The 2000s Decade the Warmest in Memory
The World Meteorlogical Organization has announced that the first decade of the 2000s was warmer than the previous (1990-1999), which was warmer than the decade before that. This statement should put to rest claims resonating from skeptical media that we are in a period of global cooling. Oh, and 2009 had the third lowest Arctic sea ice area on record (after 2007 and 2008).

On Polar Bears and Global Warming
Richard Ellis (interviewed by Neil in a previous post) has just published a book about the threat global warming poses to the polar bear. On Thin Ice: the changing world of the polar bear is reviewed in the Sunday New York Times. Also, be sure to read a Q&A with Mr. Ellis here.

Using Nanotechnology to Create Batteries and Supercapacitators Out of Paper
Researcher at Stanford University have used nanotechnology to produce lightweight batteries and supercapacitators out of paper, a breakthrough for energy storage challenges. Read about it here.

Coalition of Least Developed Countries Threaten to Block Climate Deal
In an effort to ensure global temperatures don’t rise above 2 degrees Celsius and to secure sufficient financing and aid for those who need it most, a number of African nations have threatened to block any formal deal at Copenhagen. Read more at the Guardian.

Billionaire George Soros Proposes New $100 Billion Green Fund
In an effort to enhance climate and clean energy financing to developing countries, financier George Soros proposes using a pool of assets made up of an international financial instrument called special drawing rights, or S.D.R.’s, to bolster funding. Read about it here.