|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The conference welcomes young people from all over the world to contribute to the subject of Climate Change and Sustainable Development.
Video webcast of the conference
The conference consisted of plenary sessions with experts regarding the effects of climate change, such as:The plenary sessions were complemented by workshops on various topics, such as:
The workshops covered different topics such as:
Message from Jean-Paul Moka:
Here is a 10 minutes movie clip summarizing some of the events of the conference:
^ For a limited time only, you can purchase an ecologic ICE-WATCH that will allow WeForest to plant 100 trees! More information on their website.
Our position statement at the Global Issues Network Conference in Luxembourg was that Global Warming is a problem that cannot be solved. as long as countries put national interests above global responsibilities
The Kyoto Protocol
Has not been ratified by every nation, including two powerful nations, U.S.A and Australia. This combined with lack of enforcement of the 5% agreed (which would be a drop in the ocean when we need a 60% decrease in greenhouse gases for 2015).
Even if we were to cut emissions fully the effect of global warming will continue a long period.
Estimated Life of Greenhouse Gases
If education is not changed radically and immediately we will have the same problems for the generations to come. The effects on a local group, a country, a region and the world will be catastrophic.
Continue reading "Topic for Debate: Is Global Warming a Problem that Can be Solved?" »
Since 1860, the Earth’s temperature has risen by 0.6°C, and is predicted to warm by between 1.4 and 5.8°C this century.
Sea levels have risen 10-20 cm since 1900, most glaciers are retreating, and bird migration is beginning to change.
This is all occurring because of global warming, which is an average increase in the Earth's temperature, and therefore causes changes in climate.
The Earths temperature is rising due to the greenhouse effect. This is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun.
Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and the Earth’s average temperature would be about 16ºC colder, however many developed countries are now releasing too many greenhouse gases, causing major problems, especially for the developing and poorer countries that do not emit as much pollution.
For example, current U.S. energy plans will increase greenhouse emissions 25% by 2010, which could contribute to creating 150 million environmental refugees caused by factors such as extreme weather, drought and desertification.
During the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate that took place in Sydney, Australia, Mr. Bodman suggested that governments should help global businesses adopt clean and reliable technologies.
The Partnership's goal is to ensure that these new forms of « clean » technology should alone, when created and exported to several economies in Asia, help reduce greenhouse gas emissions that disperse into the atmosphere.
Nevertheless, many observers who attended the meeting pointed out that companies or governments are not likely to adopt a policy involving these technologies due to of high costs.
Furthermore, they believe Mr. Bodman's environmental policy will not survive due to the fact that the Partnership has not put forward any form of financial incentives, which means that there is no reward for companies which reduce their carbon output.
Why would a business adopt more expensive technology in the absence of financial incentives?
Continue reading "Our Tomorrow Lies in the Hands of Big Corporations" »
