Pacific needs help to combat climate change: Oxfam
WELLINGTON (AFP) – Developed countries need to act urgently to help vulnerable Pacific island nations cope with climate change, international aid group Oxfam said Monday.

By the year 2050, about 75 million people could be forced to leave their homes due to climate change in the Asia-Pacific region, the Oxfam report said.

"Climate change has the potential to affect almost every issue linked to poverty and development in the Pacific," said Oxfam New Zealand executive director Barry Coates.

"Without immediate action 50 years of development gains in poor countries will be permanently lost," he said.
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Contractors are offering low prices on any job.

To bad governments are short on funds.
Placer County USA discovered that last week with the upcoming widening of the infamous Interstate 80 bottleneck in Roseville.
Officials thought they'd pay $35 million. But the winning bid came in at $24 million.
"If you have the money, now is the time to go," said Placer transportation official Celia McAdam. http://is.gd/1TaUd

Climate change helped the Incas build civilisation

Machu Picchu: Scientists believe climate change was critical in allowing the Incas to build their civilisation.Their warfare, building and agricultural skills may have been impressive but, according to scientists in Peru, the Incas would have been nothing without good weather induced by climate change. More info http://is.gd/1T7yI

San Francisco Bay waters have risen 8 inches,Since 1900

A giant submerged curtain anchored under the Golden Gate Bridge that rises in storms to hold back big waves. Huge levees with pumps run by tidal power. Vast networks of new wetlands from Silicon Valley to San Francisco, some created on old parking lots and bayfront warehouse sites.
Science fiction? Maybe. Or perhaps San Francisco Bay in 100 years.
On Tuesday, the ideas were among six winners in the Rising Tides contest, a design competition to engineer possible solutions for San Francisco Bay in the next century as its waters are predicted to rise as much as 4½ feet because of global warming. More info http://is.gd/1NUCG

USA Govt.Tax Credits for Solar Panels.

Tax credits for solar panels, solar water heaters, geothermal heat pumps, heavy-duty insulation & windows & electricity-saving air conditioning.
At the Department of Housing and Urban Development, a new generation of energy-efficiency mortgages is being rolled out, starting with Federal Housing Administration loans that offer 5 percent larger mortgage amounts to people who plan to undertake energy-efficiency improvements. More info. http://is.gd/1NR8Y

Tackling climate change cost-effective.

It will be paid for by benefits that would come from better energy security, employment and health.
Rajendra Pachauri says ahead of major announcement on 2013 reports Measures needed to tackle global warming could save economies more money than they cost.
The world's top climate change expert said today. Rajendra Pachauri, the head of the Intergovernmental Panel.
More info. http://is.gd/1KYDc

Windfarm Britain means (VERY) expensive electrictiy

Windfarm Britain means (very) expensive electricity comment
Renewable energy at normal prices 'is a myth'
By Lewis Page • Get more from this author
Posted in Environment, 22nd July 2009 10:00 GMT
TechNet Virtual Conference: available on demand
A recent industry study into the UK energy sector of 2030 - which according to government plans will use a hugely increased amount of wind power - suggests that massive electricity price rises will be required, and some form of additional government action in order to avoid power cuts. This could have a negative impact on plans for electrification of transport and domestic energy use.
more info. http://is.gd/1Jr30