The hidden cause of global warming: The accelerating destruction of the rainforests that form a precious cooling band around the Earth’s equator is now being recognised as one of the main causes of climate change. Carbon emissions from deforestation far outstrip damage caused by planes and automobiles and factories. The rampant slashing and burning of tropical forests is second only to the energy sector as a source of greenhouses gases according to report published today by the Oxford-based Global Canopy Programme, an alliance of leading rainforest scientists. Independent

With gigantic burps, things hotted up: The oceans burped — twice. About 13,000 and 18,000 years ago, carbon dioxide poured into the atmosphere in two giant belches that drove concentrations of the greenhouse gas from 180 to 265 parts per million, a level that held relatively steady until the industrial revolution. Scientists have long known about the jump in gas levels by studying ice cores. They suspected the carbon dioxide came from a deep, carbon-rich reservoir in the oceans, but had no way to explain how the gas could accumulate and then be released so suddenly. SMH

Yahoo puts marketing muscle into climate campaign: Yahoo Inc. aims to wield its power as the biggest US Internet media company to encourage millions of consumers to take basic steps to help the environment as part of its corporate push to confront global warming. Financial Post

Bird migration patterns shifting: Like the canaries that once warned of danger in mine shafts, migrating birds are becoming harbingers of another risk — climate change. Confused and disoriented by erratic weather, birds are changing migration habits and routes to adjust to warmer winters, disappearing feeding grounds and shrinking wetlands. Failure to adapt risks extinction, experts say. Malaysia Star

Climate change to force mass migration: A billion people — one in seven people on Earth today — could be forced to leave their homes over the next 50 years as the effects of climate change worsen an already serious migration crisis, a new report from Christian Aid predicts. The report, which is based on latest UN population and climate change figures, says conflict, large-scale development projects and widespread environmental deterioration will combine to make life unsupportable for hundreds of millions of people, mostly in the Sahara belt, south Asia and the Middle East. Guardian