Categories: Clean Energy

Today’s Climate: November 23, 2009

65 Leaders to Attend Climate Summit (Financial Times)

At least 65 world leaders have agreed to attend the Copenhagen summit, including leaders of most of the world’s biggest economies, raising the stakes on a deal being reached.

Scientist: Leak of Climate E-mails Appalling (AP)

A leading climate scientist whose private e-mails were included in those stolen by hackers said the leaks may have been aimed at helping skeptics undermine the Copenhagen talks.

Australia: Protesters Arrested as Climate Debate Rages (ABC News)

Over 100 protesters have been arrested at Parliament House in Canberra while demonstrating against the government’s weak actions on climate change.

Rudd Seeks Cap-and-Trade Vote Before Parliament Ends Nov. 26 (Bloomberg)

The Australian government, which intends to make an offer on Tuesday to opposition lawmakers of a revised carbon trading scheme, said there is time to get the plan through parliament before the session ends on Nov. 26.

Brown Warns Leaders on Climate Change (AFP)

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned fellow world leaders on Sunday that they "cannot afford to fail" to strike a substantial deal on climate in Copenhagen next month.

Global Body Needed to Direct Green Technology, G77 Says (Guardian)

A green technology body with political powers to direct a global transition away from a high-carbon economy is needed to combat climate change, the world’s developing nations are urging. Rich nations, meanwhile, want only an advisory committee.

East Antarctic Ice Sheet May Be Losing Mass (BBC News)

The East Antarctic ice sheet, which, unlike the west, has been thought to be stable, has been losing mass for the last three years, according to surprising new scientific data.

Melting Icecaps to Damage Major Port Cities: WWF (AFP)

Flooding in the world’s major port cities caused by melting ice caps could cause up to $28 trillion in damage in 2050, environmental group WWF said in a new report.

Warming’s Impacts Sped Up, Worsened Since Kyoto (AP)

Since the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, the level of CO2 in the air has increased 6.5%, and climate change has worsened and accelerated—way beyond some of the grimmest of warnings made back then.

China’s Coal-Mine Explosion Death Toll Rises to 104 (Bloomberg)

The death toll from China’s worst coal-mine disaster in almost two years rose to 104 as authorities criticized safety lapses and dismissed senior management of the pit in the country’s northeast.

Radiation Leak Investigated at Three Mile Island (Reuters)

Federal officials are investigating a radiation leak at Three Mile Island, scene of the worst U.S. nuclear power accident, but said on Sunday there was no threat to public health or safety.

NY Saves $3.1 Million in Energy Efficiency Program (AP)

Turning off lights, turning down the heat and buying with an eye toward energy efficiency is saving New York more than $3.1 million so far this fiscal year.

Indian Climate Guru Hopes to Steer World Away from Steak (Sydney Morning Herald)

As the world struggles to come up with a climate deal, India’s environment minister has challenged it to follow the example of millions of Indians and refuse to eat beef in an effort to cut emissions.

U.S. Vehicle Miles Traveled Up 2.5% in September (Green Car Congress)

Based on reports from the State Highway Agencies, total vehicle miles traveled on all roads and streets in the U.S. increased by 2.5% (5.8 billion vehicle miles) for September 2009, compared with the same time last year.

It’s a Grolar, the Climate-Change Polar Bear (Sunday Times)

Polar bears face a new threat besides melting ice—male grizzly bears are moving into their territories, competing for food and mating with their females.

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