Tag Archives: global warming

Average temperature to rise by 4 degree Celsius

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The world is heading for an average temperature rise of nearly 4 degree Celsius, according to analysis of national pledges from around the globe. Such a rise would bring a high risk of major extinctions, threats to food supplies and the near total collapse of the huge Greenland ice sheet. More than 100 heads of state agreed in Copenhagen last December to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 – 2 degree Celsius above the long term average before the industrial revolution, which kick started a massive global increase in the greenhouse gases blamed for warming the planet and triggering climate change.            global warming

But six months on, a major international effort to monitor the emissions reductions targets of more than 60 countries, including all the major economies, the Climate Interactive Scoreboard, calculates that the world is on course for a rise of nearly double the stated goal by 2100. Another study by Climate Analysts at the Potsdam Institute in Germany suggests there is “virtually no change” world governments will keep the temperature rise below 2 degree Celsius. In the last assessment of the problem in 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on climate change (IPCC) forecasts that a rise of more than 2 degree Celsius would lead to potential increase in food production, but an increasingly high risk of extinction for 20-30 percent species, severe droughts, floods and a unstoppable “widespread to near total” loss of Greenland ice sheet over very long time periods.

however at 4 degree Celsius it predicted global food production was “very likely” to decrease, “major extinctions around the globe”, and near total loss of Greenland’s ice, precipitating 2-7 meters of sea level rise in the long term. The climate interactive Scoreboard, for which researchers check daily for updates in emissions or other targets which would reduce pollution such as reductions in energy intensity or increase in renewable energy, make a medium-range prediction of a 3.9 degree Celsius increase in temperatures, with a range of 2.3-6.2 degree Celsius, based on committed targets and a more encouraging 2.9 degree Celsius average, with a range of 1.7-4.6 degree Celsius based on “potential” commitments suggested but not enacted by many nations.

Climate Analytics and Ecofys, under the banner of Climate Action Tracker, estimate a range of 2.8-4.3 degree Celsius.

Warm Arctic releases toxic chemicals

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arcticThe researchers warn that the amount of the poisons in the polar region is unknown and their release could “undermine global efforts to reduce environmental and human exposure to them”.

The chemicals seeping out as temperatures rise include the pesticides DDT, lindane and chlordane as well as the industrial chemicals PCBs and the fungicide hexa-chlorobenzene (HCB). All of these are known as persistent organic pollutants (Pops), and are banned under the 2004 Stockholm convention.

Pops can cause cancers and birth defects and take a long time to degrade. Over past decades, the low temperatures in the Arctic trapped volatile Pops in ice and cold water. But scientists in Canada and Norway have discovered that global warming is freeing the Pops again. They examined measurements of Pops in the air between 1993 and 2009 at the Zeppelin research station in Svalbaard and Alert weather station in northern Canada. After allowing for the decline in global emissions of Pops, the team showed that the toxic chemicals are being remobilized by rising temperatures and the retreat of the sea ice, which exposes more water to the sun. The scientists’ work is published in the journal Nature Climate Change. Hayley Hung, at the air quality research division of Environment Canada and one of the teams, said their work provided the first evidence of the remobilization of Pops in the Arctic. “But this is the beginning of a story,” she said.

“The next step is to find out how much is in the Arctic, how much will leak out and how quickly.”

International accords on saving forests have little impact

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International accords on saving vulnerable forests are having little impact because they do not attack the core causes such as growing demand for bio-fuels and food crops, a new report said.

With Africa and South American alone losing 7.4 million hectares of forest a year, the International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) said a drastic change of policy is needed by the United Nations and governments.

Sixty international experts said in the report, to be presented at a UN forum this week that too much attention is being put on forests as a store of carbon dioxide, the main gas blamed for global warming.

Deforestation accounts for about a quarter of the global greenhouse gas emissions each year which are blamed for rising temperatures. Live trees act as a sponge for carbon but give it off when they decay or are burned.

“Our findings suggest that disregarding the impact on forests of sectors such as agriculture and energy will doom any new international efforts to conserve forests and slow climate change,” said Jeremy Rayner chairman of the IUFRO report panel.

Even the most recent UN backed initiative, Reducing Deforestation in Developing countries (REDD) is criticized because the panel said it seeks a single global solution.

The experts said that REDD and other international accords should focus more on supporting regional and national efforts to save the forests at risk.

“Unless all sectors work together to address the impact of global consumption, growing demand for food and bio-fuels, and problems of land scarcity, REDD will fail to arrest environmental degradation and will heighten poverty,” said Constance McDermott of Oxford University’s Environmental Change  Institute.

Green loving celebrity Cameron Diaz

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A fashion model at 16 and a star at 21 with hit movie The Mask, Diaz truly practices what she promotes — she recycles, uses offsets for carbon neutral travel and chooses products that have been recycled. Born on August 30, 1972 at San Diego California, Diaz is a popular Hollywood actress and a former model. The actress debuted in 1990s with films like The Mask,

There’s Something About Mary, and My Best Friend’s Wedding. Apart from her successful role in there’s Something About Mary, Diaz’s roles in Gangs of New York, Vanilla Sky, Being John Malkovich were nominated for the popular Golden Globe awards.

The distinct beauty of the actress, a result of Cameron’s Anglo German-Native-American and Cuban American parentage, combined with Cameron’s excellent acting prowess is however not limited to her acting career only. She is an environmental hero, who shows concern for the environment and brings them into practice.

Environmental influence

For Diaz, the seed for environment conservation were perhaps sown when she was little. She shares her experience as a child living in a neighborhood in Long Beach that was not only near a large freeway, but also toxic waste refinery, which would dump waste at the end of her block. ‘Childhood’ also meant suffering from asthma, and an ongoing burning, itchy sensation in her eyes and throat.

Diaz’s concern for environment surfaced during 2004-2005, when the actress hosted and produced a 10-episode MTV reality show, Trippin’, which focused on issues concerning ecology and conservation. She had explored some of the planet’s environmentally unique locations while discovering ways to help preserve them for the Trippin’. In the show, the actress along with other celebrity friends explored some environmentally unique shooting locations across the globe. The entire show’s travel is offset with carbon credits. She has been actively vocal about her ‘green’ beliefs. In a feature on ABC News, Diaz spoke about the need for people to invest in green living and not just hop on board because it happens to be popular right now.

Supporting ALGORE’S CAUSE

In 2007, Al Gore, ex-Vice President of the US and currently a green celebrity, recruited 1,000 people to undertake An Inconvenient Truth, a global warming slideshow exercise. The slide show course was intended to pro-mote clean energy solutions to minimize global environmental footprint. The show focused on global warming issues including fossil fuel energy that is creating the current climate crisis. Diaz not just attended the exercise, but also participated actively by asking questions and staying on for evening events. She then went on to join Gore to announce the initiative Save Our Selves (SOS) — a campaign for a Climate in Crisis, kicking-off with a 24-hour summer concert series known as Live Earth.

She stood to Gore’s right during the announcement and answered reporters’ questions about her own green beliefs and hopes for the campaign. “If everyone just changed one aspect of their life, if they just did one thing differently, that alone is a step closer to solving the problem,” she told reporters.

Advocate of green living

On the personal front, the actress claims to follow an eco-friendly lifestyle by using reused and recycled products that are beneficial to the environment. Diaz claims to use only energy-efficient home appliances and minimal essential lighting, besides using carbon neutral offsets for travelling.

Furthermore, the actress’ environmental concern is revealed through her eco-friendly Prius vehicle, which is supposed to prevent global warming and decrease footprint on the environment. The superstar status of the actress seems to compliment her promotion of environmentally sustainable lifestyle. A one-time vegetarian, she has even been quoted as stating intentions of trying out simple countryside existence for one year by eating self cultivated food.

As a member of the Association, Diaz together with Gwyneth Paltrow, another promoter of energy conservation, filmed many public service pronouncements stressing the importance of energy conservation. Gen E (Generation Environment) program, promoted by the Environmental Media Association, integrates environmental concerns and Hollywood together on a single platform.

Green celebrity

Diaz decided to use her celebrity status and popularity to promote support for the environment. She believes that just starting the discussion is enough to get people thinking about their actions and the repercussions of their actions. Inspired by an annual TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) conference attended by the actress in California in 2009, Diaz attempted a documentary for increasing public awareness on various environmental issues. As part of the program, the actress traveled extensively collecting notes on people’s knowledge of certain major environmental issues. She has been travelling all over the US asking questions like “Do you know where your food, your water come from?” and “Do you worry about the environment?” In recent times, Diaz’s environmental concerns are getting attention in many ‘green’ gossip websites. Her commendable work through many green programs is drawing media attention unlike other celebrities who are vociferous in expressing environmental concerns but lack in action.