No hope for climate talks, says Britain's chief scientist John Beddington | The Australian

BRITAIN'S chief scientist has dismissed hopes for a deal at the UN climate change conference starting today in Cancun, Mexico.

And, says John Beddington, people should start preparing for a warmer world.
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"Extreme weather events, such as the fires in Russia and floods in Pakistan, could become more frequent. And we have rising and more wealthy populations. All these things are interrelated and you ignore any of them at your peril."

Heat On Ministers At Climate Talks | sky_news | climate_change | Frontline Blog | Sky News Blogs

As Britain shivers in freezing temperatures ministers have arrived at a Mexican beach resort for 12 days of climate change negotiations.

Wherever in the world that these summits take place they always attract great scepticism, ridicule and conspiracy theorists.

Many ask what is the point in delegates from 190 countries jumping on planes to discuss a deal that in all likelihood will not be struck in Cancun.
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There is much to muse over for those relaxing in Cancun's jacuzzi baths.

AFP: Experts split on global warming, highland malaria link

...the theory is just a juxtaposition according to other experts who explain that the spread of malaria is determined by the effectiveness of public health interventions and a country's state of economic development.

Contrary to the theory that malaria has increased due to rising global temparatures, the disease has not spread any further than it had in the past century, said Simon Hay of Oxford University.

"Our study shows clearly there has been no expansion of malaria in the last 100 years," he said, referring to a recent research entitled "Malaria Atlas Project."

"It has systematically retreated from the temperate regions to the tropics," he added.

"The success or failure of our efforts against the parasite in the coming century are likely to be determined by factors other than climate change."