Economists and accountants need to show true costs

As long as environmental costs are "kept off the books", the true costs of doing business are hidden.

In this article, the Earth Policy Institute explains the problem.

http://www.earth-policy.org/book_bytes/2012/wotech13_ss1

Something as escoteric as the Core Accounting Principles can have a huge impact on how we see the world. Yes, even accountants need to be a part of the environmental movement.

 

Extreme Weather Consistent with Climate Change

William Chamedies, an atmospheric scientist and dean of the Nicolas School of the Environment at Duke University, says that the kinds of events that we are seeing, like the recent rash of tornadoes, are consistent with climate change. See the full article here:

http://www.emergencyemail.org/newsemergency/anmviewer.asp?a=1120&z=1&ref=fem

Record snowstorm paralyzes S. Korea

South Korea impacted by the heaviest single-day snowfall since meteorologists began keeping records in 1911.

Record snowstorm paralyzes S. Korea

U.N. Food Agency Issues Warning on China Drought

The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization issued an alert on Tuesday warning that a severe drought was threatening the wheat crop in China, the world’s largest wheat producer, and resulting in shortages of drinking water for people and livestock.


In China, the state-run news media warned Monday that the country’s major agricultural regions were facing their worst drought in 60 years. On Tuesday the state news agency Xinhua said that Shandong Province, a cornerstone of Chinese grain production, was bracing for its worst drought in 200 years unless substantial precipitation came by the end of this month.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/business/global/09food.html?_r=2&ref=world

Global food prices hit record high - United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

Food prices are rising across the globe in response to shortening supplies and higher demand.

Supplies are short because of weather-related problems plus the diversion of production to ethanol to feed cars instead of people.

Demand is higher because of increased population pressure and the because of the ability of people to afford to buy food from higher up the food chain.

An overlook is provided by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation.

Global food prices hit record high - News - Al Jazeera English

Drought speeds Amazon warming

Global warming could yet be accelerated further by the far-reaching drought in the rain forests of the Amazon, where the so-called "lungs of the world" last year produced more carbon dioxide than they absorbed. It is the second time in a decade for the phenomenon.

The drought caused many trees to wither and die. When they died, they expelled some 8 billion tons of carbon dioxide -- more than the total carbon emissions produced by the United States each year. The Independent (London) , The Guardian (London)

Climate change will bring more monster winter storms

This article from The Christian Science Monitor talks about how climate models suggest that the world is in for bigger storms. Warmer air in the atmosphere can hold more moisture, and the condensation of that moisture puts more energy into storm systems.

Climate change will bring more monster winter storms