Friday, 30 November 2007

PRINCE OF WALES� BUSINESS INITIATIVE ON CLIMATE IS �MAJOR STEP FORWARD�


Nov 30
Friends of the Earth Release

Today's call by over 150 business leaders from around the world [1] calling for a comprehensive, legally-binding UN framework to tackle climate change has been warmly welcomed by Friends of the Earth.
The initiative, has been led by HRH the Prince of Wales's UK and EU Corporate Leaders Groups on Climate Change, and comes ahead of the UN climate negotiations which start next week in Bali, Indonesia.
Friends of the Earth's director Tony Juniper said:
"This initiative from the Prince of Wales is a major step forward in facing the urgent challenges posed by global climate change. The opportunity for governments to agree the necessary reduction in emissions is now very much greater. Now we need real political leadership".
"The shift to a low carbon economy is not only an environmental imperative but also an unprecedented economic and social opportunity. Scaling up clean energy systems and using energy more efficiently could not only slash emissions but help to improve the quality of life for billions of people and create millions of jobs. However, time is now short and if we are to have a good chance of cutting emissions by a sufficient amount we need to act right away. That is why we need a strong outcome from the Bali talks, and why it is so important that so many companies have signalled their support for governments to negotiate a deal that is up to the task at hand".
Tony Juniper, who is also vice chair of Friends of the Earth International, will be attending the UN climate negotiations in Bali. A briefing on the Bali talks is available from Friends of the Earth.

http://www.balicommunique.com/

Latest IPPC Report

IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report

Sunday, 25 November 2007

Quickie slow one


The National Audit Office publishes a report on the work of the Carbon Trust. It finds that organisations could achieve greater reductions in carbon emissions, as less than 40 per cent of the carbon savings identified by the Carbon Trust between 2003 and 2006 have so far been implemented. Auditor general Sir John Bourn said: "The Carbon Trust needs to build on its good work and extend its drive to encourage business leaders to review the carbon footprint of their organisation and to take decisive action to reduce carbon dioxide emissions."

248 milliion people drowning

Oxfam is calling on governments to agree a mandate to negotiate a global deal that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide assistance to developing countries to cope with the impact of climate change when they meet at a UN conference in Bali next month.
It says rich countries must move first and fastest since they are most responsible for climate change.
Oxfam International - which has its administrative headquarters in Oxford - wants the governments of rich countries and the UN to make humanitarian aid faster, fairer and more flexible.
It also wants them to find better ways to prepare for disasters but also to reduce the risk.
Oxfam said the increase in extreme climatic events is in line with climate models developed by the international scientific community.
The report said the number of people affected by disasters has risen by 68%, from an average of 174 million a year between 1985 to 1994 to 254 million a year between 1995 to 2004. Earlier this year the Asian floods alone affected 248 million people.
There has been a six-fold increase in floods since 1980. The number of floods and wind-storms have risen from 60 in 1980 to 240 last year. The number of geothermal events, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, has stayed relatively static.