Tiempo Climate Newswatch

A new study of climate change impacts on California warns of an increase in heat-related deaths and water supply at risk as global warming develops. "If we do not take action now to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, the consequences for California after about 2050 will become significantly more harmful than if we do take action now," warns Michael Hanemann of the California Climate Change Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Sceptic Marlo Lewis, of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, called the study "another piece of climate alarmism. It's layers of assumptions, and it's all designed to paint a very frightening picture."

"The study reveals a big difference in consequences for California's future climate depending on the amount of emissions of heat-trapping gases," according to lead author Katharine Hayhoe of ATMOS Research and Consulting. "We looked at two different future scenarios for California, one heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and one more dependent on investment in alternative technologies. The differences were dramatic." Under the most optimistic projection, periods of extreme heat would quadruple in Los Angeles by the end of the century, killing two to three times more people than in heat waves today. The most pessimistic model projects five to seven times as many heat-related deaths.

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• ENN
• BBC
• Union of Concerned Scientists

An analysis by Princeton University scientists, published in the journal Science, has shown that existing technologies could stop the escalation in the global warming problem for some 50 years. "It certainly explodes the idea that we need to do research for a long time before getting started," concluded Stephen Pacala, one of the study's authors.

Fifteen technologies were identified that are ready for large-scale use and the potential for each to limit greenhouse gas emissions was assessed. The technologies studied ranged from the renewables through nuclear power to energy conservation techniques. The research is part of the Carbon Mitigation Initiative, a Princeton University programme supported by BP and Ford.

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• Princeton University

Australia and China have agreed to a bilateral programme on climate change. "Closer engagement with China is a positive development and one that reflects' the government's active programme of bilateral climate action partnerships," said Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

Six new projects will be undertaken, including measurement of greenhouse gas emissions from farms using satellite imagery, national- and project-level carbon accounting and the development of a national climate strategy for China. A major workshop will be held in Beijing in September 2004. The meeting will bring together Australian and Chinese industry, research and other non-government bodies.

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• news.com.au
• Memorandum of Understanding