– The day’s top climate change stories as chosen by RTCC
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– Updated from 0900-1700 BST (GMT+1)
Latest news – Wednesday 22 August
1700: A new study aims to highlight the potential of a geoengineering technique referred to as “marine cloud-brightening” (MCB) which researchers say has the potential to cancel out the effects of global warming in a world double the CO2 concentration of the pre-industrial world.
1630: What does it take to be a low-carbon leader? The Climate Group offer an infographic of five common traits for leadership.
1530: China’s cabinet has announced it will spend $372 billion on energy conservation projects and anti-pollution measures over the next three and a half years.
It is part of the country’s drive to cut energy consumption by 300 million tonnes of coal.
1500: Research published in the journal Biotropica finds flooded grasslands and savannas in Latin America are disappearing nearly three times faster than tropical rainforests in the region.
1400: Images from NASA show the impact the US drought has had on the Mississippi River.
1300: Michael Wehner from the Berkeley Lab answers questions on climate change and extreme weather.
1200: A series of surveys have shown that most UK households have never heard of ‘smart meters’ (that show energy use in real time) despite government plans to install them in all of the country’s 30 million homes by 2019.
1100: The UK governments’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir John Beddington talks to UNISDR about how migration triggered by natural hazards is making people increasingly vulnerable.
1000: August 22 is said to mark this year’s Earth Overshoot day – the day when humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year. The concept was developed by Global Footprint Network partner and UK think tank the new economics foundation.
0900: Dr Richard Munang, UNEP Policy Advisor takes a look at how ecosystem based solutions could help communities cope with the negative impacts of climate change and drought.
Nobel Prize winning scientist Mario J. Molina says it is vital an international agreement putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions is implemented urgently to deal with advancing climate change.
The first meeting of the Green Climate Fund begins this week but has been overshadowed by fears that the private sector – rather than the communities at the forefront of climate change – will drive the decision making process.
0840: A British adventurer aims to complete the 10,000 mile trip from Sydney to London in a single engine aircraft powered entirely from plastic waste to showcase its potential as a viable alternative to conventional fuels.
New research finds that only 2% believe climate change is not happening. However opinions on its cause and how to deal with the issue continue to be divided.
Bhutan, India and Nepal agree to join forces to protect the biodiversity of the Mount Kangchenjunga region which spans all countries. They have agreed to work towards connecting these areas through biodiversity corridors for species migration in a bid to assist adaptation to climate change.
They also aim to address cross border problems including poaching, overgrazing, forest fires and the spread of disease.
Top Tweets
Greenpeace’s Kumi Naidoo asks what motivates people’s climate activism:
What motivates your activism? For me it’s recognising that the cause is so much bigger than me, that we’re fighting here to protect a planet
— Kumi Naidoo (@kuminaidoo) August 21, 2012
@kuminaidoo that we/I cannot know about a problem and do nothing to solve it.— Jamie Peters (@jamie85p) August 21, 2012
@kuminaidoo Small actions lead to large movements. And awareness is raised. We can all contribute through small actions.— dcollett86 (@dcollett86) August 22, 2012
@kuminaidoo I want future generations to be able to marvel at the wonders of this planet in their time, & not as a history lesson.— Corinne (@ingelosi72) August 22, 2012
@deccgovuk has published its research into public attitudes, awareness and experience of smart meters ow.ly/d7f5A#SmartMeters— Energy Saving Trust (@EnergySvgTrust) August 21, 2012
Local view: Eating locally can help us overcome climate change, obesity …: Local view: Eating locally can help… bit.ly/SRmzAz
— Michelle Gibbs (@michellegibbs12) August 22, 2012
Video of the day
Short animation given you an insight into the thoughts of environmental activist Bill McKibben…