Local governments keep Chinese public in the dark about pollution.
Local governments keep Chinese public in the dark about pollution
China’s environment ministry says polluters are protected by a ‘black box’ of secrecy as local governments withhold information
- guardian.co.uk, Friday 4 September 2009 11.54 BST
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The plant in Fujian, China, whose foul smells led to anti-pollution protests in the province. Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Polluters in China are operating in a “black box” of secrecy, the Ministry of Environmental Protection has warned amid a rash of violent protests related to industrial poisoning.
Offenders are protected by the vast majority of local authorities defying Beijing and violating state law by refusing to disclose information about pollution, with a study showing just 4 out of 113 local governments complied.
The ministry said this lack of transparency was partly to blame for recent riots over lead and manganese poisoning in Shaanxi, Hunan and Fujian, which has affected thousands of children.
Climate change is here, it is a reality
East Africa
‘Climate change is here, it is a reality’
As one devastating drought follows another, the future is bleak for millions in east Africa. John Vidal reports from Moyale, Kenya
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- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 3 September 2009 22.44 BST
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One of the main water sources outside Moyale in Kenya runs dry. Photograph: Sarah Elliott/EPA
We met Isaac and Abdi, Alima and Muslima last week in the bone-dry, stony land close to the Ethiopia-Kenya border. They were with five nomad families who have watched all their animals die of star vation this year in a deep drought, and who have now decided their days of herding cattle are over.
Global warming has made Arctic summers hottest for 2.000 years
Global warming has made Arctic summers hottest for 2,000 years
The Arctic has warmed as a result of climate change, despite the Earth being farther from the sun during summer months
- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 3 September 2009 19.00 BST
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Global warming has nullified the effect of increasing distance between the sun and Earth during the Arctic summer solstice. Photograph: National Science Foundation
Warming as a result of increased levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has overwhelmed a millennia-long cycle of natural cooling in the Arctic, raising temperatures in the region to their highest for at least 2,000 years, according to a report.
India will be key player at Copenhagen conference, says Miliband
India will be key player at Copenhagen conference, says Miliband
Climate change secretary praises India’s renewable targets and ‘big ambitions’, cementing cordial relations between the countries
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 2 September 2009 18.31 BST
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Climate change secretary Ed Miliband. Photograph: David Levene
Ed Miliband, Britain’s climate change secretary, hailed India as a potential “deal maker” in the forthcoming talks in Copenhagen for an international treaty to tackle global warming, stating that the country would not face targets to cut its emissions in the near future because it “took climate change seriously”.
The UK’s “softly-softly” approach has won plaudits in India, and contrasts with that of US secretary of state, Hilary Clinton, whose visit in July resulted in a spat with environment minister Indian environment minister Jairam Ramesh. India has categorically ruled out greenhouse gas cuts, arguing that rich nations caused the problem and must not deny Indians the opportunity to grow out of poverty.
Goggle-eyed protestors swim against carbon trading tide
Goggle-eyed protestors swim against carbon trading tide
Climate Camp activists sat in kayaks and wore goggles at DECC headquarters to protest against carbon trading and capture.
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 2 September 2009 13.15 BST
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Camp for Climate Action protestors at the DECC headquarters, London. Photograph: Amelia Gregory
Visitors to the department for energy and climate change (DECC) headquarters in London this morning would have noticed something odd about the reception area: 15 climate activists wearing arm bands, goggles and sitting in kayaks. The protest, organised by members of the Camp for Climate Action, is a stand against carbon trading and carbon capture and storage technology, ideas the activists say are “false solutions” to climate change.
US Climate change bill faces fresh delays
US climate change bill faces fresh delays
Despite growing support for a change in energy policy, delays over the bill will undermine the US position at the climate change talks in Copenhagen.
- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 2 September 2009 11.53 BST
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The Obama administration has reportedly been meeting with clean-technology executives to help flesh out a new energy strategy to be unveiled later this month.
The unveiling of the energy strategy, which is expected to coincide with a high-level UN meeting on climate change to be held in New York, will punctuate a set of increasingly bold moves on the part of the Obama administration intended to secure support for the proposed Waxman-Markey climate change bill as it awaits a crucial Senate vote.