Annual emissions grew at fastest rate for almost 30 years
News
Greenhouse gas levels rising at fastest rate since
1984
Greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere – predictably –
reached record levels in 2013, new figures from the World
Meteorological Organisation show. Carbon dioxide levels in the
atmosphere grew at the fastest rate since 1984 between 2012 and
2013. Increased emissions and a reduction in the amount of carbon
dioxide absorbed by the planet’s biosphere were to blame. The WMO
says it is “worried” by this reduction, as “We don’t understand if
this is temporary or if it is a permanent state…”
Climate and energy news
Russia sees oil output edging down in
2015
Russian oil production may decline slightly next year, having
risen since 2009, according to the Russian Energy Ministry.
Russia’s economy is heavily dependent on oil exports, but the
depletion of oilfields in West Siberia and uncertainty over
government taxation of the industry is luikely behin d the fall,
Reuters reports. EU sanctions are yet to have an effect on oil
production, as they are aimed at new investment rather than
existing capacity.
Climate change could lead to raging infernos
throughout Europe
A “dramatic increase” in forest fires is expected in Europe
by the end of the century, a new study suggests. A doubling of fire
incidence by 2090 is projected in research from Austrian
scientists. Preventative measures such as pre-burning areas of
woodland could cut the increase, they say. Mail Online also include
a guide to how the IPCC say climate change will affect different
areas of the world.
Britain urges climate target reprieve for poorer
nations
Britain will argue at forthcoming negotiations over securing
a global climate deal that many less developed countries should be
allowed to increase their carbon emissions before they fall. A
government report published today sets out the principles that will
underpin Britain’s preferences for how any global deal on
addressing climate change will be structured. The Herald Scotlandsays Britain
will encourage other countries to follow the British lead and
commit to eventually reducing their carbon emissions to
zero.
Europe’s dependency on Russian gas may be cut amid
energy efficiency focus
A greater focus on energy efficiency and more stringent
targets could help protect Europe from being over-reliant on
Russian gas, a new report from thinktank IPPR suggests. Perhaps
unsurprisingly, the report argues that the more ambitious the EU is
about getting off fossil fuels, the less it will be threatened by
potentially unstable gas supplies.
Research shows surprise global warming ‘hiatus’
could have been forecast
The recent slowdown in global temperature rise could have
been predicted in the 90s if climate research had the tools then
that it has today, suggests new research from Australian
scientists. Heat is likely being absorbed by the deep ocean rather
than warming the Earth’s surface, and ‘decadal climate predictions’
that include assessments of the state of the oceans are capable of
replicating the so-called ‘pause’.
Yale Fund Takes Aim at Climate
Change
Yale University in the US hasn’t yet asked its financial
advisers to sell the school’s investments in fossil fuel companies,
but it has asked them to assess how its investments could affect
climate change, and to avoid investing in companies that don’t
commit to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. The move follows
a campaign from activists in the US to encourage universities to
divest from fossil fuels.
Climate and energy comment
The miseducation of Narendra Modi on climate
change
Indian PM Narendra Modi offered a “bizarre explanation of
climate change” during a televised Q&A session a an Indian
school. “Climate has not changed”, he said, “We have changed… our
tolerance and habits have changed.” It’s not really clear what, if
anything, the remarks signify. Modi has forged a reputation as
being strong on climate issues, making the remarks all the more
perplexing.
Back to basics for the energy
sector
“At least three major oil and gas companies that have ordered
full scale strategic reviews” in response to falling oil prices,
writes Nick Butler in the FT. Despite geopolitical unrest and
global growth, oil prices are still on a downward trend. The oil
industry should cut costs and invest more in research and
development, he suggests.
New climate science
Climate model simulations of the observed
early-2000s hiatus of global warming
A new study shows the current ‘hiatus’ in rising global
temperatures could have been predicted with existing climate
models. Scientists have found that some model runs did show a
slowdown in the early 2000s when they correctly predicted how the
Pacific Ocean fluctuated from decade to decade. The study concludes
that accounting for natural decadal variations leads to better
prediction of short-term trends in the climate.
Forest fires and adaptation options in
Europe
Climate change is projected to cause an increase in forest
fires in Europe. A new study finds that by 2090 the area burned by
forest fires in the European Union could increase by 200 per cent
because of increased temperatures and longer periods of drought.
The research also found that this increase could be limited to 50
per cent with better forest management, including preventive
fires.