Posted on 17 November 2018 by John Hartz

Editor's Pick

Policies of China, Russia and Canada threaten 5C climate change, study finds

Ranking of countries’ goals shows even EU on course for more than double safe level of warming

Vendors near a state-owned coal-fired power plant in China. Photograph: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

China, Russia and Canada’s current climate policies would drive the world above a catastrophic 5C of warming by the end of the century, according to a study that ranks the climate goals of different countries.

The US and Australia are only slightly behind with both pushing the global temperature rise dangerously over 4C above pre-industrial levels says the paper, while even the EU, which is usually seen as a climate leader, is on course to more than double the 1.5C that scientists say is a moderately safe level of heating.

The study, published on Friday in the journal Nature Communications, assesses the relationship between each nation’s ambition to cut emissions and the temperature rise that would result if the world followed their example.

The aim of the paper is to inform climate negotiators as they begin a two-year process of ratcheting up climate commitments, which currently fall far short of the 1.5-to-2C goal set in France three years ago.

The related website also serves as a guide to how nations are sharing the burden of responding to the greatest environmental threat humankind has ever faced.

Policies of China, Russia and Canada threaten 5C climate change, study finds by Jonathan Watts, Environment, Guardian, Nov 16, 2018

Links posted on Facebook

Sun Nov 11, 2018

• Next generation ‘may never see the glory of coral reefs’ by Jonathan Watts, Environment, Observer/Guardian, Nov 11, 2018
• With Democratic Majority, Climate Change Is Back on U.S. House Agenda by Marianne Lavelle, InsideClimate News, Nov 7, 2018
• Fossil fuel money crushed clean energy ballot initiatives across the country by David Roberts, Energy & Environment, Vox, Nov 11, 2018
• 'It's not over yet.' High winds threaten progress made fighting California fires by Dakin Andone & Nicole Chavez, CNN, Nov 11, 2018
• ‘It is not safe.’ California wildfires continue deadly assault on populated areas. by Joel Achenbach & Cleve R. Wootson Jr., National, Washington Post, Nov 11, 2018

Mon Nov 12, 2018

• Citizen group marches in Montreal for government action on climate change by Annabelle Olivier, Global News, Nov 10. 2018
• The Carbon Brief Quiz 2018 by Staff, Carbon Brief, Nov 5, 2018
• In Kyrgyzstan, warming brings less water - and more conflict by Katie Arnold, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov 9, 2018
• I'm a woman who fought wildfires for 7 years. Climate change is absolutely making them worse., Essay by Anastasia Selby, First Person, Nov 12, 2018
• Hurricane Michael is looking even more violent on closer scrutiny by Joel Achenbach, Kevin Begos & Jason Samenow, Capital Weather Gang, Washington Post, Nov 11, 2018
• Blue Wave in Midwest Could Resurrect Climate Compact by Daniel Cusick, E&E News/Scientific American, Nov 12, 2018
• The weather and climate behind the California infernos that wrecked Paradise and torched Malibu by Matthew Cappucci & Jason Samenow, Capital Weather Gang, Washington Post, Nov 12, 2018
• US climate politics just got even more polarized. Here’s how Democrats can move forward. by David Roberts, Energy & Environment, Vox, Nov 12, 2018

Tue Nov 13, 2018

• Drought has hit Europe's Rhine River and its commerce hard: 'Everyone's hoping for rain' by Erik Kirschbaum, World, Los Angeles Times, Nov 12, 2018
• Climate change will make QLD’s ecosystems unrecognisable – it’s up to us if we want to stop that by Sarah Boulter, The Conversation AU, Nov 12, 2018
• NYC Files Appeal, Challenges Dismissal of Climate Liability Suit by Karen Savage, Climate Liability News, Nov 12, 2018
• 60- to 70-mph winds could fan California's Woolsey Fire today by Emanuella Grinberg, Susannah Cullinane & Holly Yan, CNN. Nov 13. 2018
• The Wheels on These Buses Go Round and Round With Zero Emissions by Brad Plumer, Climate, New York Times, Nov 12, 2018
• Climate change, oilsands and the carbon tax are at the heart of Alberta's 2019 battleground by Trish Audette-Longo & Mike De Souza, National Observer (Canada), Nov 12, 2018
• Clean Energy Is Surging, but Not Fast Enough to Solve Global Warming by Brad Plumer, Climate, New York Time, Nov 12, 2018
• Backed by Ocasio-Cortez, Youth Climate Activists Arrested at Pelosi's Office Demanding Democrats Embrace 'Green New Deal' by Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams, Nov 13, 2018
• Wins By Democratic Attorneys General Threaten To Multiply Climate Suits Against Big Oil by Alexander C Kaufman, HuffPost, Nov 10, 2018

Wed Nov 14, 2018

• Scientists warn Australia's water security threatened by climate change by Biwa Kwan, SBS News, Nov 13, 2018
• Male Insect Fertility Plummets After Heat Waves by Karen Weintraub by Karen Weintraub, Science, New York Times, Nov 13, 2018
• California’s Wildfire and Climate Change Warnings Are Still Too Conservative, Scientist Says by Phil McKenna, InsideClimate News, Nov 13, 2018
• Scientists acknowledge key errors in study of how fast the oceans are warming by Chris Mooney & Brady Dennis, Energy & Environment, Washington Post, Nov 14, 2018
• Modest warming risks 'irreversible' ice sheet loss, study warns AFP/Channel NewsAsia, Nov 13, 2018
• World's top aid agency to promote resilience with new body by Sebastien Malo, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov 14, 2018
• Climate activists to Nancy Pelosi: go big or we won’t go home by David Roberts, Energy & Environment, Vox, Nov 14, 2018
• The many ways climate change worsens California wildfires by Dana Nuccitelli, Yale Climate Connections, Nov 13, 2018

Thu Nov 15, 2018

• European mayors urge wider political push to step up climate action by Megan Rowling, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov 14, 2018
• Cape Town warns world to follow its lead as it prepares for fresh drought by Hugh Morris, Travel, The Telegraph (S Africa), Nov 8, 2018
• G20 nations still led by fossil fuel industry, climate report finds by Jonathan Watts, Environment, Guardian, Nov 14, 2018
• Global coal use may have peaked in 2014, says latest IEA World Energy Outlook by Simon Evans, Carbon Brief, Nov 13, 2018
• Solutions to Wildfires in Time of Climate Change Are Costly, Unpopular by Christopher Flavelle, Insurance Journal, Nov 14, 2018
• Big Oil v the planet is the fight of our lives. Democrats must choose a side, Opinion by David Sirota, Comment is Free, Guardian, Nov 15, 2018
• Watchdog and Advocacy Coalition Report Warns of Systemic Attacks on Science by Government Accountability Project Staff, Climate Science Policy Watch, Nov 15, 2018
• Natural Climate Solutions Could Cancel Out a Fifth of U.S. Emissions, Study Finds by Georgina Gustin, InsideClimate News, Nov 14, 2018

Fri Nov 16, 2018

• Nothing to hide?' Oil and gas lobby pushes to limit data on its emissions by Adam Morton, Environment, Guardian, Nov 15, 2018
• Fast-growing African cities at 'extreme risk' from climate change - analysts by Megan Rowling, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov 14, 2018
• Students Across Europe Excoriate World Leaders for Hiding Scientific Reality of Pending 'Global Collapse' by Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams, Nov 15, 2018
• At U.N. climate talks, Trump team plans sideshow on coal by Timothy Gardner, Thomson Reuters Foundation, Nov 15, 2018
• How Extreme Weather Is Shrinking the Planet by Bill Mckibben, Reflections, The New Yorker, Nov 26, 2018 Print Issue
• Climate change policy can be overwhelming. Here’s a guide to the policies that work. by David Roberts, Energy & Environment, Vox, Mov 16, 2018
• 7 podcasts to learn more about climate change and how to fight it by Deniz Gulsoken, Kinder, Nov 16, 2018
• Climate change has intensified hurricane rainfall, and now we know how much by Julia Griffin. PBS New Hour, Nov 14, 2018

Sat Nov 17, 2018

• Brazil's new foreign minister believes climate change is a Marxist plot by Jonathan Watts, World, Guardian, Nov 15, 2018
• Stunning Data Reveal How Wildfires in California And The US Are Becoming More Devastating by Aria Bendix & Peter Kotecki, Business Insider/Science Alert, Nov 12, 2018
• Likely New House Science Chair Seeks to Move Away from “Suspicion” of Science by Christa Marshall, E&E News/Scientific American, Nov 16, 2018
• Policies of China, Russia and Canada threaten 5C climate change, study finds by Jonathan Watts, Environment, Guardian, Nov 16, 2018
• Why San Diego plan for community choice energy is a blueprint for bipartisan climate action, Commentary by Nicole Capretz, Joyce Lane & Eddie Price, San Diego Union-Tribune, Nov 17, 2018
• Dozens arrested after climate protest blocks five London bridges by Matthew Taylor & Damien Gayle, Environment, Guardian, Nov 17, 2018
• Veteran Democrats wary of climate push by Ocasio-Cortez and her allies by Anthony Adranga & Zach Colman, Politico, Nov 16, 2018
• West Coast crab fisherman sue 30 fossil fuel companies, citing economic losses due to climate change by Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, Nov 14, 2018
• 2018 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #46 by Ari Jokimäki, Skeptical Science, Nov 16, 2018