Time for talk ends and the hard work starts

With the time for talk ending, the hard work of actually reducing carbon dioxide emissions is now beginning to be understood.

Writing in New Scientist, Fred Pearce quotes EU climate commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, who described the proposed targets as “ambitious”.

Hedegaard said: “Emission targets must be met with domestic actions along, with no contribution from ‘offset projects’ such as paying poor nations to plant and protect forests”.

Pearce’s story, headed: “Latest European climate targets may never be met”, tells readers that environmental groups have reacted to what is being proposed with dismay, arguing the target are not tough enough.

Slow talks, increasing global temperatures

Prof Lesley
 Hughes.

With global climate change talks moving too slowly, scientists are now talking of a rise in global temperatures of four degrees. What would this mean for Australia?

Writing on the ABC’s Environment page, Graham Readfearn, discusses "Life at four degrees”.

Readfearn reports that one of Australia’s Climate Commissioners, Professor Lesley Hughes, discusses suggestions that the world is heading for an average four degree Celsius of global warming by the end of the century.

“But what might a 4°C Australia look and feel like?”, Readfearn asks.