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Daily Briefing |

TODAY'S CLIMATE AND ENERGY HEADLINES

Briefing date 05.06.2015
US scientists: Global warming pause ‘no longer valid’

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News.

No 'slowdown' in global surface temperatures after all, study finds
Carbon Brief Read Article

The much discussed “slowdown” in surface temperatures may
not exist after all, finds a new study from the US National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It reanalyses past
temperature records and updates trends with the latest data,
finding warming over the past 15 years is as rapid as in the second
half of the 20th century – and higher than reported by the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Climate and energy news.

Insulation bills will go through roof after EU ruling
The Times Read Article

The Court of Justice of the EU has ruled the UK’s reduced-rate VAT
on energy saving goods and services to be contrary to EU rules,
says the Times.BusinessGreensays prices for homeowners
could rise as a result.
The Telegraphsays solar panels could be
affected too.

Bonn climate talks start slow as hefty text withstands the chop

Progress was glacial at UN climate talks in Bonn as delegates
tarried in slimming down a draft global warming treaty to be
adopted in Paris in December. After four days, negotiators had
trimmed just 5% of the 90-page rough copy. “We are deeply concerned
at the slow pace,” said a Maldivian official.

Exclusive: EU set to offer polluters another 10 years of free carbon credits - document
Reuters Read Article

Plans to reform the EU’s carbon market beyond 2020 could continue
to hand the bloc’s most polluting industries free carbon credits,
says Reuters, based on a document seen by the newswire. It says
regulators are considering giving free credits to cover 30 to 100%
of some sectors’ emissions for another decade, in order to prevent
carbon leakage.

Norway's pension fund to divest $8bn from coal, a new analysis shows
The Guardian Read Article

Some 122 coal firms around the world will be affected as Norway’s
pension fund is expected to divest from coal, says the Guardian. UK
firms due to be affected include SSE and Drax, it says.

US, Brazil and China voice doubts over Australia climate plans

Brazil, China, South Africa and the US have questioned whether
Australia’s current climate policies will see the country able to
make future greenhouse gas cuts. Ten countries voiced their
concerns at a special review session at UN climate talks in Bonn
over Canberra’s long-term emission targets and commitment to the
2015 Paris deal. Australia said it would meet its ‘5% against 2000
by 2020’ emissions reduction goal, a view not shared by analysts at
the Climate Action Tracker institute, who say emissions will likely
rise 12-18% above 2000 levels.

Cheap coal, giant batteries may keep gas waiting for its golden age
Reuters Read Article

The idea of a ‘golden age of gas’ is looking increasingly unlikely
because of low coal prices and large steps in solar, says Reuters.
The cost of solar panels has been divided by eight in only four
years, the article says, and new battery technology means
renewables are more likely to compete as a domestic energy source.
Meanwhile, a number of Asian countries moving ahead with plans to
expand coal-fired power generation.

Australia has forfeited world leadership on climate policy, says Kofi Annan panel
The Guardian Read Article

Australia has forfeited its position as a global leader on
tackling climate change and is now a “free-rider”, a panel led by
former secretary general of the United Nations Kofi Annan has said.
The Africa Progress Report 2015 disputes claims by the fossil fuel
lobby that moving away from carbon would impede economic growth in
developing countries. It says high-emitting nations, such as
Australia, have stepped back from global discussions in favour of
unilateral action.

DECC budget cut by £70m
BusinessGreen Read Article

The chancellor has announced more than £3bn of in-year budget cuts
for government departments, including £70m for the Department of
Energy and Climate Change.The Guardianhas a few details on where
the axe might fall.
Carbon
Briefhas a detailed breakdown of DECC’s budget.

Climate and energy comment.

On the way to a historic agreement on climate change
Deutsche Welle Read Article

Deutsche Welle interviews Jennifer Morgan of the World
Resources Institute at the UN climate talks in Bonn, which continue
through this week and next. The leading German broadcaster asks
Morgan how things are shaping up for the expected global climate
deal in December.

.

Surface melt dominates Alaska glacier mass balance
Geophysical Research Letters Read Article

Assessing how much ice mountain glaciers are losing is a
challenge because of remote and rugged geography, and the fact that
individual glaciers respond differently to climate change. A new
study of 116 glaciers in Alaska finds that tidewater glaciers are
losing ice a lot slower than other types, and contribute only 6% to
regional ice loss.

Climate change and the ethics ofdiscounting
WIRES climate change Read Article

When it comes to climate policy making, striking the right
balance between the benefits for those creating the risks and those
facing them in future generations is an ethical matter. But which
moral theory should this “discount rate” be based on? A new paper
explores the issues at hand.

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