Full Coverage: Climate change

30.06.2005 "For our insurance business, climate change is increasing the potential of property damage at a rate of 2 to 4 percent per year," said the CEO of a UK-based subsidiary of Allianz Group Wednesday, as his company announced a new partnership with WWF to combat climate change, calling on G8 leaders to set out a clear plan of action to address the issue.

30.06.2005 Tuesday's Senate passage of the Energy Bill made some progress in setting renewable energy targets, but overall has failed to take any meaningful action to move the U.S. away from its reliance on oil, say energy policy analysts Jeff Rickert and Brian Siu.

30.06.2005 The world's eight richest nations, or the G8, represent 13 percent of the world's people but are responsible for 45% of the world's carbon emissions. Leaders at the G8 Summit in Scotland need to wake up to the fact that time is running out to tackle climate injustice, says Friends of the Earth International, calling on individuals and groups throughout the world to ring bells on July 7 at exactly 13:45 (Scottish local time).

30.06.2005 Insurance, banking and asset management businesses needs to systematically screen climate change risks, warns a new report, which says G8 leaders must come up with a clear plan of action.

28.06.2005 Rising sea level, flooding, salt-water invasion, soaring temperatures and water shortages could force millions of Egyptians to flea their land and homes by 2050 if nothing is done now, warns a government report.

27.06.2005 People in the UK are pumping out one million tonnes of climate changing gases every year by leaving appliances on standby. Urgent government rules are needed as part of the battle to combat global warming, says Friends of the Earth.

27.06.2005 The G-8 summit will focus on two global problems that have long been at odds--poverty and global warming. But an innovative plan led by Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica shows how poor countries can commit to greenhouse gas limits while promoting development--by providing them market incentives to maintain the environment.

24.06.2005 A new report from Food First shows that world food imports make hungry people hungrier, while undermining local economies and fueling climate change. No matter where you are, buying your food from local farmers alleviates climate change and lessens rural poverty.

22.06.2005 Two weeks ago, world scientists called for greenhouse gas reduction, warning delays would be costly. But a leaked draft shows President Bush will discourage the G-8 from taking a stand on climate change: the White House deleted statements that global warming has already begun, was caused by human activity, and is a threat to human health and ecosystems.

22.06.2005 Global warming is already affecting Africa. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts that, "the effects of climate change are expected to be greatest in developing countries in terms of loss of life and relative effects on investment and economy." It describes Africa, the world's poorest region, as "the continent most vulnerable to the impacts of projected change because widespread poverty limits adaptation capabilities."

22.06.2005 Gas flaring in Nigeria is the most significant contributor to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa, creating literally a hellfire environment for people living in the oil delta.
From: OneWorld TV

21.06.2005 The signs are that Tony Blair is going to accept US intransigence on climate change in return for concessions on debt and aid at the G8 summit. A new report by a coalition of environmental and development agencies says this is exactly what the Prime Minister should not do. The impact of unchecked climate change in Africa will undermine conventional development models.

20.06.2005 A combination of climate change and population pressure is significantly spreading desertification, according to a major new report. As it may be too late to reverse the impact, efforts should focus on coping with dryland environments.

20.06.2005 Official consultations to establish a long term development plan for the East of England will take no account of the growth of Stansted Airport, a further example of the government's inability to integrate aviation into the real world of sustainability.

17.06.2005 Surely this latest leaked G8 climate change communiqué is a hoax? planted by spin doctors to reduce our expectations? Surely it is inconceivable that G8 leaders would deny the science of climate change just weeks after their own science academies jointly endorsed a call to action - or could they?

15.06.2005 The Radio Taxis Group has adopted a Future Forests scheme to replace the carbon emissions of its fleet of London black cabs. Ken Livingstone has applauded the move but, at a cost of only £30 per annum per taxi, there may be a question mark over the claims of carbon neutrality.

10.06.2005 The business community is engaged in pre-emptive moves on climate change. UK companies have set out ideas for long term regulations whilst world business leaders told Tony Blair yesterday that the G8 should implement a global system of carbon trading.

10.06.2005 Transport Minister Alistair Darling says that his proposed road pricing scheme could not cope with the complication of incentives for more fuel efficient vehicles. Evidently he is unaware of the Prime Minister's commitment to prioritise action to address climate change.

08.06.2005 Even the US National Academy of Sciences has now signed up to a statement recognising that human activity is warming the planet. President Bush remains the last bastion; perhaps these powerful illustrations of climate change problems and solutions should be sent to the White House.

08.06.2005 On the same day that President Bush said that there is no energy alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear power, the London Array windfarm planning application was submitted. Located in the Thames Estuary, the farm would supply 25% of households in London.