59 Global Warming News Articles
from 4th Quarter of 2014
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12-19-14 Antarctic photo science archive unlocked
Antarctic photo science archive unlocked
Aerial photos from the 1940s and 1950s are being used to probe the climate history of the Antarctic Peninsula.

12-18-14 Carbon dioxide satellite mission returns first global maps
Carbon dioxide satellite mission returns first global maps
Nasa's Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO-2) has returned its first global maps of the greenhouse gas CO2. The new maps contain only a few weeks of data in October and November, but demonstrate the promise of the mission.

12-18-14 Shrinking ship bubbles 'could counteract climate change'
Shrinking ship bubbles 'could counteract climate change'
Getting ships to generate smaller bubbles as they sail across the oceans could counteract the impact of climate change, a study suggests. Scientists from University of Leeds, UK, say this would create a brighter wake behind a vessel and reflect more sunlight back into space.

12-16-14 Arctic ground squirrels unlock permafrost carbon
Arctic ground squirrels unlock permafrost carbon
Arctic ground squirrels could play a greater role in climate change than was previously thought. Scientists have found that the animals are hastening the release of greenhouse gases from the permafrost - a vast, frozen store of carbon.

12-15-14 Amazon peatlands are 'most carbon-dense ecosystem'
Amazon peatlands are 'most carbon-dense ecosystem'
The most dense store of carbon in Amazonia is not above ground in trees but below ground in peatlands, a study has calculated. Protecting these landscapes is vital if efforts to curb climate change are to be successful, scientists added.

12-14-14 Arctic sea ice volume holds up in 2014
Arctic sea ice volume holds up in 2014
Arctic sea ice may be more resilient than many observers recognise. While global warming seems to have set the polar north on a path to floe-free summers, the latest data from Europe's Cryosat mission suggests it may take a while yet to reach those conditions.

12-14-14 UN members agree deal at Lima climate talks
UN members agree deal at Lima climate talks
United Nations members have reached an agreement on how countries should tackle climate change.

12-13-14 Lima climate talks: Peru summit continues through night
Lima climate talks: Peru summit continues through night
Talks have continued well past the official close of business on the final day of a key UN climate summit in Peru aimed at advancing a new global treaty. Long-running divisions between rich and poor countries are hampering progress.

12-12-14 Lima climate talks: Old divisions surface between rich and poor
Lima climate talks: Old divisions surface between rich and poor
Climate talks in Lima have entered their final day with long-running issues still dividing the parties, despite an impassioned appeal from US Secretary of State John Kerry.

12-10-14 What's at stake at this week's climate summit in Lima
What's at stake at this week's climate summit in Lima
THE world is set to warm by more than 2 °C by 2100, which puts us on track to dangerous climate change. But UN climate negotiators meeting in Peru's capital Lima this week are optimistic that they can reach an agreement on planet-warming gases. (Webmaster's comment: Excellent article with 4 excellent charts and accurate facts showing exactly what's going on with the climate.)

12-10-14 Water woes in Lima: A glimpse of our future?
Water woes in Lima: A glimpse of our future?
As UN negotiators meet in Lima to work out a plan for dealing with rising temperatures, Matt McGrath visited a community paying a high price for water supplies threatened by climate change and increasing demand. Is Peru's experience a sign of things to come? Paying for water delivered by truck is part of the daily routine for many inhabitants of Nuevo Pachacutec.

12-10-14 Global group of Catholic bishops call for end to fossil fuels
Global group of Catholic bishops call for end to fossil fuels
Catholic bishops from around the world are calling for an end to fossil fuel use and increased efforts to secure a global climate treaty.

12-8-14 Australia worst performer on climate change - report
Australia worst performer on climate change - report
Australia was the worst performing industrial country in terms of climate change in 2014, a new report has said. It ranked Denmark as the best performing nation, followed by Sweden and the UK. United States ranked 45th out of 58. China ranked 46th.

12-8-14 Stern warning: Legally-binding climate deal 'not necessary'
Stern warning: Legally-binding climate deal 'not necessary'
A legally-binding international treaty may not be the best way to tackle climate change. The UN talks in Lima are entering their second week. Negotiators from 194 countries are heading into a second week of UN talks.

12-6-14 Peru say glaciers 'melting at alarming rate'
Peru say glaciers 'melting at alarming rate'
Experts have warned that Peru's glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, threatening the survival of an estimated 30 million people. The water from the glaciers is used to generate hydro power and for irrigation. Scientists say the glaciers have lost more than one-fifth of their mass in just three decades due to global warming.

12-4-14 Warm water undermining Antarctica's ice shelves
Warm water undermining Antarctica's ice shelves
The seemingly inevitable collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet and the associated sea-level rise are happening faster than previously thought.

12-4-14 Climate change: UN projects for poorest 'feared frozen'
Climate change: UN projects for poorest 'feared frozen'
Hundreds of United Nations-backed projects to help the world's poorest countries cope with the most urgent impacts of climate change have not been acted upon, the BBC has learnt. Many of these were proposed years ago and may have to be abandoned. Experts and officials from the world's 48 least developed countries say lack of funding is the main reason.

12-3-14 World on course for warmest year
World on course for warmest year
This year is in the running to be the hottest globally and for the UK since records began, early estimates show. In the first 10 months of 2014, global average air temperature was about 0.57 Celsius above the long-term average. "The provisional information for 2014 means that fourteen of the fifteen warmest years on record have all occurred in the 21st century."

12-3-14 Major deltas 'could be drowned'
Major deltas 'could be drowned'
Sea-level rise and river engineering "spell disaster" for many of the world's river deltas, say scientists. Half a billion people live in deltas, but the newly published research suggests many of these areas are set to be inundated by rising seas. Some of the lowest lying, including the Mekong and Mississippi, are particularly vulnerable.

12-3-14 Growing appetite for meat 'risks climate targets'
Growing appetite for meat 'risks climate targets'
An "awareness gap" about emissions from livestock could hamper efforts to curb climate change, a report warns. A survey showed that twice as many respondents thought emissions from transport were greater than from the global livestock sector. Yet emissions from the two sectors are almost equal, the study explained.

12-1-14 Australia has hottest spring on record as temperatures soar
Australia has hottest spring on record as temperatures soar
November was the hottest month and ended the hottest spring on record for Australia, meteorologists say. The soaring temperatures could make 2014 Australia's hottest year on record.

11-30-14 Date Australia sweats over extreme hot weather
Australia sweats over extreme hot weather
Australia has always suffered from bouts of extreme hot weather but the number and intensity of heatwaves is on the rise, prompting a rethink of how the country lives, works and plays in the sun.

11-30-14 UN climate talks begin as global temperatures break records
UN climate talks begin as global temperatures break records
UN climate negotiators are meeting in Peru to try to advance talks on a new global agreement. One hundred and ninety-five nations have committed to finalising a new climate pact in Paris by 2015's end. In September, millions of people marched in support of a new approach to climate change.

11-27-14 Geoengineering the planet: first experiments take shape
Geoengineering the planet: first experiments take shape
IF WE can't reduce emissions enough, what else can cool the planet? We need to find out if geoengineering works, and soon, say a group of atmospheric scientists. Engineering the planet's weather and climate is a highly controversial idea. That's why we need experiments, the group say, and they want the first to start in two years' time. The frontrunners are schemes to alter the atmosphere to reflect more of the sun's rays back into space, or to change clouds so that they let more of Earth's heat out instead of trapping it.

11-27-14 How could we intervene to change the climate?
How could we intervene to change the climate?
Imagine the trouble that would ensue if China resorted to desperate measures to cool its climate but the result was that the Indian Monsoon suddenly failed. Or that India tried to head off a rise in temperatures only to find that Pakistan suffered from massive flooding. Or that the United States took drastic action to fight global warming and then saw that great tracts of Africa were suddenly left without any rain.

11-26-14 Risk from extreme weather set to rise
Risk from extreme weather set to rise
Climate change and population growth will hugely increase the risk to people from extreme weather, a report says. They estimate the risk to individuals from floods will rise more than four-fold and the drought risk will treble.

11-25-14 Geo-engineering: Climate fixes 'could harm billions'
Geo-engineering: Climate fixes 'could harm billions'
Schemes to tackle climate change could prove disastrous for billions of people, but might be required for the good of the planet, scientists say. This is the so far unproven science of intervening in the climate to bring down temperatures. Using aerosols to block solar radiation represents one approach to geo-engineering. Injecting aerosols into the stratosphere mimics the cooling effects of volcanoes. But blocking the Sun's rays could have undesirable effects, such as disrupting the Indian Monsoon. Dumping iron into the sea was seen as a way to stimulate plankton blooms, and trap carbon. (Webmaster's comment: History has shown repeatedly that mankind's interventions to get rid of some animal or plant, or to improve some environmental condition, ALWAYS leads to a disaster that's just as bad as or worse than the original problem. Reducing mankind's greenhouse gas emissions is really the only solution that will not harm or kill billions of people.)
Also see the news article Geoengineering plan could have 'unintended' side effect

11-25-14 Warming world could make it harder for planes to take off
Warming world could make it harder for planes to take off
Air travel is about to become even more frustrating. Warmer global temperatures will make it tougher for planes to take off, tightening restrictions on just how much luggage or how many people can come aboard, a new study suggests. Higher temperatures make air less dense, reducing the lift force on planes' wings. Because heavier planes are harder to speed up, they'll need more runway distance to reach their minimum takeoff speed in warmer weather.

11-20-14 Climate fund receives $9.3bn pledge
Climate fund receives $9.3bn pledge
Thirty nations meeting in Berlin have pledged $9.3bn (£6bn) for a fund to help developing countries cut emissions and prepare for climate change. One UK minister said rich nations must help developing nations struggling with the effects of climate change.

11-19-14 Warming world means a hike in US lightning strikes
Warming world means a hike in US lightning strikes
We already know that climate change is increasing the likelihood of storms, tornadoes and heatwaves. Now a model of how climate change will affect lightning patterns in the US predicts that the number of lightning bolts will increase by 50 per cent over the next century.

11-19-14 US and China's emission cuts may not be enough
US and China's emission cuts may not be enough
IT HAS been a remarkable fortnight for climate change announcements. First came coordinated Chinese and US promises to cut their greenhouse gas emissions. Then the US and Japan pledged a total of $4.5 billion to an international fund to help poorer countries deal with global warming. The moves are being made ahead of the next round of international climate talks, which kick off in Lima, Peru, on 1 December. The big question is will they be enough to help keep global warming below 2 °C, a politically agreed threshold generally deemed to represent the level of dangerous climate change.

11-14-14 We're Tired of Telling You These Things, but Last Month Was the Hottest October on Record
We're Tired of Telling You These Things, but Last Month Was the Hottest October on Record
After a relatively cool start-January and March were only the fourth- or fifth-warmest months globally, depending on the data set you choose-this year has already featured the warmest April on record, the warmest May on record, the warmest June on record, the warmest August on record, the warmest September on record, and the warmest ocean temperatures on record for any month (twice). Buried within the surge of warmth was the warmest six months on record (April to September), and last month capped off the warmest 12-month period on record.

11-13-14 Climate change 'will make lightning strike more'
Climate change 'will make lightning strike more'
Global warming will significantly increase the frequency of lightning strikes, according to US research. "For every two lightning strikes in 2000, there will be three lightning strikes in 2100," said David Romps, at the University of California, Berkeley. As well as triggering more wild fires, he said, this would alter the chemistry of the atmosphere.

11-12-14 Record-breaking ocean temperatures wreak havoc
Record-breaking ocean temperatures wreak havoc
Warm water in the North Pacific could be cancelling out an El Niño event and is expected to threaten valuable marine life. THE world's oceans are the hottest they've ever been in the modern record. An analysis shared exclusively with New Scientist suggests that the global slowdown in the rise of air temperatures is probably over, and we are entering another period of rapid warming.

11-12-14 China climate deal sets stage for US political warfare
China climate deal sets stage for US political warfare
It is a historic climate change agreement between the world's two largest economies. At least, that's the way US Secretary of State John Kerry is describing the plan to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 26%-28% below 2005 levels by 2025 and halt the growth of Chinese emissions by 2030. But Republicans scored a sweeping victory in last week's mid-term elections, and they are firmly opposed to any new efforts to use government regulation to address climate change.

11-12-14 Will Obama's climate surprise deliver a global deal?
Will Obama's climate surprise deliver a global deal?
Back in 2009, the US signed the Copenhagen Accord and pledged that they would cut their emissions in 2025 by 30% compared to 2005 levels. Today, in an "historic" agreement announced with China, the US are committing to cutting their emissions by less than that, (26-28% by the same date) and the world is cheering. In the agreement, the Chinese promise not just to peak their emissions by 2030 but to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in their energy mix to 20% by the same date. Strangely, earlier this year a report from analysts GlobalData suggested that China is already on course to get 20% of its energy from greener sources by 2020.

11-12-14 US and China leaders in 'historic' greenhouse gas emissions pledge
US and China leaders in 'historic' greenhouse gas emissions pledge
China and the US have unveiled new pledges on greenhouse gas emissions, as the leaders of the two countries met for talks in Beijing. US President Barack Obama said the move was "historic", as he set a new goal of reducing US levels between 26%-28% by 2025, compared with 2005 levels.

11-11-14 Fossil fuel promises are being broken, report says
Fossil fuel promises are being broken, report says
World governments have been breaking promises to phase out subsidies for fossil fuels, a report says. The Overseas Development Institute says G20 nations spent almost £56bn ($90bn) a year finding oil, gas and coal. It comes despite evidence that two thirds of existing reserves must be left in the ground if the world is to avoid dangerous climate change.

11-10-14 Robots controlled from Norfolk seek sea change data in Antarctica
Robots controlled from Norfolk seek sea change data in Antarctica
Robots roaming the Southern Ocean, controlled from Norfolk by satellite, are collecting information on how warm water is melting the Antarctic ice cap. Scientists hope to predict more accurately the rate at which ice sheets retreat and sea levels rise.

11-5-14 Methane cuts won't buy us time on climate change
Methane cuts won't buy us time on climate change
WE CAN'T get around it. To prevent dangerous climate change, there is no alternative to ending human emissions of carbon dioxide. Suggestions that cutting other greenhouse gases such as methane might do part of the job are based on faulty accounting, according to a new study.

11-2-14 Fossil fuels should be phased out by 2100 says IPCC
Fossil fuels should be phased out by 2100 says IPCC
The unrestricted use of fossil fuels should be phased out by 2100 if the world is to avoid dangerous climate change, a UN-backed expert panel says. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says in a stark report that most of the world's electricity can - and must - be produced from low-carbon sources by 2050. If not, the world faces "severe, pervasive and irreversible" damage. The UN said inaction would cost "much more" than taking the necessary action.

10-30-14 IPCC preparing 'most important' document on climate change
IPCC preparing 'most important' document on climate change
Scientists and officials are meeting in Denmark to edit what's been termed the "most important document" on climate change. The IPCC Synthesis Report will summarise the causes and impacts of - and solutions to - rising temperatures. It will be the bedrock of talks on a new global climate deal.

10-29-14 EU emissions target isn't as ambitious as it seems
EU emissions target isn't as ambitious as it seems
IT SOUNDS bold. European Union leaders last week signed off on an agreement to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. But the plan is not as ambitious as it seems. For one thing, the target is a cut of 40 per cent compared with greenhouse gas emissions in 1990 - nearly 25 years ago. Since then, the EU has made cuts of almost 20 per cent, mainly through burning less coal and outsourcing heavy industries to developing countries. So it is virtually halfway there already. (Webmaster's comment: And how does outsourcing solve the problem? Outsourcing just moves the greenhouse gas emissions elsewhere.)

10-26-14 Australia green energy firms hit by target cuts
Australia green energy firms hit by target cuts
The Australian government has never hidden its scepticism about climate change or renewable energy but its decision last week to cut support for cleaner energy sources still left the renewable energy industry reeling. Companies in Australia's renewable energy sector said business had been growing.

10-24-14 Science chief warns on acid oceans
Science chief warns on acid oceans
The UK's chief scientist says the oceans face a serious and growing risk from man-made carbon emissions. The oceans absorb about a third of the CO2 that's being produced by industrial society, and this is changing the chemistry of seawater. Sir Mark Walport warns that the acidity of the oceans has increased by about 25% since the industrial revolution, mainly thanks to manmade emissions. CO2 reacts with the sea water to form carbonic acid.

10-24-14 EU leaders agree CO2 emissions cut
EU leaders agree CO2 emissions cut
EU leaders have reached a landmark deal to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels. The binding decision came after heated discussions at a summit in Brussels, as some members had argued that their varied interests should be protected. Correspondents say the final deal is a compromise between countries that rely heavily on coal, and those willing to instil greater emissions cuts.

10-23-14 'Messy compromise' expected on EU climate targetsTitle
'Messy compromise' expected on EU climate targetsTitle
EU leaders are meeting in Brussels to try and agree the Union's climate and energy targets for 2030. A plan to cut CO2 by 40% from 1990 levels is on the table as well as new targets for renewables and energy efficiency. Europe is seen as a global leader in cutting carbon - and the EU is committed to reducing CO2 by 80-95% by 2050.

10-20-14 Europe emission targets 'will fail to protect climate'
Europe emission targets 'will fail to protect climate'
Europe's leaders are about to consign the Earth to the risk of dangerous climate change, a UN expert says. But a spokesman for the Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said: "Our 40% target is in line with science as it puts us right on track to meet our 2050 goal of cutting emissions by 80%-95%. This is what developed countries will need to reduce by 2050 according to the IPCC to keep global warming below 2C." (Webmaster's comment: And what about the United States? Forget it! Our rich need more money.)

10-18-14 Warming blamed for ice shelf collapse
Warming blamed for ice shelf collapse
Meltwater pressure may have triggered Larsen B's breakdown.

10-15-14 What would a world without fossil fuels look like?
What would a world without fossil fuels look like?
What's the historical alternative to coal and gas? Our advanced civilisation is built on easily exploited coal, oil and gas. New Scientist explores an alternative history that holds lessons for us all.

10-14-14 Pentagon warns the US military of climate change
Pentagon warns the US military of climate change
Climate change does not respect borders and we must work together to fight its threats. These are not the words of a tree-hugger, but the US Department of Defense.

10-14-14 Italy pushes ahead with 'next generation' biofuels from waste
Italy pushes ahead with 'next generation' biofuels from waste
Italy will become the first country in Europe to legally require "advanced biofuels" in cars and trucks, the BBC has learned. Made from waste, the new fuels are said to reduce the amount of land taken out of food production.

10-13-14 Climate change: Models 'underplay plant CO2 absorption'
Climate change: Models 'underplay plant CO2 absorption'
Global climate models have underestimated the amount of CO2 being absorbed by plants, according to new research.Scientists say that between 1901 and 2010, living things absorbed 16% more of the gas than previously thought. The authors say it explains why models consistently overestimated the growth rate of carbon in the atmosphere. But experts believe the new calculation is unlikely to make a difference to global warming predictions. (Webmaster's comment: No matter where CO2 goes, CO2 in the atmosphere keeps going up and the temperature keeps going up. That's an irrefutable link!)

10-9-14 Glasgow University to sell its fossil fuel investments
Glasgow University to sell its fossil fuel investments
Glasgow University has become the first in the UK to announce that it will sell off the shares it holds in companies that produce fossil fuels. There has been a global divestment movement. Campaigners say that, so far, 181 institutions and 656 individuals have agreed to withdraw their money from fossil fuels.

10-8-14 The world is warming faster than we thought
The world is warming faster than we thought
IT'S worse than we thought. The oceans of the southern hemisphere may have been sucking up more than twice as much of the heat trapped by our excess greenhouse gases than previously calculated. If this is true, we have underestimated the extent to which the world has been warming.

10-5-14 Different depths reveal ocean warming trends
Different depths reveal ocean warming trends
The deeper half of the ocean did not get measurably warmer in the last decade, but surface layers have been warming faster than we thought since the 1970s, two new studies suggest. Because the sea absorbs 90% of the heat caused by human activity, its warmth is a central concern in climate science.

10-1-14 When the Snows Fail
When the Snows Fail
The American West faces persistent drought, whether or not relief comes this winter. When will the hard choices be made? 430,000 acres in California will be left fallow this year due to drought. Shasta Lake water levels are 65 percent below the historic average.

10-1-14 Draining California
Draining California
Stretching between the Pacific coast and the Sierra Nevada and Cascades, the Central Valley is the fertile expanse that makes California the U.S. agricultural leader. Going months without rain, the region was transformed into year-round cropland by manipulating the flow of water.

10-1-14 Blame climate change for heatwaves that struck in 2013
Blame climate change for heatwaves that struck in 2013
THE verdict is in: climate change is guilty. Without human greenhouse gas emissions, the heatwaves that occurred across the world in 2013 would have been very unlikely.

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59 Global Warming News Articles
from 4th Quarter of 2014

Global Warming News Articles from 3rd Quarter of 2014