April 2016 Global Warming Headlines
Climate Change Threatens Productivity
Hotter working conditions associated with climate change threatens to erase more than $2.0 trillion in annual productivity by 2030 according to a new UN report, "Climate Change and Labour: Impacts of Heat in the Workplace."
Little Doubt About Great Barrier Reef Bleaching Cause
Around 93% of Australia's Great Barrier reef has experienced some degree of bleaching. The event was made 175 times likelier by human-caused climate change. Most unsettling is that it could be a regular phenomenon in just 18 years.
More Coal Power Cutbacks In China
China's government has announced a moratorium on construction of new coal-fired power plants in areas with surplus power. Even some already approved plants in a number of provinces won't be permitted to commence construction until at least 2018.
Polar Bears' Perilous Swims
Tracking of 100 polar bears in Hudson Bay and the Beaufort Sea showed nearly 70 percent swam more than 49 kilometres - a 25% increase over 2004. This has been attributed to less sea ice to support the bears. For old and very young bears, marathon swims can result in death and even fit bears can lose a lot of their condition.
Earth Reaches "Peak Carbon"
Professor James Curran says global atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases are such that the Earth's ability to absorb ever-increasing emissions may have been comprised. In other words, we've reached “peak carbon”.
175 Countries Sign Climate Agreement
175 countries have signed the Paris Agreement, which was brokered last year. The U.N. states the event marked the larges number of nations to sign an international document in a single day.
Has Climate Change Made Weather In The USA More Agreeable?
A new report suggest the reason why the US public have been rather lackluster in demanding stronger climate change policies is because weather conditions have “improved” for Americans over the past four decades. Not everyone agrees.
From Flood To Drought In Months
After experiencing the heaviest rainfall in more than a century less than 6 months ago; Chennai in India is now battling water shortages and a heatwave.
93% Of Great Barrier Reef Affected By Bleaching
The bleaching event on Australia's Great Barrier Reef is worse than thought. Only 7 per cent of this natural wonder has been left untouched by bleaching caused by the loss of algae from the corals due to significantly higher than average sea temperatures.
NZ Climate Policy A "Bloody Waste Of Time"
A Greenpeace NZ climate campaigner says a report from the Morgan Foundation that claims New Zealand's government has allowed businesses to buy fraudulent carbon credits from Russia and Ukraine is proof the country's emissions trading scheme is a "total bloody waste of time".
Bill Nye Mocked By Sarah Palin
Popular American science and educator, climate change activist and mechanical engineer Bill Nye (aka The Science Guy) has been mocked by Former Alaska Govenor, Sarah Palin. Ms. Palin said "Bill Nye is as much a scientist as I am," and that "He’s a kids’ show actor, he’s not a scientist"
Record Greenland Ice Melt
12 per cent of Greenland's ice sheet was melting earlier this week, nearly a month earlier than previous dates where more than 10% was recorded as doing so.
Australians Threatened By Rising Oceans
The majority of Australians live reasonably near the coastline and around 80 per cent of the population that does could be threatened by the impacts of rising sea levels by the end of this century. A set of maps indicate what this inundation may look like.
Cloud Cooling Effects Overstated
A NASA survey has found the cooling effects of clouds have been overstated and increased cloud won't slow climate change. The survey has also concluded that temperature increases could occur 25% faster than previously estimated.
Melting Ice Affecting Earth's Rotation?
Changes in Earth’s climate may be slightly moving the location of the planet’s spin axis, or axis of daily rotation; with much of this effect due to the melting of polar ice and the resulting redistribution of mass.
Australia First Paris Climate Agreement Signatory?
Once a climate change action recalcitrant, it seems Australia may be among the first countries to sign the Paris agreement on climate change. The agreement seeks to limit global warming to "well below" 2C, aiming for 1.5C.
White House : Climate Change A Grave Threat
A 300 page report from the White House says climate change could be responsible for thousands to tens of thousands of additional premature deaths per year across the United States by the end of this century.
Doctors Call For An End To Coal
Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA) have sent an open letter to Victoria's state Premier calling for an end to coal fired power generation in the Latrobe Valley.
The Moral Dilemma - To Have Children Or Not
Does climate change make it immoral to have kids? One writer's perspective on this controversial issue.
Massive Australian Coal Project Leases Approved
Australia's Queensland Government has approved mining leases for the $21.7 billion Carmichael coal mine and rail project in the Galilee Basin; a move that Greenpeace has labeled as appalling.
NJ Growing Season Extends
Growers parts of New Jersey are seeing extended seasons due to climate change. Spring is starting around two weeks earlier and ending two weeks later.
Fungi As A Climate Change Marker
Two types of fungi respond differently to climate change and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory now has a method to detect these types from satellite images of forest canopies, which will help gauge the potential impacts of climate change.
Global Warming Impacting Birth Rates
Global warming has led to lesser sex frequency and consequently decreased birth rates in the United States.
Climate Change's Varying Impact On Birds
380 American bird species and approximately 145 European bird species were affected by climate change between 1980 and 2010; with some thriving and others experiencing significant decline.
Bolivia's 2nd Biggest Lake Dries Up
Lake Poopo in Bolivia is now at only 2% of its original water level nad more than three-quarters of species in and around the lake have disappeared. The area has been declared a disaster zone
Pueblo Civilisation Collapse And Climate Change
Four major phases of the Pueblo civilisation's societal collapse all coincided with periods of climate change.
Sea Level Rise Predictions Doubled
Climate scientists warn sea levels could rise 50 cm (20 inches) more this century than anticipated due to ice in the Arctic melting much faster than previously estimated.
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