How warm arctic weather caused the 'Beast from the East’

Europe is shivering through another day of freezing temperatures as cold air moves down from the Arctic and dumps snow across the continent.

The 'Beast from the East' has brought sub-zero
temperature temperatures to much of Europe.

The storm has been dubbed the 'Beast from the East' and it's caused temperatures drop as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius, forced schools to close, and even led to snowstorms in Rome.

While it may seem counter-intuitive, climate change researchers say the unseasonably cold weather is linked to rising temperatures in the Arctic circle.

Listen to the discussion on RN Breakfast -  “How warm arctic weather caused the 'Beast from the East’.”

Dumping clean energy target is 'dealbreaker' for Labor's support

Shadow climate change
minister Mark Butler.

The shadow climate change minister Mark Butler says Labor won’t support the Turnbull government’s new energy policy if it dumps the clean energy target recommended by the chief scientist, Alan Finkel.

With the Turnbull government expected to press ahead with its new energy policy this week after consideration by the cabinet and the party room, Butler issued a clear public warning on Sunday that the loss of the clean energy target meant there was no prospect of bipartisan agreement between the major parties.

Butler said Labor had been prepared to keep an open mind on the clean energy target, even though it was not the opposition’s preferred policy option, because the model had been thought through by the chief scientist and endorsed uniformly by stakeholders across the community.

Read Katharine Murphy’s story on The Guardian - “Dumping clean energy target is 'dealbreaker' for Labor's support.”