Clouds could be victim of climate change
A new study has cast light on the effect that climate change is likely to have on cloud formation, and the news isn't good. It appears that increasing global temperatures will reduce cloudiness, which will, in turn, lead to even more heating.Read on
Pacific islands may soon be starved of fresh water
Some Pacific islands near the equator may be starved of fresh water by the end of this century if a rain band that affects nearly a billion people in the tropics and subtropics continues to migrate north, according to research published in Nature Geoscience.Read on
Mystery of urban methane emissions
A research team has found that up to half of Los Angeles' total annual methane emissions are unaccounted for by known sources of methane in the area.Read on
Aerosols alter global warming less than previously thought
Tiny airborne pollution particles that can reflect the sun's rays are altering global warming less than previously thought, according to a study published in Science.Read on
Sea ice reinforcing Antarctic ice sheet
Sea ice forming on the base of the Larsen Ice Shelf could be helping to prevent it from breaking up in response to rising temperatures, according to a paper published in Geophysical Research Letters.Read on
Atmospheric cabon dioxide levels reach 2.1-million-year peak
A recent reconstruction of past CO2 levels suggests current atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are the highest in over two millennia.Read on
World rapidly using up its CO2 allowance
The world will exceed its 50-year carbon dioxide targets in less than 20 years, resulting in climate chaos, a new report has claimed.Read on
Antarctic ice shelf collapses
An ice shelf off Antarctica has collapsed and shattered into hundreds of small icebergs, and scientists say global warming is to blame.Read onSea level rise overestimated
The potential rise in sea level from the collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) has been hugely overestimated, according to a new study.Read on
Hurricane damaged forests emit carbon
Damage caused by recurring hurricane activity across the USA is causing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide to be returned to the atmosphere, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.Read onCarbon capture and storage viable
An international team of scientists has demonstrated that carbon dioxide has been stored in natural gas fields for tens of thousands or millions of years, suggesting that underground storage of industrial CO2 is a viable option.Read on
Climate change strain world's waterways
A new study has shown that some of the world’s most important rivers are drying up, in many cases as a result of global climate change.Read onOcean fertilisation not climate change fix
A controversial investigation into the use of ocean fertilisation to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by boosting the growth of photosynthetic plankton has returned disappointing results.Read on
Lights out for climate change
Hundreds of millions of people switched off their lights on Saturday 28th March to take part in WWF’s Earth Hour to call for urgent action on climate change.Read on
UK homes set for green refit
Every British house will be renovated to become more energy efficient and less carbon-intensive, under government proposals to reduce emissions.Read on
Engineers urged to adapt to climate change
In a report, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers has called for changes to the way in which Britain designs buildings, transport and energy infrastructure in order to prepare for sea-level rise and other effects of climate changeRead on
Bigger trees means bigger carbon sink
By identifying, mapping and measuring the trunks of 70,000 trees across Africa, geographers from the University of Leeds Earth and Biosphere Institute have found that tropical forests are soaking up more carbon dioxideRead on
Global warming increases food shortages
Global warming could leave half of the world’s population suffering food shortages if they aren’t helped to adapt, according to a new report in the journal Science.Read onDutch plan to strengthen coastal dykes
The Dutch government has announced a multi-million-pound plan to reinforce dykes and protect freshwater supplies from potential rises in sea level.Read on
Oceans absorb less carbon dioxide
Scientists are concerned that the world’s oceans may be absorbing less carbon dioxide as a result of rising temperatures. Read on
Aborigines suffer most from climate change
Australia’s indigenous population will suffer disproportionately from the impact of climate change, according to a new report published in the Medical Journal of Australia.Read onOcean salinity on the rise
Evidence showing that human activity is changing the salinity of the world’s oceans is beginning to emerge in subtropical regions, according to new researchRead on
Algae to be used to make ‘green oil’
The Carbon Trust is to contribute up to £6million to a UK research and development initiative that aims to find a commercially viable method of producing a new biofuel made from algaeRead on
Maldives to buy a new homeland
The new president of the Maldives is preparing to buy a new home – for the country’s entire 300,000-strong populationRead on
Humans suppressed wildfires, until now
In the past, the global distribution of wildfires has been influenced by the climate, but research in Nature Geoscience has shown that, during the past 200 years, humans exerted a far stronger influence – until now.Read onWorld's peatlands left high and dry
New research published in Nature Geoscience has warned that rising temperatures could dry these areas out, causing them to release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming.Read on
Greenhouse effect keeps Spain cool
Thousands of reflective white greenhouses in southeastern Spain are having a cooling effect on local air temperatures, according to new research published in the Journal of Geophysical Research – Atmospheres.Read on
Melting glacier is disaster for kashmir
The Kolahoi glacier, the Kashmir valley’s only permanent water source, could completely disappear within the next ten years, according to scientists who visited the area in AugustRead onArctic sea ice is second lowest on record
The area of ice covering the North Pole has shrunk to its second-lowest levels since satellites were first used to survey the ice in 1979Read on
High temperatures inhibit CO2 absorption
As global warming heats up the Earth, plants and soil may absorb less carbon dioxide, according to new researchRead on
Cloud of uncertainty dispelled
The accuracy of climate models has received a significant boost thanks to new research into the relationship between clouds and aerosolsRead onTyphoons helping to sink carbon
A tropical storm in Taiwan buries as much carbon beneath the sea as the island’s annual rains combined, says research aimed at determining how much carbon is removed from the atmosphere as mountains are weatheredRead on
Pristine forests are better storehouses
The carbon storage capacity of untouched forests has been underestimated by the world’s climate change experts, according to scientists at the Australian National UniversityRead on
Greenland ice sheet and sea level rise
A group of climate scientists have discovered that during the past 20 years, the movement of the vast Greenland ice sheet has actually slowed by around ten per cent, despite frequent periods of acceleration Read onIcebergs scrape life out of seabed
Antarctic marine species are being threatened as increasing numbers of icebergs scrape their fragile seafloor habitats, according to new British Antarctic Survey (BAS) researchRead on
Fears for forest funding
Moves to fund initiatives aimed at protecting the world’s forests in order to slow global climate change could simply fuel corruption and regional conflict, according to a coalition of NGOsRead on
US waters fail the acid test
A survey of seawater off the Pacific coast of North America has found that it’s considerably more acidic than expected, raising fears for the future of hundreds of the region’s marine speciesRead onCarbon dioxide high
Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere have hit a record high, according to a new US report Read on
Glaciers releasing chemical cocktails
Frozen stores of the pesticide DDT are leaking from melting Antarctic glaciers, according to a new study Read on
World’s water cooling system concern
Scientists studying the Southern Ocean have found that it’s becoming less salty, which could have a big effect on the world’s climate and ocean currentsRead on
Link between soot and climate change
Soot may be a much greater contributor to global warming than previously thought, according to a new report published in Nature GeoscienceRead onGlobal sea levels set to rise
Warming temperatures and melting ice caps will cause average global sea levels to rise much higher than the forecasts published in the IPCC assessments, according to new researchRead on
Carbon targets still too high
A group of the world’s leading climate scientists has warned that international carbon targets aren’t low enough and must be slashed in order to avoid disastrous consequencesRead on
Experts deny climate link to 2007 floods
The extreme floods that struck England last July weren’t a result of global warming, but a remarkable demonstration of the unpredictability of the nation’s weather, according to a report from the Centre for Ecology and HydrologyRead on
Analysis sheds light on Antarctic melting
Analysis of boulders deposited by glaciers in Antarctica has shown that the rate at which the icecap is melting has increased dramatically in recent years, according to research published in the journal GeologyRead on
World’s glaciers melting at fastest rate yet
The world’s glaciers are melting at record rates, threatening the lives of the millions of people who depend on them for their water supplies, according to the latest figures from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)Read onGPS: an atmosphere thermometer
Two UK meteorologists have developed a new method of monitoring the effects of climate change in the Earth’s atmosphere using GPS satellites.Read on
Arctic ice in rapid retreat
An area twice the size of France has melted from the Arctic ice cap during the past two years, according to research by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in Paris, France, and this year could see further losses.Read on
Crop losses set to affect world’s poorest regions
Many of the world’s poorest regions could face severe crop losses in the next two decades unless steps are taken to adapt agriculture to a changing climate, according to new research published in the journal Science. Read onCarbon neutral chemical production
Using biotechnology to make certain commonly used chemicals could cut the amount of carbon emitted during their production by as much as 100 per cent, according to a new studyRead onLooking back to 2007, a year of extremes
Meteorological records for last year show that 2007 was a year of extreme weather, with many average temperature and precipitation records being exceeded Read on
Protecting peatlands could cut emissions
Cleaning, draining and burning peat bogs emits the equivalent of ten per cent of global emissions from fossil fuels, according to a UNEP reportRead onTropics getting wider
Global climate change has caused the tropics to widen by between two and 4.8 degrees of latitude since 1979, new research carried out by US scientists suggestsRead on
Domestic turbines a load of hot air
Micro-wind turbines for domestic electricity generation could create more carbon dioxide than they save, according to the Building Research Establishment TrustRead on
UK's carbon emissions rising
A new report suggests that the UK’s apparent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is based on incomplete figures that mask a substantial increase in recent yearsRead on
Isle of Wight aims for carbon neutrality
The council in charge of the Isle of Wight has announced plans to power the island entirely by locally produced green energyRead onMass extinctions predicted
Half of all plant and animal species could be forced into extinction by rising global temperatures, mirroring five climate-triggered mass extinctions of the past, according to new researchRead on
Hard facts on cement industry emissions
The cement industry has largely escaped the attention of the world’s media and environmental campaigners despite contributing a higher percentage of global carbon emissions than the aviation industryRead onScientists to 'scrub' the atmosphere clean
Two scientists from the USA’s Columbia University in New York have identified a method of ‘scrubbing’ carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphereRead on
Climate 'mega disaster' hits
Dire predictions for the impact of climate change are being realised following a record number of climate-related disasters this year, according to the UN’s emergency relief co-ordinator, Sir John HolmesRead on
Climate change laid bare
Volunteers come together to take part in a photo shoot in order to draw attention to global warming, its effects on Swiss glaciers and the vulnerability of the human race in the face of climate changeRead on
Greenland approaches tipping point
The Greenland icecap will melt during the next three centuries, flooding coastal regions, if one of eight crucial tipping points, identified by a group of scientists, is passedRead onUK's wetland birds feeling the heat
Overall numbers of ducks, geese, swans and wading birds spending winter in the UK have doubled since the 1970s, according to a new report, but the winter numbers of seven other species are in declineRead onIrrigation keeping California cool
A new study in the USA, conducted by scientists from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, has shown that intensive irrigation in rural areas lowers local air temperaturesRead on
Chip fat to oil McDonald's delivery chain
McDonald’s is to run its UK fleet of delivery vehicles largely on old chip fatRead on
Sun activity and climate change: no link
A new study of solar activity has removed the central pillar supporting arguments that human activity isn’t responsible for global warmingRead on
Melting icebergs offsetting emissions
Melting ice masses that have broken away from Antarctica are acting as nutrient-rich islands that support a wealth of marine life, including carbon-dioxide-absorbing phytoplankton, according to a new study Read on‘Cyber carbon footprint’ as bad as airlines
The UK government is considering new proposals to reduce the ‘cyber carbon footprint’ caused by the building, running and disposal of computers in a bid to meet its carbon-reduction targetsRead on77,000 annual global warming deaths in Asia-Pacific
A recent report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that around 77,000 deaths a year in Asia and the Pacific region can be directly or indirectly attributed to global warming Read on
Vatican looks to heavenly body for power
The Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic church, is doing its bit for the environmentRead onOceans and plants consuming less carbon
Two independent studies by British scientists have shown that the world’s natural carbon absorbers – the oceans and plants – are becoming less efficient at mopping up emissions because of global warmingRead onFight climate change, save lives, says WHO
Nations that combat climate change and reduce carbon dioxide emissions would benefit from a cleaner, greener environment, as well as better health prospects, according to the World Health Organization (WHO)Read on
Marine mammals under threat
Climate change is threatening to force a number of marine mammal species towards extinction, according to a new study from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS)Read on
Wither our woodlands?
If the current warming trend continues, some of Britain’s best-loved plants could face extinction by the middle of this century, according to new research.Read onFlushing away the problem
Human waste could soon be powering diesel engines and boilersRead onAward for climate scientist
One of the first scientists to recognise the threat of global climate change has been awarded WWF’s Duke of Edinburgh Conservation MedalRead onArctic to melt by 2040
The Arctic could be totally ice-free during summer months within 30 years, according to scientistsRead onTree planting not a carbon cure-all
Attempts to mitigate global climate change by planting trees may be doing more harm than good, according to a recent studyRead onOceans storing climate catastrophe
Heat being stored in the North Atlantic Ocean could eventually be released into the atmosphere, resulting in a dramatic rise in temperatureRead onTribal climate conference
Leaders from more than 50 Native American tribes joined politicians, climate scientists and NGOs to discuss climate changeRead onLast year Britain's hottest
Preliminary figures released by the Met Office suggest that 2006 was the UK’s hottest year on record Read onWarmer world: insect heaven
The good news is that scientists have uncovered an animal group that should thrive as global temperatures rise. The bad news is it’s insectsRead onComputers predict more extremes
Global warming will bring an increase in frequency of extreme weather events, according to a new analysisRead onNo gold medals for UK
The UK needs to do more if it is to realistically reduce its impact on global climate changeRead onPoll identifies least green britons
Car salesmen from the West Midlands are the least eco-friendly people in Britain, according to a recent pollRead on
Reefs at risk
New system predicts how much damage a coral reef is likely to sustain during a stormRead onCarbon market booming
According to a new report by the World Bank, the global carbon market has doubled in value since 2005Read on
Polar explorers get royal send off
Polar explorers setting off to measure the thickness of the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice will today (5 February 2009) attend a farewell reception at Clarence House held by HRH The Prince of WalesRead on
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