greenhouse gases news stories on Newser

New Environmental Worry: Ancient Gas

Mark Russell — Mon, 21 May 2012 09:40:00 CDT

There are huge quantities of methane locked in ice sheets around the world, threatening to speed up climate change as they get released in melting ice. But determining which methane is the ancient kind and which is much younger and hails from, say, plant life that has decayed in lakes...

Evangelical Preaches Gospel of Global Warming

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 07:13:56 CST

Who better to talk about global warming in West Texas than an evangelical Christian? That's what gives geoscientist Katharine Hayhoe an edge in her crusade to convince people around Lubbock, Texas, that greenhouse gases are harming the environment, the Miami Herald reports. "People ask me if I believe in global...

Global Carbon Emissions in Biggest Jump Ever

Mark Russell — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 02:05:00 CST

Carbon dioxide emissions around their world jumped by the largest amount ever last year, increasing by half a billion tons, reports the New York Times . As a percentage, the 5.9% rise was the largest since 2003 and a sign that 2009's drop of 1.4% was an aberration cause...

Greenhouse Gases Surging: US Report

Matt Cantor — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:48:05 CST

Carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases continued to build in the atmosphere last year, a federal report finds: Between 2009 and 2010, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s yearly index of greenhouse gases—which measures said gases' combined heating effect—jumped 1.5%, to 1.29. It has climbed...

California OKs Cap-and-Trade

Kevin Spak — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:39:42 CDT

California became the first state in the nation to adopt its own cap-and-trade system yesterday, as its Air Resources Board voted unanimously to approve the regulations. The vote came after a grueling eight-hour meeting filled with the opinions of angry union members, disapproving industry representatives, and miscellaneous plan supporters, the...

Burning Coal Slowed Climate Change: Study

Rob Quinn — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 06:00:27 CDT

The vast amounts of coal China burned during the 2000s may have actually slowed down climate change, according to a new study. Researchers believe the sulfur pollution caused by burning coal deflected the sun's rays, causing a temporary plateau in warming, the AP reports. But while sulfur drops out of...

2010 Saw Shock Rise in Carbon Emissions

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:43:05 CDT

Greenhouse gas emissions rose by a record amount in 2010, leading to the worst-ever carbon output in history, according to unpublished International Energy Agency estimates. The record rise—which, contrary to some predictions, even the recession couldn’t curb—means that hopes of keeping global warming to a safe level is...

We Must Deal With Global Warming: Scientists

Mark Russell — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:40:05 CDT

Global warming is very real and needs to be addressed now, says a report issued yesterday by the National Academy of Sciences. “The risks associated with doing business as usual are a much greater concern than the risks associated with engaging in ambitious but measured response efforts,” says the report,...

Greenhouse Gas Emissions on Track to Set Record

Evann Gastaldo — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:38:59 CST

The bad news: Greenhouse gas emissions could hit record highs this year, a new study shows. The kinda good news: Researchers say a recovering economy is to blame. Scientists found that—despite the financial crisis—global carbon dioxide emissions only dropped by 1.3% last year compared to 2008's record...