PRESS/NEWS

Press Headlines

The "press headlines" is a daily compilation providing a general overview of international media coverage of climate change-related issues, that does not purport to be exhaustive. The information contained in the compilation is taken as is from sources external to the UNFCCC secretariat, that are freely available on the Internet. No evaluation on the part of the UNFCCC secretariat has been done in terms of the information that they contain. The UNFCCC secretariat makes no warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability or content of such information.

updated: 05 April 2013 09:22

Frontpage >>

China’s Shenzhen Sets June 17 as Start of Carbon Emissions Trading China's Shenzhen, a Special Economic Zone, will start its carbon emissions trading on June 17, its Mayor Qin Xu said in an interview with a local newspaper.	International Business Times

In Sign of Warming, 1,600 Years of Ice in Andes Melted in 25 Years Glacial ice in the Peruvian Andes that took at least 1,600 years to form has melted in just 25 years, scientists reported Thursday, the latest indication that the recent spike in global temperatures has thrown the natural world out of balance.	NY Times

Climate change will increase extreme precipitation levels Rainfall or snowfall dumped by the most intense storms could grow significantly heavier in most of the United States by the final decades of the century, according to a new climate change study.	LA Times

Solar Energy and Briquettes Make Headway in Haiti While Jean Reniteau mulls over the idea of using solar panels to light his house, Frantz Fanfan is wondering how to expand production of biomass briquettes to replace the use of charcoal in the cooking stoves of most of the Haitian people, who lack electricity.	IPS

Global Insight: Sequestration’s slow burn will not mitigate effects Some of the hardest policy problems are those that happen so slowly that people do not notice the change: like the frog, we boil to death without realising.	Financial Times

Tanzania Wind Energy Potential Fairly High RECENTLY, the German embassy in Dar es Dar es Salaam, in collaboration with the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT), organised renewable energies technology exhibition.	Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Climate challenges undermine a fragile Maasai culture Pastoral Maasai have thrived for centuries in East Africa's Savannah. But western pressures are undermining that semi-nomadic lifestyle, and increasingly erratic weather – droughts one year, downpours the next – threaten to erode their culture.	The Daily Climate

Uganda: Bugisu Sub Region Margaret Shiwowo, a survivor of a landslide that struck villages in Bumwalukani Parish in Bududa District in June 2012, is a member of Bumwalukani Disaster Development Association that has embarked on tree planting to mitigate the effects of climate change.	The New Vision

Paint the town white to keep warming cities cool A leading energy efficiency expert has called for roofs in cities with uncomfortably high summer temperatures to be painted white.	RTCC

What's climate finance and where will it come from?	Guardian



The limits of renewable energy (Opinion)	Washington Post

Poorest nations vow to lead push for ambitious global climate treaty The head of the UN's climate change secretariat, Christiana Figueres, has praised the leadership of the Group of Least Developed Countries, after it signalled that it was willing to sign up to binding emission reduction targets as part of any new international climate treaty.	BusinessGreen

Japan's solar market eclipsed only by China Japan will probably become the largest solar market in the world after China this year, boosted by an incentive program that offers above-market rates for energy from renewable sources.	Sydney Morning Herald

Climate change threatens food security of urban poor The spectre of widespread hunger could return to haunt some of the world’s largest cities as a result of climate change, a new report warns.	RTCC

At fundraisers Obama talks climate, regaining U.S. House President Barack Obama used fundraisers on Wednesday to assuage supporters' concerns about a transnational oil pipeline and his commitment to tackling climate change, while urging them to drive Republicans out of power in Congress in 2014.	Reuters

China welcomes EU delay of ETS for int'l flights: FM China appreciates an EU decision to delay the enforcement of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) for international flights to and from Europe, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Wednesday.	Xinhua

Ban visits Monaco as it marks 20 years of commitment to UN Ban Ki-moon today praised Monaco for its commitment to sustainable development and green growth during a first-of-its-kind visit for a Secretary-General, coinciding with the Principality’s 20th anniversary of membership in the United Nations.	UN News Centre

Liberia: Scientists Predict Climate Change Scientists from the United States of America under the banner 'USDA Forest Service' have predicted that climate change would have negative impact on Liberia.	The NEWS (Monrovia)

Winners and losers as climate change hits Antarctica Scientists in Antarctica say climate change is having two very different effects on the region's Adélie penguins.	3 News

A thousand days to keep the Millennium promise (by Ban Ki-moon)	BusinessWorld



EU capped carbon emissions fell 1.4 percent in 2012 Emissions from power plants and factories covered by the European Union's carbon market fell by 1.4 percent last year, preliminary like-for-like data showed on Tuesday, helping keep the EU on track to reach its 2020 emissions reduction target.	Reuters

Afghanistan joins Kyoto Protocol Afghanistan has taken another step towards implementing its national climate strategy by ratifying the Kyoto Protocol.	RTCC

World Bank chief says global warming threatens the planet and the poorest World Bank President Jim Yong Kim on Tuesday said climate change was a “fundamental threat” to global economic development as he called for a major new push to reduce extreme poverty over the next 17 years.	Washington Post

Economist warns of radical climate change The author of an influential 2006 study on climate change warned on Tuesday that the world could be headed toward warming even more catastrophic than expected but he voiced hope for political action.	AP

Arctic 'greening' seen through warming Land within the Arctic circle is likely to experience explosive "greening" in the next few decades as grass, shrubs and trees thrive in soil stripped of ice and permafrost by global warming, a study said.	AFP

Climate change report a wake-up call: Combet Climate Change Minister Greg Combet says a new report is a wake-up call to those who deny global warming is a problem.	ABC News Australia

India seeks return on energy efficiency beyond the carbon market When U.S.-based carbon investment firm C-Quest Capital first came to India in August 2010 to distribute energy-efficient lighting at scale, it did not anticipate suspending operations less than two years later.	AlertNet

Global forest-protection plan depends on carbon credits The forests of Kahuzi-Biega Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have been pillaged for timber, minerals and wild game. But thanks to an ambitious environmental proposal, their most valuable resource may be the carbon in the trees.	Globe and Mail

Obama pitches big anti-smog effort in environmental push President Barack Obama pitched the first major environmental effort of his second term on Friday in a bid to slash smog-forming emissions from gasoline that have been linked to lung and heart ailments, setting up a fight with Republicans and the oil industry.	Reuters

Canada could leave UN climate talks after UNCCD exit A leading Canadian politician has warned that the country could be on the verge of quitting the United Nations climate talks after it announced it is leaving the UN anti-drought convention.	RTCC



Church leaders failed to adress climate Change: IUCN Church leaders have failed to step up to the challenge of climate change, says Taholo Kami, Regional Director for Oceania Program of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).	Islands Business

‘Global’ carbon market goes truly global	Medium.com

The World’s Poorest Nations Say Yes to Emissions Cuts In what could be a far-reaching move, the world's poorest countries say they are now prepared to commit themselves to binding cuts in their emissions of greenhouse gases.	Climate News Network

Environmental groups pressure U.N. body for carbon aviation deal Environmental groups have urged the United States to back a global deal to curb carbon emissions produced by planes, noting that global aviation emits more of the greenhouse gas than all but six of the world's nations	Reuters

Global warming mystery: Are North and South really polar opposites? Two studies, one about plants covering previously frozen landscapes in the Arctic, the other about expanding winter sea ice in Antarctica, appear to say different things about global warming.	Christian Science Monitor

Hope for policy FOREIGN Affairs permanent secretary Amena Yauvoli hopes the government and the public are committed to the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy which was launched in March last year.	Fiji Times

Zimbabwe: Climate Change Policy Overdue For years, there has been talk of formulating a national response strategy to climate change (or a climate change policy) to help deal with the effects of the science in an	The Herald

Arctic ‘greening’ seen through global warming Land within the Arctic circle is likely to experience explosive “greening” in the next few decades as grass, shrubs and trees thrive in soil stripped of ice and permafrost by global warming, a study said on Sunday.	Arab News

Tapping clean energy from trash Teresita Mabignay does her ironing using free electricity on the slope of a garbage dump, an unlikely beneficiary of efforts to turn the Philippines’ growing rubbish problems into a clean-energy windfall.	The Star

Keen businesses should be seen to be clean and green Adopting "clean technology" doesn't have to cost the earth, whether you're a large global enterprise or a local shop, but it could ensure the long-term survival of your business.	BBC



Rwanda: Low Developing Countries Warned Over Food Insecurity Developing countries have been criticized for focusing much on increasing food production in rural areas and forgetting to come up with policies to ensure food accessibility in urban areas.	The New Times

Climate Maverick to Quit NASA James E. Hansen, the climate scientist who issued the clearest warning of the 20th century about the dangers of global warming, will retire from NASA this week, giving himself more freedom to pursue political and legal efforts to limit greenhouse gases.	NY Times

Hot start to 2013 reaches deep into autumn Australia's hot start to 2013 continues, with the country's first three months the second warmest on record, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/environment/weather/hot-start-to-2013-reaches-deep-into-autumn-20130402-2h4u3.html#ixzz2PHuExloJ	The Age

UN banks on Fiji's ability The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change executive secretary Christiana Figueres highlights that Fiji has the capacity and capability to lead the United Nations Group of 77.	Fiji Times

IMF: Want to fight climate change? Get rid of $1.9 trillion in energy subsidies. What’s the simplest way to tackle global warming? Make sure that fossil fuels are priced properly and not subsidized.	Washington Post

Climate change models predict remarkably accurate results Forecasts of global temperature rises over the past 15 years have proved remarkably accurate, new analysis of scientists’ modelling of climate change shows.	Raw Story

Public consultation on 2015 international agreement On 26 March, the European Commission launched a public consultation on how best to draft a new international agreement by 2015 to combat climate change.	EuroPolitics

Africa: Climate Change Could Be Double-Edged Sword for Farmers On a global level, climate change could slash crop yields and increase reliance on irrigation in the 2030s, but in some regions, including Southern Africa, agricultural output could increase and farming become less dependent on water, according to a study published last month (27 February).	All Africa

Pollen Count, Allergies On The Rise Thanks To Climate Change Spring has sprung, and allergy season won't be far behind. But if you think last year's allergies were bad, just wait until a few years from now when climate change will cause pollen counts to rise dramatically.	Huffington Post

Malawi, US sign deal on carbon emissions Governments of Malawi and the United States have signed a US$3.4 million agreement to finance Malawi's Climate Change adaptation and mitigation activities including lowering carbon emissions.	The Daily Times



Brussels urges emissions capture debate Brussels has called for a debate on new measures to require coal and gas companies to pay for expensive equipment that captures greenhouse gas emissions to tackle global warming.	Financial Times

ICAO, Indonesia team on emissions reduction Optimised flight profiles, more efficient airspace design and performance-based navigation techniques will be significant features of a UN-level bid to assist Indonesia with new aviation emissions reduction initiatives.	AirTrafficManagement.net

Greening Executive Bonuses Hugh Welsh heads the North American operation of the Dutch life sciences company DSM. Like most corporate executives these days, Welsh get a bonus for meeting certain performance goals. But some of those goals wouldn’t show up in most corporate reports, for instance, progress toward the company’s goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent within a decade.	PRI The World

How Will California Slash Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80% By 2050? These are heady days for us California climate policy watchers. Last month, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) reported that the state’s carbon emissions declined in 2011 for the third straight year. Last week, CARB convened its second successful carbon allowance auction. And with each day, it seems, the state sets a new solar power record.	Forbes

Drier Climate Will Spread Deadly Intestinal Illnesses Diarrhea, which kills 1.5 million children annually, is likely to become more prevalent in many developing countries as the climate changes, a report says. But the authors found an unexpected twist in the way the climate is likely to affect the disease.	Truth Dig

Pacific can lead the world in renewables: UN The United Nations top climate change official says the drive for renewable energy in the Pacific can serve as a model for the rest of the world to emulate.	Radio Australia

Obama administration release national strategy on climate adaptation The Obama administration on Tuesday released its first national strategy on climate adaptation to help wildlife adapt to the fast-changing climate condition	French Tribune

New Oceans Study: Global Warming Accelerated in Past 15 Years A new study of ocean warming has just been published in Geophysical Research Letters by Balmaseda, Trenberth, and Källén (2013). There are several important conclusions which can be drawn from this paper.	Energy Collective

Arctic Ice Hits Annual Max and it’s 6th Lowest on Record The skin of sea ice that covers the Arctic Ocean has reached its maximum extent for 2013, the National Snow and Ice Data Center announced Monday, and the annual melt season has begun.	ClimateCentral.org

A Different Kind of Climate War: Global Warming and National Security By now you’ve probably heard about the potential for global climate change to impact the environment, the economy, even the range of vampire bats. But what about national security?	State Impact - NPR



EU to Start Debate on Energy, Climate Rules Amid Crisis The European Union’s executive will start a debate today on EU climate and energy rules as the crisis-ridden bloc seeks a long-term plan to cut greenhouse gases and promote clean power technologies.	Bloomberg

Developing world ‘cannot duck’ climate change any longer The Brics member states have been "far too timid" in their adoption of pro-poor, renewable energy development, Greenpeace executive director Kumi Naidoo said in Durban on Monday.	Business Day Live

A New Tool to Measure and Reduce Emissions from Agriculture Agriculture is a major actor in spurring global climate change. The sector is already responsible for at least 10-12 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and agricultural emissions are expected to increase by more than 50 percent by 2030.	World Resources Institute

45 per cent of investors plan to leave Clean Development Mechanism Investor confidence in carbon markets is at an all time low, with almost half of those active in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) planning to leave it, and a growing number no longer viewing the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), as fit for purpose.	Greenwise Business

Rising energy bills will be reduced with climate policies, Ed Davey says The impact of rising household energy bills will be greatly reduced by climate change policies which could save consumers around £166 by 2020, according to the energy and climate secretary, Ed Davey.	The Guardian

Philippines turns trash into clean energy windfall Teresita Mabignay does her ironing using free of electricity on the slope of a garbage dump, an unlikely beneficiary of efforts to turn the Philippines’ growing rubbish problems into a clean-energy windfall.	Inquirer Global Nation

State Tells Investors That Climate Change May Hurt Its Finances In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the administration of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has started to caution investors that climate change poses a long-term risk to the state’s finances.	New York Times

Pacific nations urged to call for global shift to renewable energy A powerful challenge was made to the Small Island Developing States today at the Pacific Energy Summit in Auckland, New Zealand. Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change called upon the Pacific Island Small Island Developing States to use their voice to call for a faster transfer to renewable energy use across the globe.	Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme

World’s poorest nations plan to ‘take lead’ at climate talks The planet’s Least Developed Countries (LDC) say they have lost patience with the glacial pace of the UN climate change talks and plan to set their own agenda.	Responding to Climate Change

Africa: Gender Relations Are Changing Along With Climate A changing climate will inevitably have an impact on gender relations in rural communities, but not enough is being done to boost the resilience of women - already disadvantaged by traditions of inequality.	IRIN



China needs $243 bln a year low-carbon investment by 2020-report China will have to raise up to $243 billion a year by 2020 to finance clean energy development, said a report commissioned by Beijing which will be presented to the government this month.	Reuters

Asia starts to lead way on clean energy Australia's neighbours in Asia - especially China - are emerging as the countries best placed to prosper from moves to cut greenhouse gas emissions, an international study has found.	National Times

Scientists link frozen spring to dramatic Arctic sea ice loss Climate scientists have linked the massive snowstorms and bitter spring weather now being experienced across Britain and large parts of Europe and North America to the dramatic loss of Arctic sea ice.	The Guardian

Russian government approves draft energy agreement with South Africa The Russian government has approved a draft intergovernmental agreement on energy cooperation with South Africa.	ITAR-TASS

AOSIS Chair Praises EU For Climate Support The Republic of Nauru, current Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), announced at a recent plenary meeting of Ambassadors from AOSIS countries that the European Union would be providing essential funding to support AOSIS’s advocacy work at the international climate change negotiations.	Islands Business

Climate change to be tracked via new systems New systems for tracking the social impact of efforts to adapt to climate change could soon be in place in Africa and South Asia.	Ghana News

Five Easy Pieces of Energy Legislation After half a decade in which the energy debate in Washington has been dominated by political posturing and produced almost no legislative action, both Democrats and Republicans who work on energy policy say they’re optimistic about prospects for a number of single-issue energy bills in this Congress.	National Journal

Opinion: Our Carbon, Our Climate, Our Cash We all buy stuff that generates carbon dioxide emissions and threatens the stability of our climate.	New York Time

Tibetan Plateau glaciers shrinking About 90 per cent of glaciers in the Third Pole region are shrinking, accelerated by black carbon being transferred from South Asia to the Tibetan Plateau, a top scientist has warned.	China Daily/Asia News Network

Insurer Readiness on Long-Term Effects of Climate Change Called Into Question: Report Insurers rank well in readiness for handling the short-term challenges of extreme weather events, but fall short in preparedness for the long-term effects of climate change, a new report says.	Insurance Journal



Consumer groups lobby for tougher EU vehicle emissions targets European consumer groups are pushing for even more stringent emissions targets for cars to keep driving as affordable as possible.	The Guardian

Lib Dem president backs decarbonisation target The Liberal Democrat president, Tim Farron, has raised the prospect that his party is privately negotiating to reopen the green energy deal signed by the coalition last autumn in an attempt to introduce carbon reduction targets for the energy sector.	The Guardian

Solar and wind power still sources of energy by 2020 in Australia The Federal Government yesterday decided to maintain the Renewable Energy Target to ensure at least 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity comes from sources such as solar and wind power by 2020.	Energymatters.com

Ministers block EU proposal to limit some biofuels Several European ministers are blocking the EU’s proposal to curb the use of conventional biofuels, while some dispute claims the demand for crop-based oils drives deforestation and food insecurity in other parts of the world.	EurActiv

Reef-building corals lose out to softer cousins due warming Climate change is likely to make reef-building stony corals lose out to softer cousins in a damaging shift for many types of fish that use reefs as hideaways and nurseries for their young, a study showed.	Reuters

‘Private role’ can boost renewable energy sector The private sector has a major role to play in plugging the financial gap and helping realise renewable energy projects across the world at a time when more than 1.5bn people do not have access to any form of power globally, said Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa) president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari.	Gulf Times

Business welcomes new ministers Julia Gillard's new cabinet appointments have had a generally positive reception from business, particularly Gary Gray's appointment as Minister for Resources.	ABC (Australia)

Nine steps to unlock climate finance flows Developments in the arena of climate finance have offered one of the few success stories for international climate politics in recent times.	Responding to Climate Change

PROMISES, PROMISES: Climate Change Slowing the buildup of greenhouse gases responsible for warming the planet is one of the biggest challenges the United States and President Barack Obama face.	AP

Analysis: Obama's climate agenda may face setbacks in federal court President Barack Obama's plan to use federal agencies, and the Environmental Protection Agency in particular, to drive his second-term climate change agenda might be in peril if he cannot fill vacant seats on the federal court that has jurisdiction over major national regulations, legal experts say.	Reuters



UN chief urges greater protection for forests UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the international community to protect forests by reducing deforestation, preventing environmental degradation, and providing sustainable livelihoods for all of those who depend on this precious ecosystem.	Xinhua

Real market forces now drive action on climate change After years of frustration, circumstances are shifting from a global climate treaty serving as the sole impetus	Guardian

Brazil expects positive outcome at BRICS summit Brazil hopes for positive outcome at the upcoming BRICS summit as the five-nation bloc is expected to reach a variety of agreements to promote multilateral cooperation and strategic partnership, a minister said.	IANS

Nations urged to combine environmental and development goals World leaders should set six new sustainable development goals to achieve global prosperity, scientists argue	Guardian

`BRICS bank expected to improve cooperation' Establishing a Development Bank of BRICS will enhance cooperation, Brazilian ambassador to Ethiopia Isabel Christina Heyvaert has said.	IANS

UN wants Tanzania to bulk up efforts to protect fragile Earth The UN yesterday called for joint global efforts towards the preservation of ecosystems saying they play a major role in climate change adaptation.	The Citizen

Green energy more popular, but inaccessible While ministers discuss Germany's rising energy costs, ever more consumers here are opting for electricity from renewable energy sources. But there are still issues about transparency in this growing sector.	Deutsche Welle

Nations Change Too Slowly to Combat Climate Change A conference at the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences notes that the incremental steps taken to address global warming are not enough	ClimateWire/Scientific American

Climate needs less U.N. talking, more market action: EU draft Fewer United Nations climate summits and more incentives through carbon pricing could speed up international efforts to slow the pace of global warming, a draft European Commission paper seen by Reuters says.	Reuters

Apple makes renewable energy push with solar, fuel cells Apple Inc now runs its largest U.S. data center entirely on renewable energy, with a majority of the power generated on-site from solar panels and fuel cells, the company's chief financial officer, Peter Oppenheimer, said on Thursday.	Reuters



Kenya pushes ahead on building a green economy In 2002, Kenya's government announced a plan to embark on some ambitious infrastructure projects, including some that it hoped would kickstart Kenya's move towards a greener economy.	AlertNet

Pre-Viking tunic found by glacier as warming aids archaeology A pre-Viking woolen tunic found beside a thawing glacier in south Norway shows how global warming is proving something of a boon for archaeology, scientists said on Thursday.	Reuters

Nigeria Among Top Countries Where Climate Change Mortality is Expected to Rise A report from climate change advocacy group DARA has stated that global climate change and pollution from the use of fossil fuels killed nearly 5 million people around the world in 2010 alone	Daily Trust

Thousands sign school climate change petition started by 15-year-old Esha Marwaha from west London says she is outraged that climate change has been scaled back in national curriculum	Guardian

World Bank puts climate change at the top of its agenda The World Bank's Vice President for Sustainable Development is urging the international community to heed the plight of Pacific Island countries and take action on climate change.	ABC Radio Australia

South Africa calls on world leaders to engage in UN climate talks World leaders need to re-engage with climate change this year in order that plans to agree a legally binding deal in 2015 remain on course.	RTCC

First climate change glossary translated into I Taukei language For the first time in Fiji, three government ministries have worked together to publish a glossary of climate change terms, translated into the iTaukei vernacular language.	Islands Business

EU Lawmaker Sees No Carbon Fix Compromise Before Vote Political groups in the European Parliament will not propose a new compromise solution on a draft carbon market fix before the full assembly vote scheduled for next month, according to lawmaker Eija-Riitta Korhola.	Bloomberg Businessweek

China postpones launch of national carbon market to post-2015 China’s proposed national carbon market will not launch in 2015 as originally suggested after the country told the World Bank it will not begin work on it for another two years.	RTCC

Mexico City’s Novel Emissions Reduction Program A novel residential water conservation-socioeconomic development project in Mexico highlights the linkages between water and energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, environmental degradation, climate change, and the broad-based social and economic development opportunities afforded by climate change adaptation and mitigation programs.	Triple Pundit



Tanzania: Comprehensive Environmental Conservation Plan in the Offing WANTON destruction of forests estimated between 130,000 and 500,000 hectares per year has caught the attention of the Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), currently set to unveil a comprehensive plan to control deforestation and increase community awareness on tree planting and conservation of the environment.	Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)

Q&A: Master Reforestation Plan to Save Haiti Droughts and floods, devastating hurricanes and soil erosion with a drastic impact on food security make Haiti extremely vulnerable to climate change and in need of enormous adaptation efforts.	IPS

Chinese Installed Wind Capacity Reached 75 GW in 2012 China advanced their cumulative installed wind capacity by 21%, according to recent data released.	Cleantechnica

Policy: Sustainable development goals for people and planet The United Nations Rio+20 summit in Brazil in 2012 committed governments to create a set of sustainable development goals (SDGs) that would be integrated into the follow-up to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) after their 2015 deadline. Discussions on how to formulate these continue this week at UN headquarters in New York.	Nature

Farming a Beach Jagot Chekanidhara, a 50-year-old local schoolteacher, mounds up a wall of sand. Nearby, his sister Lakhimi digs a row of holes. It looks like seaside fun-in-the-sun, but this is no beach and no child’s play.	NY Times

Dirty Dishes and Climate Change: Taking a Small First Step Toward a Safer Future	Huffington Post

Southern African Climate Change Centre Set Up In Namibia As Not-For-Profit Company The founding documents for the Southern African Science Service Centre for Climate Change and Adaptive Land Management (SASSCAL) as a Section 21 not-for-profit company have been signed here as a joint initiative of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Germany.	Bernama

California continues to lead nation in green technology The state is No. 1 in areas such as venture capital funding for green technology, green tech patents and the growth in clean power generation, a group says.	LA Times

EU Executive Insists on Firm Line on Airlines in Carbon Plan The European Union must maintain a “firm and coordinated line” on the obligations of airlines in the region’s emissions-trading system, the EU’s executive told national governments last week.	Bloomberg

RGGI Nets $106 Million For Clean Energy, May Hit $2 Billion By 2020 America’s first functioning cap-and-trade program recently marked its sixth anniversary with perhaps its strongest auctions yet – but exponentially greater success may be just around the corner.	Cleantechnica



A Norwegian startup launches its green data center services Norway, known for breathtaking glacier-carved valleys, fjords and abundant hydropower, is also increasingly the home to green data centers that can use the cold air (and water) for cooling, and clean power for electricity.	Gigaom

Jamaica among beneficiaries of Germany-funded climate adaptation programme The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the German Financial Cooperation (KfW) have signed a programme geared towards reducing the risks of climate change on the Caribbean's coastal population	Jamaica Observer

A Model for Reducing Emissions Who would have thought the United States would one day be a leader in cutting greenhouse gas emissions?	NY Times

Rwanda: MPs Root for Sustainable Use of Forests Lawmakers have reiterated the need for sustainable use of forests in the country. The MPs were, on Monday, approving the revised 2005 Bill related to forestry, paving way for it to be scrutinised by the Senate.	The New Times

Panama's indigenous people drop REDD+ The National Coordinator of Indigenous Peoples in Panama (COONAPIP) has announced it is withdrawing from the United Nation's REDD+ program following a series of disagreements.	mongabay.com

'Fattest' polar bears survive climate change The latest study into the effects of climate change on polar bears has found only the 'fattest' survive the shrinking of the ice	Telegraph

Count down to Earth Hour with lessons on climate change The annual 60 minute light switch off is back on 23 March. So why not use the event to teach about climate change? Here are our top resources to help you plan your green lesson	Guardian

Climate change: our sin of omission (comment)	Guardian

Gambia: Poverty and Climate Change (opinion)	The Point (Banjul)

Warming temperatures could multiply Katrina-like hurricanes : study The number of Atlantic storms with magnitude similar to killer Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, could rise sharply this century, environmental researchers reported on Monday.	Reuters



Study: Climate change to worsen hurricane storm surge Could the USA deal with a Hurricane Katrina every two years? Such a scenario is possible by the end of the century due to climate change, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.	USA Today

Australia, US work on climate deal US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Australia's Foreign Minister Bob Carr in Washington on Tuesday (AEDT) for wide-ranging bilateral talks.	AAP

Lagos govt takes climate change to communities Lagos State government is putting in place a community –based initiative to ensure coherent response to climate change.	Nigerian Tribune

EU Told States It Expects Parliament to Back Carbon Fix in April The European Union’s executive told EU national governments last month that it expected the bloc’s Parliament to approve in April the start of negotiations on a proposal to reduce a record glut of carbon permits.	Bloomberg

IIED rolls out new system to track climate change in developing countries New systems for tracking the social impact of efforts to adapt to climate change could soon be in place in Africa and South Asia.	Ghana Business Network

Kenya: Nile States Launch Sh1.3 Billion Climate Change Project The Nile riparian states have launched an ambitious two-year water resources management and development project worth $15 million (Sh1.3 billion) to fight climate change within the Nile basin.	The Star (Nairobi)

China focuses on emissions plan The Chinese government has unveiled a detailed roadmap for a national emission trading scheme in a significant sign the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter will introduce a country-wide carbon price.	Brisbane Times

Major changes for greenhouse gas standards? Signs are growing that the Environmental Protection Agency will miss its April deadline to finish creating landmark greenhouse gas standards for new power plants — a key piece of President Barack Obama’s expected climate agenda.	Politico

Move to drop debate on climate change in schools faces backlash Educationists and student groups have joined environmental organisations to condemn government plans to drop debate about climate change from the national curriculum for under-14-year-olds in English schools.	Guardian

Germany to fund Climate adaptation programme in four countries The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the German Financial Cooperation (KfW) have signed a programme geared towards reducing the risks of climate change on the Caribbean’s coastal population.	Antigua Observer



International help sought over climate change effects Viet Nam has expanded international co-operation in its efforts to protect the environment and water resources in face of climate change, which is expected to pose a serious threat to the country.	Viet Nam News

Planting a Tree to Plant Our Future	Huffington Post

UN, Forum partners pushed on climate change As evidence of climate change mounts, increasing worry in the Pacific about the future, the Marshall Islands appealed to the United Nations Security Council in February to take up the issue as a global security problem.	Islands Business

U.N. bodies want to tackle drought to avert food crisis U.N. agencies want to strengthen national drought policies after warnings that climate change would increase their frequency and severity.	Reuters

UAE opens first big solar energy plant The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday officially opened its first big solar energy plant, the three companies behind the project said in a statement.	Reuters

Market for green buildings warms up In 2007 McKinsey, the consultancy, published a global greenhouse gas abatement curve that became the benchmark for efforts to reduce emissions and their costs.	Financial Times

Abu Dhabi Boosts Solar Power 10-Fold With Shams Plant in Desert Abu Dhabi, the largest sheikhdom in the United Arab Emirates, is making a 10-fold boost in its capacity to generate electricity from the sun by starting the Shams 1 solar plant with partners Total SA (FP) and Abengoa SA. (ABG)	Bloomberg

Solar Power Soars in United States; Top 10 Solar Projects Under Construction The United States added a staggering 3.3 gigawatts of solar power capacity in 2012, according to a new report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association.	Forbes

Policy proposes tariff for renewable energy A national energy policy that proposes a new tariff to help support public utilities’ efforts to bring renewable energy to the Cayman Islands is just one of a number of major proposals considered in the long-awaited document released Friday by Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly.	Cayman Free Press

Fuel efficiency law to get EU on road to growth: study Proposed European legislation on auto fuel efficiency, to be debated this week, could create around 400,000 jobs and save the bloc tens of billions of euros in annual fuel costs, according to a new study.	Reuters



The WB Gives $ 3 million to Costa Rica for Carbon Market The World Bank (WB) will provide $ 3 million in funding to Costa Rica in order to develop their local carbon market and the country’s commitment to reduce its emissions, the bank said this past week.	The Costa Rica News

Climate change raises locust threat Israel is not the only transgressor violating Lebanon’s airspace.Farmers and city-dwellers alike were taken by surprise over the weekend when flights of locusts descended on parts of the Lebanese coast, from Tyre in the south to Tripoli in the north.	The Lebanon Daily Star

A Green Pope? Many Wonder If Environmental Activism Will Continue The Catholic Church got a new pope on Wednesday — Pope Francis, who has taken his new name from the patron saint of animals and the environment. But will the man formerly known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina live up to the ideals of his 13th-century Italian namesake?	Huffington Post

Lack of climate action risks developing world gains: UN The rise of developing nations has cut poverty while the combined economies of Brazil, China and India are on a path to overtake wealthy nations, but failure to act on climate change could reverse those gains, a UN report said Thursday.	AFP

Green Climate Fund ready to receive funds by end of year The Green Climate Fund (GCF), the UN’s principle climate finance vehicle, could be ready to receive its first donations before the next UN climate summit this November.	rtcc

Indigenous women fight climate change Beginning two years ago, about 350 indigenous women farmers from 14 localities of the central Bolivian department of Cochabamba have been applying strategies to confront climate change.	Latinamerica Press

Climate heavyweights fire fresh salvos in global CO2 debate The first salvos of the new UN climate regime have been fired by some of the most influential nations ahead of the first talks in earnest on a global emissions deal.	RTCC

Climate change, biggest war of our time - Fashola GOVERNOR of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has described the ravaging climate change as the biggest war of our time, stressing that “no war in human history has claimed as many lives as climate change has.”	Nigerian Tribune

Japan to Compile Climate Change Action Plan With Emission Target Japan plans to compile an action program to tackle climate change with a new greenhouse gas emissions target.	Bloomberg Businessweek

Ghost of Kyoto Protocol haunts Russia’s energy plans The Russian government has recently endorsed a draft state program for energy efficiency and energy sector development that lists part of the Kyoto Protocol as a major source of funding, months after leaving the UN emissions cutting process.	RTCC



New Zealand suffering most widespread drought in at least 30 years as dairy industry takes hit Dairy farmer John Rose has sent more than 100 of his cows to the slaughterhouse over recent weeks as a severe drought browned pastures in New Zealand’s normally verdant North Island.	AP

Solar power has record year despite bankruptcies It was a record year for solar installations in the United States in 2012, boosting an industry still struggling with consolidation and bankruptcies.	CNN

Climate change: Pakistan, Italy join hands to identify adaptive measures Pakistan’s only dedicated climate change research centre is going to partner with Italian experts to identify climate change adaptation measures.	The Express Tribune

More Companies Looking to Go Green While Remaining Profitable Indonesian plantation and logging companies are increasingly balancing their profits and growth with environmental protection, according to industry players, activists and officials.	Jakarta Globe

Climate change: Short-term thinking costs us the future Short-termism is pushing the world towards a 2C temperature increase by 2050. Humans will have to adapt on the go, constantly repairing damage.	Mail & Guardian

Boston makes list of top energy-efficient cities For the second year in a row, Boston has been recognized by environmental officials for its commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions and save money through energy efficiency.	AP

Nobel Prize winners urge Obama to back carbon pricing A group of leading economists, including eight Nobel Prize winners, has written to President Barack Obama urging him to support a carbon price on aviation.	Reuters

Shaping the Next Generation of Carbon Markets	Huffington Post

Africa: Drawing in U.S., China and Finance Critical to Climate Deal - S. Africa Building a new, ambitious global climate agreement by 2015 will require drawing in China and the United States, and boosting financial help for poor nations so they feel "energised" to act, South Africa's climate change ambassador has said.	AlertNet

Solar Trade Group Reports Surge in U.S. Installations Partly driven by an oversupply of cheaper panels from China, the domestic solar market had its best year in 2012, with the growth in installations outpacing that of the global market, according to an annual report to be released Thursday.	NY Times



Biofuels boom threatens to disrupt global biodiversity The rush around the world to plant crops used to produce biofuel has not only sparked a global food vs. fuel debate, but it’s also putting biodiversity at risk.	Deutsche Welle

Japan Poised to Sign Emissions-Offset Agreement With Bangladesh Japan plans to sign an agreement with Bangladesh on March 19 as part of its program to set up clean-energy and energy-saving projects in developing countries to help offset greenhouse-gas emissions.	Bloomberg

Preparing for drought cheaper than waiting for it - UN agencies U.N. agencies are calling on governments at a high-level meeting this week to start reacting more quickly to warnings of drought and put in place national policies to prepare for longer and worse droughts.	AlertNet

House, Senate Democrats Introduce Carbon Pricing Discussion Draft Members of Congress on March 12 introduced draft carbon-pricing legislation that would require those responsible for large amounts of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions to pay for the pollution they produce.	Cleantechnica

Frequent disasters a threat to islands THE implementation and future action of stakeholders on policy, research, development and innovation concerning science and technology was one of the major issues highlighted yesterday,	Fiji Times

Drought Hits Policies Drought has dramatically increased as a consequence of climate change. Most countries react to it only after it has occurred, but don’t have national policies to prevent it. The high-level meeting on national drought policies in Geneva this week is trying to match scientific knowledge with political awareness.	IPS

Nigeria: Climate Change - Lagos Shops for N27 Billion to Protect Shorelines Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, yesterday, said the State needed N27 billion for the protection of shorelines in the next three years as part of measures to find a lasting solution to the frequent ocean surge in the state.	Vanguard

Nestle sets social, environmental targets for 2020 Nestle, the world's biggest food company, published on Wednesday a raft of social and environmental targets it aims to meet by 2020, including better labeling of its products, only using sustainable palm oil and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.	Reuters

Inslee climate change bill passes state Senate The Republican-controlled state Senate on Wednesday passed legislation aimed at developing ways to reduce state greenhouse-gas emissions, and meet targets set by the Legislature in 2008.	Seattle Times

Improving community healthcare helps protect rainforests in Borneo Providing high quality healthcare to communities around a rainforest park in Indonesian Borneo may be helping reduce chronic illegal logging, suggests a new assessment published by a conservation group.	mongabay.com



Hot topic: should the season kick off at night? Islands in the oceans may drown and the Antarctic ice shelf melt but climate change takes on an immediate meaning for coaches when it affects the scheduling of games.	Brisbane Times

Al Attiyah chairs climate meet in Bonn The first meeting of the Bureau of COP18 / CMP 8 began here yesterday under HE the Chairman of Administrative Control and Transparency Authority (ACTA) Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah who is also President of COP18. The meeting was attended by Christina Figueres, the executive director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.	The Peninsula

Lawmakers Release Carbon Emissions Tax Plan Almost exactly four years after unveiling his doomed cap-and-trade proposal to deal with global warming, Representative Henry Waxman, Democrat of California, released a new plan on Tuesday to address climate change and federal budget woes: a tax on carbon emissions.	NY Times

Civil Society Wants Bigger Role in Green Climate Fund Planning As the new board of the United Nations Green Climate Fund meets in Berlin this week, activist and watchdog groups here and around the world are expressing frustration over proposed rules they say are already significantly limiting civil society participation in the new initiative.	IPS

EU seeks binding emissions target debate The European Union will look at whether it needs to keep setting the legally binding targets that have made it a world leader in tackling greenhouse gas pollution, a draft paper on the bloc’s future climate and energy policies shows.	Financial Times

Gambia: Coast Project Calls for Responsible Tourism, Protection of Coastal Environment The coordinator of the Collaborative Action for Sustainable Tourism (COAST) project has said that the goal of the project is to support and enhance the conservation of globally significant coastal and marine ecosystems and associated biodiversity in sub-Saharan Africa, through the reduction of the negative environmental impact, which they receive as a result of coastal tourism.	The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Carbon Capture Vital for EU as Fossil Fuels to Stay, Draft Shows The European Union will seek to promote the deployment of technology to capture carbon dioxide to attain its climate goals as fossil fuels are to remain a part of the bloc’s energy mix, according to a draft EU document.	Bloomberg Businessweek

Plans for world’s largest wind farm in Cumbria Plans are being drawn up to double the size of a Cumbrian wind farm, making it the largest in the world.	The Telegraph

Ministry launches three environmental projects The Environment Ministry launched three climate change initiatives Monday with the United Nations, as the ministry looks for ways to combat the country's wasteful energy use in difficult economic times.	The Lebanon Daily Star

Ghana to host West Africa climate change centre An International Centre on Climate Change is to be established in Accra, to serve as a hub for information on climate change issues in the Africa sub-region.	Ghanaian Times



Rwanda: Govt Fund to Test International Appetite for Financing Climate Adaptation Rwanda is facing a serious threat to its development. The costs of adapting to or mitigating the impacts of climate change, which will result in more landslides, floods and drought, may rise to $300 million a year by 2030.	AlertNet

Will the next Pope tackle climate change?	Reneweconomy

What is the underlying value of EU carbon?	Reuters

Climate change in the dock: Rethinking the role of international law	RTCC

Miami Sea Levels Will Rise Flooding Streets, Threatening Sewage Plants: Report Three major sewage plants in South Florida could be reduced to shrinking islands in less than 50 years due to climate change, according to a group of climate scientists.	AP

March heat has forecasters wondering 'who stole autumn'? Victorians may finally get some relief from the record heatwave but face two more bursts of warm weather in March as meteorologists wonder what's happened to autumn.	The Age

Climate change affecting growing seasons Growing seasons in Earth's northern latitudes are shifting and vegetation increasingly resembles lusher latitudes to the south, scientists say.	UPI

Japan’s Cut for Solar Power Price Retains Boom Incentive Japan’s proposal to cut the price paid for solar power by 10 percent leaves in place incentives for a boom in installations this year, the industry’s lobby group said.	Bloomberg

EU transport boss says new law can jump-start green sector Europe will lag China, Japan and the United States unless it embraces a proposed law requiring millions of new refuelling points across the European Union for electric and natural gas vehicles, the EU transport boss said on Monday.	Reuters

Peru is top solar energy producing country in the region, president says On Monday President Ollanta Humala inaugurated new photovoltaic power plants in southern Peru, state news agency Andina reported.	Peru Experience



Climate change biggest security threat in Pacific region: US commander Navy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, the US Pacific Forces top commander, said in an interview recently reported by the Boston Globe newspaper that he considers rising sea levels as the top security threat.	Press TV

Can the world fight climate change and energy poverty at the same time?	Washington Post

Nurturing nature - More needs to be done to protect the environment	Guardian Media

In Search of Energy Miracles	NY Times

Poland aims to pave way for 2015 climate deal Hoping to win over EU critics of Poland's recent stance on climate change, the environment minister said Friday that the coal-powered nation will make every effort to pave the way for a lasting deal in 2015 when it hosts a U.N. global warming conference in November.	Reuters

Large rise in CO2 emissions sounds climate change alarm Hopes for 'safe' temperature increase within 2C fade as Hawaii station documents second-greatest emissions increase	Guardian

Japan May Revive Carbon Trading Discussion After Election The Japanese government may revive discussions about a carbon market that would reduce pollution levels after elections for the Upper House of parliament due in July, a government adviser said.	Bloomberg

Warming Arctic turning greener, finds study Scientists have rung another warning bell about changes in the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic, saying that vegetation found in areas several degrees to the south of the region 30 years ago was now showing up in parts of the Arctic due to global warming linked temperature rise.	Times of India

Buses carry climate change message A number of Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) buses have been emblazoned with slogans such as 'Climate Change: We have to Change' and messages urging persons to protect the environment, including the coastal resources.	Jamaica Gleaner

Evidence grows of rainforest resilience to global warming The world's tropical forests are less likely to lose biomass, or plant material, this century due to the effects of global warming than previously thought, scientists said in a paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience on Sunday.	Reuters



Investors hot for global warming plays Investing in climate change used to mean financing the fight against global warming. Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc., and other firms took stakes in wind farms and tidal-energy projects, and set up carbon-trading desks.	Investment News

Why food riots are likely to become the new normal The link between intensifying inequality, debt, climate change, fossil fuel dependency and the global food crisis is undeniable	Guardian

Can the world fight climate change and energy poverty at the same time? The United Nations has set two huge energy-related goals for the coming century. The first is to bring electricity to the 1.3 billion people who still don’t have it. The second is to curtail fossil fuel use and keep global warming below 2°C.	Washington Post

UK Scientists Plan To Recycle Power Plant Emissions Into Fuel Scientists of the Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh are working on photo-catalytic reduction technology which would recycle carbon dioxide emissions from power plants into liquid and gaseous fuels for the domestic and transport sectors.	Cleantechnica

Global Temperatures Highest in 4,000 Years Global temperatures are warmer than at any time in at least 4,000 years, scientists reported Thursday, and over the coming decades are likely to surpass levels not seen on the planet since before the last ice age.	NY Times

Recent heat spike unlike anything in 11,000 years A new study looking at 11,000 years of climate temperatures shows the world in the middle of a dramatic U-turn, lurching from near-record cooling to a heat spike.	AP

UN Carbon Offset Role to Give Way to New Markets, IETA Head Says National carbon cap-and-trade measures will play a bigger role in climate-change efforts as the importance of offset mechanisms started by the United Nations wanes, the head of an emissions trading lobby said.	Bloomberg Businessweek

EU likely to tackle carbon market overhaul this year: Hedegaard The European Union is likely to start work on overhauling the world's biggest carbon market in the second half of 2013 once it has reached agreement on a short-term fix to prop up prices, Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard said.	Reuters

Death of Hugo Chávez gives Venezuela a choice on climate change Will the oil-rich country become a key engineer in a new global climate deal, or will it sabotage progress?	Guardian

Canadian glaciers face 'irreversible' thaw: report Canadian glaciers that are the world's third biggest store of ice after Antarctica and Greenland seem headed for an irreversible melt that will push up sea levels, scientists said on Thursday.	Reuters



Time of the essence for Germany's energy switch: Merkel German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned on Thursday that time was of the essence if Germany was to shift to renewable energy and power intensive industries should expect cuts to their benefits and exemptions.	Reuters

Fund to fight Climate Change in Africa becomes operational in 2013 The fourth meeting of the Board of Programme Directors of the Climate for Development in Africa Initiative (Clim-Dev) has been held in the Tunisian capital Tunis.	Ghana Business Network

Climate Conversations - Could Libya be a top solar energy producer? Could Libya become a major producer of solar power? New research suggests the North African country could produce about five times more power from solar energy than it does from oil.	AlertNet

Nigeria: African Countries Tackle Water Scarcity to Combat Climate Change African countries are creating more reliable and accurate climate information, and building more durable, climate-resilient infrastructure across the sectors as part of strategies to cushion the impact of climate change.	Daily Trust

Christiana Figueres - live Q&A on the role of business in tackling climate change	Guardian

UN officials spotlight need for prevention systems to deal with water-related disasters Early warning systems and cooperation among countries are some of the measures needed to increase resilience to water-related disasters, United Nations officials stressed today.	UN News Centre

Most Insurers Lack a Plan to Address Climate Change, Ceres Says Almost 90 percent of insurance companies lack a comprehensive plan to address climate change and fewer than half of them view it as a likely source of financial losses, according to a report released today.	Bloomberg

Kenya: In Kenya, Information Strengthens Pastoralists' Resilience Inadequate access to information, such as weather forecasts, has hampered Kenyan pastoralists' ability to respond and adapt to climate change, experts say.	IRIN

Lanka could cut carbon emissions by 19% via green power Sri Lanka could slash its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 19 percent of projected levels in 2020 at little or no long-term cost using an array of green power options, a new study from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) showed.	Daily Mirror

Mexico’s Solar-Power Capacity May Treble This Year Mexico’s photovoltaic capacity could treble this year driven by the richest households and the first large-scale plants, according to the head of its solar lobbying group.	Bloomberg



Nigeria to Switch to Clean Cooking Gas Aid agencies are teaming up with Nigeria's government to convert 20 million stoves from unwholesome fuel and firewood to clean cooking gas.	Voice of America

Emerging economies facing “extreme risk” despite natural disaster respite New report warns key growth economies continue to face soaring climate risks, despite a "good" year for natural disasters	BusinessGreen

India Announces Its First Solar City (In Order To Protect Taj Mahal) The Indian city of Agra, former capital of the Indian subcontinent and home of the Taj Mahal, is to become the country’s first solar city.	Cleantechnica

World Bank Urges African Agriculture Rethink The World Bank is urging African governments to retool their agriculture policies, particularly to include a far greater focus on agribusiness as a critical driver of future development.	IPS

D.C. snowstorm scrubs global-warming hearing The snowquester has claimed yet another casualty: Wednesday's House hearing on global warming. The House Science, Space and Technology Committee announced early Wednesday that it's postponing its environmental subcommittee's scheduled 10 a.m. hearing on the state of the science behind climate change. As a reason, it cited "weather."	Politico

Developing countries meet on climate change A group of like-minded developing countries on climate change held an informal meeting last week in Geneva to assess the outcome of the last climate change talks in Doha and urged developed countries to boost action.	China Daily

Twenty-five per cent of registered CDM programmes of activities in Africa The Kyoto Protocol’s clean development mechanism (CDM), the international market-based tool that incentivises greenhouse gas emission reduction projects in developing countries, has now registered more than 100 Programmes of Activities (PoAs).	ESI-Africa.com

US scientists report big jump in heat-trapping CO2 The amount of heat-trapping carbon dioxide in the air jumped dramatically in 2012, making it very unlikely that global warming can be limited to another 2 degrees as many global leaders have hoped, new federal figures show.	AP

A 'great story' THE United States government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched what it described a "great news story" with its global climate change projects in Fiji and the Pacific.	Fiji Times

EPA, Energy Department can tackle climate change on several fronts Now that President Obama has selected his top climate and energy policymakers, having nominated Massachusetts Institute of Technology physicist Ernest Moniz as energy secretary and Environmental Protection Agency air and radiation administrator Gina McCarthy to head EPA, the question still looms: how much can they get done using executive authority alone?	Washington Post



Cool summer, dry monsoon Summer wouldn't exactly sizzle this year as it may rain this month and again in May. The ensuring monsoon won't be too wet as the rainfall from June to September is likely to reduce drastically all over the state if a recent study on climate change is any indicator.	Times of India

In a first, Okhla compost plant gets carbon credits worth Rs.25 lakh The Okhla composting plant of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation has received carbon credits and Rs.25 lakh from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for helping the environment.	Hindustan Times

Report: EU must retire carbon credits or see market credibility lost Study argues retirement of carbon allowances and formation of new management body critical to restore carbon market’s credibility	BusinessGreen

D.C. snowstorm won’t stop global warming hearing A rare March snowstorm that’s threatening to paralyze Washington won’t stop a House science subcommittee from holding a hearing on climate change.	Politico

South Africa: Danish Backing for SA Renewable Energy Denmark has committed to help South Africa move towards a low-carbon economy by assisting in the growth of the country's renewable energy capacity.	SouthAfrica.info

Warmer Arctic with Less Ice Increases Storm Surge Rising temperatures are shrinking Arctic sea ice, and in Canada’s Northwest Territories, that means more and stronger storm surges, according to a new study.	Climate Central

Thomas Friedman: Arab Spring's climate change link	NY Times

S. Korea to Meet Emitters Before Start of Carbon Trading in 2015 South Korea’s government plans to meet in May with the nation’s biggest emitters to provide information about the start of cap and trade in 2015.	Bloomberg

Climate challenges face Obama's EPA and Energy nominees A new path or more of the same? New nominees to head the EPA and Energy Department, experts say, signal renewed determination by the Obama Administration to work around Congress on climate change.	USA Today

CCS projects to get second chance at EU funding in April Brussels plans to issue three-month call for proposals to co-finance carbon capture and storage and renewable energy projects	BusinessGreen



Splits emerging in UN climate deal agreed in Doha Divisions over plans to develop a global climate deal by 2015 appear as wide as ever after two influential groups of developing nations accused rich countries of undermining negotiations.	RTCC

From 'green dream team' to B team Environmentalists had high hopes four years ago when President Barack Obama loaded his administration’s top ranks with Clinton-era energy experts, green-job gurus and even a Nobel laureate.	Politico

Call on EU to abolish emissions trading scheme The European Union is being urged to scrap its landmark emissions trading scheme (ETS) by an international coalition of environmental, development and other civil society organisations.	Irish Times

Carbon pricing needed to control airline CO2 emissions: study Aviation pollution can only be stabilized by the middle of the century if a price is set on airline carbon emissions, research said, countering industry hopes that green goals can be met via technology improvements and biofuels.	Reuters

Global warming to open unexpected shipping routes in Arctic: Study Global warming will make frigid shipping routes much more accessible than ever imagined by melting an unprecedented amount of sea ice during the late summer, a new research has revealed.	Zee News

Chinese power firm's emissions trading reaps millions A Chinese power generating firm that uses coal-bed methane as materials announced on Friday that it received 278 million yuan (44 million U.S. dollars) in 2012 through participating in an emissions trading scheme that forms part of the Kyoto Protocol.	Xinhua

Govt sets target of producing 15,000MW of wind power till 2017 The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has set a target of generating 15,000 Mega Watt of wind power during the 12th Plan period.	Economic Times

China Boosts Energy and Emissions Goals After Record Smog China will step up efforts to cut its emissions and improve energy efficiency this year after record air pollution in Beijing, where the national legislature opened its annual meeting today.	Bloomberg

At World Bank, Using Music Creatively: Combating Climate Change On the ground floor of the World Bank , an institution of development experts devoted to ending extreme poverty, the fight against climate change today took a creative turn: a music video from Trinidad won first place in the global Voices4Climate awards.	Financial

Climate-Change Science Poised to Enter Nation's Classrooms New national science standards that make the teaching of global warming part of the public school curriculum are slated to be released this month, potentially ending an era in which climate skepticism has been allowed to seep into the nation's classrooms.	InsideClimateNews.org



Sharing the caring for the future: An environmental gender agenda	Business Mirror

Ecological methods can help solve food insecurity issues Using ecosystem-based approaches can provide sustainable food sources and reduce impacts of climate change	guar

Chinese power firm's emissions trading reaps millions A Chinese power generating firm that uses coal-bed methane as materials announced on Friday that it received 278 million yuan (44 million U.S. dollars) in 2012 through participating in an emissions trading scheme that forms part of the Kyoto Protocol.	Xinhua

Climate change dates back to dawn of first farmers Deforestation by early farmers likely kicked off an era of man-made climate change long before our present era, suggests a climate scientist taking a hard look at agriculture's early effects.	USA Today

Campaign says has helped retire 15 percent of coal capacity New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Sierra Club, an environmental group, said Friday they were halfway to their goal of getting one-third of coal-fired power plants retired by 2015 through a variety of civic actions.	Reuters

Full steam ahead? Geothermal energy can be Africa’s game-changer THE Africa of today is exponentially more vital than 20th-century Africa. In Sub-Saharan Africa, countries are experiencing a "new dynamism", with two-thirds of them expected to grow at 6.2% this year.	BusinessDay

Pacific warriors campaign against climate change Young people from 14 Pacific Island nations have called for action against climate change as part of the 350.org Pacific Warrior Day of Action.	ABC News Australia

Carbon market debate leans towards tighter pollution cap Hours of debate on reform of the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme on Friday showed support for tighter annual pollution limits, but hardly any backing for a change to an overall EU 2020 goal on carbon cutting.	Reuters

World Bank chief vows more efforts to combat climate change World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has pledged that the Bank was committed to tackling climate change "more than anything else".	IANS

Humanitarian disaster blamed on climate change For the first time, we have proof that climate change has led to a humanitarian disaster. The East African drought of 2011, which resulted in a famine that killed at least 50,000 people, was partly caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases.	NewScientist



Hybrid taxis pave the way for a greener Dubai, UAE Paper Slowly but surely, the need for being more environmentally friendly and reducing our carbon footprint is beginning to sink in. Dubai has invested heavily in its public transport infrastructure to entice more people away from their cars and onto buses, trains and taxis, commented a UAE daily.	Emirates News Agency

Bangladesh tackles climate change by fusing rice paddies with fish farms By combining aquaculture with wet paddy farming in its coastal areas Bangladesh can meet food security and climate change issues, says a report.	Guardian

Survey: Half of UK consumers keen on buying green energy Almost half of British consumers would shift to a green electricity supply if the cost was the same, but less than two per cent have actually made the switch, new research reveals.	BusinessGreen

Communities under REDD+ (opinion)	Jakarta Post

IPCC urges Obama to raise awareness of science behind climate change Rajendra Pachauri says US president should push for improving public's understanding of man-made global warming	Guardian

Keystone halt would send strong signal: EU climate chief The European Union's top climate change official said on Thursday that if the Obama administration rejects the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, it would send a strong message that the United States is serious about combating climate change.	Reuters

Public concern about environment overshadowed by crisis Public concern about environmental issues hit a 20-year low last year, a poll showed, as worries about the aftermath of the global financial crisis overshadowed growing evidence of man-made climate change.	Reuters

Climate change threatens corn crops If climate-change projections are right, we'll need to improve yields per acre by as much as 12 per cent between 2016 and 2035 just to maintain today's total production.	PhysOrg

EU Regulator to Provide Guidance on UN Carbon Offset Treatment The European Union’s regulatory arm plans to provide guidelines on its treatment of imported carbon credits following a rule change in the bloc’s emissions trading system, according to a statement published today.	Bloomberg

PNG Climate Change ambassador to launch campaign Papua New Guinea's Climate Change Ambassador Latin Qualican N'drihin is preparing to launch his global campaign walk in May this year.	NBC/PACNEWS



Africa: What Does a 'Green Economy' Look Like? Few people - including most of the experts pushing for one - have painted a clear picture of what a green economy would include, which is one reason it has been so hard to build enthusiasm for a shift.	AlertNet

Prehistoric warming linked to CO2 Rising carbon dioxide levels may have caused Antarctic warming in the past, new research strongly suggests. The findings, published today (Feb. 28) in the journal Science, just add to the body of evidence that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions will lead to climate change.	Christian Science Monitor

Pay-As-You-Go Solar Startup Bringing Cheap, Clean Lighting To Kenya A new pay-as-you-go solar startup in Kenya is aiming to provide a cheap and pollution-free replacement for the ubiquitous kerosene lamps there.	Cleantechnica

Environmentalists still waiting for Obama to act on climate change Energy adviser Heather Zichal – like others before her – fails to deliver any concrete details of the president's plans for action	Guardian

Whiff of fresh air for wind energy sector The Budget has provided a new lease of life to the wind energy sector by reintroducing generation-based incentives and providing Rs 800 crore to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for the purpose.	New Indian Express

Tourism policy and climate change (opinion)	Financial Express

A Better Way to Fight Climate Change	Project Syndicate

Natural capital: avoiding the next financial crisi	chinadialogue

Clean Development Mechanism passes small-scale project milestone Over 100 groups of micro carbon-cutting schemes now accredited by UN's offsetting programme	BusinessGreen

EU climate chief to huddle with White House, State officials The European Union’s climate minister is heading to Washington, D.C., for meetings with senior Obama administration officials as the White House is vowing to confront global warming during President Obama’s second term.	The Hill



Ethiopia suggests ‘means testing’ international climate efforts Ethiopia has suggested means testing national obligations in the UN climate process by analysing GDP and emissions output every five years. - See more at: http://www.rtcc.org/ethiopia-suggests-means-testing-international-climate-efforts/#sthash.79GJIbS2.dpuf	RTCC

Stakeholders urge speedy implementation of action plan to tackle climate change Representatives of the government and non-government organisations working in the climate change issue have stressed on the speed implementation of National Adaptation Program of Action (NAPA).	Nepalnews.com

Can climate finance be directed where it's needed most? Perhaps, instead of flying thousands of climate negotiators to U.N. meetings in different parts of the world each year, international climate change policy could be hammered out in a series of live online discussions? Low-cost, low-emitting and possibly just as productive.	AlertNet

SK greenhouse gas reductions in question over spike in emissions South Korea may have difficulty meeting its pledged greenhouse gas reduction targets, with emissions increasing by nearly 10% in 2010	The Hankyoreh

Pakistan launches first climate change policy Pakistan might be in a position to boast its very first national climate change policy but the road to effective implementation is long and arduous.	The Peninsula

ADB Pledges $4.5 Million to Help Conserve Borneo Forest The Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing nearly $4.5 million to help conserve one of the world’s most critical but threatened forest areas in the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo, the bank said in a statement on Wednesday.	Jakarta Globe

Local warming: U.S. cities in front line as sea levels rise The signs of rising water are everywhere in this seaport city: yellow "Streets May Flood" notices are common at highway underpasses, in low-lying neighborhoods and along the sprawling waterfront.	Reuters

Q&A: Climate Change Front and Centre in Cuban Development Model Each of Cuba’s 168 municipalities faces the challenge of designing its own strategic development which, as well as economic and social progress, minimises the impact of extreme weather and other problems caused by global warming.	IPS

EON Plans Wind-Energy Growth in Romania to Reap State Incentive EON SE (EOAN), Germany’s biggest utility, plans to build at least 100 megawatts of wind power in Romania by the end of 2014 to take advantage of government support for clean energy.	Bloomberg

Carbon tax to be introduced from 2015 FINANCE Minister Pravin Gordhan on Wednesday in his budget speech in Parliament announced the introduction of a carbon tax to mitigate the effects of climate change.	BusinessDay



Kenya: Biogas Push Asks Women to Get Their Hands Dirty Biogas, produced from the bacterial breakdown of animal waste in airtight containers, is used mainly for cooking. It can replace wood, gas or kerosene, and reduce deforestation - a big problem in rural Kenya.	AlertNet

Delhi Students To Generate Power From Wind Produced By Metro Rail Students of one of India’s most reputed universities are planning to harness high speed winds generated by Delhi’s metro trains. A team of ten students of Delhi University is planning to strategically install a small wind turbine on the Delhi metro network to generate electricity.	Cleantechnica

World cools on global warming as green fatigue sets in Public concern about environmental issues including climate change has slumped to a 20-year low since the financial crisis, a global study reveals.	The Independent

Extinction and climate change	Manila Standard Today

Post-2015 development panel and climate change: a missing link?	AlertNet

EU lawmakers back suspension of airline carbon payments European Union lawmakers on Tuesday backed a Commission plan to suspend for a year a law that would make all airlines using EU airports pay for their carbon emissions, and urged U.S. President Barack Obama to accelerate a global deal.	Reuters

NASA: Climate change thins forests in eastern U.S. Years of drought and high temperatures have damaged not only corn and other crops nationwide but also the forests in the eastern United States, NASA satellites show.	USA Today

Global warming and airflow changes 'caused US and EU heatwaves' Global warming may have caused extreme events such as a 2011 drought in the United States and a 2003 heatwave in Europe by slowing vast, wave-like weather flows in the northern hemisphere, scientists said on Tuesday.	Guardian

National climate change policy to the rescue? Two years before the massive floods triggered by unprecedented monsoon rains hit Pakistan in 2010, the federal government had already started taking the threat of climate change seriously by forming a Task Force on Climate Change in October 2008.	Dawn

India Has Allocated 1,172 GW Of Solar Power In Three Years India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) revealed that they have assigned 1,172 gigawatts (GW) of grid-connected solar power plants, and of these so far 369 megawatts (MW) have already been commissioned.	Cleantechnica



U.S. manufacturers say carbon tax could cut factory output The largest U.S. manufacturers' association on Tuesday warned that a potential tax on carbon emissions to fight global warming would cut factory output and could hurt the U.S. economy in other ways.	Reuters

Coral reefs at risk from carbon emissions Coral reefs across the world are at risk if the carbon emissions are not reduced, says a study.	IANS

Seafood experts discuss climate change threat Sustainable aquaculture in the face of climate change challenges and food safety were major concerns for members of the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) currently meeting in Can Tho City.	Viet Nam News

On International Polar Bear Day, a Look at Indonesian Farming Issues In recent years, climate change has moved to the forefront of environmental issues. Today, Feb. 27, marks International Polar Bear Day. On this day, people around the world are invited to mark the day by making efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and do their bit to combat climate change in order to help save the polar bears, whose habitat is under threat due to global warming.	Jakarta Globe

Zimbabwe: What Is Africa Environment Day? Africa Environment Day is commemorated on March 3 each year and was proclaimed by the then Organisation of African Unity in 2002 to raise awareness on the pressing environmental challenges facing the continent.	The Herald

Nature, Re-engineered to Meet Energy Needs Thousands of inventors, engineers and entrepreneurs gathered in a suburban Washington convention center on Monday for the annual three-day meeting of Arpa-E, the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy.	NY Times

Obama has the power to act on global warming (opinion)	Washington Post

Why green isn't always the new black (opinion)	IFR Asia

UN launches new climate technology network Industrial scale transfers of low-carbon technologies to the developing world is a step closer to reality after plans for a Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) were signed off by the United Nations in Nairobi on Friday.	RTCC

U.S. offers airspace-based emissions regime A U.S. proposal for curbing aircraft emissions would exclude time spent flying over international waters, an approach that some environmental groups say is too timid in addressing the rise in greenhouse gasses from the aviation sector.	Reuters



UN Sustainable Energy Initiative Could Put World On a Path to Climate Targets The UN's Sustainable Energy for All initiative, if successful, could make a significant contribution to the efforts to limit climate change to target levels, according to a new analysis from IIASA and ETH Zurich.	ScienceDaily

Uruguay Plans 200 Megawatts of the World’s Cheapest Solar Energy Uruguay will offer contracts next month to buy power from 200 megawatts of solar farms at the world’s cheapest rates as the South American nation seeks to add low-cost generation.	Bloomberg

EU lawmakers will not vote Tuesday on drafting CO2 law European politicians will not vote on Tuesday, as had been expected, on whether to begin drafting a law to prop up the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), delaying any possible deal on supporting the carbon market, an official agenda showed.	Reuters

Atmospheric Waves Trapped by Emissions Caused Extreme U.S. Heat Man-made greenhouse gas emissions trapped giant air waves in the atmosphere, causing extreme weather events such as a heat wave in the U.S. in 2011 and floods in Pakistan in 2010, researchers in Germany said.	Bloomberg

German CO2 output under EU trade scheme flat in 2012 Germany's carbon dioxide emissions from industry and power stations in 2012 stood at 450 million tonnes, unchanged from the previous year, the Federal Environment Agency (UBA) said on Monday.	Reuters

U.N. Sustainable Energy Effort Could Keep Warming Below 2 Degrees Celsius International climate negotiations have stalled in recent years, offering little hope that the world might keep global warming under 2 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. But the United Nations' existing commitment to universal sustainable energy access could get most of the way toward that goal.	Scientific American/ClimateWire

Little green warriors walk the talk Waste management, biodiversity conservation, lake water analysis, biomass monitoring... This is not some environment ministry list but various activities of students of KK English School, Varthur. They've been winning awards for their eco-work.	Times of India

All New January US Electrical Generating Capacity Came From Renewable Sources A new report from the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Office of Energy Projects announced that 1,231 megawatts (MW) of new in-service electrical generating capacity came online in January 2013, and all of it came from a collection of wind, solar, and biomass sources.	Cleantechnica

Rise in 1.5 degrees Celsius likely to spark massive greenhouse gas release from permafrost While nations around the world have committed to keeping temperatures from rising 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above the pre-industrial era, new research published in Science suggests that the global climate could hit a tipping point at just 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.5 degrees Fahrenheit).	mongabay.com

Why Innovation Alone Isn’t Enough to Win the Climate Fight Politics can be frustrating. Actually, it’s more like politics ARE frustrating, especially in America and especially in 2013, where a constitutional system designed for maximum gridlock has met intense partisanship fed by the nano-second news cycle of social media.	TIME



New Business Alternatives for Obama's Climate Change Program	Huffington Post

UN to Launch New Centre to Accelerate Use of Technology in Tackling Climate Change Environment ministers from around the world meeting in Nairobi at the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) confirmed a UNEP-led consortium as the hosts of the Climate Technology Centre.	Africa Science News

Islands want UN to see climate as security threat The Marshall Islands and other low-lying island nations appealed to the UN Security Council to recognize climate change as an international security threat that jeopardizes their very survival.	AP

Global warming worries California voters, poll finds A new survey shows most California voters don't like government's response to global warming and still support the state's greenhouse gas emissions law.	Sacramento Bee

Dangers of climate change offer risk and opportunity for Gulf The very source of the Middle East's riches threatens to ruin it. Climate change will bring even hotter temperatures, rising sea-levels inundating low-lying Arabian Gulf countries, food shortages and droughts destabilising volatile, populous neighbours.	The National

Worker Rest Breaks Double by 2050 as Climate Warms: NOAA People working in jobs without air conditioning will need to take breaks twice as often by 2050 to avoid heat stress amid a warming climate, according to a study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.	Bloomberg

New Zealand pledges funding for Pacific islands environment management New Zealand is to provide 4.5 million NZ dollars ($3.76 million) in a major project to help Pacific island nations manage their environments and ensure sustainable development.	Xinhua

Hotter, wetter climate slashes labor capacity by 10 percent: U.S. study Earth's increasingly hot, wet climate has cut the amount of work people can do in the worst heat by about 10 percent in the past six decades, and that loss in labor capacity could double by mid-century, U.S. government scientists reported on Sunday.	Reuters

A new look at the effects of climate change on the Arctic From March 1, 2007, to that same date the following year, nations from around the world and particularly the North came together for what was the third International Polar Year (IPY). As with the case in the two previous IPYs (the first in the 1870s and the second during the 1930s), it was a gathering of scientists and researchers who teamed up to learn more about the planet’s northern and southern extremes.	Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

35X Increase For Solar In Argentina Currently Argentina is far behind in solar capacity with only about 10 MW in operation. That could change soon due to plans to expand by up to thirty-five times. Read more at http://cleantechnica.com/2013/02/24/35x-increase-for-solar-in-argentina/#YlreIhvWSkLSM0Wr.99	Cleantechnica



Global warming may hurt productivity: study HEAT stress from global warming may be having an impact on outdoor work productivity in hot regions such as northern Australia, South-East Asia and the southern United States, a study says.	The Australian

Africa: Environmental and Health Issues Deserve Priority in Development Agenda - UN Report Unless Africa's leaders prioritize environmental and health issues, and prevent the degradation of health-promoting food and medicinal plants, people's health and productivity will continue to suffer, warns a new report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).	UN News Service

EU carbon trading survives key vote The beleaguered EU carbon emissions trading system survived a key vote in the European Parliament this week, in which MEPs agreed to "backloading."	UPI

Green groups urge ambitious new climate goals for Europe Green campaigners pressed the case for an ambitious new decade of energy and environment policy on Wednesday as the European Commission kicked off debate on 2030 goals, seeking to balance economic reality with climate concerns.	Reuters

German expert sees little substantive progress in anti-climate change drive until 2015 A leading German climate change scientist has struck a downbeat note on any substantive progress in the global efforts to rein in climate change in the near future.	Xinhua

Global solar farm capacity doubles inside 12 months Report concludes that global installed capacity for utility-scale solar farms will top 12GW by the end of the month	BusinessGreen (blog)

U.S. EPA's McCarthy mum on new job, says states to lead climate rules Gina McCarthy, said to be U.S. President Barack Obama's choice as the nation's top environmental regulator, avoided questions about a potential promotion on Thursday but said states will play a key role in shaping federal regulations at an energy and climate policy forum.	Reuters

Icy Siberian caves show tiny warming, may mean big thaw Ancient records from icy caves in Siberia show that a small amount of global warming can thaw vast areas of frozen ground and release harmful stores of greenhouse gases, a study showed.	Reuters

Deforestation, wetlands loss in Brazil and Indonesia generated 45b tons of CO2 in 20 years The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has launched a global set of statistics on carbon emissions from deforestation, agriculture and other forms of land use for the 1990-2010 period.	mongabay.com

Climate change preparedness could leave the poor out in the rain When the next Hurricane Sandy hits New York City, Wall Street will be prepared. According to a Monday report in The New York Times, the landlords for some of the city’s ritziest office spaces have shelled out millions of dollars to upgrade electrical systems, install floodgates, and generally make their buildings resilient to what have become annual climate catastrophes.	MSNBC



Air trade CARBON markets look green around the gills. The price of carbon on Europe’s emissions-trading system, the world’s biggest, has slumped. Barack Obama’s hope of getting a cap-and-trade proposal through Congress seems as distant as ever. There is no sign of action in places like India and Brazil. But it is easy to forget how far carbon markets have come.	The Economist

All eyes on budget for news on SA’s carbon tax (opinion & analysis)	BusinessDay

Climate Conversations - Migration Myths Hold Back Successful Climate Adaptation	AlertNet

Activist investors put climate-change issue up for vote at bank PNC Financial Services Group shareholders will consider the resolution at the April 23 annual meeting. It seeks a review of how its loans lead to greenhouse gas.	LA Times

China pushes forward with carbon tax plans Ministry of Finance confirms plans for a range of new environmental taxes designed to tackle carbon emissions and environmental damage	BusinessGreen

Kerry comes out swinging on climate change John Kerry used his first major speech as secretary of State to make that case that failing to confront climate change means missing big economic opportunities — and worse.	The Hill

The way forward From policy discussions to delivering tangible benefits, BRICS nations plan on a wider cooperation	The Hindu

China to Impose Limits on Six Industries to Tackle Air Pollution China will impose emission limits on six polluting industries including coal-fired power plants and steel and petrochemical factories as soon as March 1 to improve air quality in major cities.	Bloomberg

Kenya: Tea Companies Go Green Through Carbon Finance In Kenya's Nyeri district, several hundred miles north of the capital of Nairobi, energy-intensive tea production employs thousands of farmers and tea-factory workers - and now the industry is beginning to go green.	AllAfrica

Tanzania: Govt Includes Local Knowledge in Climate Change Mitigation THERE is a ray of hope for people in Monduli, Longido and Ngorongoro districts as indigenous knowledge will be included in government planning for climate change mitigation.	Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)



State to have country’s first offshore wind energy project The country's first offshore wind energy project in Gujarat, increasing power generation capacity by over 3,600 mega watts (MW) and creating a special purpose vehicle (SPV) to develop the Mandal-Becharaji Special Investment Region (SIR), are among the provisions made for infrastructure and energy sectors in the state budget.	Indian Express

No-till Farming Holds the Key to Food Security No-till farming is a response to climate change that fits well with the needs of the Caribbean: it increases the ability to capture water, while withstanding both drought and excessive rains, says expert Theodor Friedrich, representative of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Cuba.	IPS

In European Union, Emissions Trade Is Sputtering	NY Times

The ecological deficit (opinion)`	Business Standard

Ban urges investment for environmental policies United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on countries to implement policies that protect the environment, stressing that this will also benefit their economic growth and prosperity.	IBNS

At UN forum, Ban calls on countries to invest in environmental policies to spur growth Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on countries to implement policies that protect the environment, stressing that this will also benefit their economic growth and prosperity.	UN News Centre

Climate contradiction: Less snow, more blizzards With scant snowfall and barren ski slopes in parts of the Midwest and Northeast the past couple of years, some scientists have pointed to global warming as the culprit.	AP

EU carbon prices plunge 20% Carbon prices tumbled as much as 20 per cent on Tuesday as investors doubted a vote in the European Parliament would be sufficient to rescue the EU’s moribund carbon market.	Financial Times

Emissions trading scheme: EU committee passes 'rescue' reforms Approval of 'backloading' puts troubled system back on track – but reforms could still be watered down before parliament votes	Guardian

Japan to Operate Offshore Wind Turbines With Tepco, J-Power Japan will begin operating two offshore wind turbines this year as it tries to diversify its energy mix and develop turbine technologies.	Bloomberg



German town goes off the grid, achieves energy independence Imagine a town which no longer relies on fossil fuels or nuclear power, a place where residents reached into their own pockets to build their own energy grid, reaping the benefit of lower electric and heating prices from their investment. You are dreaming of Feldheim, a 100% energy independent town.	Treehugger

Solar energy revolution in the Gulf Climate conference in Qatar, IRENA headquarters in Abu Dhabi – the oil-rich countries in the Gulf are getting into renewable energy. But is it just greenwashing or the beginnings of a post-oil era?	Nanowerk News

Carbon Trust aims to clean up businesses with new water stewardship standard The Carbon Trust will today unveil plans to extend its brief to help businesses curb their water use alongside their greenhouse gas emissions.	BusinessGreen

Plants soaking up carbon pollution: report PLANTS and soils absorbed one third of the carbon pollution released from burning fossil fuels in Australia over the past two decades, a CSIRO study has found.	Daily Telegraph

Leadership on climate change depends on Obama	Irish Times

Carbon Market Fate in Europe Hangs on EU Vote to Fix Surplus European Union lawmakers may determine the fate of the world’s biggest carbon market when they vote today on a proposal to cut a record surplus of emission permits that has pushed prices to an all-time low.	Bloomberg

Africa: Citing Sea Ice Melt, UN Urges Stronger Measures to Protect Fragile Arctic Environment The melting of sea ice and the resulting rush for resources require effective measures to avoid damage in the Arctic, according to an annual United Nations study of emerging environmental issues that also highlight risks from chemicals and the recent spike in illegal wildlife trade.	UN News Service

UN climate body registers Tata Power's wind project in Gujarat Tata Power Company announced the successful registration of its 50.4 MW wind power project at Samana, Gujarat under Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) program by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).	IRIS

MEPs vote with carbon market’s future in the balance The future of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), its climate policy and even international climate negotiations could all be decided by a tight ‘Super Tuesday’ European Parliament vote on structural market reform this morning (19 February).	EurActiv

Unep’s new status seen boosting war on climate change Kenya is banking on the elevated status of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) to put environment issues at the centre of global business and bolster the war against climate change.	Business Daily



'Ice loss, weather extremes show climate risk' The record shrinkage of Arctic sea ice last year and a spell of catastrophic droughts, floods and storms highlight the risk of climate change, the UN Environment Programme said yesterday.	Sapa-AFP

Climate change severe threat to marine turtles Scientists have sounded the alarm over the mounting threat to marine turtle populations worldwide from climate change and coastal development.	Times of India

More environment-friendly nutrient use could save $170 bln a year More efficient use of nitrogen fertilisers could cut annual consumption by 20 million tonnes, help the environment and save $170 million a year by the end of the decade, scientists said in a report on Monday.	Reuters

Climate justice set to dominate UNFCCC talks in 2013	RTCC

ENVIRONMENT: Loss and damage mechanism	Islands Business

Climate Conversations - Making Climate Money Work	AlertNet

UN's green Earth plan faces first test A new United Nations plan to involve all nations in marshaling science to fix environmental problems ranging from toxic chemicals to climate change will be put to the test from Monday at talks in Nairobi.	Reuters

At Chennai meet, BASIC pushes climate fund Environment ministers of the four BASIC countries Brazil, South Africa, India and China who met in Chennai for the 14th meeting of the grouping on climate change on Saturday emphasized the need for a clear road map to raise funds from developed nations for a Green Climate Fund (GCF).	Times of India

Filipino super-typhoon an ominous warning of climate change impact Philippines is having to adapt and adjust to rapidly deteriorating climatic trends at a great cost to its economy	Guardian

Climate change impacts can delay development plans Sri Lanka has embarked on an ambitious new era of economic development, Environment and Renewable Energy Minister Susil Premajayantha said.	Daily News



Ex-IPCC Head: Prepare for 5°C Warmer World The world has missed the chance to keep greenhouse gas emissions below the level needed to prevent the temperature climbing above 2° Celsius, according to the British scientist who used to chair the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.	Climate News Network

Tens of thousands demand action on climate change In what was billed as the largest climate rally in U.S. history, thousands of people marched past the White House on Sunday to urge President Obama to reject a controversial pipeline and take other steps to fight climate change.	USA Today

Jayanthi calls for road map to raise funds for battling climate change After the conclusion of the 14 BASIC Ministerial meeting on climate change here, Union Minister of State for Environment Jayanthi Natarajan said it was essential to have a clear road map to raise funds for the ‘Green Climate Fund’.	The Hindu

IDB supports energy efficiency program for Bahamian hotels The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association and the Ministry of Tourism have launched a major energy efficiency program for hotels with support from the Inter-American BanK (IDB) and international partners.	Antigua Observer

Marshall Islands ask for UN help The Marshall Islands and other low-lying island nations have appealed to the UN Security Council to recognise climate change as an international security threat that jeopardises their survival.	4

EU Emissions Program Hit as Prices Drop Europe's flagship effort to limit greenhouse-gas emissions faces an existential threat as the price of emissions has fallen dramatically, eroding an incentive for industries to pollute less and forcing policy makers to weigh environmental priorities against economic concerns.	Wall Street Journal

On thin ice: melting of Arctic picking up speed Nicholas Stern, the author of the influential 2006 review of the economics of climate change, now says he “underestimated the risks”.	Irish Times

BASIC experts meet to focus on future issues on climate change Climate experts and negotiators from four emerging economies -- Brazil, South Africa, India and China -- today began discussions here on issues related to climate change.	Economic Times

Climate Change’s Links to Conflict Draws UN Attention Imagine India in 2033. It has overtaken China as the most populous nation. Yet with 1.5 billion citizens to feed, it’s been three years since the last monsoon. Without rain, crops die and people starve.	Bloomberg

African climate change advocates caution govt's against poor deals Representatives of African civil society organisations (CSOs) and networks, meeting under the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, have urged African governments not to enter into climate change deals that have disastrous consequences for the continent.	AfriqueJet



Climate change could burn a hole in the government’s finances, GAO says As climate change leads to more frequent and destructive natural disasters and threatens crop yields, bridges and other infrastructure, the federal government faces big financial risks that it is poorly positioned to address, auditors said Thursday.	Washington Post

Boxer pushes carbon tax to ease global warming Sen. Barbara Boxer announced on Thursday legislation that would impose a carbon tax as a way to lower emissions linked to global warming but the bill is thought to have little chance of passing.	USA Today

Climate Change Battle Heats Up Again	Wall Street Journal (blog)

Obama acting too slowly on climate change risks, government audit finds The US government is exposed to high risk from climate change, and Barack Obama has not moved fast enough to manage those new dangers, the government auditor said on Thursday.	Guardian

India to offer vision statement for Green Climate Fund The Ministry of Finance on Thursday said it would offer the 'vision statement' for planned $100 billion a year Green Climate Fund (GCF).	The Hindu Business Line

Sign of the times: Saudis go solar Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil producer, has completed its biggest solar power plant as the Persian Gulf petro-powers increasingly turn to solar energy and other renewables.	upi

Gambia: Action Now-Gambia Joins Environment Campaign Efforts Action Now -The Gambia (ACG), a grassroots environmental organization, is the latest youth-led initiative to join the fight against the environmental problem in the country.	The Point (Banjul)

Kilgallioch wind farm scheme approved The Scottish government has approved plans for a 96-turbine wind farm on the border between Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire.	BBC

Climate Change Threatens Caribbean Coral Reefs Scientists and researchers are working together in a new initiative to collect data that will help determine the effects of climate change on coral in the Caribbean Sea.	IPS

California Plans For 1.5 Million Zero-Emission Vehicles By 2025 Decarbonization and zero-emissions technology is certainly on California Governor Jerry Brown’s mind.	Cleantechnica



Extremely Troubled Scheme	The Economist

UN partners with African bank to boost participation in clean development projects The United Nations has signed an agreement with the East African Development Bank to increase participation in clean development projects in the region, it was announced today.	UN News Centre

Peru and Venezuela compete to host COP20 in 2014 Next year a Latin American and the Caribbean country will host the annual UN climate change negotiations or ‘COP20’ of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).	Interambio Climático

Thirty firms urge EU policymakers to save carbon market: letter Thirty firms and organizations have written to European policy-makers urging them to vote in favor next week of a plan to support the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which has sunk to record lows.	Reuters

US carbon market a model for struggling EU ETS While the latest research suggests the EU Emission Trading System (ETS) is headed into the abyss, a healthy US-based system has just proposed targeting yet deeper emission cuts.	RTCC

Obama’s Clean-Energy Fund Seen Gaining If Oil Drilling Expanded President Barack Obama’s proposal to fund clean-energy research with fees paid by oil and gas producers is renewing a debate over whether the promise of innovation tomorrow is worth expanding drilling today.	Bloomberg

Steep Challenges for a Chinese Eco-City Fifty years ago, during a time of food shortages, China’s young socialist government singled out a few farm villages as role models for the nation, saying that their high crop yields made them examples that other communities could learn from.	NY Times

EU should seek 100 percent green energy by 2050: WWF One-hundred percent green energy for the European Union is realistic by the middle of the century provided the bloc signs up to ambitious energy policy goals for 2030, conservation body WWF said in a report on Thursday.	Reuters

Time for business to take the plunge on climate finance? At the U.N. climate talks in Doha late last year, Britain’s minister of state for energy and climate change told journalists the UK government is “leading the way” in mobilising private-sector finance for efforts to tackle climate change in developing countries.	AlertNet

Tanzania: Protect the Environment for Future Generations-VP THE current generation should protect against environmental degradation for the benefit of future generations because enough damage has already been done.	Tanzania Daily News (Dar es Salaam)



Solar-everything will power your life Recent advances in photovoltaic technology mean that practically any surface can be used to generate energy. This comes as more and more countries adapt to using solar energy, bringing funding for increasingly innovative technology.	Mail & Guardian

Hopi students turn to solar, wind energy for greenhouses Schools on reservation lands are turning to solar and wind power to both power classrooms and provide some teaching tools.	KJZZ

Climate Change Threatens Billion Dollar Valentine Tree This year on Valentine's Day consider, for just one moment, where that scrumptious chocolate came from, and you might be surprised to know that it is a gift from the chocolate tree.	Huffington Post

Carbon fat cats are killing the emissions trading mouse	Guardian

God and climate change: Column	USA Today

Cities can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70 pct through practical policy changes Cities across the globe can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by implementing aggressive, but practical policy changes, a new study has said.	ANI

Obama gives Congress a climate change ultimatum U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday gave Congress an ultimatum on climate change: craft a plan to slash greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the dangers of a warming world, or the White House will go it alone.	Reuters

Climate change science ‘irrefutable’ – Ed Davey Climate science is “irrefutable” and “screams out from decade upon decade of research” UK Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Davey will tell an audience at the Royal Society later today.	RTCC

U.S. Environment Agency Releases First Climate Adaptation Plan For the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has publicly released a draft plan on how the department’s programmes will adapt to global warming, in a move that could lay additional groundwork for important new emissions rulemaking the agency may announce in coming months.	IPS

EIA: Riyadh going green to free up oil Saudi Arabia has one of the largest expansion plans for electricity in the Middle East, with the bulk of renewables coming from solar power, the EIA said.	UPI



Global movement of youthful environmental stewards takes shape Jessy Singute, a Zambian university student, has nurtured a passion for environmental conservation since her childhood and has vowed to promote this cause for the long haul after witnessing a string of natural catastrophes visit the South African nation.	Xinhua

Major Climate Change Bill Coming to the Senate Only an hour before President Obama is expected to deliver his State of the Union address—in which he might “go big” on the issue of combating climate change—two Senators announced they will introduce comprehensive climate change legislation this week, presenting a possible vehicle in the Senate for Obama’s ambitions.	The Nation

In radical refit, buildings to generate more power than they use Two office blocks by the Oslo fjord will generate more power than they use from 2014 after a radical refit meant to show that the world's energy-squandering building sector can do more to fight climate change.	Reuters

Branson plans to use Necker as island incubator for renewables Virgin chief Richard Branson plans to use the tiny Caribbean island he owns to test the effectiveness of renewable energy systems for small island states.	RTCC

State of the Union on Climate Change: What's the Rush?	Huffington Post

'Climate change isn't a challenge of the future – it's here' Jo Confino speaks to Christiana Figueres, executive secretary at the UNFCCC, about the response of business and governments to the climate change agenda	Guardian

‘Huge consequences’ of climate change, Syrian crisis must be faced, Ban tells think tank In his remarks, Ban Ki-moon highlighted Syria and climate change as two major issues that threatened huge, global consequences and called for the international community to uphold its responsibilities in facing them.	UN News Centre

Wind power is now cheaper than coal in some countries When many countries are choosing their next generation of power stations, they will be tempted to pick wind turbines. Thanks to better design, building wind farms can now be cheaper than building new coal or gas power stations.	NewScientist

Wind power capacity grew 20% globally in 2012, figures show Wind power expanded by almost 20% in 2012 around the world to reach a new peak of 282 gigawatts (GW) of total installed capacity, while solar power reached more than 100GW, having more than doubled in two years.	Guardian

EU CO2 fix failure may hit UN climate aid plan - negotiators Failure by the EU to fix its carbon market could further derail a plan to help poor countries fight climate change, as low CO2 prices cut revenue from EU government permit sales while deterring other nations from launching similar markets, U.N. negotiators and observers said.	Reuters Point Carbon



Gulf Times honours Unesco Doha Office for Green Pages Gulf Times has honoured the Unesco Doha Office for its support in publishing the Green Pages in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP18/CMP8), which Qatar hosted from November 26 to December 8 last year.	Gulf Times

Arctic sunshine revs up greenhouse gases Sunlight in the arctic is delivering a double climate blow, researchers say, by both melting ice and speeding up the release of greenhouse gases.	UPI

Island nation fighting sea level rise Australia says it will give $1.5 million to rehabilitate 25 miles of roads in the island nation of Kiribati undermined by rising sea levels and coastal erosion.	UPI

Study asks: are plant-based diets environmentally friendly? A nutritious diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables might be healthier for humans but not necessarily healthier for the environment, according to a French study.	Reuters

Advocates shocked by president's veto of Kenyan climate authority bill Kenya’s hopes of becoming one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa with a body legally empowered to advise on mitigating the effects of climate change have hit a dead end, after President Mwai Kibaki rejected a law that would have created a Kenya Climate Change Authority (KCCA).	AlertNet

The record is clear: Obama delivers on clean energy (opinion)	Politico

Is Europe serious about tackling climate change? (opinion)	BusinessGreen

Solar power to be focus of shift in future energy needs: Mukesh Ambani Reliance Industries' Chairman Mukesh Ambani, owner of world's largest oil refinery, today said solar power will be at the core of the shift in future source of energy needs - from hydrocarbon to renewable.	Economic Times

Budget deal cuts EU energy spending, promises climate focus An EU budget haggled out in marathon talks on Friday cut deeply into a new transport and energy fund and sacrificed ambition to make farming greener, but broke ground by committing a fifth of spending to the climate.	Reuters

Greenpeace NZ calls for 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025 Greenpeace have released a report calling for New Zealand's energy production to be 100 per cent renewable by 2025.	NZ Herald



Investors warned over unchanging groups Investors should think twice about putting money into especially dirty fossil fuel businesses and other companies at risk from mounting environmental pressures, a former Conservative cabinet minister has warned.	Financial Times

Climate change influences investment risk For more than a decade, investors have been asking companies to detail their climate risks through initiatives such as the Carbon Disclosure Project, but until now, no one has asked these investors about their own exposure to these risks – and they have certainly not volunteered the information.	Financial Times

New climate Bill to set no binding CO2 targets Draft legislation on climate change to be brought to Cabinet tomorrow will not provide for binding targets for emission reductions, nor a powerful independent commission to ensure Government compliance.	Irish Times

State of the Union 2013: On climate, which Obama will show up Tuesday night? President Barack Obama’s annual addresses to Congress offer a glimpse at a leader whose rhetoric on energy and the environment has changed dramatically over the past four years — from his calls to pass sweeping climate legislation in 2009 to a full-throated embrace of natural gas last year.	Politico

Global warming to bring more rain to hydro-dependent Norway Global warming is likely to bring more rain to hydro-dependent Norway, giving a further boost to power production that reached a record high last year due to ample rainfall, the government said in a report on Friday.	Reuters

9pc drop in emissions from power generators There has been a 9 per cent drop in emissions from electricity generators during the first six months of carbon pricing, a Senate committee has been told.	ABC News

Renewable Energy and Conservation Get a Push in Latin America	The Energy Collective

Cool steps help fight global warming When it comes to high-tech possibilities for counteracting climate change, the headlines tend to focus on the seemingly sci-fi stuff: brightening clouds, pumping particles into the stratosphere and launching giant mirrors into space.	SF Gate

States’ Group Calls for 45% Cut in Amount of Carbon Emissions Allowed The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the country’s first regional system for capping carbon emissions and creating a market in carbon allowances, proposed a fundamental change on Thursday to increase electrical utilities’ incentive to cut emissions from fossil-fuel plants by raising the cost of compliance.	NY Times

4.4 GW Of New Solar Power Infrastructure Expected To Be Announced In India In 2013 Over 4.4 GW of new solar infrastructure is likely to be announced in India this year, according to the consultant group Bridge to India. But only about 1.1 GW is expected to turned on by the year’s end.	Cleantechnica



More Americans convinced of climate change, poll finds Did last year's extreme weather affect U.S. public attitudes about climate change? Duke University online survey finds more support for regulating greenhouse gas emissions.	USA Today

Report: US falling short on Obama’s climate targets As environmentalists praise the President’s latest cabinet pick, World Resources Institute warns more ambitious policies are needed to cut emissions 17 per cent by 2020	BusinessGreen

Carbon release, storage by rainforests may increase by 50b tons for each degree of climate warming in the tropics Faster plant growth due to higher concentrations of carbon dioxide may offset increased emissions from forest die-off in the tropics, asserts a new study based on climate modeling.	mongabay.com

European carbon price 'inching ever closer to zero' Value of the European emissions trading scheme and UN CDM fell 35% in 2012, Point Carbon analysts warn	Guardian

The Arctic: Tequila sunset ON SEPTEMBER 16th 2012, at the height of the summer melt, the Arctic Ocean’s ice sheet had shrunk to an area of 3.41m square kilometres (1.32m square miles), half what it was in 1979.	The Economist

Pollution cap lowered for multi-state greenhouse gas pact, cap now 45 percent below 2005 The amount of greenhouse gases that can be released under a multi-state pollution reduction agreement is being lowered.	AP

Climate change to affect Kingdom's biodiversity -- microbiologist Climate change will affect the Kingdom's biodiversity and ecosystems as the region is witnessing less precipitation due to droughts, according to a microbiologist.	Zawya

It’s time to offset the UN’s carbon footprint	Independent

Climate change is ‘threat multiplier’ (opinion)	Politico

Chennai to host BASIC meet on climate change The environment ministers of Brazil, South Africa, India and China (BASIC) will meet in Chennai on February 15 and 16 to discuss about taking forward decisions taken at the Doha climate conference. BASIC is a platform for the four countries to coordinate on issues related to climate change.	Times of India



Environment ministers of Arctic states meet to discuss climate For the first time, environment ministers of member countries of the Arctic Council are holding a meeting in a mine to discuss issues related to the region in the polar town of Kiruna in northern Sweden.	Times of India

Head of IMF: climate change is 'the greatest economic challenge of the 21st century' Climate change not debt or austerity is "the greatest economic challenge of the 21st Century," according to Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).	mongabay.com

Northeast U.S. carbon market expected emissions to tighten cap States involved in the developing northeastern U.S. carbon market are expected to announce on Thursday that they will reduce the program's emissions cap as a way to stimulate allowance trading and strengthen its environmental goals, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.	Al Jazeera/The Nation

A New Path on Emissions In his second inaugural address, President Obama promised to take on climate change as a priority in his second term. “We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that failure to do so would betray our children and future generations,” he said at the start of one of the longest passages devoted to a single subject in the speech.	NY Times

U.S. power industry to invest $85 bln annually in electric grid U.S. investor-owned utilities will invest about $85 billion annually this year and next to keep the power grid reliable and integrate new natural gas plants while cleaning up older coal units, the president of the industry's trade group told Reuters on Wednesday.	Reuters

IEA Reviews Sweden’s Low-Carbon Successes and Future One of the world’s lowest-carbon economies belongs to Sweden, who are seeking to achieve a fossil-fuel-independent vehicle fleet by 2030 and no net greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.	Cleantechnica

U.S. needs additional steps to reduce emissions -World Resources The United States will not be able to meet its goal of slashing greenhouse gases 17 percent by 2020 from a 2005 baseline without taking additional steps to target emissions, a new report found.	Reuters

Labour, NGOs combine on climate change as election issue With an election coming this spring, environmental groups, unions and other provincial organizations are pushing to get the issue of climate change on the political agenda.	Globe and Mail

The mystery of the disappearing Arctic ice Much of the world’s growing fascination with the Arctic centres on climate change and how it is opening up this vast icy wilderness.	Financial Times

Indian birds under threat from climate change: Study Climate change is threatening the survival of a number of Asian bird species, including those in India, a new study warns.	Times of India



Climate science: Global warming and tropical carbon An innovative use of measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide constrains the possible range of carbon–cycle responses to climate change during the twenty-first century, lowering expectations of tropical-forest dieback.	Nature

Amazon forest more resilient to climate change than feared - study The Amazon rainforest is less vulnerable to die off because of global warming than widely believed because the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide also acts as an airborne fertilizer, a study showed on Wednesday.	Reuters

Lungs of the Planet Reveal Their True Sensitivity to Global Warming Tropical rainforests are often called the "lungs of the planet" because they generally draw in carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen.	ScienceDaily

BASIC Environment Ministers to meet in Chennai The 14th meeting of the Group in Chennai scheduled on February 15 and 16 is also expected to plan the future steps for taking the global process for an ambitious and equitable agreement under Durban Platform, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said today.	PTI

UNEP scientist in climate change reduction recommendation United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) chief scientist Joseph Alcamo on Tuesday called for more efforts to reduce short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) so as to slow down global warming.	Xinhua

Report: Warming bringing big changes to forests Big changes are in store for the nation’s forests as global warming increases wildfires and insect infestations, and generates more frequent floods and droughts, the U.S. Department of Agriculture warns in a report released Tuesday.	AP

Greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants down 4.6 percent Greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants fell 4.6 percent in 2011 as more generators were switched to cleaner-burning natural gas and renewable sources from coal, according to new data from the Environmental Protection Agency.	Reuters

Report: Climate change could devastate agriculture A comprehensive USDA study concludes rising temperatures could cost farmers millions as they battle new pests, faster weed growth and get smaller yields as climate change continues.	USA Today

EU regulators approve UK's 600 million pound "Green Deal" funding European Union regulators gave approval on Tuesday for Britain's 600 million pounds ($944 million) of public support for the "Green Deal" energy-efficiency scheme.	Reuters

Climate change worries rise and fall with temperature: UBC study If you think local weather patterns are in a constant state of flux, consider public opinion on global warming. New research out of the University of British Columbia suggests that climate change concerns rise with the heat, but cool during cold snaps.	CBC



PNG company named as a global sustainability leader Papua New Guinea's biggest palm oil producer has been named as the world's leading sustainable agricultural company by a British-based independent assessment organisation that looks at the impact companies have on the world's remaining forests.	ABC Radio Australia

Europe's "first" wind powered province touts renewables as key to recovery Enercon ramps up production at new wind turbine factory in Austria's Burgenland, which expects to be energy independent by the end of 2013	BusinessGreen

Conserve energy, say sweater-clad Canadian grannies Dozens of sweater-clad grannies sprung into action in the Canadian city of Toronto this week ahead of the third annual National Sweater Day, which falls Thursday, to remind people the importance of energy conservation.	IANS

Fracking Seen by EPA as No. 2 Emitter of Greenhouse Gases Natural gas and oil production is the second-biggest source of U.S. greenhouse gases, the government said, emboldening environmentalists who say tighter measures are needed to curb the emissions from hydraulic fracturing.	Bloomberg

Can Obama's fire and brimstone on climate change herald a new hope?	Guardian

Delhi sustainable development summit highlights need for urgent action Global development summits are rare and usually lead nowhere. But coming up on the inside track as a talkshop to rival Rio and the annual Davos meeting is the annual Delhi sustainable development summit (DSDS), which packs in prime ministers, Nobel prize winners and development thinkers, mostly from Asia.	Guardian

Biden vows climate change action in meeting with French president Vice President Joe Biden reaffirmed the Obama administration's goal of tackling climate change during the president's second term in a meeting with the French president Monday.	The Hill

Fears mount over Japan's carbon target One of the world's most ambitious emission reduction targets could be dropped, after Japan's recently elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a government panel he wanted to water down the country's commitment to cutting emissions 25 per cent by 2020.	BusinessGreen

Study: Global Warming Can Be Slowed By Working Less Want to reduce the effects of global warming? Stop working so hard. Working fewer hours might help slow global warming, according to a new study released Monday by the Center for Economic Policy and Research.	US News & World Report

Cameroon: Community Radio Helps Cameroonians Track Climate Change "Climate and weather tory. Wona lookot!" "Climate and weather news! Pay attention!" The announcement, made in pidgin English, catches the attention of listeners to Eden Radio, a community station in the coastal town of Limbe, in Cameroon's Southwest Province.	AlertNet



Outgoing EPA chief convinced Obama serious on climate change The departing chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lisa P. Jackson, says she cringes whenever she is asked if President Barack Obama is truly serious about confronting climate change.	Reuters

Founding father of the green movement battles plans to erect wind turbine in his village One of the world's top environmentalists and a founding father of the 'green' movement is fighting plans to build a wind turbine in his village.	Daily Mail

East Africa: EAC Partner States Join Hands to Contain Climate Change The East African Community (EAC) region has been suffering from a range of negative impacts related to the climate change. Heavy rains, long droughts and violent winds have been occurring in the region, devastating thousands of hectors of crops, houses and affecting agricultural production and water levels of lakes, among others.	Rwanda Focus (Kigali)

Green Energy Milestone: Industry Says Wind is Spain’s Top Electricity Source (audio) We’ve heard a lot about recently about the growing pains of renewable power in Europe. Economic woes and low coal prices have combined to whip up a steep headwind for many green energy projects there.	The World

U.S. seeks to list wolverines as threatened, cites global warming The U.S. government on Friday proposed adding wolverines, feisty but rare members of the weasel family, to the federal threatened and endangered species list because global warming is reducing the mountain snows the animals need for survival.	Reuters

China's wind energy industry spirals higher China installed more than a third of the world’s new wind turbines in 2012 and is on course to beat the government’s 2015 target of 100 gigawatts of generation capacity by more than a year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) data.	Sydney Morning Herald

Climate change signals raining down but proof will take centuries For Australia, 2013 looks like being a "year of living extremely" if January is anything to go by. The Bureau of Meteorology says January was the hottest ever month in just over a century of records.	The Age

Coal-burning utilities seek a role in EPA rule-making on greenhouse gas emissions Lobbyists for coal-burning utilities such as Southern Co. and Duke Energy are consulting environmental advocates and holding strategy sessions as they seek a role in shaping President Obama’s plan to combat climate change.	Washington Post

Emerging nations not just along for the ride Emerging economies are not "free riders" and will continue to play a more active role in international affairs, a senior Foreign Ministry official told a global security forum on Saturday.	China Daily

Kiribati buying up land in Fiji Kiribati, a scattered Pacific nation severely damaged by over-crowding and the impact of sea-level rise, has announced it is buying up land in Fiji.	Fairfax NZ News



Local innovations tap into carbon financing Proponents of green initiatives geared towards mitigating the impact of climate change are exploring opportunities to receive support under the global carbon credit arrangements.	GhanaWeb

Wise use of resources, limiting climate change key to sustainable development - experts Good governance of natural resources and sustainable development must go hand in hand, or economies and nature are at risk, experts, diplomats and business leaders warned at a weekend summit in New Delhi.	AlertNet

A forum on renewable energy held in Tripoli A forum on renewable energy was held at the Plasma hotel, Tripoli, (19th January) organized by private sector company Alalamiyah Engineering Services. The forum was a meeting of 40 of the top Libyan experts in the various renewable and energy fields.	Libya Herald

Obama’s climate team appears primed for action Who will help President Barack Obama meet his ambitious promises to tackle climate change? Eco-celebrities and tree-climbing protesters need not apply. This is a job for wonks.	Politico

A Cry of Frustration at Delhi’s Sustainable Summit Once more, frustration with stymied efforts on climate change has emerged as a major theme at an international conference on the planet’s health.	NY Times

Woodstock, Punxsutawney groundhogs agree on an early spring for us Maybe Congress can learn something from Punxsutawney Phil and Woodstock Willie. The two national prognosticators of what lies ahead for us were in complete agreement Saturday ... we're in for an early spring this year.	Daily Herald/AP

Garnaut: Moving forward on climate change mitigation	Climate Spectator

NEGOTIATIONS

FOCUS

PROCESS

KEY STEPS