Victoria should be doing more to cut carbon emissions: The Age

It may not be apparent yet, but the most important and enduring legacy of President Barack Obama's two terms in the White House may prove to be the Clean Power Plan, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plan gives teeth to the United States' promise of compliance with globally agreed temperature targets, set two months ago at the UN climate change talks in Paris.

The plan hinges on having the US Environmental Protection Agency require states to curb coal-fired power stations' carbon-dioxide emissions. But it is on ice following an unexpected order of the US Supreme Court last week. The court has, for now, barred the EPA from implementing the new rule pending legal challenges in lower courts.

Read the Editorial from today’s Melbourne Age - “Climate change: Victoria should be doing more to cut emissions.”

Deal seeks below 2C, but 5C by century's end looms large

Negotiators in Paris are trying to craft a deal at the UN climate talks that will keep global temperature rise below 2C. But what does that mean in reality - and what difference will a couple of extra degrees really make?

Without action, climate scientists have warned that temperatures could rise by nearly 5C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. World leaders meeting in Paris hope to keep average global surface temperature rises below 2C – but their pledges to cut emissions could still see up to 3C according to analyses. While it is very hard to make firm predictions, here are some of the potential impacts. All are for possible temperature rises occurring by 2100.

Read the story from The Guardian Australia - “Paris climate talks: what difference will temperature rises really make?”