March 2014 Climate Change News

March 30 - Former Archbishop Warns Of Climate Crisis
Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, has warned of the impacts of climate change; particularly on developing countries and criticised climate change sceptics. Read more.

March 29 -US To Rein In Methane Emissions.
The Obama administration has pledged to reduce US emissions of methane; a greenhouse gas with many times the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide. Read more.

March 27 - The Case Of The Shrinking Salamander
According to a paper published in the journal Global Change Biology, a warmer and drier climate in North America is likely causing wild salamanders to shrink. Read more.

March 26 - British Brace For Heat And Rain
It seems hot British summers are now the new normal and by 2040 more than half will be hotter than the comparatively extreme temperatures of 2003. Heavy downpours will also become more frequent in the UK. Read more.

March 26 - Scottish Wine?
Scotland is known for whisky and beer - not for wine. That may soon change with warmer conditions allowing a local wine industry to emerge. However, in other parts of the world, viticulture will become more difficult due to changing climate. Read more.

March 23 - 400 PPM CO2 At Mauna Loa
Atmospheric carbon dioxide readings taken at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii hit 400 parts per million for several day in a row recently. Read more.

March 22 - Climate Change Contributing To Increased Turbulence?
A new report from Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) notes a marked increase in turbulence; raising questions whether climate change could also have a significant negative impact on air travel. Read more.

March 22 - Africa's Carbon Emissions To Skyrocket
A new study warns anthropogenic carbon emissions on the African continent are likely to equal its forest fire emissions by 2030 and by that year its organic carbon emissions could account for 50% of the global total. Read more.

March 19 - China Forcing Carbon Emissions Reporting
The Chinese government is now compelling all companies in the country that generated more than 13,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent a year in 2010 to commence reporting their future greenhouse gas emissions. Read more.

March 19 - Many Americans Oblivious To Climate Change Threat
Only around 36% of Americans polled stated they believe global warming will pose a “serious threat to their way of life”. 51% said they worry little about climate change or not at all. Read more.

March 18 - Leaked IPCC Report: Poverty And Economic Shocks
A draft of a new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reportedly states median crop yields will drop by as much as 2 per cent per decade for the rest of the century and annual economic losses will be as much as $1.4 trillion. Read more.

March 18 - Greenland's Zachariae Ice Stream Accelerating
A part of Greenland's ice sheet that had previously been resistant to global warming is succumbing; adding 10 billion tonnes of ice annually into the ocean. Read more.

March 18 - Climate Change Effect On Crops
Wheat, maize and rice crop yields will drop by around 5 per cent for every degree of warming according to a new study; meaning impacts will become more noticeable earlier than previously thought. Read more.

March 15 - There *Is* Consensus
One of the furphies often bandied about is that many scientists in relevant fields do not believe in anthropogenic climate change. However, the US National Academy of Sciences and Britain's Royal Society have issued a joint declaration stating a high degree of certainty that humans are changing the earth's climate. Read more.

March 14 - EU To Rein In Super Greenhouse Gases
Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are used in fridges and air conditioners, have 23,000 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. The European Parliament has voted overwhelmingly in favour of a European Commission proposal to slash the use of HFCs to 79 percent below average 2009-2012 levels by 2030. Read more.
 
March 11 - Richard Branson Blasts Climate Skeptics
Expressing his admiration for Apple's chief executive recently telling climate change skeptics to unload their shares in the company; Virgin Group's Sir Richard Branson has also said these people should "get out of our way". Read more.

March 10 - Australia's 'Angry Summer' Broke 156 Records
Heatwaves and general heat, drought, rainfall extremes and bushfires dominated Australia's 2013/2014 summer - and it's a taste of things to come say the Climate Council. Read more.

March 6 - Obama Takes Aim At Fossil Fuel Subsidies
US President Barack Obama's proposed national budget for fiscal year 2015 includes a raft of measure to deal with issues relating to climate change; including cutting about $4 billion in fossil fuel tax breaks. Read more.

March 5 - The Shortening Arctic Sea Ice Season
Researchers from the University College London say the Arctic sea ice season is shortening by five days per decade on average, with substantial variability region-to-region. Read more

March 4 - 30,000 Year Old Virus Defrosted - And Alive
It would, and probably already has, made the basis of horror movies; but in this case it's fact. Scientists have revived a giant virus that had been locked in the Siberian permafrost for more than 30,000 years. In this case it was harmless, but what if... Read more.

March 4 - Australia's CSIRO/BoM Sound Another Climate Warning
Two of Australia's most respected organisations, the Bureau of Meteorology and CSIRO, state the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is increasing; along with Australia's average temperatures. The bodies state the nation's recent fiery summers were "very unlikely to have been caused by natural variability alone". Read more.

March 3 - EU Flood Bills To Double By 2050
Economic development and climate change will see the damage caused by flooding cost 23.5 billion euros annually by 2050 - more than double the cost of last year; which was already an expensive 12 months compared to previous years. Read more.

March 1 - West Nile Virus To Spread
Due in part to climate change, West Nile virus may be common in parts of southern Canada, and as far north as northern British Columbia by 2080. Read more.

March 1 - Apple No Place For Climate Deniers
Apple shareholders who don't think climate change is an important issue should "get out of the stock," said Apple CEO Tim Cook recently. Read more.

March 1 - Climate Change Preceded Ancient Civilization's Decline.
An abrupt change in climate in northwest India 4,100 years ago marked the beginning of the decline of the Indus Civilisation and the abandoning of mega-cities. Read more.

March 1 - Ragweed Invasion Of Northern Europe
As Europe's climate warms, the physical limits of the invasion of ragweed will extend northwards and include parts of the UK and Denmark. Read more.

March 1 - There Is No Climate Change 'Pause'
Researchers have criticised the recent bandying about of the word "pause" in relation to climate change. They say it is "ill-chosen and even misleading"; particularly given a continued increase of hot extremes. Read more.

March 1 - Australia "Odd, Selfish And Insulting"
Lord Deben, head of the UK Committee on Climate Change, believes the Australian Government's dismantling of climate change efforts are an insult to the sovereignty of other nations. Read more.

March 1 - More Certain Than Ever
A new report from the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the United Kingdom’s Royal Society says the Earth’s average surface air temperature over the last 30 years has been the warmest in 800 years. Read more.