Because of a rapid warming trend over the past 30 years, the Earth is now reaching and passing through the warmest levels seen in the last 12,000 years. This color-coded map shows average temperatures from 2001-2005 compared to a base period of temperatures from 1951-1980. Dark red indicates the greatest warming and purple indicates the greatest cooling. Credit: NASA
Hard Rain Journal 11-12-06: Climate Crisis Update -- Greatest Challenge is Overcoming Denial and Greed that Cloud Minds and Close Hearts
By Richard Power
The stakes in the climate crisis were already as high as they could be, nothing less than the difference between a flourishing civilization and at best a marginal survival. But the odds of winning are getting worse year after year.
Consider these recent revelations:
“The growth in global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels over the past five years was four times greater than for the preceding 10 years…” (Independent, 11-11-06)
“New scientific data shows that Africa is more vulnerable to the impacts than previously thought….Seventy million people and 30 percent of Africa's coastal infrastructure face the risk of coastal flooding by 2080 linked to rising sea levels, the report found….By 2025, some 480 million people in Africa could be living in water-scarce or water-stressed areas.” (Inter Press Service, 11-7-06)
There are viable solutions. What is lacking is will and accountability.
Consider these recommendations from Norwegian Church Aid:
A framework for a post 2012-agreement: negotiations to bring about a new climate agreement for the period after 2012 must be concluded within 2008 so that it may be ratified in good time before the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol.
Adaptation Fund: Agreement must be reached on the governing structures for an Adaptation Fund.
Clean development mechanism (CDM): CDM activities must continue, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development in developing countries.
Technology transfer & access to green energy: mechanisms for technology transfer and access to environmentally friendly energy must be strengthened by a new climate agreement, and new, binding instruments for effective and sustainable technology transfer from rich industrialised nations to developing countries must be ensured.
Climate change itself is not the greatest challenge; the greatest challenge is overcoming the denial and greed that cloud the minds and close the hearts of those who wield corporate and governmental power and those who manufacture the consent of their country’s populaces (i.e., the mainstream news media).
Here are brief excerpts from the news items cited, with links to the full texts:
The growth in global emissions of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels over the past five years was four times greater than for the preceding 10 years, according to a study that exposes critical flaws in the attempts to avert damaging climate change. Data on carbon dioxide emissions shows that the global growth rate was 3.2 per cent in the five years to 2005 compared with 0.8 per cent from 1990 to 1999, despite efforts to reduce carbon pollution through the Kyoto agreement. Much of the increase is probably due to the expansion of the Chinese economy, which has relied heavily on burning coal and other fossil fuels for its energy. Dr Mike Raupach, chair of the Global Carbon Project, an international collaboration of researchers who compiled the latest figures, warned yesterday that emissions were spiralling out of control. "This is a very worrying sign. It indicates that recent efforts to reduce emissions have had virtually no impact on emissions growth…” Steve Connor Science Editor, Global growth in carbon emissions is 'out of control', Independent, 11-11-06
Climate change will devastate Africa without substantial help from the world community, according to a new report released at the opening of a major U.N. climate change conference in Nairobi, Kenya Monday. "Africa is the least responsible for climate change but will be hit the hardest," said Nick Nuttall, spokesperson for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
New scientific data shows that Africa is more vulnerable to the impacts than previously thought, Nuttall told IPS from Nairobi.
Seventy million people and 30 percent of Africa's coastal infrastructure face the risk of coastal flooding by 2080 linked to rising sea levels, the report found. More than one-third of the habitats that support African wildlife could be lost. Crop yields will fall due to warmer temperatures and more intense droughts.
By 2025, some 480 million people in Africa could be living in water-scarce or water-stressed areas. Stephen Leahy, Billions Needed to Climate-Proof Africa, Inter Press Service, 11-7-06
"Environmental issues have always been central to Norwegian Church Aid's values, and our position is laid out in our Guiding Principles. But we now see that climate change is creating ever greater challenges for the world's poor, and for those who are involved in work to fight poverty. This is why Norwegian Church Aid's Board has approved a motion to strengthen our competence within environmental issues and anchor this in our development work around the world," says Atle Sommerfeldt, General secretary of Norwegian Church Aid.
Norwegian Church Aid presented a list of challenges and recommendations to the Norwegian Minister for the Environment, Helen Bjørnøy, on Friday 3rd November, just two days before its representatives flew to Nairobi to participate in the UN Climate Change Conference that opens today….
Norwegian Church Aid recommends:
A framework for a post 2012-agreement: negotiations to bring about a new climate agreement for the period after 2012 must be concluded within 2008 so that it may be ratified in good time before the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol.
Adaptation Fund: Agreement must be reached on the governing structures for an Adaptation Fund.
Clean development mechanism (CDM): CDM activities must continue, with the aim of reducing greehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifnhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development in developing countries.
Technology transfer & access to green energy: mechanisms for technology transfer and access to environmentally friendly energy must be strengthened by a new climate agreement, and new, binding instruments for effective and sustainable technology transfer from rich industrialised nations to developing countries must be ensured. Norwegian Church Aid's Gaim Kebreab and Therese Vangstad will be participating in the UN Conference on Climate Change in Nairobi, Kenya from November 6th – 17th, Reuters Alternet, 11-6-06
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