Nature 462, 545 (3 December 2009) - Editorial
The e-mail archives stolen last month from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia (UEA), UK, have been greeted by the climate-change-denialist fringe as a propaganda windfall (see page 551). To these denialists, the scientists' scathing remarks about certain controversial palaeoclimate reconstructions qualify as the proverbial 'smoking gun': proof that mainstream climate researchers have systematically conspired to suppress evidence contradicting their doctrine that humans are warming the globe.
This paranoid interpretation would be laughable were it not for the fact that obstructionist politicians in the US Senate will probably use it next year as an excuse to stiffen their opposition to the country's much needed climate bill. Nothing in the e-mails undermines the scientific case that global warming is real — or that human activities are almost certainly the cause. Read more...
About Me
- Iosif Botetzagias
- Assistant Professor of Environmental Politics and Policy, Dept. of Environment, University of the Aegean, Greece
British Antarctic Survey Climate Review finds the Ozone Hole has Shielded Antarctica from Global Warming!
ENN, December 01, 2009
An important report from the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) shows things aren’t always what they seem to be, and that our knowledge of our complex Earth is not a good as we thought. Sometimes problems are not what they seem to be, and sometimes a problem in one sense carries unknown benefits in other senses. Professor John Turner of British Antarctic Survey is the lead editor of the review. He said,“For me the most astonishing evidence is the way that one man-made environmental impact — the ozone hole — has shielded most of Antarctica from another — global warming". Read more...
Global Study of Salmon Shows: 'Sustainable' Food Isn't So Sustainable
Science Daily, November 30, 2009
Popular thinking about how to improve food systems for the better often misses the point, according to the results of a three-year global study of salmon production systems. Rather than pushing for organic or land-based production, or worrying about simple metrics such as "food miles," the study finds that the world can achieve greater environmental benefits by focusing on improvements to key aspects of production and distribution.
For example, what farmed salmon are fed, how wild salmon are caught and the choice to buy frozen over fresh matters more than organic vs. conventional or wild vs. farmed when considering global scale environmental impacts such as climate change, ozone depletion, loss of critical habitat, and ocean acidification. Read more...
For example, what farmed salmon are fed, how wild salmon are caught and the choice to buy frozen over fresh matters more than organic vs. conventional or wild vs. farmed when considering global scale environmental impacts such as climate change, ozone depletion, loss of critical habitat, and ocean acidification. Read more...
Siberian tiger in severe decline
BBC News, November 25, 2009
The last remaining population of Siberian tigers has declined significantly, according to research.
The work was carried out by the Siberian Tiger Monitoring Programme, which is coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Its report says that tiger numbers have shown a "declining trend" over the last four years, and the latest assessment counted just 56 of the animals. The organisation carries out annual tiger surveys at 16 monitoring sites scattered across the tigers' range. The monitored area represents about 15% of the animals' habitat in Russia. These surveys are done every winter, using tracks in the snow to estimate the population. Read more...
The work was carried out by the Siberian Tiger Monitoring Programme, which is coordinated by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Its report says that tiger numbers have shown a "declining trend" over the last four years, and the latest assessment counted just 56 of the animals. The organisation carries out annual tiger surveys at 16 monitoring sites scattered across the tigers' range. The monitored area represents about 15% of the animals' habitat in Russia. These surveys are done every winter, using tracks in the snow to estimate the population. Read more...
Past climate anomalies explained
BBC News, November 26, 2009
Unusually warm and cold periods in Earth's pre-industrial climate history are linked to how the oceans responded to temperature changes, say scientists.
The researchers focused particularly on intervals known as the "little ice age" and "medieval warm period". In the journal Science, they report that these climate "anomalies" were likely caused by changes to El Nino and the North Atlantic Oscillation. They say studying the past in this way could help refine climate models. Read more...
The researchers focused particularly on intervals known as the "little ice age" and "medieval warm period". In the journal Science, they report that these climate "anomalies" were likely caused by changes to El Nino and the North Atlantic Oscillation. They say studying the past in this way could help refine climate models. Read more...
Πρωταθλήτρια της Ε.Ε. η ΔΕΗ στην εκπομπή διοξειδίου του άνθρακα
ΤΑ ΝΕΑ, 20 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Την πιο βρώμικη κιλοβατώρα της Ε.Ε.- όσον αφορά τις εκπομπές διοξειδίου του άνθρακα- παράγει η ΔΕΗ σύμφωνα με πρόσφατη έκθεση διεθνούς οικονομικού οίκου. Όπως προκύπτει από τα στοιχεία της ΡricewaterhouseCoopers, που δημοσιεύθηκαν στις 17 Νοεμβρίου, για την παραγωγή κάθε κιλοβατώρας ηλεκτρικού ρεύματος από τη ΔΕΗ το 2008 εκπέμφθηκαν στο περιβάλλον κατά μέσο όρο 1.006 γραμμάρια διοξειδίου του άνθρακα- πρόκειται για το «μαύρο» ρεκόρ ποσοτήτων ανάμεσα στις 20 μεγαλύτερες ευρωπαϊκές επιχειρήσεις ηλεκτρισμού που μπήκαν στο μικροσκόπιο του διεθνούς οίκου. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...
Increase in GM Crops, Resistant Weeds Lead to Dramatic Rise in Pesticide Use
ENN, November 17, 2009
The widespread use of genetically modified (GM) crops engineered to tolerate herbicides has led to a sharp increase in the use of agricultural chemicals in the U.S. This practice is creating herbicide-resistant "super weeds" and an increase in chemical residues in U.S. food, according to a new report released today by The Organic Center, the Union for Concerned Scientists, and the Center for Food Safety.
According to the report, entitled "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Thirteen Years," as more farmers have adopted variations of corn, soy beans, and cotton bred to tolerate weed killer in recent years, the use of herbicides has increased steadily, with herbicide use growing by 383 million pounds from 1996 to 2008, according to the report. Forty-six percent of that increase occurred during 2007 and 2008. Read more...
According to the report, entitled "Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use in the United States: The First Thirteen Years," as more farmers have adopted variations of corn, soy beans, and cotton bred to tolerate weed killer in recent years, the use of herbicides has increased steadily, with herbicide use growing by 383 million pounds from 1996 to 2008, according to the report. Forty-six percent of that increase occurred during 2007 and 2008. Read more...
Using the Sahara Sun to Power Europe
ENN, November 02, 2009
A $400 billon (£240 billion) plan to provide Europe with solar power from the Sahara desert moved a step closer to reality with the formation of a consortium of 12 companies to carry out the work. Known as the Desertec Industrial Initiative (DDI), the German-led consortium consists of some of country's biggest engineering and power companies, along with Munich Re, the largest reinsurer in the world. Read more...
Υπηρεσία της Κομισιόν κατέγραψε όλες τις εστίες ρύπανσης στην Ελλάδα
TA NEA, 16 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Πάνω από 56 τόνοι ουσιών που χαρακτηρίζονται από τους ειδικούς ως «ιδιαίτερα τοξικές» απελευθερώθηκαν στον ελληνικό αέρα το 2007 σύμφωνα με τα στοιχεία του νεοσύστατου ευρωπαϊκού μητρώου καταγραφής ρύπων, ενώ άλλοι 3,5 τόνοι κατέληξαν στο νερό. Στην ηλεκτρονική υπηρεσία της Κομισιόν και του Ευρωπαϊκού Οργανισμού Περιβάλλοντος, που άρχισε να λειτουργεί αυτή την εβδομάδα στη διεύθυνση http://prtr.ec.europa.eu, στοιχειοθετείται με αριθμούς και ονόματα επιχειρήσεων ότι οι περιοχές της Ελλάδας στις οποίες απελευθερώνονται οι μεγαλύτερες ποσότητες και «ποικιλίες» επικίνδυνων χημικών είναι η Δυτική Αττική, η Δυτική Μακεδονία, η Θεσσαλονίκη, η Κόρινθος, η Μαγνησία, η Ανατολική Στερεά Ελλάδα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...
Employees Directed to Use ‘Green’ Hotels
Environmental Leader, November 09, 2009
As more companies consider the environmental impact of their business travel, employees increasingly are being asked to stay in hotels that meet certain environmental standards, including “green” certification.
Some companies are going so far as to query a hotel chain about its operating practices before signing any kind of contract. Companies asking about the frequency of things such as towel washing include Oracle, KPMG and the American Institute of Architects, reports USA Today. Read more...
Some companies are going so far as to query a hotel chain about its operating practices before signing any kind of contract. Companies asking about the frequency of things such as towel washing include Oracle, KPMG and the American Institute of Architects, reports USA Today. Read more...
WWF, Οκτώβριος 2009
Νέα μελέτη του WWF Ελλάς σε συνεργασία με το Αστεροσκοπείο Αθηνών για τις επιπτώσεις της κλιματικής αλλαγής στην Ελλάδα. Δείτε τη μελέτη...
Νέα Έκθεση Κατάστασης Περιβαλλοντος 2008
ΕΚΠAΑ, 03 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Δημοσιεύθηκε από το ΕΚΠΑΑ η νέα Έκθεση Κατάστασης Περιβάλλοντος για το 2008 για την Ελλάδα.
Εξοικονόμηση ενέργειας με ένα «κλικ»
WWF, 03 Νοεμβρίου 2009
Αναρωτηθήκατε ποτέ αν υπάρχει η δυνατότητα να γνωρίζετε τα προϊόντα που καταναλώνουν τη λιγότερη δυνατή ηλεκτρική ενέργεια, πριν προχωρήσετε σε κάποια αγορά; Ναι, πλέον υπάρχει!Η περιβαλλοντική οργάνωση WWF Ελλάς παρουσιάζει το Ecotopten, το πρώτο ελληνικό διαδικτυακό εργαλείο για αγορές «υπέρ» του περιβάλλοντος και… της τσέπης των Ελλήνων καταναλωτών! Διαβάστε περισσότερα...
The new Al Gore's book is out
Grist, 03 Novemebr 2009
The long-awaited sequel to An Inconvenient Truth comes out Tuesday, Nov. 3. If you want a preview, Al Gore and the book are featured in an excellent Newsweek cover story, The Thinking Man’s Thinking Man.
In September, Nature Reports Climate Change asked me (and several others) to suggest three books to read ahead of the Copenhagen conference. Of those, they then asked me to review Gore’s new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Read more...
In September, Nature Reports Climate Change asked me (and several others) to suggest three books to read ahead of the Copenhagen conference. Of those, they then asked me to review Gore’s new book, Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Climate Crisis. Read more...
'Freezer plan' bid to save coral
BBC News, October 25, 2009
The prospects of saving the world's coral reefs now appear so bleak that plans are being made to freeze samples to preserve them for the future.
A meeting in Denmark took evidence from researchers that most coral reefs will not survive even if tough regulations on greenhouse gases are put in place. Scientists proposed storing samples of coral species in liquid nitrogen. Read more...
A meeting in Denmark took evidence from researchers that most coral reefs will not survive even if tough regulations on greenhouse gases are put in place. Scientists proposed storing samples of coral species in liquid nitrogen. Read more...
Η μοίρα των... δεινοσαύρων απειλεί τις τίγρεις
Ελευθεροτυπία, 29 Οκτωβρίου 2009
Σε λίγα χρόνια οι τίγρεις θα υπάρχουν μόνον στα βιβλία, εάν η διεθνής κοινότητα δεν λάβει μέτρα για να διασφαλίσει την επιβίωσή τους. Σε αυτό το δυσοίωνο συμπέρασμα έφτασαν οι περισσότεροι από 200 ειδικοί που μετέχουν σε διάσκεψη για την προστασία των επιβλητικών αιλουροειδών, στο Κατμαντού του Νεπάλ. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...
Κι άλλο αρκουδάκι νεκρό στην Εγνατία
Ελευθεροτυπία, 29 Οκτωβρίου 2009
Το 8ο τροχαίο ατύχημα με θύμα αρκούδα, τους τελευταίους επτά μήνες. Σύμφωνα με τον "Αρκτούρο", πρώτη και σημαντικότερη αιτία θανάτωσης για το απειλούμενο είδος της καφέ αρκούδας αποτελούν τα τροχαία ατυχήματα στη χώρα μας. Αυτή ήταν 24η αρκούδα που έχασε τη ζωή της τελευταία πενταετία από τροχαίο ατύχημα. Η εκτίμηση ελάχιστου πληθυσμού καφέ αρκούδας στην Ελλάδα είναι 250 ζώα. Διαβάστε περισσότερα...
London Testing a New Way to Refill Your Water Bottle
ENN, October 12, 2009
Finding a way to refill your reusable water bottle is as hard as finding a public restroom in most cities. London is testing a new-tech "fountain" to do just that in an effort to reduce the number of water bottles in trash.
But there are signs that water fountains might be making a comeback—albeit in a slightly different form factor than that to which most of us are accustomed. After banning the sale of bottled water, the Australian tourist town of Bundanoon recently installed three water-bottle refilling stations, which crank out filtered water provided by Culligan. And now London is getting its feet wet with a test of similar dispensers, called HydraChills, at a London bus station and museum, reports The Guardian. Read more...
Saving forests five times better than carbon capture for climate action
WWF Sweden, October 07, 2009
WWF Sweden is urging its government — holding the current EU Presidency - to get behind an effective international agreement on halting forest loss as a key and highly cost effective measure on climate change.
"Sweden should follow the examples set by its northern neighbors in developing systems to halt deforestation," said WWF CEO General Lasse Gustavsson. "One Swedish krona to stem deforestation results in the same emissions reductions as five kronor for the controversial carbon capture and storage technique.". Read more...
"Sweden should follow the examples set by its northern neighbors in developing systems to halt deforestation," said WWF CEO General Lasse Gustavsson. "One Swedish krona to stem deforestation results in the same emissions reductions as five kronor for the controversial carbon capture and storage technique.". Read more...
EcoDorm offers 'green' college living
ENN, October 6, 2009
A dorm outfitted with composting toilets and kitchen cabinets made from recycled fence-posts is bringing new meaning to the concept of living "green" at college.
The EcoDorm, home to 36 undergraduates at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, N.C., was designed to be sustainable from top to bottom, or in this case, from its rainwater-collection system to a permaculture garden. Read more...
The EcoDorm, home to 36 undergraduates at Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, N.C., was designed to be sustainable from top to bottom, or in this case, from its rainwater-collection system to a permaculture garden. Read more...
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