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Environment

State releases photo of cougar in Upper Peninsula - Detroit Free Press

Environment news feed - Tue, 06/22/2010 - 09:43

State releases photo of cougar in Upper Peninsula
Detroit Free Press
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment released the photo Monday night. The agency says "although the image is blurred, ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

Credit not obstacle to growth: Geithner - MarketWatch

Environment news feed - Tue, 06/22/2010 - 09:36

Credit not obstacle to growth: Geithner
MarketWatch
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Forceful government actions, including the $700 billion bank rescue fund, have created an environment ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

Pardon this Disaster, There's Deregulation Going On - Huffington Post (blog)

Environment news feed - Tue, 06/22/2010 - 08:04

Pardon this Disaster, There's Deregulation Going On
Huffington Post (blog)
The care of the environment was not simply an issue taken up by "tree huggers" and other so-called left wing crackpots. Many on the other side of the aisle, ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

Ramos-Horta inspects environment site - Sydney Morning Herald

Environment news feed - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 21:45

Ramos-Horta inspects environment site
Sydney Morning Herald
East Timorese President Jose Ramos-Horta has inspected a South Australian environment program as part of his five-day Australian tour. ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

Court Lifts Ban On Genetically Modified Seeds - Los Angeles Times

Environment news feed - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 19:07

Plain Dealer

Court Lifts Ban On Genetically Modified Seeds
Los Angeles Times
The US Department of Agriculture now must complete a study examining whether the seeds will harm the environment before approving them for planting, ...
Supreme Court Lifts Ban on Planting GM AlfalfaNew York Times

all 366 news articles »
Categories: Environment

EPA Backs Reinstating Superfund 'Polluter Pays' Tax - BusinessWeek

Environment news feed - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 16:33

EPA Backs Reinstating Superfund 'Polluter Pays' Tax
BusinessWeek
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has scheduled a hearing for tomorrow on the Superfund program. Reinstating the tax would force companies ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

How to prepare for Bring Your Dog to Work Day - Baltimore Sun (blog)

Environment news feed - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 14:57

How to prepare for Bring Your Dog to Work Day
Baltimore Sun (blog)
Spending time in a new environment can help socialize your pet, getting him used to new faces, smells, and experiences. And there is also the calming, ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

Eastern Environment Appoints Kenneth Leung and Gene Hsiao as New Independent ... - MarketWatch (press release)

Environment news feed - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 07:07

Eastern Environment Appoints Kenneth Leung and Gene Hsiao as New Independent ...
MarketWatch (press release)
As a result, Eastern Environment now satisfies the independent board member requirement to apply for listing on a US stock exchange. ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

"Amazongate" evaporates as newspaper apologises for story

World Wildlife - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 02:00
London, UK:   A key element of the concerted attack on climate science earlier this year collapsed yesterday, with The Sunday Times apologizing for and withdrawing an article alleging that estimates of climate change risks to the Amazon were based on an “unsubstantiated claim” in a WWF report.

The apology, coming almost five months after the article was published, followed complaints to the UK Press Complaints Commission from leading tropical forest ecologist Dr Simon Lewis, who was interviewed for the article and WWF report authors Andy Rowell and Dr Peter Moore.

The Sunday Times accepted that assessments of risk to the Amazon in both the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report and a WWF/International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report on forest fires were not unsubstantiated, but based on peer-reviewed science.

The article did not give a “fair or accurate account” of the views of Dr Lewis and was inconsistent with the research literature he had provided.

Nor were the authors of the 2000 WWF/IUCN global report on forest fires “green campaigners” with “little scientific expertise”. The paper said “We also now understand and accept that Mr Rowell is an experienced environmental journalist and that Dr Moore is an expert in forest management, and apologise for any suggestion to the contrary”.

"This retraction hopefully indicates that after a period of some hysteria, balance and consideration is being restored to the media's reporting of climate science,” said WWF-UK’s head of climate change, Keith Allott.

“Earlier this year we witnessed a concerted attempt to discredit both the IPCC and the whole body of climate science - and too often certain media seemed to write the headline first and then construct a story to fit it. The media are right to challenge and to hold all claims to account, but in this case their story was just not fair or true."

"As we said in a letter published by The Sunday Times at the time, misleading coverage in respected media outlets can serve to undermine public confidence in the credibility of climate science.

“The reality is that we are running out of time to head off the huge risks that climate change poses, not just to the Amazon but to the rest of the world."

Recent Stanford University research found a majority of US and UK citizens solidly behind action on climate change, with views little affected by the now rapidly unraveling spate of attacks on climate science.

The correction published by the Sunday Times reads:

The Sunday Times and the IPCC: Correction

The article "UN climate panel shamed by bogus rainforest claim" (News,
Jan 31) stated that the 2007 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) report had included an "unsubstantiated claim" that up to 40% of
the Amazon rainforest could be sensitive to future changes in rainfall.
The IPCC had referenced the claim to a report prepared for WWF by Andrew
Rowell and Peter Moore, whom the article described as "green
campaigners" with "little scientific expertise." The article also stated
that the authors’ research had been based on a scientific paper that
dealt with the impact of human activity rather than climate change.

In fact, the IPCC’s Amazon statement is supported by peer-reviewed
scientific evidence. In the case of the WWF report, the figure had, in
error, not been referenced, but was based on research by the respected
Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) which did relate to the
impact of climate change. We also understand and accept that Mr Rowell
is an experienced environmental journalist and that Dr Moore is an
expert in forest management, and apologise for any suggestion to the
contrary.

The article also quoted criticism of the IPCC’s use of the WWF report by
Dr Simon Lewis, a Royal Society research fellow at the University of
Leeds and leading specialist in tropical forest ecology. We accept that,
in his quoted remarks, Dr Lewis was making the general point that both
the IPCC and WWF should have cited the appropriate peer-reviewed
scientific research literature. As he made clear to us at the time,
including by sending us some of the research literature, Dr Lewis does
not dispute the scientific basis for both the IPCC and the WWF reports’
statements on the potential vulnerability of the Amazon rainforest to
droughts caused by climate change.

In addition, the article stated that Dr Lewis’ concern at the IPCC’s use
of reports by environmental campaign groups related to the prospect of
those reports being biased in their conclusions. We accept that Dr Lewis
holds no such view – rather, he was concerned that the use of
non-peer-reviewed sources risks creating the perception of bias and
unnecessary controversy, which is unhelpful in advancing the public’s
understanding of the science of climate change. A version of our article
that had been checked with Dr Lewis underwent significant late editing
and so did not give a fair or accurate account of his views on these
points. We apologise for this.

The original article to which this correction refers has been removed

Categories: Environment

Baker to skip groups' forum on environment - Boston Globe

Environment news feed - Mon, 06/21/2010 - 00:44

Baker to skip groups' forum on environment
Boston Globe
He said the issues of climate change and the environment are particularly important topics for the gubernatorial campaign in light of the Gulf oil spill. ...

and more »
Categories: Environment

Day 61: The Latest on the Oil Spill - New York Times

Environment news feed - Sun, 06/20/2010 - 23:00

CBC.ca

Day 61: The Latest on the Oil Spill
New York Times
The chairman of the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee released an internal BP document on Sunday showing that the company's own analysis of damage ...
Gulf oil spill: Mr. President, the problem isn't just MMSChristian Science Monitor
Gulf spill sparks debate over worst US calamitiesSeattle Times
BP's $20b as Game-changer in Oil Spill ManagementTHISDAY
CBS News -Huffington Post (blog) -BBC News
all 6,389 news articles »
Categories: Environment

Climate change commitments "missing" in G8 Accountability Report

World Wildlife - Sun, 06/20/2010 - 02:00
Ottawa, Canada: WWF is critical of the G8 Accountability Report released today for not measuring progress on one of the most substantial G8 development and climate change commitments to date: to limit temperature rise to an identified 2 degrees Centigrade threshold of dangerous climate change.

“If we don't limit global warming to as far below two degrees as possible, all development ambitions will be in serious danger,” said Kim Carstensen, leader of WWF's Global Climate Initiative.    “The G8 countries have yet to make sufficient emission cuts to reach this goal, and this accountability report should be assessing – not ignoring – this issue.”

"This report indicates that the world's leading economies have yet to integrate climate change and development plans in a real and meaningful way."

The G8 stated in 2009 that they would “take the lead” to ensure global and national emission peaks could “take place as soon as possible.” They recognized that an “increase in global average temperature” shouldn’t “exceed 2 degrees C.”   This followed the Gleneagles 2005 commitment - also not included in the Accountability Report - to make “substantial reductions” to stabilize emission concentrations in the atmosphere “at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

“If anything should be in the Accountability Report, even one focused on development, it should be climate change. The G8 – and now G20 – should be sending clear messages to the rest of the world that they are working to cut emissions to reduce impacts on the most vulnerable, and stimulate a low carbon economy for all.”

Of 56 indicators, there are five in total on energy and the environment. The Report does include the UN Copenhagen Accord promise on fast-track and long-term financing – both UN decisions that require the leadership of the G8 and G20 respectively.

The Report also notes that the G8 will fail to meet its 2010 objectives on reducing the loss of biodiversity. A temperature rise of 2 degrees C would put 30% of biodiversity at risk.



G8 activities: - http://panda.org/g8g20media

Resource materials:
-          WWF’s G8 and G20 Recommendations: www.panda.org/climate/2010g8g20 (PDF)
           and http://bit.ly/G8G20wwfvideo (2 minute video summary)
-          Recommendation on Climate Finance: www.panda.org/climatefinance
 
Categories: Environment

Bonn climate talks hold up hope of turning trust into traction in Mexico

World Wildlife - Fri, 06/11/2010 - 02:00
Bonn, Germany – WWF says negotiators at UN climate talks in Bonn have missed some important goals, while showing a much stronger performance than in previous rounds.

“In order to win the low carbon world cup we’ll have to score a number of important goals in the very near future, such as reaching an agreement on adaptation to climate impacts and on ways to stop deforestation”, said Kathrin Gutmann, Head of Climate Policy, WWF Global Climate Initiative.

“Bonn made good progress on some of these crucial building blocks that will be essential parts of a future regime to tackle climate change, and there is really no reason for negotiators to go into extra-time instead of concluding them at the Climate Summit in Mexico this December.”

In WWF’s view, progress in Bonn was mainly a result of improved team spirit among negotiators, with countries from North and South teaming up in unusual coalitions, creating fresh dynamics and space for solutions and compromise.

However, Bonn did not see any major victories on challenging issues like funding and policies to wean economies off fossil fuels and make them fit for the low carbon future, mainly due to a lack of progressive champions and blocking tactics by oil-exporting countries like Saudi Arabia.

“The performance of a whole range of key players in the negotiations didn’t really match the rapid shifts in investment or public opinion in favour of clean technology solutions that have recently occurred at the domestic level”, said Gutmann.

“While the UN climate talks still tend to discuss climate action as a burden, more and more people in more and more countries see it as a benefit, and taking on this view is what will allow negotiators to be successful in solving the big challenges.”

New negotiating text emerging from the Bonn talks on the last day could put delegates attending the next two rounds of negotiations before Mexico – one in August and one in October – in a good position to turn trust into traction in Mexico.

“Bonn reminded parties that negotiating in good faith is the best choice, and on this basis Mexico can be the moment where they agree on a significant package of actions and solutions, so that striking a new climate deal in South Africa the following year becomes a realistic goal”, said Gutmann.

“While the football teams of Mexico and South Africa are playing today’s opening match of the football world cup 2010, their governments are key players for success in the low carbon world cup 2011, where it’s not about the victory of one nation, but about a safe future for the entire planet.”

The results of a WWF poll among delegates, observers and journalists at the Bonn talks revealed that a majority of people following the negotiations shares this view. As part of the WWF Climate Deal Oracle, they were asked when we should and when we will get a global climate deal.

54.7% of the 265 participants thought we should get a deal by Mexico this December. However, 53.6% acknowledged that – realistically – we’d get this deal only in South Africa a year later. Opinions among delegates hardly differed from those expressed by observers and journalists.

Categories: Environment

US public desire for climate action little dented by denialist sound and fury

World Wildlife - Thu, 06/10/2010 - 02:00
Gland, Switzerland: Significant new research from Stanford University is showing that Americans remain convinced of the reality of climate change and supportive of specific government action on it – despite a vigorous and high profile assault on climate science earlier this year.

The research, outlined by Jon A. Krosnick, Professor of communication, political science and psychology at Stanford in the International Herald Tribune today, found around three quarters of interviewees believed the earth had warmed, believed human behaviour was substantially responsible and wanted government to limit greenhouse gas emissions by businesses.

Professor Krosnick said the study had found “no decline in Americans’ trust in environmental scientists”. In 2010, the proportion trusting environmental scientists “a moderate amount, a lot, or completely” was 71 per cent, up from 70 per cent in 2009 and 68 per cent in 2008.

“We are very heartened to find that on climate, you apparently can’t fool many of the people much of the time,” said WWF International Director General James Leape.

More significantly, the research finds that climate change is a highly distinctive “issue public”. Among those who feel strongly about the issue nearly 90 percent believe it is primarily a result of human activity and more than 90 percent want the government to act.

Normally, issues which are strongly motivating exhibit roughly equivalent proportions of supporters and opponents.

Professor Krosnick noted that in both the US and the UK “a huge majority shares a common vision of climate change”. “This creates a unique opportunity for elected representatives to satisfy a lot of voters,” he concluded.

Mr Leape said it may take some time to fully appreciate the significance of the findings. “In Australia, we are finding for instance that the government is being punished in the polls after dropping its emissions trading system, which we were also told was deeply unpopular,” he said.

“Public responses to the issue of climate change are clearly much more complex than much of the analysis of them. Pronouncements that climate change is slipping off the international agenda may well turn out to be premature.”

Further information:
Phil Dickie, WWF International News Editor, pdickie@wwfint.org, +41 79 7031952
www.panda.org/media for latest news and information

Categories: Environment

IMD center for corporate sustainability management recognized at EFMD conference for award-winning case on WWF-Allianz partnership

World Wildlife - Tue, 06/08/2010 - 02:00
IMD’s Center for Corporate Sustainability Management (CSM) was recognized today at the Annual Conference of the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) for its award-winning case: “Feeling the Heat: Allianz and WWF push an industry toward climate change action”.

The case study won first prize in the Banking/Finance category and is one of four IMD awards being attributed at this year’s EFMD case awards ceremony.

"Since one of the strategic objectives of our center is to contribute to the mainstreaming of corporate responsibility issues on the business strategic agenda, we are particularly encouraged by the fact that this case won an award in the Banking/Finance category at a time when this category must have many compelling cases because of the events up to and during the currently ongoing financial crisis,” said Dr Aileen Ionescu Somers, Director of the CSM. “Winning in this mainstream category will particularly increase pick up of the case by banking and finance professors for use in business school and university syllabuses worldwide."

The WWF/Allianz case documents the efforts of two leading organizations – the global insurance company, Allianz and the international NGO, WWF – to roll out an initiative to understand the business impacts of climate change. It follows Allianz and WWF during their experience of building a partnership for action leadership and illustrates the challenges and obstacles encountered during implementation.

Dr Ionescu-Somers added: "This case helps companies and organizations to better understand the challenges of rolling out sustainability strategies, and particularly in difficult business circumstances, illustrates the barriers and success factors of corporate sustainability partnerships and changes the traditional perception of business responsibility in pushing forward the agenda for action on climate change and other “mega-issues” The case cuts through complexity and provides a great learning experience for managers."

Mathias Kopp, leader of the climate and enterprise initiatives at WWF Germany, commented: "The Allianz and WWF joint venture evolved from an initial collaborative awareness-raising effort to become an action-driven partnership with the ambition to lead the financial industry on the climate change issue by example. The partnership provided insights for the insurance industry, but also the financial services industry as a whole, to the level of understanding required and for implementation of sustainable strategic directions."

About IMD

Based in Switzerland, IMD is consistently top-ranked among business schools worldwide. With more than 60 years’ experience, IMD takes a real world, real learning approach to executive education. IMD offers pioneering and collaborative solutions to address clients’ challenges. Our perspective is international – we understand the complexity of the global environment. Real-impact executive learning and leadership development at IMD enables participants to learn more, deliver more and be more. (www.imd.ch).

IMD’s Center for Corporate Sustainability Management (CSM) is a membership driven research and learning initiative. It has been carrying out multi-industry and multi-stakeholder studies on the building and roll out of sustainability strategies in organizations for the last decade. Learn more at www.imd.ch/csm.


Categories: Environment

China and US can measure and report their emissions

World Wildlife - Mon, 06/07/2010 - 02:00
Bonn, Germany – The United States and China, by far the world’s two biggest emitters of greenhouse gas pollution, have the technology and processes in place right now to accurately measure and report their emissions of CO2 and other heat-trapping gases, WWF reported today.

Released at international climate negotiations in Bonn which are specifically considering the measuring, reporting and verification of emissions Counting the Gigatonnes: Building Trust in Greenhouse Gas Inventories from the United States and China, outlines the systems already in place in both countries that can ensure accurate and timely data on greenhouse gas emissions.

“The US and China have historically been at loggerheads when it comes to measuring and reporting emissions,” said Keya Chatterjee, Director of WWF’s Climate Program in the US.

“This report finds that there is ample opportunity for both countries to work collaboratively and learn from each other. Working together is essential for reducing tensions and fostering an environment of trust that will be needed for a fair, ambitious and binding international climate treaty.”

With the US and China accounting for approximately 40 percent of CO2 emissions, cooperation between the two countries, including around the measuring and reporting of emissions, is viewed by WWF as critical to addressing climate change.

At the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009, disagreements between the US and China on emissions reporting and transparency nearly ground the international talks to a halt.

The report outlines areas in which the two countries could improve collaboration and learn from each other’s experiences. For example, the report finds that China could learn from the US’s long experience in conducting surveys, more regular reporting, and disclosure of primary data and methodologies; while the US could gain from China’s recent experience in ensuring the validity of self-reporting structures through robust auditing and regular spot-checking.

“Because the US does not yet regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other large emitters, those emissions sources in the US have no reason to lie about their emissions,” said Chatterjee. “Lack of regulation of greenhouse gas emissions may increase the reliability of US data, but it hurts the ability of the US to compete with China in the clean energy economy.

“If the US wants to compete with China in the clean energy economy, it will require increased collaboration with China and it will require the US to implement the comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation currently being debated in the US Senate,” Chatterjee said.
Categories: Environment

Global surface temperatures highest on record in April

World Wildlife - Sun, 06/06/2010 - 02:00
NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) have just released data showing that global surface temperatures in April were the warmest on record, according to a report by Nick Sundt in the WWF US Climate Blog.

Indications include record low snow cover in North America, a precipitous decline in the extent of arctic sea ice, and record high sea surface temperatures in the region of the tropical Atlantic where most hurricanes originate.

Data released by NASA shows that globally, the combined land-surface air and sea-surface water temperature anomaly in April was 0.73C above the 1951-1980 mean, shattering the previous record of 0.66C set in April 2007. The records go back to 1880.

For the northern hemisphere alone, it was also a record-breaking month, with surface temperatures 1.32C above the long term mean, slightly above the previous record of 1.29C set just two years ago in 2007.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has also just released its April surface temperature data, showing a combined land and sea surface temperature anomaly of 0.759C above the 20th century average (1901-2000).

Like NASA's data, the NOAA data ranks April 2010 as the warmest April on record. NOAA's data places April 1998 as the second-warmest, with an anomaly of 0.7107°C above the long term average.

The last decade (2000-2009) was the warmest on record; and the data for January through April 2010 suggest that this year ultimately may be the warmest year yet.

The largest temperature anomalies were concentrated in the northern latitudes, particularly in the Arctic. In the United States, the northeast portions of the country were the warmest.

According to NOAA, "[r]ecord warmth prevailed throughout the Northeast as Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Jersey each had their warmest April on record. Illinois also had its warmest such period. In total, 31 states had above-normal temperatures."

NOAA's data also shows that global sea surface temperatures were the highest on record for April, with a temperature anomaly of 0.5706C above the 20th century average. Now in second place is 1998, with sea surface temperatures of 0.5570C above the 20th century average.

One reflection of warmth in northern latitudes is the sea ice in the Arctic. The extent of arctic sea ice is declining with unusual rapidity right now – faster than average and faster than in 2007, the year when Arctic sea ice plunged to a record minimum extent.

Read the full report in the WWF US Climate Blog.

Categories: Environment

WWF: New partnership to curb forest loss crucial to stop climate change, benefit people and environment

World Wildlife - Thu, 05/27/2010 - 02:00
More than fifty governments have vowed to stem tropical forest loss in efforts to fight climate change by forming a major new partnership.

Government leaders meeting for the Oslo Forest and Climate Conference on Thursday agreed to increase efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), pledging initially over USD 4 billion for these activities.

They established a partnership to move REDD+ activities forward in this year and beyond, creating crucial momentum for climate change mitigation efforts focused on halting deforestation ahead of the climate talks in Cancun in December.

REDD+ offers a unique opportunity to address both the adverse consequences of climate change and the underlying causes of ongoing forest loss and forest degradation around the world and in doing so, contributes to efforts to avoid dangerous levels of warming.

“Governments made a major step forward in efforts to fight climate change this week. This collaborative partnership is a very constructive start,” said Paul Chatterton, of WWF’s Forest Carbon Initiative, “but the challenge now is to turn these commitments into action and secure money to support these efforts in the long-run.”

To date, the clearest example of this kind of long-term financial support came from the climate change bill that passed the US House of Representatives last year. Unfortunately, the Kerry-Lieberman bill introduced in the US Senate this month eliminated that financing. If REDD+ is to succeed, the United States and other key countries need to step with long term financing that builds on these successful fast start actions.

Looking ahead, countries must follow through on their commitments today by upholding the elements of this partnership agreement, which will mean improving coordination, increasing transparency, and ensuring that funds and actions are in line with principles and safeguards outlined in the partnership, WWF said.

WWF, CARE, and Greenpeace proposed a set of guiding principles ahead of this week’s meeting to ensure that the agreement acknowledged that the climate, biodiversity and people’s wellbeing are fundamental to any REDD+ efforts.

Meanwhile, WWF welcomed the announcement of Norway’s decision ahead of the conference to provide USD 1 billion to support Indonesia’s efforts to reduce emissions caused by deforestation in that country.

The two governments agreed on Wednesday to enter into a collaboration to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) in Indonesia’s forests and peat lands.


Categories: Environment

NGOs call for strong safeguards in efforts to halt deforestation to help address climate change

World Wildlife - Wed, 05/26/2010 - 02:00
Gland, Switzerland – Leading environmental and humanitarian organizations are calling for efforts to combat climate change through halting deforestation to take full account of impacts on forest peoples and biodiversity.

CARE and WWF made the call as country delegates head to Oslo for Thursday’s Climate and Forest Conference to ensure that any efforts to combat climate change by reducing forest loss take into account impacts on people and the environment.

CARE and WWF are asking governments to ensure that benefits to the climate, biodiversity and people’s wellbeing are fundamental to efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). To this end, the organizations are proposing a set of principles for governments to adopt in REDD+ activities and plans. CARE and WWF welcome the inclusion of principles in the partnership agreement and reaffirm the importance that countries not only promote and support but make a commitment to the principles and application of safeguards.

More than 30 governments will discuss forming a first-time Partnership at the Oslo meeting to advance REDD+ activities this year and beyond which is essential to maintain the momentum ahead of the climate talks in December in Cancun, and advance interim activities in a more coordinated and transparent manner.

REDD+ offers a unique opportunity to address both the dire consequences of climate change and the underlying causes of ongoing forest loss and forest degradation around the world and in doing so, contributes to efforts to avoid dangerous levels of warming.

However, it could be ineffective and may potentially do more harm than good unless countries adopt principles that set a global benchmark for success. Tackling the problem of deforestation and forest degradation at the scale and pace needed to prevent catastrophic climate change must go hand in hand with protecting the planet’s climate and biodiversity, and benefiting local communities and indigenous peoples, the organizations said.

In addition, any coordinated approach must be transparent and accountable to show how any money to implement REDD+ activities is spent and to learn lessons for future activities.

“The world’s governments are about to lay billions of dollars on the table to help protect our climate by fighting deforestation. We need to agree on strong rules to guide how this money is used so it benefits the people and wildlife living in forests,” said Paul Chatterton, of WWF’s Forest Carbon Initiative. “These principles ensure that any efforts to address climate change by stopping forest loss result in real benefits for people and the environment.”

“Experience from all over the world shows that local communities are the best custodians of forests and what lives in them” says Raja Jarrah, CARE’s expert on REDD. “They will feel the impacts first if the forests disappear. The principles we are introducing today re-state what we know already: that REDD+ programmes will only succeed if they benefit local people, and if their rights are safeguarded during the process.”

GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR REDD+
REDD+ offers a unique opportunity to address both the dire consequences of climate change and the underlying causes of ongoing forest loss and forest degradation while benefitting the climate’s planet, biodiversity, and people. As countries come together to establish this global partnership on REDD+, they must adopt guiding principles that set a global benchmark for success in tackling the problem of deforestation and forest degradation at the scale and pace needed to prevent catastrophic climate change, to avoid further decline in biodiversity, to promote human wellbeing and to support low carbon development.

Principle 1:
CLIMATE
REDD+ demonstrably contributes to greenhouse gas emission reductions with national goals working toward a global objective

Principle 2:
BIODIVERSITY
REDD+ maintains and/or enhances forest biodiversity and ecosystem services

Principle 3:
LIVELIHOODS
REDD+ contributes to sustainable and equitable development by strengthening the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities

Principle 4:
RIGHTS
REDD+ recognizes and respects the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities

Principle 5:
FAIR & EFFECTIVE FUNDING
REDD+ mobilizes immediate, adequate and predictable resources for action in priority forest areas in an equitable, transparent, participatory and coordinated manner


Categories: Environment

China study shows huge potential of low carbon telecom solutions

World Wildlife - Thu, 05/13/2010 - 02:00
Beijing, China - A joint China Mobile and WWF study has shown the huge potential low carbon telecom solutions have to reduce carbon emissions, with savings from Chinese telecom solutions in 2008 estimated at being similar to the total CO2 emissions of countries like Sweden, Denmark or Finland.

Low Carbon Telecommunications Solutions in China: Current Reductions and Future Potential, which was presented today at the Telecommunications Sector Conference for Energy Efficiency and Emission Reduction in Beijing was carried out by the Service Management Science Research Institute of the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications.

It estimates direct CO2 emissions savings from low carbon telecom solutions provided by China Mobile in 2008 at 48.5 million tonnes or just over six times the company’s own emissions. For 2009, the savings were 58.2 million tonnes, almost six and a half times company emissions.

“It is important to pay attention to the companies that deliver the solutions society needs, and not only focus on those that are big emitters,” said Dermot O’Gorman, the Country Representative of WWF China. “We want to support China and Chinese companies to take the lead in a solution approach that can deliver results not just in China, but globally.”

The estimates were based on detailed analysis of direct savings from 14 low carbon information communication technologies (ICTs) offered by China Mobile which were categorised into smart logistics (like matching truck journeys to load needs), dematerialisation (saving paper and other materials), smart work (reducing commuting and travel needs) and smart appliances (remotely monitored and controlled for energy savings).

The estimates are also conservative, disregarding the potential for indirect savings. For instance, while the energy implications from savings in paper from putting newspapers, sales brochures and invoicing online are calculated, no account is taken of the reduced needs for transport, storage and waste disposal or the knock-on infrastructure implications of such reductions.

“We are happy to present this joint report with WWF that clearly demonstrates the important role of the mobile telecom sector in helping China to move towards a low carbon economy,” said Jianzhou Wang, the President of China Mobile Communications Corporation.

“Many of our solutions are transformative and help people get better service with dramatically reduced emissions.”

The largest single current savings in carbon emissions lay in reducing commuting through teleworking, which could save an estimated 340 million tonnes of CO2 emissions China-wide in 2020. However, the savings from virtual meetings will increase at a much greater rate to an estimated 623 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030 when such meetings reduce the demand for commercial aviation by nearly 40 per cent.

The potential savings from smart logistics, dematerialization, smart work (including smart meeting and smart commuting) as a whole in 2010 is 399 million tons, 615 million tons in 2020 and 1298 million tons in 2030.

“This would be a significant contribution to the global greenhouse gas emission reductions and an important contribution to China’s target to reduce the carbon intensity of its economy by 40 to 45% by the year 2020,” said Yanli Hou, the Director of Climate Change and Energy Programme of WWF China.

“With the already existing savings and the great potential we look forward to continuing to explore the opportunities for China Mobile to contribute to a low carbon society,” said Guangze Qin, the Director of Working Group of Green Action Plan of China Mobile Communications Corporation.

The report recommends the recognition of the contribution of low carbon ICT solutions in China’s next five year plan, along with targets for the emissions reductions to be delivered.

“The government should stipulate emissions limits for certain services to support innovation and heighten the sense of industrial discipline in order to increase the incentive to use low carbon ICT solutions,” said Mr. Qin.

Categories: Environment