Typhoon Haiyan swept across the central Philippines on Nov. 8, 2013 with max wind speed topping 200 mph. It left a trail of massive destruction in its wake. With sustained wind speed at 145 mph, Haiyan was the second category 5 typhoon to strike the island nation this year.
Only coconut trees left standing in the background after Typhoon Haiyan passed an island of Philippines.
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Tag: Env
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Five Ways to Make Donations for Typhoon Haiyan Victims
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Mayor Menino Launches Renew Boston Solarize as First E+ Home Opens
Boston, August 27, 2013, — Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced the launch of Renew Boston Solarize, a three-month campaign to make solar panels more affordable and accessible for Boston homeowners and small businesses. Mayor Menino, who had solar panels installed on his home in Hyde Park last year, has set a goal of 150 new residential-scale solar power installations in Boston, representing a 50 percent increase from last year’s campaign.
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US Holds First Offshore Lease Auction as Wind Power Advances
Washington, August 1, 2013 —- As part of the Obama administration’s comprehensive plan to move the U.S. economy toward domestic clean energy sources and cut carbon pollution, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Tommy P. Beaudreau July 31 held the nation’s first competitive lease sale for renewable energy in federal waters.
Rhode Island and Massachusetts wind energy area.
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City Issues Heat Advisory amid Third Head Wave This Summer
Boston, July 17, 2013, — Mayor Thomas M. Menino today issued a heat advisory reminding residents to stay safe and healthy as the City enters its third official heat wave of the season. Mayor Menino and the Boston Public Health Commission are urging residents to stay hydrated and in shaded or air conditioned areas whenever possible.
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Mayor Menino Reminds Residents to Take Precautions as Heat Wave Continues
Boston, July 5, 2013, —With temperatures expected above 90 degrees through the weekend, community centers, pools, and parks all open to keep people cool. BCYF cooling centers open at 1 p.m. today; extended weekend hours
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Boston’s Environment and Energy Chief on President’s Climate Action Plan
By Brian Swett, Chief of Environment and Energy, City of Boston
President Obama’s announcement this week of several federal climate change initiatives will reduce greenhouse gas emissions nationwide and help prepare the country for the impacts of climate change. As a coastal city, Boston is especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Without significant national and international action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Boston and many other cities could face potentially catastrophic impacts within the next 100 years.
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Mayor Menino Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from EPA
Boston, June 26, 2013, — Mayor Thomas M. Menino was recognized today by the US Environmental Protection Agency New England Region with an Environmental Merit Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Menino speaks at Ferdindand building topping off ceremony in Roxbury on June 24.
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Chinese Progressive Association Receives Greenovate Award from Mayor Menino
Boston, MA – Today, the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA) received the Greenovate Award for their work on created access to weatherization jobs and services for the Chinese American community in Boston. CPA helped over a 100 residents receive energy efficiency services and helped employ Chinese Americans as weatherization technicians to insulate and air seal people’s homes.
(L to R) Baoliao Kuang, Mark Liu, Mayor Menino at the award ceremony.
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US 2012 Heat Record “Partly due to Climate Change”
(from chinadaily.com.cn)
The US sweltered under its hottest year on record in 2012, breaking the previous yearly average by 0.6C (1F), the US government has said.Last year the average US temperature was 13C (55.3F) amid widespread drought and a mild winter.
A widespread drought lasted several months and hit almost two-thirds of the country
"These records do not occur like this in an unchanging climate," Kevin Trenberth, head of climate analysis at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, said. "And they are costing many billions of dollars."
The US sweltered under its hottest year on record in 2012, breaking the previous yearly average by 0.6C (1F), the US government has said. Last year the average US temperature was 13C (55.3F) amid widespread drought and a mild winter. Scientists said the heat was caused both by global warming and by natural weather variation. But they said the size of the increase over the previous record year, 1998, was unprecedented. 
The governor of Illinois examines the ravages of the drought
In 2012, 11 weather-related disasters caused at least $1bn (￡623m) in damage, including "superstorm" Sandy and a months-long drought that hit almost two-thirds of the country, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The drought - the worst in the US since the 1950s - contributed to higher temperatures. Without enough moisture in the soil to evaporate into rainfall, air becomes hotter and dryer. US temperature records go back to 1895 and are now based on reports from more than 1,200 weather stations across the contiguous 48 states. Last year was 1.7C (3.2F) warmer than the average for the entire 20th Century, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said. July broke the record for hottest month. Nineteen states set yearly heat records in 2012. Alaska, however, was cooler than average. Chinese Translation气候变化是2012年美国创历史高温的原因之一
图:美国大面积干旱持续数月，几乎2/3的国土面积受影响。
美国政府称，2012年是美国历史上最酷热的一年，平均气温比往年高出0.6摄氏度。
2012年美国出现大范围干旱，并且冬季偏暖，全年平均气温为13摄氏度。
科学家称，美国的热浪受全球变暖和自然气候变化的双重影响。
但他们认为，2012年与1998年的历史最高记录相比，气温上升幅度是空前的。
“这些温度最高记录并不会在气候不发生变化的情况下出现，”美国国家气候研究所的气候分析负责人Kevin Trenberth说道。“同时，它们还造成了几十亿美元的损失。”
2012年，美国的19个州都创下年度历史最高温度的纪录，不过，阿拉斯加却比往年更冷。据美国国家海洋和气候管理局（ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,NOAA)）的数据，在2012年，11起与天气相关的自然灾害造成至少10亿美元的损失，其中包括“超级风暴”桑迪（Sandy）和在全美三分之二国土遭受遭受长达数月的干旱。 这干旱是20世纪50年代以来最为严重的一次，并让温度上升得更高。由于土壤中没有足够的湿气蒸发到空气中，空气变得更为热和更为干燥。 美国上历史最高的气温的年份是在1895年，而现在，根据48个旅店的1200个天气观察站的报告，现在已经达到了历史最高。 全国海洋和气候管理局称，2012年比整个20世纪的平均温度高了1.7摄氏度。在七月打破记录，成为史上温度最高的月份。 -
Air Pollution in Beijing — A Major Concern at Start of 2013
(from chinadaily.com.cn)
China’s leading e-commerce retailers have warned their supplies of air purifiers are dwindling after sales skyrocketed in recent days as heavy smog and haze hit large parts of Central and East China.
A child with device to help breathe clean air is seen in hospital waiting for treatment for cough caused by severe air pollution in Beijing on Jan 14, 2013. [Deng Jia/Asianewsphoto]
