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Climate change means ocean change
When talking about the impacts of climate change, we mostly hear about changes to land and the planet’s surface or atmosphere. However, most of the warming is going into the oceans where a lot of ecosystem changes are also occurring.
This update includes a couple of info graphics and charts as well as a video from an ocean and climate scientist that explains this further.
Read full article: Climate Change Affects Biodiversity
Climate change: historic emissions still matter
China, India and other emerging economies are often the focus points for climate change negotiations. Many rich nation politicians and their media often point to their rising emissions as proof that they urgently need to be bound to emission reduction targets in the same way rich nations are.
But what is often easily forgotten or omitted is that greenhouse gases can stay in the atmosphere for a very long time. In other words, historic emissions matter.
Historical data show that the majority of greenhouse emissions have been by rich nations, known as "Annex I" countries in climate negotiation speak:
Apart from China and India, the remainder of the top 10 historical greenhouse gas emitters have been from Annex I countries.
This is why 2 decades ago the climate negotiations started by understanding there were "common but differentiated principles" and why "Annex I" countries were initially given target emissions while the rest were to be given space to grow given the urgent need for poverty alleviation and development.
Furthermore, climate negotiations frameworks have always said developing nations need to avoid a polluting path to industrialization, so they can’t just use historic emissions injustice as an excuse not to do anything. At the same time, the dirty path to development was also the cheap and easy path which developing countries need to avoid, so it was also agreed that the Annex I countries should help developing countries in various ways. Needless to say much of this has not really happened.
These and additional charts have been added based on updated data up to 2008 on historical carbon emissions plus estimated emissions for 2009 and 2010.
Read full article: Climate Justice and Equity
Climate change and carbon emissions trading
Flexibility mechanisms were defined in the Kyoto Protocol as different ways to achieve emissions reduction as part of the effort to address climate change issues. These fall into the following categories: Emissions Trading, Joint Implementation and Clean Development Mechanism.
However, these have been highly controversial as they were mainly included on strong US insistence and to keep the US in the treaty (even though the US eventually pulled out). Some of the mechanisms face criticism for not actually leading to a reduction in emissions, for example.
The updates to this article includes a couple of videos summarizing some concerns about cap and trade.
Image ©: Centre for Science and Environment
Read full article: Climate Change Flexibility Mechanisms
75% of the world’s large carnivores are now in decline while rhino poaching continues to soar
A recent study has found that three quarters of the world’s big carnivores are in decline, due to declining habitats and persecution by humans. This is also having a negative impact on the environment because top predators have a crucial role in any given ecosystem which is hard to replace.
At the same time, the number of rhinos being poached in South Africa (where most rhinos now remain) has soared exponentially in recent years.
This update includes more information on the above issues.
Read full article: Nature and Animal Conservation
Foreign aid: rebounds in 2013 to highest levels ever despite budget pressures, but still way below promised amounts
The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) recently published new preliminary figures for aid in 2013.
It showed official development assistance (ODA) aid from wealthy governments had increased to just under $135 billion in 2013 (at constant 2012 prices). This is roughly 0.3% of GNI (Gross National Income) of the donor nations.
Yet, over 40 years ago nations promised to reach 0.7% of their GNI by the mid-1970s. While each year the amount of aid falls quite short of that 0.7% target (less than half of that target), the quality and effectiveness of that aid is often questionable, sometimes benefiting the donor more than the recipient due to the types of conditions attached to this aid.
This update includes a number of new and updated charts and graphs.
Read full article: Foreign Aid for Development Assistance
Action on climate change is cheaper than inaction
Many are afraid that tackling climate change is going to be too costly. But increasingly, studies are showing action will not just be cheaper than inaction, but could actually result in economic, environmental and even health benefits, while improving sustainability.
This new page includes more information on the above issues.
Read full article: Action on climate change is cheaper than inaction
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5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of A Trip To Antarctica
Travelling to Antarctica is usually a once in a lifetime experience, and one many people have on their bucket lists. It’s not surprising, considering the dramatic icebergs, huge areas of wilderness and sensational lagoons. Just...
The post 5 Ways To Get The Most Out Of A Trip To Antarctica appeared first on Geeky Traveller.
5 Tips To Keep In Mind When Planning A Schengen Holiday
The Schengen area comprises of 26 beautiful countries and each of them offers an array of unique and awesome destinations for the travellers looking for a wonderful holiday. There are the popular places like Paris...
The post 5 Tips To Keep In Mind When Planning A Schengen Holiday appeared first on Geeky Traveller.