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Tiempo Climate Newswatch

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Action point

Jim Salinger

Jim Salinger describes his priority for action on global warming. You can play the low bandwidth or the high bandwidth version

More action points...

Featured sites

The Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) project provides access to documents, data, photos, maps and other resources concerning this critical issue.

The World Ocean Observatory provides a place of exchange for ocean information, education and public discourse about the future of the ocean and its implication for human survival.

AdaptNet is a community of adaptation specialists, sharing the latest information on adaptation strategies, measures, tools, research and analysis, and highlighting best practice and implementation. The network focuses on cities in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, but nested within the global network of cities.

In the Morning of a Day provides activists and event organizers with an opportunity to announce and promote their events and actions about global warming.

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.

More featured sites...

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.

Global Deserts Outlook
Global Deserts Outlook

Electronic reports and other publications covering climate and development issues available on the Web.
 

A Preliminary Assessment of Energy and Ecosystem Resilience in Ten African Countries
A Preliminary Assessment of Energy and Ecosystem Resilience in Ten African Countries, from Helios International, is a preliminary attempt to identify points of vulnerability as they relate to climate change-related events and sketch out what changes are needed, both politically and programmatically, to increase resilience. Published 2007

Adapting to Climate Change
Adapting to Climate Change, from Oxfam, discusses what's needed in poor countries and who should pay. Published May 2007

Africa Environment Outlook-2
Africa Environment Outlook-2, from the United Nations Environment Programme, highlights the central position Africa’s environment continues to play in sustainable development, enhancing human well-being, as well as its potential to achieve tremendous progress in the implementation of the Millenium Development Goals. Published June 2006

Africa: Atlas of Our Changing Environment
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

Asian Water Development Outlook 2007
Asian Water Development Outlook 2007, from the Asian Development Bank, argues that developing Asian countries should not experience a water crisis in the future - there is now enough knowledge, technology, and expertise available in the region to solve its existing and future water problems. If some Asian countries face a crisis in the future, inadequate or inappropriate water governance, not physical scarcity of water, will be the likely reason. Published November 2007

At Loggerheads? Agricultural Expansion, Poverty Reduction, and Environment in the Tropical Forests
At Loggerheads?, from the World Bank, applies a critical lens to the complicated relationships between agriculture, poverty and the environment in tropical forests. Published October 2006

At the Desert's Edge
At the Desert's Edge, from Panos, explores the culture, history and environment of eight countries in Africa’s Sahel region through the memories and recollections of its people. Published 1992

Building Biodiversity Business
Building Biodiversity Business, from Shell and IUCN, argues that there is a need to develop new business models and market mechanisms for biodiversity conservation and to persuade the public and policy makers that biodiversity (or component ecosystem services) can be conserved on a commercial basis. Published March 2008

Buildings and Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Opportunities
Buildings and Climate Change: Status, Challenges and Opportunities, from UNEP, says many opportunities exist for governments, industry and consumers to take appropriate actions during the life span of buildings that will help mitigate the impacts of global warming. Published March 2007

Challenges to International Waters: Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective
Challenges to International Waters, from the Global International Waters Assessment, summarizes the major transboundary concerns and their environmental and socio-economic impacts. It identifies the root causes and draws policy relevant conclusions and outlines knowledge gaps which impede the sustainable management of international waters. The regional reports are also available for download. Published February 2006

Changing Climates, the Role of Renewable Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World
Renewable energy must play a major role in the global energy supply to meet the increasingly serious environmental and economic threats of climate change, according to Changing Climates, the Role of Renewable Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World from the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century. Published February 2006

Clean Development through Cogeneration
Clean Development through Cogeneration, from the World Alliance for Decentralized Energy, highlights the global potential for decentralized energy to improve the environment and the corporate bottom line in the context of the Clean Development Mechanism.

Clean Edge Reports
Clean Edge publishes periodic reports focusing on clean technology issues for both innovators and investors. Free registration required.

Climate Change Threat to Pacific Ocean Mangroves
Climate Change Threat to Pacific Ocean Mangroves, from the United Nations Environment Programme, defines the potential impact on this valuable ecosystem, as well as current pressures, and options for sustainable management. Published July 2006

Climate Change and Development Links
This paper describes the independent evolution of climate change and development discourses, and provides some explanation as to why the two fields have operated largely independently from one another. Recent initiatives to strengthen links between the climate change and development communities are also described. Published May 2006

Climate Change and Human Health - Risks and Responses
Climate Change and Human Health - Risks and Responses, from the World Health Organization, seeks to describe the context and process of global climate change, its actual or likely impacts on health, and how human societies and their governments should respond with particular focus on the health sector. Published 2003

Climate Change, Seasonality and Environmental Hazards in Southeast Asia
Report of a conference on climate change, seasonality and environmental hazards in Southeast Asia, organized by the Center for Capacity Building, and held in Bangkok, Thailand. Published March 2006

Climate Change: Potential Effects on Human Health in New Zealand (0.4Mb download)
Climate Change: Potential Effects on Human Health in New Zealand, from the New Zealand Ministry for the Environment, considers the implications of climate change for human health in New Zealand. Published September 2001

Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast: Science, Impacts, and Solutions
Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast: Science, Impacts, and Solutions is the 2007 report from the Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment (NECIA). The NECIA is a collaborative effort between the Union of Concerned Scientists and a team of independent experts using state-of-the-art tools to assess how global warming will affect the northeastern United States.

Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the Unmanageable and Managing the Unavoidable
Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the Unmanageable and Managing the Unavoidable, from the United Nations Foundation and Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society, outlines the best measures for mitigating and adapting to global warming.

Coral Reef Resilience and Resistance to Bleaching
Coral Reef Resilience and Resistance to Bleaching, from the World Conservation Union and the Nature Conservancy, shows that the fate of corals may not yet be sealed. By fighting other stress factors such as pollution or overfishing impacting on coral reefs, reefs will be able to better adapt to climate change impacts. Published October 2006

Crisis or Opportunity: Climate Change and Thailand
Crisis or Opportunity: Climate Change and Thailand, from Greenpeace, gathers information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change together with studies conducted in Thailand in order to enhance the understanding and awareness of climate change impacts among the local people. Published July 2006

Desertification and the International Policy Imperative
Desertification and the International Policy Imperative, from UNU-INWEH, documents the proceedings of an international assessment of the desertification problem. Published June 2007

Domestic Tradable Quotas:
Domestic Tradable Quotas (0.7Mb download), from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, discusses an emissions trading scheme for individuals intended to involve the public in carbon reduction. Published December 2005

Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Considerations for On-road Transport in Asia
Energy Efficiency and Climate Change Considerations for On-road Transport in Asia is a contribution to the development, by the Asian Development Bank, of a policy framework to guide investments and address energy efficiency and climate change in the transport sector in Asia. Published May 2006

Environmental Performance Index
The Environmental Performance Index, from Yale University and Columbia University, identifies broadly-accepted targets for environmental performance and measures how close each country comes to these goals. Published annually

Global Burden of Disease from Solar Ultraviolet Radiation
Global Burden of Disease from Solar Ultraviolet Radiation, from the World health Organization, quantifies the risks associated with increased ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The information presented forms a knowledge base for the prevention of adverse effects of UV exposure that is achievable with known and accessible interventions. Published July 2006

Global Deserts Outlook
The Global Deserts Outlook, from the United Nations Environment Programme, presents a panorama of the environmental status of the world’s deserts: their location and extent, uniqueness and vulnerability, biodiversity and natural resources. Published June 2006

Global Environment Outlook
The Global Environment Outlook (GEO) project, from the United Nations, has published four reports between 1997 and 2007 on environment, development and human well-being.

Global Outlook for Ice and Snow
Global Outlook for Ice and Snow, from UNEP, reports on future prospects for the world's snow and ice cover. Published June 2007

Global Survey of Early Warning Systems
The Global Survey of Early Warning Systems is an assessment of capacities, gaps and opportunities towards building a comprehensive global early warning system for all natural hazards. It was prepared at the request of the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Published September 2006

Heating Up the Planet: Climate Change and Security
Heating Up the Planet: Climate Change and Security, from the Lowy Institute, details the international security consequences of climate change, especially for the Asia-Pacific sector. Published June 2006

How to Save the Climate (0.7Mb download)
How to Save the Climate, from Greenpeace, provides a concise guide to actions everybody can take to protect global climate.

Human Development Reports
The Human Development Reports, from UNDP, frame debates on some of the most pressing challenges facing humanity. The 2007 edition features climate change. Published annually

Human Health & Global Climate Change: A Review of Potential Impacts in the United States
Human Health & Global Climate Change, from the Pew Center, reports on potential climate effects on human health in the United States. Published December 2000

Human Health and Climate Change in Oceania: A Risk Assessment 2002
Human Health and Climate Change in Oceania: A Risk Assessment 2002, from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, provides a risk assessment of various potential health impacts of climate change over the coming decades in Australia and, in specified instances, neighbouring populations of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Published April 2003

Human Health and Climate Change in Oceania: A Risk Assessment 2002
Human Health and Climate Change in Oceania: A Risk Assessment 2002, from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing, provides a risk assessment of various potential health impacts of climate change over the coming decades in Australia and, in specified instances, neighbouring populations of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Published April 2003

Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs and Other Marine Calcifiers (9Mb download)
Technical report, prepared by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, on the findings that rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations will cause changes in the ocean’s carbonate chemistry system and affect fundamental biological and geochemical processes. Published July 2006

In Dead Water
In Dead Water, from the United Nations Environment Programme, defines climate change as the latest threat to the world's dwindling fish stocks. Published February 2008

Investment and Financial Flows Relevant to the Development of Effective and Appropriate International Response to Climate Change
Investment and Financial Flows, from the UNFCCC Secretariat, reviews and analyzes investment and financial flows relevant to the development of an effective and appropriate international response to climate change, with particular focus on developing country's needs, including their medium-to long-term requirements for investment and finance. Published August 2007

Lighting the Way: Towards a Sustainable Energy Future
Lighting the Way, from the InterAcademy Council, identifies a scientific consensus framework for directing global energy development. It lays out the science, technology and policy roadmap for developing energy resources to drive economic growth in both industrialized and developing countries while also securing climate protection and global development goals.

Livestock's Long Shadow
Livestock's Long Shadow, from the Livestock, Environment and Development Initiative, aims to assess the full impact of the livestock sector on environmental problems, along with potential technical and policy approaches to mitigation. Published November 2006

Living Planet Report
The Living Planet Report, from WWF, is a periodic update on the state of the world's ecosystems. It describes the changing state of global biodiversity and the pressure on the biosphere arising from human consumption of natural resources. Published annually

Local Action for Biodiversity: a Series of Case Studies
Local Action for Biodiversity, from the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives, presents a set of case studies documenting action to improve biodiversity by cities around the world. Published: May 2008

Managing Mangroves for Resilience to Climate Change
Managing Mangroves for Resilience to Climate Change, from the World Conservation Union and the Nature Conservancy, details a series of strategies and tools to fight the non-climatic stress factors to help mangroves survive in the face of climate change. Published October 2006

Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Poverty in Africa (2.2Mb download)
Mapping Climate Vulnerability and Poverty in Africa, from the International Livestock Research Institute, identifies areas that appear to be particularly prone to climate change impacts, considers the biophysical and social vulnerability of these and other areas and assesses the use of climate information in decisionmaking. Published May 2006

Marine and Coastal Ecosystems & Human Well-being: Synthesis
Marine and Coastal Ecosystems & Human Well-being: Synthesis, from UNEP, sets out to provide answers to a series of questions: What is the current status of marine and coastal ecosystems? What are the drivers of change in marine and coastal ecosystems? Why should we care if we lose marine and coastal ecosystems? What can be done to ensure that marine and coastal ecosystems and services are conserved? Published June 2006

One Planet Many People
Through a combination of ground photographs, current and historical satellite images, and narrative based on extensive scientific evidence, One Planet Many People illustrates how humans have altered their surroundings and continue to make observable and measurable changes to the global environment. Full text and powerpoints are available. Published June 2005

Opportunities for Avoided Deforestation with Sustainable Benefits
Opportunities for Avoided Deforestation with Sustainable Benefits, from the Consultative Group for International Research in Agriculture, concludes that abatement costs of avoided deforestation could be more cost effective than other climate change mitigation activities. With the right policy incentives, there could be significant benefits to smallholder farmers, to ecosystems, and to the global climate. Published November 2007

Our Climate, Our Children, Our Responsibility
Our Climate, Our Children, Our Responsibility, from UNICEF UK, draws attention to the specific risks associated with climate change faced by children, who are more vulnerable and in no way responsible for their position. Published April 2008

Pacific Plan Online
Pacific Leaders have called for the serious challenges facing the countries of the Pacific to be met through sharing scarce resources and aligning policies to strengthen national capacities to support their people. The Pacific Plan aims to strengthen regional cooperation and integration as the main instrument for realizing this Pacific Vision.

Poverty, Health, and Ecosystems: Experience from Asia
Poverty, Health, and Ecosystems, from the World Conservation Union, highlights the challenges faced by poor and often resource-dependent households across Asia. Published August 2006

Preparing for a Sea Change
Preparing for a Sea Change - A Strategy to Cope with the Impacts of Global Warming on the State’s Coastal and Marine Systems, from the Natural Resources Defense Council, is intended to provide guidelines for concrete, science-based action on the critical issues Florida faces in light of global warming and to stimulate informed debate for the preservation of the signature natural resources that make her unique. Published May 2008

Rain Water Harvesting
Rain Water Harvesting, from the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Agroforestry Centre, underlines the massive potential of rainwater harvesting in Africa

Rich Countries, Poor Water
Rich Countries, Poor Water, from WWF, warns that water crises, long seen as a problem of only the poorest, are increasingly affecting some of the world's wealthiest nations. Published August 2006

Smoke, Mirrors & Hot Air
Smoke, Mirrors & Hot Air, from the Union of Concerned Scientists, documents ExxonMobil's disinformation campaign on global warming science. Published January 2007

Special Report on the Arctic Wildlife Refuge
The Special Report on the Arctic Wildlife Refuge by Norman Chance discusses the debate over drilling for oil in this pristine habitat. Published November 2002

State of the Marine Environment: Trends and Processes (6.9Mb download)
State of the Marine Environment: Trends and Processes, from the United Nations Environment Programme, gives a broad global perspective on land-based threats to the marine environment, providing regional and sometimes national examples. Related reports are available from the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities. Published October 2006

Stern Review
The Stern Review, which was commissioned by the British government, considers the economic impacts of future climate trends and the costs of taking action to avert the threat by reducing emissions and limiting impacts. Published October 2006

The Climate of Poverty
In The Climate of Poverty, British charity Christian Aid claims that a "staggering 182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa alone could die of disease directly attributable to climate change by the end of the century." Published May 2006

The Future Oceans - Warming Up, Rising High, Turning Sour
The Future Oceans - Warming Up, Rising High, Turning Sour, from the German advisory Council on Climate Change, argues that failure to check carbon emissions will have severe consequences for the world's oceans: continuing warming and ongoing acidification both pose threats. Published March 2006

The Impacts of Climate Change in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (1.2Mb download)
The Impacts of Climate Change in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta, from Civic Exchange, provides broad-brush view of how climate change may affect the region. A Powerpoint presentation is available in pdf format. Published November 2006

The Millennium Development Goals: Progress in Asia and the Pacific 2006
The Millennium Development Goals: Progress in Asia and the Pacific, from the Asian Development Bank, highlights the region’s achievements and exposes issues on which much work remains to be done. Published October 2006

The US Economic Impacts of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction
The US Economic Impacts of Climate Change and the Costs of Inaction, from the Center for Integrative Environmental Research, presents an overview of climate impacts on various economic sectors in the United States, organized by region. Published October 2007

The World Food Situation: New Driving Forces and Required Actions
The World Food Situation, from the International Food Policy Research Institute, provides an assessment of global food supplies and prices. It concludes that business as usual could mean increased misery, especially for the world's poorest populations. A mix of policy actions that avoids damage and fosters positive responses is required. Published December 2007

Too Hot to Handle?
Too Hot to Handle?, from the Oxford Research Group, concludes that nuclear power still poses all of its traditional problems and cannot help with climate change. Published July 2007

UNEP Year Book
The UNEP Year Book, produced by the United Nations Environment Programme, is an annual report on the changing global environment. It was formerly titled the GEO Year Book.

United States Climate Change Technology Program Strategic Plan
The Climate Change Technology Program Strategic Plan, from the United States Department of Energy, details measures to accelerate the development and reduce the cost of new and advanced technologies that avoid, reduce, or capture and store greenhouse gas emissions. Published September 2006

Up in Smoke
Up in Smoke, from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development, is a series of briefing documents, reviewing the latest available scientific research and evidence from those living on the front line of global warming. Alongside a global overview, regional reports cover Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Asia-Pacific region.

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change in Small Island Developing States
Background paper prepared for the UNFCCC Expert Meeting on Adaptation for Small Island Developing States, held in Kingston, Jamaica, February 2007. Published February 2007

Warm Words (0.5Mb download)
Warm Words, from the Institute for Public Policy Research, argues that the climate story needs to be told in a more shrewd and contemporary way, using subtle techniques of engagement. Published August 2006

Whatever the Weather
The media play an important role in stimulating discussion in developing countries. This report, from Panos, surveys attitudes of journalists towards the climate issue in a series of develo[ing countries. The results show that the media have a poor understanding of the climate change debate and express little interest in it. Published March 2006

World Bank: Climate Profiteer
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

World's Top Ten Rivers at Risk
World's Top Ten Rivers at Risk, from WWF, assesses the threats to the planet's major rivers. Published March 2007

Autogenerated: 25 Jul 2008

Bright Ideas

FCX Clarity

Honda is leasing the hydrogen-powered fuel cell FCX Clarity to private individuals in southern California

TIDE

TIDE, in southern India, markets energy-efficient stoves that reduce fuelwood use by as much as 30 per cent

BioCity Program

Curitiba's BioCity Program (0.3Mb download) aims to halt the rapid rate at which cities develop and reduce biodiversity loss

CooKit

The CooKit is an inexpensive, lightweight solar cooker that can save scarce fuel in poor communities and be swiftly deployed in emergencies (video)

Kungsbrohuset

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

Petrotec produces biodiesel from multiple feedstocks, including waste frying oils, animal fats and virgin vegetable fats and oils

Del Sur Ranch House

Over 90 per cent of waste materials generated during construction of the eco-friendly Del Sur Ranch House were diverted from landfills

New Belgium

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

Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan

The Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan presents a community-based strategy for coming down from the oil peak

Efficiencity

The Efficiencity virtual world shows how decentralized energy production leads to lower emissions, more secure supply and reduced bills

Climate Savers

Climate Savers corporations are partnering with WWF to establish ambitious targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions voluntarily

Ooms Avenhorn Holding BV

Energy collected from an asphalt road and parking lot heats an apartment building in Avenhorn, The Netherlands (further information from Ooms Avenhorn Holding BV, 0.3Mb download)

More Bright Ideas...

Tiempo Climate Newswatch
Updated: July 20th 2008