Category: Climate chaos
The atmosphere is to the earth as a layer of varnish is to a desktop globe. It is thin, fragile and essential for preserving the items on the surface.150 years of burning fossil fuel have overloaded the atmosphere to the point where the earth is ill. It now has a fever. Read the detailed article, Soothing Gaia’s Fever for an evocative account of that analogy. The items listed here detail progress on coordinating 6.5 billion people in the most critical project undertaken by humanity.Â
admin /18 January, 2009
Released last week, State of the World 2009 report from the World Watch Institute highlights the need for strong governance and drastic action to reverse the crises facing the world. It highlights trends in population, carbon dioxide emissions, water and food shortages as major problems that will affect us in our lifetimes and leave the world a poorer place for future generations. Four of the ten major challenges facing the world involve stabilising current runaway trends through international agreements backed by strong institutions. Good governance and strong institutions are identified as two separate challenges. This year’s report identifies agreement in Copenhagen on strong targets for carbon dioxide emissions as the next major break point for global governments. “The outcome of this meeting will be written in the world’s history books,” the report says.
admin /18 January, 2009
By John M. Broder
Lisa P. Jackson during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski for The New York Times)Lisa P. Jackson, chosen to head the Environmental Protection Agency, said at her confirmation hearing Wednesday morning that she would assure that political appointees at the agency would not overrule scientists and other professionals to tilt policy decisions.
Her promise was an implicit rebuke of the management of the E.P.A. under President Bush, where career officials’ recommendations were at times ignored in decisions on lead in the air, arsenic in water, and carbon dioxide coming from tailpipes and smokestacks.
admin /18 January, 2009
From the New York Times
Sea level rise fueled by global warming threatens the barrier islands and coastal wetlands of the Middle Atlantic States, a federal report warned on Friday.
The report, issued by the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey and other agencies, is one of a series examining the potential effects of a rising sea level on the nation’s coasts.
admin /10 January, 2009
From the Sydney Morning Herald
Australian environment and union groups want the federal government to follow the green lead of US President-elect Barack Obama’s proposed massive economic recovery package.
Reforms to double alternative energy production over three years, modernise federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two million American homes were among reforms announced by Obama on Thursday.
admin /10 January, 2009
Thousands of ordinary Australians will form a human chain around Parliament House in Canberra on February 3rd to inisst that the government honour its election promise to significantly reduce Australia’s greenhouse emissions. Treasury estimates revealed last week that the Rudd government’s proposed emissions trading scheme will actually increase emissions by 5.84 percent. Tim Colebatch wrote Continue Reading →
admin /10 January, 2009
Tim Colebatch in The Age
WE ALL think the Rudd Government’s emissions trading scheme will cut Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions by 5 per cent relative to 2000 levels — right? No, we’re wrong.
Treasury modelling estimates that even with a cleaner, more effective model than the one now adopted, Australia’s emissions in 2020 would rise 5.8 per cent above 2000 levels. We would pump out more emissions in 2020 than we do now.
