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UK: UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey will launch a fierce attack on climate sceptics and the right-wing media that support them. In a speech to be delivered in London today, Davey will say criticism of the science has been politicised:
“This is destructive and loudly clamouring scepticism born of vested interest, nimbyism, publicity seeking contraversialism or sheer blinkered, dogmatic, political bloody-mindedness.”
The speech comes as a vote nears on the addition of a 2030 decarbonisation target to the UK’s new energy bill. Further debate on the amendment will take place in Westminster this week. (BBC)
UK Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Ed Davey (Source: Flickr/CHP Association)
Germany: The 2°C temperature target should be scrapped according to a study by the influential German Institute for International and Security Affairs. With the objective looking increasingly difficult to achieve, it says it now serves no “positive symbolic or productive governance” function. (Bloomberg)
USA/China: The lead climate negotiators of the USA and China have met to discuss further cooperation ahead of a meeting of their respective Presidents in California later this week. Earlier this year the two set up a working group to find ways they could work together more.
“The establishment of the working group shows that the leaders attach great importance to the issue of climate change,” said Xie Zhenhua vice-minister of China’s National Development and Reform Commission. “Climate change will become a new highlight of the Sino-US bilateral relationship.” (China Daily)
UK: A British shale gas company has claimed there could be more gas in its licence area in the North West of England than previously estimated. IGas said its most recent study produced a range of 15-170 trillion cubic feet (tcf) with the most likely estimate in the region of 100 tcf. (Reuters)
Canada: The Government of British Columbia has said it is opposed to the construction of a tar sands pipeline to carry bitumen from Alberta’s oil sands to the West coast for export. The approval process continues but the official opposition is a blow for the Northern Gateway project’s developer, Enbridge. (CBC)