German chancellor Angela Merkel is said to be up in arms about George Bush’s refusal to give ground on climate before the G8 Summit next month. Merkel has played down expectations of a breakthrough on climate change at next month’s G8 summit, admitting she “did not know” if a pact on greenhouse gas cuts would … Read More
Climate Change
China To Move on Climate
The Chinese Government is close to dropping tariffs on technologies that increase energy efficiency and decrease pollution in what would be the country’s biggest move towards tackling global warming. Wu Yi, the Chinese Vice-Premier, is in advanced talks about energy tariffs with Henry Paulson, the US Treasury Secretary, as part of trade negotiations between the … Read More
Oil Demand Set to Increase
US. energy officials are predicting that worldwide demand for oil will continue to grow, but at a slower rate after 2015. Also over the next quarter century oil prices will climb as high as $95 a barrel. By 2030, the share of worldwide energy that comes from oil and refined products will decline to 34 … Read More
Britain’s Warmest Spring Brings out the Butterflies
Still don’t believe in climate change? Well talk to Britain’s butterfly experts who are astounded that at least 11 species of butterfly have made their earliest recorded appearances after Britain’s warmest spring on record. Of Britain’s 59 resident and regular migrant species, 37 have now appeared, and of these, all except one (the orange tip) … Read More
Defences Against Climate Change ‘Beginning to Fail’
The earth’s ability to soak up carbon dioxide is beginning to fail because of rising temperatures, in a long-feared sign of “positive feedback,” new research reveals today. The study has found that climate change is weakening one of the principal “sinks” absorbing carbon dioxide – the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, which up until now has … Read More
Ryaniar Fries the Planet for Free
Budget airline Ryanair pushed the economics of cheap flying to its limits yesterday when it offered one million free flights, paying for customers’ taxes, fees and charges. The move has sparked an unprecedented rush of “binge flyers” clambering to book tickets for close to nothing.
Blair Pushes New Global Plan on Climate
He may be on borrowed time as a Prime Minister, and about to undertake his last visit to the US, but The Guardian reports today how “Tony Blair believes he is close to persuading George Bush to accept an ambitious plan to bring the world’s greatest polluters into international partnership to fight climate change for … Read More
One Billion To Be Displaced By Climate Change
Over a billion people could be forced to leave their homes over the next 50 years as climate change worsens an already serious migration crisis, argues the development agency, Christian Aid, in a new report. The analysis, which is based on latest UN population and climate change figures, says conflict, large-scale development projects and widespread … Read More
GM Joins Coalition to Fight Climate Change
General Motors has become the first American carmaker to join a business coalition dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The nation’s biggest automaker joined the United States Climate Action Partnership along with 13 other newcomers including Dow Chemical and PepsiCo.
Flights Soar to Record Levels
Aviation growth is soaring to an all-time high, adding to a huge increase in the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. For the first time, more than 2.5 million commercial flights will be made around the world in a single month, with 2.51 million scheduled for May, says the flight information company OAG. This … Read More