RSS Feed
Author Archive
Eat less meat to avoid dangerous global warming, scientists say
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on March 21st, 2016
Guardian: Growing food for the world’s burgeoning population is likely to send greenhouse gas emissions over the threshold of safety, unless more is done to cut meat consumption, a new report has found.
A widespread switch to vegetarianism would cut emissions by nearly two-thirds, it said.
In three decades, emissions related to agriculture and food production are likely to account for about half of the world’s available “carbon budget” - the limited amount of carbon dioxide and its equivalents that can...
Posted in 
British Belief in Climate Change on the Rise, Research Finds
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on January 29th, 2015
Guardian: Britons are more likely to agree the climate is changing than at any time in recent years, with nearly nine in 10 people saying climate change is happening and 84% attributing this somewhat or entirely to human activity, new research has found. Two-thirds say they are concerned by global warming.
When asked to name major threats to the UK in the next two decades, 15% of those polled listed climate change without prompting, putting it in fourth position behind immigration, the economy and health....
Climate change report: prevent damage by overhauling global economy
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on September 16th, 2014
Guardian: The world can still act in time to stave off the worst effects of climate change, and enjoy the fruits of continued economic growth as long as the global economy can be transformed within the next 15 years, a group of the world's leading economists and political leaders will argue on Tuesday.
Tackling climate change can be a boon to prosperity, rather than a brake, according to the study involving a roll-call of the globe's biggest institutions, including the UN, the OECD group of rich countries,...
Green party to position itself as the real left of UK politics
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on September 4th, 2014
Guardian: The Green party is positioning itself as the “real opposition” to the coalition, opening up a bitter fight with Labour on the left wing of UK politics, as the party’s key figures prepare to contest general election seats in parliament.
Caroline Lucas, the party’s only MP, will tell the Green party conference in Birmingham on Saturday that Labour has failed to oppose the Tories and Liberal Democrats on a wide variety of issues, from the creeping privatisation of the National Health Service to free...
World’s energy systems vulnerable to climate impacts, report warns
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on June 17th, 2014
Guardian: Rising sea levels, extremes of weather and an increase in the frequency of droughts and floods will all play havoc with the world's energy systems as climate change takes hold, a new report has found.
Energy companies are more often cited as part of the problem of climate change, generating the lion's share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, amounting to around 40% of the total. But they will also suffer as global warming picks up pace, as generators – from nuclear reactors to coal-fired...
United Kingdom: MPs condemn exemption of small retailers from plastic bag charge
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on June 17th, 2014
Guardian: Government plans for a 5p charge on single-use plastic bags, aimed at discouraging their use, have been sharply criticised by MPs for not going far enough.
The influential environmental audit select committee published its report on the plans on Tuesday, accusing the government of ignoring calls to force all retailers to apply the charge. Ministers have decided to exempt small retailers, arguing it would be unfair and costly to small businesses such as corner shops.
But the MPs said that excluding...
UK summer flash floods to become more frequent, study shows
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on June 1st, 2014
Guardian: Flash flooding in summer is likely to become much more frequent across the UK as a result of climate change, with potentially devastating results in vulnerable areas, according to new research.
The study, published in the peer-review journal Nature Climate Change, is the first to draw a direct link between climate change and an increase in summer downpours.
The research, a result of a collaboration between the Met Office and Newcastle University, used climate change computer models and standard...
Global warming is a misleading term because it actually sounds quite nice
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on March 7th, 2014
Guardian: What does the phrase anthropogenic forcing mean to you? Or a carbon bubble – would you be more likely to find one in your bath or in your pension fund? Is the greenhouse effect a better way to grow tomatoes? And what is the difference between global warming and climate change?
Understanding the language of climate science can feel like sitting an exam in an unfamiliar subject. For most scientific debates, the collision between the abstruse nature of expert discourse and our ordinary lives – a...
UK shale gas viability check will take five years, says Cuadrilla boss
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on January 31st, 2014
Guardian: It will take five years and the drilling of 20 to 40 fracking wells to judge whether the UK has a viable shale gas industry, the chairman of the only company yet to have used modern hydraulic fracturing techniques here has told the Guardian.
Lord Browne of Madingley, former chief of BP and now chairman of Cuadrilla, said the work must be done, because exploiting shale gas was "a national imperative".
He said the process would take so long because of the UK's strict planning laws. "We have very...
European Greens consider challenge to UK tax breaks shale gas drilling
Posted by Guardian: Fiona Harvey, on January 20th, 2014
Guardian: European Greens are considering a challenge to the UK's tax breaks and incentives for shale gas under state aid rules, as the government holds out against a new renewable energy target for the EU.
Ministers have offered tax breaks to shale gas companies, and incentives to local communities to encourage them to accept drilling in their area. The government believes its plans comply with EU rules restricting state aid to companies.
On Wednesday, the European commission is expected to announce...