– The day’s top climate change stories as chosen by RTCC
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– Updated from 0830-1700 BST (GMT+1)
Friday 5 October
Last updated: 1606
Geneva: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) has moved into the government and expert review stage of the Fifth Assessment Report, due to be published in 2014.
New York: The Executive Secretary of the UNCCD Luc Gnacadja has announced a High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy to be held in Geneva during March 2013. Gnacadja said climate change is projected to depress agricultural yields by up to 15-50% in most countries by 2050, given current agricultural practices and crop varieties.
Japan: The country’s environment ministry says it is on target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated average of 8% for the five years ending in March, meaning it will meet commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. Greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase this fiscal year from the previous 12 months following the wider use of fossil fuels after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. (Bloomberg)
Mozambique: Researchers have warned that Mozambique’s infrastructure is vulnerable to extreme weather events likely to become more common with climate change. (Bernama)
Oceans: Carbon Brief brings together research to examine what impact climate change could have on the world’s coral reefs. (Carbon Brief)
UK: Britain is at risk of running out of energy generating capacity in the winter of 2015-16, according to energy regulator Ofgem. It blames the risk on coal-fired power stations being closed sooner than expected an EU environmental legislation for the risk. (BBC)
UK: Kenco has partnered with recycling incentive specialist TerraCycle to create the UK’s first scheme to encourage customers to recycle all brands of coffee packaging waste. (BusinessGreen)
Worldwide: Britain, Japan and the US are the most sceptical countries when it comes to climate change, according to a new survey. The online poll of 13,500 adults from 13 countries found most people do believe that climate change is happening – with figures ranging from 98% in Mexico and Hong Kong to 72% in the US. (Telegraph)
India: Solar and other renewable sources could meet 100% of India’s energy needs, according to a new study from two professors at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. They say their findings are based on current solar photovoltaic technology and does not include higher efficiencies. (Hindustan Times)
EU: Ministers took the final step towards adopting the Energy Efficiency Directive yesterday, by throwing their weight behind the plans. The next step will be for member states to present their national targets to the EU by April 2013. (Euractiv)
US: Actress Daryl Hannah has been arrested in Texas on Thursday after she stood in front of an earth-moving machine that was clearing the ground for the construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. (Reuters)
EU: Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger told reporters that nuclear regulators and operators should act to improve safety at the EU’s power plants, following inspections across the continent. (Reuters)
Worldwide: Electric vehicles only make sense if a country’s power supply is also going green, according to new research. The study found that electric cars could pollute even more than petrol and diesel cars in some cases and that greenhouse gas emissions rose dramatically if coal was used to produce the electricity. (BBC)