Climate Change Is Ravaging the Arctic, Report Finds

Temperatures in the Arctic region remained near record highs this year, according to a report issued on Tuesday, leading to low summer sea ice, cascading impacts on the regional food web and growing concerns over sea level rise. 

A lake on the edge of the Humboldt Glacier in Greenland in September.

Average temperatures for the year ending in September were the second-highest since 1900, the year records began, scientists said. While that fell short of a new high, it fit a worrying trend: Over all, the past six years have been the warmest ever recorded in the region. 

“It’s really showing that we have a system that’s under duress,” said Donald K. Perovich, a professor of engineering at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College and the lead author of the report’s chapter on sea ice. 

The results are from the annual Arctic report card, a peer-reviewed assessment produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that takes a broad look at the effects of climate change in the region and compares current findings with the historical record. The Arctic is of interest to researchers because it is warming twice as fast as the rest of the planet, causing changes both in the ocean and on land. 

Read the story from The New York Times by Kendra Pierre-Louis - “Climate Change Is Ravaging the Arctic, Report Finds.”

Josh Frydenberg hits the phones to keep government MPs in line over climate, Paris deal

Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has hit the phones to the Coalition backbench to calm growing concerns about the federal government's climate change review, and to stress the need for Australia to remain in the Paris agreement.

Minister for Environment and Energy Josh Frydenberg
is calling backbenchers to shore up support for climate policy.

The calls were made after Fairfax Media last week revealed at least five government MPs wanted a possible re-think of Australia's commitment to the deal to reduce carbon emissions, after US President Donald Trump announced his country would quit the deal.

The move by Mr Frydenberg, who is allied with the conservative wing of the Coalition and who has been charged with overseeing reviews of the electricity sector and climate policy, underscores growing concern at the highest levels of the Turnbull government about new fissures opening up over the contentious policy area.

Malcolm Turnbull lost his job as opposition leader back in 2009 after a rebellion over climate policy led by Tony Abbott and the Prime Minister is keenly aware of just how sensitive climate policy remains inside the Coalition.

Read James Massola’s story in today’s Melbourne Age - “Josh Frydenberg hits the phones to keep government MPs in line over climate, Paris deal.”