Agreement has just been reached by UN International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) delegates, a grouping of climate science experts, regarding the best ways to mitigate climate change [more | news search]. Importantly, the main conclusion is that the world has what it takes to fight climate change and that such climate mitigation policies are affordable [more | more2]. This Working Group III Report “Mitigation of Climate Change” [official summary] is the third segment of a larger IPCC report. The first concluded global warming is almost certainly human caused and the second warned of the consequences already occurring and yet to come such as massive human death and disease, droughts, floods, and storms. The new climate mitigation [search] report proposes limiting concentrations of greenhouse gases to between 445 parts per million and (gulp!) 650 parts per million (we are at 380 now). China replaced the US as the primary obstructionist, fearing the lower end target would harm its booming economy, yet it appears scientific recommendations emerged largely unscathed by government representatives. Key recommendations for stopping the rise in carbon dioxide levels include not waiting for new technologies but proceeding with the tools and policies we have now. Available policies that it is suggested must be intensified include shifts away from coal, embracing energy efficiency, reducing deforestation, fuel taxes, strengthen Kyoto’s binding emission limits, and advances in solar and other renewable technologies. Climate Ark has been advocating these policies for years.There are concerns in the report as well — an emphasis upon nuclear energy, biofuels and little mention of ancient forest logging. Yet, in balance it is refreshing the report focuses upon real ways to reduce emissions now rather than pie in the sky technology for later.
Defending Whales: A deadly silence
Posted by Page (in Amsterdam)
It’s something that’s almost too awful to contemplate: the disappearance of all of the great whales, species by species. What’s truly terrible – and what everyone must realize – is that an ocean devoid of whale songs means an ocean with massive ecological gaps.
Courageous, Adequate Climate Policy
Men of courage such as Prince Charles have called for a rapid response to climate change akin to fighting WWII, George Monbiot continues to show through methodical research that dramatic emission cuts are the only way forward, and lesser men such as myself have pointed out the need for serious structural changes in how society is organized to fight climate change; including population controls, carbon taxes, a ban on coal, an end to ancient rainforest logging [alert] and rapid, ambitious renewable targets, if we and the Earth are to survive. Forget about geoengineering proposals including seeding the ocean with iron (plankton blooms = ocean dead zones), orbiting Earth mirrors to reflect radiation, and distant plans to filter and sequester carbon from coal and the atmosphere. Doing so will lead to severe negative and chaotic follow-on effects, and distracts from the obvious – climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions and it will only be successfully addressed by starting to dramatically reduce these emissions now. In addition to the Chinese and American governments, and the UN IPCC process; individuals such as Laurie David, Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Branson and even Al Gore who sell easy, painless chimerical solutions are full of it. Climate change and the whole raft of attendant global ecological emergencies will only be solved through extreme personal sacrifice and learned voluntary simplicity, and major societal restructuring of economics, agriculture, transport and others. Those looking for easy answers that allow continued profligate energy consumption and living large are delaying the hard choices necessary to save being. Cimate change incrementalists do a disservice to truth and the Earth.
Defending Whales: Video: Big Blue March – May 27th
World’s First Climate War and Continental Emergency
All of the predicted catastrophic consequences of climate change are happening already, though not yet ramped up to their full potential for death and destruction. We are already witnessing the world’s first climate change war in Darfur, Sudan [more | more2]; and the first continental scale emergency in Australia’s “big dry” drought. It has been suggested that the real root of the Darfur conflict is ferocious drought and famine that since mid-1980s transformed Sudan and the whole Horn of Africa, diminishing rainfall in northern Darfur by 40 percent and turning farmers and pastoralists into competitors for land and water. “Those who were prepared to kill, rape and pillage were drawn from the ranks of the desperate, ripped from their traditional way of life by a catastrophic change in the weather.. there is the very real prospect it [climate change] will lead to more conflicts like Darfur, as groups who have coexisted until now begin to feel a sense of urgency over the diminishing resources of water and land.” Not even the developed world is immune to climate change havoc, as Australia undergoes one of the most intensive droughts [search] in its history. As major rivers run dry, freshwater stocks are so low that irrigation of the nation’s largest food growing area may be halted soon. What is clear in both instances is that climate change threatens core human needs. Even as we grapple as a species with learning to reduce our emissions and live in balance with Gaia, you might as well fasten your safety belt and expect continued “extreme water events“.
Greenpeace – Making Waves: When Greenpeace rocks Beijing
by Kontau in Beijing.
I was standing behind the stage when Imogen Heap, Nadirah X, Greenpeace guitarists and Chinese rock musicians joined together to perform the song “Go Green”. Thousands of young people were waving their hands with the peace sign, and singing along the chorus “Go green, Greenpeace!” This was truly the most memorable moment of my Greenpeace life.
ALERT: Work to Save the Congo Rainforest — Intact, Healthy and Whole — for All Time
TAKE ACTION: Tell the World Bank, WWF and Greenpeace to stop aiding and abetting failed “sustainable” and “certified” forest management for the Congo Basin, and instead commit to End Ancient Rainforest Logging
Africa’s Congo Basin [search] contains the world’s second largest rainforest; a haven for vital global biodiversity and ecosystem services, and a safeguard against runaway global warming. This locally, regionally and globally critical ecological system is being devastated by illegal logging. Sadly, many organizations trusted by their members and funders to protect ancient rainforests continue to emphasize “improved forest governance”, “sustainable forest management” and “forest certification” after decades of failure to reform industrial logging. Requirements for global ecological sustainability and socially just, equitable sustainable development dictate that the Earth’s entire remaining large, contiguous rainforests are protected from any further industrial development. Sadly, this will require confronting the global ancient forest logging apologist industry. The ultimate aim of Ecological Internet’s “End Ancient Forest Logging” campaign is to get the World Bank, other donors and mainstream conservation bureaucracies completely out of the business of supporting industrial ancient forest logging. Let Congo rainforest stakeholders know you demand a future for the Congo that is free of industrial rainforest clearance. And put the World Bank, WWF and Greenpeace on notice that their forest conservation policies are opposed and will be exposed and stopped.
Japan Government Panel To Debate Climate Proposals
Japan’s key economic panel will discuss private-sector proposals on tackling climate change on Tuesday but will not make them public because of the topic’s sensitivity ahead of next month’s G8 summit, Economics Minister Hiroko Ota said on Tuesday.
Scientists Urge Half of Canada Forest Be Protected
Canada’s vast forests should be protected much more than they are now to preserve wildlife and water and to fight global warming, a group of 1,500 scientists from around the world said Monday.
Clean Energy Spending Can Curb Climate Change, WWF Says
The world can avoid the worst effects of climate change with investments in clean energy so long as the wholesale shift from fossil fuels starts within five years, the environmental group WWF said on Tuesday.