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New energy storage plant could 'revolutionise'
renewable sector
A new project in Ireland aims to "revolutionise" the
renewable energy sector by providing an answer to the problem of
energy storage. The new plant will harness energy from the grid at
times of oversupply, then release it again through submerged
turbines when there is a shortfall. The plant, which will initially
feed off both clean and dirty energy, could help to solve the
problem of how to get consistent power from intermittent
renewables. It is expected to launch commercially in 2017.
The Guardian
Climate and energy news
Bloomberg Pours $30 Million More Into Fighting
Coal
Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg has donated $30
million to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign - a donation
which was matched by a combination of additional funders. With the
additional money, the activist group has expanded its goal to
retiring or getting pledges to retire half of US power plants by
2017, up from one third by 2020. "Coal's days are numbered,"
Bloomberg said. The Guardian also has the story.
Inside Climate News
Japan to pledge 20% CO2 cut
- reports
Japan is likely to make a pledge to reduce its carbon
dioxide emissions 20% by 2030, according to reports in the Japanese
press. It is not clear whether this is on 2013 or 2005 levels. The
government is likely to announce the target, which is based on
reports from unnamed government sources, at the G7 summit in June.
Climate change officials in Japan denied the reports, while critics
have pointed out that, if true, the target is unambitious.
The Guardian
Potential UK oil discovery
'significant'
There could be 100 billion barrels of oil under the South of
England, according to oil exploration firm UK Oil & Gas
Investments. It thinks five to 15% could be recoverable and says it
is not expecting to use fracking, but its initial results will need
to be confirmed. The entire North Sea has produced 45 billion
barrels over 40 years.
BBC
Top development banks agree definition for climate
finance
Leading development banks controlling $2,100 billion in
assets have agreed a definition for climate finance, which will
help guide green investments in the future. Backed by bodies
including the World Bank, a set of "Common Principles" lists
investments that count as climate friendly. These include
efficiency and renewables projects, but also leaves the door open
to coal power plant improvements and carbon capture technologies.
RTCC
Whales are adapting to climate
change
The seasonal migration patterns of whales have changed in
response to warmer sea temperatures as a result of climate change,
say Scottish scientists. Over a period of 27 years, fin and
humpback whales have arrived at feeding grounds in the North
Atlantic one day earlier each year on average, to time their
arrival with the appearance of zooplankton and schooling fish. The
scientists have questioned, however, whether this pace of
adaptation can be maintained in the future.
The Times
Humpback whale,
Shutterstock
Arizona State to tackle global warming by spraying
sky with silver iodide
A new geoengineering experiment could take place in the US,
with plans underway to use a technique called cloud seeding to head
of the effects of drought in Arizona. The Central Arizona Project
has invested $1 million dollars since 2007 to research the idea.
But some scientists are worried that the silver, used to
artificially induce rain, could build up in river basins.
The Daily Mail
APG adds support to BP climate change
resolution
The Dutch pension scheme APG has given its backing to a
planned shareholders resolution that would force BP to be more open
about its public policy positions relating to climate change. The
resolution, which was proposed by a range of pension schemes, faith
groups and charities, will be put to vote at BP's annual general
meeting on 16 April and needs 75% of votes to pass. Other groups
have already pledged their support for the motion, including
Amundi, Calpers, Schroders and Aviva Investors.
Reuters
Climate and energy comment
What the Shell mega deal says about the planet's
energy future
Shell's $70 billion acquisition of BG Group could help China
to achieve its climate goals, writes Chris Mooney. The merger will
enable the company to sell huge volumes of liquified natural gas to
China, which is cleaner to burn than coal, currently the dominant
source of electricity in Asia. BG Group made two-thirds of its LNG
sales in the Asia-Pacific, and its takeover means Shell is
positioned to speed along this shift to gas.
Chris Mooney, The Washington
Post
If We Dig Out All Our Fossil Fuels, Here's How Hot
We Can Expect It to Get
If all of the world's known coal, oil and gas were burned,
it would lead to 16.2C of global warming, says Michael Greenstone,
the former chief economist to President Obama. He works this out by
adding together current levels of warming to the expected warming
impacts of using up all fossil fuel reserves, as well as the larger
resources which are recoverable technically but not economically,
as well as coal resources. The impact of following this route would
make the world "unrecognizable", he says.
Michael Greenstone, The New
York Times
New climate science
Inter-relationships between adaptation and
mitigation: a systematic literature
review
A new study examines the state of research on the
interaction between climate change adaptation and mitigation,
including trade offs, synergies and conflicts. The results indicate
that there is value in examining the two together since urban areas
in particular have to negotiate trade-offs at different scales.
Climatic
Change
Climate change and the permafrost carbon
feedback
A new study seeks to answer key questions about permafrost
thaw, including how much exists globally, how vulnerable it is, in
what form carbon will be released to the atmosphere, and the
possible impact on climate. The team's research doesn't support the
idea that carbon would be released suddenly in a "bomb". Instead,
they expect a slow, steady increase of the same order as current
emissions from deforestation.
Nature
Other stories
Obama Insists that Climate Change Hurts Health,
Sharpening Debate
Scientific American
Pressing play to learn how climate change can
impact indigenous cultures
Reuters
Arctic research vessel set adrift to study sea ice
decline
The Guardian
Nobel prize winners join call for charities to
divest from fossil fuels
The Guardian
Life above the Alberta tar sands - why we're
taking the government to court
The Guardian
The Arctic has lost so much ice that now people
want to race yachts through it
The Washington Post