TIGblogs - Nigel Allan's TIGBlog http://nallan.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us Climate for Life http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/715451 WWF-Nepal Climate4Life copy;nbsp;WWF-NepalAlthough being one of the countries in the world with least emissions, Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries because of fragile ecosystems, poverty, slow economic growth and lack of resources for adaptation. For Nepal, climate change is not just an environmental phenomenon but also an economical, social and political issue.



Recognizing these factors, WWF Nepal initiated the Climate Change Program in August 2003 and later in 2006, alternative energy component was integrated in the program.



Read more about about the campaign at www.climate4life.org]]> Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:06:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/715451 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Two SAP members release new publications http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/631067


Dr Barrie Pittock, a specialist in climate change and variability, the El Nino-Southern Oscillation, solar-weather relations, climate impacts and adaptation.

Prof. Mark Nuttal, who specialises in anthropology of the Arctic and North Atlantic; human-environment relations, sustainability of living marine resources, climate change, locality, identity and memory.

]]> Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:04:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/631067 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 The world must crack quot;The Climate Nutquot; http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/543673


They were greeted by a blustery (zero degree) winter morning while cheerful WWF staff members handing out ‘climate nuts’ with a strong message that its time to crack the ongoing international negotiations.



Along with nuts, delegates were given the WWF Position Paper on COP14, which sets out clear points on how to reach a fair and ambitious treaty, setting a positive and optimistic tone for the long and difficult two weeks to come.



While inside the warm Trade Center, the buzz words changed from ‘climate nuts’ to ‘shared vision’, ‘global action’, ‘impacts of climate change on small states’, ‘rich countries need to act’ and ‘Obama’s climate solution to the financial crises’.



Donald Tusk, Poland’s Prime Minister, said that the financial crisis will come and go but climate change will last.



With the guiding Bali Roadmap agreed this time last year, and only 12 months to go until Copenhagen in Dec 2009, the mandate for negotiators at Poznan is to develop a concrete proposal for the new global climate deal.
]]> Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:12:00 EST http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/543673 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Animation: Climate change, energy amp; action http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/541107


]]> Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/541107 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 On the road in Bulgaria http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/520077 WWF Climate Truck traveling around CE Europe copy;nbsp;WWF HungaryOne of the greatest potentials for energy conservation lies in construction of energy efficient homes and buildings. A huge boom in construction is currently taking place in Bulgaria, especially in major cities like Sofia and in beach and mountain resorts.



by Konstantin Ivanov, Communications Coordinator, Danube-Carpathian Programme (Bulgaria)



Yet few if any buildings are being built with an eye for limiting energy consumption, let alone taking into account climate change impacts, including higher temperatures and more severe weather events.



Get on the climate truck



The WWF climate change tour travelled through Bulgaria in September, promoting awareness among the general public and opportunities to conserve energy.



The mobile exhibit included a colourful blow up tent and a truck with solar powered appliances which stopped in major cities including Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and Bourgas. Kids spent some time drawing polar bears, while their parents tested their production of electricity on a specially developed version of a gym bike.



Taking action in the home



The tour underlined the many practical actions that Bulgarians and others can take to save energy, from changing light bulbs to purchasing energy efficient appliances. Turning off stand-by functions on appliances can save as much as 40% of energy used.



Supported by...



The main sponsor for the climate tour is the Toyota Europe Foundation. The tour included opportunities to see and test drive Toyotaapos;s hybrid technology. Other sponsors provided energy saving light bulbs or demonstrated solar panels and energy saving appliances.The WWF climate tour was preceded by an advertising campaign developed pro bono for WWF by Ogilvy Mather, including a TV spot as well as print, outdoor and internet ads.



Next stops



The WWF climate change tour is covering many countries of Central and Eastern Europe, including Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia and Ukraine.



Watch the Bulgarian TV ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdSRHghzlbg



Watch the Romanian TV ad:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQzGigqeG1w


]]> Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/520077 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Ben Namakin, a Climate Witness in action! http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/538207 (Left to right) Ben Namakin, CSP education manager and WWF Climate Witness, President Remengasau of Palau, Governor Camacho of Guam, and Master Navigator Nainoa Thompson of Hawaii. Ben spoke at the United States Coral Reef Task Force in Hawaii, August 2008. copy;nbsp;Ben NamakinBen Namakin is a Climate Witness from Micronesia and Kiribati in the South Pacific. Ben recently produced a video about the impacts of climate change in Micronesia and also attended an International forum in Hawaii where he spoke alongside Pacific leaders about the need for action.



Nigel Allan, communications manager with WWF Climate Witness, spoke to Ben about his experiences.



NA: Tell us about the meeting you attended in Hawaii?



BN: I attended the United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Meeting in Kona, Hawaii from and the Response to Climate Change (RtCC) workshop on Moku Oloe Isl.



On the first day of the USCRTF meeting I was on the panel where I talked about the impacts of climate change on our natural resources and rights to live over these resources or gifts of life we have been given from our ancestors. I gave the same presentation for Many Strong Voices in Bali.



I also spoke about our challenge to integrate climate change into the education program at the Conservation Society of Pohnpei, where I manage the Environmental Education Awareness Program, as it is time to help our community prepare now for changes we may see in the near future.



NA: So what was the highlight of the trip?



BN: The night of the fourth day of the task force meeting was a big night for me. I had the invitation to speak on a panel titled: “Indigenous Stewardship and Conservation Initiatives Across the Pacific, A presentation by Pacific Island Leaders”.



My fellow panelists during this evening were Mr. Tommy Esang Remengasau, Jr, the President of Palau and Mr. Nainoa Thompson, a Master Navigator and Director of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. President Remengasau told his story about establishing the Micronesia Challenge and Mr. Thompson shared his great experience of bringing back the knowledge and skills in navigation and the importance of natural resources in the region.



It was with an honour to speak alongside these two very important men. I talked about becoming a youth activist on climate change from the Pacific Region. I shared the struggles I went through to campaign around the world and particularly in the US to get support for SIDS (small island developing states) on the issue of climate change and also my fight for the seat of the youth to negotiate in the international climate negotiation process.



NA: What was your message when you presented?



I made it clear to the audience, which also included President Bushapos;s senior environmental advisor, that climate change may have a great impact on our natural resources and indigenous knowledge, such as our ability to use traditional navigation methods, if nothing is done to slow down the negative impacts of climate change.



It was a great experience to be on a tough panel and I was very thrilled that my message was strongly supported by the audience and the Palauan President, Master Navigator, Governor of Guam and other leaders along with environmentalists and scientists who presented during this important event.
]]> Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:11:00 EST http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/538207 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Climate Witness in Nepal selected as one of the Top Five Young Conservationists in the World http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/512959 Dawa Steven Sherpa and Ken Noguchi cleaning up Everest Base Camp, May 2008 copy;nbsp;Jun HiragaDawa Steven Sherpa, a Climate Witness from Nepal, has been selected as one of the Top Five Young Conservationists in the World by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the International Rangers Federation (IRF).



And it doesnapos;t stop there...



Dawa Steven was also in Calgary, Canada in October to receive the Special Achievement Award from the Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, Canada for his double summit of both Mt. Everest (Eco Everest Expedition 2008) and Mt. Lhotse (8516m), as well as for his Environmental initiatives.



The International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) has awarded him the Award for Contributions to UIAA for efforts to promote conservation ethics in the mountains and to draw international attention to the high risk in the Khumbu due to climate change. This award encourages youth of the world to work for a better environment, and also encourages further steps to protect mountain environment.



Dawa Steven has also been invited to present his video report of the Eco Everest Expedition 2008 at the Banff Mountain Film Book Festivals.



Congratulations to Dawa Steven and Asian Trekking for their great work and well deserved recognition.


]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/512959 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 New Climate Witness promo video http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/492459


If you have somewhere to post the video online or can forward it on to family and friends that would be great!







]]> Wed, 01 Oct 2008 12:10:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/492459 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 No Car Day (Radio Ads) http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/483569 Thousands of people will be taking to the streets in cities around the globe on Sept. 22 to celebrate the annual World Carfree Day.



WWF-China and Ogilvy have created some great radio ads for the event.#160; Click on MP3 to the right to play or play them all video the YouTube player below.



]]> Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/483569 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 50 years of climate, culture, and landscape change on Mt. Everest (audio slideshow) http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/480597 Working with local peopel in Everest region to identify risks and opportunities relating to climate change impacts.<br />copy;nbsp;Alton ByersAlton Byers is a mountain geographer, mountain climber and WWF Climate Witness who has spent many years in the Himalayas and Andes. He has taken a number of photos of glaciers from the exact same spot as mountain climbers of 50 years ago.



In this short audio slideshow Alton talks about climate change in the Mt. Everest area and some of the solutions needed for local people to adapt. (NB. Best viewed by clicking on apos;full screenapos; button at bottom right of slideshow)







]]> Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/480597 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Climate change in Keti Bunder, Pakistan http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/467933 A boy plants mangroves to restore the degraded lands of his village on the Indus delta. Lack of freshwater and deforestation have devastated what was once a thriving mangrove ecosystem. Communities traditionally move to dense patches of mangrove forest to protect themselves from cyclones which are now increasing in number and intensity along the Pakistan coastline. <br />copy;nbsp;Emily Woodhouse








Emily Woodhouse spent 2 weeks in the small coastal community of Keti Bundi, Pakistan talking to the locals about the impacts of climate change on their home.


#160;



Approaching the coastal community of Keti Bunder on the Indus river delta in Pakistan, it is hard to imagine that this area was once a thriving mangrove ecosystem, rich with agriculture, and boasting a busy port. The landscape now appears barren, thatched houses dotted precariously on mudflats, waterlogged and saline from the intruding sea which has swallowed whole villages in recent years.#160;



Safaran, an elderly local woman reminisced: “When I was a child, my family were so fortunate. We had all the natural resources…cultivated lands, livestock and fishing too. Now we can only fish, the sea is coming into our lands and the water is all around us.”



On top of all these changes, the community of Keti Bunder is now faced with the escalating threat of storms and cyclones associated with global climate change.



Reports show that the frequency and intensity of these cyclones have increased significantly in the last 30 years along the Sindh coastline of Pakistan, and this is supported by community experiences in Keti Bunder.



Another local man described the current situation: “Nowadays we are experiencing more and more cyclones and storms, each and every year and within each year, the number and intensity has increased.”



Coastal areas are especially vulnerable to climate change with rising sea surface temperatures and atmospheric water vapour causing an increase in cyclone intensity and rainfall.



In Sindh, there appears to be a particular increase in the last 10 to 15 years, with the largest cyclones occurring in 1999, and 2007. These caused extensive damage to houses and boats, in addition to a number of deaths, injuries, and health problems. The impacts are proving to be long term and many families report that they are still feeling the effects of the cyclone of 2007, as they do not have the resources to cope with the damages.



The prospect of global warming raises particular concern in delta regions, many of which are already experiencing severe environmental strain as the result of human activity.



For Keti Bunder environmental problems originate further upstream of the Indus. Beginning in the mid 19th century a huge irrigation infrastructure was developed drawing water from the river and its tributaries, and since then a series of barrages and dams have been built leading to over-extraction of water for agriculture, leaving very small and irregular flows at the mouth. The result is a lack of nutrient rich silt that the water brings with it, and growing sea intrusion destroying mangrove ecosystems and causing land erosion. Community have experienced a dramatic decline in agriculture, extreme shortages of drinking water and thousands have been forced to migrate away. As the natural resource base has declined, there are few livelihood options and the community is now almost entirely dependent on fishing.#160;



These environmental changes have only served to increase the vulnerability of Keti Bunder to extreme weather events.



Due to lack of freshwater and human deforestation, mangrove forest cover in the Indus delta has reduced from 260,000 hectares to only 80,000. But evidence suggests that mangrove forests provide the best natural protection against the effects of extreme events. The community of Keti Bunder describe how they used to move into the thick patches of mangroves when a storm threatened as they know that these could withstand the pressure. In most villages, these patches no longer exist.#160;



Other traditional protective measures are also breaking down. As many of the tribal groups of Keti Bunder have historically inhabited the coastal belt, they can read the environment to predict storms. A man named Haji Hamza Jat explained: “…our forefathers always predicted the storms correctly. Now we cannot - it is beyond our knowledge and understanding”. The community understandably feel that the rapid changes associated with global climate change are beyond their comprehension and control.



There is often a sense of powerlessness in the face of these devastating events. The community are using local coping strategies, like communication to warn neighbouring villages, and temporary migration, but lack of resources and alternative livelihoods limit these efforts. These methods need to be strengthened to increase the resilience of the community to environmental threats through restoration of the natural ecosystem and community development work.



As in other communities already facing the effects of climate change, there is vital and urgent for the people of Keti Bunder to adapt effectively.



Outside institutions are beginning to work in Keti Bunder, and the area is one of the four prioritised sites of WWF-Pakistan’s Indus for All Programme which is working to address poverty and natural resource degradation in the Indus Ecoregion.



The project in Keti Bunder aims to restore the degraded mangrove ecosystem and provide sustainable livelihoods for the community, helping the community and ecosystem of Keti Bunder thrive once again. Despite the difficulties and environmental threats, Keti Bunder remains the home to approximately 2000 families, connected to their ancestral lands. As one local women said: “In the safe times and during storms, we will stay here. Under every condition, better or worse we will always live here.”



Emily Woodhouse is a Visiting Researcher from Imperial College, London who is carrying out research on the vulnerability of the social-ecological system of Keti Bunder to the effects of climate change. emily.woodhouse@imperial.ac.uk



#160;WWF Pakistan Indus for All Programme www.foreverindus.org ]]> Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:09:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/467933 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Video: Students impacted by Hurricane Katrina take action on global warming http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/463169






These students earned the opportunity to work with scientists on their research and learn about climate change from some of the most active scientists in the field today.



In Washington, D.C., the students had the experience to speak in a briefing on Capitol Hill in which Chairman Markey of the Select Committee on Energy Indepence and Global Warming greeted them as the Green Generation and encouraged them to continue to take action on climate change.]]> Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/463169 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Ghana and climate change http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/459265 Watch a short slideshow (01:48 mins) about the people living in the Nandom Traditional Area in northwest Ghana who rely heavily on what they can grow on their land. In recent years many people struggle to harvest enough food in a climate where rainfall has become unpredictable. (All images courtesy: Kees van der Geest)







Ghana itself is experiencing the effects of climate change as a shift rainfall patterns in recent years has made life very difficult for communities that rely heavily on subsistence farming for their survival. Read the Climate Witness testimony of Augustine Yelfaanibe.



The next round of UN climate change talks are now taking place in Accra, Ghana. WWF are hoping that these talks will signal a positive shift in climate negotations as more and more nations start to recognise the shift in public opinion and the growing thirst for real action from our leaders. More on what WWF would like to see from the talks in Accra.






]]> Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/459265 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Great video from Hurricane Katrina Climate Witness project http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/457267 Check out this really wonderful video on Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/64yyka

It is about a great project that WWF-US and Allianz put together that works with young people who were impacted by Hurricane Katrina. What I really like about the project is that they get involved in hands-on conservation activities that help with climate change adaptation and they also visit their politicians in Washington.

Also, we have a CW Cause on Facebook - please join us :)
http://apps.new.facebook.com/causes/65451?m=8dba5recruiter_id=7941073

Cheers,
Nigel

]]> Sun, 17 Aug 2008 21:46:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/457267 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 NASA: warmer Indian Ocean linked to drought in East Africa http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/452587 Sea surface temperatures and land vegetation over the Indian Ocean are seen here in a visualisation created with data from 1994 to 2005 from the Pathfinder satellite dataset.<br />copy;nbsp;NASAThe findings of a recent NASA study that connects the decline of rainfall in East Africa with warmer sea temperatures in the Indian Ocean are consistent with the experiences described by Climate Witnesses in the region.



Rainfall in the region has decreased by around 15 percent since the early 1980s according to the study.



Excerpts from the NASA article:












#160;

#160;


"The last 10 to 15 years have seen particularly dangerous declines in rainfall in sensitive ecosystems in East Africa, such as Somalia and eastern Ethiopia," said Molly Brown of NASAapos;s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., a co-author of the study. "We wanted to know if the trend would continue or if it would start getting wetter."



To find out, the team analyzed historical seasonal rainfall data over the Indian Ocean and the eastern seaboard of Africa from 1950 to 2005. The NASA Global Precipitation Climatology Projectapos;s rainfall dataset provided a series of data covering both the land and the oceans. They found that declines in rainfall in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe were linked to increases in rainfall over the ocean."



#160;



 #160;



Climate Witnesses in Eastern African countries Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania have described the impact that declining rainfall has had on their region.












#160;


#160;



"Continuing along a "business as usual" scenario -- with current trends in declining rainfall and agricultural capacity continuing as it is currently to 2030, the team found that the number of undernourished people will increase by more than 50 percent in eastern Africa.



#160;



 #160;



WWFapos;s East Africa Regional Programme Office is working with farmers and other affected groups in the region to help them adapt to the changes. Globally, WWF is working with governments and other organisations to come up with a new global deal that will adequately address the climate change threat.

]]> Sun, 10 Aug 2008 12:08:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/452587 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Expect the price of maple syrup to go up! http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/427543 Read more...]]> Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:20:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/427543 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Climate Witnesses send a message to G8 leaders http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/400569
Check it out...
www.panda.org/climatewitness/g8]]> Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:01:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/400569 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Climate Campers discuss experiences of climate change http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/400745 Nadia Bood, reef scientist from WWF-Belize talks about climate change impacts and adaptation in Central America.<br />copy;nbsp;WWF (YouTube video)At the 2008 Climate Camp in San Francisco, Miriam Elizondo put together this great video of the participants talking about the experience of climate change and a few thoughts on how we address it. Big questions indeed!



What are your experiences of climate change? In what way are you trying to reduce your "footprint" or adapt to climate change?



- Nigel Allan










]]> Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/400745 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Extreme weather linked to climate change http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/400747 Flooded areas near Des Moines, Iowa on June 16, 2008. <a href=Creative Commons licence
copy;nbsp;Joe Germuska" border="0" align="left" hspace="4" vspace="2" />Millions of people throughout North America, the Caribbean and Pacific are witnesses to extreme weather events that are increasing in frequency and severity as a result of climate change.



A new report, Weather and Climate Extremes in a Changing Climate, issued by the US Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) is the first to specifically assess observed and projected changes in weather and climate extremes for North America.#160; It states that the greatest impacts of climate change on society and wildlife will be experienced through changes in extreme weather events as global temperatures increase.



These extreme weather events include floods, hurricanes, and droughts.



Dr Richard Moss, WWF-US’s vice president for climate change, who previously headed up the CCSP coordination office under both the Clinton and Bush administrations, said today’s report illustrates the US’s economic vulnerability to climate change and reinforces the need to implement a national preparedness strategy.



The US Midwest is currently experiencing devastating flooding which has severely affected corn crops and other agricultural production and put further pressure on global food distribution.



Moss said: “To fully grasp the ramifications of the surge in extreme droughts and floods that are forecast in this report, one need only look at the widespread devastation across the Midwest.#160; Levees are being breached, tens of thousands of residents have been displaced, and President Bush is asking the US Congress for $US 1.8 billion in emergency aid to help the region recover – that is roughly the entire annual federal budget for climate change research programs.#160; Simply put, climate change is a problem we cannot afford to ignore.”



Claire Carlton, manager of WWF’s Climate Witness Programme, said: “As the floods in the Midwest demonstrate these events can have far reaching effects because of our global interdependence. The impact of drought on Australian wheat and rice crops is already affecting millions of people in need of food and the floods in the US will only make things worse.



“We will continue to document the impacts of climate change on people and communities around the world and remind governments that if left unchecked climate change will continue to destroy lives and increasingly strain our global economy.”



Moss added: “As this report shows, climate change is directly affecting each and every one of us and threatens significant physical and economic harm. While no single storm can be directly attributed to climate change, the scientific evidence clearly shows that as the climate warms, extreme weather events will become more intense and more frequent.



Nigel Allan

Communications Manager

WWF Climate Witness Programme]]> Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:06:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/400747 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 NASA says we are at the precipice of 'dangerous change' http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/213475 link). So far most climate projections have only looked at Greenhouse Gases and what will happen to the planet based on different GHG emmission scenarios (eg. what if have a utopian altenative energy future vs. full on fossil fuel consumption by the middle of the century).

But the Hansen paper looks at feedbacks. These are things like, when the arctic ice melts it exposes more water. Ice reflects, water absorbs. So the newly exposed water therefore absorbs more solar radiation and increases the warming which melts more sea ice and exposes more water and on and on it goes.

When considering this factor, they are saying that we are much closer to the "tipping point" than we may have previously suspected.

We cannot adapt to some climate change scenarios
I went to a talk yesterday by Prof. Stephen Schneider, a US climatologist from Stanford who was a lead author on one of the recent global climate reports from the IPCC (Intergvernmental Panel on Climate Change). He took us through the different scenarios from the lower version (1.1 – 2.9 degrees C warming), to the higher version (+6 degrees C warming). (note: even the lower version will have a doubling of carbon dioxide before levelling out in the 1.1– 2.9 range)

According to Prof Schneider, when they (IPCC scientists) are looking at how we can adapt to different warming scenarios, they don't bother to look at the +6 degree warming scenario...because he says "we cannot adapt to that scenario".

I also interviewed Dr Robert Correll, head of the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment a couple of months agao and he said that a planet that is 2 to 3 degrees warmer will be a very different world than the one we currently know. (Download latest WWF Arctic Bulletin)

I think what we don't realise on a day to day level is that these numbers aren't equatable to the typical warming that we feel when we are at the beach or walking down the street. It is not like the difference between a 20 degree day and a 26 degree day. A global average temperature rise of these amounts means the complete alteration (and destruction) of ecosystems and in many areas a severely diminished water and food supply (not to mention melting ice caps and sea level rise). ]]> Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:19:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/213475 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05 Latest findings of global climate report are out http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/178701 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes 4th Assessment Report (IPCC AR4) were released on Friday.

The report includes many different findings of current and projected impacts. A lot of it isn't new as we have been seeing these impacts and projections in the news over the past few years. It seems that the big leap forward with this report is the assertion that climate change is "very likely" (90% certainty) to be human induced. This point appears to be resonating with policy makers.

There has been a little criticism that the IPCC report is conservative on sea level rise, a point which is reiterated on the excellent RealClimate.org website gives an excellent breakdown of the IPCC AR4 policy document that came out in February.

"How good have previous IPCC reports been at projecting the future? Actually, over the last 16 years (since the first report in 1990), they've been remarkably good for CO2 changes, temperature changes but actually underpredicted sea level changes."

Ultimately, the report does again highlight the urgency with which we need to act to avoid tragedies such as the loss of arctic summer sea ice and the death of the Great Barrier Reef. Some climate change is inevitable now, just how much is up to us.

There seems to be a sea change happening...lets just hope it beats the sea rise!

WWF's take on the IPCC meeting
]]> Mon, 09 Apr 2007 01:02:00 EDT http://nallan.tigblog.org/post/178701 60.7166667 -135.0560.7166667-135.05