STUDY SAYS GLOBAL WARMING WILL CAUSE ONE IN SIX SPECIES TO GO EXTINCT
A new study published in the journal Science claims one in six existing species — more than 16 percent — will go extinct if the global temperature continues to increase at the current rate.
This new figure comes from Mark C. Urban of the University of Connecticut, who analyzed 131 published studies on how climate change will affect biodiversity. His investigation showed species in Australia, New Zealand and South America would be worst affected, primarily because there are organisms there found nowhere else on Earth.
“The risk if we continue on our current trajectory is very high,” Urban told The Guardian. “If you look out your window and count six species and think that one of those will potentially disappear, that’s quite profound.”
Urban’s work comes just months before nearly 200 governments meet in Paris for UN climate talks aimed at forming a global deal on cutting carbon emissions.
COLORADO’S ‘SMALL HYDROPOWER’ PROJECT AIMS TO REDUCE WATER WASTE, CREATE ENERGY FROM AGRICULTURAL WATER
Using $3.4 million in federal grant money, Colorado is kicking off a project to generate electricity from flood irrigation water used by farmers.
The Pressurized Small Hydropower project is intended to reduce water waste while creating small amounts of electricity by pressurizing flows of agricultural water to produce hydropower, and then delivering water more precisely to crops using circular sprinkler systems. The system could reduce 85 percent of water required to sustain agricultural in Colorado. However, the exact amount of water that will be saved can’t be assessed yet.
“This is not only possible. It is going to happen,” Tom Vilsack, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, told The Denver Post. “It is going to provide for more efficient irrigation, which is important as we deal with increased scarcity. It also is going to deliver hydropower, a renewable energy resource.”
The Colorado project is part of a federal investment to improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. Funding for the Colorado small hydropower project comes in part from the Regional Resources Conservation Service.
