Irreversible climate change due to carbon dioxide emissions

Here is a new paper by Susan Solomon (senior scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - NOAA) that was published today in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The paper explains how changes in surface temperature, rainfall, and sea level are largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years after carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are completely stopped. Hmmm, this does not sound good at all.

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Update: check out this article in response to Solomon's paper from RealClimate called Irreversible Does Not Mean Unstoppable which highlights the point that:

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"Unstoppable = Burn Baby Burn. But let’s not confuse Irreversible with Unstoppable. One means no turning back, while the other means no slowing down. They are very different words. Despair not!".

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Anyway, here is the story on the paper from NOAA’s website.

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New Study Shows Climate Change Largely Irreversible
January 26, 2009

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A new scientific study led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reaches a powerful conclusion about the climate change caused by future increases of carbon dioxide: to a large extent, there’s no going back.

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The pioneering study, led by NOAA senior scientist Susan Solomon, shows how changes in surface temperature, rainfall, and sea level are largely irreversible for more than 1,000 years after carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are completely stopped. The findings appear during the week of January 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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“Our study convinced us that current choices regarding carbon dioxide emissions will have legacies that will irreversibly change the planet,” said Solomon, who is based at NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colo.“It has long been known that some of the carbon dioxide emitted by human activities stays in the atmosphere for thousands of years,” Solomon said. “But the new study advances the understanding of how this affects the climate system.”

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The study examines the consequences of allowing CO2 to build up to several different peak levels beyond present-day concentrations of 385 parts per million and then completely halting the emissions after the peak. The authors found that the scientific evidence is strong enough to quantify some irreversible climate impacts, including rainfall changes in certain key regions, and global sea level rise.
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If CO2 is allowed to peak at 450-600 parts per million, the results would include persistent decreases in dry-season rainfall that are comparable to the 1930s North American Dust Bowl in zones including southern Europe, northern Africa, southwestern North America, southern Africa and western Australia.

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The study notes that decreases in rainfall that last not just for a few decades but over centuries are expected to have a range of impacts that differ by region. Such regional impacts include decreasing human water supplies, increased fire frequency, ecosystem change and expanded deserts. Dry-season wheat and maize agriculture in regions of rain-fed farming, such as Africa, would also be affected.
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Climate impacts were less severe at lower peak levels. But at all levels added carbon dioxide and its climate effects linger because of the ocean.

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“In the long run, both carbon dioxide loss and heat transfer depend on the same physics of deep-ocean mixing. The two work against each other to keep temperatures almost constant for more than a thousand years, and that makes carbon dioxide unique among the major climate gases,” said Solomon.
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The scientists emphasize that increases in CO2 that occur in this century “lock in” sea level rise that would slowly follow in the next 1,000 years. Considering just the expansion of warming ocean waters—without melting glaciers and polar ice sheets—the authors find that the irreversible global average sea level rise by the year 3000 would be at least 1.3–3.2 feet (0.4–1.0 meter) if CO2 peaks at 600 parts per million, and double that amount if CO2 peaks at 1,000 parts per million.

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“Additional contributions to sea level rise from the melting of glaciers and polar ice sheets are too uncertain to quantify in the same way,” said Solomon. “They could be even larger but we just don’t have the same level of knowledge about those terms. We presented the minimum sea level rise that we can expect from well-understood physics, and we were surprised that it was so large.”
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Rising sea levels would cause “…irreversible commitments to future changes in the geography of the Earth, since many coastal and island features would ultimately become submerged,” the authors write.

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Geoengineering to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere was not considered in the study. “Ideas about taking the carbon dioxide away after the world puts it in have been proposed, but right now those are very speculative,” said Solomon.
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The authors relied on measurements as well as many different models to support the understanding of their results. They focused on drying of particular regions and on thermal expansion of the ocean because observations suggest that humans are contributing to changes that have already been measured.

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Besides Solomon, the study’s authors are Gian-Kasper Plattner and Reto Knutti of ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and Pierre Friedlingstein of Institut Pierre Simon Laplace, Gif-Sur-Yvette, France.NOAA understands and predicts changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and conserves and manages our coastal and marine resources.

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Read the full paper here (Well worth a read!!)
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Also check out:
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New Green Jobs ??
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies
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Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'
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Boost the economy and tackle poverty at the same time

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Other topics include:
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Australia, Biodiversity, Business, Carbon Reduction Pollution Scheme, China, Climate Change, Coal, Conferences, Earth, Emissions, Green Wash, Health, IPCC, Murray-Darling River, Nanotechnology, Nuclear, Peak Oil, Politics Poverty, Protests, Psychology, Public Participation, Religion, Science, Social, Sustainability 2.0, Technology, United Kingdom, United Nations and the United States.

Some more lectures from MIT: Nicholas Stern and Ronald Prinn

Here are a couple of more lectures from MIT, that I watched this morning. The first talk is given by Nicholas Stern on the economics of climate change. He argues that early action to reduce greenhouse gases is needed and he suggests that a business-as-usual approach could reduce global GDP by more than 5% each year, forever! The second lecture is given by Ronald Prinn who examines the various pieces of evidence for anthropogenic climate change and also discussus the uncertainties involved in the science. Worth a look !!

Climate Change: The economics of and Prospects for a Global Deal

Sir Nicholas Stern gives an economic perspective on climate change and suggests that climate change is "the greatest market failure the world has ever seen".

Also see: Update: Stern on Climate Change

Anthropogenic Climate Change: Science, Economics and Policy

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Ronald Prinn speaking on the evidence for anthropogenic climate change. Using MIT’s Integrated Global System Model "which helps show how human industry, agriculture and consumption feed into the delicate, interconnected physical and biological workings of atmosphere, ocean and earth."

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If you enjoyed this post please also check out:
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Some lectures from MIT: on climate change and science policy
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Policy Quarterly: the problem of international ‘burden sharing’
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies
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Nine Meals from Anarchy

Random Man on Planet Earth

Here are the 10 most popular posts on Random Man on Planet Earth.

1. New Environmental Paradigm Scale

2. Remembering Arne Naess (1912-2009)

3. Nanotechnology - risks and benefits

4. History of Nanotechnology

5. Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'

6. Poor Turtle

7. New Green Jobs ??

8. Communicating Climate Change

9. Carbon Reduction Pollution Scheme

10. Climate Safety: In case of emergency . . .

Some lectures from MIT: on climate change and science policy

Below are two interesting videos that I watched recently. Enjoy!!



Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities for Business and Society





Science Policy and the Obama Administration: Advice to a New President
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If you enjoyed this post please also check out:
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Some more lectures from MIT: Nicholas Stern and Ronald Prinn
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Climate Safety: In case of emergency . . .
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Big firms lack climate change plans
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies

$10 million to study human health effects of climate change

Here is a story on the new funds (made available from the Australian Federal Government) to investigate the health effects of climate change on humans. This follows the outbreak of dengue fever in Queensland, which has been predicted to increase as a result of climate change. The funds will go to the CSIRO and ANU to examine the effects on human health as temperatures rise.

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Climate-change research to examine human health

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SMH

Stephanie Peatling

January 27, 2009

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THE effects of climate change on health - particularly heat-related diseases such as dengue fever - will be examined as part of a research project to be announced by the Federal Government today.

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Penny Wong, the Minister for Climate Change, will use a tour of Queensland mining towns this week to announce $10 million for the CSIRO and Australian National University to look at what will happen to human health as temperatures rise.

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"We need to better understand the diversity of these health risks, who will be most vulnerable, and the action governments, individuals and communities can take to reduce the risks," Senator Wong said.

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Also check out:
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Health effects of climate change in the UK
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Victoria to study health impact of climate change
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Climate Change and Human Health Conference
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Healthy green space research

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Electric motorbike

Vectrix Electric Motorbike

Vectrix is the worlds first high performance electric super scooter.

Power/torque:28hp @3000rpm

Weight: 225kg

Top speed: 100 kmph

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Earthrace
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'Clean Coal' ???
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Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'

Update: Stern on Climate Change

Nicholas Stern has just written an article, for NewScientist, called "Time for a green industrial revolution".

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Stern argues that the time for action on climate change is NOW because:

"AS THE world faces up to the worst global financial crisis since the 1930s, "the economic case for tackling the global climate crisis is more compelling than ever" and that "it has become apparent that the risks and potential costs are even greater than we originally recognised."

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Stern also suggests that the target range (i.e. 450-550ppm) suggested in the 2006 Stern Report was too high and "our target should not exceed 500 ppm".

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Stern suggests:

"the way to rapidly reduce emissions - whilst maintaining development and growth - is the rapid dissemination and use of low-carbon technologies"

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**Please also check out:

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Boost the economy and tackle poverty at the same time

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New Green Jobs ??
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies
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Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'
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UK Climate Projections 2009 (UKCP09)

Video on 'forests and climate change'

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the UK Forestry Commission have produced a 17-minute video on “Forests and Climate Change: a Convenient Truth.” The video shows how forests can contribute to the mitigation of climate change, stressing the importance of reversing forest loss. It is easy to follow and contains plenty of useful information.

The video explains how society can combat climate change by: conserving and managing existing forests; tackling causes of deforestation; and planting new forests.

It stresses the use of wood as a renewable energy source and as a raw material. A section on adaptation notes how the world’s changing climate will affect the health and composition of forests and stresses the importance of adapting and planning ahead for the changes.

Download video here

Summary of 'Forests and Climate Change: A Convenient Truth?' Conference here

Also check out:
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New Green Jobs ??

Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies

Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'

Boost the economy and tackle poverty at the same time

Other topics include:

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Australia, Biodiversity, Business, Carbon Reduction Pollution Scheme, China, Climate Change, Coal, Conferences, Earth, Emissions, Green Wash, Health, IPCC, Murray-Darling River, Nanotechnology, Nuclear, Peak Oil, Politics Poverty, Protests, Psychology, Public Participation, Religion, Science, Social, Sustainability 2.0, Technology, United Kingdom, United Nations and the United States.

State of the World 2009 - Forward by R.K.Pachauri

State of the World 2009: Confronting Climate Change
by the Worldwatch Institute

Foreword by R. K. Pachauri

Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute

Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

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The Worldwatch Institute’s State of the World reports have evolved into a remarkable source of intellectual wealth that provides understanding and insight not only on the physical state of this planet but on human systems as they are linked with ecosystems and natural resources around the world. It is especially heartening that the focus of State of the World 2009 is on climate change.

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The contents of this volume are of particular interest as they are based on the findings of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and provide a comprehensive overview of the policy imperatives facing humanity as we come to grips with this all-important challenge confronting the world today. The IPCC report provided the global community with up-to-date knowledge through an overall assessment of climate change that went substantially beyond its Third Assessment Report. On the basis of strong and robust scientific evidence, the IPCC stated clearly that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level.” The evidence from observations of the past 150 years or so leads to some profound conclusions. For instance, 11 of the last 12 years are among the 12 warmest years ever recorded in terms of global surface temperature.

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This edition of State of the World brings out clearly the difference between inaction based on a business-as-usual approach and action to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has rightly called climate change “the defining challenge of our age.” Several world leaders have made similar statements to highlight the importance of taking climate change seriously when developing initiatives and plans for the future. State of the World 2009 has framed the challenge appropriately by emphasizing the importance of not only new technologies but also a very different approach in terms of human behavior and choices. An important element of future solutions is a different form of global governance—one that would create a high level of seriousness in the implementation of global agreements.

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It is profoundly disappointing, for example, that although the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) came into existence in 1992 it took five more years to provide the convention with an agreement that could be implemented—the Kyoto Protocol. A further source of disappointment is the fact that the Kyoto Protocol, which required ratification by a minimum number of countries accounting for a specific share of greenhouse gas emissions, did not enter into force until 16 February 2005. All of this, unfortunately, provides a sad commentary on the importance that the global community has accorded the problem so far.

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It was against this dismal record of inaction, and just after the release of the Synthesis Report of the recent IPCC report, that hopes were raised that the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC, held in Bali in December 2007, would finally agree on some firm action on an agreement beyond 2012, the final year covered by the Kyoto Protocol. The meeting was even rescheduled to four weeks after the Synthesis Report was due to be published, so that the delegates would have time to study the IPCC’s findings. The Bali Action Plan that was adopted, following a great deal of debate and discussion, certainly provides hope for the future. It is gratifying that the discussions in Bali—and certainly the final declaration—were based predominantly on the assessment contained in the Synthesis Report, the final document in IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report.

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State of the World 2009 has been structured logically into chapters that clearly explain the sequence that must guide our understanding of the problem and help set directions for taking action. Particularly relevant is the explanation of what would constitute a safe level of concentration of GHGs. Recall that the main objective of the UNFCCC is stabilization of GHGs in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with Earth’s climate system. Article 2 of the treaty notes that such a level should be achieved within a time frame sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, ensure that food production is not threatened, and enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner. Unfortunately, understanding what level of emissions would actually be dangerous is still not clear in policymaking circles around the world.

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Several commentators in recent months have expressed deep concern at the current imbalance in the global market for foodgrains, which has hurt some of the poorest people on Earth. There is now mounting evidence that foodgrain output would be threatened by climate change, particularly if the average temperature were to reach 2.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. Some regions of the world would, of course, be affected far more than others. In Africa, for instance, 75–250 million people would experience water stress as early as 2020 as a consequence of climate change. Some countries on that continent may also be suffering from a 50-percent decline in agricultural yields by then.

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The definition of what constitutes dangerous anthropogenic interference is therefore directly related to specific locations, because not only are the impacts of climate change likely to vary substantially across the planet but the capacity to adapt is also very diverse in different societies. What could be labeled as a dangerous level of anthropogenic interference may have already been reached or even exceeded in some parts of the world. Some small island states, for instance, often with land areas not more than a meter or two above sea level, face serious risks from flooding and storm surges that represent a major threat to life and property even today.

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Mitigation measures that can help stabilize the concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere have been assessed as generally very low in cost, and most of these carry large-scale co-benefits that in effect reduce the costs further quite significantly. State of the World 2009 clearly explains the benefits of harnessing low-carbon energy on “a grand scale.” The world has been slow in adopting some of these energy options simply because we have not as yet taken full advantage of economies of scale. Nor have we carried out adequate research and development that would allow new technologies to evolve effectively within a short period of time. One important way to develop and disseminate appropriate technologies would be to place a price on carbon, which would provide significant incentives to producers as well as consumers. But there is also an important role for regulatory measures, standards, and codes that can lay down appropriate benchmarks to be observed in different sectors of the economy. Government policy, therefore, will be an important driver of action in the right direction for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.

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The strongest message from State of the World 2009 is this: if the world does not take action early and in adequate measure, the impacts of climate change could prove extremely harmful and overwhelm our capacity to adapt. At the same time, the costs and feasibility of mitigation of GHG emissions are well within our reach and carry a wealth of substantial benefits for many sections of society. Hence, it is essential for the world to look beyond business as usual and stave off the crisis that faces us if we fail to act.

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This publication comes at a time when governments are focused on reaching an agreement in Copenhagen at the end of 2009 to tackle the challenge of climate change. It will undoubtedly influence the negotiators from different countries to look beyond the narrow and short-term concerns that are far too often the reason for inaction. Indeed, we all need to encourage and join them in showing a determination and commitment to meet this global challenge before it is too late.

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Source

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Book's webpage

Free State of the World 2009 Downloads:

State of the World: A Year in Review by Lisa MastnyA timeline of significant environmental news events from October 2007 to September 2008.

Chapter 1. The Perfect Storm, by Christopher Flavin and Robert EngelmanThe climate dilemma, in a nutshell.

Chapter 2. A Safe Landing for the Climate, by W. L. HareCurrent climate science and the emissions path needed to glide toward a safe landing.

Chapter 3. Farming and Land Use to Cool the Planet, Sara J. Scherr and Sajal SthapitThe needed transition to carbon-absorbing forestry and food production.

Chapter 4. An Enduring Energy Future, by Janet L. Sawin and William R. MoomawThe opportunity and the imperative for building a low-carbon energy future.

Chapter 5. Building Resilience, by David Dodman, Jessica Ayers, and Saleemul HuqThe importance of building resilience to climate change.

Chapter 6. Sealing the Deal to Save the Climate, by Robert EngelmanThe agreement that nations must reach to begin stabilizing the climate while adapting to a warming world.

Climate Connections22 essays by experts around the world on wide-ranging topics relevant to climate change

Climate Change Reference Guide and Glossary, by Alice McKeown and Gary GardnerA primer for following the developments on climate change that will unfold in 2009.

Other topics include:

Australia, Biodiversity, Business, Carbon Reduction Pollution Scheme, China, Climate Change, Coal, Conferences, Earth, Emissions, Green Wash, Health, IPCC, Murray-Darling River, Nanotechnology, Nuclear, Peak Oil, Politics, Poverty, Protests, Psychology, Public Participation, Religion, Science, Social, Sustainability 2.0, Technology, United Kingdom, United Nations and the United States.

Remembering Arne Naess (1912-2009)

Arne Naess was a Norwegian philosopher, writer and mountaineer and some say the 'father of Deep Ecology'. Although he coined the phrase in 1973 and provided the philosophical framework for Deep Ecology, he believed that it was Rachel Carson’s book "Silent Spring" (1962) that was the beginning of the international deep ecology movement. He also founded the journal Inquiry.

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He passed away this week at the age of 96.

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“The earth does not belong to humans.”

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- Arne Naess

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"The right of all forms [of life] to live is a universal right which cannot be quantified. No single species of living being has more of this particular right to live and unfold than any other species."

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- Arne Naess

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He did much of his thinking and writing in isolation, at a self-built hut (he called the Tvergastein hut, after the locals' name for the quartz crystals found near the small tarn below it) high on a Norwegian mountain. At just over 1500m above sea level is Norway's highest privately-owned dwelling.

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He believed life’s necessities were water, food, shelter, warmth, clean air and perhaps solitude – what he called in his philosophy human “vital needs”.

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Picture: View from his window (from the Tvergastein hut) where he spent over 11 years thinking and writing.

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He famously described the original 8m by 5m hut (which he built in 1938) as "Simple in means, rich in ends". This is the place after which he has named his own philosophy, Ecosophy T. The "T" is for Tvergastein.

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He uses the term Deep Ecology in the paper "The Shallow and the Deep, Long Range Ecology Movements: A Summary".

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In it, he suggests that the ecological movement has two strands: the shallow, concerned with pollution and resource depletion; and the deep, which rejects the idea of humans as being separate from their environment and highlights the complex relatedness of all that is and supports biocentric equality and the equal right of all living organisms to blossom and flourish. (taken from Clare Palmer)

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Publications:

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He published about 30 books and numerous articles including:

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The Selected Works of Arne Naess - 10 volume work (2005)

Life's philosophy: reason and feeling in a deeper world (2002)
Gandhi (2000)

Ecology, Community and Lifestyle (1989)

Freedom, Emotion and Self-subsistence (1975)

Gandhi and Group Conflict (1974)

Four modern philosophers (1968)

Communication and Argument (1966)

Symbolic Logic (1961)

History of Philosophy (1953)

Democracy, Ideology and Objectivity (1956)

Truth as conceived by those who are not professional philosophers (1938)

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Please check out the Random Man Top 10

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For a link to the complete transcript of the film about Arne Naess and the Deep Ecology Movement (see: The Call of the Mountain)

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Note: He is not to be confused with Arne Naess, Jr. (who was his nephew and the former husband of Diana Ross). .

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Sources:
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Living in the World: Mountain Humility, Great Humility by Richard Langlais
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University of Oslo (Arne Naess page)
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Remembering Arne Naess (1912-2009) by David Orton

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** If you enjoyed this post please also check out:
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Allan Schnaiberg

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Communicating Climate Change
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Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies.

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COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
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So please, tell us what you think.

Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Development Programs

On the 8 January 2009, the World Bank has released a guide on “Policy and Institutional Reforms to Support Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in Development Programs.”

The report is in 3 modules:

The first module looks at the main climate impacts that can be expected in developing countries.

The second module identifies relevant transmission channels through which development programs could have an effect on GHG emissions and on the impacts of impending climate change on individuals.

The third module describes the measures being introduced to reduce GHGs and to adapt to climate change in developing coutries.

Worth a read if you are interested in climate change policy issues (especially developing nations).

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Also check out:

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Policy Quarterly: the problem of international ‘burden sharing’
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies

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Public Participation - Eeyores and Tiggers

Boost the economy and tackle poverty at the same time

Here is a new report, "Tackling Climate Change, Reducing Poverty" put out by a new coalition of leading UK environmental and social justice groups, convened by Oxfam and the New Economics Foundation and including Friends of the Earth and the Royal College of Nursing.

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It shows that tackling climate change actually offers a huge opportunity to boost the economy and tackle poverty at the same time.

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The report suggests:

• Improving household energy efficiency, reducing both emissions and fuel poverty.
• Planning for an equitable transition to a low carbon economy; paving the way for the UK to capitalise on the opportunities and reap the benefits of the new low-carbon economy including the creation of new 'green collar' jobs.
• Promoting sustainable public service provision, including low-carbon food procurement for hospitals and schools.
• Improving the existing housing stock; moving towards low carbon design in housing and urban development.
• Investing in a public transport system, which is better for the environment and more equitable.

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More information here

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Full Report here

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** If you enjoyed this post please also check out:
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New Green Jobs ??
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Communicating Climate Change
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Splitting: 'jobs' versus 'the environment'
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Combating Climate Change and Boosting Growth Are Natural Allies

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Americans and climate change

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COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME !!
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So please, tell us what you think.

Public Participation - Eeyores and Tiggers

Here is some of the interview between Caron Chess and Joe Cone (from Episode 3: Caron Chess from Communicating Climate Change). Caron Chess suggests two different types of government bureaucrat when it comes to public participation:

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(i) the Eeyores who said that they didn't have the resources to do public participation; and

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(ii) the Tiggers who also said that they lacked resources but felt that their bosses were supportive and that they could do a lot in terms of public participation.
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Caron: Well, we looked at one agency and we looked at people who were doing public participation in various forms in the agency; and that doesn't mean that they were people who were only doing public participation. It meant very often that these were people who were practitioners who dealt with the public on ... in some form or another. Essentially what we found -- and this is in one agency -- two kinds of practitioners.

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One that we dubbed Eeyores; those people who tended to say, gee, there's no support for me doing communication. It's difficult for me to learn about communication. I don't have the resources for communication. My managers don't support my doing public participation and there's no easy way for me to continue this. And it was kind of a ... a ... not only woe is me, but woe is the agency.

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And then there were the people we called Tiggers, who, uh, by contrast, uh, were equally committed to public participation, but tended to feel like their managers were more supportive. That they might not have enough resources, but somehow they could do a lot of what they wanted despite that. That they were learning from experience, that there were opportunities to learn. Uh, they were not flip sides of each other, but if you're familiar with Winnie The Pooh, you you know that Eeyore and Tigger were not opposite sides, but it's kind of an approach to the world.

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. . . So, that raises questions about, you know, why is this? that there's not a real quick fix. That is, give people training in public participation and we've got this problem knocked. That in fact there needs to be dialogue within the agency between Eeyores and the Tiggers to learn from each other's experience and to see what they see as barriers and ways that they might be able ... able to overcome them.

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Source here
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Also check out:
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Public Participation in Environmental Assessment and Decision Making
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Communicating Climate Change

Earthrace

In June 2008, the amazing Earthrace vessel set a new world record for a powerboat to circle the globe, and she did this with 100% renewable biodiesel fuel, and a net zero carbon footprint.

The voyage was over 24,000 nautical miles, and took 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes, smashing the old reocrd by over two weeks.

I went to see Earthrace (today) at Sydney's Darling Harbour. Earthrace does look good and is designed to go through large waves rather than over them. It is "capable of submarining up to 7m (23ft) underwater as she powers across oceans".

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Earthrace is also raising awareness about climate change as she tours the world.

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More information at Earthrace's Website

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Other topics include:

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Australia, Biodiversity, Business, Carbon Reduction Pollution Scheme, China, Climate Change, Coal, Conferences, Earth, Emissions, Green Wash, Health, IPCC, Murray-Darling River, Nanotechnology, Nuclear, Peak Oil, Politics, Poverty, Protests, Psychology, Public Participation, Religion, Science, Social, Sustainability 2.0, Technology, United Kingdom, United Nations and the United States.

Communicating Climate Change

Just found a great source for information (with podcasts and transcripts) called Communicating Climate Change "Podcast conversations with social scientists, produced by Joe Cone".

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Some highlights include:

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Episode 6: Ed Maibach

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Dr. Maibach is a professor in the Department of Communication at George Mason University and also the director of the Center of Excellence in Climate Change Communication Research.

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Episode 4: Baruch Fischhoff

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Dr. Baruch Fischhoff of Carnegie Mellon University. A prominent national expert on risk analysis and communication

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Episode 2: Susanne Moser

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Dr. Moser is a research scientist with the Institute for the Study of Society and Environment at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. She discusses communication and social change.

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Episode 1: Anthony Leiserowitz

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Dr. Leiserowitz is director of the Yale Project on Climate Change and a research scientist who specializes in risk perception and decision-making.

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I decided to write to the author of the communicating climate change blog and ask him about his interview with Anthony Leiserowitz.

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Here is what I wrote:

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Dear Joe Cone,

I was very interested to listen to your interview with Anthony Leiserowitz, especially when he was discussing the two groups within the naysayer group; (i) the religious white, conservative republican men and (ii) the non-religious white, conservative republican men. He suggests that climate change would be better framed in terms of "stewardship" or "a moral obligation to help the poor" for the religious group.

But, what would you suggest is the best framing of climate change for the non-religious naysayers? Given that they simply see the environment as 'resources' and believe that environmental laws causes the free market to be inefficient and see 'community' as a left wing idea that goes against the idea of the individual consumer (and their freedoms).

I can see that the business community is starting to see the opportunities of climate change; but I personally wonder if a greener market and ecological modernization will be a sufficient 'answer' to climate change or simply a not-green-enough-business-as-usual proposition?

This is because there are many problems that need to be overcome such as the lack of information (about emissions or on how the product was made) on products when consumers are making decisions (i.e. lack of labels). But what information do we need to put on labels and will people even read them and even if they do? Given the problems with the 'information deficit theory' itself which labels seem to be trying to follow, will people do the 'right thing' and change their behaviour? Or will they keep the information 'at arms length' psychologically speaking because it is painful to change or be made aware that you have made a mistake? A huge problem is what is the 'right thing' to do once you accept that climate change is happening?

The trouble seems to be that everyone has their own idea of what is right (and often think they are trying to do the right thing), but is this effort enough to protect the ecosystems of the Earth with our ever growing population? There is also the serious problem of green-wash and claims that are seen as "just marketing" or are misleading or worse (such as messages that encourage people to over-consume, be wasteful or present climate change as too big and nothing anyone can do).

I feel the main problem is the lack of ecocentric focus within the business, economic or engineering 'solutions' being offered (this is obviously because of the anthropocentric bias within them all). But how do we get a more ecocentric focus included in our societies systems and institutions? And how do we stop people framing environmental problems in terms of jobs versus the environment (when this is misleading)? I was thinking that reframing it in terms of new green and clean jobs versus old brown and dirty jobs.

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I will wait and see if he replies to my questions and report back if he does.

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Please also check out:

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Normal Accidents: Living with High Risk Technologies

United Nations Year of the Gorilla 2009

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Here is the press release from the United Nations announcing 2009 as the year of the Gorilla.

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Many experts are warning that without urgent action gorillas will become extinct in the wild within the next few decades and the Year, launched at the opening of a UN wildlife conference in Rome by Prince Albert II of Monaco, aims to boost protection of the great ape and its habitat by increasing the livelihoods and incomes of local people from managing their conservation.

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“Flagship species such as the gorilla can be a powerful catalyst for improved conservation and the more intelligent management of economically-important ecosystems,” UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner said.

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“In doing so, initiatives such as the Year of the Gorilla can galvanize and revitalize action on the ground, [which is] so urgently needed to reverse the rate of loss of biodiversity while generating incomes and improving livelihoods for local people and communities.”

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The action plan includes a range of projects available for backing by governments, business, civil society groups and individuals. For example, tests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have found that locally made ‘rocket stoves’ can cut charcoal and wood use by up to 70 per cent. Expanding use to thousands of homes in the region could help reduce pressure on gorilla forest habitat, boost incomes and livelihoods for local people and improve air quality in local homes.

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A second pilot project, this time in Cameroon, is boosting alternative livelihoods to reduce commercial hunting of bush meat and the Year of Gorilla plans to expand the ‘Apiarists for the Apes’ (an apiarist is a beekeeper) programme to more communities.

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Rwanda and Uganda, with their populations of mountain gorillas, generate significant economic returns from ape-based ecotourism. The industry has surpassed coffee and tea as Rwanda’s number one foreign exchange earner. It is planned to dispatch guides and operators from successful ecotourism programmes in East Africa to countries such as Gabon to boost ecotourism initiatives in West Africa.

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Three of the four gorilla species are listed as ‘critically endangered’ on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, putting them at risk of extinction. Mountain gorillas in DRC, Rwanda and Uganda and the Cross River gorilla in Cameroon and Nigeria number only 700 and 300 respectively. The eastern lowland gorilla in the DRC has plummeted dramatically over the last 10 years with probably only about 5,000 of the formerly 17,000 animals remaining.

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The most numerous subspecies, the western lowland gorilla in Angola, the Central African Republic (CAR), Cameroon, DRC, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo, perhaps numbers more than 200,000, but those gorillas remain threatened on several fronts.

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The main threats are hunting for food, with at least 1 million tons of bush meat extracted each year from the Congo Basin forests, alongside their use in traditional medicine, capture of live infants as pets and ensnarement in traps set for other species. Habitat loss is being accelerated through logging and slash-and-burn agriculture, while the region’s abundance in natural resources, production of charcoal and mining for gold, zinc, uranium and coltan, an ore used in electronics such as mobile phones, are gradually destroying gorilla habitat.

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Moreover, armed conflicts, as in eastern DRC, can trigger the displacement of huge numbers of people who then may use natural resources unsustainably. On top of this, diseases like Ebola can wipe out entire populations.

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“Without doubt a special aim of the Year of the Gorilla will be to bring recovery-focused projects to the DRC once hostilities have ceased and community-based conservation projects can be fully resumed,” UNEP Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP-CMS) Executive Secretary Robert Hepworth said.

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Ecotourism, sustainable timber harvesting and improved agricultural practices can support reforestation campaigns, anti-poaching efforts and implementation of development projects. One focus will be on the regions bordering areas protected for gorilla conservation. Developmental projects that can also contribute include schools and educational initiatives alongside ones that cover water supplies and health care.

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The Year of the Gorilla is a joint initiative of UNEP-CMS, the UNEP/UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's Great Ape Survival Partnership (GRASP) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA).

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Hopefully they have a better year than last year (see picture below).

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**If you enjoyed this post, please also check out:

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Top 10 Environmental Posts

Don't forget me . . .

I have been in the Bouddi National Park for the past 12 days!!

Just magic views !!

No running water, but plenty of fauna and flora to explore.

Also plenty of quiet beaches to surf/swim and play.


The sun goes down on 2008.

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Note: A big thankyou to the Park Rangers (who were friendly, fantastic and helped us all heaps, especially driving us up the hill in their 4WD with all our camping stuff) and also to our friendly neighbours who gave drinking water, ice and beers for the old esky and also to Phillip for picking us up in my car (and also putting air in the tyes) and the wheelbarrow.

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Overall, fantastic relaxing holiday.