of Urban Hazard Risk
World Bank / by Somik V. Lall and Uwe Deichmann; http://vx.worldbank.org/t/2542277/5471042/3060/0/ [Abstract] In a rapidly urbanizing developing world, population and economic growth will lead to higher concentration of hazard risk in urban areas, according to a new working paper by Somik Lall and Uwe Deichmann. Already 370 million people live in cities in earthquake-prone areas … Continue reading »
Gulf of Mexico – Deepwater Horizon Incident : Multiagency Site
US Coast Guard, DHS, NOAA, DOI, BP http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/go/site/2931/ [Website] This site is providing information regarding the April 20, incident in the US Gulf of Mexico involving a Transocean drilling Rig Deepwater Horizon. The Horizon was engaged in drilling activity on behalf of BP at Mississippi Canyon Block 252, about 52 miles southeast of Venice, La. … Continue reading »
EPA Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico
US EPA http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/ [From Press Release] As part of the ongoing federal response to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, EPA today established a website to inform the public about the spill’s impact on the environment and the health of nearby residents. The website – http://www.epa.gov/bpspill – will contain data from EPA’s … Continue reading »
Oil Spills by the Numbers : the Devastating Consequences of Exxon Valdez and BP Gulf
Center for American Progress http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/04/oil_numbers.html [Website] [The BP Gulf Coast] is the biggest U.S. economic and environmental disaster since the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska’s Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989. The key lesson from the Exxon Valdez is that the oil spill continues to have an impact today—more than two decades after … Continue reading »
