The 2010 hurricane season began on June 1, amid widespread concern over the potential for a large storm to exacerbate the damage from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. As the map above shows, catastrophic hurricanes (Category 3 or higher) regularly hit the southern coast of the United States. NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) predicts an 85 percent chance of an “above normal” hurricane season this year, due to conditions including exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic Ocean tropical zone.

According to WRI's report "Over Heating: Financial Risks from Water Constrains on Power Generation in Asia," the majority of existing and new power generating capacity for publicly listed companies in South and Southeast Asia are located in areas classified as water scarce and stressed.

Offshore oil production in the U.S. portion of the Gulf of Mexico represents 30 percent of total U.S. oil production, with 35.6 million acres (an area the size of Maine) under active lease. As oil reserves in shallow water are declining, production is moving into ever-deeper water, incurring greater risk. The Deepwater Horizon disaster illustrates the safety, economic, and environmental risks inherent in this trend.

Electricity generation in the Midwest accounts for approximately 37 percent of the region's total GHG emissions. To a large extent, the emissions from electricity generation are determined by the fuel mix. This figure compares Midwest state electricity fuel mixes to those of the region, the nation, and the world.

The figure shows that the Midwest as a whole generates approximately 20 percent more electricity from coal--the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel source--than the national average and 28 percent more than the world average.