The United Nations climate panel faces a new challenge with scientists casting doubt on its claim that global temperatures are rising inexorably because of human pollution.
In its last assessment the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said the evidence that the world was warming was “unequivocal”.
It warned that greenhouse gases had already heated the world by 0.7C and that there could be 5C-6C more warming by 2100, with devastating impacts on humanity and wildlife. However, new research, including work by British scientists, is casting doubt on such claims. Some even suggest the world may not be warming much at all.
“The temperature records cannot be relied on as indicators of global change,” said John Christy, professor of atmospheric science at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, a The doubts of Christy and a number of other researchers focus on the thousands of weather stations around the world, which have been used to collect temperature data over the past 150 years.
These stations, they believe, have been seriously compromised by factors such as urbanisation, changes in land use and, in many cases, being moved from site to site.
Christy has published research papers looking at these effects in three different regions: east Africa, and the American states of California and Alabama.
“The story is the same for each one,” he said. “The popular data sets show a lot of warming but the apparent temperature rise was actually caused by local factors affecting the weather stations, such as land development.”
The IPCC faces similar criticisms from Ross McKitrick, professor of economics at the University of Guelph, Canada, who was invited by the panel to review its last report.
The experience turned him into a strong critic and he has since published a research paper questioning its methods.
“We concluded, with overwhelming statistical significance, that the IPCC’s climate data are contaminated with surface effects from industrialisation and data quality problems. These add up to a large warming bias,” he said.
Such warnings are supported by a study of US weather stations co-written by Anthony Watts, an American meteorologist and climate change sceptic.
His study, which has not been peer reviewed, is illustrated with photographs of weather stations in locations where their readings are distorted by heat-generating equipment.
Some are next to air- conditioning units or are on waste treatment plants. One of the most infamous shows a weather station next to a waste incinerator.
Watts has also found examples overseas, such as the weather station at Rome airport, which catches the hot exhaust fumes emitted by taxiing jets.
In Britain, a weather station at Manchester airport was built when the surrounding land was mainly fields but is now surrounded by heat-generating buildings.
Terry Mills, professor of applied statistics and econometrics at Loughborough University, looked at the same data as the IPCC. He found that the warming trend it reported over the past 30 years or so was just as likely to be due to random fluctuations as to the impacts of greenhouse gases. Mills’s findings are to be published in Climatic Change, an environmental journal.
“The earth has gone through warming spells like these at least twice before in the last 1,000 years,” he said.
Kevin Trenberth, a lead author of the chapter of the IPCC report that deals with the observed temperature changes, said he accepted there were problems with the global thermometer record but these had been accounted for in the final report.
“It’s not just temperature rises that tell us the world is warming,” he said. “We also have physical changes like the fact that sea levels have risen around five inches since 1972, the Arctic icecap has declined by 40% and snow cover in the northern hemisphere has declined.”
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts has recently issued a new set of global temperature readings covering the past 30 years, with thermometer readings augmented by satellite data.
Dr Vicky Pope, head of climate change advice at the Met Office, said: “This new set of data confirms the trend towards rising global temperatures and suggest that, if anything, the world is warming even more quickly than we had thought.”
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Monday, December 21, 2009
ReusableBags.com Wins Green America’s People’s Choice Award for the Second Time
Last month at the San Francisco Green Festival, ReusableBags.com received Green America’s second-ever Longtime Leadership Award, which honors businesses that take the top spot in the People’s Choice contest more than once.
ReusableBags.com previously won Green America’s People’s Choice Award in 2007. Since launching in 2003, the company has grown to provide hundreds of high-quality reusables in more than 30 categories, has empowered 210,000+ customers to save an astounding 800,000,000 use-and-toss items and has been an important catalyst in the broad reusables movement. ReusableBags.com also serves as an information hub, providing myth-busting articles, news and more on issues related to over-consumption.
“We’ve always been about much more than just bags. Reuseit.com - the new name for our store - accurately reflects our growing family of practical, high-quality reusables for every part of your life,” said Vincent Cobb, founder of ReusableBags.com. “From day one, it’s been our mission to empower people with the best tools to break their addiction to disposables.”
The Green America People’s Choice Award winners were chosen by individual voters across the country. Each year, thousands of consumers nationwide take part in a Green America online questionnaire to select their favorite green businesses, and nominees are then narrowed to the top ten. The public was then invited to vote for their favorite amongst the ten finalists, and fifteen thousand people participated. Reusablebags.com just edged out finalist Care2.com for the most number of votes. Both Care2.com and Lunapads International also took home awards at this year’s event. Past winners include IdealBite and Ten Thousand Villages.
“It is truly exciting to see tens of thousands of environmentally and socially conscious consumers from around the country take part in voting for their favorite green business this year.” said Green America’s Green Business Director, Denise Hamler. “All of this year’s finalists are leaders in creating a green economy and we thank each of them for their leadership in demonstrating that successful businesses can also uphold the highest environmental and social values.”
Green America (http://www.GreenAmericaToday.org) is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1982 with the mission to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—and to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
About ReusableBags.com
The Reusablebags.com store (soon to be Reuseit.com) is the leading online source for high-quality reusable products and the site provides information on the problems related to over-consumption of use-and-toss items. Recognized as a leader and innovator, the company won the prestigious Green Business of the Year, People's Choice Award in 2007 and is a BizRate Circle of Excellence Gold Honoree. Reusablebags.com/Reuseit.com is an authentic, triple-bottom-line company, supporting Fair Trade Practices and donating one percent of all sales to environmental causes through 1% For the Planet. The site has been featured in hundreds of news stories, including NPR's Marketplace, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and was endorsed in An Inconvenient Truth.
ReusableBags.com previously won Green America’s People’s Choice Award in 2007. Since launching in 2003, the company has grown to provide hundreds of high-quality reusables in more than 30 categories, has empowered 210,000+ customers to save an astounding 800,000,000 use-and-toss items and has been an important catalyst in the broad reusables movement. ReusableBags.com also serves as an information hub, providing myth-busting articles, news and more on issues related to over-consumption.
“We’ve always been about much more than just bags. Reuseit.com - the new name for our store - accurately reflects our growing family of practical, high-quality reusables for every part of your life,” said Vincent Cobb, founder of ReusableBags.com. “From day one, it’s been our mission to empower people with the best tools to break their addiction to disposables.”
The Green America People’s Choice Award winners were chosen by individual voters across the country. Each year, thousands of consumers nationwide take part in a Green America online questionnaire to select their favorite green businesses, and nominees are then narrowed to the top ten. The public was then invited to vote for their favorite amongst the ten finalists, and fifteen thousand people participated. Reusablebags.com just edged out finalist Care2.com for the most number of votes. Both Care2.com and Lunapads International also took home awards at this year’s event. Past winners include IdealBite and Ten Thousand Villages.
“It is truly exciting to see tens of thousands of environmentally and socially conscious consumers from around the country take part in voting for their favorite green business this year.” said Green America’s Green Business Director, Denise Hamler. “All of this year’s finalists are leaders in creating a green economy and we thank each of them for their leadership in demonstrating that successful businesses can also uphold the highest environmental and social values.”
Green America (http://www.GreenAmericaToday.org) is a non-profit membership organization founded in 1982 with the mission to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—and to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.
About ReusableBags.com
The Reusablebags.com store (soon to be Reuseit.com) is the leading online source for high-quality reusable products and the site provides information on the problems related to over-consumption of use-and-toss items. Recognized as a leader and innovator, the company won the prestigious Green Business of the Year, People's Choice Award in 2007 and is a BizRate Circle of Excellence Gold Honoree. Reusablebags.com/Reuseit.com is an authentic, triple-bottom-line company, supporting Fair Trade Practices and donating one percent of all sales to environmental causes through 1% For the Planet. The site has been featured in hundreds of news stories, including NPR's Marketplace, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal and was endorsed in An Inconvenient Truth.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Refugees flee drought, war in East Africa
East Africa's 'climate refugees'
Ahead of the global climate talks in December 2009, nine photographers from the photo agency NOOR photographed climate stories from around the world. Their goal: to document some of the causes and consequences, from deforestation to changing sea levels, as well as the people whose lives and jobs are part of the carbon culture.
A woman waits to be processed into Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp. Located in Kenya 55 miles from the Somali border, the overcrowded camp houses many people fleeing violence in Somalia. Others have fled their homes due to famine and severe drought, a category now being described as "climate refugees."
A woman waits to be processed into Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp. Located in Kenya 55 miles from the Somali border, the overcrowded camp houses many people fleeing violence in Somalia. Others have fled their homes due to famine and severe drought, a category now being described as "climate refugees."
Coal dependence darkens skies of Poland
Poland's coal industry
Ahead of the global climate talks in December 2009, nine photographers from the photo agency NOOR photographed climate stories from around the world. Their goal: to document some of the causes and consequences, from deforestation to changing sea levels, as well as the people whose lives and jobs are part of the carbon culture.
Poland has long relied on coal for its energy, using mostly antiquated equipment like this extractor at the Adamow field in Turek. The country uses coal for 94 percent of its energy needs, among the highest rates anywhere. Plans are to reduce that to 60 percent in 2030 via a nuclear plant, natural gas and wind and solar power.
Poland has long relied on coal for its energy, using mostly antiquated equipment like this extractor at the Adamow field in Turek. The country uses coal for 94 percent of its energy needs, among the highest rates anywhere. Plans are to reduce that to 60 percent in 2030 via a nuclear plant, natural gas and wind and solar power.
India urges deal on climate change solution by 2010
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday ruled out that India would compromise its stand on climate change and urged that the world reach a deal by 2010.
Ramesh told reporters at the Copenhagen climate change summit that the text of a political statement would be ready before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other world leaders reach Copenhagen for the final leg of the 12-day talks.
"I have clearly and categorically stated on behalf of the government of India that our Prime Minister is not coming here to negotiate the text," he said.
"India would not compromise on ‘teen murti’ (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol and Bali Action Plan)," said Ramesh ahead of Monday’s high-level segment which would see participation of environment ministers from across the globe.
"We must get an agreement in 2010," he said, adding that the text of the political statement should be ready by December 15.
Informal talks among world environment ministers on the draft deal, which has been criticised by rich and developing nations, continued over the weekend with the hope that they could agree on a text that could be put before the heads of state and government assembling for the plenary here later next week.
The highlight of the past week was an attempt by tiny Pacific Island nation Tuvalu to stall the negotiations by staging a walkout as the chair of the conference refused to take up its proposal for limiting the global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius from the pre-industrial years.
However, Danish Minister Connie Hedegaard, chairing the talks, insisted that procedural advances in the first six days had been "fantastic."
"The core discussions... have really started," she said adding the delegates "still have a daunting task in front of us over the next few days."
Ramesh, who is here to participate in the ministerial meet, has said India will play a constructive role in the climate negotiations but slammed efforts of rich nations to make domestic emission reduction claims by developing nations legally-binding and verifiable
Finally, America takes the lead on climate change
President Barack Obama's appearance at the U.N. climate change summit in Copenhagen this week will draw the spotlight. But one of the most important developments in the fight against global warming took place in Washington on Monday, when the Environmental Protection Agency ruled that greenhouse gases pose a danger to public health and the environment. This paves the way to regulate them.
With the ruling, the Obama administration sent a clear signal to Congress, to polluters, to climate-change deniers and to negotiators in Denmark trying to hammer out an agreement to replace the expiring Kyoto accord: After years of inaction, America is ready to lead. Senators reacted quickly. They recognize that it's their job, not the EPA's, to figure out how to limit emissions of heat-trapping gases such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Democrat John Kerry, Independent Joe Lieberman and Republican Lindsey Graham offered more details of their tri-partisan plan to cut emissions by 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, with a long-term target of reducing them by 80 percent. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Susan Collins announced a competing proposal. The House passed its version in June.
Senate legislation isn't likely to be heard until spring, and both plans announced last week are too meek. But the discussion itself is what's important. Obama's leadership has led to renewed hope that the Denmark conference may produce tangible results, if not
The controversy over the e-mails dubbed "Climategate" won't stall progress toward a global treaty that can be signed by the United States. Improper behavior by a group of researchers doesn't change the science, which is as clear about the Earth's warming as it is about gravity. Fifty years from now, this incident will be at most a footnote in what by then will be a history of rising seas.
The question for doubters to grapple with now is: What will be the consequences of inaction?
Economically, they could be dire. While the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others claim regulation would be a job killer, it's increasingly apparent that green businesses will fuel the next boom. Their success will be necessary if the nation hopes to compete globally — let alone help to slow climate change.
Look at California. Its governments and businesses have been far ahead in fostering a green economy, and a study last week showed the results: From January 2007 to 2008, the number of green jobs in the state increased 5 percent, while the overall number of jobs declined 1 percent.
But economics are a minor concern compared with what worries the people of countries like Tuvalu, located halfway between Hawaii and Australia. If temperatures don't stop rising, the entire island could be under water by the end of the century.
That reality is finally leading to action, in Copenhagen and in Washington.
Major emitters must join climate pact: Australia
Australia fears rising temperatures will trigger more intense bushfires and greater extremes of droughts and floods, threatening crops and livelihoods. It says all major greenhouse gas emitters should sign up to legally binding steps to reduce emissions.
"This is one of those situations where we're all in it," Australian Climate Change Minister Penny Wong told Reuters in an interview.
Draft U.N. climate text at climate talks in Copenhagen says the world should halve emissions by 2050, with rich nations making the largest portion of cuts.
The text only mentions that big developing nation emitters should take aspirational steps to curb the output of planet-warming gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels, language many rich nations say is unacceptable.
"That text is a reflection of where negotiators have got to but it's a long way from what we need and a long way from what we need to be working with," Wong said.
Australia, among the world's highest per-capita carbon emitters, says it will offer cash to help the developing world cope with climate change. It plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions between 5 and 25 percent below 2000 levels by 2020.
Negotiators from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Copenhagen during Dec 7-18 talks to try to finalize what hosts Denmark hopes will be a political agreement that ramps up the fight against climate warming.
More than 110 world leaders descend on Copenhagen next week to attend a summit to try to clinch a deal on deeper emissions cuts by rich nations, steps by developing nations their carbon pollution and finance to help the poor adapt to climate change.
The United Nations has said a full, legal treaty to expand or replace the existing Kyoto Protocol is out of reach at the talks after two years of troubled negotiations and is likely to be agreed some time in 2010.
Wong said it was crucial ministers and world leaders give the talks a stronger focus and that it was time to overcome the entrenched positions of a few people.
"Fundamentally what we need now is political ownership of these negotiations. This can no longer be about just one or two people putting a particular position that they've put for the past two years."
Host Denmark has given Australia a special role at the talks to try to help get an agreement.
"My view is very much that we need the key issues that are beyond agreement, beyond the possibility of agreement at the official level, being elevated to ministers and then to leaders.
She said agreeing on a global deal to limit the average rise in global temperatures to 2 degree Celsius needed participation from all major emitters.
"We're not going to get that unless we're able to expand the circle, expand the number of countries who are prepared to put actions on the table, who are prepared to come into an international arrangement."
"This is one of those situations where we're all in it," Australian Climate Change Minister Penny Wong told Reuters in an interview.
Draft U.N. climate text at climate talks in Copenhagen says the world should halve emissions by 2050, with rich nations making the largest portion of cuts.
The text only mentions that big developing nation emitters should take aspirational steps to curb the output of planet-warming gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels, language many rich nations say is unacceptable.
"That text is a reflection of where negotiators have got to but it's a long way from what we need and a long way from what we need to be working with," Wong said.
Australia, among the world's highest per-capita carbon emitters, says it will offer cash to help the developing world cope with climate change. It plans to cut its greenhouse gas emissions between 5 and 25 percent below 2000 levels by 2020.
Negotiators from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Copenhagen during Dec 7-18 talks to try to finalize what hosts Denmark hopes will be a political agreement that ramps up the fight against climate warming.
More than 110 world leaders descend on Copenhagen next week to attend a summit to try to clinch a deal on deeper emissions cuts by rich nations, steps by developing nations their carbon pollution and finance to help the poor adapt to climate change.
The United Nations has said a full, legal treaty to expand or replace the existing Kyoto Protocol is out of reach at the talks after two years of troubled negotiations and is likely to be agreed some time in 2010.
Wong said it was crucial ministers and world leaders give the talks a stronger focus and that it was time to overcome the entrenched positions of a few people.
"Fundamentally what we need now is political ownership of these negotiations. This can no longer be about just one or two people putting a particular position that they've put for the past two years."
Host Denmark has given Australia a special role at the talks to try to help get an agreement.
"My view is very much that we need the key issues that are beyond agreement, beyond the possibility of agreement at the official level, being elevated to ministers and then to leaders.
She said agreeing on a global deal to limit the average rise in global temperatures to 2 degree Celsius needed participation from all major emitters.
"We're not going to get that unless we're able to expand the circle, expand the number of countries who are prepared to put actions on the table, who are prepared to come into an international arrangement."
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