Top news and views about Environment and Cleantech for 14 Mar 2017

Oceans storing up staggering amounts of heat: 'the memory of all of the past climate change'

The world is getting warmer every year, thanks to climate change - but where exactly most of that heat is going may be a surprise.

As a stunning early spring blooms across the U.S., just weeks after scientists declared 2016 the hottest year on record , it's easy to forget that all the extra warmth in the air only accounts for a small fraction of the heat produced by greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, more than 90 percent of it gets stored in the ocean. And now, scientists believe they've calculated just how much the ocean has warmed in the last few decades.

A new study , out Friday in the journal Science Advances, suggests that since 1960, a staggering 337 zetajoules of energy - that's 337 followed by 21 zeros - have been added to the ocean in the form of heat. And most of it has occurred since 1980.

"The ocean is the memory of all of the past climate change," said study co-author Kevin Trenberth , a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

Full story at http://trib.in/2mTnYA6

Scott Pruitt’s office deluged with angry callers after he questions the science of global warming

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt’s phones have been ringing off the hook — literally — since he questioned the link between human activity and climate change.

The calls to Pruitt’s main line, 202-564-4700, reached such a high volume by Friday that agency officials created an impromptu call center, according to three agency employees. The officials asked for anonymity out of fear of retaliation.

By Saturday morning calls went straight to voice mail, which was full and did not accept messages. At least two calls received the message that the line was disconnected, but that appeared to be in error.

EPA spokeswoman Nancy Grantham said in an email that the agency “has logged about 300 calls and emails.”

Full story at http://wapo.st/2mThtNN

The climate change lawsuit the Trump administration is desperate to stop going to trial

A groundbreaking climate lawsuit, brought against the federal government by 21 children, has been hailed by environmentalists as a bold new strategy to press for climate action in the United States. But the Trump administration, which has pledged to undo Barack Obama’s climate regulations, is doing its best to make sure the case doesn’t get far.

The Trump administration this week filed a motion to overturn a ruling by a federal judge back in November that cleared the lawsuit for trial – and filed a separate motion to delay trial preparation until that appeal is considered.

The lawsuit – the first of its kind – argues the federal government has violated the constitutional right of the 21 plaintiffs to a healthy climate system.

Environmental groups say the case – if it’s successful – could force even a reluctant government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take other measures to counter warming.

Full story at http://ind.pn/2mTlG3P

Prepared by @SydesJokes

Original post from: http://CrowdifyClub.com/SydesJokes