Carbon News 24/11/14: penny-pinching on climate funding

The Government is under fire for the size of its contribution to a global fund to help developing countries to combat climate change. New Zealand last week agreed to donate $3 million to the Green Climate Fund. That’s half the amount pledged by Luxembourg and the Czech Republic, and 3 per cent of what’s been promised by South Korea, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark.

By CN editor Adelia Hallett: New Labour Party leader Andrew Little appears to rank climate change only slightly more importantly than does Prime Minister John Key. Little, elected as leader last week, announced his shadow cabinet today. The climate change and environment portfolios have gone to relatively low-profile MP Megan Woods, who is ranked 13th in the line-up, and outside the front bench.

Labour’s new climate change and environment spokesperson says there’s never been a time when she didn’t believe in climate change.

Yealands Family Wines took the top prize in this year’s Sustainable Business Network Awards.

Humans are changing not just climate overall, but also the difference between seasons in any given year.

It was quite a week for those waiting for some action on climate change.

Global investment in climate change reduction has fallen for the second year in a row, a drop of $28 billion from 2012, and far below estimates of what is needed, according to new research

Sixty years ago, New Zealand scientists started the world’s first long time-series of atmospheric radiocarbon measurements.

International talks in Paris in 2015 could see the world’s nations agree to limit global warming to a rise of 2C.

• Next president could make or break US climate plans
• Industry shock as marine energy leader Pelamis to call in administrators
• Germany’s climate targets unattainable with dirty coal power, analysts say
• Europe reveals plans to ration shoppers to 40 free carrier bags a year
• NASA animation shows stunning year in the life of carbon emissions

Extreme weather conditions predicted for the Pacific Ocean pose a significant threat for island states’ industry and infrastructure, warns the United Nations.

The UK government will be forced to urgently clean up illegal air pollution in British cities following a ruling in the European court of justice.

The United States and China have announced goals to reduce emissions by 26 per cent to 28 per cent and to cap emissions by 2030 respectively.

In recent years, there seems to have been a rise in the extreme weather all over the world from terrible flooding in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the record cold snap in North America, to one of the wettest winters on record in the United Kingdom.

We continue to bubble around $4.3,5 with not much pushing it either way at present, OMFinancial reports.

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