US Geological Survey / by Leonard F. Konikow http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2013/5079/ [Green Car Congress] A new US Geological Survey study finds that US aquifers are being drawn down at an accelerating rate. Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900-2008) comprehensively evaluates long-term cumulative depletion volumes in 40 separate aquifers (distinct underground water storage areas) in the United States, … Continue reading »
Tagged with Sustainability …
Cities and Green Growth: The Case of the Chicago Tri-State Metropolitan Area
OECD http://bit.ly/188Grsu This working paper assesses opportunities and policies for green growth in the Chicago Tri-State Metropolitan Area. It first examines the Chicago metro-region’s economic and environmental performance and potential constraints to regional growth, and identifies emerging regional specialisations in green products and services. This is followed by a review of sector-specific policies that can … Continue reading »
The Arctic Resilience Report
Swedish Environment Institute / by Katarina Axelsson, Marcus Carson and Annika E. Nilsson http://sei-international.org/publications?pid=2315 This report presents the findings of the first half of an international collaboration to examine the resilience of Arctic social and ecological systems amid rapid change… In some contexts, social, political, economic and ecological drivers may be of greater significance than … Continue reading »
Green Economy and Trade: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
United Nations Environment Programme http://unep.org/greeneconomy/Portals/88/GETReport/pdf/FullReport.pdf [From Press Release] …At the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) held in June 2012, governments agreed to the outcome document The Future We Want, which makes a commitment to help countries implement clear and practical measures for transitioning to green economies. This document affirms international trade as an … Continue reading »
Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Stress: Growing Competitive Pressures for Water
Ceres / by Monika Freyman and Ryan Salmon http://bit.ly/18ujgXJ %5BAvailable for free with registration] A new Ceres research paper on water use in hydraulic fracturing operations shows that a significant portion of this activity is happening in water stressed regions of the United States, most prominently Texas and Colorado, which are both in the midst of prolonged … Continue reading »
2010 Washington Metropolitan Area Water Supply Reliability Study Part 2: Potential Impacts of Climate Change
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin / by S.N. Ahmed, K.R. Bencala and C. L. Schultz http://www.potomacriver.org/2012/publicationspdf/ICPRB13-07.pdf (full report) http://bit.ly/11Wft4Q (fact sheet) [Washington Post] A new study finds climate change could cut stream flows in the Potomac River basin, a major source of drinking water in the Washington region. The study found by 2040 climate change could cut stream flows 35 … Continue reading »
Stress Relief: Prescriptions for a Healthier Delta Ecosystem
Public Policy Institute of California / by Ellen Hanak et al. http://www.ppic.org/main/publication.asp?i=1051 California is at a critical juncture on policy for the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta. This report summarizes the results of a wide-ranging study of cost-effective ways to improve the health of the Delta ecosystem. It highlights the need for science-based, integrated management of the … Continue reading »
The Role of Tropical Forests in Climate-Change Mitigation
Belfer Center, Kennedy School , Harvard University. (Policy Brief) / by Donna Lee http://hvrd.me/XZjtkl Forests can play a significant role in helping to avoid dangerous climate change, and a global agreement under the UNFCCC would be uniquely placed to support efforts in this regard. The rising global demand for agricultural and other land-based products means that … Continue reading »
The Trouble with Biofuels: Costs and Consequences of Expanding Biofuel Use in the United Kingdom
Chatham House http://www.chathamhouse.org/publications/papers/view/190783 Biofuel use in the United Kingdom is set to increase significantly despite continued sustainability concerns In the current financial year (2013/14) UK biofuel use will increase to 5 per cent of transport volumes, the highest level ever. An earlier government-commissioned review of UK biofuel policy recommended that biofuel use not surpass this … Continue reading »
Population, Climate Change, and Sustainable Development in Africa
Population Action International |African Institute for Development Policy http://populationaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/PAI-AFIDEP.pdf Population growth is occurring more rapidly in Africa than in other regions of the world (figure 1), increasing vulnerability to climate change impacts and undermining sustainable development efforts on the continent. Indeed, most sub-Saharan development policies note that the region’s rapid population growth inhibits efforts to … Continue reading »
