2013 SkS Weekly News Roundup #19A

Carbon tax backers quietly forge ahead

Activists are quietly forging ahead with their campaign for carbon taxes despite long odds on Capitol Hill.

Carbon tax backers quietly forge ahead by Ben Geman, E2Wire/The Hill, May 5, 2013


Cherry-picking one survey to discredit a survey

For the purposes of this fact check, we will look at his claim about the 98 percent statistic, which he says “has been repeatedly discounted” and is based just on a survey of 77 people. What’s he talking about?

Cherry-picking one survey to discredit a survey of scientists on climate change by Glenn Kessler, The Fact Checker, Washington Post, May 


Climate change denial, economics and conspiracy theories

Climate change denial, laissez-faire economics, conspiracy theorizing. A new study suggests that these rather diverse belief systems may lie on a continuum. That climate change denialists don’t believe in anthropogenic global warming is a given, but are there other more general indicators of their belief system that include climate change denial as a subset? 

Climate change denial, laissez-faire economics and conspiracy theories: A productive pairing? by Ashutosh Jogalekar, Scientific American, May 6, 2013


Climate change scientist discusses life at center of storm

Michael E. Mann holds undergraduate degrees in physics and applied math, a master's degree in physics and a Ph.D in geology and geophysics.

That's fine for figuring out climate change, but he had to learn politics the hard way.

[Video of interview included.]

Climate change scientist discusses life at center of storm by Hugh Lessig, The Daily Press (Hampton Raods, VA), May 8, 2013


Drive to make energy cleaner has stalled

Average unit of energy is 'basically as dirty' as two decades ago, says new IEA report, despite boom in renewables. Among its recommendations: Encourage move from coal to gas by developing unconventional gas.  

Drive to make energy cleaner has stalled. Shale gas could help. by Nick Grealy, The Christian Science Monitor, May 5, 2013


Hawaii in climate change bullseye

Tropical cyclones of the future may have the Hawaiian islands in their cross hairs, according to a new study of how climate change will alter eastern Pacific Ocean storms near the end of the 21st century.

Hawaii in Climate Change Bullseye by Larry O'Hanlon, Discovery News, May 5, 2013


How the oil and gas boom will change America

Let’s get this out of the way first: Michael Levi’s new book, The Power Surge, is very likely to be one of the best things you’ll read about the ongoing oil and gas boom in the United States.

How the oil and gas boom will change America: An interview with Michael Levi by Brad Plumer, Washington Post, May 5, 2013


Inaction on global warming 'not an option': Angela Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Monday that in the quest for binding international emissions targets to fight global warming, doing nothing is "not an option"

Inaction on global warming 'not an option': Angela Merkel, AFP/The Economic Times, May 6, 2013


Is climate change is a problem for government and oil firms?

Either governments are not serious about climate change or fossil-fuel firms are overvalued.

Governments And Oil Firms Aren't Acting Like Climate Change Is A Problem, The Economist, May 5, 2013


Rich countries drag feet at climate talks

Another week of international climate negotiations ended in Bonn, Germany last Friday, but there was little mid-level bureaucrats could do when world leaders remain in thrall to the fossil fuel industry, say environmentalists.

Rich Countries Drag Feet at Climate Talks by Stpehen Leahy, International Press Service (IPS), May 7, 2013


Scrap fuel subsidies and price CO2, urges World Bank

The world’s nations must scrap fossil fuel subsidies and put a price on emitting carbon dioxide if the planet is to avoid dangerous climate change, according to the president of the World Bank.

Scrap fuel subsidies and price CO2, urges World Bank, Reuters, May 6, 2013


Whither global warming? Has it slowed down?

The so-called warming ‘hiatus’ over the past decade and a half is no reason for complacency on future warming. Mathematics teaches us that 15 years is simply too short a period from which to draw statistically valid conclusions. 

Whither Global Warming? Has It Slowed Down? by David Appell, Yale Forum on Climate Change and the Media, May 7, 2013

Posted by John Hartz on Wednesday, 8 May, 2013


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