Science Media Centre

A group of expert climate researchers has rounded robustly on 16 scientists who complained in the Wall Street Journal (No Need to Panic About Global Warming) that presidential candidates should understand that the statement that “nearly all scientists demand that something dramatic be done to stop global warming” is not true. The complaint used Auckland [...]

Australian scientists are claiming success following completion of a New Zealand-backed pilot carbon capture and storage project that saw thousands of tonnes of carbon-rich gas pumped underground. However, New Zealand experts are divided on the usefulness of the geoengineering solution to cut growing emissions both in New Zealand and overseas. The CO2CRC Otway project pumped [...]

As delegates at the United Nations climate change conference in Durban, South Africa, negotiate what — if any — binding agreement replaces the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, New Zealand experts have set out why it is crucial that nations rise to the challenge of limiting global warming to 2degC. Though the previous Copenhagen and [...]

This week representatives from around the world are meeting in Durban, South Africa for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In today’s New Zealand Herald, economics editor Brian Fallow explores the issues surrounding the convention and what it could mean for New Zealand. An excerpt (read in full here): Durban acid test for [...]

 Australian scientists have  released a new report on climate change in the Pacific detailing rising sea levels, increasing temperatures andincreases in ocean acidity with  drastic implications for coral-based eco-systems from hitting home in less than 40 years. “The Pacific is getting hotter, sea-levels are rising, rainfall is changing, and equatorial winds have weakened,” said researcher, [...]

The apparent release of further email correspondence between climate researchers based at the University of East Anglia is believed to be an attempt to revive the 2009 ‘Climategate’ fiasco. The emails and other documents are understood to relate to the Climatic Research Unit based at the University, which was beleaguered with accusations of data tampering [...]

New Zealand may initially get off relatively lightly as the world increasingly experiences the consequences of climate change, but will still face moral obligations to harder-hit vulnerable nations, warn scientists.    A UN report released on Friday in Uganda found that increasing human emissions had “likely” – defined as a 66-100 percent probability – caused more [...]

In the early hours of Saturday morning the UN’s climate change body will release a report that has been described in leaked versions as saying extreme weather events such as downpours and storm surges may make parts of the planet “marginal” for inhabitants. Average global temperatures last year were tied with 2005 for the warmest [...]

The Nelson Mail‘s Sarah Young reports on Professor Glenn McGregor’s presentation at the 34th Annual Meteorological Conference, in which he called on scientists to step up on issues like climate change. An excerpt (read in full here): Scientists urged to be outspoken Society needs to take more responsibility for its effect on the climate – [...]

At a debate this week in Auckland, candidates from the National, Labour and Green Parties outlined their parties’ plans to meet the challenge of climate change. Debate organizers Oxfam produced the following clip showing highlights from the debate (read more here). Youcan read more analysis of the parties’ debate presentations on Lynda Brendish’s blog at [...]