Nature, Environment, Climate Change, Ecology

Lyrid meteor shower to peak on Earth Day

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:47:29 -0400

Our planet is now passing through ancient debris left by Comet Thatcher, which hasn't visited the inner solar system since 1861.

We recently hosted a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in #Atlanta – and let us tell you, the city is ready to take on the climate crisis http://bit.ly/2KQufu8

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:37:00 -0400

We recently hosted a Climate Reality Leadership Corps training in #Atlanta – and let us tell you, the city is ready to take on the climate crisis http://bit.ly/2KQufu8

Southeast Asia’s tourists used to arrive in small groups. Today, China and India dominate, their travelers often arriving in mass charter groups. Larger groups mean bigger boats, more garbage and human waste, and more damage to sensitive environments. ht

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:07:00 -0400

Southeast Asia’s tourists used to arrive in small groups. Today, China and India dominate, their travelers often arriving in mass charter groups. Larger groups mean bigger boats, more garbage and human waste, and more damage to sensitive environments. https://e360.yale.edu/features/the-toll-of-tourism-can-southeast-asia-save-its-prized-natural-areas … pic.twitter.com/J9KLDiHt4t

UK government directs £4.6 million to tackling illegal wildlife trade

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 20:01:28 -0400

Efforts to disrupt grey parrot trade in Cameroon and reduce demand for turtle products in Nicaragua are among 14 projects to win funding from the UK government

Have a little fun and find out which Climate Reality campaign is the right fit for you http://bit.ly/2KRGTJn pic.twitter.com/Eg6FWe3RDi

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 19:13:02 -0400

Have a little fun and find out which Climate Reality campaign is the right fit for you http://bit.ly/2KRGTJn pic.twitter.com/Eg6FWe3RDi

Extinction Rebellion to 'pause' London climate protests ahead of political negotiations after nearly 1,000 arrests

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:50:00 -0400

Activists say change of tactics will prove movement is 'cohesive force' and 'not a rabble'

Hawaii's Waikiki Beach 'could soon be underwater' because of rising sea levels caused by climate change

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:31:51 -0400

Bill calls for shoreline protection efforts to begin now

This graphic is hypnotizing and so is the information it’s showing. The momentum for #Wind and #Solar energy in the US is huge! http://bit.ly/2Vi7LpA

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 17:14:00 -0400

This graphic is hypnotizing and so is the information it’s showing. The momentum for #Wind and #Solar energy in the US is huge! http://bit.ly/2Vi7LpA

Electric vehicles will be cost-competitive with combustion-engine cars by 2022 due to the plunging price of EV batteries. Batteries made up 57% of an electric vehicle’s costs in 2015. Today, that number is 33%, and it is expected to drop to 20% by 2025.

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 16:56:00 -0400

Electric vehicles will be cost-competitive with combustion-engine cars by 2022 due to the plunging price of EV batteries. Batteries made up 57% of an electric vehicle’s costs in 2015. Today, that number is 33%, and it is expected to drop to 20% by 2025. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/electric-cars-could-be-as-affordable-as-conventional-vehicles-in-just-three-years … pic.twitter.com/0OUGrvBeuS

Greta Thunberg hopes to join climate protests during London visit https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/19/greta-thunberg-hopes-to-join-climate-protests-during-london-visit-extinction-rebellion …

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 16:48:22 -0400

Greta Thunberg hopes to join climate protests during London visit https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/19/greta-thunberg-hopes-to-join-climate-protests-during-london-visit-extinction-rebellion …

Extinction Rebellion: Activist Greta Thunberg, 16, tells protesters they are 'making a difference'

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 15:34:00 -0400

'For way too long the politicians and people in power have got away with not doing anything at all'

There’s a lot of good news about #WindEnergy these days. Catch up with our free e-book http://bit.ly/2SS0CYB pic.twitter.com/5Omu5ODxWE

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 15:22:02 -0400

There’s a lot of good news about #WindEnergy these days. Catch up with our free e-book http://bit.ly/2SS0CYB pic.twitter.com/5Omu5ODxWE

“No other study has conclusively reported such high amounts of black carbon from biomass burning [found] in the middle of a megacity, where the main source is expected to be traffic.” Particles from fields in India can pollute places over 125 miles away.

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:35:00 -0400

“No other study has conclusively reported such high amounts of black carbon from biomass burning [found] in the middle of a megacity, where the main source is expected to be traffic.” Particles from fields in India can pollute places over 125 miles away. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/burning-crops-are-a-top-source-of-air-pollution-in-india-study-finds … pic.twitter.com/4B3WSTf9MF

Climate Reality trainings are just the beginning. Here’s a sneak peek at the kind of resources you’ll have once you’re a Climate Reality Leader http://bit.ly/2VdVKBJ pic.twitter.com/J57Ttq96dI

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 14:06:04 -0400

Climate Reality trainings are just the beginning. Here’s a sneak peek at the kind of resources you’ll have once you’re a Climate Reality Leader http://bit.ly/2VdVKBJ pic.twitter.com/J57Ttq96dI

Are Granola Bars Healthy?

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:53:07 -0400

By Rachael Link, MS, RD

Many people consider granola bars a convenient and healthy snack and enjoy their flavor and versatility.

In some cases, granola bars can be a good source of fiber and protein to help curb cravings between meals.

However, some contain as much sugar, carbs and calories as candy bars.

This article reviews the benefits and downsides of granola bars, explaining whether they're healthy.

Granola Bar Nutrition

Granola bars are made from ingredients like oats, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, honey, coconut and chocolate chips.

The nutritional value of granola bars can vary greatly depending on the brand and ingredients used.

Though many varieties are loaded with extra sugar and calories, several healthier options are available as well.

Here's a comparison of the nutritional profiles of two popular granola bars (1):

None

While the second granola bar is lower in calories, it also contains significantly less fiber and protein, as well as double the amount of sugar as the first bar.

Most granola bars have around 100–300 calories, 1–10 grams of protein, and 1–7 grams of fiber in a single serving.

Many also contain micronutrients, including B vitamins, calcium, magnesium and iron, which are either found in the ingredients or added through fortification during manufacturing.

Summary

The nutritional value of granola bars varies widely, and certain brands may have more calories, protein, fiber and sugar than others.

Potential Benefits

Granola bars are not only convenient, budget-friendly, and portable but also preportioned, which makes it easier to avoid overeating.

In fact, some research suggests that preportioned foods could be beneficial when it comes to weight management.

For example, one 12-week study in 183 people found that following a meal plan that involved consuming preportioned foods led to greater weight and fat loss than a standard self-selected diet (2).

Not to mention, granola bars that contain healthy ingredients like oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit can make a beneficial addition to any diet.

In particular, oats are a great source of beta-glucan, a type of fiber that can help decrease levels of total and LDL (bad) cholesterol, two risk factors for heart disease (3).

Meanwhile, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit have been shown to benefit blood sugar control and heart health (4, 5, 6).

Summary

Granola bars are convenient and preportioned, which could benefit weight control. They're also often made using oats, nuts, seeds and dried fruit, which can improve heart health and blood sugar control.

Possible Downsides

Granola bars are often considered a healthy snack, but despite these marketing claims, many are loaded with added sugar, calories, and artificial ingredients.

For example, Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Harvest granola bars can contain up to 15 grams of sugar per serving — mostly from added sugar. This equates to nearly 4 teaspoons (1).

For reference, the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting daily calories from added sugar to 10% of total calories, or 12 teaspoons per day for someone following a 2,000-calorie diet (7).

Studies show that excess added sugar consumption may put you at a higher risk of several chronic conditions, including diabetes, obesity and heart disease (8).

While some granola bars opt to use sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners to cut down on sugar content, these have been linked to health problems as well.

For instance, sugar alcohols like xylitol and sorbitol are not fully broken down in your body and may cause digestive issues in people sensitive to their effects (9).

Other artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and saccharin are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Still, research suggests that they may interfere with blood sugar control and could negatively affect your beneficial gut bacteria (10, 11).

What's more, many granola bars are highly processed and include ingredients like added sugars, vegetable oils, preservatives and artificial flavors.

Studies indicate that high consumption of processed and sugary foods can increase your risk of metabolic syndrome, which is a group of conditions that can lead to diabetes, stroke and heart disease (12).

Summary

Granola bars are often highly processed and contain added sugar, artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, which can negatively impact health.

How to Select a Healthy Granola Bar

When selecting a granola bar, it's important to check the ingredient label carefully and choose products made mostly from real foods, such as fruits, nuts and grains.

Additionally, look for a product with less than 10 grams of sugar, at least 5 grams of protein, and at least 3 grams of fiber to help keep you feeling full in between meals (13).

As a general rule of thumb, steer clear of granola bars that list sugar or other sweeteners within the first three ingredients. Note that ingredients are listed in descending order by weight.

Plus, choose products with limited ingredient lists (14).

If you're watching your weight, take a look at the calorie content and stick to bars with fewer than 250 calories per serving.

Alternatively, you can opt to make your own granola bars using just a few simple ingredients.

To get started, combine the following in a large bowl:

2 cups (312 grams) of oats
1 cup (200 grams) of nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, etc.)
1 cup (220 grams) of packed dates
1/4–1/2 cup (65–130 grams) of nut butter
1/4 cup (60 ml) of maple syrup or honey (optional)
mix-ins, such as dried fruit, coconut flakes, or chocolate chips

Be sure to pulse the dates in a food processor for about one minute and warm the nut butter and maple syrup or honey in a saucepan before adding them to the mixture.

Stir the ingredients together, add the mix to a lined baking dish or loaf pan, and allow it to set in the freezer for 20–25 minutes. Then slice, serve and enjoy.

Summary

Healthy granola bars should contain a good amount of protein and fiber with little added sugar and fewer calories. They're also easy to make at home and require just a few simple ingredients.

The Bottom Line

Granola bars are a convenient, flavorful, and portable snack.

Still, many prepackaged varieties are high in sugar, calories and ingredients that may harm your health.

Studying ingredient lists carefully or choosing to make your own granola bars can ensure that your snack is both nutritious and delicious.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Healthline.

.@TODAYshow's @alroker is giving us lots and lots of climate hope: “I believe that we can still make a difference” http://bit.ly/2KOuaa8

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 13:23:00 -0400

. @TODAYshow's @alroker is giving us lots and lots of climate hope: “I believe that we can still make a difference” http://bit.ly/2KOuaa8

A new transparent building wood can help regulate indoor temperature, hold heavy loads, and biodegrade, making it more environmentally friendly than plastic and concrete. It would likely be available for small-scale architecture projects in five years.

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 12:00:01 -0400

A new transparent building wood can help regulate indoor temperature, hold heavy loads, and biodegrade, making it more environmentally friendly than plastic and concrete. It would likely be available for small-scale architecture projects in five years. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/a-new-transparent-wood-could-help-cut-home-energy-use … pic.twitter.com/NzPmR65on9

We get asked this question a lot – how to take climate action? The answer is start small: http://bit.ly/2TSQMK4 pic.twitter.com/rvXgT03rkI

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 11:07:03 -0400

We get asked this question a lot – how to take climate action? The answer is start small: http://bit.ly/2TSQMK4 pic.twitter.com/rvXgT03rkI

Stuffy nose? Headaches? Itchy throat? We think we know what’s going on http://bit.ly/2KQuqWk #ClimateChange

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 10:53:00 -0400

Stuffy nose? Headaches? Itchy throat? We think we know what’s going on http://bit.ly/2KQuqWk #ClimateChange

A makeshift experiment in 1953 led to a mind-blowing discovery – the amount of CO2 on #Earth was increasing (and quickly) http://bit.ly/2KQL9IM

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 09:10:01 -0400

A makeshift experiment in 1953 led to a mind-blowing discovery – the amount of CO2 on #Earth was increasing (and quickly) http://bit.ly/2KQL9IM

In Brazil, 82% of the government promised forest restoration is actually monoculture plantations rather than natural forest. In China, the figure is 99%. In the long term, monoculture will only capture a fraction of carbon that a natural forest could. ht

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 08:57:00 -0400

In Brazil, 82% of the government promised forest restoration is actually monoculture plantations rather than natural forest. In China, the figure is 99%. In the long term, monoculture will only capture a fraction of carbon that a natural forest could. https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-green-pledges-will-not-create-the-natural-forests-we-need … pic.twitter.com/1QMX3WUmoa

Dragonflies Make Epic Migrations, But Climate Change Could Foil Their Itineraries

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 08:41:07 -0400

By Jason Bittel

It's that time of year again: Right now, monarch butterflies are taking wing in the mountains of northwestern Mexico and starting to flap their way across the United States.

The great monarch migration always makes headlines, in part because climate change, along with our pesticides and agricultural monocultures, threatens to erase the natural spectacle, but also because this natural phenomenon is simply amazing. The trip of nearly 5,000 miles is an unlikely one for an insect, but these butterflies don't have a monopoly on the massive, multigenerational migration game.

It's time to give some love to the epic feats of dragonflies.

According to a study published by the Royal Society last fall, common green darners, which are found from Cuba to Canada, make a long, complex journey that takes three generations and spans a distance of more than 1,500 miles. Scientists are still trying to figure out exactly how they do it, but temperature seems to play a key role in telling the animals when to move. Unfortunately, this means climate change could well wreck the whole event even before we fully understand it. Worse, it would leave much of eastern North America without an important member of its food web.

The news that dragonflies migrate probably won't shock people who study insects, says the study's senior author, Colin Studds, a wildlife ecologist at the University of Maryland. "We've had an inkling of how many insects migrate," he said. "There are moths, there are beetles, and there are probably about 20 species of dragonflies that we have expected of migration. But we don't know much about it other than that it's a phenomenon."

One of the reasons why insect migration remains so much of a mystery is that bugs are tough to track. They're tiny, they die all the time, and they're quick as heck — especially dragonflies. "Unlike monarchs, common green darners are fast fliers," said MaLisa Spring, state coordinator for the Ohio Dragonfly Survey at the Museum of Biological Diversity just north of Columbus. "This makes them hard to catch and potentially add identification tags or stickers, and even harder to photograph. Most photo observations are a blur of blue and green, so a tiny sticker doesn't work so well."

This is why Studds and his coauthors decided to study where the dragonflies had been, rather than where the critters were heading. To do this, they took tissue samples from the wings of more than 850 green darners, some collected from the wild and others from museum specimens going back 140 years. A molecular analysis of the wings allowed the scientists to identify hydrogen isotopes that revealed the latitudes at which the dragonflies were born. (These isotopes vary at reliable rates as one moves north or south, so determining which ones are present and in what quantities can drop a pin of origin within about 100 to 200 miles.)

The team also made use of 21 years' worth of citizen science data to understand when and under what conditions dragonflies appear across their vast range. With all of these pieces put together, common green darner migration patterns are no longer so much of a blue-green blur.

None

In February the dragonflies appear only in warm latitudes, which is reflected in data showing dragonfly emergences at this time in Florida, Louisiana and Texas, as well as Puerto Rico, Cuba and southern Mexico. But come March, this first generation has already winged it up to the American Northeast, the Great Lakes region and southern Canada. And then those well-traveled dragonflies mate, lay eggs and die.

In May and June, the second generation hatches onto the scene. Some live their whole lives locally, but others — driven by what, we do not know — point their beautiful compound eyes south. Between September and November, these snowbirds don floral shirts and sunglasses and can be found flitting around the southern U.S. and Caribbean. Like the first generation, these dragonflies mate, lay eggs and die.

This leaves us with the third generation in the cycle, which are the population's homebodies. Because winter hits the south soon after they hatch, and they definitely don't want to head north to even colder climes, these lucky darners live out their life span locally. And then they ... mate, lay eggs and die like the rest. Their offspring then hatch around February, transform from larvae to adults, and head up north, starting the cycle anew.

The great dragonfly migration has likely been taking place for many millennia. Each generation has a job to do and an itinerary to follow, and every step is tied to a specific temperature range.

"So one of the things that we figured out from the citizen science data of over 20 years across the whole eastern United States is that the dragonflies don't begin migrating until it gets to about 9.5 degrees Celsius, or just shy of 50 degrees Fahrenheit," said Studds. "They kind of wait for it to go up to that point and they follow that temperature north."

Enter climate change. Temperature patterns are shifting all over the U.S. (indeed, the whole planet), and research on monarchs is already showing that such fluctuations may affect how the butterflies inoculate themselves against parasites. Could there be similar consequences for other migratory insects?

"If we are moving into a period where winter temperatures are warming and spring temperatures are getting warmer through time, then that will probably affect the entire timing and pace of dragonfly migration," said Studds. "It will affect how far north they go and how quickly they develop."

In some areas, warmer temperatures year-round may mean dragonflies won't even need to migrate at all. This isn't necessarily bad for the darners, mind you. But because dragonflies are important predators of mosquitoes, aphids, and other insects, as well as nutritious food for ducks, toads, newts, fish and even carnivorous plants like sundew, losing a seasonal influx of these creatures could ripple out through North America's ecosystems. (Plus, dragonflies are beautiful, and people up north will miss them.)

The truth is, scientists still know very little about how these seasonal shake-ups will affect wildlife, and common green darners and monarch butterflies are just two species among many that are facing big changes. But given that insects are experiencing dramatic declines worldwide, we need to unpack as many of these little mysteries as we can now — instead of trying to piece the puzzle back together after it's too late.

Reposted with permission from our media associate onEarth.

Tonight 20:45 CET: @RealBetis will play against Valencia with this #CNNow special jersey made of recycled plastic bottles gathered at the stadium: thank you for being #ClimateNeutralNow, @RealBetis! #Sports #ClimateAmbition #ClimateAction http://ow.ly/6k

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 08:05:07 -0400

Tonight 20:45 CET: @RealBetis will play against Valencia with this #CNNow special jersey made of recycled plastic bottles gathered at the stadium: thank you for being #ClimateNeutralNow, @RealBetis! #Sports #ClimateAmbition #ClimateAction http://ow.ly/6k9Y50qKy0o pic.twitter.com/pAHIZR74Oc

Learn your #ClimateChange ABCs with our quick vocabulary guide http://bit.ly/2BXa7Qb pic.twitter.com/39v2DPXaaO

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 08:04:04 -0400

Learn your #ClimateChange ABCs with our quick vocabulary guide http://bit.ly/2BXa7Qb pic.twitter.com/39v2DPXaaO

Cuadrilla 'ready to frack' at second well in Lancashire as pressure on embattled industry builds

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 07:35:11 -0400

Letter from firm's chief executive urges review of seismic limits on fracking operations

It’s no secret we want the world to transition from dirty to clean energy – but we also want that transition to be fair http://bit.ly/2KSVJiL

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 07:18:00 -0400

It’s no secret we want the world to transition from dirty to clean energy – but we also want that transition to be fair http://bit.ly/2KSVJiL

Cape Town’s ‘Day Zero’ water crisis, one year later

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 07:00:49 -0400

This story was originally published by CityLab and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration.

In January 2018, when officials in Cape Town announced that the city of 4 million people was three months away from running out of municipal water, the world was stunned. Labelled “Day Zero” by local officials and brought on by three consecutive years of anemic rainfall, April 12, 2018, was to be the date of the largest drought-induced municipal water failure in modern history.

Photos of parched-earth dams and residents lining up to collect spring water splashed across news sites. The city’s contingency plan called for the entire population to collect its water — a maximum of a two-minute-shower’s-worth a day per person — from 200 centralized water centers, each serving the population equivalent of an MLS soccer stadium.

Then April 12th came and went, and news of the crisis evaporated.

One year on, Cape Town has apparently made it through the worst of a historic drought without turning off the taps, although the water supply is still tenuous. How the city managed to evade disaster — a combination of water conservation and efficiency measures, smarter use of data, and a little help from Mother Nature — serves as a largely hopeful precedent for cities globally facing increasing risk of extreme environmental events. Still, serious challenges in establishing a resilient and sustainable water supply system for Cape Town remain.

90 critical days

The countdown to Day Zero was 90 days. So what did Cape Town do to beat it? Unsurprisingly, it was not a silver bullet but a barrage of efforts that averted disaster. One big boost came in February 2018, when the national government throttled allocation of water in the region earmarked for agriculture, allowing more to flow to urban residents. The same month, farmers also agreed to divert additional water stored for agricultural purposes to the city.

However, the city’s conservation efforts were as important, and more remarkable. Cape Town’s government ramped up water tariffs and enforcement of prohibitions on heavy users, prohibiting use of municipal water for swimming pools, lawns, and similar non-essential uses. The city’s government also implemented a new water-pressure system in January, saving roughly 10 percent of overall municipal water consumption.

The effect was stunning. Cape Town’s municipal water-use levels historically oscillate throughout the year, showing up on a graph as a standing wave pattern with troughs coinciding with wet winters, and peaks mirroring the dry summer months when people rely more on taps for water. Like an ocean wave crashing onto shore, this wave pattern fizzled out as Cape Town implemented drought restrictions, cutting its peak usage by more than half in three years.

The January 2018 announcement alone galvanized a 30-percent drop in residential consumption after a steady but slower decline in earlier stages of the drought, according to City of Cape Town statistics.

A city changes its habits

Technical fixes and regulatory controls implemented by the municipality were important to curbing water consumption, but reaching such levels of conservation would not have been possible without large-scale cooperation by a wide swath of residents, businesses, and other stakeholders.

“It doesn’t matter how much technical expertise you’ve got, but you actually have to stand back and understand the system more broadly,” notes Gina Ziervogel of the University of Cape Town, who has researched the crisis. For the city, this meant using data more effectively to prompt people to save water.

Starting in 2017, the municipality had begun ratcheting up its drought-awareness campaign, publishing weekly updates on regional dam levels and water consumption and using electronic boards on freeways to notify drivers of how many days of water supply Cape Town had left. Then, in January 2018 and with Day Zero looming, the city got more aggressive. In addition to announcing its Day Zero countdown, the city launched a city-wide water map to show water consumption on a household level, allowing people to compare their consumption to their neighbors and the rest of the city.

Heightened outreach regarding the crisis prompted wide discussion: The municipality’s weekly water report became a regular topic at social gathenings and on the radio. Governmental and civic organizations published water-saving techniques, and people traded tips on social media. In an unusual turn of events, techniques used in the poor, water-strapped township areas gained traction in wealthier areas.

Prompted by new water-use tariffs, businesses also began increased efforts to communicate the need to save water to customers and employees. Bathroom signs explaining “If it’s yellow, let it mellow … ” became ubiquitous in restaurants and bars, while startup and corporate types initiated “dirty shirt” challenges to see who could go the most days without washing their work shirt.

Crisis averted (for now)

By the end of March 2018, the emergency efforts had provided a small additional buffer in the city’s water reserves, allowing city officials to push back Day Zero beyond the upcoming rainy season. In June 2018, the region saw average rainfall for the first time in four years. With the rain, dam levels rose, and officials were able to call off Day Zero indefinitely.

Cape Town’s multi-pronged effort to stave off Day Zero succeeded. Still, the challenges to achieving water security persist. Although dam levels are above the lows experienced during the drought, they remain below pre-drought years and currently stand at 50 percent of capacity. Meanwhile, daily water use for the city has crept higher over the past year.

Furthermore, disparities in access to water in Cape Town continue to be related to extreme economic inequality, which generally runs along the racial lines established during South Africa’s colonial and apartheid eras. For a large proportion of Cape Town’s poor citizens, whose only normal access to water is a communal tap, Day Zero remains a constant reality. Combine this with a complex political climate and historical distrust of state policies, and it is easy to understand that a sustained unified effort to conserve water is fraught with tension.

Cape Town is making a longer-term effort to diversify its water resources, but that too is prompting concerns. Projects to desalinate ocean water and tap the aquifer beneath the city have proven far more expensive than initially thought, and have also faced questions about their environmental impacts on local ecosystems and overall sustainability. An increase in private wells drilled by wealthier households has added pressure to the future availability of this source. Although plans for both desalination and groundwater extraction are progressing, neither alone will solve Cape Town’s water issues.

For now, the city and its residents are still enduring moderate drought conditions. Urban water restrictions remain in place, although less strict than before, and the legacy of the drought can still be seen all around Cape Town. Many businesses continue to remind customers to restrict their usage in signs taped to bathroom mirrors and above toilets. That’s probably just as well — water-scarcity issues are not likely to go anywhere, considering the increased risks of drought caused by climate change and population growth.

As for other cities facing similar resource crises: Ziervogel advises “to make sure you’ve got those relationships and partnerships in place so that when a crisis hits you can actually draw on those partnerships.”

This story was originally published by Grist with the headline Cape Town’s ‘Day Zero’ water crisis, one year later on Apr 21, 2019.

Oil and gas pipeline construction needs to slow down… so it can come to a full stop https://nyti.ms/2Ivee9S

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 06:29:00 -0400

Oil and gas pipeline construction needs to slow down… so it can come to a full stop https://nyti.ms/2Ivee9S

#Japan is making a big shift that could mean the beginning of the end for coal in Asia http://bit.ly/2ORoACl pic.twitter.com/WP7TSBBzgi

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 05:11:02 -0400

#Japan is making a big shift that could mean the beginning of the end for coal in Asia http://bit.ly/2ORoACl pic.twitter.com/WP7TSBBzgi

Huge dinosaur may have stood on its toes with fleshy pads for balance

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 05:00:35 -0400

Rhoetosaurus brownie lived 170 million years ago. Despite the dinosaur weighing 24 tonnes it may have stood on its tiptoes with fleshy pads for balance

“The fight against #climatechange is connected to the fight against #gender inequality”, first Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon says. Why #ActOnTheGAP? >> http://bit.ly/2XBsCTm pic.twitter.com/Vf0lAvtNXz

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 03:51:00 -0400

“The fight against #climatechange is connected to the fight against #gender inequality”, first Minister of Scotland @NicolaSturgeon says. Why #ActOnTheGAP? >> http://bit.ly/2XBsCTm pic.twitter.com/Vf0lAvtNXz

#Children are exposed to the climate crisis even before they are born – and it’s on us to protect them http://bit.ly/2P0aONF pic.twitter.com/NGIRIBavti

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 03:14:02 -0400

#Children are exposed to the climate crisis even before they are born – and it’s on us to protect them http://bit.ly/2P0aONF pic.twitter.com/NGIRIBavti

Big Polluters need to take responsibility for the consequences of the damage they’ve caused https://nyti.ms/2GnLxup

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 02:43:00 -0400

Big Polluters need to take responsibility for the consequences of the damage they’ve caused https://nyti.ms/2GnLxup

Slow burn? The long road to a zero-emissions UK

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 02:00:44 -0400

Extinction Rebellion protesters want a carbon-free UK by 2025. But can the financial and political hurdles be overcome?

It is the near future. You wake in a house warmed by a heat pump that extracts energy from deep below the ground and delivers it to your home. (Your gas boiler was outlawed years ago.) You rise and make yourself a cup of tea – from water boiled on a hydrogen-burning kitchen stove. Then you head to work – in a robot-driven electric car directed by central control network to avoid traffic jams.

At midday, you pause for lunch: a sandwich made of meat grown in a laboratory. At the end of the day, you are taken home by a robot car – through countryside festooned with solar panels and turbines.

A zero-emissions UK is a huge task. But the benefits will also be huge

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 01:59:44 -0400

Major action is needed to achieve zero net emissions by 2050. But it will make Britain’s economy cleaner, smarter and more efficient. We must not delay

Britain needs to reach, by no later than 2050, net zero emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. This means any greenhouse gases we release must be balanced by the removal of an equivalent amount from the atmosphere.

The 2050 deadline represents our fair share of international responsibility for implementing the Paris agreement on climate change and meeting its goal of holding the rise in average global temperature to well below 2C – and pursuing best efforts to limit warming to no more than 1.5C.

Modest proposals will not make the audit process any more watertight

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 01:59:44 -0400

Andrew Tyrie’s report recognises the value of more competition, but tinkering at the edges won’t make it happen

Companies go out of business all the time, but big companies should be an exception. They have responsibilities to the communities where they operate. They employ lots of people and perform economically essential tasks. So they need to be resilient and have the capacity to adapt.

So what part does a financial audit play in keeping such a corporate ship afloat? It’s a question the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), run by former Tory MP and Treasury select committee chair Andrew Tyrie, attempted to answer last week in a report that asked how greater competition might improve audit quality.

Have a little fun and find out which Climate Reality™ campaign is the right fit for you http://bit.ly/2KRGTJn pic.twitter.com/onqVzP5f7c

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 01:04:02 -0400

Have a little fun and find out which Climate Reality™ campaign is the right fit for you http://bit.ly/2KRGTJn pic.twitter.com/onqVzP5f7c

One thing unites snobs of all persuasions: contempt for the middle class | Catherine Bennett

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:59:43 -0400

Eco-protesters and Remainers can all be dismissed as being members of the Waitrose shopping class

As painful as it is to admit, Jacob Rees-Mogg did, once, have his uses. Or one, at least. It emerged during one of his earlier Question Time appearances (when the BBC could still, just about, pretend ignorance of the then embryo demagogue’s tendresse for racists). Responding to a question about Heathrow, Rees-Mogg volunteered that he hadn’t minded the planes when he lived in Slough. “Eton,” chaffed the host, David Dimbleby. “I was at school with your son,” said Rees-Mogg.

Anyway, thanks to this contribution (along with other BBC-presenter-on-BBC-presenter squabbles about who is or is not “posh”), it can be demonstrated that Sky News’ Adam Boulton is not the only mature white male TV presenter to suffer from pot-kettle syndrome, to the possibly debilitating extent of wanting – although not for the purposes of satire – to belittle others for enjoying the same social capital and privileges as himself.

Think of this collection of TED Talks as a guest list for the world's most inspiring dinner party on climate http://bit.ly/2X3IxIO pic.twitter.com/kfG9s9grAo

Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:06:02 -0400

Think of this collection of TED Talks as a guest list for the world's most inspiring dinner party on climate http://bit.ly/2X3IxIO pic.twitter.com/kfG9s9grAo

We hear you – it can be hard to talk about climate change with #Kids. We hope this resource makes it a little easier http://bit.ly/2BK1oRE pic.twitter.com/xt6k06kWjl

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 23:22:02 -0400

We hear you – it can be hard to talk about climate change with #Kids. We hope this resource makes it a little easier http://bit.ly/2BK1oRE pic.twitter.com/xt6k06kWjl

“It concerns everybody — we fish, we hunt, our kids breathe the air like everybody else. But we’ve also got to realize that people have got to work for a living, too. If you’re not working, it won’t matter how much pollution you have.” https://e360.yale.e

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 22:47:00 -0400

“It concerns everybody — we fish, we hunt, our kids breathe the air like everybody else. But we’ve also got to realize that people have got to work for a living, too. If you’re not working, it won’t matter how much pollution you have.” https://e360.yale.edu/features/a-fracking-driven-industrial-boom-renews-pollution-concerns-in-pittsburgh …

Mark our words – the future of #Cars is electric http://bit.ly/2Ve0sPO

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 21:23:00 -0400

Mark our words – the future of #Cars is electric http://bit.ly/2Ve0sPO

Climate Reality trainings are just the beginning. Here’s a sneak peek at the kind of resources you’ll have once you’re a Climate Reality Leader http://bit.ly/2VdVKBJ #LeadOnClimatepic.twitter.com/OXKemL8ux6

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 20:37:02 -0400

Climate Reality trainings are just the beginning. Here’s a sneak peek at the kind of resources you’ll have once you’re a Climate Reality Leader http://bit.ly/2VdVKBJ #LeadOnClimate pic.twitter.com/OXKemL8ux6

45% of promised new forests will be monocultures of fast-growing trees destined for harvesting to make pulp for paper. Such forests decrease biodiversity rather than increase it, and would only hold a fraction of the carbon that natural forests could. ht

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 20:06:01 -0400

45% of promised new forests will be monocultures of fast-growing trees destined for harvesting to make pulp for paper. Such forests decrease biodiversity rather than increase it, and would only hold a fraction of the carbon that natural forests could. https://e360.yale.edu/features/why-green-pledges-will-not-create-the-natural-forests-we-need … pic.twitter.com/B1FPDoRMiE

Earth Day: What is it and how do people mark it around the world?

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 19:43:00 -0400

Global environmental event is marked by over one billion people in 192 countries

Scientists have discovered that 80% of new sea ice along the Russian coast now melts before it can leave coastal waters — up from 50% in 2000. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/80-percent-of-new-arctic-sea-ice-melts-before-leaving-russian-coast …pic.twitter.c

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 14:34:00 -0400

Scientists have discovered that 80% of new sea ice along the Russian coast now melts before it can leave coastal waters — up from 50% in 2000. https://e360.yale.edu/digest/80-percent-of-new-arctic-sea-ice-melts-before-leaving-russian-coast … pic.twitter.com/mLHLTmuGYR

Spring at NET Nebraska

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 14:01:54 -0400

America Spring LIVE: the Sound of Spring

Doreen Pfost, author of This River Beneath the Sky, takes us on a journey to the Platte River to witness the annual spring migration of tens of millions of birds, including more than 500,000 Sandhill cranes, making their way along North America’s Central Flyway.

The post Spring at NET Nebraska appeared first on Nature.

12 Simple Tips to Help Eliminate Gluten from Your Diet

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 13:54:08 -0400

Gluten is the collective name for a group of proteins found in grains like wheat, barley and rye.

Although most people can eat gluten without any issues, it may be harmful to individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (1, 2).

Those with gluten disorders may experience symptoms like digestive discomfort, headaches, fatigue, weight loss and dermatitis after eating gluten (3).

Other people may also benefit from removing gluten from their diet.

Fortunately, if you have a gluten-related health condition, removing gluten from your diet will likely improve your symptoms.

This article provides 12 simple tips to help you eliminate gluten from your diet.

1. Choose Gluten-Free Grains

Wheat, barley, and rye are popular gluten-containing grains. However, there are plenty of gluten-free grain alternatives.

Examples of gluten-free grains include (4):

quinoa
brown rice
millet
amaranth
buckwheat
oats

Despite its name, buckwheat is a grain-like seed that's unrelated to wheat and naturally gluten-free. Buckwheat can be enjoyed as a cereal or used in recipes for gluten-free baked goods (5).

Oats are naturally gluten-free but may contain traces of gluten from exposure during processing. If you have celiac disease or gluten sensitivity, choose oats with a certified gluten-free label (6).

Summary

To avoid gluten exposure from common grains, choose gluten-free grain alternatives like quinoa, brown rice, or buckwheat.

2. Look for a Gluten-Free Certification Label

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates gluten-free claims on food packaging.

A product claiming to be gluten-free must comply with the FDA gluten-free definition by containing less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. The European Union (EU) has similar legislation for food products labeled as gluten-free (7, 8).

What's more, many third-party organizations have established gluten-free certifications for food manufacturers. These are additional certifications, and the food product must still comply with governmental regulations.

For example, the Gluten Intolerance Group established the Certified Gluten-Free label, which requires products to contain 10 ppm or less of gluten. This organization requires ongoing testing and annual inspections to ensure compliance (9).

Summary

The FDA and EU regulate products that claim to be gluten-free. Additionally, some third-party organizations have established gluten-free certifications.

3. Eat More Produce

All fresh fruits and vegetables are naturally gluten-free.

Gluten-free diets may lack micronutrients like folate and magnesium unless gluten-containing products are replaced with other nutrient-dense foods. Including more fresh produce in your diet can help you acquire these nutrients and eliminate gluten (10).

Here are a few ways to add more fresh produce to your diet:

ask for a lettuce wrap in place of bread

use spiralized veggie noodles in place of regular pasta

opt for a salad instead of a sandwich

use roasted potatoes or butternut squash for a gluten-free side dish

choose a side of fresh fruit or roasted vegetables

add a piece of fruit to your breakfast or eat it as a snack

use sweet potato slices in place of bread

Some processed fruits and vegetables, such as frozen or canned products, may contain gluten as a food additive or thickening agent. It's best to check the label for gluten or wheat if choosing canned, frozen, or dried fruits and vegetables.

Summary

Eating more produce is a great way to eliminate gluten and optimize your intake of nutrients that may otherwise be lacking in a gluten-free diet.

4. Clean Out Your Pantry

Evaluate your current pantry items and clean out any products that may contain gluten.

The best way to identify if a product contains gluten is to read the ingredient list. Throw out or donate items that contain grains like wheat, barley and rye. Check for lesser-known gluten-containing ingredients like malt vinegar, brewer's yeast and seitan.

Eliminating gluten from your diet can be difficult if other household members don't require the same dietary restrictions.

In this case, consider dedicating a section of your pantry to gluten-free items. This also helps avoid potential cross-contamination and accidental gluten exposure.

You can also avoid accidental exposure by using a separate toaster and washing cutting boards and utensils before preparing your meals.

Summary

Clean out any items in your pantry that contain wheat, barley or rye. If other household members don't require the same dietary restrictions as you do, you can dedicate a section of your pantry to gluten-free items to avoid accidental gluten exposure.

5. Avoid Gluten-Containing Beverages

Gluten may be present in certain beverages, especially those containing alcohol.

Beer is a common source of gluten because it's produced by fermenting gluten-containing grains like wheat or barley. However, there are some gluten-free beers on the market made from ingredients like sorghum or rice (11).

If you want to drink alcohol on a gluten-free diet, opt for distilled liquors like vodka or gin. Typically, wine is also free from gluten. That said, wine coolers may contain malt barley, a gluten-containing grain.

Most non-alcoholic beverages like coffee, tea and sparkling water products are gluten-free. Nonetheless, some drinks like pre-made smoothies, coffee drinks or milkshakes may contain gluten, so it's best to check the label.

Summary

Avoid gluten-containing beverages like beer, wine coolers and some pre-made smoothies. Instead, choose gluten-free beverages like water, coffee, and tea.

6. Bring Your Own Food

If attending a social event, consider bringing your own gluten-free dish.

Accidental gluten exposure is common at social events. Even if a dish is inherently gluten-free, cross-contamination during cooking may pose a risk to people who require strict gluten elimination.

Offer to bring a dish to share with others. Having at least one gluten-free dish to enjoy can reduce social stress and limit potentially harmful gluten exposure.

Summary

Social events may pose a risk for gluten exposure. Bringing a gluten-free dish from home is a great way to ensure a safe food environment without too much fuss.

7. Eat More Nuts and Seeds

Gluten-free diets are more likely to be deficient in nutrients like zinc, calcium and fiber (10).

Nuts and seeds are naturally gluten-free and are great sources of these nutrients (12, 13).

Nuts and seeds to add to your diet include:

almonds
cashews
pecans
walnuts
pistachios
macadamia nuts
pumpkin seeds
flax seeds
chia seeds
sunflower seeds

You can add nuts or seeds to gluten-free oats, finely grind nuts to use in place of wheat flour, sprinkle seeds over your salad or blend nuts into nut butter to enjoy with apple slices or celery sticks.

Summary

Nuts and seeds are naturally gluten-free and are great sources of zinc, calcium and fiber, all of which are nutrients that gluten-free diets may lack.

8. Know the Different Names for Wheat

There are many different wheat varieties, which can make it difficult to read food labels. Look for these wheat varieties when assessing a label for hidden sources of gluten (4):

durum
einkorn
khorasan (Kamut)
spelt or farro
triticale

Many types of wheat flour also have different names like semolina, farina or graham flour. All of these flours contain gluten and must be avoided if you follow a gluten-free diet.

Moreover, common food additives may contain hidden sources of wheat like maltodextrin, caramel color and modified food starch.

Evaluating the allergens statement on a food label is the easiest way to identify whether a product contains wheat and gluten. This is because the FDA requires foods to clearly state if they contain any of the top eight allergens, such as wheat, on the food label (14).

Summary

There are many different names for wheat like durum, kamut and spelt. Evaluate the ingredient list and allergens statement on a food label to identify and eliminate sources of wheat.

9. Limit Processed Food

Food manufacturers can add gluten to processed foods to improve texture, mouthfeel and shelf life. For example, lunch meat, sausage, baked goods, french fries and seasoned rice mixes may all contain hidden sources of gluten.

What's more, processed gluten-free products are often higher in fat, sugar and sodium than regular products. Thus, while these products are gluten-free, they may not be a favorable replacement for whole foods (15).

Whole foods, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, nuts and seeds, are naturally gluten-free. Focus on eating more of these whole foods while limiting your intake of processed food.

Summary

Food manufacturers may add gluten to food products to improve texture and shelf life. Limit processed foods and eat naturally gluten-free whole foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins.

10. Cook More Meals at Home

Restaurants are increasingly offering gluten-free meal options. However, these meals typically come with an added cost, as well as the risk of cross-contamination.

Cooking more meals at home can help you eliminate gluten from your diet, all while benefiting your overall health.

In fact, people who eat home-cooked meals at least 5 times per week eat significantly more fruits and vegetables and are 28% less likely to be overweight than those who eat home-cooked meals less than 3 times per week (16).

Create a weekly meal plan to stay accountable. Stock your kitchen with gluten-free staples like fresh produce, nuts, seeds, legumes, protein sources like eggs and fish and various gluten-free grains.

Summary

Dining out on a gluten-free diet can be expensive and may increase your risk of cross-contamination. Eating more home-cooked meals is a safe option that also benefits your overall health.

11. Avoid Gluten-Containing Condiments

Condiments and sauces often contain hidden sources of gluten. Food manufacturers can add gluten to condiments to act as a stabilizer, thickener or emulsifier.

Condiments that may contain gluten include:

soy sauce
salad dressing
malt vinegar
marinades
barbecue sauce
pasta sauce
Worcestershire sauce
teriyaki sauce

Reviewing the allergens label on these condiments is helpful. It's important to remember that even if a condiment is wheat-free, it may contain gluten from barley or rye. For example, malt vinegar is not gluten-free because malt is derived from barley (4).

Summary

Many condiments contain added sources of gluten. It's best to read labels thoroughly and choose only condiments labeled as certified gluten-free.

12. Join a Gluten-Free Community

Following a gluten-free diet may feel isolating. In fact, people with celiac disease may be more likely to suffer from feelings of loneliness, depression and social phobia (17, 18, 19, 20).

Joining a gluten-free community is a great way to find resources, community recommendations and support from other people with similar dietary restrictions.

The National Celiac Association has various chapters around the U.S. that offer conferences, small meetings and support for individuals living with celiac disease.

Summary

Following a gluten-free diet may feel isolating without the right support. Join a gluten-free community to help navigate local restaurants, share recipes and find support.

The Bottom Line

Most people can eat gluten without any side effects.

However, certain individuals, including those with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, need to avoid it, as it can cause harmful symptoms.

Along with carefully reading nutrition labels, you can also eliminate gluten from your diet by eating more whole foods, increasing your intake of gluten-free grains and cooking more meals at home.

Reposted with permission from our media associate Healthline.

Fire-induced thunderstorms - PyroCbs - appear to be increasing dramatically, producing more energy, and erupting in places where they have never been seen before. There is little doubt that they will occur more frequently as the world warms. https://e360.

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 12:31:00 -0400

Fire-induced thunderstorms - PyroCbs - appear to be increasing dramatically, producing more energy, and erupting in places where they have never been seen before. There is little doubt that they will occur more frequently as the world warms. https://e360.yale.edu/features/fire-induced-storms-a-new-danger-from-the-rise-in-wildfires …

Frogs, salamanders and toads suffering 'catastrophic population decline', scientists say

Sat, 20 Apr 2019 12:31:00 -0400

Fungal disease chytridiomycosis has lead to 'greatest recorded loss of biodiversity attributable to a disease'