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News Roundup

BBC News – US sea level north of New York City ‘jumped by 128mm’

February 24th, 2015

‘Sea levels north of New York City rose by 128mm in two years, according to a report in the journal, Nature Communications.’

via BBC News – US sea level north of New York City ‘jumped by 128mm’.

Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill – WSJ

February 24th, 2015

‘WASHINGTON—President Barack Obama Tuesday vetoed legislation that would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that is a top priority for congressional Republicans and a touchstone issue for environmentalists and the nation’s booming energy industry.’

via Obama Vetoes Keystone XL Pipeline Bill – WSJ.

BBC News – Profile: Climate chief Rajendra Pachauri

February 24th, 2015

‘Rajendra Pachauri has stepped down as the chairman of the UN’s panel on climate change, a position he has held since 2002. He had to pull out of a meeting in Kenya this week amid sexual harassment allegations he denies.’

via BBC News – Profile: Climate chief Rajendra Pachauri.

U.N. Climate Panel Chief Accused of Sexual Harassment: Police – NYTimes.com

February 24th, 2015

‘NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – Indian police are investigating claims that the one of world’s top climate change officials, Rajendra K. Pachauri, chairman of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sexually harassed a 29-year-old woman, police and lawyers said on Friday.’

via U.N. Climate Panel Chief Accused of Sexual Harassment: Police – NYTimes.com.

EU wants Paris climate deal to cut carbon emissions 60% by 2050 | Environment | The Guardian

February 24th, 2015

‘The world’s states should commit to a legally binding emissions cut of 60% by 2050, with five-yearly reviews, in a Paris Protocol to replace the moribund Kyoto agreement at a climate summit later this year, according to a leaked EU document.’

via EU wants Paris climate deal to cut carbon emissions 60% by 2050 | Environment | The Guardian.

Head Of UN Climate Change Panel Resigns Amid Harassment Allegations : The Two-Way : NPR

February 24th, 2015

‘The chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Rajendra K. Pachauri, stepped down Tuesday amid allegations of sexual misconduct that have engulfed the celebrated Indian economist and engineer.’

via Head Of UN Climate Change Panel Resigns Amid Harassment Allegations : The Two-Way : NPR.

Things just got very hot for climate deniers’ favorite scientist – The Washington Post

February 23rd, 2015

‘…But Soon is not without controversy. During the weekend, Greenpeace released a batch of documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act that showed Soon received more than $1.2 million from Exxon Mobil, Southern Company, the American Petroleum Institute and the Charles G. Koch Charitable Foundation.’

via Things just got very hot for climate deniers’ favorite scientist – The Washington Post.

India’s Huge Commitment to Renewable Energy Provides ‘Gift to the World’ » EcoWatch

February 23rd, 2015

‘Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed India’s “megawatts to gigawatts” challenge at the Renewable Energy Investment Summit (RE-Invest) last week, building on his existing commitment to 160 gigawatts of solar and wind by 2022.’

On climate risk in India:

“…India is particularly vulnerable to the downside of fossil fuels and global warming. The City of Mumbai, which generates 40 percent of the nation’s tax revenues, has a larger population at risk from sea level rise and storm surge than any city on the planet—2.5 million residents are already forced to live below the high tide line at present sea level.”

via India’s Huge Commitment to Renewable Energy Provides ‘Gift to the World’ » EcoWatch.

Senator Edward Markey to investigate energy companies on climate science funding – Metro – The Boston Globe

February 22nd, 2015

‘WASHINGTON — Senator Edward J. Markey is calling on coal and oil companies to reveal whether they are funding scientific climate change studies after his staff reviewed newly obtained documents illuminating the relationship between a researcher for a Cambridge-based institution and energy interests.’

via Senator Edward Markey to investigate energy companies on climate science funding – Metro – The Boston Globe.

European grain yield stagnation related to climate change, says Stanford scholar

February 21st, 2015

‘After changes in government policy and farm practices, European grain yields leveled off. Stanford’s Frances C. Moore says climate trends account for 10 percent of that stagnation.’

via European grain yield stagnation related to climate change, says Stanford scholar.