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Archive for February 20th, 2012
Paper Industry Decimating Indonesia’s Tigers
Posted by Inter Press Service: Charundi Panagoda on February 20th, 2012
Inter Press Service: The survival of Sumatra's tigers, elephants, orangutans, rhinos, as well as indigenous communities, is threatened by the "world's fastest deforestation rate", caused by none other than the pulp and paper industry, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).
In a recent report, WWF named the Indonesian-based company Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) as "responsible for more forest destruction in Sumatra than any other single company". APP and competitor Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL)...
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Forget Logic, It’s Just Climate Schizophrenia
Posted by Huffington Post: Kelly Rigg on February 20th, 2012
Huffington Post: "When our political leaders can't agree on whether climate change is a threat, the majority of people can't either. The public is divided because our political leaders are polarized."
This is the upshot of a recent study on U.S. public attitudes towards climate change according to one of its lead authors, J. Craig Jenkins of Ohio State University.
The research suggests it was no coincidence that Americans were most concerned about the threat of climate change at a time when at least some leaders...
United Kingdom: Take an ‘egg timer’ into the shower say water companies as South East declared in drought
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 20th, 2012
Telegraph: Residents are being sent waterproof "egg timers" so they don't linger in the shower, in attempt to preserve dwindling waters stocks by reducing consumption.
Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, was forced to declare drought in the most populated area of Britain after two dry winters in a row left reservoirs dangerously low and fish dying in rivers.
The Anglia region was already in drought, meaning more than half of the population of the UK faces hosepipe bans in a matter of weeks. ...
Coal, not oilsands, the true climate change bad guy says study
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 20th, 2012
Canadian Press: One of the world's top climate scientists has calculated that emissions from Alberta's oilsands are unlikely to make a big difference to global warming and that the real threat to the planet comes from burning coal. "I was surprised by the results of our analysis," said Andrew Weaver, a University of Victoria climate modeller, who has been a lead author on two reports from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. "I thought it was larger than it was." In a commentary published...
Ecuador court rejects Chevron arbitration ruling
Posted by Reuters: Eduardo Garcia on February 20th, 2012
Reuters: A court in Ecuador has rejected an order by arbitrators that an $18 billion pollution ruling against Chevron should be frozen, but the judges referred an appeal by the U.S. oil company to the country's Supreme Court.
A year after the landmark decision against Chevron, a panel working for The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration told Ecuador last week to take all necessary measures to suspend enforcement of the award at home and abroad.
But in a ruling made public on Monday, the court that...
Six nations, including U.S., set up climate initiative to target short-term greenhouse gases
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 20th, 2012
Mongabay: With global negotiations to tackle carbon emissions progressing interminably, nations are seeking roundabout ways to combat global climate change. U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, announced in India last week a new six nation initiative to target non-carbon greenhouse gases, including soot (also known as "black carbon"), methane, and hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs). Reductions of these emissions would not only impact short-term climate change, but also improve health and agriculture worldwide...
United Kingdom: Firms urged to save water as South East drought declared
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 20th, 2012
Business Green: Water companies have today agreed to step up efforts to limit the effects of a looming "super-drought" across three UK regions, following a crisis summit hosted by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman today chaired the summit between government and businesses as the South East became the second area to be declared officially in drought, alongside the Anglian region.
Spelman urged water companies, businesses, and domestic customers...
For some animals, climate change offers a chance to flourish
Posted by ClimateWire: Lacey Johnson on February 20th, 2012
ClimateWire: Imagine a planet where jellyfish rule the seas, giant rodents roam the mountains and swarms of insects blur everything in sight. It may sound far-fetched, but enough global warming is likely to change the distribution of wildlife on Earth. While species that are under threat, such as the polar bear, seem to get all the attention, others are beginning to thrive like never before.
In the past three months, new studies have been published about killer whales, wandering albatross and trumpeter swans...
Civilisation faces ‘perfect storm of ecological and social problems’
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on February 20th, 2012
Guardian: Celebrated scientists and development thinkers today warn that civilisation is faced with a perfect storm of ecological and social problems driven by overpopulation, overconsumption and environmentally malign technologies.
In the face of an "absolutely unprecedented emergency", say the 18 past winners of the Blue Planet prize – the unofficial Nobel for the environment – society has "no choice but to take dramatic action to avert a collapse of civilisation. Either we will change our ways and build...
Campaign against Canadian Keystone XL pipeline driven by US foundation millions
Posted by Daily Caller: David Martosko on February 20th, 2012
Daily Caller: A Powerpoint presentation obtained by The Daily Caller shows that during a July 2008 meeting, the $789 million Rockefeller Brothers Fund proposed to coordinate and fund a dozen environmental and anti-corporate activist groups’ efforts to scuttle pipelines carrying tar sands oil from Canada to the United States.
The most recent incarnation of that pipeline plan, the Keystone XL project, was the subject of intense public controversy until the Obama administration rejected it in January.
The 2008...