What does today owe tomorrow?

NY Times writer Justin Gillis tackles that question in this article.

Bundy cows smarter than Bundy

The bigtime welfare rancher makes headlines. Wow.

The globe is running out of time

This editorial from today's NY Times drives (no pun intended) the point home: Earth is running out of time for nations to take real, meaningful action to curtail the constantly escalating burning of fossil fuels. For the U.S. Senate, that means kicking lobbyists out of the chambers and doing the real work its members were elected to do.

Saving the wildest of our public lands

I wouldn't cast hope that The Nature Conservancy will do it. These days, TNC is likely to stock the land with cows or set in motion new logging contracts - all in a misguided attempt to raise money from the resourcism-first crowd. So, please give to the Wilderness Land Trust. See this link for a look.

Fossil fuel dollars stopping U.S. progress on climate

Big Oil. Big Coal. the land raping industry. All of them and others are stopping any kind of legislative effort in Congress to even slow the buildup of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. So, what will it take to convince "elected" representatives to take action?
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/15/us/politics/political-rifts-slow-us-effort-on-climate-laws.html?emc=edit_tnt_20140414&nlid=63006275&tntemail0=y

U.N. panel's report: Deadline is now for climate action

This NY Times article does all the explaining, but I wouldn't expect the U.S. Congress to act. Hell, it's already too late. I think about this every time I go for a fitness walk or a hike in the woods, burning calories not gasoline as I do so. Proud, well yes I am of myself. But a walk down the hall of the U.S. Capitol is not the same.

Now poachers going after ancient Coast Redwoods

This is a law enforcement issue, yes. But it's also indicative of just how some people view Wild Nature - as nothing more than a simple "resource." I always hated the language on Pennsylvania's "conservation" license plate, which asks passersby to "conserve wild resources" Nature is not a simple "resource," something to be harvested for human good and then trashed with other throwaways.
Read about the poaching of California's redwoods.

EPA charts direction for next four years

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its fiscal year (FY) 2014 to 2018 Strategic Plan today, which provides a blueprint for advancing EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment across the country.

The plan envisions a new era of partnerships with state and local governments, tribes, federal agencies, businesses, and industry leaders to achieve environmental benefits in a pragmatic, collaborative way.

“EPA will address the increasingly complex array of environmental challenges we face by advancing a rigorous research and development agenda that informs and supports our policy and decision making with timely and innovative technology and sustainable solutions,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “We are heeding President Obama’s call for action on climate change, the biggest challenge for our generation and those to come by building strong partnerships at home and around the world. We are working to mitigate this threat by reducing carbon pollution and other greenhouse-gas emissions and by focusing on efficiency improvements in homes, buildings and appliances.”

The five strategic goals in EPA’s plan include:

•           Addressing climate change and improving air quality;
•           Protecting America’s waters;
•           Cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development;
•           Ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution; and
•           Protecting human health and the environment by enforcing laws and assuring compliance.

The agency will continue to deliver significant health benefits to the American public through improved air quality and reduced emissions of toxic pollutants, and will take action to keep communities safe and healthy by reducing risks associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in commerce, our indoor and outdoor environments, products, and food.

The agency will also continue efforts to improve water quality, given the nation’s significant water infrastructure needs, focusing on common sense, flexible approaches that rely on sustainable solutions, such as green infrastructure, and build resiliency to help us adapt to the effects of a changing climate.

The plan prioritizes environmental justice, continuing to focus on urban, rural, and economically disadvantaged communities, to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, race, economic status, or ethnicity, has access to clean water, clean air, and the opportunity to live, work and play in healthy communities.

To achieve the outcomes articulated in the FY 2014-2018 Plan, the agency outlined four cross-agency strategies:

•           Working toward a sustainable future;
•           Working to make a visible difference in communities;
•           Launching a new era of state, tribal, local, and international partnerships; and
•           Embracing EPA as a high-performing organization.

The EPA developed the FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan in accordance with the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Modernization Act of 2010. Reflecting the agency’s interest in reaching out to stakeholders and communities, the EPA requested input on a draft plan last winter from over 800 organizations and individuals and issued a Federal Register Notice to solicit broad public feedback. As appropriate, the EPA incorporated suggestions and comments received in the final Plan.

More information on the Strategic Plan is available at: http://www2.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan

Gasoline prices this summer: Flat, no spikes forecase

Of course, "news" of this sort only serves to embolden American motorheads, who blithely go out and burn the stuff on "pleasure" rides. Our atmosphere would be better served if gasoline were taxed to the pointof making it $10 a gallon. Then, Americans might think twice about living in suburbia AND start walking and cycling.

Poaching elephants for their ivory

US. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe makes good points in this LTE that appeared in today's NY Times.

One key impact of climate change in Idaho: Warming water not good for trout

There are a host of other impacts, as this article explains. And Idaho has no special place. All 50 states - the whole world - are being impacted by the changing climate.