Archive for Climate change
Climate change keeps on accelerating
Posted by: on November 27, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Sciences
Just after I published an article on how many islands around the world are due to disappear because of climate change, the WWF brings us more data on this very topic.
To their latest studies, it seems that global warming is accelerating as time goes and thus the threat of rising sea levels increases dramatically.
This report is published just days before the discussions in Poznan (Poland) that will prepare the future of the Kyoto Protocol. Time is running out… Continue reading »
Soon to be lost paradises
Posted by: on November 26, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, oceans, Sustainable development
In the past few weeks - and further to my articles on rising sea levels - I have been wondering how the beautiful islands in Oceania and elsewhere will be affected by this phenomenon.
It seems many people will have to flee their homes. Indeed, many islands like Tuvalu and the Maldives (pictured) may disappear from the surface of our planet by mid-century.
Today I propose you some of the latest articles on that topic. Climate change is happening right now, those islanders witness it as you read this. Continue reading »
Limiting the methane emissions of cows
Posted by: on November 25, 2008 in Tags: Agriculture, Climate change, Energy
You perhaps remember the article on backpacks for cows’ farts I published this summer. It seems there is another way to limit methane emissions produced by bovines.
Collecting their manure - and thus the methane - could decrease global warming and provide energy as this greenhouse gas is quite similar to natural gas.
This seems to be a very good solution even if it would concern firstly large dairy farms where the amount of gas is enough to pay the installation. Continue reading »
Reforming the EU energy sector is necessary
Posted by: on November 24, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Energy, Europe
According to the European Environment Agency the generation of electricity and heat in the 27 country members account for 80 percent of of European Union’s greenhouse gases emissions.
This occurs as the sector progressively steps back from both coal and oil to embrace natural gas and renewable energy sources. It also increased its efficiency.
But a trend continuation of these changes won’t be enough to avoid massive climate change. Faster and bigger changes have to take place. Continue reading »
According to several sources, out of the 39 countries under the Kyoto Protocol, only 16 are meeting their targets while 20 aren’t due to do so as only three years remain.
The United Nations issued an interesting presentation with a table (left) that sums up very well the situation at hand. Now everyone can see in a glance how partaking countries are scoring.
This occurs as in two weeks the discussions for the successor of the Kyoto Protocol will begin in Poland. I guess there will be heated debates… Continue reading »
Time for Europe to lead on climate change
Posted by: on November 18, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Europe
On December 11th, the leaders of the European Union will meet to decide its climate change policy for the next twelve years. This is a most important occasion to call for leadership.
Since they plan to cut our greenhouse gases emissions by only 20 percent when at least 30 percent is needed, we the people have to urge them to act stronger and faster.
This is the meaning of the communication campaign lauched by several environmental NGOs like the WWF. Please urge your country’s leaders to act NOW ! (it takes only two minutes)
IEA’s World Energy Outlook 2008
Posted by: on November 12, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Efficiency, Energy, IEA
The International Energy Agency published today its famous World Energy Outlook. This edition stresses even more than last year’s version the importance of energy conservation and efficiency.
With the booming energy demand from developing countries, energy saving mechanisms have to become more important if we want to avoid massive energy scarcity and climate change.
As oil production fails to answer the rising demand, alternatives - from coal to nuclear and renewables - will play a more important role in the global energy market. Continue reading »
Al Gore’s brilliant plan to repower America
Posted by: on November 10, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Energy, renewables, USA
Al Gore, the former US Vice President and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize with the IPCC, wants to take the opportunity of having a President that promotes change to repower America.
To do so, he launched a new website and wrote a most interesting article in the New York Times which perfectly sums up the situation at hand, thus making this a must read.
Still willing to produce the totality of the US electricity by cleaner energy sources, Al Gore shows that with his plan yes we can solve our climate/ energy problems. Continue reading »
Eastern European countries are plagued by coal
Posted by: on November 7, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Coal, Environment, Europe
Coal is by far the most polluting and most greenhouse gases energy source. We have seen that China has became the world’s most CO2 emitting country because of this.
But did you know that much nearer to us, Eastern European countries like Poland are plagued by the massive use of coal, which is the origin of acid rains (cf. map on the left).
The Financial Times (not exactly a newspaper on environmentalism) reported on how coal might be a huge problem for these countries. Continue reading »
A new hope for a planet in peril
Posted by: on November 5, 2008 in Tags: Climate change, Sustainable development, USA
The election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America represents to many people around the world a new hope on several topics including energy and climate change.
He stated that we are living in “a Planet in peril”. This couldn’t be more true. Yet, with him at the White House I am confident things will get better in dramatic ways.
Many bloggers and institutions wrote on the various challenges that lies ahead of President Obama (I love writing those two words together… ). Here is a selection. Continue reading »
