It's official: last year was hottest ever

[Thom Little]

Last year was Australia's hottest on record, new figures show.

The Bureau of Meteorology annual climate summary shows 2005 was more than one degree warmer than the average temperature between 1961 and 1990, the world standard used to track temperature change.

.......

"These figures add to the weight of evidence that climate change is real and it's a problem that the world needs to work together to seek to solve."

Australia and the United States are the only developed nations to have refused to sign the Kyoto Protocol, which calls on countries to cut greenhouse emissions by 5.2 per cent below 1990 levels by 2012.



http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/2005-was-hottest-year-ever/2006/01/04/1136050469779.html

[jobycom]

1. we could lower greenhouse emmissions 5% by muzzling McClellan

[joefree1]

2. What will it take to wake us up?

Arctic ice 'disappearing quickly'
By Richard Black
Environment Correspondent, BBC News website

They say that this month sees the lowest extent of ice cover for more than a century.

The Arctic climate varies naturally, but the researchers conclude that human-induced global warming is at least partially responsible.

They warn the shrinkage could lead to even faster melting in coming years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4290340.stm

[Hyernel]

3. 83° in Orlando on Jan 3rd, yesterday.

Felt like summer.