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archive: May-Jun 2007
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Eco-news archive: May-June 2007
UN issues desertification warning
(Jun 28, 2007)
Tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by
encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central
Asia, a report says. The study by the United Nations University
suggests climate change is making desertification "the greatest
environmental challenge of our times". If action is not taken,
the report warns that some 50 million people could be displaced
within the next 10 years.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Scarce water and population boom leads
California to 'perfect drought'
(Jun 25, 2007)
A typical summer's day in Los Angeles: temperatures nudge the
nineties, the sun blazes high in the sky, palm trees sway in the
ocean breeze, and sprinklers spray a fine mist of water into the
scorching air. But if the predictions of climatologists, environmentalists,
city planners and the head of the water board are correct, the
sprinklers and many other of the comforts that have made southern
California habitable may have to be turned off.
Read
more. Source: Guardian |
Desalination 'not the solution'
(Jun 21, 2007)
Turning salt water into drinking water is not a solution to tackle
global water scarcity, the WWF has said. A report by the environmental
group said a growth in the energy intensive technology would increase
emissions and damage coastal and river habitats. More attention
should instead be paid to conserving supplies, it suggested.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Arctic spring's 'rapid advance'
(Jun 18, 2007)
Spring in the Arctic is arriving "weeks earlier" than a decade
ago, a team of Danish researchers have reported. Ice in north-east
Greenland is melting an average of 14.6 days earlier than in the
mid-1990s, bringing forward the date plants flower and birds lay
eggs. The team warned that the observed changes could disrupt
the region's ecosystems and food chain, affecting the long-term
survival of some species.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
UN warning over global ice loss
(Jun 4, 2007)
Hundreds of millions of livelihoods will be affected by declining
snow and ice cover as a result of global warming, a UN report
has warned. The risks facing people included losing access to
drinking water, and rising sea levels, the study concluded. The
findings were published by the UN's Environment Programme (UNEP).
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Great apes 'facing climate peril'
(May 31, 2007)
Great apes are facing an "inevitable crisis" arising from climate
change, a leading conservationist has warned. Dr Richard Leakey
said that growing pressure to switch from fossil fuels to biofuels
could result in further destruction of the animals' habitats.
The chair of WildlifeDirect called for immediate action and proposed
financial incentives to save forests from destruction as one possible
solution.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
Recent CO2 rises exceed worst-case scenarios
(May 21, 2007)
The world's recent carbon dioxide emissions are growing more rapidly
than even the worst-case climate scenario used by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, say researchers. The team, led by Michael
Raupach of the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial
Research Organisation, looked at the growth of CO2 emissions and
found that emissions growth suddenly accelerated in 2000.
Read
more. Source: New Scientist |
Polar ocean 'soaking up less CO2'
(May 18, 2007)
One of Earth's most important absorbers of carbon dioxide (CO2)
is failing to soak up as much of the greenhouse gas as it was
expected to, scientists say. The decline of Antarctica's Southern
Ocean carbon "sink" – or reservoir – means that atmospheric
CO2 levels may be higher in future than predicted. These carbon
sinks are vital as they mop up excess CO2 from the atmosphere,
slowing down global warming.
Read
more. Source: BBC |
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