North Sea wildlife at risk from climate change says RSPB
A new report published today by the RSPB shows that wildlife is already being affected by climate change and these effects will only intensify over the course of this century.
climate change
Tackling climate change will create jobs and growth, says Solar Impulse chief
One of the leaders of an attempt to fly a solar-powered plane around the world has said tackling climate change will create jobs, profits and economic growth. Ahead of crucial UN talks in Paris on securing a new deal to curb greenhouse gas emissions, Bertrand Piccard, chairman and pilot of Solar Impulse, urged people to take part in the “huge adventure of the 21st century” of switching to clean technology. The zero-fuel Solar Impulse 2 has broken distance and duration records for solar aviation, and in July completed a gruelling four-day 22-hour flight from Nagoya in Japan to Hawaii, where it is undergoing repairs before attempting the next leg of its trip.
ExxonMobil receives subpoena from NY attorney general over climate change claims
ExxonMobil is being investigated by the New York state attorney general as to whether it misled investors and the public about the risk of climate change and how it might have affected the company. According to reports, a subpoena was set to the oil company earlier this week, requesting emails, financial records and other documents. The investigation could look at ExxonMobil’s activities from as far back as the 1970s till this year.
David Cameron ‘failing to give lead on air pollution and climate change’
David Cameron has been accused of failing to give an international lead in tackling air pollution and climate change. Former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott warned the Lords it was “crazy” to cut subsidies for renewable energy. He said the Government was doing “absolutely nothing” to tackle emissions from cars, adding: “It’s green crap according to our Prime Minister.”
Climate change campaigners occupy opencast coal mine in Northumberland
Protesters say they have shut down an opencast coal mine on land belonging to Conservative peer and climate sceptic Viscount Ridley. Campaigners calling themselves “Matt Ridley’s Conscience” have occupied one of the diggers at Shotton surface mine, in Cramlington, Northumberland on Viscount Ridley’s Blagdon Estate. The group, a mix of local campaigners and protesters from across the UK, have also formed a protest blocking the road, locking their arms into red arm tubes as part of a protest calling for an end to coal mining to protect the climate.
Catholic bishops issue joint call over climate change
Catholic bishops across the world have called for a “major breakthrough” on a global deal to tackle climate change at talks in Paris at end of the year. The worldwide call from the Catholic Church appeals for a strong limit to rising temperatures, the phasing out of emissions from fossil fuels and measures to protect the poor and vulnerable from the impacts of climate change. In a 10-point proposal, the Catholic cardinals, patriarchs and bishops call for a “fair, transformational and legally-binding global agreement” which recognises the need to live in harmony with nature, protects human rights and sets a goal to decarbonise the world economy by mid-century.
Americans changing their attitudes to climate change – even Republicans
Maybe it's the pope. Or the freakish year in extreme climate records.
Obama’s clean power initiative under renewed attack
President Barack Obama’s 15-year plan to cut power plant carbon dioxide emissions and steer the US toward renewable energy sources is under legal attack. Again.
US Senator calls for climate change probe against ExxonMobil
A US Senator has called on the Department of Justice to investigate an alleged fraud by ExxonMobil over what it knew and told the public and shareholders about the cause of climate change. Senator Bernie Sanders has written to Attorney General Loretta Lynch to ask for a probe into what he alleges as a “potential instance of corporate fraud” by the oil giant. In his letter the politician refers to reports from an investigation by Inside Climate News, which says that scientists from the company conducted extensive research on climate change as early as the 1970s.
Exxon says climate research stories “inaccurate and deliberately misleading”
ExxonMobil hit back at today at what it called "inaccurate and deliberately misleading" media and environmental activists’ allegations about the company’s climate research.
White House to urge climate change action from Canada
The White House said the new Canadian Government could do more to address climate change ahead of international negotiations on the issue in Paris. The issue is a top priority for President Barack Obama in his last 15 months in office. A white House spokesman hinted climate change would form part of a phone call from Obama to the newly elected Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau.
Oil bosses back climate change target
The chief executives of 10 of the world’s largest oil and gas companies have declared their support for an effective climate change agreement to be reached. The United Nations (UN) Conference of Parties to the UN Frameworks on Climate Change (COP21) will take place in Paris in December. The bosses of the companies which make up the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) confirmed they recognised the general ambition to limit global average temperature rise to two degrees and that the existing trend of the world’s net global greenhouse gas (GHG) is not consistent with this ambition.
Solar firm goes bust blaming Government for cutting subsidies
Another solar company has gone out of business, blaming the Government for “killing off” support for the industry.
Oil bosses to meet in Paris ahead of climate talks
The leaders of eight of the world’s top oil companies are set to meet in Paris next week to show how they will combat climate change. The move is part of an offensive ahead of a UN summit which will be held in December. The meeting will be followed by a press conference where the company bosses are also expected to renew a call for a global carbon pricing mechanism. Total chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said company leaders would present proposals to combat global warming ahead of the talks.
Here’s what the G20 nations are pledging on climate change
The United Nations last December set a deadline of Oct. 1 for countries to submit pledges on what they’re prepared to do to rein in fossil-fuel emissions as part of their contribution to a new deal to fight climate change.
Mars and Kellogs call for energy efficiency, climate change action
Leading food and drink companies have come together to call for action on climate change, warning rising temperatures threaten global food supplies.
Shadow climate change minister calls for Shell boss to resign
The Shadow climate change minister of the Labour Party said the board of oil giant Shell should be calling for its chief executives resignation.
Pope urges climate change action during visit to US
Pope Francis has opened his visit to the United States with a call for action to combat climate change.
Commitments to tackle global warming not enough to reach 2C goal
Pledges to cut greenhouse gases being made by countries in the run up to key climate talks are not enough to keep global temperature rises below dangerous levels, according to a Government source.
California lawmakers just gutted Brown’s climate bills. So what?
Jerry Brown’s dreams of cutting California’s gasoline use in half and imposing a stricter limit on greenhouse-gas emissions may have died on the legislative floor last week. But they live on elsewhere. There are plenty of ways for the four-term governor to achieve his goals with an end-run around the legislature. For one, Brown has state agencies under his control already entrusted with his climate change mission. And he suggested last week that he’s ready to use them to achieve his targets. The California Air Resources Board that runs the state’s carbon market and other programs aimed at curbing pollution“has all the power that it has had, and it will continue to exercise that power, certainly as long as I’m governor,” Brown said during a press conference with reporters Sept. 9.
Islamic leaders launch climate change declaration
Islamic leaders from countries around the world have launched a declaration urging governments to deliver strong international action to tackle climate change. The climate change declaration calls on wealthy and oil producing countries to phase out fossil fuels by 2050, and urges a switch to 100% renewable energy and help for vulnerable communities already suffering from rising global temperatures. The declaration, launched at an International Islamic Climate Change Symposium in Istanbul, Turkey, presents the moral case based on Islamic teaching for action on climate change and aims to engage the world’s 1.6 billion Muslims on the issue. It calls on countries to take steps to keep temperature rises to no more than 2C, or preferably 1.5C, keeping two-thirds of the world’s proven fossil fuels in the ground, and for a strong new deal on tackling climate change at UN talks in Paris in December.
Hillary Clinton vows to defend, extend Obama climate policy
Hillary Clinton said she would both defend and go beyond the efforts by President Barack Obama to address climate change in the first detailed description of her potential environmental polices if elected president. Clinton released what her campaign said was the opening salvo of the Democrat’s energy and climate change agenda Sunday, while she was campaigning in Iowa. Among other things, Clinton pledged to defend from legal or political attack the Obama administration’s rule to cut carbon pollution from the nation’s fleet of power plants. A Clinton administration would go further, rewarding communities that speed rooftop solar panel installation, backing a contest for states to go beyond the minimums called for in the environmental rules, and boosting solar and wind production on federal lands. A four-page campaign fact sheet said the goal was to increase the share of U.S. power generation from renewable sources to 33 percent by 2027, compared to 25 percent under Obama’s carbon plan. The announcement “makes it more clear than ever that she cares deeply about climate change and will make it a top priority throughout her campaign,” Tiernan Sittenfeld, senior vice president of the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, said in a statement.
Amber Rudd: Climate action about economic security
Taking action on climate change is the “ultimate insurance policy” to protect UK families and businesses, Amber Rudd will say. In her first major speech on tackling global warming, the Energy and Climate Change Secretary will say measures to curb rising temperatures are about ensuring economic security. She will tell business leaders at an event in the City of London that unchecked climate change would have a profound economic impact, leading to lower growth, higher prices and a lower quality of life. And, after a series of announcements of cuts to green policies, she will insist that the Conservatives are committed to taking action on climate change, in ways that will keep bills down and encourage businesses to innovate, grow and create jobs.
Dutch court orders cut in emissions
A Dutch court ordered the government to cut the country’s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25% by 2020. Activists hope that the groundbreaking ruling will now set a worldwide precedent. The Hague District Court made the ruling in a case brought by a sustainability organisation on behalf of some 900 citizens, claiming that the government has a duty of care to protect its people against looming dangers - including the effects of climate change on this low-lying country.
How the European oil industry decided to save the climate
It came together in Oslo. The chiefs of some of Europe’s biggest energy companies decided to pull an historic about-face. It was time to heed the protesters marching in the February snow outside their industry conference demanding action to counter global warming. By the time the convention chat turned into action, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, BP Plc, Total SA, Eni SpA, Statoil ASA and BG Plc, published an unprecedented open letter on climate change. Breaking with their biggest U.S. competitors, they announced their support for efforts to put a cost on polluting, acknowledging they were on the wrong side of history.