Summer weather

Protecting the Arctic
I have been concerned about climate change for a long time, and remember going to a conference many, many years ago about this subject, where government scientists did mention there was a need to be aware of this problem.

I was leafing through the recently published report on Protecting the Arctic. In the summary it mentioned the damaging effects of climate change in the Arctic. It is warming twice as fast as anywhere else on the planet, the speed of the ice cap retreating has increased and the previously held view that the ice-cap is not at risk of a summer collapse in the next few years need to be re-examined.

After our summer weather I was dismayed to read in the introduction “ As a result of climate change, a number of “tipping points” that would hasten further global climate change could be approaching, with serious ramifications for the UK’s weather and climate.”

Could we stand more miserable summers? More rain and cold is something we could get used to. However, what about the 4 million people that live there and the species that are unique to that area, if this continues what will happen to them?

This is a very informative parliamentary paper that does make you think about our fragile earth.

The title and shelfmark of the report is –Protecting the Arctic : second report of session 2012-13 by the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.

P.P. 2012-13 HC 171.

Happy and peaceful holidays to all our readers!

A lot of our bloggers are, or will be, away for the holidays, so the blog will also be having a little rest. Here's hoping you all have a happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. I'll leave you with this image from the United Nations Information Centre for Western Europe (UNRIC), which be launched early next year. It's in tandem with the Road to Copenhagen initiative on climate change and citizen participation.

Too little, too late?

In 2007 the Australian commonwealth, state and territory governments commissioned Professor Ross Garnaut to investigate the potential effects of climate change on the economy. The final report is now ready, and it includes criticism of the lack of urgency from other governments around the world to cut back on carbon emissions.

P.S. And in the same week WWF publishes its Living Planet report which outlines the terrifying scenario of dwindling resources and too many people using them up.

World Food Day 2008

Today (16th October) is the FAO's (Food & Agriculture Organization of the UN) World Food Day. The event considers ways to tackle food production and the effects of climate change, global food security, and general awareness raising about world hunger (923 million under-nourished people at the last count...)