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Study: world in period of ‘mass extinction’
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on June 22nd, 2015
Blue and Green: The world is currently in a period of mass extinction, according to a new study. Human activities have been linked to the falling populations of many species but the research also warns that extinction on a large scale could threaten human existence.
The study, which has been published in Science Advances, calls for fast actions to protect threatened species, populations and habitat. It estimates that species are disappearing up to about 100 fasters than the normal rate between mass extinctions,...
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Poll: over a quarter of Brits don’t believe climate change is a serious problem
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on June 8th, 2015
Blue and Green: A new survey has revealed that China’s population is most likely to support strong action on climate change, while the US and Britain are at the bottom of the list. The findings suggest that over a quarter of Brits think climate change is not a serious problem. The poll has been conducted ahead of country representatives meeting in Paris in December. At the UN meeting, it is hoped that an international treaty on climate change can be agreed that will limit global temperature rise to 2C above pre-industrial...
Report: building climate resilience essential business survival
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on June 4th, 2015
Blue and Green: A new report argues that businesses need to begin building their climate resilience if they are to survive in the future. The paper explains that $200 billion (£130bn) of investments will be needed each year globally to combat $1 trillion (£650bn) of losses from climate impacts within the next two decades.
The report – Climate change and business survival – has been published by Anglia Ruskin University’s Global Sustainability Institute and Mott MacDonald. It explains that investing in improved...
Church of England divests from coal and tar sands
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on May 1st, 2015
Blue and Green: The Church of England has committed to divesting from two of the most polluting fossil fuels, thermal coal and tar sands. The organisation argues the Church has a “moral responsibility” to assist in the transition to the low-carbon economy. The religious institution will no longer make any direct investments in any company that derives more than 10% of its revenue from the extraction or the production of thermal coal or tar sands. The announcement coincides with the adoption of a new climate change...
Roadmap needed to ensure future water security, say World Water Forum delegates
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on April 17th, 2015
Blue and Green: Ensuring the world has a secure supply of water in the future is one of the many challenges associated with climate change and sustainability. Delegates of the World Water Forum, hosted by the World Water Council, have urged countries to deliver a roadmap on the issue.
The seventh World Water Forum brought together over 300,000 visitors from 168 countries. Among the delegates were nine heads of State, 80 government ministers and 100 official national governments delegations.
The Forum is held...
University of Edinburgh recommended to divest from coal and tar sands
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on April 15th, 2015
Blue and Green: The University of Edinburgh’s central management group has received a recommendation for the educational institution to divest from companies involved coal and tar sands extraction. The divestment campaign is calling on the university to go further and cut out all fossil fuels.
A Fossil Fuel Review Group was established following a public consultation, in which the majority of respondents supported divestment from fossil fuels and arms. The coal and tar sands divestment recommendation will be...
UN calls for investment in disaster resilience as costs reach $300bn per year
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on March 6th, 2015
Blue and Green: The UN is calling on countries to increase investment in risk reduction strategies after it revealed in a report that the cost of disasters worldwide has reached an average of $250 billion (£164) to $300 billion (£197bn) every year.
The Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction has been published ahead of a conference on disaster reduction taking place in Sendai, Japan, between the 14 and 18 March.
The UN argues that climate change is already increasing the risk of disasters, from...
UN: world must address water challenge or risk conflict
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on February 25th, 2015
Blue and Green: Without large new water-related investments many societies will soon confront “rising desperation and conflicts over life’s most essential resource”, according to a new report published by the UN. Population increases and climate change are expected to put more people at risk of extreme water scarcity in the coming decades. One study suggested that without climate change mitigation policies, half of the world could be faced with extreme water scarcity by the end of the century. The latest UN report...
Report: UK will need to import half of food to meet 2040 demand
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on February 24th, 2015
Blue and Green: Farming leaders have warned that by 2040 the UK will need to import almost half of its food to meet demand as the population rises. A report from the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) warns of “serious implications” for the economy and food security if the country does not improve productivity. The union predicts that by 2040 there will be an extra 13 million people living in the UK, putting pressure on food resources. If farming continues at current rates, the UK will only produce enough food to meet...
Rising emissions could ‘dramatically’ increase risk of US megadroughts
Posted by Blue and Green: Charlotte Malone on February 13th, 2015
Blue and Green: Increasing greenhouse gas emissions drive up the risk of severe droughts, or megadroughts, in the US southwest and central plains, according to a study by NASA.
According to the research, which has been published in the journal Science Advances, the current likelihood of a megadrought, defined as a drought lasting more than three decades, is 12%. If greenhouse gas emissions stop increasing by mid-century the findings suggest the likelihood of a megadrought could reach more than 60%.
If the...