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Opinions on the Fourth Assessment Report

Ahem, Scientific American, a few days ago: Global warming skeptics are already gearing up to deconstruct the IPCC report, whatever its conclusions. The Fraser Institute — a Canadian think tank devoted to denying climate change — plans to release its own independent summary on February 5, and conservative Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) has decried the […]

The definitive word

RealClimate has a great post on today’s IPCC summary report that helps explain the process that developed it, put it in context, and identify what’s settled and what isn’t, science-wise. Required reading.

European NGO calls on the EU to abandon its proposed biofuel targets

A new European-based group calling itself "Biofuelwatch", on Wednesday issued an open letter addressed to the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament, and citizens of Europe, urging the EU to abandon its targets for biofuel use in Europe. Already, several other organizations and individuals have signed onto the letter.

The group is responding in part to a recent proposal by the European Commission to establish a mandatory minimum biofuel target of 10% of vehicle fuels by 2020.

From Condoms to Crow

If only they were 100 percent effective A new ad campaign popping up on U.K. campuses asks: What better way to protect against climate change than with a jimmy hat salami sling love glove condom? Better latex than never! And, uh, where can we get one that size? Image: Friends of the Earth Hoofin’ it […]

Be afraid

There is a bombshell buried in the middle of the IPCC report. So far, it hasn't received the attention it deserves. In a bullet point on the bottom of page twelve, the report says that dangerous feedback mechanisms are a ticking timebomb, and require dramatic action now.

Translated into plain English, they are saying that we need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions far more than previously expected -- up to 27% more -- or else it will be impossible to deal with global warming because of feedback mechanisms. This is one of the central premises of my book Hell and High Water, and there was little indication it was going to be in the report. It is a meaningful addition.

The key bullet from the report (bottom of page 12):

But Wait, There’s More

Wal-Mart CEO announces new energy-focused sustainability initiative First Prince Charles jets across the Atlantic just to accept an eco-award, and now he’s hanging out with the likes of Wal-Mart chief Lee Scott. Is there anything His Royal Highness won’t do to piss off self-righteous greens? Has he considered biting the head off an endangered salamander? […]

Heart Trouble

High levels of pollution lead to increased heart disease in women, study finds News flash: pollution is bad. And women living in highly polluted areas are 76 percent more likely to die of a heart attack or stroke, according to a rigorous study published in the New England Journal of Medicine yesterday. “The magnitude of […]

You Wanna Peace of Him?

Al Gore nominated for Nobel Peace Prize Three cheers for Al Gore, whose incessant blabbering about climate change has gotten him nominated for the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. “Al Gore with his movie and his dedication and his active diplomacy among world leaders has really moved the issue forward,” says Boerge Brende, one of two […]

A Closer Look

In which we explain what the heck the IPCC is, and why it matters Chances are you’re not going to be able to turn around today without bumping into some reference to the new IPCC climate report. We’re not just saying that because we’re navel-gazing greens: try 1,624 news stories on Google, and counting. (OK, […]

Now We’ve Done It

Humans “very likely” changing the climate, says long-awaited IPCC report A few weeks of leaks stole some thunder, but the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released the first installment of its long-awaited fourth report, and the news is — well, not news, thanks to those meddling leakers. But let’s pretend. The news is out! […]