"Scientists: Greenland Glaciers Retreating"

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Two of Greenland's largest glaciers are retreating at an alarming pace, most likely because of climate warming, scientists said Wednesday.

One of the glaciers, Kangerdlugssuaq, is currently moving about 9 miles a year compared to 3 miles a year in 2001, said Gordon Hamilton of the University of Maine's Climate Change Institute.

The other glacier, Helheim, is retreating at about 7 miles a year - up from 4 miles a year during the same period.

"It's quite a staggering rate of increase," Hamilton said at the American Geophysical Union annual meeting.

http://apnews1.iwon.com/article/20051208/D8EC46T82.html

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http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1208-03.htm

Published on Thursday, December 8, 2005 by the Independent / UK

How America Plotted to Stop Kyoto Deal

by Andrew Buncombe

A detailed and disturbing strategy document has revealed an extraordinary American plan to destroy Europe's support for the Kyoto treaty on climate change.

The ambitious, behind-the-scenes plan was passed to The Independent this week, just as 189 countries are painfully trying to agree the second stage of Kyoto at the UN climate conference in Montreal. It was pitched to companies such as Ford Europe, Lufthansa and the German utility giant RWE.

Put together by a lobbyist who is a senior official at a group partly funded by ExxonMobil, the world's biggest oil company and a fierce opponent of anti-global warming measures, the plan seeks to draw together major international companies, academics, think-tanks, commentators, journalists and lobbyists from across Europe into a powerful grouping to destroy further EU support for the treaty.

It details just how the so-called "European Sound Climate Policy Coalition" would work. Based in Brussels, the plan would have anti-Kyoto position papers, expert spokesmen, detailed advice and networking instantly available to any politician or company who wanted to question the wisdom of proceeding with Kyoto and its demanding cuts in carbon dioxide emissions.

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who is talking about the largest UN conference on Climate Change ever?

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4506848.stm

UN climate talks enter key phase

Environmental activists have called for action on global warming
Environment ministers from across the world are to discuss climate change policy as a major UN conference in Montreal moves into its final phase.

It follows 10 days of talks by officials on how to meet the Kyoto targets and where to go next.

The ministers will attempt to finalize a deal on future global climate policy.

The US has so far blocked moves towards limits on carbon emissions after Kyoto expires in 2012, despite a call by one in four US senators for it to join in.

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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10359105

No climate for change as America snubs talks

09.12.05
By David Fogarty

MONTREAL - The EU and host Canada piled pressure on the United States to join an international pact to curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit the predicted chaos from global warming.

Ministers from more than 90 nations sought to break a deadlock over how to launch talks that entice the US and big developing nations to join a system that limits emissions.

"We will continue to talk to our US partners and remind them of their commitments," US Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas said.

He said George W. Bush agreed at a summit of eight leading industrial nations in July and at a UN summit in September to advance global discussions in Montreal on long-term co-operation to curb climate change.
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