Archive for United Nations
UN study urges governments to target reductions of black carbon
Posted by: | CommentsThe UN environmental programme have this week made an announcement that a very promising approach for tackling global warming would for governments to aggressively combat what is called ‘ black carbon’ from industry and the incomplete burning of fossil fuels and would provide rapid change. The study says that a focused approach to reduce black carbon emissions around the world could provide dramatic impacts to the overall emission problems which are viewed as the leading cause of climate change.
Black carbon along with methane and ground level ozone are primarily caused by the soot and gases from partial burning wood and fossil fuels. Most measurements by governments to track these levels are related to current air quality statistics and while they only reside in the atmosphere for a short spell the UN report states that the impact is to warming and health is significant.
According to the study these pollutants may be contributing in the vicinity of 25-30% of the factors that result in climate change due to emissions, the report goes on to explain that beyond the climactic impacts deep dividends would be realised in health benefits and farming. Achim Steiner the head of the UNEP added:
“A small number of emission reduction measures … offer dramatic public health, agricultural, economic and environmental benefits,”
Hong Kong shrouded in smog
These are early days for what could be a breakthrough study and more data relating to the impact of black carbon will now be gathered. In turn we can expect to see the UN working with governments to assess just how this information can be used in tangible and uniform ways to combat these emissions. The report explains that the key contributors to the targeted emissions include wood-burning stoves and diesel cars/engines that are not well maintained. In addition the methane is primarily the result of emissions originating from treatment facilities for oil, coal and waste. Needless to say ground ozone is primarily caused by our ever increasing levels of traffic. The potential for crop and health improvements are also very significant with agricultural yields being routienly reduced due to these pollutants in the atmosphere.
While the study sheds new light it also demonstrates that a two pronged approach to global warming needs to be better understood, implemented and managed. A rapid reduction in these emissions would offer short term and seasonal benefits that could be seen and measured quite rapidly but the underlying problem of C02 emissions is still the primary contributor. Seeing how governments and the UN juggle these factors to redevelop standards will be as interesting as it is important.
The full release has been published on the UNEP website which is linked here.
Tags: Achim Steiner, air pollution legislation, air quality, air quality statistics, air quality study, black carbon, co2 emissions, emissions reduction, global strategy global warming, Global Warming, Green Living, ground level ozone, health impact pollution, methane, methane air pollution, partial fossil fuel burn, planet forward, pollution wood burning stove, reducing emissions, sustainable goods, UN black carbon report, UN study, UNEP, United Nations, united nations environment program, united nations environment programme, united nations environment programme reportEdward Norton’s newest U.N. role may be his most important yet
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Almost everyone watches films on occasion and many seem to catch the latest new releases seemingly every week. From time to time an actor comes along who seems to just stand above the crowd such is his or her ability to dominate a film or take a role to unimagined heights. While I don’t think the last generation has brought along a Pacino or a De Niro I think Edward Norton has the ability to go down in that sort of company if his career keeps finding the roles that bring out the very best of his talents. The 40 year old actor has a long film resume but it is his work as a conservationist that is gaining equal billing in recent years.
This has never been more apparent that the news that Norton has now been named the U.N. goodwill ambassador for biodiversity. After his appointment Norton was naturally thrilled with the opportunity:
“It is an issue that I’ve been engaged with on many different levels for a number of years, but it’s very, very exciting to be asked to engage with it on the level of the U.N. with its incredible capacity and reach.”
He explained how his new role will move away from traditional methods of conservation that are having limited success as the emphasis shifts to looking more deeply at human needs which directly lead to the requirements of conservation action in the first place.
“People have recognized that fragmenting the ecosystems or creating protected pockets is not actually authentic to the way ecosystems work,”
Norton has been involved in many causes most recently Crowdrise which seeks an easier way to engage the public in performing or sponsoring charitable work. His interest in environmental issues is more than a celebrity gesture as his activities have been juggled with his film career for many years. His new appointment will make that balance ever more precarious but he seems willing and able to give as much of himself to the U.N. position as possible:
“Increasing people’s focus on the fact that human well-being is intertwined fundamentally with biodiversity, I think catastrophic events like what’s happening in the Gulf with the oil spill do highlight for people that there is enormous ramification for human well-being through a loss of biodiversity,”
As with many actors he has now taken his talent to film-making and his own Class 5 films is actively pursuing making future works that focus on environmental topics in addition to those already completed.
2010 is the United Nations international year of biodiversity. When you take the time to explore their website and learn far more about the many initiatives the U.N. supports the scope is quite breathtaking. The website itself is very informative and the far-reaching designs of the U.N. to combat negative environmental impact is inspiring. If Edward Norton can help make the project be known in more households throughout the world this can only be a good thing in my opinion.
To learn more about the U.N. biodiversity platform please visit here
To learn more about Crowdrise please visit here
Video of Edward Norton appointment
Tags: al pacino, crowdrise, ecology, Edward Norton, edward norton conservation, edward norton UN, edward norton UN role, gulf oil spill, planet forward, robert de niro, U.N. biodiversity, U.N. goodwill ambassador for biodiversity, United NationsUN delegate comments on climate change not inspiring or surprising
Posted by: | CommentsIf we are looking to the United Nations to lead the way toward serious reform in terms of climate change we really need to hear a more cohesive message from them. Costan Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres made comments that have echoed the concern many already held about progress being seriously impeded by international disagreement coupled with economic factors that slow the needed changes. Said Figueres when addressing the UN Climate Conference in Bonn last week:
“I do not believe we will ever have a final agreement on climate change, certainly not in my lifetime, if we ever have a final, conclusive, all-answering agreement, then we will have solved this problem. I don’t think that’s on the cards. True success will require the sustained effort of those who will be here for the next 20, 30, 40 years”
Figeures’ comments are being trumpeted due to her long dedication to fighting global warming which sees her elevated next month to executive secretary of the UN’s climate change secretariat, positioned in the former west German capital. While I think her comments mirror the deepest worries that many share there is some shock that she really attacked the status quo of the UN so directly as she did. In recent years the disagreements at UN meetings coupled with the lingering repercussions of the initial failing of the Kyoto agreement have raised the stakes and the awareness that progress is stuttering and not as harmonious as we’d like to see. Even as the expectations grew the global economic crisis has seen more and more nations stating they were hamstrung financially to the point where reforms needed would have to be put on hold.
2010 has arrived with the shine of economies beginning to improve being quickly overshadowed by spending cuts that see all but the most vital services limited in budget, most noticeably in Europe. To my eyes ‘most vital’ should include climate change issues but the reality is governments are forced to choose and invest in what they or their electorate see as more pressing matters such as housing, schooling, jobs and immigration.
Similar priority spending has seen bills put on the back burner in the US even in contrast to campaign promises. It’s truly a situation that is being hampered by multiple factors more than ever at arguably the most critical time yet. At the same time 2007 UN Climate Change reports are picked through in detail seeking flaws in the data and consensus. Inevitably debates have ensued which have led to cyncisism disputing the value of the UN reports on the whole. 2,500 page reports are ripped up by some when they locate any specific information that is still in dispute by scientists, which seems to suggest an agenda is at play in my opinion.
Climate talks have recently fallen upon the rocks of ‘disputed evidence’ rather than being driven forward by the consensus of needed response. Of course its political but it seems that the time for action might be derailed by the incessant need to be seen as ‘being right’. In what would be the ultimate hedge betting some seem determined to discuount global warming to the point where it would be too late to say ‘we were wrong’.
Given all of these factors, even some of the strongest advocates of a climate treaty have seemed to start doubting. Speculation that a treaty could be drawn up at the next meeting, this December in Mexico – are perhaps mistaken with the unfortunate expectation that a year delay to the end of 2011 is more realistic. It seems unreal that we are moving forward while still being in limbo internationally when it comes to climate control and I hope the history books show my alarm was misplaced. If we keep waiting for the ‘perfect moment’ to agree on how best to tackle climate control will that time ever truly arrive?
Tags: christiana figueres, economics and climate change, economy and climate change, planet forward, science behind climate control, science climate control, un, UN climate change, un climate conference, un complaints of climate control, UN global summit, UN global summits, United Nations
