09 June 2007
From New Scientist Print Edition.
PRESIDENT George W. Bush a climate-change saviour? Remarkable as it seems, that was the opinion of some G8 leaders meeting in Germany this week as they prepared to issue a climate statement on Friday. However, others claim Bush's offer to chair talks on voluntary targets next year is in fact designed to wreck delicate UN negotiations.
British delegates hailed Bush's speech last week as the first time the US has committed to future targets on carbon dioxide emissions. In contrast, the Germans say that Bush is trying to sideline the long-established UN process of negotiating mandatory CO2 emissions cuts, which will resume in December.
"The Germans say Bush is trying to sideline the long-established UN negotiations"On Monday, UK environment secretary David Miliband appeared to offer the US a middle way that would allow it to make a commitment on its own terms, based on its existing obligation under the 1992 UN convention to prevent "dangerous climate change". Bush could, Miliband said, commit the US to a specific target for stabilising greenhouse gas concentrations, based on a scientific assessment of what would be needed to prevent dangerous climate change.
However, Bush's stance may be hardened this week by the publication of China's first national plan on climate change. China refuses to accept emissions targets and argues that it is under no obligation to do so, since if all rich nations reduced their per-capita CO2 emissions to those of China today, there would be no climate change problem.
Monday, 11 June 2007
Climate Change Increasing Intensity, Extent of Wildfire
By Crystal Davis on Friday, June 1, 2007.
In the year 2000, an estimated 350 million hectares of forests and woodlands were destroyed by fire. Although historical data is lacking, recent evidence suggests that climate change is resulting in forest fires of increased intensity and extent. However, people remain the biggest cause of uncontrolled vegetation fires, and future prevention and preparedness strategies will undoubtedly need to prioritize awareness campaigns and education. These issues were among those discussed by over 1,500 fire experts who gathered at the 4th International Wildland Fire Conference this month in Seville, Spain.
Fire plays a multifaceted role in maintaining landscapes and livelihoods around the world. Just as many ecosystems have evolved under natural fire regimes and require fire to maintain biological productivity, humans also utilize fire for various land management and agricultural goals. However, uncontrolled wildfires--exacerbated by climate change and insufficient preparedness and response--result in enormous social and economic damage. The costs of this damage, which are often underappreciated by society and particularly people in urban areas, include:
Short- and long-term health impacts
Release of carbon dioxide contributing to global warming
Lost recreational and biodiversity value
Cost of evacuation, response and material losses
Secondary effects such as soil erosion, landslides and flooding
Humans are the primary cause of wildfires in almost all regions of the world, although determining the source of a fire is sometimes difficult. Human activities that utilize fire typically involve land management activities such as shifting cultivation, maintenance of grasslands for livestock, extraction of non-wood forest products, industrial development, resettlement, and hunting. However, negligence and arson are also important factors. The Fire Management Global Assessment 2006 published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations offers the following recommendations to improve fire prevention and suppression worldwide:
Improving availability of reliable assessments of the extent and impact of wildfires
Raising awareness of the economic, social and environmental impacts of fires
Recognizing the role of community-based fire management
Strengthening institutions and defining roles for fire national management
Enhancing international and regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing
In the year 2000, an estimated 350 million hectares of forests and woodlands were destroyed by fire. Although historical data is lacking, recent evidence suggests that climate change is resulting in forest fires of increased intensity and extent. However, people remain the biggest cause of uncontrolled vegetation fires, and future prevention and preparedness strategies will undoubtedly need to prioritize awareness campaigns and education. These issues were among those discussed by over 1,500 fire experts who gathered at the 4th International Wildland Fire Conference this month in Seville, Spain.
Fire plays a multifaceted role in maintaining landscapes and livelihoods around the world. Just as many ecosystems have evolved under natural fire regimes and require fire to maintain biological productivity, humans also utilize fire for various land management and agricultural goals. However, uncontrolled wildfires--exacerbated by climate change and insufficient preparedness and response--result in enormous social and economic damage. The costs of this damage, which are often underappreciated by society and particularly people in urban areas, include:
Short- and long-term health impacts
Release of carbon dioxide contributing to global warming
Lost recreational and biodiversity value
Cost of evacuation, response and material losses
Secondary effects such as soil erosion, landslides and flooding
Humans are the primary cause of wildfires in almost all regions of the world, although determining the source of a fire is sometimes difficult. Human activities that utilize fire typically involve land management activities such as shifting cultivation, maintenance of grasslands for livestock, extraction of non-wood forest products, industrial development, resettlement, and hunting. However, negligence and arson are also important factors. The Fire Management Global Assessment 2006 published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations offers the following recommendations to improve fire prevention and suppression worldwide:
Improving availability of reliable assessments of the extent and impact of wildfires
Raising awareness of the economic, social and environmental impacts of fires
Recognizing the role of community-based fire management
Strengthening institutions and defining roles for fire national management
Enhancing international and regional collaboration and knowledge-sharing
Ken's Climate Change Strategy
Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London. London's Climate Change Action Plan - 'Action Today to Protect Tomorrow' - shows that Londoners don't have to reduce their quality of life to tackle climate change, but we do need to change the way we live. The Mayor launched four programmes which will form the basis of the Plan:* A Green Homes Programme* A Green Organisations Programme* A Green Energy Programme* A Green Transport ProgrammeHe announced that £78 million will be reprioritised over three years within existing Greater London Authority finances this year to launch these programmes.John Sauven, director of Greenpeace, said: 'Ken Livingstone is showing how the largest city in Europe can combat climate change. No other leader is on the same page.'The Government talks about cutting emissions, but is unwilling to confront the vested interests in the power sector, the building industry, the aviation lobby and the motor industry. Ken Livingstone is prepared to lead and take risks in responding to the challenge of climate change. The targets set in this report are demanding, but can be met with existing technologies. The Mayor is showing in London what is possible. Central government has yet to take such decisive steps.'In the past six years, the Thames Barrier, built to defend London from flooding, has been raised a staggering 56 times, compared with just three times in first six years after in was built in the 1980s.'We can lead the way with our actions in London, but curbing aviation growth and bringing radical policies like personal carbon allowances are down to central government. We need to see a real change at the top.'Nicky Gavron Deputy Mayor of London said: ' Cities have got to take the centre stage when it comes to combating climate change and London's leadership is crucial. Cities consume three quarters of the world's energy and are responsible for 75 per cent of all carbon emissions. Therefore we will fail in our efforts if the trend in cities is not reversed. Through our planning policies and the London Climate Change Agency we are spearheading a decentralised energy revolution. The government needs to remove the barriers currently holding back the roll out of decentralised energy and large-scale production of renewable gases and liquid fuel from waste. Remote centralised power stations are the single biggest barrier to reducing London's carbon emissions.'
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