2013 SkS Weekly News Roundup #17B

Antarctic nematodes and climate change

Climate change affects not only air temperature and sea levels, but soil as well. And an American scientist is on an award-winning quest to reverse the damage.

Antarctic nematodes and climate change by Jane O'Brien, BBC News, Apr 26, 2013


Carbon tax on the table in the Senate

For years it’s been obvious in policy-wonk circles that a carbon tax is a great idea. But it’s been even more obvious that the policy is politically toxic. Yet — and I almost don’t want to point this out, in case publicizing it prompts lawmakers to run away as fast as they can — taxing carbon and some other excellent ideas that have been under-appreciated in Washington are now officially on the table in the Senate Finance Committee.

Carbon tax on the table in the Senate by Stephen Stromberg, Washington Post, April 25, 2013


Climate change inspires a new literary genre: cli-fi

Cli-fi, or 'climate fiction,' describes a dystopian present, as opposed to a dystopian future. And don't call it 'science fiction.' Cli-fi is literary fiction.

Climate change inspires a new literary genre: cli-fi by Husna Haq, The Christian Science Monitor, Apr 26, 2013


Climate change may reduce Indian crop output

Climate change is likely to bring down the production of key foodgrain crops like wheat and rice in the country by up to 18 per cent in 2020, agriculture minister Sharad Pawar said on Friday.

"Climate change is projected to reduce timely sown irrigated wheat production by about 6 per cent in 2020. In case of late sown wheat, the projected levels are to the extent of 18 per cent," Pawar said in the Rajya Sabha.

Climate change may reduce crop output by 18% in 2020: Sharad Pawar, The Times of India, Apr 26, 2013 


Connect the dots on climate change

Climate change means drastic and long-term effects like rising sea levels and the increased likelihood of extreme weather events. But across the world, we are already witnessing the consequences of a warming world.

Connect The Dots On Climate Change: The Tangible Effects Of A Warming World by James Gerken, The Huffington Post, Apr 25, 2013 


Guy Stewart Callendar: Global warming discovery marked

Seventy-five years ago an amateur scientist made a breakthrough discovery in the field of climate change.

Guy Stewart Callendar: Global warming discovery markedby Zoe Applegate, BBC News, Apr 25, 2013


Hope for US-China collaboration on climate change, clean energy

China and the United States are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world, Holland writes. A recent agreement between the two countries bodes well for promoting clean energy and addressing climate change globally.  

Hope for US-China collaboration on climate change, clean energy by Andrew Holland, the Christian Science Monitor, Apr 26, 2013


Industrialised nations' greenhouse gas emissions dipped in 2011

The US shift from coal in power plants and Europe's economic slowdown were among reasons for drop in emissions 

Industrialised nations' greenhouse gas emissions dipped in 2011, report says, Reuters/The Guardian, Apr 26, 2013 


Shale mining under Great Barrier Reef 'likely to be banned'

Australia's coastline mining industry undergoing a boom as rules relaxed, but Unesco site to be protected under heritage rules

Shale mining under Great Barrier Reef 'likely to be banned' by Lenore Taylor, The Guardian, Apr 24, 2013


Soils cannot lock away Black Carbon

Charcoal and other forms of black carbon do not, as previously thought, stay where they are buried.

Soils Cannot Lock Away Black Carbon by Tim Radford and The Daily Climate, Scientific american, Apr 26, 2013


Wild weather swings may be a sign of climate change

For a political candidate, being labeled a “flip-flopper” can be  by a career killer. Just ask Secretary of State John Kerry, who lost his 2004 presidential race in part because of his reputation for voting against bills before he voted for them. Increasingly, though, the label also applies to North American weather, which has been lurching from one extreme to the next in a pattern that is consistent with global warming. 

Wild Weather Swings May Be a Sign of Climate Change by Andrew Freedman, Climate Central, Apr 26, 2013


Wyoming Governor: Don't examine global effects of coal

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead is asking the White House to disregard pressure from the governors of Washington and Oregon and refuse to evaluate the effects of greenhouse gases that would be emitted by exporting U.S. coal to Asia from ports in the Northwest.

Wyoming gov.: Don't examine global effects of coal by Ben Neary, AP/The Huffington Post, Apr 26, 2013

Posted by John Hartz on Sunday, 28 April, 2013


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