Archive by category | Alex Witze

Director of East Anglia climate unit steps aside

Alex Witze; cross-posted from The Great Beyond Phil Jones, the embattled director of the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia, stepped aside today from his post. It is the highest-profile fallout yet from the flap over leaked e-mails among prominent climate researchers, including Jones. The university’s statement quotes Jones as saying: “What is most important is that CRU continues its world-leading research with as little interruption and diversion as possible. After a good deal of consideration I have decided that the best way to achieve this is by stepping aside from the director’s role” while the  … Read more

Climate policy under Obama: advice, and some results

Climate policy under Obama: advice, and some results

Like nearly everyone else in America, we at Nature have been thinking about how life might change when the US presidency changes hands next week. From the magazine’s Washington DC offices, just a few blocks from the White House, we’ve been watching the red-white-and-blue bunting go up on buildings along the inaugural parade route. And in this week’s issue, we’ve taken a look at some of the legacies that George W. Bush leaves behind and some of the promises that Barack Obama has been holding forth. (See a related editorial here.)  … Read more

Greenhouse Politics

The political debate over climate change is ratcheting up in the two notable holdouts to the Kyoto protocol – Australia and the United States. The current issue of Nature takes a look at upcoming national elections in both countries, and what role climate change is playing in each.  Read more

Pat Michaels

It’s not easy being a US state climatologist — reporters call you every time a freak storm happens, the title generally carries more glory than pay, and every once in a while the governor starts paying attention to what you’re doing.

Patrick J. Michaels, the longtime state climatologist for Virginia, has finally thrown in the towel. A noted sceptic on climate change (see our earlier story), Michaels retired this summer after saying the position had become too politicized for him to function.

This week in Nature

Posted by Olive Heffernan on behalf of Alex Witze This week’s issue of Nature has several news stories related to climate change. First up, we’ve got a look at the bill introduced recently in the US Congress by Senators Jeff Bingaman (New Mexico) and Arlen Specter (Pennsylvania). It’s the latest in a rush of climate bills that have been coming before Congress in recent months, spurred by the Democratic takeover in January. The Bingaman/Specter plan isn’t as stringent as other bills that would slash emissions more drastically, but has the backing – at least so far – of groups that  … Read more