Global Climate Change


Many nations

Key Climate Meeting Under Way

The United Nations Conference on Climate Change, #COP21, got under way Nov. 30 in Paris with a host of world leaders participating and a huge security force deployed. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a global solar energy alliance that will be headquartered in India.

Pollution Prevention Grant Aids NYC Restaurants

"This project will help restaurant owners reduce food waste and reduce the use of pesticides and chemicals, while also conserving energy and water. By taking steps to eliminate waste at the source, New York City restaurants can become models for sustainable practices," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck.

ArcticNet Scientific Director Wins 2015 Northern Science Award

Dr. Louis Fortier, scientific director of ArcticNet, was awarded the 2015 Northern Science Award on Nov. 18, Polar Knowledge Canada announced.

WHO Calls for Strong Climate Agreement at UN Conference

WHO estimates that climate change is already causing tens of thousands of deaths per year from shifting patterns of disease, extreme weather events, and from the degradation of air quality, food and water supplies, and sanitation.

INTERPOL Meeting Highlights Environmental Crimes

Experts participating in the Security and Environmental Crime conference issued a 15-point call for action to raise awareness and encourage greater involvement by the global community.

President Obama Rejects TransCanada's Keystone Project

He said the proposed pipeline "would not make a meaningful long-term contribution to our economy" and that "shipping dirtier crude oil into our country would not increase America's energy security."

$20 Million Carbon XPRIZE Contest Under Way

Registration opened Sept. 29 in the contest, which will last 4.5 years, with competing teams challenged to develop breakthrough technologies that convert the most carbon dioxide into one or more products with the highest net value.

UN Secretary-General Praises Climate Action Plan Response

The action plans of 147 countries will be the basis of the agreement expected to be reached at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP21, to be held in Paris in December.



Washington Ecology Launches Greenhouse Gases Rule

The Washington Department of Ecology this week began writing a rule to require the state's largest polluters to reduce their greenhouse gases and considering that businesses and organizations responsible for producing 100,000 metric tons or more of greenhouse gases be covered under the rule.

The new sculpture awaits the recipient of the 2016 Stockholm Water Prize.

Deadline Near for 2016 Stockholm Water Prize Nominations

They are due by Sept. 25 for the prize, which has been bestowed by the Stockholm International Water Institute for the past 25 years for extraordinary water achievements.

General Mills announced its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its "entire value chain – from farm to fork to landfill – over the next 10 years."

General Mills Sets GHG Emissions Goal

"Climate plays a significant role in the long-term viability of our business," says Jerry Lynch, vice president and chief sustainability officer. "For example, changes in climate have an impact on weather conditions such as drought, floods, and excessive heat, all of which can decrease yields on our raw materials like corn, oats, and wheat."

Denali is the highest mountain in North America.

Mount McKinley Renamed Denali Ahead of Obama's Visit

The president is scheduled to visit Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell signed the order renaming North America's highest mountain on Aug. 28.

Panama Canal Authority Suspends Draft Restriction

Caused by El Nino conditions, the restriction had been set to begin Sept. 8.

World Nuclear Association Hails Japanese Reactor's Restart

"The restart of Sendai unit 1 puts Japan on the road to recovery. Going forward, it is essential that the nuclear industry works harder at building better relationships with the public as well as improving our performance and future technology offerings," said Agneta Rising, the association's director general.

The proposed rule will encounter fierce opposition from coal companies, coal states

Coal States' Governors Attack President's Climate Plan

"I am extremely disappointed and frustrated by the huge changes the EPA made from the proposed rule. What is being proposed for Kentucky is disastrous – disastrous for our declining coal economy and equally disastrous for our very important manufacturing economy," Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said.

The ISO greenhouse gas standard has reached the voting stage.

ISO Greenhouse Gas Standard Reaches Voting Stage

"The key areas of focus for ISO 14064-1 will be accounting for indirect greenhouse gas emissions and the linkage between that and renewable energy, which is a very challenging area," said Tom Baumann, chair of the ISO TC 207/SC7 committee that undertook the revision.

The 2015 Alaska fire season is the third-largest season since reliable records began in 1950. More than 4.75 million acres have burned, according to NOAA.

Very Large Fires All Across Southern Alaska

The 2015 Alaska fire season is already the third-largest season since reliable records began in 1950, and more than 4.75 million acres have burned.

Wildfires Cause 13,000 to Evacuate Saskatchewan Homes

The Saskatchewan Environment Ministry reported July 6 that there have been 574 wildfires during this fire season -- more than twice as many as the 205 at the same point last year.

EPA Moving to Regulate Aircraft Emissions

The items EPA issued June 10 "lay the necessary foundation for the development and implementation of a domestic aircraft standard, in accordance with U.S. law and the ICAO process," according to the agency's announcement.

Stricter Ozone Standards Could Pose Challenges for Scientific Measurements and Models

Stricter Ozone Standards Could Pose Challenges for Scientific Measurements and Models

With the EPA proposing to lower the primary ozone standard from 75 ppb to 70 or 65 ppb, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder and the NOAA have created a commentary on how the new standard could make research more difficult for air quality managers at both local and state levels.

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