‘Over the weekend, The Guardian reported that Pope Francis will issue an encyclical urging Catholics to push for action on climate change. The push will coincide with the efforts to follow up on the Lima agreement in the hope that they will lead to binding agreements for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.’

via Pope to push for action on climate change | Ars Technica.

‘…Over time, humans have cut down or damaged at least three-quarters of the world’s forests, and that destruction has accounted for much of the excess carbon that is warming the planet.’

via Restored Forests Breathe Life Into Efforts Against Climate Change – NYTimes.com.

‘One of four heavily damaged reactor buildings at Japan’s tsunami-battered Fukushima nuclear power plant has been cleared of radioactive fuel rods, the operator said Saturday.’

via First of four Fukushima reactors cleared of nuclear fuel – Yahoo News.

‘A new study released today presents powerful evidence that clearing trees not only spews carbon into the atmosphere, but also triggers major shifts in rainfall and increased temperatures worldwide that are just as potent as those caused by current carbon pollution. Further, the study finds that future agricultural productivity across the globe is at risk from deforestation-induced warming and altered rainfall patterns.’

via Clearing rainforests distorts wind and water, packs climate wallop beyond carbon.

‘…as a new report out this week argues, scientists are making the case that cutting down these forests does more than simply release carbon into the atmosphere — it has a direct and more immediate effect on the climate, from changes in rainfall patterns to rising temperatures. The amount of water that forests pump into the air is key to this. But scientists don’t agree on how that happens.’

via Report suggests forest-cutting can have an immediate effect on climate – The Washington Post.

Forever blowing bubbles…

‘Getting ships to generate smaller bubbles as they sail across the oceans could counteract the impact of climate change, a study suggests.’

via BBC News – Shrinking ship bubbles ‘could counteract climate change’.

‘As 2014 comes to a close, Europe is virtually certain to lock in its hottest year in more than 500 years, and according to research by three independent teams of climate scientists, the record can be closely attributed to climate change.’

via Europe’s Record Heat Tied Directly to Climate Change – weather.com.

‘A new study released today presents powerful evidence that clearing trees not only spews carbon into the atmosphere, but also triggers major shifts in rainfall and increased temperatures worldwide that are just as potent as those caused by current carbon pollution. Further, the study finds that future agricultural productivity across the globe is at risk from deforestation-induced warming and altered rainfall patterns.’

via Clearing rainforests distorts wind and water, packs climate wallop beyond carbon.

‘ALBANY — The Cuomo administration announced Wednesday that it would ban hydraulic fracturing in New York State, ending years of uncertainty by concluding that the controversial method of extracting gas from deep underground could contaminate the state’s air and water and pose inestimable public-health risks.’

via Cuomo to Ban Fracking in New York State, Citing Health Risks – NYTimes.com.

‘Reuters – The new Republican-controlled Senate’s first act in January will be approval of the Keystone XL pipeline, Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday.’

via First job for new Republican Senate is Keystone XL: McConnell | Reuters.