Global greenhouse gas monitoring plan endorsed by WMO Executive Council

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Executive Council has endorsed plans for a new Global Greenhouse Gas Monitoring Infrastructure to fill critical information gaps and support action to reduce heat-trapping gases which are fuelling temperature increase. The Executive Council resolution recognizes the “growing societal importance of greenhouse gas monitoring in support of improving our scientific understanding of the … Read more

Improvements in assessing climate change adaptation benefits, costs needed, EEA says

Overview A better understanding of the costs and benefits of adaptation measures to counter climate change is needed according to a European Environment Agency (EEA) briefing which assesses the main methods, challenges and constraints in taking action. Specifics There is an urgent need to speed up the implementation of adaptation measures according to the EEA briefing ‘Assessing … Read more

U.S. driving miles up. VMT still lag pre-pandemic totals: Report

U.S. vehicle travel miles (VMT), for two consecutive years (2021 and ‘22), rebounded some, this after VMT during 2020 retreated to 2.903 trillion, down from 2019’s record high of 3.262 trillion miles driven. Total miles driven during 2021 and 2022 were 3.14 trillion and 3.169 trillion, respectively, according to U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT), … Read more

Why dual-mode train may be the best one going

Information I read recently regarding plane versus train travel asserted that Acela trains on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor (NEC) running between Washington, D.C. and New York City enjoy a 75 percent market share of air/rail-based commuter traffic in that service lane. Wow! Seventy-five percent! So, there are any number of reasons for the 75/25 train/plane … Read more

Energy efficient smart windows turning heads, commanding views

O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5 View Smart Windows installed as part of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 5 Expansion. View, Inc., the leader in smart building technologies, unveiled its new extensive Smart Windows installation this week at the recently completed 350,000-square-foot expansion of Terminal 5 at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). The Terminal 5 expansion includes … Read more

Air quality, meteorology: Though neither friends, nor foes, destined they are to be juxtaposed!

Like like magnetic forces that repel each other, air quality and meteorology would seem. We can see neither, yet, we know they’re there. Which makes describing their relationship – relationship, as in how they interact – difficult for one to put one’s finger on. But, is all of this even important? I believe it is absolutely! … Read more

Black carbon and its climate impact: What we know

We’ve been told lots about greenhouse gases (GHGs) and what effect these have on atmospheric warming and climate. They are therefore grouped or classified thusly as: climate pollutants. But, the climate-pollutant class is not limited to greenhouse gases alone. Black carbon (also known as elemental carbon) is an element under that umbrella as well. Carbon … Read more

A climate too far? Or not? Some insights

Based on all that we’ve learned through direct observation, tracking and data collection, it is certainly not unusual for climate to be variable, much like that of temperature or weather. We also know it is possible for the temperature one day to be in the 80s and, in the 30s (degrees, of course, expressed in … Read more

California Community Air Protection Program coverage broadened

The California Air Resources Board approved adding two new communities for the Community Air Protection Program to continue the statewide fight to clean the air, especially in communities overburdened with air pollution as mandated under [California] Assembly Bill 617. Members of the Board selected two communities recommended by CARB staff for the fifth year of … Read more