Introduced by Sen. Harry Reid America’s Great Outdoors Act of 2010 For major provisions of this Omnibus bill, see the Democratic Policy Committee page: http://dpc.senate.gov/dpcdoc.cfm?doc_name=lb-111-2-192 [From Politico] As if Democrats did not have enough on their plates in the lame-duck session, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced Friday that he has introduced yet another piece … Continue reading »
Posted on December 17, 2010 …
Firms Operating Under Infrastructure and Credit Constraints in Developing Countries : the Case of Power Generators
World Bank / by Philippe Alby, Jean-Jacques Dethier, and Stephane Straub http://vx.worldbank.org/t/2937183/5471042/13023/0/ Many developing countries are unable to provide their industrial sector with reliable power and many enterprises have to contend with electricity that is insufficient and of poor quality. Because of these constraints, firms in developing countries opt for self-generation even though it is … Continue reading »
The Full Economic Cost of Groundwater Extraction
World Bank / by Jopn Strand http://vx.worldbank.org/t/2937183/5471042/13020/0/ When a groundwater basin is exploited by a large number of farmers, acting independently, each farmer has little incentive to practice conservation that would primarily benefit other farmers. This can lead to excessive groundwater extraction. When farmers pay less than the full cost of electricity used for groundwater … Continue reading »
Natural Disasters and Household Welfare : Evidence from Vietnam
World Bank / by Timothy Thomas, Luc Christiaensen, Quy Toan Do and Le Dang Trung http://vx.worldbank.org/t/2937183/5471042/13017/0/ As natural disasters hit with increasing frequency, especially in coastal areas, it is imperative to better understand how much natural disasters affect economies and their people. This requires disaggregated measures of natural disasters that can be reliably linked to … Continue reading »
Tajikistan : Key Priorities for Climate Change Adaptation
World Bank / by Luca Barbone, Anna Reva, and Salman Zaidi http://tinyurl.com/27zvkwp How should Tajikistan adapt to ongoing and future climate change, in particular given the many pressing development challenges it currently faces? The paper argues that for developing countries like Tajikistan, faster economic and social development is the best possible defense against climate change. … Continue reading »
Foodborne Illness Outbreak Database
Marler Clark, LLP http://www.outbreakdatabase.com/ OutbreakDatabase.com is searchable database of illness outbreaks caused by one or more of the following: 1. consumption of contaminated foods or beverages, 2. exposure to animals, 3. exposure to contaminated recreational water, 4. person-to-person contact with someone whose illness initiated from animal exposure or consumption of contaminated foods and beverages. The … Continue reading »
New Agricultural Database: Operations and Products Certified Organic by the USDA
Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA http://apps.ams.usda.gov/nop/ The USDA, AMS [Agricultural Marketing Service], National Organic Program (NOP) accredits private businesses, organizations, and state agencies to certify producers and handlers of agricultural products according to the NOP regulations. This database is international in scope and contains an address for every producer (click the + sign in the first … Continue reading »
UK: Emissions Performance Standards (Energy and Climate Change – First Report)
UK House of Commons http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmselect/cmenergy/523/52302.htm The Coalition Agreement contained a commitment to establish an emissions performance standard (EPS) that will prevent coal-fired power stations being built unless they are equipped with sufficient carbon capture and storage to meet the required standard. The Government plans to consider proposals for an EPS alongside a number of electricity … Continue reading »
The Impact of Whaling on the Ocean Carbon Cycle: Why Bigger Was Better
Public Library of Science / by Andrew J. Pershing, Line B. Christensen, Nicholas R. Record, Graham D. Sherwood and Peter B. Stetson http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0012444 Even though fish and whales are only a small portion of the ocean’s overall biomass, fishing and whaling have altered the ocean’s ability to store and sequester carbon. Although these changes are … Continue reading »
Briefing on the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun
US Dept. of State http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/remarks/2010/152847.htm Briefing by Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern on the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun. [H/T: Docuticker]
