Climate Change News
Below are news items on climate change – many with relevance to aviation
Globally March, April and May were the hottest since records began in 1880
NOAA data for combined global land and ocean surface temperatures show this May was the hottest on record. This April was also the hottest on record. So was March. The 7 months before (Aug 2009 to Jan 2010) all had ocean surface temperatures in the top 4 or 5. The global land surface temperatures for May and the March–May period were the warmest on record, at 1.04 °C and 1.22 °C above the 20th century average, respectively. So much for the climate sceptics....
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Committee on Climate Change urge new UK climate policies
The CCC has produced its 2nd report to Parliament. Last year UK greenhouse gas emissions fell -8.6%, mainly due to the recession but also because of increased fossil fuel prices. The fall was NOT due to any progress on reducing emissions. The UK needs a step change in policies. The CCC says that as our emissions are 8% down, the UK could go for a 42% cut compared to 1990 emisssions (rather than the current 34% target) by 2020.
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UN climate deal draft could curb US emissions and poor nations’ growth
A new draft negotiating text, prepared by the UN secretariat at the close of two weeks of climate talks in Bonn, proposes that rich countries cut their emissions between 25-40% by 2020, but needs poor countries to 'peak' emissions by 2020. It outlines a goal of cutting global emissions by "at least 50-85% from 1990 levels by 2050". Rich countries specifically would have to cut at least 50-95% from 1990 levels by 2050". More ambitious than Copenhagen.
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New UN climate chief, Christiana Figueres, calls for more ambition
The incoming head of the UN climate convention, Christiana Figueres who will take over from Yvo de Boer, has said rich nations must pledge bigger emission cuts if climate change is to be tackled effectively. Major differences are evident between different groups of countries, with developing countries asking for more ambitious cuts from the West. The inadequate and partial deal at Copenhagen put the earth on course for a 3 - 4 degree C rise in temperature.
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Chris Huhne backs European plan to raise target for emission cuts
The Government has promised to support a European plan to raise the target for cutting greenhouse gases - to 30% by 2020. Chris Huhne urged other EU members to raise the target from 20%. He said global climate change is the biggest challenge the world faces and the EU should demonstrate leadership. An EC report just published shows a 30% cut could be met by imposing a tighter cap on industrial emissions and raising the price of CO2 allowances. (Times)
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Coalition: Campaigners believe war on climate change will be stymied
The parties are divided over nuclear power, offshore oil drilling and many other green issues - and critics say that will hinder the fight against global warming. The Lib Dem manifesto promised to cut UK emissions by 40% by 2020, while the Tories are committed to a 34% reduction. The Lib Dems are opposed to all airport expansion and want funding to be diverted from roads to rail. The Tories have left the door open to a new airport in the South-east. (Independent)
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Proposed US climate change legislation gets mixed reaction
US senators John Kerry and Joe Lieberman have announced the American Power Act - climate change legislation they say will create jobs and achieve energy security while reducing carbon pollution by 17% in 2020 and by over 80% in 2050. Aviation is mentioned, but aims to use the measures to be undetaken through IATA, and avoid any duplication of taxes - so airlines taxed in one country would not be taxed also in the USA.
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Europe to examine case for bigger CO2 cuts
Europe's climate commissioner Connie Hedegaard is to set out the case for a unilateral 30% EU cut in CO2. At the end of May she will unveil research examining the consequences to Europe's economy of outdoing the current 20% target. She warned the fall in CO2 during the recession meant a 20% cut would not drive the clean energy innovation Europe needed. The EU needed to do something to drive up the carbon price in order to drive invention. (BBC)
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March aviation CO2 data shows the UK has by far the highest emissions in Europe
Data for CO2 emissions from the European aviation industry for March show that the UK has by far the largest emissions of any country in the EU. UK aviation emitted 4,591,019 tonnes of CO2, with Germany 2nd with 3,380,864 tonnes, and then France at 2,437,198 tonnes. (UK is 25% of the EU total). Heathrow is responsible for by far the most CO2 - in March, 1,739,734 tonnes of CO2, with Frankfurt 2nd at 1,133,326 tonnes, and Charles de Gaulle at 985,933 tonnes.
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Iceland volcano gives warming world chance to debunk climate sceptic myths
Climate sceptics' favourite theory that volcanoes produce more CO2 than human activity has exploded in their faces with Eyjafjallajokull eruption. The US Geological Survey states: "Human activities release more than 130 times the amount of CO2 emitted by volcanoes" and all volcanoes – submarine as well as subaerial. Extrapolated over a year, the emissions would place the volcano 47th to 75th in the world table of emitters on a country-by-country basis.