2008 November | Distant-Help

Global coal damage costs 360 billion euro annually: Greenpeace

WARSAW (AFP) – The use of coal for energy production causes at least 360 billion euros worth of damage to human health and the environment every year, Greenpeace said in a new report published on Thursday. “When taking into account about 90 percent of the global emissions and looking at these damages, we [...]

Reasons to be cheerful?

Via FiredogLake I learn that the Wall Street Journal is reporting on a drop in electricity consumption in the US.

“An unexpected drop in U.S. electricity consumption has utility companies worried that the trend isn’t a byproduct of the economic downturn, and could reflect a permanent shift in consumption that will require sweeping [...]

Amazon deforestation accelerates

The destruction of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has accelerated for the first time in four years, Brazilian officials say.

Satellite images show 11,968 sq km of land was cleared in the year to July, nearly 4% higher than the year before.
The government said the figure was unsatisfactory but could have been a lot worse if it had not taken action against illegal logging.
High commodity prices had allegedly tempted farmers to clear more land.
In recent years the Brazilian government has been able to celebrate three successive falls in deforestation.
But the latest estimate from the National Institute for Space Research, known as INPE, shows that this trend has come to a halt.

Continue reading Amazon deforestation accelerates

Despite Global Climate Mandate, Surge in Greenhouse Gases and Failed Leadership

Greenhouse gases hit a record level last year [ark], well beyond what threatens the habitability of the Earth for humans and all creatures. And indications are that most global citizens are prepared to sacrifice [ark | more\ark] and pay some price to avert the worst effects of abrupt climate changes [search]. “43% of the [...]

‘World mandate’ on climate action

An opinion poll in 11 countries has produced what organisers term a “global mandate” for action on climate change.

About half of the respondents wanted governments to play a major role in curbing emissions, but only a quarter said their leaders were doing enough.
In developing countries, a majority of people were prepared to make “lifestyle changes” to reduce climate change.
The survey was commissioned by the HSBC Climate Partnership, which includes business and environmental groups.
Lord Nicholas Stern, who led the 2006 Stern Review into the economics of climate change and now works as a special advisor to the HSBC partnership, said this amounted to a global mandate for stronger action.
“It does show that people in the world expect their governments to take strong action as as matter of responsibility, and hope they will work with other governments to take action,” he told BBC News.
“It is not a story which says ‘I will do something only if others do’.”
The survey is published just five days before this year’s United Nations climate conference opens in the Polish city of Poznan.

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Marine life faces ‘acid threat’

Man-made pollution is raising ocean acidity at least 10 times faster than previously thought, a study says.

Researchers say carbon dioxide levels are having a marked effect on the health of shellfish such as mussels.
They sampled coastal waters off the north-west Pacific coast of the US every half-hour for eight years.
The results, published in the journal PNAS, suggest that earlier climate change models may have underestimated the rate of ocean acidification.

Continue reading Marine life faces ‘acid threat’

EU condemned on tuna ‘mockery’

Countries involved in the Mediterranean bluefin tuna trade have voted to maintain catches nearly 50% above what scientists say are “safe” levels.

Environment groups labelled the move, by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (Iccat), as a “mockery of science”.
They put most blame on the EU which, they said, used trade issues to bully smaller nations into giving support.
Earlier this year Spain and Japan had called for a suspension of the fishery.
Iccat’s scientists had said next year’s total allowable catch (Tac) should not exceed 15,000 tonnes; but on the final day of its annual meeting, Iccat members set a figure of 22,000 tonnes.
They also rejected the scientists’ call for a closure of the fishery in the spawning months of May and June.
The scientists had warned the commission that “a collapse in the near future is a possibility” given the high number of boats engaged in the lucrative trade.

Continue reading EU condemned on tuna ‘mockery’

Earth Advocacy That Matters: What Is Ecological Internet?

Please support “Earth Advocacy that Matters”.

Given our effectiveness, perhaps it is not surprising that Ecological Internet’s web servers were severely hacked last week. EI is committed to achieving just and equitable global environmental sustainability, and the required “ecologically sufficient” policy agenda. Ending ancient forest logging and coal use, reducing human population and consumption, [...]

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Global coal damage costs 360 billion euro annually: Greenpeace

Reasons to be cheerful?

Amazon deforestation accelerates

Related Reading:

Despite Global Climate Mandate, Surge in Greenhouse Gases and Failed Leadership

‘World mandate’ on climate action

Related Reading:

Marine life faces ‘acid threat’

Related Reading:

EU condemned on tuna ‘mockery’

Related Reading:

Earth Advocacy That Matters: What Is Ecological Internet?

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