Aviation: Bill protecting U.S. airlines from E.U. emissions law cleared for takeoff -- 08/01/2012 -- www.eenews.net

"If the airlines are to be 'held harmless' -- meaning they don't have to pay the penalties for their noncompliance with the E.U.'s law -- then somebody's got to pick up the tab," said Annie Petsonk, international counsel for climate and air at the Environmental Defense Fund. "The bill does not answer the question, 'Who?'"

The Great Disposal Service: Can It Last? - NYTimes.com

The earth is performing an enormous disposal service for the human race. About half of the carbon [sic] we are dumping into the atmosphere does not stay there and is instead taken up by the oceans and land. Were this not the case, scientists say, the earth would probably be warming far more rapidly.

One of the biggest questions in climate science is: How long will that disposal service last?

Remarkably, the earth’s ability to keep socking away carbon has for decades kept up with human activity, with the proportion that disappears from the atmosphere remaining close to 50 percent even as our emissions soared. Computer analyses of the climate have long predicted that the uptake would become less efficient sometime in this century. If that happened, the level of carbon dioxide in the air would begin rising faster, trapping more of the sun’s heat.

Two new scientific papers shed some light on this issue. One of them is reassuring, at least in the short run, while the other offers new reasons to worry about the long-term stability of the “carbon sink,” as scientists call it.

The good news first: A new paper suggests that the earth’s ability to take up carbon has not yet begun to weaken.

U.S. energy-related CO₂ emissions in early 2012 lowest since 1992 - Today in Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
Twitter / AGW_Prof: Call 4 Abstracts: Litigation ...

Call 4 Abstracts: Litigation Involving Climate Scientists #AGU12 Fall Meeting 2012 Please RT to scientists/legal folks http://bit.ly/LBAzB2

Litigation Involving Climate Scientists - AGU Fall Meeting 2012

"Climate scientists are playing an increasing role in litigation as expert witnesses in cases related to governmental response to climate change as well as being embroiled in litigation surrounding their own research. The session will look at the role of scientists in litigation involving climate change. It will explore the legal attacks against climate scientists, responses of the scientific community and resources available to scientists. Finally, legal scholars and practitioners will explore ways scientists can engage more effectively with the legal community."