Original story at MIT News Reducing global greenhouse gas emissions could have big benefits in the U.S., according to a report released today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including thousands of avoided deaths from extreme heat, billions of dollars in saved infrastructure expenses, and prevented destruction of natural resources and ecosystems. The report, “Climate ...
New data should cheer Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and her Chinese counterparts as they address climate change during her first visit to China as a representative of the new US administration. China’s latest economic report shows some welcome strides toward controlling greenhouse gas emissions. With climate change one of Secretary Clinton’s top priorities, China’s approach is not only ...
Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have produced a synthetic air reference standard which can be used to accurately measure levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere. This will greatly help scientists contribute to our understanding of climate change. A paper published in Analytical Chemistry describes how researchers at NPL have created a synthetic gas standard ...
Just days before publication of the European Commission’s 'Energy and Climate Change' package, the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has read the latest versions of the documents being drawn up by the EU executive. It notes with great concern that the issues of employment and social transition have been left out of the package. The ETUC consequently calls on the Commission to amend its ...
The European Union, the world's No. 3 greenhouse gas polluter, says its emissions fell 4 percent last year, meaning the 28-nation bloc has already surpassed its target for 2020. A report by the EU's environment agency on Tuesday said 2014 emissions were 23 percent lower than in 1990. The EU's goal is to achieve 20 percent reductions by 2020, but the report said the bloc is headed for 24-25 ...
A draft budget approved by the Italian government last Friday contains 'ten pieces of good news' for the environment, according to environment minister Alfonso Pecoraro Scanio. Kyoto protocol compliance measures will attract €600m, while €150m will fund 1,000 new green spaces in Italy’s congested cities. Soil erosion measures will claim €530m, and some €130m is earmarked for boosting rail and sea ...
On Tuesday, UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon invited world leaders to an 'unprecedented' Summit on Climate Change at UN Headquarters for Heads of State and Government from every country in the world. The focus of the day-long event will be to mobilize the political will needed to 'Seal a Deal' at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen on 7-18 December. During the week of the ...
MEPs on the Environment Committee today stood up to political pressure from member states and industry by voting to endorse the European Commission’s proposal for an aviation emissions trading system covering all of Europe’s airspace. Although the proposal regulates only 35% of airline emissions compared to the original EU ETS, it crucially captures a portion of long-haul flights ...
Attempting to tackle climate change by trapping carbon dioxide or switching to nuclear power will not solve the problem of global warming, according to energy calculations published in the July issue of the International Journal of Global Warming. Bo Nordell and Bruno Gervet of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Luleå University of Technology in Sweden have calculated the ...
(Atlanta, GA, USA, January 18, 2010) As a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement and a pioneer in its field, Vaisala is committed to research on climate change by providing the best possible measurement tools and leading competence.In response to demand from the international scientific community, Vaisala is developing a reference radiosonde, an important instrument to measure ...
California Governor Jerry Brown signed a climate change memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Mexico's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources today. This California-Mexico accord follows a series of MOUs Governor Brown has signed with leaders from countries including China, Canada, Israel, and Peru to address the threat of climate change. The following is a statement from Ann Notthoff, ...
New Carbon Strategy Indices for Australia, Europe and Japan have been launched by global index provider the FTSE Group, in partnership with the Carbon Disclosure Project and ENDS Carbon. The indices are designed to help investors reduce the long-term investment risks associated with climate change and related regulation in these markets. David Harris, ...
The lawsuit brought by three American airlines against aviation’s introduction into the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme has come to court, with a preliminary judgement expected on 6 October. The EU’s institutions – backed up by five member states, Norway and the coalition of environmental NGOs led by T&E – defended the EU’s position in a ...
The report Climate Change and International Security presented by the Council of the European Union discusses the potential security threats resulting from climate change, and measures that can be taken to mitigate such threats. Climate change is best viewed as a threat multiplier which exacerbates existing trends, tensions and instability. The core challenge is that climate change threatens to ...
The Chinese low-carbon technologies market could reach $1 Trillion and 15% of its GDP in 2013, reports Envido. The China Greentech Initiative, a group of more than 80 private and public stakeholders from the US and China, released a report outlining opportunities to grow China’s low-carbon technologies market. The report states that the Chinese low-carbon technologies market could reach $1 ...
The bodies of birds are shrinking even as their wingspans increase, according to a new study from the USA. The report, published in the journal Ecology Letters, examined over 70,000 bird samples from a multitude of different species and concluded that climate change was responsible for the physiological change in the animals. The study is the largest of its kind and is one of the first to ...
Japanese experts are to help Vietnam build its first earth-observation satellites in an effort to help the South-East Asian country plan for the effects of climate change and natural disasters. Last November, Japan announced that it will provide a 40-year loan of about US$93 million (7.2 billion Japanese Yen) to Vietnam for equipment and capacity development connected to the bilateral satellite ...
Huhne demands greater lagging effort from energy suppliers A massive increase in the amount of home insulation installed across Great Britain is being kick started today, paving the way for the Government’s new Green Deal. By properly insulating homes, people can save money on fuel bills, protect the warmth of their home and cut carbon emissions. It’s estimated the most energy ...
A NOC-led study, published in Nature Communications, finds that with just 15 more years of current emissions, over half of the world’s ocean will be exposed to more than one source of stress, affecting everything from the tiniest plants to the mightiest whales. By 2050, that figure rises to around 86% of the ocean. This study showed that in fifteen years’ time 60% of the ocean will ...
Europe’s top corporations will gather in London to discuss corporate responsibility's evolution to 2020 at a conference being run by Ethical Corporation and Business in the Community on the 9th and 10th May. These business leaders will all be discussing the future of responsible business in a gathering expected to number over 500. The conference has already received the backing of many ...