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Green anger as EU prepares to subsidise dash for gas

Climate Home: The EU emphasised gas supply in its “energy union” strategy unveiled on Tuesday, raising doubts about its commitment to climate goals. Diversifying gas supply routes is Brussels’ main answer to concerns parts of Europe are overly reliant on imports from an aggressive Russia. In the European Commission’s first big energy initiative since agreeing a UN climate pact in Paris, it proposed subsidies for new pipelines and LNG terminals. “EU funds can help to make up for the weak commercial viability...

21st century warm streak ‘almost certainly’ human caused

Climate Home: The chances of natural variability causing the record warm streak this century are vanishingly small. Greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels are "almost certainly" behind the surge in global temperatures, according to a study published in Nature. Without human activities, scientists calculate the odds are between 1 in 5000 and 1 in 170000 of the pattern seen between 2000 and 2014: thirteen of the 15 warmest years on record. "2015 is again the warmest year on record, and this can hardly...

‘El Nino will fade, but climate change will be with us for decades’

Climate Home: The UN weather agency has confirmed 2015 global temperatures were 1C higher than the pre-industrial average. That brought weather extremes including heatwaves, flooding and severe drought, in a sign of things to come as growing greenhouse gas emissions trap energy in the Earth`s systems. Fifteen of the 16 warmest years on record occurred this century, said the World Meteorological Organization, showing a clear upward trend. "An exceptionally strong El Nino and global warming caused by greenhouse...

Climate change could push 100m into extreme poverty

Climate Home: Whether it’s flooding in Mumbai slums or drought decimating goat herds in the Sahel, poor people are hardest hit by the changing climate. Such impacts could push another 100 million into extreme poverty by 2030. So warns the World Bank in its latest report, calling for targeted support to help marginalised communities cope. “When we look at poverty today, we see that climate-related shocks and stresses are already an obstacle to people escaping poverty,” lead author Stephane Hallegatte told...