Bush does not bear responsibility for Katrina. It is possible that society as a whole does for the last 150 years. The gulf has, I believe, warmed by about two degrees and that does add fuel to the hurricane’s fire.

However, Bush does bear responsibility for rolling back just about every environmental protection that exists. He does bear responsibility for blocking publication of good science that supports the existence of global warming. He bears great responsibility for not doing a damn thing to protect the environment or to reduce global warming. Insomuch as Katrina puts a spotlight on the issue, Bush deserves to be singled out.

Let’s not even discuss whether global warming contributed to hurricane Katrina’s fury by creating warmer waters in the Gulf or higher sea levels. Let’s instead focus on the fact that sea levels are rising and more and more areas are going to be at or below sea level in the future. What do we do to protect coastal cities?

There is no silver bullet answer to this question. It’s going to require a combination of different techniques and approaches in different areas. In New Orleans, restoring the wetlands is going to be crucial, along with a levee system. A lot more cities are going to have to build levees (or build more levees) in the future.

There are other common-sense things that can be done too. Any at-risk city should be building or raising a series of thoroughfares throughout their cities to be above the water line (by several feet to account for the upcoming rise in sea level).

Cities should also amend their building codes for all future construction. Concrete would be a much better choice. Countries like the Bahamas and Mexico already mandate concrete. (They can’t afford $100 billion to rebuild people’s houses–I’m not entirely sure we can either, but we must and will.) Concrete provides a natural insulation so you don’t have to sandwich layers together. It can withstand hurricanes much better than brick and wood. Post-flooding it isn’t prone to mold.

The human link in the chain will remain the weakest but it is also the easiest and cheapest to fix: just elect competent officials.

A common-sense approach to disaster planning, disaster management, and post-disaster management is essential to saving lives, saving property, and saving our entire economy. After all, how many Katrina’s can we take?

These are not the rantings of a left wing, liberal group. These are the sober facts being reported by well-respected news organizations. I’m just tired. Very, very tired. This administration is never to be held to fault for anything. Speaking out against this administration in any way, shape, or form has been branded anti-American and as giving comfort to the enemy. The enemy this time is Mother Nature and I don’t think she gets any comfort from anything, good or bad, that is said about the Bush Co.

We don’t know if global warming contributed to the catastrophe by warming the waters in the gulf, thus fueling the hurricane. We do know that funds to build up the levees and increase drainage in the city were repeatedly and dismally reduced by this administration. We do know that the response to the crisis has been pathetic (apparently we learned nothing from the post-invasion of Iraq). These are things that should be discussed, and even screamed about. People should be held accountable for some of the lives that are still being lost.

Read on.

From the Chicago Tribune (Published August 31, 2005)
Funding cuts led way to lesser levees

Excerpt: Despite continuous warnings that a catastrophic hurricane could hit New Orleans, the Bush administration and Congress in recent years have repeatedly cut funding for hurricane preparation and flood control. The cuts have delayed construction of levees around the city and stymied an ambitious project to improve drainage in New Orleans’ neighborhoods.

The Times-Picayune (Published August 31, 2005)
Feds’ Disaster Planning Shifts Away From Preparedness

Excerpt: Louisiana’s elected officials were quick to seize on the disaster to press for long-requested federal financial assistance in shoring up Louisiana’s coastline. The coastal wetlands erode at a rate of 24 square miles a year and expose south Louisiana to increasing danger. Until recently, efforts to squeeze coastal protection money out of Washington have met with resistance. The Louisiana congressional delegation urged Congress earlier this year to dedicate a stream of federal money to Louisiana’s coast, only to be opposed by the White House.Ultimately a deal was struck to steer $540 million to the state over four years. The total coast of coastal repair work is estimated to be $14 billion.

The Washington Post
Critics Say Bush Undercut New Orleans Flood Control (Published September 2, 2005)

Excerpt: As recently as July, the White House lobbied unsuccessfully against a plan to spend $1 billion over four years to rebuild coastlines and wetlands, which serve as buffers against hurricanes. More than half of that money goes to Louisiana.

New York Times
Gazing at Breached Levees, Critics See Years of Missed Opportunities (Published September 2, 2005)

San Diego Union Tribune
Bush, lawmakers accused of shortchanging projects (Published September 2, 2005)

The list goes on and on and on.

That’s before we even get to talk about the mismanagement of the crisis…

I’m a big fan of environmentalism that doesn’t change the way we live. Mainly because I think it’s just impossible to get the majority of people to make sacrifices for something that they can’t see as tangible. Any effort by the rest of us is pretty meaningless if the majority isn’t joining in.

I’m also a big fan of architecture and architectural engineering. And science.

That’s why I’m so fascinated by the developments that continue to take place with materials sciences and all of the interactivity between architects and other engineering fields that are working to incorporate energy producing and/or green technologies into new buildings.

A recent article in Wired called Scrubbing Bubbles Hit the Streets talks about a concrete that can break down vehicle exhaust. The “Dives in Misericordia church” in Rome is one example of a building made of self-cleaning concrete. The more expensive material was chosen not because of it’s green properties, but because of it’s self-cleaning properties that would help keep the ultra-white facade of the building pristine for years to come.

The Dives in Misercordia Church

The proposed Freedom Tower, proposed to replace the World Trade Center buildings, will have a wind farm, solar farm, and employ energy efficient technologies all in an effort to reduce it’s impact on the environment. You can read a Wired article about that here. Putting a wind farm on top of a skyscraper just makes sense. It certainly doesn’t make the skyline any less attractive, especially if the turbines are incorporated in narrow tunnels inside the building. Along with solar windows and natural lighting tubes that feed sunlight throughout the building, the impact of these buildings can be greatly reduced.

The Proposed Freedom Tower

Last week HGTV ran a show called I Want That! that featured solar roofing shingles that look like shiny shingles. They actually look more attractive than the ugly black tar shingles you typically see on most roofs and they don’t appear to reflect more light than your average tiled roof, so they won’t blind your neighbors. With subsidies you could recoup the cost of the shingles in 7-10 years and they have a lifespan of 25-30 years.

It’s always fun reading about these projects and it makes you feel good about the future. However, without widespread adoption, we are right back where we started with little to no actual benefit. Hopefully the rising costs of fossil fuels, continuing government subsidies, and some economies of scale will combine to create the perfect storm for widespread adoption of even a few of the green technologies that are out there.

I’m not a big fan of AOL and I never visit their website. (Why would I? I’m not a subscriber.) An article in Wired (which I visit daily) led me to their site, and in turn led me to this page on global warming: “Now You Know… Global Warming.”

It looks like your typical National Geographic tutorial for students but I wanted to link to it because it isn’t just a single article. It’s an entire mini-site with lots of information that can be easily understood by anybody.