NEW IPCC REPORT TO BE ISSUED NEXT WEEK

This article from the BBC looks at the forthcoming report from the IPCC about the impacts of climate change. One scientist has already pulled out, claiming that the report is far too alarmist. The whole problem is that most of it is "guesswork" based on computer projections. I note that they seem to be hedging their bets - I particularly enjoyed this piece, "British winters are likely to become milder and wetter like the last one but cold spells still need to be planned for, says the UK Met Office. Summers are likely to be hotter and drier, but washouts are still on the cards, it adds". So now we know!

Another report believes the report may include a line likely to be hotly contested if it survives a final review by IPCC delegates gathered this week in Yokohama, Japan: "Estimates agree on the size of the impact [of climate change] (small relative to economic growth) but disagree on the sign."