Today's Climate: March 13, 2009

Scientists Issue Plea for Action on Climate Change (Guardian)

More than 2,500 climate experts issued a desperate plea last night for world leaders to curb emissions or face an ecological and social disaster. Despite mounting evidence, economist Nicholas Stern says politicians are failing to act. Scientists fear their message isn’t getting through.

Partisan Lines Blur in Fight to Influence US Climate Law (Washington Post)

President Obama's endorsement of climate legislation has set off a lobbying rush in Congress. Coal companies, utilities, economists and environmentalists are vying to shape legislation that could rechannel hundreds of billions of dollars.

U.S. Biodiesel Makers say EU Fees Will Kill Exports (Reuters)

U.S. biofuel producers said the EU's anti-dumping tariffs will kill their exports to Europe. Starting today, U.S. exporters will have to pay additional anti-dumping tariffs of up to 29 percent, plus anti-subsidy duties.

Marcellus Shale Drilling Making Rural Residents Ill (Reuters)

Some geologists believe the Marcellus shale has the potential to meet total U.S. natural gas needs for a decade or more. But Pennsylvania residents say the highly toxic chemicals necessary for drilling are sickened their families and livestock.

US Unprepared for Climate Change, Say Policy Advisers (AP)

The U.S. is woefully unprepared for climate change and needs to rethink basic assumptions that govern things as varied as choosing cars and building bridges, the National Research Council says.

Another Coal Plant Project Bites the Dust (Las Vegas Sun)

A second power company in as many months is shelving plans to build a coal-fired power plant in Nevada because of the rising costs and expected regulations from Washington. LS Power plans to focus on improving transmission instead.

Rush for Coal Plants Slows to a Stagger (Kansas City Star)

If the Sunflower Electric Power Corp. coal-fired power plants are built in Kansas — and that’s still an if — they could be among the last built for quite a while.

WWF: 1973 Polar Bear Agreement Requires Climate Action (Marketwire)

An agreement signed in 1973 obliges the five Arctic countries with polar bear populations to take action on climate change, the WWF says.

Ireland Closer to Kyoto Target Due to Economic Slump (Irish Times)

Officials are expected to confirm today that the slowdown in economic activity has led to a dramatic reduction in greenhouse emissions in Ireland, putting the country much closer to its Kyoto protocol goals.

VW on Electric Cars: ‘Please, Lower Your Expectations’ (Reuters)

Volkswagen’s U.S. chief says it will be 35 years before electric cars make up a significant portion of the world’s auto market. That pessimism didn’t sit well with the California students listening to him.

Norway’s Think Plans US Electric Car Plant (Fortune)