Not hacked. Electronic devices used by RK Pachauri, the ex-chief of TERI [and former head of the IPCC] being investigated for sexual harassment, were not hacked, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Gandhinagar, has said in a confidential report submitted to Delhi Police.
A top Delhi Police investigator familiar with the case told ET the police wanted to rule out even a “speck of doubt” that Pachauri’s electronic devices were hacked or compromised in any manner. ET had first reported that a sexual harassment complaint had been filed against Pachauri. Pachauri, responding to ET’s questions, had said: “From your email, I have come to know the factum that my computer resources including my email ids, mobile phones, and WhatsApp messages have been hacked and that unknown cyber criminals have gone ahead and have unauthorisedly accessed my computer resources and communication devices and further committed various criminal activities.” –Raghav Ohri, Economic Times of India, 2 November 2016
After the recent intense El Nino peaked between January ‚Äì April global monthly temperatures this year have been declining. Although they remain high they are expected to decline further as the El Nino effect finally recedes. But now comes a reality check: The El Nino has ended and the global temperatures are falling. For some the prospect of global cooling is a problem. The so-called “pause” ‚Äì which is obvious prior to the recent El Nino ‚Äì signaled a growing appreciation of decadal climatic variations. Only time will place the El Nino’s influence of previous years into its proper context against variations in the background rate of global temperature change. Will the Pause resume? Some scientists fear global temperatures may drop back in years to come. They are preparing their colleagues for such a situation and are warning climate scientists “not be distracted by temporary fluctuations in the other direction which will eventually reverse.” –David Whitehouse, GWPF Science Editor, GWPF, 3 November 2016
Windfarms and solar power could soon lose the privilege of getting priority over other energy sources on European electricity grids, leaked documents show. Some industry sources have told the Guardian they are alarmed and think it highly likely that priority dispatch for clean energy will be scrapped from the EU’s renewable energy directive, which is currently being redrafted for the post-2020 period. –Arthur Neslen, The Guardian, 1 November 2016
Angela Merkel’s absence from the COP 22 is symbolic of a European climate and energy policy beset by indecision and infighting. European climate policy is at a standstill. Little progress has been made since the 2014 Council summit. The EU is already struggling to live up to the promises it made at last year’s Paris climate conference (COP 21). –Aline Robert, EurActiv, 1 November 2016
Germany’s economy minister says his country will not be phasing out brown coal before 2040, as the government looks to ways to ensure minimisation of job losses in coal regions. Sigmar Gabriel told a conference in Berlin, “It will on no account be switched off in the next decade ‚Äì in my opinion not even in the one after that.” This reinforces the message coming from the government in early summer. In June Berlin distanced itself from initial proposals to set out a timetable to exit coal-fired power production “well before 2050‚Ä≥ as part of a national climate action plan. –Diarmaid Williams, Power Engineering, 2 November 2016
With envoys from 190 nations gathering next week in Morocco to advance the emissions-curbs agreed to at a landmark United Nations conference in Paris last year, the BNEF findings show that the world remains far from its goal of reining in the threat of global warming. At the same time, clean-energy investment is set to drop. A common refrain is that China builds two new coal plants a week. That’s still true despite efforts by policymakers to rely less on coal for power generation and as growth in demand for power slides. BNEF’s outlook sees China’s rate of building coal-fired power stations falling from two to one in the next five years. — Reed Landberg, Bloomberg, 2 November 2016
Despite the changes in fuel sources, fossil fuels have continued to make up a large percentage of U.S. energy consumption. In 1908, fossil fuels accounted for 85% of total consumption. 107 years later it’s more or less the same: fossil fuels still account for 81% of total energy consumption in 2015. —U.S. Energy Information Administration, 1 November 2016
