Dangerous Sea Level Rise Imminent (Google / Market Watch)

Read at : Google Alert – desertification

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Dangerous-Sea-Level-Rise-Imminent/story.aspx?guid={4A4237D2-E49F-4E36-BF6F-632232ED133E}

Dangerous Sea Level Rise Imminent Without Large Reductions of Black Carbon and Implementation of Other Fast-Action Mitigation Strategies

POZNAN, Poland, Dec 11, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Poznan Panel of Experts Discuss Importance of Black Carbon, the Montreal Protocol, Biochar, and Methane as Part of Global Climate Strategy.

The world is already close to passing the tipping points for abrupt climate change events, and if strong measures aren’t taken immediately the results will be catastrophic, concluded panelists during a side event at the UN climate conference in Poznan Tuesday night. Both scientific experts and government representatives alike at the event sponsored by the Federated States of Micronesia and Sweden, stressed the urgent need for fast-action mitigation measures that should be implemented and expanded immediately in order to avoid devastating consequences such as sea level rise.

Dr. Hermann Held of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research pointed out that land ice melt is being vastly underestimated, and that non-linear abrupt climate change is not being taken into account as it should be by the climate convention. The world is already committed to an astounding 2.4 degrees of warming, due in part to the warming effects of black carbon — a substance that is now considered the second-greatest contributor to climate change after CO2 — which are being “unmasked” by reductions of SO2, which produces a cooling effect.

Climate change and human displacement (Google / Radio Netherlands)

Read at : Google Alert – desertification

http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/globaldevelopment/080522-climate-change-mc

When home gets too hot

Climate change and human displacement

by Thijs Bouwknegt

22-05-2008

Desertification, risks of droughts and floods and rising sea levels could drive millions of people to migrate. A variety of organisations warn of mass migration of ‘environmental refugees’, ranging between 200 million and a billion people by 2050. The fear of environmental refugees has become a real political issue. Radio Netherlands Worldwide organised a debate on the interrelationship between climate change and refugees, which took place on Thursday in The Hague.

ISDR : Drought a major cause for food crisis (Google / The Hindu)

Read at : Google Alert – drought

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200804261322.htm

Drought a major cause for food crisis: UN agency

New York (PTI): Addressing the problem of drought is essential in resolving food crisis that is being faced by several countries, the United Nations agency, tasked with minimizing the threat posed by natural disasters, said on Saturday. Both drought and unsustainable water management have played a key role in the current problem, and managing drought risk is essential in finding a long-term solution to the crisis, the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR) said.

MEA Bulletin – Issue No. 45 (ENB / IISD)

Read at : Earth Negotiations Bulletin <enb@iisd.org>

African SD Policy Makers <africasd-l@lists.iisd.ca>

MEA Bulletin – Issue No. 45

IISD RS is pleased to announce that the newest issue of MEA Bulletin is now available. To access the 45th issue directly, click here <http://www.iisd.ca/mea-l/meabulletin45.pdf> . To read past issues and to sign up to receive the PDF version, click here <http://www.iisd.ca/email/mea-l.htm> .

The 45th issue of MEA Bulletin includes reports on the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings and a country-led initiative in support of the UN Forum on Forests, as well as a summary of IISD RS coverage of the 28th session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The guest article, “How Information and Communications Technologies Can Support Education for Sustainable Development: Current uses and trends,” was authored by Leslie Paas, IISD Associate, with Heather Creech, Director, Knowledge Communications, IISD. It describes their study of information and communication technologies and offers suggestions to further explore their connection with education for sustainable development.

MEA Bulletin is a publication created by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (UNEP DELC).

Global Climate Change: Can Agriculture Cope? (CGIAR)

Read at : CGIAR

http://www.cgiar.org/impact/global/climate.html

Global Climate Change: Can Agriculture Cope?

No one understands better than farmers do how the weather, especially when it takes a turn for the worse, can affect people and their land. That’s why farmers around the world have always talked and worried about the weather obsessively. But now, emerging weather patterns have a lot of other people worried, too, and their concerns are well founded. According to a report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released in February 2006, the average temperature of the earth’s surface, having already risen by 0.74 degrees Centrigrade in the last 100 years, is expected to increase by an average of about 3 degrees over the next century, assuming greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at current rates. Even the minimum predicted temperature increase, 1.4 degrees, will represent a profound change, unprecedented in the last 10,000 years.The scientific evidence behind these projections, says Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is unequivocal, leaving “no doubt as to the dangers mankind is facing.”

Global warming will push Asia into reverse (IIED)

Read at : IIED

http://www.iied.org/mediaroom/releases/071119UiS.html

Global warming will push Asia into reverse says new report

The biggest study yet from unique coalition of major poverty and environment groups reveals scale of climate impacts on international work — immediate action is needed before Asia goes ‘Up in Smoke’ (link to associated quotes). A new report – Up in Smoke? Asia and the Pacific – with a foreword by Dr R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Nobel prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – says that without immediate action, global warming is set to reverse decades of social and economic progress across Asia, home to over 60 per cent of the world’s population. The report is published in the wake of evidence that the UK is reneging on targets for renewable energy set to tackle climate change.

Global Climate Change: Can Agriculture Cope? (CGIAR)

Read at : CGIAR

http://www.cgiar.org/impact/global/climate.html

Global Climate Change: Can Agriculture Cope?

No one understands better than farmers do how the weather, especially when it takes a turn for the worse, can affect people and their land. That’s why farmers around the world have always talked and worried about the weather obsessively. But now, emerging weather patterns have a lot of other people worried, too, and their concerns are well founded. According to a report of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released in February 2006, the average temperature of the earth’s surface, having already risen by 0.74 degrees Centrigrade in the last 100 years, is expected to increase by an average of about 3 degrees over the next century, assuming greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at current rates. Even the minimum predicted temperature increase, 1.4 degrees, will represent a profound change, unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. The scientific evidence behind these projections, says Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is unequivocal, leaving “no doubt as to the dangers mankind is facing.”

UN Climate Change Conference wraps up (Google Alert / Khabrein)

Read at : Google Alert / desertification

http://www.khabrein.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10061&Itemid=88

UN Climate Change Conference wraps up

BALI, Indonesia, Dec 15 (KUNA) — The UN Climate Change Conference officially wrapped up on Saturday, following an agreement to continue to engage in negotiations up to the end of 2009 over an agenda for combating global warming. Participants welcomed the noticeable advancement in relation to capabilities of developing countries in the areas of development and clean technology. The meeting also witnessed a change of stance on the part of India, China and Brazil with regard to curbing gas emissions.

Scientists call for crop research on adaptation (IISD / Icrisat / CGIAR)

Read at : Linkages Update 2007-12-13

http://www.iisd.ca/recent/recentmeetings.asp?id=6#mtg4998

SCIENTISTS CALL FOR CROP RESEARCH ON ADAPTATION

The international Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) organized an International Symposium on Climate Change from 22-24 November 2007, to coincide with the 35th Annual Day celebrations of the Institute. The symposium brought together experts from the 15 international agricultural research centers under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) as well as other scientists to discuss their research on adaptation needs related to their mandate crops. Martin Parry, Co-Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), delivered the keynote address on ‘The Implications of Climate Change for Crop Yields, Global Food Supply and Risk of Hunger.’ Parry and William Dar, Director-General of ICRISAT and current Chair of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification’s Committee on Science and Technology, emphasized the need to focus crop research on adaptation to environmental stress, such as rising temperatures and water scarcity.

Link to further information
ICRISAT press release, 22 November 2007

50 Million Displaced From Climate Change (Google Alert / Prensa Latina)

Read at := Google Alert / desertification

http://www.plenglish.com/Article.asp?ID=%7BC424BABC-3DE4-45C2-A6F5-858CC2CBBB48%7D&language=EN

UN Expert: 50 Million Displaced From Climate Change

Bali, Indonesia, Dec 12 (Prensa Latina) Top UN climate official Yves de Boer warned on Wednesday that by 2010 the consequences of climate change can displace 50 million people due to desertification and deforestation. De Boer, executive secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, said at the opening of the high-level UN climate change conference in the Indonesian resort of Bali, that competing for energy and food could lead to ethnic rivalries and regional conflicts. The expert upheld that to meet the drastic increase in the world’s demand for energy, a massive investment of 20 trillion US dollars is needed until 2030. He explained that more than half of these investments are required in developing countries, where energy is needed for economic growth. The UN official also warned the international community that at the current rate global emissions of greenhouse gases will increase by 50 percent in 2050 instead of decreasing by 50 percent.

Water Resources Management (dgAlert)

Read at : dgAlert / Water Resources Management

<dgAlert@developmentgateway.org>

Content update – Water Resources Management on the Development Gateway
————————-

20 new resources have been added to Water Resources Management on the Development Gateway
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/water
————————-
1. SDI-Africa – GIS & remote sensing news in Africa – December 2007
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/water/rc/ItemDetail.do~1122421?intcmp=700
The December 2007 issue includes (among many other items):

Click to access SDIAfricav6n12.pdf

– Algeria ‘on track’ to launch second earth observation satellite
– National Water Information System in Tunisia
– Sudan Institutional Capacity Programme …
Contributed by Kate Lance on 1 December, 2007

2. 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/water/rc/ItemDetail.do~1122469?intcmp=700
Theme: Water Security: Leadership and Commitment
Organizers: Asia-Pacific Water Forum and Steering Committee of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit
Dates: December 3 and 4, 2007
Expected Outcome Documents: Leaders’ Declaration and APWS Recommendation
…
Contributed by John Daly on 3 December, 2007
……………..

4. Global warming will push Asia into reverse says new report
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/water/rc/ItemDetail.do~1122554?intcmp=700
The biggest study yet from unique coalition of major poverty and environment groups reveals scale of climate impacts on international work  immediate action is needed before Asia goes ‘Up in Smoke’. A new report – Up in Smoke? Asia and the Pacific – with a foreword …
Contributed by Anuradha Bhattacharjee on 4 December, 2007

5. Head of IPCC and international experts voice climate concerns
http://topics.developmentgateway.org/water/rc/ItemDetail.do~1122565?intcmp=700
To mark the launch of the Up In Smoke – Asia and the Pacific report, the chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and others comment on the threats climate change poses to the region. “It has become clear that Asia would see some major changes as  …
Contributed by Anuradha Bhattacharjee on 4 December, 2007
……………….

Spain : Europe’s most arid country battles desertification (Google Alert / World News Australia / SBS/AFP)

Read at : Google Alert / desertification

http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/europe39s_most_arid_country_battles_desertification_134967

Europe’s most arid country battles desertification

 

The world’s top scientists won’t have to travel far to witness the impacts of climate change, as the Interational Panel on Climate Change meets to finalise a landmark report on global warming in the Spanish port city of Valencia.

Valencia is in fact the heart of a coastal belt which is cowering at the prospect of desertification.  “Many people think desertification affects only Africa, Asia or Latin America,” Juan Sanchez, a department head at the Centre for Research on Desertification (CIDE) near Valencia. “But we are also at risk.” Most of Spain suffers dry spells but in key regions aridity has become chronic, driven by human development and changing rainfall patterns – and worse is likely to come.  Around one-seventh of Spain is at high risk of desertification, according to CIDE’s estimates. Those areas most at risk are the Canary Islands, where 57 percent of the territory is threatened, and two eastern provinces on the Spanish mainland, Valencia (29 percent) and Murcia (37 percent).