Media discuss the links between Cyclone Pam and climate change
News
Cyclone Pam: Did climate change cause Vanuatudamage?
The BBC is one of many outlets asking if climate changecaused (or contributed to) Cyclone Pam, without finding a clearanswer. Carbon Brief also tried to untangle the question. A range ofscientists tellThe Guardianclimate change isaggravating storm damage. The paper carries a comment from UN grandees Mary Robinson and GroHarlem Brundtlandon the human costs of climatechange. Reuterssays Pacific nations plan tohighlight Cyclone Pam at climate talks while RTCC reportscomments from Frenchforeign minister Laurent Fabius that most natural disasters are nowlinked to climate change.
Climate and energy news
The argument for divesting from fossil fuels isbecoming an overwhelming one
Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger explains why his paper haslaunched a campaign asking the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trustto take their money out of fossil fuels. A Q&A explainsthe details of the campaign. The paper alsoreports on Oxford University’s deferral of a decision ondivestmentand has a comment from Oxford graduate Jeremy Leggettonwhy he promises to hand back his degree if his alma mata fails todivest. Finally it reportson Norway’s sovereignwealth fund dropping 50 coal firms, but increasing investments inother coal companies.
Riding the waves: The challenge of harnessingocean power
New technologies mean the wave and tidal energy sector couldbe set to grow, says the BBC’s Richard Anderson. He looks at eightideas being tested off Orkney, including seabed-tethered kites thatcan ‘fly’ on ocean currents. Global ocean energy capacity stands atjust 0.5 gigawatts, Anderson notes, a fraction of the 400 gigawattsfor wind power.
Climate politics waters down UN disaster riskdeal
A draft international framework designed to reduce the risksof natural disasters is being weakened, reports RTCC. The deal,designed to replace an existing one that expires this year, isbeing negotiated in Sendai, Japan this week. Targets for 2030 inthe framework now mostly lack specific numbers, using subjectivelanguage instead, RTCC says.
Climate and energy comment
Shell’s climate change strategy: narcissistic,paranoid, and psychopathic
The choices of this generation of oil bosses will be”decisive… for the eventual success or failure of our response toclimate change”, writes former diplomat John Ashton in an openletter to Shell chief Ben van Beurden. The letter responds to arecent van Beurden speech, calling it a “mask” covering a”manifesto for the oil and gas status quo” with shades of”narcissim”, “paranoia” and “psycopathy”.
Climate Politics: Does the IPCC Have aFuture?
Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, TheGuardian
The debate on climate change has shifted from a scientificone 40 years ago to a very political one today, says climatescientist Jean-Pascal van Ypersele. The Intergovernmental Panel onClimate Change (IPCC) retains an “essential mandate” despite thatshift, says van Ypersele. He is hoping to succeed former IPCC chairRajendra Pachauri.
How significant is news that CO2 energy emissionsstalled in 2014?
The significance of a pause in global carbon emissionincreases cannot be overstated, says Richard Black, as it showsit’s possible to grow the economy without growing emissions. Butstabilising emissions isn’t enough to secure a two degrees world,Black writes. World Bank climate envoy Rachel Kyte also says thenews shows growth is possible while cutting emissions,Bloomberg reports.
New climate science
High carbon and biodiversity costs from convertingAfrica’s wet savannahs tocropland
Wet savannahs and shrublands of Africa will not, as has beensuggested, be able to provide a large reserve of potentialcroplands to produce crops or bioenergy with low carbon andbiodiversity costs, according to a new study. A new study findsonly a small percentage of the land has the potential to below-carbon sources of maize (~2%) or soybeans (9.5 to11.5%).
Consistent evidence of increasing Antarcticaccumulation with warming
Climate change could, counterintuitively, bring more snow toAntarctica, Warmer air transports more moisture, which falls assnow because it is so cold. The new study, which uses ice cores andregional and global climate models, projects a 5% increase insnowfall for every degree of temperature rise. But extra snow willalso increase the ice flow to the ocean, partly countering thegain, say the scientists.
Efficient use of land to meet sustainable energyneeds
The amount of energy that could be derived form solar powerin California without impinging on the landscape is three to fivetimes more than required to meet demand across the state, a newstudy finds. This sheds light on the question of how far developingsolar energy might be complicated by land and environmentalconstraints, say the authors. The answer is that is won’t. Atleast, not in California.
Other stories
- Could Dyson’s latest investment give the electricvehicle market a boost? (BusinessGreen)
- Could Absolute Consensus on Global Warming Come ina Suitcase? (Inside Climate News)
- Cyclone Pam raises climate profile in UN disastertalks (Megan Darby)
- China scales up pilot carbon tradingmarkets (Reuters)