Click on the headline (link) for the full text.
Many more articles are available through the Energy Bulletin homepage
UK ‘losing authority’ on global warming as emissions rise
David Adam, The Guardian
The UK risks losing its international authority on climate change because of its failure to cut greenhouse gas pollution, according to a leading scientist.
Bob May, president of the Royal Society, said new figures showing that UK emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases which contribute to global warming have risen for the last two years, made it difficult for British politicians to be taken seriously on the issue.
He said: “It is very difficult to criticise other countries such as the United States if we are unable to meet our commitments. Indeed, emissions by the United States have actually declined over the last two years, although they are still some 20% above 1990 levels.”
(10 November 2005)
Water Vapor Feedback Is Rapidly Warming Europe
SPX, Terra Daily
A new report indicates that the vast majority of the rapid temperature increase recently observed in Europe is likely due to an unexpected greenhouse gas: water vapor.
Elevated surface temperatures due to other greenhouse gases have enhanced water evaporation and contributed to a cycle that stimulates further surface temperature increases, according to a report in Geophysical Research Letters.
(8 November 2005)
More disturbing evidence of runaway climate change. -AF
Global warming moved plants northward
Associated Press via ENN
WASHINGTON — An increase in the planet’s temperature 55 million years ago prompted major shifts in plant distribution, researchers reported Thursday.
…That warming was caused by an influx of carbon into the atmosphere, similar to current concerns about the potential cause of global warming.
“No two events are ever exactly the same, but the history of life on this planet has a lot to tell us about our possible future,” Wing said in a statement.
(11 November 2005)
Japan backs climate pacts, struggles to meet targets
Elaine Lies, Reuters via ENN
TOKYO — Foreign visitors to Japan last summer were surprised when their hosts, renowned for wearing suits no matter what, appeared at business meetings in short-sleeved shirts without jackets or ties.
The occasion was “Cool Biz”, a summer-long campaign encouraging office workers to dress down and while thermostats are turned up.
The aim is to reduce energy use and boost Japan’s lagging efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Officials say that despite such steps, Japan, host of the 1997 meeting that led to the Kyoto Protocol, is struggling to cut emissions, which have risen 8 percent since 1990 instead of dropping the pledged 6 percent.
(11 November 2005)
Climate conference revolves around inertia
Cookson Beecher, Capital Press
SEATTLE – Ignore what you’ve been hearing about global warming and hope it’s nothing more than overblown hype.
Or, learn all you can and start making plans for the future.
These are two of the choices that farmers and ranchers can make as they listen to predictions about global warming and the effects it could have on their livelihoods.
That message about personal choice set the tone for a recent conference, “The Future Ain’t What It Used to Be: Planning for Climate Disruption,” which attracted more than 650 people.
“We have choices about whether and how we are going to prepare,” said Amy Snover, a research scientist with the Climate Impacts Group, based at the University of Washington. “By starting now, we can build the capacity required to cope with climate change.”
(11 November 2005)
