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Dramatic biodiversity decline from climate change to common plants and animals

Submitted by takver on Sat, 05/18/2013 - 1:49pm
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Hawaii: Climate change fuelling more Hurricanes by end of century

Submitted by takver on Mon, 05/13/2013 - 1:41pm
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A recent study looking into regional tropical cyclone formation conditions in the east and central Pacific has projected that 2 to 3 times more tropical cyclones (Hurricanes) are likely to hit Hawaii in the later part of this century.

Australia: Coal ship boarded by Greenpeace activists off the Great Barrier Reef

Submitted by takver on Thu, 04/25/2013 - 6:55am
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Greenpeace activists board coal ship on Great Barrier ReefGreenpeace activists board coal ship on Great Barrier ReefIn a climate change protest over Australian coal exports, Greenpeace activists boarded a bulk coal carrier while navigating through the Great Barrier Reef on 23 April 2013. The ship, the MV Meister, had just loaded coal from Abbot Point, located 25km north of the town of Bowen on the central Queensland coast. Abbot Point coal loading facility is being expanded, with four new coal terminals proposed to be built, part of the development of 9 new coal terminals for the Great Barrier Reef Coast.

Related: Greenpeace petition - We stand in solidarity for action against coal | Queensland's Coal addiction - talk by Guy Pearse | Greenpeace activists say Coal ship highlights 'Reef in Danger' | Global Warming imperils coral reefs: 2 degrees warming is too hot say scientists

Philippines: Climate campaigners expose dirty coal, demand shift to renewable energy

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 04/24/2013 - 7:30am
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Philippines protest on Earth Day 2013Philippines protest on Earth Day 2013Philippines, 22 April 2013. 300-strong climate activists and anti-coal advocates stormed the Department of Energy to voice out their opposition to coal mines and coal-fired power plants promoted by the government and to launch the group’s Campaign Against Dirty Energy and for People’s Access to Safe, Renewable and Democratic Energy Alternatives.

This is in celebration of Earth Day and the group’s National Day of Action against Coal.

Led by the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ), the groups brought body bags, gas masks and paper-made Philippine Cockatoos wearing masks to avoid the pollution from coal and highlighted how coal damages not only the environment and biodiversity but our lives, literally taking lives -, thus, the statement: COAL KILLS.

Video: Iraq faces water scarcity, floods, desertification and climate disruption after decades of war

Submitted by takver on Wed, 04/17/2013 - 1:40pm
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Iraq has suffered decades of war with much of the social and agricultural infrastructure being damaged and now poorly maintained. Climate change was already impacting the country under Saddam Hussein with desertification and reduced river flow rates. Climate impacts of desertification, water scarcity, flood damage from more intense rain when it falls, are all taking their toll on food production. The legacy of decades of war, UN sanctions and a dictatorial regime have only added and multiplied these impacts.

Antarctic Peninsula: nonlinear intensification of melt unprecedented in last 1000 years

Submitted by takver on Mon, 04/15/2013 - 10:29am
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James Ross island, Antarctic PeninsulaJames Ross island, Antarctic PeninsulaThis study analysing an Antarctic Peninsula ice core from James Ross island has determined that there has been a ten fold increase in melt intensity over the last 600 years. I reported recently that the Antarctic Peninsula summer melt season prolonged by global warming according to research from the British Antarctic Survey.

"The warming has occurred in progressive phases since about AD 1460, but intensification of melt is nonlinear, and has largely occurred since the mid-twentieth century. Summer melting is now at a level that is unprecedented over the past 1,000 years. We conclude that ice on the Antarctic Peninsula is now particularly susceptible to rapid increases in melting and loss in response to relatively small increases in mean temperature." concludes the study.

Winter Chill: Fruit and nut trees feeling the heat of global warming

Submitted by takver on Sun, 04/14/2013 - 5:30am
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Climate change affecting safe winter chill for orchard trees. A new study says that global warming will impact fruit and nut tree productivity in Australia and globally. Most fruit and nut trees have evolved in cool temperate climates and go through a dormant winter phase and require a certain amount of winter chill to trigger their spring growth and fruit production. But with strong trends in many regions for warming winter minimum temperatures and reduced number of 'winter chill' days, the heat is on our orchards. 

Temperatures are projected to rise in most parts of the world with winter minimum temperatures projected to rise most rapidly. Our orchards have been established taking account of current climate conditions, which are now rapidly changing due to greenhouse gas pollution contributing to climate change. This will have a major impact on costs and productivity of fruit and nut orchards, an industry estimated to be worth about US$93 billion globally in 2005.

Antarctic Octopus genetics reveals past West Antarctic Ice sheet collapse

Submitted by takver on Tue, 04/09/2013 - 11:30pm
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It seems the genetics of the Antarctic Octopus is showing us how fragile the West Antarctic Ice sheet (WAIS) may be with global warming. It raising questions about the ice sheet susceptibility to collapse.

U.S.: San Fransisco protests turn up heat on Keystone tar sands pipeline at Obama dinner

Submitted by takver on Thu, 04/04/2013 - 3:59pm
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San Fransisco tells Obama NO Keystone Pipeline: Photo by Rose Braz, Center for Biological DiversitySan Fransisco tells Obama NO Keystone Pipeline: Photo by Rose Braz, Center for Biological DiversityOver 1000 people are reported to have turned up to keep climate change action in the spotlight and to greet President Barack Obama at a $32,500-per-person dinner in Pacific Heights, San Fransisco, to keep the pressure on for him to reject the Keystone XL pipeline proposal which would see tar sands oil flow from Alberta Canada to the Texas refineries on the Gulf Coast.

The protest even includied a brass band (youtube video), to provide a festival atmosphere.

Related Protest: "No XL Pipeline" Protest Near Obama Fundraiser on the Peninsula

Seattle protestors lock Canadian Consulate in Tar sands protest

Submitted by takver on Thu, 04/04/2013 - 1:16pm
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Protests against the Tar Sands are escalating. In Seattle two protestors U-locked their necks to the doors of the Canadian consulate in Solidarity with Tar Sands Blockade and Idle No More and in Protest of West Coast Tar Sands Projects.The activists were arrested and charged with criminal trespass.

The activists issued a media release via Rising Tide North America. You can contribute to Rising Tide Seattle bail fund. See photos on Flickr, and a short  Ustream video coverage.

Washington and Oregon residents are also resisting proposed increases in coal exports from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming to Asia. See: Seattle Idle No More: Lummi people reject Cherry Point coal loader | Salem Oregon Sounded the Alarm on coal exports.