Each week, we review the papers, studies, reports, and briefings posted at the “indispensable” RFF Library Blog, curated by RFF Librarian Chris Clotworthy. Check out this week's highlights below:
Reducing Carbon Black and Methane Emissions Provide Only Modest Benefits
Emissions reductions focused on anthropogenic climate-forcing agents with relatively short atmospheric lifetimes, such as methane (CH4) and black carbon, have been suggested as a strategy toreduce the rate of climate change over the next several decades. We find that reductions of methane and black carbon would likely have only a modest impact on near-term global climate warming. — via Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Overwhelming Risk: Rethinking Flood Insurance in a World of Rising Seas
Subsidized insurance rates, the practice of passing through damage and loss costs to taxpayers, and the lack of accurate information on flood risks — all these factors have led to more coastal development, more exposure to climate risks, and less incentive to take measures that reduce these risks. To address this, UCS recommends the following...
— via Union of Concerned Scientists
Saving Oil and Gas in the Gulf
The systemic waste of oil and gas in the Gulf is eroding economic resilience to shocks and increasing security risks, including to citizens’ health. Success or failure in setting and meeting sustainable energy goals in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will have a global impact. — via Chatham House
...The Forest Service and Interior contract for aircraft to perform various firefighting functions, including airtankers that drop retardant. The Forest Service contracts for large airtankers and certain other aircraft, while Interior contracts for smaller airtankers and water scoopers. However, a decrease in the number of large airtankers, from 44 in 2002 to 8 in early 2013–due to aging planes and several fatal crashes–has led to concerns about the agencies’ ability to provide aerial firefighting support. — via U.S. Government Accountability Office
Lessons from Hurricane Isaac: Gulf Coast Coal & Petrochemical Facilities Still Not Storm Ready
Problems at coal, chemical and oil facilities, many of them preventable, resulted in extremely high levels of air and water pollution during and after Hurricane Isaac. The findings are released today in a new report – Lessons from Hurricane Isaac – researched and written by the Gulf Monitoring Consortium (GMC)... — via Gulf Monitoring Consortium Report
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