Oxfam: 4.5 million children at risk of aid ‘raids’ to pay for climate change
Oxfam: 4.5 million children at risk of aid ‘raids’ to pay for climate change
People already go hungry, take children out of school or sell livestock because of climate-related problems, says agency
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 16 September 2009 11.28 BST
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Flooding in Bhakhri village in northern India. Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/AP
At least 4.5 million children could die and tens of millions more could miss out on schooling if rich countries “raid” existing aid funding to pay for measures to help poor nations cope with climate change, Oxfam warned today.
Business raises carbon claim
Business raises carbon claim
Lenore Taylor, National correspondent | September 15, 2009
BIG business is demanding extra compensation under the Rudd government’s carbon pollution reduction scheme, but has rejected Malcolm Turnbull’s “hybrid” alternative, in a final effort to bridge the gap between the parties and get an amended scheme through parliament this year.
The Australian has obtained letters written by the Business Council of Australia to both major parties yesterday outlining significant amendments to increase and prolong the compensation for energy-intensive industries in the legislation, which could become a double-dissolution trigger if rejected for a second time by the Senate in November.
Planned burns and vegetation clearing will not stop catastrophic fire events: report
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Updated: September 10, 2009
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Planned burns and vegetation clearing will not stop catastrophic fire events: report
Prescribed burns did not significantly slow the spread of bushfire in the catastrophic conditions of Black Saturday, states a new report released on 10 September 2009.
The report, commissioned by the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF), the Wilderness Society and the Victorian National Park Association (VNPA), analyses the driving influences of the February 7 fires and looks at how the fires passed through and affected different areas of land. The report has been submitted to the Royal Commission on 10 September 2009. Download the full report here (PDF 6.2MB) >>
Protecting Climate Change refugees.
Protecting climate change refugees
Communities hardest hit by climate change are also the poorest. Their right to compensation and protection needs to be made law.
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- guardian.co.uk, Sunday 13 September 2009 14.00 BST
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The phrase “environmental refugee” has been around since the 1970s, with the term “climate refugee” appearing more recently. Although the concept is simple to grasp, these terms have no meaning in international law.
The need to mitigate the effects of climate change has rightly held a high place on the international agenda, but it is only now that the reality of human suffering on a colossal scale, as a consequence of a changing climate, is being given the attention it deserves. I believe environmental security is a human right and, as climate change creates millions of environmental refugees, that this right must henceforth be enshrined in international law.
CO2 is not the only cause of climate change
CO2 is not the only cause of climate change
As the UN climate summit in Copenhagen approaches, we must remember that 50% of climate change is caused by gases and pollutants other than CO2
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 11 September 2009 11.17 BST
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A study estimates 26% of black carbon emissions come from stoves … a man loads a wood-burning stove in Elin Pelin, Bulgaria. Photograph: Petar Petrov/AP
Twenty years ago, governments adopted the Montreal protocol, a treaty to protect the Earth’s ozone layer from emissions of destructive chemicals. Few could have foreseen how far-reaching that decision would prove to be.
Revelation that Australia is the worst polluter in the world
Australia worse than the worst* Revelation that Australia is the worst polluter in the world Risk assessment company Maplecroft’s CO2 Energy Emissions Index hasrevealed that Australia has overtaken the United States as the worst percapita emitter of carbon pollution in the world. Australian Greens Leader Bob Brown said: “Australia has overtaken the USon Kevin Rudd’s Continue Reading →