Stay with Kyoto protocol, urges UN climate chiefOctober 7th, 2009 BANGKOK - "When I have only one pair of shoes, it makes sense to stay with that pair." With these words, UN climate chief Yvo de Boer Wednesday came out clearly in favour of retaining the Kyoto Protocol to tackle global warming, despite strong efforts by many industrialised countries to dump it. The issue has become the main point of contention in the Sep 28-Oct 9 talks here in preparation for the climate summit in Copenhagen this December.
Climate change hits poor in Africa, South Asia hardest: World BankOctober 4th, 2009 ISTANBUL - Climate change could depress the economic output of Africa and South Asia by as much as five percent per year, the World Bank warned Sunday. The effects of a warming of the Earth's temperature by even two degrees Celsius could put up to 400 million people at risk of hunger and leave up to two billion lacking enough water resources.
Ozone layer changes may increase UV radiation in tropicsSeptember 16th, 2009 TORONTO - Ozone layer alterations, prompted by climate change, will enhance ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the tropics and Antarctica, according to a discovery by physicists. Climate change is an established fact, but scientists are only just beginning to understand its regional manifestations, said Michaela Hegglin, a physics researcher at the University of Toronto (U-T) and lead study author.
Failure to cut CO2 emissions spells global health catastropheSeptember 16th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A team of scientists has warned that failure to agree radical cuts in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen this December spells a global health catastrophe. According to Lord Michael Jay and Professor Michael Marmot, the scientific evidence that global temperatures are rising and that man is responsible has been widely accepted since the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's report in 2007.
'Tackle climate change or imperil democracy'September 15th, 2009 LONDON - Democratic freedoms will be in danger around the world unless governments step up immediate efforts to tackle climate change, according to a think tank based here. In an open letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Tuesday, the second International Day of Democracy, the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development (FDSD) has warned of "formidable environmental and natural resource challenges just around the corner - and climate change is the biggest of them all".
Early birds may not catch the worm, thanks to climate changeSeptember 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Reports indicate that climate change may affect critical water resources that support prey for 75 migratory bird species in the Great Basin in the US. As climate change either freshens wetlands or drier weather makes them saltier, the distribution and availability of waterbird prey species may impact which waterbirds can use the wetlands and when.
Human-induced land cover changes can influence regional climateAugust 9th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Scientists have analyzed seven different climate models to come to the conclusion that human-induced land cover changes (LCCs), such as the clearing of forests for farming, can affect climate. To study the regional and global effects of LCC, A.
EU teams up with MTV to raise awareness of dangers of climate changeJuly 15th, 2009 EU teams up with MTV on climate changeBRUSSELS — The European Union is teaming up with music channel MTV to raise awareness among teens about the dangers of climate change. EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas says today's youth "will bear the brunt" of climate change, including rising temperatures and sea-levels.
Work productivity can lessen by 30 percent in Delhi: Climate reportJuly 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Among all other adverse effects that climate change can and has been bringing about is lessening work productivity, according to an Oxfam report which says the productivity in Delhi can drop by 30 percent because of the global warming. The report, 'Suffering the Science - Climate Change, People and Poverty', said besides the more visible effects of climate change - the scanty rainfall these monsoons for instance - there are a whole lot of other implications that have been and will affect our lives.
A network of wildlife areas can help species survive future climate changeJune 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new research has demonstrated that a network of wildlife areas can be a crucial tool to help biodiversity survive future climate change. The research team, led by Durham University, including BirdLife International and the RSPB (BirdLife in the UK) looked at the effects of climate change on 815 bird species of conservation concern in sub-Saharan Africa and on the network of sites designated for them (termed Important Bird Areas).
Sanctuaries can save 90 percent bird species as climate changesJune 2nd, 2009 LONDON - A network of wildlife conservation areas can help save up to 90 percent of bird species in Africa, affected by climate change, according to scientists. The research team, led by Durham University (DU) and including BirdLife International looked at the effects of climate change on 815 bird species of conservation concern in sub-Saharan Africa.
Now, effects of changing climate on sheep can be mathematically predictedMay 31st, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, it has been proven that the effects of a changing climate on a population of bighorn sheep can be mathematically predicted. Researchers from Germany, the US, and Mexico studied a population of bighorn sheep introduced to Tiburon island, Mexico, in 1975.
Report: Climate-change diasters kill 300,000 people a year, cause $125 billion in lossesMay 29th, 2009 Climate-change diasters kill 300,000 a yearLONDON — Climate-change disasters kill around 300,000 people a year and cause about $125 billion in economic losses, mainly from agriculture, a think-tank led by former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan reported Friday.
Some plants may override the effects of climate change on wildfire occurrenceMay 2nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has shown that, in some cases, the types of plants growing in an area could override the effects of climate change on wildfire occurrence. The study was conducted by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory scientist Tom Brown along with Philip Higuera of Montana State University and colleagues.
Plants could override climate change effects on wildfiresApril 22nd, 2009 WASHINGTON - A new study has suggested that in some cases, changes in the types of plants growing in an area could override the effects of climate change on wildfire frequency. Philip Higuera of Montana State University and his colleagues show that although changing temperatures and moisture levels set the stage for changes in wildfire frequency, they can often be trumped by changes in the distribution and abundance of plants.