Climate Change blog from different sources.

Ozone Layer over Antarctica

8/10/2019

The Montreal Protocol, which came into force in 1987, is a global agreement to protect the Ozone Layer. How well is it working, now in 2019? This question was put to scientists at the British Antarctic Survey . at the Halley research station on the Brunt Ice Shelf. Although this ice shelf itself is close to splitting, Halley is not in danger from this event.

The simple answer is that the Ozone Layer is in a much healthier state than it was in the late 1980's. This is really good news since the Ozone Layer filters out the harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. We are warned that we can't be complacent , or think that our work is done. Scientists world-wide continue to be vigilant, in this and many other areas.

12 Years Left

17/7/2019

Earlier this year the United Nations warned the world that we have just 12 years left to get global warming down to 1.5 degrees if we are to avoid the risk of an unprecedented catastrophe. This is not the first warning we have been given, and despite huge efforts from the conference of parties (Paris Agreement) we still seem to be a long way from meeting this target.

UN Climate Change News, 7 June, Bonn – UN Climate Change today launched its Annual Report, highlighting the progress made on tackling climate change in 2018. “Stepping up action has never been more urgent. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the impacts of global warming at 1.5 °C, requested at COP21, made this crystal clear,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. “We are running out of time to stay under this limit.”

Espinosa added:
“I have hope. Alongside new scientific evidence and the increasingly observable signs of climate change – from melting glaciers to massive storms – 2018 showed that the world is now ready and determined to act. As this annual report illustrates, the UNFCCC secretariat continued to support tirelessly the global climate platform that supports and encourages this progress.” This UN report can be seen here.

Journey of the GEDI

17/7/2019

The Jedi of Luke Skywalker, who battles to save his friends from the Galactic Empire – “May the Force be With You” – sounds a trumpet call for the other GEDI, which made its journey to the International Space Station in December 2018.

This is NASA’s Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) mission . From its perch aboard the International Space Station, GEDI's powerful lasers create detailed 3D maps of Earth’s forests and topography – providing innovative and unique spaceborne observations. This GEDI mission is now giving scientists a level of detail which they have never had before - the power to see crucial measurements of the Earth’s forests.

“GEDI provides a vertical record, not only of how tall trees are, but how much canopy material there is at any height,” said Ralph Dubayah, GEDI principal investigator and a professor of geographical sciences at the University of Maryland. “GEDI will make over 10 billion individual observations of canopy structures, which is orders of magnitude more than we have ever had.”

The journey, or mission, of GEDI is expected to last two years. For details of this exciting NASA project visit this website https://gedi.umd.edu/applications/forest-management-and-carbon-cycling/

Human Rights and Climate Change

13/6/2019

In a groundbreaking climate change case announced in May, lawyers with ClientEarth are acting on behalf of a group of indigenous Australians from the Torres Strait region, who are making a complaint against the Australian government, for its failure to act.

Making a submission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, they allege that the effects of Australia’s insufficient plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and its failure to fund coastal defences constitute a violation of their human rights.

Photo from Client Earth website - follow blue link opposite

ClientEarth is a charity that uses the power of the law to protect the planet and the people who live on it. They are lawyers and environmental experts who are fighting against climate change and to protect nature and the environment. This case is the first of its kind in the world. Many governments will need to pay attention to the outcome from the U.N. Human Rights Committee..

Extinction of Species

7/5/2019

The loss of many different species, which is expected over the next decade, is only one outcome from the dangers which beset our planet. A major concern here is that we are in danger of losing the biodiversity which makes our planet so rich and beautiful in life. Not alone that, and more worrying for our nations across the globe, is that many of the disasters being suffered are affecting those less able to survive the consequences. Maybe this is one of the reasons for the cause which has brought people onto the streets, in the U.K. and in other countries - with the cry to governments to act urgently to reduce carbon emissions now, and not in 30 years' time. Science tells us it is possible to avert disaster - if we start now - and reform our planet into a place fit for all life to co-exist. Extinction is a strong word - and not used lightly. Our gallery below shows that more people are now determined to make the voice of the nation heard in the corridors of power:

Climate Emergency - 'Extinction Rebellion' March - 15th April 2019.

These photos are from Unsplash - the photographers are Jonathan Kemper, Markus Spiske, Mika Baumeister, Monica Melton, and Vlad Tchompalov. Checkout Unsplash by clicking here.

Turning Carbon Dioxide into Stone

26/4/2019

We want to save the planet from the effects of climate change. One of the most challenging and ongoing tasks is figuring out how to reduce carbon dioxide. Every day we create more and more of this damaging greenhouse gas, and we get rid of less and less. We need urgently to reduce carbon dioxide to help lower the global temperature.

So any scientific developments tackling this problem are to be strongly encouraged.
Iceland has found a way to speedily convert carbon dioxide to calcite, the principal constituent of limestone and marble. Has your country taken a look at this process yet? See this article for more information.

Only 12 Years to Avoid Catastrophe

9/4/2019

Earlier this year the United Nations warned the world that we have just 12 years left to get global warming down to 1.5 degrees if we are to avoid the risk of an unprecedented catastrophe. This is not the first warning we have been given, and despite huge efforts from the conference of parties (Paris Agreement) we still seem to be a long way from meeting this target.

Air pollution - UN photo

UN Climate Change News, (7th June, Bonn) – UN Climate Change today launched its Annual Report, highlighting the progress made on tackling climate change in 2018. “Stepping up action has never been more urgent. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on the impacts of global warming at 1.5 °C, requested at COP21, made this crystal clear,” said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. “We are running out of time to stay under this limit.”

Espinosa added:
“I have hope. Alongside new scientific evidence and the increasingly observable signs of climate change – from melting glaciers to massive storms – 2018 showed that the world is now ready and determined to act. As this annual report illustrates, the UNFCCC secretariat continued to support tirelessly the global climate platform that supports and encourages this progress.”

One Planet Summit - Africa

26/3/2019

Nairobi

While in Southern Africa Mozambique, less so Zimbabwe and Malawi, suffered the disastrous effects of cyclone Idai, over in East Africa the first gathering of the One Planet Summit took place in Nairobi. President Macron of France joined many dignitaries and CEOs, addressing some of the most difficult problems facing the continent of Africa.

A major, perhaps the major - outcome of the conference was the Africa Pledge. This not only identified many of the problems faced by climate change, but went on to describe funding commitments, notably from the World Bank and the African Development Bank. The pledge is a comprehensive document, and can be read in full at this website.

Cleaning up our Oceans

19/3/2019

There is a non-profit group called The Ocean Cleanup, whose mission is to rid the oceans of plastic through use of technology. They estimate that using all of their systems, they will clean up 50% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, every 5 years. Much more is needed to solve this problem.

The contribution made by groups such as The Ocean Cleanup will be immeasurable in the battle to rid our oceans of plastic waste,Many more groups need to get involved in the cleanup.

Drastic Threat to our Food Chain

12/2/2019

Scientists warn :

Earth's sixth mass extinction event is under way.

The National Academy of Sciences has published a report showing a massive decline in insect populations, across the world. Scientists are not given to hyperbole, since they have always to back up their findings with facts. This makes it more concerning to all of us when they call the loss of wildlife “a biological annihilation” that represents a “frightening assault on the foundations of human civilisation”.

Butterfly near M8 Motorway, Glasgow - photo: Cath Scott

The declining dragonfly - photo Silas Stein

Although this dreadful news was reported in the Guardian in July 2017, there is no significant concerted worldwide attempt to resolve this threat to our future. Climate change is not the main culprit here, and for a fuller explanation, see this article.