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Archive for December 13th, 2015
The climate path ahead
Posted by New York Times: Andrew C. Revkin on December 13th, 2015
New York Times: At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 23 years ago, the world’s nations adopted a treaty that pledged, but ultimately failed, to cut the emissions driving global warming. In Paris over the last two weeks, negotiators from around the world met for the 21st time since then in an effort to move from aspiration to action. At the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro 23 years ago, the world’s nations adopted a treaty that pledged, but ultimately failed, to cut the emissions driving global warming. In Paris...
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Global issues don’t live in separate boxes. Why no mention in Paris of refugees?
Posted by Guardian: Alexander Betts on December 13th, 2015
Guardian: While the United Nations climate change talks in Paris struggled to elicit credible commitments, notably missing from the debate was “environmental displacement” – people fleeing their homes on account of natural disaster. As temperatures and sea levels rise, and land-use patterns change, there will be significant consequences for human mobility within and across borders.
However, public and media debate scarcely discussed the issue, and the only references in the Paris summit’s negotiated outcome...
Paris climate deal: reaction from the experts
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on December 13th, 2015
Guardian: The agreement is extremely welcome. However, we should also be cautious. It is clear that the 1C temperature rise over pre-industrial levels that we have seen so far has triggered a whole range of effects including melting of mountain glaciers, significant sea-level rise, devastating droughts, and flooding. These effects are likely to get much worse with even modest future increases. Keeping temperatures to manageable levels also assumes that we know what the precise link is between atmospheric greenhouse...
United Kingdom: Ministers bow anger over flood defences
Posted by Telegraph: Tim Ross and Patrick Sawer on December 13th, 2015
Telegraph: Ministers have been forced to bow to anger over claims the Government was unprepared for the consequences of the heavy flooding that hit Britain last week.
Public criticism over its ability cope with extreme weather episodes – such as the one which left hundreds of people washed out of their homes across northern England – last night forced Whitehall to announce a major review of Britain’s plans for coping with “worst case” floods.
Under the review, new flood defences will be drawn up for northern...