In his weekly address, Mr Obama said that “today, more than ever before, science holds the key to our survival as a planet and our security and prosperity as a nation”.

He said it was “time we once again put science at the top of our agenda” and that he was confident that the US could “lead the world into a new future of peace and prosperity”.

He has said that climate change is already causing widespread harm and has called for a more robust government response.

Mr Holdren will become director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the co-chair of the Council of Advisers on Science and Technology.

He will share the latter post with Nobel Prize-winning scientist Harold Varmus and Eric Lander, a specialist in human genome research.

Mr Obama, who takes office on 20 January, has now filled all the posts in the cabinet. However all nominees must still be vetted and approved by the Senate.

energy secretary

Mr Obama has pledged to make big changes in environmental policies.

After eight years, he said, the US could not accept more broken promises when the new administration took over on 20 January.

Announcing his environment team at a press conference on Monday, Mr Obama vowed to “move beyond our oil addiction and create a new hybrid economy”

He said these “urgent dangers” were only eclipsed by the long-term threat of climate change.

“Unless we act, [climate change] will lead to drought and famine abroad, devastating weather patterns and terrible storms on our shores and the disappearance of our coastline,” said Mr Obama.

He added that there were boundless opportunities to create new jobs in the environmental industry.

New EU Climate Deal

The plan is to set out how 27 member-countries will cut carbon emissions by 20% by 2020, compared with 1990 levels.

EU 20/20/20 TARGETS
20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, compared with 1990 levels
20% increase in use of renewable energy by 2020
20% cut in energy consumption through improved energy efficiency by 2020

Scientists say carbon dioxide emissions need to be cut by 25-40% by 2020 for there to be a reasonable chance of avoiding dangerous climate change.

“Political systems in the developed world have become sclerotic – we have to overcome the paralysis that has taken over politics in these countries, rather than spending so much time on OJ Simpson and Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith ” Al Gore

Improved pages include:
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NEW! Satellite Images:
You can now view a satellite image of your home on the Warmroof website. This application uses the Google tools too help you analyze the state of your roof.

View a satellite image of your home

Artic Warming Increases

The minimum extents reached in 2007 and 2008 were the smallest recorded in the satellite age.

Scientists say they now have the evidence to conclude that the warming in the Arctic is actually accelerating.

Computer models have long predicted that decreasing sea ice should amplify temperature changes in the northern polar region.

Theory predicts that as ice is lost in the Arctic, more of the ocean’s surface will be exposed to solar radiation and will warm up.

If this process continues, it will extend the melting season for Arctic ice, delaying the onset of winter freezing and weakening further the whole system.

Arctic sea ice is currently being lost even faster than the models predict

If you would like to keep an eye on the latest climate change concerns and breakthroughs keep an eye on this blog.

Headlines such as “Flash Floods” and “Snow causes disruption” are going to be more common as the winter settles in.

It is hard to predict such weather warnings so make sure you are prepared for the unpredictable.

Recent Events

More than 50mm of torrential rain fell across the region overnight on 12-13 December causing flash floods.

Forty flood warnings and 41 flood watches were issued by the Environment Agency across parts of England and Wales, with the West and Midlands worst hit.

The torrential rain comes as Britain is shivering through the coldest start to winter for more than 30 years, the Met Office has revealed.

The average temperature for the first third of December was a chilly 1.7C (35.1F) – compared with the long-term average of 5.2C (41.4F), figures show.

Climate scientists say 2008 will be the coldest year globally this decade.

With such plummets in temperature make sure your homes are kept warm and wind and rain proof. Warmroof want to help out in times like now – hopefully before things get worse for your roof.

The Warmroof wind and rain proof solution is their spray foam loft insulation. They have a Seasonal offer of up to 25% discount on their loft insulation to help subsidise the cost on the system. This also includes a reduction in VAT down to just 5%.

Not only will breathable membrane keep your house warm in the wither, but it will keep your home cooler in the summer. This sturdy loft insulation will reduce your energy bills and will keep your loft wind and rain resistant for a minimum of 10 years.

With the unpredictable weather always approaching, think about keeping yourself warm and dry with rigid foam loft insulation.

Peter Lilley MP  said that the worst-case scenario could put a net cost of £10,000 on each UK household.

The government said the costs of not acting on climate change would be higher than the costs of acting now.

Mr Lilley says he does not oppose action to curb climate change.

“We all want to save the planet from overheating, just as we all want to save the financial system from meltdown,” he writes in the BBC’s Green Room series of environmental opinion articles.

“We accept that both rescues may cost us a lot.”

But, he says, the Climate Change Bill, which is broadly supported by the Conservatives, may not represent value for money.

Recent finds on climate change mean that marine life could be diminishing from acid threat.

Professor Wootton says the most troubling finding is the speed of acidification, with the pH level dropping at a much greater rate than was previously thought. “It’s going down 10 to 20 times faster than the previous models predicted,” he says.

Biology and climate change is affecting pH, through photosynthesis and respiration.

All this latest news is a big warning that homeowners should look to make bigger changes in the home and lifestyle to preserve what we have now with out resorting to government forcing us to.

Brits are far more likely than their European counterparts to share a bath or cuddle up in bed in an effort to save energy and money, according to new research launched today (Monday 20 October) to mark the beginning of Energy Saving Week (20-26 October).

According to the research, while Brits’ desire to save money is motivating them to take energy saving measures, pressure on their time is forcing them to find a ‘green/life balance’:

·     Half of Brits (50 per cent) quizzed, say that they would take more steps to cut their CO2 emissions if only they had more time.

·     Brits are spending around 170 million hours each year waiting on hold on the telephone, and more than 210 million hours stuck in traffic!

·     Six in 10 (62 per cent) UK residents spend more than 10 minutes a week standing in queues.

·     Almost half (48 per cent) Brits waste more than 10 minutes a week waiting for the kettle to boil.

And in Europe:

·     Almost half (46 per cent) of Spaniards spend 10 minutes a week or more taking siestas.

·     Twenty-one per cent of Frenchmen and women spend more than 10 minutes a week waiting for their food to arrive in a restaurant.

·     Eight in 10 (80%) Germans spend at least 10 minutes every week organising their desks.

One of the UK’s leading financial psychology experts Benjamin Fry is working with the Energy Saving Trust to show consumers how saving energy can save money too.

He commented: “This research shows that saving energy and money at the same time need not be dull.”  Judging by how it is turning the temperature up on Britons love lives, with so many of us taking romantic energy saving measures to beat the credit crunch, doing your bit to help climate change has suddenly become a lot more attractive.

(source: Energy Saving Trust)

Energy price rises

Consumer Focus chief executive Ed Mayo said the UK should learn from other countries which may be doing more to keep their prices down. He commented by saying “We are no longer an energy island. With increased demand from growing economies such as India and China, the prices we now pay for our energy are more vulnerable to fluctuations across the world.”

With the uncertanty of further increases the UK should look to try to save on their energy bills whereever possible to fight back.

Winter is creeping up on us and with energy prices going through the roof, maybe this year is
a good time to think about efficient energy use when it comes to heating.

Small changes can make a small difference:

Bigger changes will make a big difference:

Don’t let the energy bill rises bring a chill to you.