The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a
bill allowing the Keystone XL pipeline to bring tar sands oil from
Canada to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. The decision brings a
renewed pledge by the White House to veto the legislation, with
critics arguing the oil production could be environmentally
damaging and would do little to reduce America’s oil imports as
much of the crude would be exported. This is the tenth vote the
House of Representatives has taken since July 2011.

In a sign that the divestment movement is gathering force,
300 professors at Stanford have signed a letterurging the university to
withdraw investment in fossil fuel companies. Last year, Stanford
eliminated investments in coal mining companies but has since made
new investments in oil and gas interests. The magnitude and urgency
of climate change requires “more profound and thorough commitment
embodied in divestment from all fossil-fuel companies”, the letter
delivered to Stanford president John Hennessy reads.

Ten times as many plants are in flower this January than is
usual for this time of year. Botanists have found 368 species in
bloom, including daisies and dandelions, compared to the usual
number of about 30 species. With 2014 looking like the hottest year
on record, scientists are suggesting climate change may be playing
a role. Although, there were also an increase in the number of
volunteers involved in the survey, says The Times.

Which countries depend the most on coal and gas? Who’s going
green? A new Guardian graphic looks at ten countries’ comparative
reliance on the six main fuels.

Un secretary general Ban Ki-moon reflects on a year of
international turmoil. Among the challenges facing the world in
2015, including tackling Ebola and responding to the recent Paris
attacks, he says time is running out to take action on climate
change. “Ours is the first generation that can end poverty, and the
last that can take steps to avoid the worst impacts of climate
change. In this 70th anniversary year in which we renew our
commitment to the goals and principles of the UN charter, the
international community must rise to the moment”, he says.

From China assuming presidency of Security Council to the
UNFCCC’s deadline to agree on draft text for 2015 climate treaty,
RTCC rounds up the key climate and energy dates on the horizon in
2015.

The oil price crash coupled with growing concerns about
climate change will encourage at least one of the major oil
companies to turn its back on fossil fuels in the near future,
predicts scientist and former industry adviser Jeremy Leggett.
French company Total could be the next in line after Eon announced
plans to ditch coal and oil interests to focus on renewables.
Falling commodity prices and soaring risks mean “one of the oil
companies will break ranks and this time it is going to stick,”
Leggett said.

Four years after the Fukushima disaster Japan is expected to
start bringing its nuclear reactors back on stream, kicking off a a
crucial year for the nuclear industry across the world, predicts
the FT’s Nick Butler. Much of what happens elsewhere depends on the
progress of proposed new developments in the UK at Hinkley Point.
But until developers EDF can convince the world their technology
can be brought on stream at a reasonable cost, proceeding blindly
would be a very risky step for UK consumers and the nuclear
business as a whole.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector have
overtaken those of land use change, a new study finds. Data for
2010 shows emissions from crop and livestock production account for
11 per cent of total manmade emissions, compared to 10 per cent for
land use change and deforestation. Previously, emission from land
use change were ‘significantly larger’ than for agriculture, the
study says. Overall, since the 1990s the share of emissions from
the whole sector (agriculture, forestry and land use change) has
declined as a proportion of total manmade emissions.