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Coal Boom Could Destroy Great Barrier Reef

Spiegel Online reports here: Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is rapidly losing its coral, to the point that UNESCO may soon place the natural wonder on its “in danger” list. Climate change is one culprit, but so is the country’s booming extraction industry. Environmentalists warn that time is running out for the reef.


Ecotourism in Sierra Leone

Vladimir Duthiers visits a burgeoning ecotourism community in Sierra Leone.


'Best estimate' of melting ice caps

BBC News reports here: Experts have come up with their most accurate estimate yet for the impact of melting ice sheets and glaciers on sea level.


Tropical trees keep turbines turning

BBC News reports here: New research suggests that cutting down trees in the rainforest could limit the amount of electricity generated by hydropower.


Decline fear for plants and animals

BBC News reports here: More than half of common plant species and a third of animals could see a serious decline in their habitat range because of climate change, a study suggests.


Carbon dioxide passes symbolic mark

BBC News reports here: Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen above 400 parts per million for the first time in human history, a key laboratory says.


Charles hits out at climate sceptics

BBC News reports here: World leaders must “act now” to protect the rainforests or risk the Earth becoming a dying a patient, the Prince of Wales has warned.


EU To Impose Tariffs on Chinese Solar Panels

Spiegel Online reports here: The European Commission has approved tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels in response to complaints of price-dumping. However, analysts say the move will do little more than give European companies a short-lived boost, and that the levy will mainly just increase prices and decrease use of solar power.


Merkel Speaks with Two Tongues on Climate

Spiegel Online reports here: German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded an international climate deal by 2015 on Monday. Yet at home, she has declined to push for badly needed fixes to Europe’s ailing carbon cap-and-trade program. She is putting off the toughest decisions until after fall elections.


Arctic Ocean 'acidifying rapidly'

BBC News reports here: Carbon dioxide is rapidly altering the chemistry of the Arctic, and the changes will last many thousands of years, a report says.