WASHINGTON (AFP) — Global warming has caused numerous European plant species to migrate to higher elevations over the decades, according to new research published Thursday.
The research appears in the June 27 edition of the journal Science, and has potentially "important ecological and evolutionary consequences," the study's authors wrote.
A team of international scientists working in mountainous regions of Western Europe compared the natural elevation range of 171 forest plant species between 1905 and 1985, and again between 1986 and 2005.
"Along the entire elevation range, 0 to 2,600 meters (8,500 feet) above sea level ... we show that climate warming has resulted in a significant upward shift in species optimum elevation averaging 29 meters (95 feet) per decade," the researchers wrote.
The lead author of the study was Jonathan Lenoir of AgroParisTech in Nancy, France.
The report, compiled with data from the French National Climatic Network, was conducted in six mountainous regions throughout Europe.
They include the Northern Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Western Jura, the Vosges, the Corsican range and the alpine regions, where average temperature increases have approached one degree Celsius since the start of the 1980s, researchers said.
Source: AFP
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
All three US candidates are strong on global warming: UN climate chief
PARIS (AFP) — UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said on Tuesday the profiles of all three US presidential candidates pointed to a major change in US policies on global warming after George W. Bush leaves the White House next January.
Yvo de Boer, who is executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said he found the stances of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John McCain "very encouraging."
"All three presidential candidates have recognised the importance of climate change; want to act on climate change; want to develop a strong domestic policy approach; seem to favour a policy approach that goes in the direction of a cap-and-trade regime which would mesh very well with the direction in which other industrialised countries want to go; and seem to favour an international approach to climate change," de Boer said in Paris.
"So, in other words, whoever wins the presidential elections, I think that we will see a pro-active, international, market-based approach to climate change in the United States, founded on solid domestic policy."
The United States is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases which stoke man-made global warming, although by some estimates it has been overtaken by China.
Under the Bush presidency, the United States walked away from the UNFCCC's Kyoto Protocol, saying its caps on emissions by industrial countries were too costly for the US economy and unfair as big developing countries do not have such constraints.
Under a bill put before the US Senate this week, the United States would set up its own cap-and-trade system, meaning that companies would be set a ceiling of carbon emissions, and those who are below it can sell the surplus to those who are above it.
The idea behind cap-and-trade is to provide a financial incentive to reduce carbon pollution.
De Boer, speaking at a climate conference hosted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), said it was a "very exciting week in Washington" but added "let's see" if the so-called Lieberman-Warner bill becomes law.
Bush has threatened to veto the bill "in its current form," saying it would impose six trillion dollars of new costs on the US economy.
Proponents, though, say the bill, in addition to reducing carbon emissions, would raise fuel efficiency and ease dependence on foreign energy imports.
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Human Impacts, Climate Change Pushing Species to Extinction
BONN, Germany, May 20, 2008 (ENS) - German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel Monday urged governments to take stronger action to protect the diversity of life. Opening the largest UN biodiversity gathering yet, Gabriel warned that the world is not on the right path to protect the diversity of species and said the world would not reach its agreed target of the year 2010 for reversing biodiversity loss.
Nearly 7,000 participants from 191 countries opened the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity in Bonn on Monday. Before the meeting closes on May 30, participants are expected to take steps to conserve and sustainably manage the world's biodiversity in light of what UN officials are calling "the alarming rate of loss of species, compounded by the pressures from climate change."
Nearly 7,000 participants from 191 countries opened the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity in Bonn on Monday. Before the meeting closes on May 30, participants are expected to take steps to conserve and sustainably manage the world's biodiversity in light of what UN officials are calling "the alarming rate of loss of species, compounded by the pressures from climate change."
Gabriel called for a clear roadmap, similar to the one on climate reached in Bali last December, toward a plan to establish an international set of rules for biodiversity that would govern the providing of access and equitable sharing of the benefits.
Rules would set the terms under which users of biodiversity resources, such as pharmaceutical companies, would have access to resources.
These terms would be balanced with provisions to guarantee that the providers of these resources, such as local communities or national governments, many of which are in developing countries, receive an equitable share of any of the benefits that are produced, said the minister.
The conference is timed to coincide with the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22.
As food prices spiral ever upwards, this year's theme for the day is "Biodiversity and Agriculture."
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, an international treaty, wants the Parties to highlight sustainable agriculture "not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well being into the 21st century and beyond."
Rules would set the terms under which users of biodiversity resources, such as pharmaceutical companies, would have access to resources.
These terms would be balanced with provisions to guarantee that the providers of these resources, such as local communities or national governments, many of which are in developing countries, receive an equitable share of any of the benefits that are produced, said the minister.
The conference is timed to coincide with the International Day for Biological Diversity on May 22.
As food prices spiral ever upwards, this year's theme for the day is "Biodiversity and Agriculture."
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, an international treaty, wants the Parties to highlight sustainable agriculture "not only to preserve biodiversity, but also to ensure that we will be able to feed the world, maintain agricultural livelihoods, and enhance human well being into the 21st century and beyond."
Representatives of the International Youth Conference called Biodiversity on the Edge, which took place last week in Bonn, are seeking the integration of sustainable development education into school curricula; a protocol on protected areas; no patents on living organisms; prohibition of genetically modified organisms; full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities; and measurable targets for biodiversity protection.
Urgent issues before participants include the food price crisis, the loss of forests, climate change, and efforts to eradicate poverty.
The gathering will submit its results next week to the Bonn Biodiversity Summit, which will be chaired by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The attendance of 120 heads of states and ministers is expected.
Another deadline looming over this Bonn conference to create a fair-share system was agreed by the government Parties to the treaty two years ago in Brazil.
They intend to devise a system that provides access to, and shares the benefits from the genetic resources of the world fairly between developing and developed countries.
The Bonn Biodiversity meeting is taking place at a defining moment in the history, said Ahmed Djoghlaf, executive secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Urgent issues before participants include the food price crisis, the loss of forests, climate change, and efforts to eradicate poverty.
The gathering will submit its results next week to the Bonn Biodiversity Summit, which will be chaired by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The attendance of 120 heads of states and ministers is expected.
Another deadline looming over this Bonn conference to create a fair-share system was agreed by the government Parties to the treaty two years ago in Brazil.
They intend to devise a system that provides access to, and shares the benefits from the genetic resources of the world fairly between developing and developed countries.
The Bonn Biodiversity meeting is taking place at a defining moment in the history, said Ahmed Djoghlaf, executive secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
"Every species is a vital piece in the complex puzzle of the life web of our planet. Interlinkages are what keep the puzzle glued together—for the planet to function," Djoghlaf told the participants in his opening address to the conference on Monday.
"About two thirds of the food crops that feed the world rely on pollination by insects or other animals to produce healthy fruits and seeds. Included among these are potato crops," Djoghlaf said.
"Here in Germany, there has been a 25 percent drop in bee populations across the country," he said. "In the eastern United States, bee stocks have declined by 70 percent. If pollinators disappear, so too will many species of plants. If we take away one link, the chain is broken."
Djoghlaf quoted the great physicist Albert Einstein as saying, "'If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.'"
"The unfolding global food crisis sounds like a wake-up call to the serious consequences of human activities on the ability of our planet to continue sustaining life on Earth," Djoghlaf said. "The dramatic rise in crop prices is a symptom of the unprecedented loss of agricultural biodiversity and certainly a reflection of its far-reaching impacts on humankind."
"The challenge is daunting and I call upon all states to adopt exceptional efforts," he said.
Losing the benefits that biodiversity provides would cost the world $3.1 trillion a year or six percent of the global gross national product, according to a new study by development economist Pavan Sukhdev, cited by Djoghlaf during his speech.
In Bonn, countries also will consider how to address the problem of invasive alien species, the loss of rainforest biodiversity, the degradation of marine ecosystems, and methods to value biodiversity in economic terms.
The conference will consider how to expand the successful establishment, maintenance, expansion and financing of a global network of protected areas, both on land and in marine ecosystems.
Currently over 10 percent of the terrestrial area is covered by parks and conservation areas, but the level of protection in the oceans and seas of the world is lower, according to the secretariat.
With 191 governments as Parties, the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, has near-universal participation among countries committed to preserving life on Earth.
From its Montreal headquarters, the CBD seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change.
It employs scientific assessments, develops tools, incentives and processes, transfer of technologies and good practices, and tries to engage "the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders," including indigenous and local communities, youth, nongovernmental organizations, women and the business community.
"About two thirds of the food crops that feed the world rely on pollination by insects or other animals to produce healthy fruits and seeds. Included among these are potato crops," Djoghlaf said.
"Here in Germany, there has been a 25 percent drop in bee populations across the country," he said. "In the eastern United States, bee stocks have declined by 70 percent. If pollinators disappear, so too will many species of plants. If we take away one link, the chain is broken."
Djoghlaf quoted the great physicist Albert Einstein as saying, "'If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe, then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.'"
"The unfolding global food crisis sounds like a wake-up call to the serious consequences of human activities on the ability of our planet to continue sustaining life on Earth," Djoghlaf said. "The dramatic rise in crop prices is a symptom of the unprecedented loss of agricultural biodiversity and certainly a reflection of its far-reaching impacts on humankind."
"The challenge is daunting and I call upon all states to adopt exceptional efforts," he said.
Losing the benefits that biodiversity provides would cost the world $3.1 trillion a year or six percent of the global gross national product, according to a new study by development economist Pavan Sukhdev, cited by Djoghlaf during his speech.
In Bonn, countries also will consider how to address the problem of invasive alien species, the loss of rainforest biodiversity, the degradation of marine ecosystems, and methods to value biodiversity in economic terms.
The conference will consider how to expand the successful establishment, maintenance, expansion and financing of a global network of protected areas, both on land and in marine ecosystems.
Currently over 10 percent of the terrestrial area is covered by parks and conservation areas, but the level of protection in the oceans and seas of the world is lower, according to the secretariat.
With 191 governments as Parties, the Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, has near-universal participation among countries committed to preserving life on Earth.
From its Montreal headquarters, the CBD seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change.
It employs scientific assessments, develops tools, incentives and processes, transfer of technologies and good practices, and tries to engage "the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders," including indigenous and local communities, youth, nongovernmental organizations, women and the business community.
Source: ens-newswire
Scientists start to panic over climate change
Australian of the year, well-known scientist and climate change activist, Tim Flannery is sounding decidedly panicky as he suggests a technical plan to save us from climate change. The plan essentially amounts to terraforming the planet by pumping sulphur into the upper atmosphere in the hope that global dimming will counteract the effects of warming caused by greenhouse gasses. His chilling quote: “”The current burden of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is in fact more than sufficient to cause catastrophic climate change”. Let’s hope that he is wrong, or better, that in the face of impending disaster we don’t panic and multiply our problems.
The plan is no doubt intended to be a last ditch scenario to stave off massive collapse of the ecosystem and consequently civilisation as we appreciate it (at least I hope it is). I fully expect that there is some scientific thinking behind this - some, but not nearly enough. I also think that is it an unacceptable risk, but I understand why the professor and other scientists are starting to panic.
The are a number of “tipping point” scenarios that could lead to catastrophic and “irreversable” (taking millions of years to correct) failure of the global environment. This may have happened already in prehistory: the “Permian–Triassic extinction event“, is believed to have been a climate change tipping point where 70-90% of all species were wiped out (perhaps by as little as a 6 degree C change). These scenarios scare the pants off me, and hopefully you too. This is not just a matter of slapping on more sunscreen folks: the effect on our civilisations is hard to fathom, but would surely lead to the demise of millions, if not billions, of humans.
Yes, as people often mention, the climate has been hotter in the past, but they usually fail to mention (or realise) that the consequences have been dire. The current situation may be even worse - never before in history has climate changed anywhere near this rapidly, and CO2 increases do not seem to have been affected by our efforts so far. Stop second guessing it - trust in the overwhelming scientific consensus, and don’t be confused by the those seeking to muddy the facts. Work harder to pressure governments to improve their climate policy. Work harder to reduce your carbon footprint. But most of all, don’t panic!
Source: sam.stainsby.id.au
The plan is no doubt intended to be a last ditch scenario to stave off massive collapse of the ecosystem and consequently civilisation as we appreciate it (at least I hope it is). I fully expect that there is some scientific thinking behind this - some, but not nearly enough. I also think that is it an unacceptable risk, but I understand why the professor and other scientists are starting to panic.
The are a number of “tipping point” scenarios that could lead to catastrophic and “irreversable” (taking millions of years to correct) failure of the global environment. This may have happened already in prehistory: the “Permian–Triassic extinction event“, is believed to have been a climate change tipping point where 70-90% of all species were wiped out (perhaps by as little as a 6 degree C change). These scenarios scare the pants off me, and hopefully you too. This is not just a matter of slapping on more sunscreen folks: the effect on our civilisations is hard to fathom, but would surely lead to the demise of millions, if not billions, of humans.
Yes, as people often mention, the climate has been hotter in the past, but they usually fail to mention (or realise) that the consequences have been dire. The current situation may be even worse - never before in history has climate changed anywhere near this rapidly, and CO2 increases do not seem to have been affected by our efforts so far. Stop second guessing it - trust in the overwhelming scientific consensus, and don’t be confused by the those seeking to muddy the facts. Work harder to pressure governments to improve their climate policy. Work harder to reduce your carbon footprint. But most of all, don’t panic!
Source: sam.stainsby.id.au
1 in 8 Birds Threatened Due to Climate
Nearly every day we get another warning over the impact climate change is having on the world’s wildlife. As the predictions get ever gloomier, soon species will become extinct before the world has acted.
The latest assessment is on birds. Climate change is “significantly amplifying” the threats facing the world’s bird populations, a global assessment has concluded.
The 2008 Bird Red List warns that long-term droughts and extreme weather puts additional stress on key habitats. The assessment lists 1,226 species as threatened with extinction - one-in-eight of all bird species.
The list, reviewed every four years, is compiled by conservation charity BirdLife International. “It is very hard to precisely attribute particular changes in specific species to climate change,” said Stuart Butchart, BirdLife’s global research and indicators co-ordinator. “But there is now a whole suite of species that are clearly becoming threatened by extreme weather events and droughts.”
Source: priceofoil.org
The latest assessment is on birds. Climate change is “significantly amplifying” the threats facing the world’s bird populations, a global assessment has concluded.
The 2008 Bird Red List warns that long-term droughts and extreme weather puts additional stress on key habitats. The assessment lists 1,226 species as threatened with extinction - one-in-eight of all bird species.
The list, reviewed every four years, is compiled by conservation charity BirdLife International. “It is very hard to precisely attribute particular changes in specific species to climate change,” said Stuart Butchart, BirdLife’s global research and indicators co-ordinator. “But there is now a whole suite of species that are clearly becoming threatened by extreme weather events and droughts.”
Source: priceofoil.org
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Global Warming Lobbyist
Are you an experience organizer looking to lobby Congress to stop global warming?
GLOBAL WARMING LOBBYISTWashington, DChttp://www.greenpeace.org/...obal-warming-lobbyist
Greenpeace is seeking passionate, driven, articulate, lobbyists for our campaign to pass strong national legislation to stop global warming.
The Lobbyist will assist in Greenpeace USA’s campaign to stop global warming through:
- Developing and executing a strategic legislative plan.
- Expediently building expertise in global warming policy.
- Advancing a winning strategy to build support for binding science based global warming legislation.
CAMPAIGN BACKGROUND:
Americans are seeing the impacts of global warming in their daily lives and making changes like buying more energy efficient appliances, changing light bulbs, and driving less. These small, everyday actions count, but we need leaders in Congress who are ready to tackle global warming by supporting the growth of clean, renewable energy like wind and solar, committing to ending the development of dirty coal-fired power plants and dangerous nuclear energy, and limiting how much global warming pollution gets dumped into our air.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
There are growing opportunities to address global warming in Congress. Greenpeace’s Global Warming Lobbyist will advance the strongest science based solutions and defend against steps that are insufficient, such as dirty and dangerous distractions like coal and nuclear power. The lobbyist will join Greenpeace’s global warming team in helping to develop and implement our legislative strategy.
- Assist development and implementation of Greenpeace’s lobbying strategy
- Develop and maintain relationships with Members of Congress and their staff
- Assist in quickly interpreting new legislative proposals and legislative actions into digestible and easily understood bullet points for field and media use.
- Track global warming legislation in the House and Senate and provide update to staff,
- Assist with writing and editing news releases, opinion editorials, letters to the editor, other media materials generated by the DC legislative team
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- At least three years experience in a full-time direct lobbying position
- Excellent communication skills including public speaking, written and oral
- Experience in successful press work
- Critical and strategic thinking abilities
- Able to keep a level head in a fast-paced campaign environment
- Commitment to strong science based solutions to global warming without compromise
- BA/BS Degree preferred or equivalent experience.
Accountability:
The Global Warming Lobbyist is accountable to the SeniorGlobal Warming Lobbyist
Location: Washington DCTo
Apply: send resume and cover letter to Anna Wagner:
usaglobalwarmingjobs@greenpeace.org
Preferred application deadline May 23rd.
Applications accepted until position is filled.
Greenpeace encourages all interested persons to apply, regardless of sex, race, religion, national origin disabilities or sexual orientation.
Source: Greenpeace
GLOBAL WARMING LOBBYISTWashington, DChttp://www.greenpeace.org/...obal-warming-lobbyist
Greenpeace is seeking passionate, driven, articulate, lobbyists for our campaign to pass strong national legislation to stop global warming.
The Lobbyist will assist in Greenpeace USA’s campaign to stop global warming through:
- Developing and executing a strategic legislative plan.
- Expediently building expertise in global warming policy.
- Advancing a winning strategy to build support for binding science based global warming legislation.
CAMPAIGN BACKGROUND:
Americans are seeing the impacts of global warming in their daily lives and making changes like buying more energy efficient appliances, changing light bulbs, and driving less. These small, everyday actions count, but we need leaders in Congress who are ready to tackle global warming by supporting the growth of clean, renewable energy like wind and solar, committing to ending the development of dirty coal-fired power plants and dangerous nuclear energy, and limiting how much global warming pollution gets dumped into our air.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
There are growing opportunities to address global warming in Congress. Greenpeace’s Global Warming Lobbyist will advance the strongest science based solutions and defend against steps that are insufficient, such as dirty and dangerous distractions like coal and nuclear power. The lobbyist will join Greenpeace’s global warming team in helping to develop and implement our legislative strategy.
- Assist development and implementation of Greenpeace’s lobbying strategy
- Develop and maintain relationships with Members of Congress and their staff
- Assist in quickly interpreting new legislative proposals and legislative actions into digestible and easily understood bullet points for field and media use.
- Track global warming legislation in the House and Senate and provide update to staff,
- Assist with writing and editing news releases, opinion editorials, letters to the editor, other media materials generated by the DC legislative team
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- At least three years experience in a full-time direct lobbying position
- Excellent communication skills including public speaking, written and oral
- Experience in successful press work
- Critical and strategic thinking abilities
- Able to keep a level head in a fast-paced campaign environment
- Commitment to strong science based solutions to global warming without compromise
- BA/BS Degree preferred or equivalent experience.
Accountability:
The Global Warming Lobbyist is accountable to the SeniorGlobal Warming Lobbyist
Location: Washington DCTo
Apply: send resume and cover letter to Anna Wagner:
usaglobalwarmingjobs@greenpeace.org
Preferred application deadline May 23rd.
Applications accepted until position is filled.
Greenpeace encourages all interested persons to apply, regardless of sex, race, religion, national origin disabilities or sexual orientation.
Source: Greenpeace
Global warming brings tropical birds to Hong Kong, watchers say
Hong Kong - The sighting of two rarely seen tropical birds in Hong Kong could be down to climate change, bird experts said Saturday. The birds - a great frigate and the white-tailed tropicbird - were both spotted around Po Toi, Hong Kong's southern most island, over the last month.
It was the first time the white-tailed tropic had ever been spotted in Hong Kong and only the fourth sighting of the frigate.
Both birds are usually seen in more tropical climates such as the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Chairman Cheung Ho-fai told the South China Morning Post that their appearance could be attributed to climate change and that the nearest nesting colony of frigate birds was in Hawaii.
"The birds are very sensitive to climate change and observing them is definitely a good way to understand the changes," he said.
But he stressed that the individual sightings were not proof that their ecological habits had been effected by climate change, and that it was possible the birds could have been blown astray by a typhoon.
Climate experts claim Hong Kong could no longer have winters by the middle of this century with average temperatures rising by at least one degree Celsius in the next 20 years.
Source: Earthtimes
It was the first time the white-tailed tropic had ever been spotted in Hong Kong and only the fourth sighting of the frigate.
Both birds are usually seen in more tropical climates such as the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Hong Kong Bird Watching Society Chairman Cheung Ho-fai told the South China Morning Post that their appearance could be attributed to climate change and that the nearest nesting colony of frigate birds was in Hawaii.
"The birds are very sensitive to climate change and observing them is definitely a good way to understand the changes," he said.
But he stressed that the individual sightings were not proof that their ecological habits had been effected by climate change, and that it was possible the birds could have been blown astray by a typhoon.
Climate experts claim Hong Kong could no longer have winters by the middle of this century with average temperatures rising by at least one degree Celsius in the next 20 years.
Source: Earthtimes
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