Posted on 17 April 2013 by John Hartz

Andes’ tropical glaciers going fast

The glaciers of the tropical Andes have shrunk by between 30 and 50 percent in 30 years and many will soon disappear altogether, cutting off the summer water supply for millions of people, according to scientists studying the region’s climate.

Their findings are particularly significant because glaciers in the tropics, 99 percent of which are in the Andes, are regarded as among the most sensitive indicators of climate change on the planet, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Andes Tropical Glaciers Going Fast, May Soon Be Gone by Paul Brown, Climate News Network/Climate Central, Apr 14, 2013

Antarctic ice tells conflicting story

Two different areas of Antarctica tell two very different stories about how climate change might be affecting ice melt. The data appear to confirm that climate change impacts can be very local.

Antarctic ice tells conflicting story about climate change's role in big melt by Pete Spotss, The Christian Science Monitor, Apr 16, 2013

Clean energy progress too slow

The development of low-carbon energy is progressing too slowly to limit global warming, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday.

With power generation still dominated by coal and governments failing to increase investment in clean energy, top climate scientists have said that the target of keeping the global temperature rise to less than 2 degrees Celsius this century is slipping out of reach.

"The drive to clean up the world's energy system has stalled," said Maria van der Hoeven, the IEA's executive director, at the launch of the agency's report on clean energy progress.

Clean energy progress too slow to limit global warming - report by Nina Chestney. Reuters, Apr 17, 2013

Eternal energy revolution picking up steam

“Be a climate-protection hero, not a climate victim” is the message energy experts from around the world are bringing to San Francisco Tuesday. 

It is the first conference in U.S. history where the leaders in the 100-percent renewable energy revolution will share their knowledge and vision.

“There are powerful economic and environmental reasons for this transformation…and the sooner we get there the better for the climate,” says Diane Moss, organiser of the “Pathways to 100% Renewable Energy” conference at the FortMasonCenter Apr. 16.

Eternal Energy Revolution Picking Up Steam by Stephen Leahy, Inter Press Service (IPS), Apr 15, 2013

Europe vote sets back carbon plan

Europe, which led the world in creating a system of emission permits to combat greenhouse-gas emissions, dealt a potential death blow to that system on Tuesday.

Europe vote sets back carbon plan by Stanley Ree, New York Times, Apr 16, 2013

Gore calls for action on climate change

Former US vice-president called for action on climate change yesterday, comparing denial of changing weather patterns to "sleepwalking towards the edge of the cliff."

Mr Gore, who was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his attempts to raise awareness of climate change, made the remarks at a keynote address at a Dublin conference exploring the links between climate change, hunger and poor nutrition.

Even with glaring evidence [of extreme weather patterns] people still do not connect the dots of climate change,” he told more than 350 delegates from 60 countries. “We have to win the conversation about climate change. When you hear denial, speak up.”

Gore calls for action on climate change by Mary Fitzgerald, The Irish Times, Apr 17, 2013

Keystone analysis ignores true climate impact

The State Department has drastically underestimated the damage the Keystone XL pipeline will do to the global climate, according to new research released Tuesday.

State Department's Keystone Analysis Ignores True Climate Impact: Report by Lucia Graves, The Huffington Post, Apr 16, 2013

Millions face starvation as world warms

World is unprepared for changes that will see parts of Africa turned into disaster areas, say food experts.

Millions face starvation as world warms by John Vidal, The Observer/The Guardian, April 13, 2013

Short-lived climate pollutants reduction might slow down sea level rise

A new study finds that it is possible to greatly slow the rate of sea level rise, which is one of the biggest threats global warming poses, by cutting so-called “short-lived climate pollutants,” which warm the climate on timescales of a few weeks to a decade, in combination with reductions in long-lived greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2). 

Short-lived climate pollutants reduction might slow down sea level rise, new study shows by Andrew Freedman, The Huffington Post, Apr 14, 2013 

Time to rethink how we talk about climate change

Why is climate change so difficult an issue to rally people around? Why have other thorny and politically sensitive issues - such as gay marriage - managed to eventually find traction while climate change has not?

It’s largely a problem not of science or politics, but of misjudged communication, climate experts argued at a Skoll World Forum session this week in Oxford, England.

Climate Conversations - Time to rethink how we talk about climate change by Laurie Goering, AlertNet Blogs, Apr 12, 2013

Wall Street's climate finance bonanza

Government officials from an elite group of developed countries meeting in Washington, D.C. at the invitation of U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern appear to be on the brink of instigating yet another corporate handout and big bank giveaway—this time in the name of fighting climate change.

Wall Street's climate finance bonanza by Janet Redman and Antonio Tri,  Foriegn Policy in Focus, Apr 10, 2013

World climate change goal at risk

A global goal for limiting climate change is slipping out of reach and governments may have to find ways to artificially suck greenhouse gases from the air if they fail to make deep cuts in rising emissions by 2030, a draft U.N. report said.

A 25-page draft summary, by the U.N. panel of climate experts and due for publication in 2014, said emissions of heat-trapping gases rose to record levels in the decade to 2010, led by Asian industrial growth.

World climate change goal at risk as emissions surge - UN by Alister Doyle, Reuters, Apr 12, 2013