Just in the U.S., 13 temperature record were broken today - over 800 for the year so far.

pbsthisdayinhistory:

April 22, 1970: Earth Day is Created

On this day in 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson accomplished his goal of creating Earth Day, a day dedicated to increasing awareness of environmental issues. 

During the first Earth Day, Senator Nelson spoke to the Denver public and said: 

“Our goal is not just an environment of clean air and water and scenic beauty. The objective is an environment of decency, quality and mutual respect for all other human being and all living creatures.”

Today, the American public will perform an array of actions to help our environment, whether it’s through cleaning up local neighborhoods or promoting environmental protection.

Celebrate Earth Day with this exclusive PBS’ Our Planet collection!

Image: Cleanup Along Bank of Chattahoochee River, 1972 (National Archives).

It’s only April 17th. PBS

The scale of coral reef destruction in south Florida is enormous. Nearly 50% of the coral reefs have died in the past two decades. And the problem is getting worse.

But why does this matter? The Key’s reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, and less coral has a cascading affect up the food chain. This affects the fishing and tourism industries, which (like it or not) makes Florida such a big draw. Coral reefs buffer coastal cities against storm surge, protecting countless real estate and businesses worth tens of billions. And in Florida Keys alone, there are over 33,000 jobs that depend on the reefs.

Check out PBS.org/climate-change. “The world’s ocean are absorbing carbon dioxide at an unprecedented rate and the resulting acidification is transforming marine ecosystems. We look at how ocean acidification is already affecting coral reefs in the Florida Keys.”

Chemical companies get permits from the government to dump pollution into our rivers and lakes. But, as this PBS investigation shows, companies can and do dump chemicals in violation of environmental laws. And get away with it.

In part one of a two-part series, PBS NewsHour Science Correspondent Miles O’Brien travels to Hinkley, CA — the town whose multi-million dollar settlement for groundwater contamination was featured in the movie “Erin Brockovich.”

Now, almost 30 years later, O’Brien explores the reasons why the groundwater in Hinkley still has dangerous levels of the chemical chromium and its link to cancer.

Via BoingBoing

(And, can we pause to reflect just for a minute that Miles O’Brien is one of America’s great modern journalists. I really admire his work.)

Several high-temperature records have been broken this year. This year is gonna be ultra-hot. Despite the distracting Nor’eastah-Nemo today, it has been a very warm winter in the U.S.

Via PBS/Climate

newshour:

Harper Reed, President Obama’s former Chief Technology Officer and the man behind the digital strategy for the re-election of Obama, spoke with Hari Sreenivasan about tech trends.

I reeeally enjoyed this interview. I’ve interviewed heavies and am interviewed regularly, so I appreciate the skills required to do this on camera - especially in one take! This one is fast-paced, very informative, and just so so clear. PBS has some great reporters. And, just an interesting aside, a South Asian guy asks a white dude about his looks…

PBS

How does PBS Newshour turn around their excellent climate reporting in such short spans of time? The first quarter of this report summarizes and sets up the climate and infrastructure issues from Hurricane Sandy. Then it moves to a rather courteous and agreeable interview with Joe Romm and Kenneth Green, writers for opposing think tanks.

I typically bristle when journalists pit “both sides” against each other, but this time it seemed to have worked - because they both agree that climate is changing and something has to be done. Their ideas to respond to climate change are complimentary, and they discuss a diversity of solutions that both government and free markets can address. The construction sector depends on government incentives, for example - you really can’t separate the two.

newshour:

Why haven’t we heard more about climate change during the national campaign?

Joseph Romm, Center for American Progress:

Well, of course, Mitt Romney gets a lot of money from fossil fuel interests. So, that’s one reason he even opposes a clean energy tax credit for wind.

Obama, I think, is just misreading the polls entirely…It’s when global warming becomes local that the public becomes concerned about it. And that’s why the polls in the last two years have shown the public is increasingly concerned, and this is particularly true of independent voters also. They are very concerned about their local pollution, but also the extreme weather that they have been seeing.

Who could miss 14 billion-dollar extreme weather disasters in this country last year and over seven this year? It’s just — you know, everyone sees the weather is going crazy, and it’s affecting them. It’s not going to be affecting a distant people in a distant land a distant time from now. It’s happening here now.

Why am I not working for PBS Newshour?! Fantastic and nimble analysis of Hurricane Sandy and Obama’s response. What are the impacts of Sandy on the campaign? How will those impacts be measured and quantified? Are Americans safe and feeling confident? 

newshour:

Frankenstorm Becomes Campaigns’ ‘October Surprise’

With nine states declaring states of emergency in preparation for a superstorm, Hurricane Sandy has derailed political campaigning and some early voting this week. Judy Woodruff talks to Dan Balz of the Washington Post and USA Today’s Susan Page about the likely effects on the race during the last week before Election Day.

Happening now! PBS Frontline’s “Climate of Doubt”  streaming online. 

FRONTLINE explores the massive shift in public opinion on climate change

Four years ago, climate change was a hot issue and politicians from both sides seemed poised to act. Today public opinion on the climate issue has cooled considerably. Politicians either ignore it or proclaim their skepticism. What’s behind this massive reversal? On Oct 23, FRONTLINE goes inside the organizations that fought the scientific establishment to shift the direction of the climate debate.

Click here to watch

Also, PBS NewsHour folks run a fantastic tumblr. And they have solid climate change coverage: Check ‘em out.

Finally! This airs TONIGHT!!! PBS Frontline’s “Climate of Doubt” will stream online tonight at 10pm EST. 

FRONTLINE explores the massive shift in public opinion on climate change

Four years ago, climate change was a hot issue and politicians from both sides seemed poised to act. Today public opinion on the climate issue has cooled considerably. Politicians either ignore it or proclaim their skepticism. What’s behind this massive reversal? On Oct 23, FRONTLINE goes inside the organizations that fought the scientific establishment to shift the direction of the climate debate.

Click here to watch at 10pmEST

Also, PBS NewsHour folks run a fantastic tumblr. And they have solid climate change coverage: Check ‘em out.

UPDATE: FRONTLINE archives its shows, so you’ll be able to watch it later.

PBS NewsHour coverage of cities and climate change was solid. Have a listen to Calpthorpe discuss how planning and design can help cities prepare for climate impacts.

This week on the NewsHour we have been looking at how the urban heat island effect and climate change turn up the thermostat on U.S. cities, and how places like Chicago are trying to cool off with greener infrastructure.

Peter Calthorpe, urban designer and author of “Urbanism in the Age of Climate Change”, has worked on some of the biggest urban design projects in the United States over the last 20 years, in places including Portland, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and post-hurricane southern Louisiana. He said the best thing cities can do to keep cool is plant trees.

“It’s that simple.” Calthorpe said. “Yeah, you can do white roofs and green roofs … but believe me, it’s that street canopy that makes all the difference.”

blah-city:

Urban Designer Peter Calthorpe on Making Greener Cities - PBS Newshour

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/10/key-to-a-cool-city-its-in-the-trees.html

“At 24.5 acres, Millennium Park is the largest green roof in the world. It covers two parking garages, a railway, and an opera hall.”

Great photo essay at PBS on the green roofs of Chicago.

Which city has the most green roof acreage in the world?