A way forward on western water
What we're writing:听
We'll kick off听with that most basic of resources: water. In the American West H2O often translates into conflict. But what ends up in court doesn't have to stay there.听The Monitor's latest cover story (photo above) tells how farmers, environmentalists, native Americans, and government have听worked together on a plan that could help point the way forward in a region increasingly affected by changes in听precipitation.听//听听
One of the answers to those water wars is a seemingly modest one: restoring creeks. This can allow more water to percolate and then resurface when fish and farmers need it most. See it in this听short video from the Monitor's Youtube channel.听// Alfredo Sosa
If urban populations are growing and already account for three-fourths of global energy use, how can they find a right blend of economic development, gains for the poor, and care for the planet?听A once-in-two-decades UN conference convened in Ecuador in a bid to figure听that out.听听//听
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Just how sensitive is the idea of a carbon tax? One indicator has just surfaced in the form of leaked emails that appear to show Hillary Clinton's听presidential campaign first prepping a听tax on emissions, and听later calling it听politically "lethal."听//听
What we're reading:
Inside drought politics in听the nation's most populous state听// The New York Times
At issue: whether it should be听unconstitutional to require a utility's non-solar customers to subsidize the solar ones听// Inside Climate News
The goal is to听draw enough energy from 'supercritical steam' to heat 50,000 homes // New Scientist
What caused a melt-off 20,000 years ago? Climate science meets听adventure, mud-stuck camels and all.听// Pacific Standard
What's trending:
"There is considerable uncertainty around the [$55 per barrel] outlook as we await the details and the implementation of the OPEC agreement." // John Baffes, World Bank senior economist
"No one I spoke to could recall a recent conversation about climate change."听// Andrew Revkin of The New York Times
"Expanding the grid in the United States is an onerous task. Connecting this country鈥檚 system with that of Canada and Mexico is even harder. And broadening it to include countries on different continents is even further out." 听// Ken Silverstein at听Forbes.com
