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13 of 14 warmest years on record occurred in 21st
century - UN
A report from the World Meteorological Organisation has
confirmed that 2013 was the sixth-hottest year on record, and
stated that "many of the extreme events of 2013 were consistent
with what we would expect as a result of human-induced climate
change." Reuters discusses the report here, under the headline "Global warming
not stopped, will go on for centuries". The FT has a more thorough
discussion of the report, and some of its findings, here.
The Guardian
Climate and energy news:
Dissent among scientists over key climate impact
report
The BBC preview the forthcoming IPCC report, with some
useful information on what the report will contain. The report will
provide more detail on the impacts of climate change, have more
emphasis on adaptation and managing the risks of climate change.
The BBC article suggests there is "dissent" about the report from
researchers involved, although this appears to be based on the
views of only one person, economics researcher Richard Tol, who as
well as being an IPCC author is associated with a climate skeptic
thinktank.
BBC News
£310m invested in UK wind
turbines
Siemens is to invest £310 million into wind turbine
manufacturing and installation facilities in Yorkshire. Hull will
see the construction of a port facility to construct and service
offshore wind turbines. The government has welcomed the
news.
BBC News
El Nino likely in 2014, says Australian Bureau of
Meteorology
"Climate models show an increased chance of a 2014 El Nino
weather event, said Australia's bureau of meteorology, leading to
possible droughts in Southeast Asia and Australia and floods in
South America, which could hit key rice, wheat and sugar crops." An
El Nino would push global average temperatures up.
Reuters
Energy firms need investigating, say consumers and
firms
Which? and the Federation of Small Businesses are calling
for regulators to investigate the energy market, ahead of a report
from Ofgem, the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition and
Markets Authority which will review how the market works. A full
competition enquiry into the sector is a possibility. The energy
companies have published their own, pre-emptive report, as the
Guardian reports here.
BBC News
Climate and energy comment:
Climate change could leave another 50 million
people facing hunger by 2050
The climate change commissioner for the Philippines writes
in the Guardian: "Climate change is making people hungry. It will
change what we all eat. Extreme weather events such as typhoon
Haiyan, unpredictable seasons, increasing temperatures and rising
sea levels are already causing chaos for farmers and fisherfolk.
Food prices are going up. Food quality is going down. By 2050, 50
million more people - equivalent to the population of Spain - will
be at risk of going hungry because of climate change."
The Guardian
World famous climate project forced to scrounge
for funding
The Keeling Curve project, which measures the ongoing rise
in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, is struggling for funding,
Grist reports. This article provides a brief introduction to the
project's history, and its uncertain future.
Grist
New climate science:
Spatial variability of waves within a marine
energy site
A new study aims to more accurately measure, and predict,
the wave conditions within wave energy test sites. This is crucial
factor for knowing how much energy can be produced and should
provide a significant boost in the vital quest to harness wave
power as a viable renewable energy source for the future, say the
researchers.
Energy
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