Warmest August Ocean Surface Temperature on Record

I blogged already that the months of June and July were the warmest on record for ocean surface temperatures.  The NOAA has just reported that August is also the warmest on record for ocean surface temperatures.  As I wrote before, expect to see a new global temperature record 2009 or 2010.  Part of the NOAA’s statement is below.

Global Highlights – Summer

• The June-August worldwide ocean surface temperature was also the warmest on record at 62.5 degrees F, 1.04 degrees F above the 20th century average of 61.5 degrees F.
• The combined global land and ocean average surface temperature for the June-August season was 61.2 degrees F, which is the third warmest on record and 1.06 degrees F above the 20th century average of 60.1 degrees F.

Global Highlights – August

• The worldwide ocean surface temperature of 62.4 degrees F was the warmest on record for any August, and 1.03 degrees F above the 20th century average of 61.4 degrees F.
• Separately, the global land surface temperature of 58.2 degrees F was 1.33 degrees F above the 20th century average of 56.9 degrees F, and ranked as the fourth warmest August on record.
• Large portions of the world’s land mass observed warmer-than-average temperatures in August. The warmest departures occurred across Australia, Europe, parts of the Middle East, northwestern Africa, and southern South America. Both Australia and New Zealand had their warmest August since their records began.
• The Southern Hemisphere average temperatures for land and ocean surface combined were the warmest on record for August.

World Bank calls for Climate Action, Funds Coal?

Great article by Ben Webster of The Times Online exposing how the World Bank is financing coal plants despite saying the world must reduce dependence on fossil fuels.  Notable excerpts below.

“The World Bank is spending billions of pounds subsidising new coal-fired power stations in developing countries despite claiming that burning fossil fuels exposes the poor to catastrophic climate change. The bank, which has a goal of reducing poverty and is funded by Britain and other developed countries, calls on all nations in a report today to “act differently on climate change”.”

“The report says that between 75 and 80 per cent of the damage caused by climate change through drought, floods and rising sea levels will happen in developing countries. It calls on richer nations, including Britain, to increase the amount that they spend on helping developing countries to adapt to climate change.”

“The report says that unless the world acts now to cut carbon dioxide emissions it faces a 5C (9F) rise in global temperatures by the end of the century. “Such a drastic temperature shift would cause the possible dieback of the Amazon rainforest, complete loss of glaciers in the Andes and Himalayas, and rapid ocean acidification leading to death of coral reefs,” it says.”

“Last year the bank and its partner, the Asian Development Bank, approved $850million in loans to finance a coal-fired plant in Gujarat, western India.

The Environmental Defence Fund, a US lobby group, said that the plant, the first of nine planned in India, would be one of the biggest new sources of greenhouse gases on Earth, emitting 26.7million tonnes of CO2 a year for the next 50 years.”

“Marianne Fay, the bank’s chief economist for sustainable development, said that coal was the cheapest and most secure way to deliver electricity to the 1.6billion people without it. She said: “There are a lot of poor countries which have coal reserves and for them it’s the only option. The [bank’s] policy is to continue funding coal to the extent that there is no alternative and to push for the most efficient coal plants possible. Frankly, it would be immoral at this stage to say, ‘We want to have clean hands, therefore we are not going to touch coal’.”

Consequence

Consequence Campaign Kicks Off

Major New National Youth Organizing Campaign to Push for Urgent Congressional Action on Climate,

Clean Energy Plan

Washington, D.C.) —The Consequence campaign, a new national grassroots organizing effort, kicked off today with a nationwide online advertising campaign, print and radio advertisements in targeted states, and the launch of an innovative social networking site, www.consequence09.org , that will lie at the heart of the youth-focused campaign. Consequence will organize young people across America to demand urgent Congressional action on a comprehensive clean energy and climate plan that will unleash investment in clean energy sources like wind and solar, creates millions of clean energy jobs, reduces our dependence on oil and place firm limits on the carbon pollution that causes global warming.

“Young people have an incredibly important role to play in demanding a clean energy future,” said Jessy Tolkan, Energy Action Coalition Executive Director.  “They understand that we must pursue a ‘Yes We Can’ approach to our nation’s climate and energy challenges and that there are real consequences—for our economy, our security and the future of our planet—if Congress fails to act. Through an intensive effort to organize and mobilize these young people, the Consequence campaign and its partners will ensure that our elected officials know that young people demand a commitment to a clean energy economy that creates millions of clean energy jobs, reduces our dependence on oil and curbs dangerous global warming pollution.”

A major national paid media effort will mobilize youth to join the Consequence campaign. A sizable national online advertising campaign will be supplemented by radio and print advertising in targeted states, including: Arkansas, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.  In addition, more than 300,000 posters, stickers and other materials have been distributed and will begin appearing on campuses across this country this week.

“Young people are intensely passionate about clean energy and climate issues,” said Maura Cowley, Consequence national campaign staffer.  “We know that it’s our generation who will bear the burden of runaway global warming if Congress fails to act soon.  We hope our leaders in Washington also understand that it’s clean energy jobs now or pay later.”

Numerous prominent student, youth, and climate organizations have lent their support to the Consequence campaign.  Organizations supporting the campaign include: Rock the Vote, League of Young Voters, Sierra Student Coalition, SustainUS, Climate Protection Action Fund and Repower America, Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition, Global Exchange, Southern Energy Network, National Wildlife Federation, Avaaz, and Campus Progress.

For more information, please visit www.consequence09.org