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.
International climate diplomacy reached an important milestone today, as pledges to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) topped $10 billion. In a reversal of its previous refusal to invest, Australia just announced a pledge of AUD 200 million ($165.9 million), becoming the 26th nation to contribute to the GCF.
While global temperatures are shaping up to make 2014 the hottest year on record, the U.S. has endured over a week of unseasonably wintry conditions due to atmospheric blocking – a large scale pressure pattern with little or no movement – that has led to a sustained outbreak of record cold mid-November Arctic air.
China’s State Council unveiled an ambitious goal on Wednesday to cap its coal consumption in the year 2020 at 4.2 billion metric tons per year and increase its share of energy derived from renewable sources to 15% by that same year.
U.S. temperature extremes in 2014 have been exceptional—with record heat in the West and cooler than average temperatures in the East—and many scientists think climate change may be contributing. Temperature extremes occur when regions experience temperatures at the top or bottom 10% of the historical range of recorded values.
Above-average temperatures in Sochi are causing delays, injuries, and more at Olympic skiing and snowboarding events.