Climate science
Wildfires shoot climate warming tar balls into atmosphere
Los Alamos National Laboratory scientists reveal small carbon balls created in wildfires are 10 times as warming as conventional soot
Australia warned to prepare for hotter summers – report
Extreme heat, floods and bushfires which affected Australia earlier in 2013 are likely to become more common as a result of climate change
Global warming could wipe out microbes that ‘make life possible’
Scientists warn tiny microbes known as cyanobacteria are under threat from radically changing temperatures
Africa’s tiny ‘sand dams’ can save millions from drought
Simple, cheap and quick to construct – small walls trapping seasonal rainwater can save Africa’s dryland regions from desertification
Pacific Islands gather to discuss growing climate threat
Fourth Pacific Climate Change Roundtable brings together environment ministers, meteorologists and UN officials to discuss rising sea levels
UN warns decade of climate disruption set to continue
Record breaking extreme weather in 2001-2010 set to continue the UN’s World Meteorological Organisation has warned in a new report
NASA experiment uncovers Arctic climate time bomb
More accurate data on carbon leaking from thawing permafrost uncovers “sleeping climate giant”
Skinny cows and climate change could cost farmers billions
A study predicts wild and domestic cattle will drastically reduce in weight as the climate warms − compromising food security and slashing farmer’s profits
Climate change will force new species onto endangered list
Up to 83% of birds, 66% of amphibians and 70% of corals are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change says the International Union for Conservation of Nature
UN moves closer to establishing drought reduction targets
Influential panel of experts call for world leaders to adopt goals to combat desertification, land degradation and drought
Desert offers clue to species’ climate survival
Research into one of world’s oldest and driest deserts finds species have evolved to cope with the changes
Least Developed Countries climate adaptation fund gets $200m boost
Belgium, Germany, Norway, Switzerland and the USA offer nearly $200 million in climate adaptation investment to the world’s poorest countries
Insurance firms press governments on climate adaptation
Industry think tank warns “quasi-irreversible” shift in ocean temperatures will end business as usual and calls for more adaptation investment
Brazil at climate change crossroads – Carbon Tracker
Government faces tough decisions over whether to back expanding renewable energy sector or increase investment in its huge deep-water oil reserves
Climate adaptation goes mobile in Brazil
As extreme weather events become more common, the mobile phone is being recognised as an important tool for warnings that can save lives
Skiers face dilemma as California snows recede
“Clear and compelling evidence” shows that winter snows vital for tourism and agriculture are in rapid decline in Southern California
Climate adaptation planning ‘could have prevented’ Uttarakhand deaths
Local expert tells RTCC lives could have been saved if government had enforced rules banning construction of buildings on flood plans
Indonesian government blamed for Singapore smog
Greenpeace South Asia says with half the forest clearance fires inside a protected area, responsibility lies at the feet of government
Costa Rica sacks climate advisor for criticising China oil loan
Government asked Monica Araya to leave climate change team after publicly criticising a $1bn deal with China to finance a new oil refinery, a move Araya says could lead to oil exploration in Costa Rica
Coral reefs can survive ocean acidity – report
Coral reefs may be able to survive ocean acidity, but can they survive other issues like pollution and overfishing?