Tiempo Climate Newswatch
Week ending October 12th 2008
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Action point
Jim Salinger describes his priority for action on global warming. You can play the low bandwidth or the high bandwidth version
Featured sites
The OzoneAction Education Pack provides primary school teachers with practical, hands-on and entertaining curricula material to educate their students about ozone depletion.
The Youth Climate Pledge is a collaborative plan of action that young people can sign on to and get others to commit to.
The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is an action and advisory group that aims to take a lead in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the United Kingdom.
The Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project provides access to documents, data, photos, maps and other resources concerning this critical issue.
And finally,
Children from Uganda, Bangladesh and Mozambique have drawn pictures for Oxfam of their impression of climate change (video) and what it means to their lives.
About Newswatch
Tiempo Climate Newswatch is a weekly on-line magazine with news, features and comment on global warming, climate change, sea-level rise and development issues. It is edited by Mick Kelly and Sarah Granich and maintained by Mick Kelly and Mike Salmon. The cartoons are created by Lawrence Moore.
The news stories carried by Newswatch are updated weekly. Comment, features, interviews and other sections of the magazine are updated on a weekly to monthly basis.
Newswatch automatically scans a number of news sites once an hour, searching for a set of keyphrases. The raw news feed can be accessed in standard or PDA format.
Part of the Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary, Tiempo Climate Newswatch is hosted by the Climatic Research Unit, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia.
The Tiempo Climate Cyberlibrary is a co-production of the Stockholm Environment Institute and the International Institute for Environment and Development, sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.
While every effort is made to ensure that information on this site, and on other sites that are referenced here, is accurate, no liability for loss or damage resulting from use of this information can be accepted.
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October 6th is World Habitat Day. This year’s theme is "Harmonious Cities". |
The latest global data show that the growth in atmospheric carbon levels continues to accelerate. "This new update of the carbon budget shows the acceleration of both carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric accumulation are unprecedented and most astonishing during a decade of intense international developments to address climate change," commented Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project.
Emissions growth over the period 2000-2007 was four times faster than in the previous decade, and was greater than even the most fossil fuel-intensive projection by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Carbon emissions from the combustion of fossil fuel and land use change reached 10 billion tons in 2007. Natural carbon sinks are growing but slower than the growth in atmospheric carbon concentrations.
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"Blaming cities for greenhouse gas emissions misses the point that cities are a large part of the solution," argues David Satterthwaite of the International Institute for Environment and Development in London. "Well-planned, well-governed cities can provide high living standards that do not require high consumption levels and high greenhouse gas emissions."
Satterthwaite reckons previous studies have over-estimated urban emissions. He recommends that emissions be allocated to consumers rather than producers. "The problem is not cities but a minority of the world’s population with high-consumption lifestyles. A large proportion of these consumers live not in cities but in small towns and rural areas," he concludes.
More information |
Related news |
South Africans consider climate change a serious threat but are more concerned about other problems, according to a recent survey. "When we asked people what the most important challenges facing South Africa were, the list started with unemployment, HIV/AIDS, economic issues and poverty. The environment was number 10. If you're not sure where your next meal is coming from, it's more pressing than something that will affect future generations," said John Seager of the Human Sciences Research Council.
Grace Bent, Nigerian senator, has called for urgent assessment of the impact of development projects, which, she fears, may be making her nation more vulnerable to climate change. Speaking at a conference in the United Kingdom earlier this year, she said that "environmental impact assessment must be conducted on some of these things they call environmental developmental projects in Lagos." "That is why at the senate level, we are putting every machinery in place and that is why senate committee is working on the Climate Commission Bill," she continued.
More information |
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Breaking news
- Battle over European car emissions
- Finance crisis may affect climate negotiations
- Clean Development Mechanism accepts new projects
- A third of the world's species at risk
- Farming kangaroos
The Gaunt View
© 2008 Lawrence Moore
Science and development
Sound and vision
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The documentary Violence and Vulnerability discusses the link between conflict and climate impacts in the Kitui District of Kenya. |
On the Web
High bandwidth may be required
Video on demand
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On the Push, from Undercurrents, is a video series on surfing and climate change. |
Undercurrents is an award-winning production company mostly working with video makers and communities who have been marginalized or overlooked by TV broadcasters. It has made available Bike 2 Oz
Weblogs
More interactive discussion...
Comment
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"One of the first actions, even if symbolic, in response to the climate threat is for Small Island States to reduce their own emissions, tiny though they are, to set an international example. " |
In Energy in the Pacific, Tom Roper considers action that energy utilities can take in vulnerable Pacific island countries.
In Adaptation to Climate Change - Where Do We Go from Bali?, Sven Harmeling considers the next steps in meeting the challenge of adaptation.
In A Reason for Optimism, Gary Yohe discusses a significant change in attitude towards climate risk on the part of the international community.
On the Web
- Matthew Knight considers what might be done to combat climate change with funding equivalent to the United States financial bailout package
- Jessica Daly considers the pros and cons of pros and cons of emissions trading
- Handy Acosta Cuellar considers the situation of Cuba in the wake of Hurricane Gustav
Features
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Rae Kwon Chung, on behalf of the Environment and Sustainable Development Division at the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia, outlines an approach to sustainable economic growth that is being promoted for the nations of Asia and the Pacific. |
Christoph Holtwisch analyses the current development of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, contrasting the Partnership with the traditional climate regime.
Mozaharul Alam describes the next steps needed under the National Adaptation Programmes of Action process in the Asia and Pacific region.
Short reports
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The Asia Pacific Mountain Network reports on an e-discussion on building the resilience of mountain communities to climate change held in May 2008. |
The Bonn Climate Change Talks took place in June 2008. Newswatch editors Mick Kelly and Sarah Granich report on these negotiations and on related developments.
The pace of the climate negotiations has quickened in order to meet the deadline set by the Bali Action Plan. Newswatch editor Mick Kelly reports.
Interview
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"Important data rescue efforts focusing on developing countries around the world exist, but often just barely. These activities are generally lacking in ongoing funding support, personnel and overall infrastructure." |
In a Newswatch interview, Rob Allan discusses new work aimed at extending the instrumental climate record that should benefit the scientific community, policy makers and everyday users of climate information.
Recent e-publications
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Solar Generation V, from Greenpeace and the European Photovoltaic Association, reviews the latest developments in solar power generation. Published September 2008 |
Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment, from the United Nations Environment Programme, provides graphic images of environmental trends across the African continent. Published June 2008
World Bank: Climate Profiteer, from the Institute of Policy Studies, argues that the World Bank irresponsibly and recklessly continues to perpetuate the world’s dependence on climate-altering fossil fuels while profiting from carbon trading. Published April 2008
Current climate
Monthly climate indicators |
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Global surface air temperature courtesy of the
Hadley Centre |
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Webcam skyviewsCreate a mosaic of webcam images to monitor
the weather at selected sites around the world |
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Current emergencies |
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General links |
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El Niño-Southern Oscillation Phenomenon (ENSO) |
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Tropical storms |
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Food security |
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Other events |
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The Final Word
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"The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiation process must not be viewed as a traditional series of governmental trade-offs, but as an urgent international effort to safeguard human lives, homes, rights and livelihoods." |
In Key Climate Treaty Components, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom stresses the human aspects of climate change and describes the key components of a good post-2012 climate agreement.
Bright Ideas
During play, the Energy Merry-go-round generates electricity that is transferred to a battery and 220V invertor for use in the classroom
Waste Management provides home recycling kits for compact fluorescent bulbs, batteries and electronics
Norwegian music festivals, Canal Street and Hove, have joined the Climate Neutral Network
The PlayPump water system doubles as a water pump and a merry-go-round for children
Honda is leasing the hydrogen-powered fuel cell FCX Clarity to private individuals in southern California
TIDE, in southern India, markets energy-efficient stoves that reduce fuelwood use by as much as 30 per cent
Curitiba's BioCity Program (0.3Mb download) aims to halt the rapid rate at which cities develop and reduce biodiversity loss
The CooKit is an inexpensive, lightweight solar cooker that can save scarce fuel in poor communities and be swiftly deployed in emergencies (video)
Kungsbrohuset, a new building to be built by Jernhusen in Stockholm, will be heated partly by body heat from the people who pass through the nearby Central Station
Petrotec produces biodiesel from multiple feedstocks, including waste frying oils, animal fats and virgin vegetable fats and oils
Over 90 per cent of waste materials generated during construction of the eco-friendly Del Sur Ranch House were diverted from landfills
New Belgium's brew kettle is up to 70 per cent more efficient than standard brew kettles because it only heats thin sheets of wort
Tiempo Climate Newswatch
Updated: October 5th 2008