Posted on 6 December 2012 by John Hartz

This is a biweekly roundup of selected news articles and blog posts about climate change and its impacts. Readers are encouraged to comment on the posted articles and to provide links to other articles of importance.

2015 Climate Aid Goal

Developing states have said they will continue to push for a 2015 target for climate finance at U.N. negotiations in Doha, despite firm indications from the European Union and the United States that rich nations will not commit to a collective figure at the talks.

Developing states push 2015 climate aid goal at UN talks by Megan Knowling, Alertnet, Dec 5, 2012

Adaptation: US

For economic, recreational and aesthetic reasons, Americans have clustered on the shore. Even in stable climatic times, the coastline is dynamic, wetlands teeming with life, barrier islands shifting, all the while subject to big storms and associated floods. Increasingly, though, the climate will not be stable. Communities from lower Manhattan to the Delmarva Peninsula will have to confront that reality. Best to start now.

Holding back the sea, Editorial Board, Washington Post, Dec 1, 2012

Arctic Assessment Report

The full extent of the extreme loss of Arctic ice cover is due to be revealed on Wednesday when a premier US science agency delivers its annual report on the polar region. 

The report, overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa), provides the most comprehensive review so far of a year of record-breaking and extreme weather events in the Arctic. 

Some scientists have warned the changes in the Arctic recorded this year – particularly signs of thawing permafrost – could bring the planet much closer to a climate tipping point than previously anticipated.

Scientists to reveal full extent of Arctic ice loss amid climate change fears by Suzanne Goldenberg, The Guradian (UK), Dec 5, 2012 

Global CO2 Emissions Rise 

Carbon dioxide emissions from industry rose an estimated 2.6 percent in a weak global economy this year, a study released on Monday showed, powered by rapid emissions growth in China and India, which may add urgency to U.N. climate talks in Doha.
 
The study by the Global Carbon Project, an annual report card on mankind's CO2 pollution, also says emissions grew 3.1 percent in 2011, placing the world on a near-certain path towards dangerous climate change, such as more heat waves, droughts and storms.

Despite weak economy, CO2 emissions to grow 2.6 pct in 2012 –study by David Fogarty, Reuters, Dec 3, 2012 

Long-term Thinking Needed

“It’s not ill-will, but politicians are up to here trying to handle today and tomorrow,” she said. “The business community needs to help us get rid of short-termism and inject long-term thinking into the political discourse, so we can get where we want to go.”

Robinson calls on US to act on climate change by Frank McDonald, The Irish Times, Dec 3, 2012 

UN Climate Conference: Halfway Report

Many key issues remain unaddressed halfway through a UN climate conference in Doha. While the technical means exist to prevent a climate catastrophe, experts wonder if there is enough political will to reach a deal.

Climate impasse settles over Doha talks by Andrea Rönsberg, Deutsche Welle (DW), Dec 1, 2012

UN Climate Conference: Kyoto All Over Again?

World leaders have agreed on one thing at COP18—so called developing countries will suffer the most extreme effects of climate change; however, the world's richest nations continued on Wednesday to refuse to help prepare these nations for their current and imminent disasters and, more pointedly, to help curb global warming greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable energy development.

Kyoto all Over Again? US Obstructive Force at Climate Talks by Jacob Chamberlain, Common Dreams, Dec 5, 2012

UN Climate Conference: Role of Agriculture

Farmers, researcher and policy makers expressed their disappointment on Monday that progress towards including agriculture in the U.N. climate talks has stalled, with little hope of getting it back onto the agenda at the negotiations in Qatar.
 
Over the weekend, discussions in the committee handling the issue failed to reach agreement, largely due to differences over whether to include the role of agriculture in reducing – or mitigating - greenhouse gas emissions

Dismay at agriculture impasse in UN climate talks by Megan Rowling, Alertnet, Dec 3, 2012

UN Climate Conference: Storm Brews

While the Philippines copes with the aftermath of powerful super-typhoon Bopha, which killed more than 300 people this week, tempers flared at the U.N. climate summit here.

Developing countries are angry the U.S. and European Union and other rich industrialised countries refuse to increase their carbon emission reduction targets or agree to additional financing here at COP18. 

The paralysis in Doha is the result of fossil fuel interests including the world’s richest billionaires, Charles and David Koch, allege activists.

A Storm Brews in Doha by Stpehan Leahy, Inter Press Service (IPS), Dec 5, 2012