June 2012 global warming headlines and climate change news

June 30 - Western USA : Climate change and fire deficit
Fire activity plummeted during the 20th century in the USA's west due to human intervention; but the accumulation of biomass, "fire deficit and hotter dryer conditions may mean Nature is now in "payback" mode. Read more. 

June 27 - Forests not regenerating after fires
Some forests that would usually regenerate after a fire are not doing so due to rising temperatures. Instead, grasslands and shrub lands are taking their place. Read more. 

June 24 - California's rising sea level threat
The ocean off California's coast could rise by up to over 5 feet by the end of this century compared to sea levels in 2000 according to the U.S. National Research Council. Read more.

June 21 - Rio +20 : fail
An important environmental conference being held in Rio and attended by representatives from many nations has been deemed a failure, with environmental groups claiming it has offered no commitments, no targets and no timetables - with little hope of a stronger result when heads of state and government sign off tomorrow. Read more.

June 18 - Carbon capture cash blown
The Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute has been funded by Australian tax payers and so far reportedly has little to show for the $122 million spent. Read more.

June 16 - Ocean acidity already wreaking havoc
Carbon dioxide saturated oceans become more acidic, threatening all creatures with a shell. The effects of acidic oceans aren't something we can expect to see in the future - it's happening right now. Read more.

June 15 - Coal use climbs
While renewable energy is rapidly moving from the fringe to mainstream, globally speaking the revolution isn't happening fast enough - collectively, we're burning more coal than ever. Read more.

June 13 - Fire risk increasing with climate change
Climate change is likely change future fire patterns globally, with some areas experiencing more frequent and devastating fires within the next few decades. A team of international scientists predict much of Europe and North America will see a marked jump in wildfires by 2100. Read more.

June 12 - Warming forest floors equals more emissions
As our planet heats up, increasing amounts of carbon will be released from soil, which will make the Earth warm even more rapidly. Soil carbon over a decade old is particularly vulnerable to this effect says a recent study. Read more.

June 10 - Thinning Arctic ice boosting plankton growth
Phytoplankton are growing into massive blooms in the Arctic, with some blooms as thick as pea soup, due to thinning ice - a phenomenon that could disrupt the region's food web. Read more

June 2 - U.S tribal lands threatened by rising sea levels.
Native American tribal lands situated on the USA's Louisiana coastline are being washed away as sea levels rise and marshes sink. The community of Isle de Jean Charles is one that is gradually being engulfed by the sea. Read more.

June 1 - Climate change refugees on the increase 
A study from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has determined refugees from armed conflict over the past five years been made worse in part by climate change. The UN says "slow-onset disasters" such as those triggered by climate change are likely to produce movement on a massive scale and place increasing pressure on international systems. Read more

June 1 - Carbon dioxide hits 400ppm in the Arctic.
Carbon dioxide atmospheric concentration at Barrow, Alaska, reached 400 parts per million (ppm) this spring according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) measurements. The NOAA says this is the first time a monthly average measurement for CO2 hit the 400 ppm mark in a remote location. Read more.

June 1 - Geoengineering could result in whiter skies.
The addition of aerosols into the atmosphere to act sunlight screen could have a side effect of making the sky three to five times brighter and much whiter. Read more.