News: ‘Climate & Energy’ Archive
‘One of the hidden costs of solar and wind power — and a problem the state is not yet prepared to meet — is that wind and solar energy must be backed up by other sources, typically gas-fired generators. As more solar and wind energy generators come online, fulfilling a legal mandate to produce one-third of California’s electricity by 2020, the demand will rise for more backup power from fossil fuel plants.’
via Renewable energy increase will require use of more fossil fuels – latimes.com.
‘Global warming has become perhaps the most complicated issue facing world leaders. Warnings from the scientific community are becoming louder, as an increasing body of science points to rising dangers from the ongoing buildup of human-related greenhouse gases — produced mainly by the burning of fossil fuels and forests.’
‘A fast-changing Arctic broke records for loss of sea ice and spring snow cover this year, as well as summertime melt of the Greenland ice sheet, federal scientists reported Wednesday.’
via Arctic breaks records for loss of snow and ice – latimes.com.
‘Most major issues remain unresolved at the U.N. climate summit in Doha as negotiators enter the final stretch of the two-week summit. While the Doha talks involve nations working toward a pact to limit greenhouse gases starting in 2020, many say the world cannot wait that long. The United States has come under intense criticism at the summit from environmentalists and smaller nations who say President Obama has failed to meet his stated commitments to tackle global warming.’
via “We are Running Out of Time”: Obama Urged to Match Rhetoric to Action on Climate Deal.
‘While participants at last year’s climate meeting in Durban, South Africa, agreed on an extension of the troubled Kyoto Protocol, it is at this year’s meeting in Doha, Qatar, that policy makers have to agree on the pesky details, including long-term emission reduction goals.’
via What the Doha Climate Talks Could Do for Sustainable Development – NYTimes.com.
‘DOHA, Qatar (AP) — The United States on Monday challenged China’s view of how to split the burden of curbing carbon emissions, saying the rich-poor divide in past climate agreements has no place in a future pact to fight global warming.’
via Doha Climate Conference: China’s Demand For Emissions Leniency Challenged By U.S. Envoy.
‘Global emissions of carbon dioxide were at a record high in 2011 and are likely to take a similar jump in 2012, scientists reported Sunday — the latest indication that efforts to limit such emissions are failing.’
via Carbon Dioxide Emissions Hit Record in 2011, Researchers Say – NYTimes.com.
‘DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Anticipating an onslaught of criticism from poor nations, the United States claimed “enormous” strides in reducing greenhouse emissions at the opening of U.N. climate talks Monday, despite failing to join other industrialized nations in committing to binding cuts.’
via US defends ‘enormous’ climate efforts at UN talks – Yahoo! News.
‘DOHA, Qatar (AP) — As nearly 200 countries meet in oil-and-gas-rich Qatar for annual talks starting Monday on slowing global warming, one of the main challenges will be raising climate aid for poor countries at a time when budgets are strained by financial turmoil.’
via 2012 UN Climate Talks In Doha, Qatar Face Multiple Challenges.
‘November 26, San Francisco – Climate One at The Commonwealth Club announced today that NASA scientist Dr. James Hansen will be awarded the second annual Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication. The $10,000 award is given to a natural or social scientist who has made extraordinary scientific contributions and communicated that knowledge to a broad public in a clear and compelling fashion. The award was established this year in honor of Stephen Henry Schneider, one of the founding fathers of climatology who died suddenly in 2010.’
The award will be presented at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on Dec. 4th.
Report by James George