Today's Climate: November 27, 2009

Pachauri: Hacked Emails Don’t Tarnish Climate Science (Reuters)

The head of the UN's panel of climate experts rejected accusations of bias in IPCC final reports, citing the scientific process of peer review and saying the hacked emails and documents in no way undermined evidence of humans’ role in global warming.

3,000 Scientists Tell Canada 'Act Now' on Climate (CanWest)

In an open letter to parliamentarians, 3,000 Canadian scientists "urge the government to negotiate an outcome that will rapidly and adequately address climate change."

Investors Welcome US, China Climate Goals (Reuters)

Investors welcomed new China and U.S. climate targets 10 days before a UN summit, but an Australian carbon vote delay hinted at wider difficulties to cement a global deal.

China’s CO2 Goal Puts India in Hot Seat (Hindustan Times)

Chinese and Indian officials are meeting today to coordinate a strategy for Copenhagen. India’s environment minister said his country would "look for flexibility to avoid being isolated. The flexibility can be achieved without taking binding emission cuts.”

Kenyans Draw Weapons Over Shrinking Resources (Los Angeles Times)

Experts fear that the recent conflicts involving cattle, water and land may be just the beginning of climate-driven violence in Africa. At least 400 people have died in northern Kenya violence this year, the UN says.

UK Regulator: Designs for New Nuclear Reactors Unsafe (Guardian)

Britain's safety regulator threw the government's energy plans into chaos today by damning the nuclear industry's leading designs for new plants, saying it found wide-ranging safety concerns and flaws in both French and U.S. models.

World Leaders Spur Climate Debate in Trinidad (AFP)

Leaders from more than 50 countries meet today in Trinidad in an effort to spur the global-warming debate ahead of the global summit in Copenhagen, 10 days away.

Cost of Indiana Coal Gasification Plant Nearly Doubles (Charlotte Observer)

Duke Energy says the cost of the coal gasification power plant it is building in Indiana has risen by another $150 million, boosting the project's estimated price to $2.5 billion — nearly twice the original estimate. The latest increase won't be the last.

Beijing Slams Europe’s Emissions Reduction Efforts (Wall Street Journal)

China's top climate envoy lashed out at Europe for failing to meet previous greenhouse gas commitments and said reaching an agreement at the Copenhagen summit is essential.

Obama Faces Political Risks with Copenhagen (Politico)

President Barack Obama's decision to drop in on the international climate conference in Copenhagen next month lends some star power to an event that's lost much of its luster — but at considerable risk for Obama himself.