Merkel and Hollande pledge an end to fossil fuel pollution
News
Mismatched graph creates confusion in Canada’s UN
climate pledge
Canada’s contribution to the UN climate deal appears to
present its emissions cutting target as a reduction on 1990 levels,
when in reality they could grow to 6% above this baseline. Carbon
Brief investigates.
Mountain shape a key factor in species surviving
climate change
A new study of 182 high-altitude regions across the world
shows how mountain shape is critical in determining whether a
species will find refuge from rising temperatures further uphill.
This means the odds of survival are better for some species than
others, say the authors.
Climate and energy news
Merkel and Hollande pledge an end to fossil fuel
pollution
The world needs to shift to a “carbon-free economy” says
German chancellor Angela Merkel. In a joint statementwith French
president Francois Hollande, Merkel says the global economy should
be fully decarbonised this century. Reuterssays the pair call for
more, and more urgent action on climate change RTCCand APalso have the story.
Shell vows to explore Arctic despite Seattle
protests
Ango-Dutch oil major Shell will press on with plans to
explore the Arctic despite recent protests, Reuters
reports. RTCC saysthe firm’s annual general
meeting (AGM) adopted a shareholder resolution that will see it
become more transparent about its approach to climate
risks. Carbon Brief lookedat an identical
motion passed at BP’s AGM last month. Other reports from Shell’s
AGM include the Guardian, which says climate
dominated the agenda, the Independentand
the Financial Timesand Telegraphwhich both focus on Shell
boss Ben van Buerden’s comments that divestment campaigners “ignore
reality”.
Twelve sub-national governments pledge long-term
emission goals
Governments from California and three other US states have
pledged to cut emissions by 80-95% by 2050, along with leaders from
two Canadian provinces, states in Brazil and Mexico,
Baden-Wurtemburg in Germany and Wales. The sub-national areas have
economic output equivalent to Japan. Reutersalso has the story.
Weakened coal pollution rules will costs UK
millions, green groups claim
Air pollution rules for industrial sites and power stations
are being watered down by the European Commission, according to
green groups Greenpeace and the European Environmental
Bureau. The Guardianalso has the story.
The groups say the weakened rules could cost the UK £532 million in
increased health costs. Greenpeace Energydeskexplains how
the expected changes could see deaths attributable to air pollution
increase by 71,000 across the EU.
Cold-blooded species face wipeout as they cannot
cope with global warming, study
says
Many lizards and insects could be “completely wiped out” by
climate change as they cannot evolve quickly enough to adapt,
reports the Independent. The paper covers a new multi-study review
of 232 species from the University of California Berkeley, which
says cold-blooded species will find it hard to adapt to a warming
climate.
Coal row takes shine off Germany’s green image
before G7 summit
An apparent weakening of German plans to tackle emissions
from coal are taking the shine off the country’s green image,
reports Reuters. A final decision on a planned levy on older coal
plants has been delayed until the summer, it says.
Offshore wind turbine construction damages animals
hearing
Pile-driving for offshore wind turbine foundations could be
damaging seals’ hearing, according to Daily Mail coverage of a new
report. It says more research is needed into how seals will be
affected. Noise limits are already set during windfarm construction
and alternative construction
methodsconsidered.
Climate and energy comment
Take a Look at One of the First-Ever Climate
Models in Action
Climate models have come a long way since they were first
developed in the 1950s, says Brian Kahn for Climate Central. He
shows one of the earliest models in action.
Global businesses must lead the way on climate
action
Laurent Fabius and Christiana Figueres, The
Guardian
Businesses must “play their full part” in global climate
action, write French foreign minister Laurent Fabius and UN climate
chief Christiana Figueres. The pair’s article is published in
advance of a business climate summit being held in Paris this week.
A separate report finds few firms have climate targets in line with
a 2C temperature limit, reports Business Green. The site
also reportson plans to tackle climate
change from investors worth $25 trillion.
Books: 12 must-reads on climate
change
CNN’s John D. Sutter lists 12 “must-read” books on climate
change, as submitted by his readers. The selection includes Mark
Lynas’s “Six Degrees” and Naomi Oreskes’s “Merchants of Doubt”.
Carbon Brief published a list of inspirational climate readslast
year.
New climate science
Sound exposure in harbour seals during the
installation of an offshore wind farm: predictions of auditory
damage
Based on a study of 24 harbour seals during the construction
of an offshore wind farm, scientists estimate that half of the
animals experienced noise above that thought to cause permanent
hearing damage. But there is still a lot of uncertainty in this
field, the scientists warn, and their predictions will need further
investigation with direct hearing experiments before and after
construction.
A Review of Tropical Cyclone-Generated Storm
Surges: Global Data Sources, Observations and
Impacts
A new study carries out a comprehensive review of more than
700 tropical cyclone-generated storm surges since 1880, as recorded
in the scientific literature. The Bay of Bengal experiences the
world’s biggest storm surges, with five per decade reaching higher
than 5m. China has the highest number of small events, with 54 per
decade reaching over 1m.
SSE to close Ferrybridge coal
plant
Japan approves third nuclear plant for
restart
Texas governor signs law banning local fracking
restrictions
The rise and rise of the fossil fuel divestment
movement
Wales launches £25m underwater kite-turbine
scheme