The National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration has just released the World Ocean Database 2009, the largest, most comprehensive collection of scientific information about the oceans with records dating as far back as 1800. This product is part of the climate services provided by NOAA.

The database captures 29 categories of scientific information from the oceans, including oxygen levels and chemical tracers, plus information on gases and isotopes that can be used to trace the movement of ocean currents.

More info:

• Ocean climate laboratory products
• National Oceanographic Data Center
• NOAA Satellite & Info Service

Developed by the Energy Information Adminstration of the U.S. Department of Energy, the new Energy Explained, your guide to understanding energy  website includes facts about energy usage in the United States, energy calculators and information about non-renewable and renewable sources of energy.

The aim of World Food Day, proclaimed in 1979 by the Conference of the FAO of the United Nations, is to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, malnutrition and poverty. The Day marks the date of the founding of the FAO in 1945.

Learn more:

• World Food Day USA
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

The new ejournal Climate Change Perspectives offers perspectives of experts and activists in several key countries on effective policies to curb greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate global warming and adapt to irreversible changes, and features an introduction by U.S. special envoy Todd Stern.

Learn more:

• Climate change (Dept. of State)
• Biography of Todd Stern
• Energy & environment (White House)
• Environment & climate change (USRS)

The G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh is now history. The gathering of leaders ended with pledges for cooperation on a range of issues.

The Leaders Statement

Facts on the Summit

President Obama tells the UN Summit on Climate Change that climate change is serious, urgent and growing. “Our generation’s response to this challenge will be judged by history, for if we fail to meet it — boldly, swiftly, and together — we risk consigning future generations to an irreversible catastrophe.”
Full text of the speech

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released Growing Smarter, Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart Growth and Active Aging, a new guidebook to help older adults access information about the importance of environmentally friendly community design and how to become involved in decisions about what is termed as “smart growth.”

Smart growth covers a range of development and conservation strategies that help protect our natural environment and make our communities more attractive, economically stronger and more socially diverse.

More info:

• Aging Initiative
• Environmental Health
• Healthy Aging for Older Adults
• Seniors’ Health

Energy information for a single country is compiled from a variety of sources into a Country Analysis Brief by the Energy Information Administration. A monthly Energy Chronology timeline of important energy market events around the world is also provided from the home page for this product.

Recent reports:

• Oman
• China
• Libya

Taking up the security challenge of climate change by Rymn J. Parsons examines the destabilizing effects of climate change and how the military could be used to mitigate global warming and to assist at-risk peoples and states to adapt to climate change, thereby promoting stability and sustainable security.

The Strategic Studies Institute is part of the U.S. Army War College located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The views expressed in this report are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. government.

The Annual Energy Review is the Energy Information Administration’s primary report of historical annual energy statistics. The report’s emphasis is on long-term trends as statistics are updated regularly in the Monthly Energy Review.

The EIA provides policy-neutral data, forecasts and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.