Climate change affects so many human systems that events in the news often have a climate connection. This feed will provide background notes and climate context on the latest science, weather, government, and business news.

Climate Action
News

UNEP Report to Show Climate Action Commitments (INDCs) Start to Close the Gap

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its annual report on the rate of global progress in cutting greenhouse gas emissions at 3:30AM ET on Friday, November 6. So far, 156 countries have submitted climate action plans (also known as Intended Nationally Determined Contributions, or INDCs), covering almost 87 percent of global emissions. The UNEP Emissions Gap report is expected to indicate that the INDCs, combined with current global policies already in place, would result in substantial reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, moving the direction of the global economy significantly closer to the cost-optimal pathway for holding warming under 2˚C.

Country Finance Pledges
News

Country Finance Pledges

National Pledges to the Green Climate Fund Countries listed in order of contribution magnitude. United States: $3 billion​ ​The largest single donor to the Green Climate Fund, the United States announced a $3 billion pledge (not to exceed 30 percent of …
Loss and Damage
News

Loss and Damage

There are limits to adaptation. Some climate impacts are already exceeding the the abilities of affected populations to adapt, causing loss and damage. The question of how to address these losses and damages is a key issue in the international negotiation process.

Emissions
News, Politics and Policy

Emissions Trading

The United States and Europe are leaders in regional and multinational cap and trade programs, and both are poised to expand their current markets. China recently implemented a series of regional cap and trade programs that have come online in …
Commitment Cycles and the Ratchet Mechanism
News

Commitment Cycles and the Ratchet Mechanism

One of the big questions facing the negotiations is whether the agreement arrived at in 2015 should direct climate action for decades to come, and if so, how. This question has become starkly relevant as it is now clear that the recently submitted Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) will only direct global action for 10 years, and will only push global action part of the way towards the 2˚C pathway.

Hottest Record
News

2015 Sees Hottest June-August on Record

This Thursday, September 17, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will likely confirm other sources’ finding that August 2015 was the hottest August in the global temperature record by a wide margin. NOAA will also likely confirm that this year’s …

Alaska
News, State Impacts

Alaska: Climate Change Ground Zero

The Earth’s temperature is now increasing faster than anytime in the last 1,000 years. Alaska and the Arctic, temperatures are rising at twice the global rate—more rapidly than anywhere else in the world, making the region ground zero for climate change. The best estimate is that human activity is responsible for all of the observed increase in global temperatures since 1985. The effects of the temperature changes are transforming a once-frozen seascape into an evolving, navigable ocean. These rapid changes occurring in the North have created a new Arctic climate system.

Climate Change Fuels Record Hot Summer’s Latest Heat Waves
News

Climate Change Fuels Record Hot Summer’s Latest Heat Waves

The Japanese Meteorological Agency has announced that this past July was the warmest on record, a finding reinforced by preliminary NASA data. This means July was likely the hottest of any month on record, and puts 2015 safely on track to beat 2014 as the hottest year on record.