News

UK to review climate target raising hopes of a zero emissions pledge

The government pledged in 2016 to enshrine a zero target in law to meet its Paris commitments, but has yet to pass any legislation. The UK is to review its long-term target to cut climate emissions as part of global efforts to curb rising temperatures, the government has announced. »

National energy guarantee will 'lock in' poor climate outcomes, ACT says

ACT will push for improvements as federal energy minister Josh Frydenberg urges states and territories to get behind scheme Sign up to receive the top stories every morning. »

Labor states urged to reject 'woefully inadequate' emissions reduction target

Environment group says states must not rubber stamp Malcolm Turnbull’s government’s national energy guarantee. A key environment group is urging the Labor states not to rubber stamp the Turnbull government’s national energy guarantee at Friday’s meeting of energy ministers. »

Climate change mitigation project threatens local ecosystem resilience in Ethiopia

To increase forest cover in the Global South in order to mitigate climate change does not always have positive effects, as shown in a new study in southern Ethiopia. It can also threaten biodiversity and the survival of unique alpine plants. »

Shell defends climate strategy in clash with investors

Royal Dutch Shell defended its ambition to cut carbon emissions on Monday, urging investors to oppose a shareholder resolution arguing that the oil and gas giant is not doing enough to meet international targets to tackle climate change. »

'Lightweight PR and greenwash' – BP's low-carbon plan dismissed

Environmentalists call strategy ‘20th century response to a 21st century problem’. Environmental leaders have dismissed BP’s new low-carbon strategy as “greenwash” and a lightweight response to climate change and the energy market’s rapid switch to renewables. »

The courts are deciding who's to blame for climate change | Dana Nuccitelli

Oil companies? The government? The public? All of the above share the blame. There are numerous ongoing legal challenges in an effort to determine who’s responsible for climate change. »

Hurricane-hit islands need debt relief | Letters

Those who have contributed the most to climate change are the real debtors so it is unfair that small island states be indebted as a result, write Keith Mitchell, prime minister of Grenada, and Gaston Browne, prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda. »

This week in climate news (15 April 2018)

The most popular articles from the past week. »

Carbon dioxide from ships at sea to be regulated for first time

Shipping firms to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of historic agreement. Carbon dioxide from ships at sea will be regulated for the first time following a historic agreement reached after two weeks of detailed talks in London. »

Algae-forestry, bioenergy mix could help make CO2 vanish from thin air

An unconventional mélange of algae, eucalyptus and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage appears to be a quirky ecological recipe. But, scientists have an idea that could use that recipe to help power and provide food protein to large regions of the world -- and simultaneously remove carbon dioxide from Earth's atmosphere. »

Massachusetts top court rules against Exxon in climate change probe

Massachusetts' top court on Friday rejected Exxon Mobil Corp's bid to block the state's attorney general from obtaining records to investigate whether the company for decades concealed its knowledge of the role fossil fuels play in climate change. »

'Avoid at all costs': Gulf stream’s record weakening prompts warnings

How close the world is to a catastrophic collapse of giant ocean currents is unknown, making halting global warming more critical than ever, scientists say. Serious disruption to the Gulf Stream ocean currents that are crucial in controlling global climate must be avoided “at all costs”, senior scientists have warned. »

Actual fossil fuel emissions checked with new technique

Researchers have measured CO2 emissions from fossil fuel use in California and compared them to reported emissions. This is the first time fossil fuel emissions have been independently checked for such a large area. »

Tax breaks and incentives make Europeans buy cleaner cars

Emissions of carbon dioxide from new passenger cars have dropped in a number of European countries where a range of taxes, subsidies and other incentives are used to encourage consumers to purchase lower-carbon-dioxide (CO2) emitting vehicles. »

Tree rings provide vital information for improved climate predictions

Using a decade-long sequence of annual growth rings from pine trees, scientists have introduced a highly advanced technique for tracking the carbon metabolism of plants and its environmental controls. »

Nature-based solutions can prevent $50 billion in Gulf Coast flood damages

While coastal development and climate change are increasing the risk of flooding for communities along the US Gulf Coast, restoration of marshes and oyster reefs are among the most cost-effective solutions for reducing those risks, according to a new study. »

New satellite to spot planet-warming industrial methane leaks

Multimillion dollar project will scan and make public methane leaks from oil and gas plants that are a major contributor to global warming Methane leaking from oil and gas facilities around the world – a major contributor to global warming – is set to be spotted from space. »

Critical Gulf stream current weakest for 1,600 years, research finds

Warm current that has historically caused dramatic changes in climate is experiencing an unprecedented slowdown and may be less stable than thought - with potentially severe consequences. The warm Atlantic current linked to severe and abrupt changes in the climate in the past is now at its weakest in at least 1,600 years, new research shows. »

Antarctica still losing ice despite big rise in snowfall

A 10 per cent rise in snowfall in Antarctica is adding more ice to the continent each year, but the ice sheets are still shrinking because it's being lost faster too. »