47 Global Warming News Articles
from 1st Quarter of 2015
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3-31-15 Asian solar spending helps drive renewable energy boom
Asian solar spending helps drive renewable energy boom
Almost half of global investment in new electricity generation last year was in renewables, thanks to a hike in investment by developing countries, says a UN report. Global investment in green energy rose 17 per cent, but developing countries saw a surge of 36 per cent. The big spending was on solar power in Asia, as well as on wind turbines in the North Sea. Chinese investment – up 37 per cent at $83 billion – again beat the US.
3-31-15 US makes climate pledge to UN
US makes climate pledge to UN
The US has pledged to tackle climate change by cutting its carbon emissions 26-28% by 2025. It made the formal offer to the UN as a step towards a global deal in Paris in December. The EU has already promised to cut its emissions by a roughly similar proportion. (Webmaster's comment: Don't worry, it will never get through a Republican congress. Acknowledging reality is not one of their strong points, only protecting business profits and their rich contributors!)
3-31-15 UN: New renewables broke through 100GW barrier in 2014
UN: New renewables broke through 100GW barrier in 2014
New renewable generating capacity broke the 100GW barrier in 2014, equivalent to the entire fleet of nuclear power plants in the US, a UN report shows. Global investment in renewable energy during 2014 increased by 17% from 2013 levels to US$270bn (£183bn). Investors have been attracted by the increasing cost effectiveness and low risk of the solar and wind sectors.
3-27-15 Keeping warming to 2 °C is not enough to save species
Keeping warming to 2 °C is not enough to save species
Is the world's target of limiting global warming to 2 °C too high, or too low? Does it even make scientific sense? The consensus around the target, which was agreed at climate talks in Copenhagen in 2009, seems to be coming unstuck. Back in October, US climate analysts David Victor and Charles Kennel called it scientifically meaningless and politically unachievable. We should get used to the idea of something warmer, they said. Now the target has been denounced as "utterly inadequate", by Petra Tschakert of Penn State University in University Park, who has been involved in a UN review of the target. She wants a 1.5 °C target instead. Writing in the journal Climate Change Responses, she says this lower limit is necessary if we want sea levels to rise less than a metre, to protect half of all coral reefs, and to still have some ice during Arctic summers.
3-27-15 The end of coal?
The end of coal?
To avoid catastrophic climate change, scientists say, we'll have to abandon the cheapest fossil fuel. What's wrong with coal? What do we use coal for? What's Obama's strategy? How have coal states responded? Why is that? So is coal dead? Is 'clean' coal possible?
3-26-15 Major Antarctic ice survey reveals dramatic melting
Major Antarctic ice survey reveals dramatic melting
It's melting from above and below and crumbling at the edges. Antarctica is in trouble. Its frozen edges, or ice shelves, are disappearing into the ocean faster than we thought. Some have thinned by up to 18 per cent in the past two decades, and the process is accelerating. The most rapidly melting ones are likely to be gone within 100 years. As this happens, the ice sheets sitting over Antarctica's land – which holds the equivalent of 60 metres of sea level – will accelerate their descent into the ocean, causing it to rise globally.
3-26-15 Antarctic ice shelf thinning speeds up
Antarctic ice shelf thinning speeds up
Scientists have their best view yet of the status of Antarctica's floating ice shelves and they find them to be thinning at an accelerating rate. In the first half of the last 18 years, the total losses from these tongues of ice that jut out from the continent amounted to 25 cubic km per year. But by the second half, this had jumped to 310 cubic km per annum.
3-25-15 Hopes grow for climate-proof beans
Hopes grow for climate-proof beans
A breakthrough in the development of temperature-resilient beans could help sustain a vital source of protein for millions of people around the globe. Climate projections suggest that 50% of the countries' bean production will be lost by 2050 if farmers do not have access to the new variety of bean.
3-24-15 Solar energy 'could provide 4% of UK electricity by 2020'
Solar energy 'could provide 4% of UK electricity by 2020'
Solar power could provide up to 4% of the UK's electricity by the end of the decade, the government has said. The plummeting cost of solar panels has caused the government to revise upwards its forecast for solar energy use, Energy Secretary Ed Davey said.
3-23-15 Climate change 'biggest threat' to National Trust land
Climate change 'biggest threat' to National Trust land
The National Trust has said climate change is the "biggest threat" to the land it protects. Unveiling a 10-year plan to "nurse the natural environment back to health", the charity said there had been an "alarming decline in wildlife" and time was "running out" to avoid more harm.
3-22-15 Climate change: China official warns of 'huge impact'
Climate change: China official warns of 'huge impact'
Climate change could have a "huge impact" on China, reducing crop yields and harming the environment, the country's top weather scientist has warned, in a rare official admission. Zheng Guogang told Xinhua news agency that climate change could be a "serious threat" to big infrastructure projects.
3-20-15 Fossil fuels: Scientists draw up investment principles
Fossil fuels: Scientists draw up investment principles
Climate scientists at leading universities are joining forces to discuss the basis of a set of principles governing investment in fossil fuels. They include academics at Oxford, Imperial College London and Harvard.
3-19-15 Arctic sea ice extent hits record low for winter
Arctic sea ice extent hits record low for winter
Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has fallen to the lowest recorded level for the winter season, according to US scientists. The minimum this year was 14.5 million sq km, said the National Snow and Ice Data Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder. This is the lowest since 1979, when satellite records began.
3-13-15 Global CO2 emissions 'stalled' in 2014
Global CO2 emissions 'stalled' in 2014
The growth in global carbon emissions stalled last year, according to data from the International Energy Agency. It marks the first time in 40 years that annual CO2 emissions growth has remained stable, in the absence of a major economic crisis, the agency said. Annual global emissions remained at 32 gigatonnes in 2014, unchanged from the previous year. (Webmaster's comment: But there has been no reduction in the rate of increase of CO2 in the atmosphere according to the measurements at the Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii.)
3-13-15 'Long struggle' warning on climate
'Long struggle' warning on climate
America’s chief climate negotiator has warned of the long battle ahead to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Todd Stern told BBC News that by the end of the month, he expects the US to make a “quite ambitious” declaration on climate change. He praised China’s projected offer to the December climate summit in Paris.
3-9-15 A Burst Of Energy
A Burst Of Energy
Inside the world's largest solar power plant. On the grid Desert Sunlight Solar Farm produces 550 megawatts of energy, equal to the output of a conventional power plant.
3-6-15 A climate Skeptic's secret payoff
A climate Skeptic's secret payoff
This week, documents obained through the Freedom of Information Act revealed Soon's climate research was funded by at least %1.2 million from Exxon Mobil, Southern Company, the American Petroleum Institute and the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation - groups with a strong financial state in denying global warming.
3-5-15 Global flood toll to triple by 2030
Global flood toll to triple by 2030
The number of people affected by river flooding worldwide could nearly triple in the next 15 years, analysis shows. 50 million people could be affected by flooding in 15 years' time. Climate change and population growth are driving the increase, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).
3-2-15 Signs of spring 'shifting' in trees
Signs of spring 'shifting' in trees
Scientists say signs of spring are appearing earlier in woodlands because of temperature rises in past decades. They predict that climate change will alter the order in which different trees start to grow leaves, with long-term implications for the survival of some woodland plants.
2-24-15 US sea level north of New York City 'jumped by 128mm'
US sea level north of New York City 'jumped by 128mm'
Sea levels along the northeast coast of the US rose by record levels during 2009-2010, a study has found. Sea levels north of New York City rose by 128mm in two years. Coastal areas will need to prepare for short term and extreme sea level events, say US scientists. Climate models suggest extreme sea level rises will become more common this century.
2-21-15 I'm always drawn back to the ice
I'm always drawn back to the ice
The Arctic is transforming so fast it's virtually impossible for science to keep up, but Antje Boetius is givng it her best shot.
2-14-15 'Next Pinatubo' a test of geoengineering
'Next Pinatubo' a test of geoengineering
Scientists who study ideas to engineer the climate to mitigate global warming say we should be ready to deploy an armada of instrumentation when Earth has its next major volcanic eruption. Data gathered in the high atmosphere would be invaluable in determining whether so-called "geoengineering" solutions had any merit at all.
2-13-15 Party leaders make joint climate commitment
Party leaders make joint climate commitment
The UK's political leaders have pledged to work together to combat climate change, whatever the election result. In a joint statement, David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg said climate change was one of the most serious threats facing the world. They said climate change threatens not just the environment but also security, prosperity and poverty eradication.
2-13-15 UN agrees draft text for Paris climate summit
UN agrees draft text for Paris climate summit
UN climate talks in Geneva have ended with agreement on a formal draft negotiating text for the summit in Paris in December. The aim is to have a new global climate agreement in place by the end of 2015.
2-12-15 US 'at risk of mega-drought future'
US 'at risk of mega-drought future'
The American south-west and central plains could be on course for super-droughts the like of which they have not witnessed in over a 1,000 years. Places like California are already facing very dry conditions, but these are quite gentle compared with some periods in the 12th and 13th Centuries. Study suggests events unprecedented in the last millennium may lie ahead.
2-12-15 Ocean carbon release 'ended last Ice Age'
Ocean carbon release 'ended last Ice Age'
Carbon dioxide escaping from the depths of the ocean heralded the end of the last Ice Age, a study suggests. Its release into the atmosphere drove the shift towards a warmer period, according to scientists.
2-9-15 Scientists take to the stage on climate change
Scientists take to the stage on climate change
The lives of scientists have been played out on screen in recent months, from The Imitation Game to The Theory of Everything, which are up for several film awards. Now researchers are appearing on stage as themselves, to explore topics such as climate change, writes Helen Briggs.
2-4-15 Ancient climate records 'back predictions'
Ancient climate records 'back predictions'
Records of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere millions of years ago support current predictions on climate change, say scientists. Evidence from the last warm period in the Earth's ancient past suggests the climate will respond as expected to rising CO2 levels. In the Pliocene Epoch, the Arctic was warm and green.
2-1-15 Treading Water by Laura Parker
Treading Water by Laura Parker
Florida's bill is coming due, as the costs of climate change add up around the globe. Adaptations will buy time, but can they save Miami?
2-1-15 An Altered South Florida
An Altered South Florida
The coast would be radically changed by five feet of sea-level rise in 2100, as shown here. This projection is on the high end of the plausible scenarios-though not the highest-under consideration by multiple agencies planning for Florida's future.
2-1-15 The Cost of Climate Change in 2050
The Cost of Climate Change in 2050
Losses in 2050 if an extreme weather event overwhelmes sea-level-rise defenses of urban areas.
2-1-15 Gideon Mendel's Portraits From a Drowning World
Gideon Mendel's Portraits From a Drowning World
Since 2007 Gideon Mendel has been strapping on waders, flagging down boats, and taking his Rolleiflex film camera into floodwaters around the world. His ongoing project, "Drowning World" features seemingly serene portraits of flood victims in unexpected places. The project is Mendel's personal response to climate change, taking viewers beyond statistics and into the experiences of the people directly affected by the floods. (Webmaster's comment: It's happening now as you read this in many places in the world. Make no mistake. We are next.)
1-30-15 Will the falling oil price undermine green energy?
Will the falling oil price undermine green energy?
Common sense would surely tell you that if you slash the cost of one source of energy, then alternatives look less appealing. However, things are not so straightforward. The world of energy has changed.
1-29-15 Climate concern 'linked to floods'
Climate concern 'linked to floods'
Public belief in the reality of climate change has risen in Britain, partly because of the 2013 winter floods, according to a report. Concern has almost returned to the high levels reported in 2005, say University of Cardiff researchers. Britons named climate change as a major issue facing the UK alongside crime and education in a national survey. Many see climate change as contributing at least in part to floods, especially when they have been affected directly. (Webmaster's comment: When it finally comes home and affects us then we get concerned and want to do something, but by then it's too late. Thinking ahead is not one of human's strong suits.)
1-29-15 Icebergs 'have sound signature'
Icebergs 'have sound signature'
Listening to icebergs could help to assess the extent of glacier melt, scientists report. Underwater microphones captured the sound of ice calving away from a glacier in Norway in August 2013. Researchers in Poland, the UK and US have found different types of icebergs have their own acoustic signature as they calve away from the ice. Monitoring this could help to determine how much ice is being lost and the effect this could have on global sea level rise.
1-28-15 'World can cut carbon emissions and live well'
'World can cut carbon emissions and live well'
Huge efforts will need to be made to protect forests. Forests around the world will need to be expanded by 5-15% to limit global temperature rises to 2C. And crop yields must rise by 40-60%.
1-27-15 No US-India deal on climate change
No US-India deal on climate change
US President Barack Obama's "historic" climate deal with China last November raised expectations that his visit to India would produce something similar. The world's largest carbon emitter, China, announced for the first time that its emissions would peak by 2030. The second biggest polluter, the US, said it would cut carbon emissions by 26%-28% by 2025 compared with 2005 levels. India's new government led by Narendra Modi had announced that the country would generate as much as 100 Gigawatts (GW) of solar power by 2022. (Webmaster's comment: They won't be buying those solar cells from America. American manufactured solar cells are more costly and less efficient than those manufactured in China. We in America can't buy them from China either. America charges a tariff on Chinese solar cells so they cost as much or more than the less efficient American solar cells. We are own worst enemy!)
1-26-15 Study: Global warming 'doubles risk' of extreme weather
Study: Global warming 'doubles risk' of extreme weather
Extreme weather arising from a climate phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean will get much worse as the world warms, according to climate modelling. Parts of the world will have weather patterns that switch between extremes of wet and dry, say scientists. The US will see more droughts while flooding will become more common in the western Pacific, research suggests.
1-16-15 2014 was hottest year on record
2014 was hottest year on record
2014 was the hottest year on record across the globe, with global temperatures 0.68C (1.24F) above the long-term average, US government scientists have confirmed. The average for sea and land temperatures "was the highest among all years since record keeping began in 1880," said a US report. The results mean that 14 of the 15 warmest years on record have occurred since the turn of the century. (Webmaster's comment: It's only the conservatives in govenment supported by the greed of the rich (millions and billions is not enough) that keeps us from solving this problem in a way beneficial for all.)
1-14-15 Rate of sea-level rise 'steeper'
Rate of sea-level rise 'steeper'
The rate at which the global oceans have risen in the past two decades is more significant than previously recognised, say US-based scientists. Different effects in different places can either mask or exaggerate the signal.
1-13-15 Low-energy urbanisation 'can help climate goals'
Low-energy urbanisation 'can help climate goals'
A study of 274 cities has helped shed light on energy consumption in urban areas and what can be done to make future urbanisation more efficient. Globally, cities are best placed to mitigate emissions as urban areas are much more energy intensive than rural areas, say researchers.
1-10-15 California Drought Worst Since A.D. 800
California Drought Worst Since A.D. 800
The ongoing California drought is the driest period in the state's history since before Charlemagne ruled the Holy Roman Empire, a new study concludes.
1-7-15 Fossil fuels: The 'untouchable reserves'
Fossil fuels: The 'untouchable reserves'
Is the "carbon bubble" wobbling in the face of a new assault? A paper in the journal Nature has lent support to the notion that combating climate change and developing more fossil fuels are mutually contradictory. Its key message is that keeping global temperature rise within 2C means leaving in the ground 80% of known coal reserves, 50% of gas and 30% of oil.
1-7-15 Most fossil fuels 'unburnable' under 2C climate target
Most fossil fuels 'unburnable' under 2C climate target
Most of the world's fossil fuel reserves will need to stay in the ground if dangerous global warming is to be avoided, modelling work suggests. Over 80% of coal, 50% of gas and 30% of oil reserves are "unburnable" under the goal to limit global warming to no more than 2C, say scientists. The report raises huge dilemmas for countries seeking to exploit their natural resources.
1-7-15 How much oil must stay buried to avert 2 °C warming?
How much oil must stay buried to avert 2 °C warming?
WE MUST stop burning coal in just 15 years, and oil in 25, unless we find a way to bury carbon. That's according to Christophe McGlade and Paul Ekins at University College London, who have calculated how much fossil carbon needs to stay underground for a reasonable chance of avoiding dangerous climate change.
1-6-15 Australia records third-warmest year in 2014
Australia records third-warmest year in 2014
Australia has recorded its third-warmest calendar year since national records began in 1910, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says.
1-5-15 2014 confirmed as UK's warmest year
2014 confirmed as UK's warmest year
Last year was the UK's warmest since records began in 1910, the Met Office has said.
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47 Global Warming News Articles
from 1st Quarter of 2015
Global Warming News Articles from 4th Quarter of 2014
