When Science Becomes a Casualty of Politics: Cathy Young - Reason

There is no doubt that refusal to accept human-made climate change is often self-serving. But the other side has blinders and selfish motives of its own. "Going green" has turned into a vast industry in its own right—as well as a religion with its own brand of zealotry. For many, global warming is the secular equivalent of a biblical disaster sent by God to punish humankind for its errant (capitalist) ways. Those who embrace environmentalism as a faith have no interest in scientific and technological solutions to climate change—such as nuclear power—that do not include imposing drastic regulations on markets and curbs on consumption.

Sunshine speeded 1940s Swiss glacier melt: scientists

A surge in sunshine more than 60 years ago helped Swiss mountain glaciers melt faster than today, even though warmer average temperatures are being recorded now, Swiss researchers said Monday.

Their study into the impact of solar radiation on Alpine glaciers made the "surprising discovery" that in the 1940s, and especially summer 1947, the ice floes lost the most ice since measurements begin 95 years ago, according to Zurich's Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ).

Reuters AlertNet - Natural disasters at decade low in 2009-UN report

COPENHAGEN, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The world this year suffered the fewest number of natural disasters in a decade, but floods, droughts and other extreme weather continued to account for most of the deaths and economic losses, according to a United Nations report released on Monday.

There were 245 natural disasters recorded this year, down from the decade high of 434 in 2005, said the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
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"While the numbers of disasters and related economic losses have increased between 10 and 50 times (over the last 50 years), the reported loss of life has dramatically been reduced by a factor of 10," Jarraud said.

Hugo Chavez to Head to Copenhagen Climate Summit - Environmental Capital - WSJ

Some organizers of the Copenhagen talks might prefer if Chavez didn’t attend. The leftist leader may try to turn the fight against global warming into a fight against capitalism and the U.S., a direction some organizers probably don’t want to take the debate.