The world has seriously underestimated the amount of heat soaked up by our oceans over the past 25 years, researchers say. Their study suggests that the seas have absorbed 60% more than previously thought. They say it means the Earth is more sensitive to fossil fuel emissions than estimated. This could make it much more difficult to keep global warming within safe levels this century.
BBC 1st Nov 2018 read more »
Nature 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Fifteen environmental protesters, who blocked the roads outside the Houses of Parliament in the first stage of an “escalating campaign of civil disobedience” have been arrested. More than 1,000 people from the newly formed Extinction Rebellion group issued a declaration of rebellion in London’s Parliament Square on Wednesday in an effort to draw attention to the unfolding climate emergency.
Guardian 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Molly Scott Cato: Why I’m turning from law-maker to law-breaker to try to save the planet. Direct action and civil disobedience are now needed to force governments to see that our survival as a species is at risk. A spur towards direct action against this government and in defence of our planet conveniently appeared this week. As finance speaker for the Green party, I had called for an emergency budget for the climate, and the party issued a challenge: if the budget offers a single pound to climate-wrecking projects it will have failed. Well, the chancellor didn’t mention climate change once in his statement, and, rather than action to avert climate breakdown, we saw the chancellor accelerate it. He threw £30bn at road building while freezing fuel duty for the ninth year running, meaning this now amounts to a £9bn tax giveaway a year. There was also a sneaky £3bn tax break for oil and gas companies in the North Sea, through the removal of “tax barriers” to investment. This was just the enticement we needed to take the government on.
Guardian 31st Oct 2018 read more »
Vital roads, bridges, rail lines and hospitals in the Glasgow area are at significant risk of being damaged or closed by climate change, a major study has found. The study, thought to be the most in-depth carried out for any city region in the UK, said that by 2050 the area will be hit by far more powerful storms, by regular heatwaves and by heavy winter flooding, affecting up to 1.8 million people. That could see hospitals struggling to cope with abnormal temperatures or flooding, long stretches of motorway closed by floods, the West Highland line at risk of closure from coastal erosion and bridges at greater risk from gale-force winds. The review by Climate Ready Clyde, a coalition of six councils, transport agencies, universities and government agencies, covers an area of about 3,400 km2 (1,300 sq miles) and includes major towns such as Hamilton, Motherwell, East Kilbride and Paisley. It was published on Wednesday to mark UN World Cities day. With findings likely to be replicated across the UK, it has warned that failing to adapt and prepare for climate change could cost the Glasgow region several hundred million pounds a year by the 2050s from storm, flooding and heatwave impacts.
Guardian 31st Oct 2018 read more »