Global climate change

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

Throughout history, our planet has gone through major climate fluctuations from relatively warm to relatively cold periods. Climate change is actually not something new in our planet, but today we are experiencing an exceedingly fast change in our climate. Like never before, our oceans are heating up fast, glaciers melting at a much quicker rate, and bizarre diseases spreading like wild fire in all corners of the globe. All these are physical evidences of climate change.

It’s heartbreaking to know that the pristine beaches and magnificent landscape of Maldives may soon be wiped off the planet if climate change is to persist. And it’s even more depressing to know that people in Alaska have to suffer from a year round spruce bark beetle infestation which leaves huge forest areas barren.

So, what’s there to do when it’s our life and home that is threatened? Do we wait for major disasters to annihilate a third of our planet before making a move? Do we still need to do instant people search to determine if it’s time yet to make a move? Whether we like it or not, climate change is here and its effect is coming more and more in focus each year. The call of duty has to be answered today, and not a day later, before the true intensity of climate change is unleashed all over the world.

Unfortunately, there is no single and abrupt action that generates immediate result that will solve the problem. It would take years before the effects of climate change are reversed, that is, if it’s not yet too late. But even the simple and smallest changes that can be done today can already immensely contribute to solving the problem. These can include:

• Reducing energy consumption. Industries are the highest consumers of energy. Perhaps by increasing taxes on fossil fuel, some of these companies would work on reducing their energy consumption.
• Save on electricity. Turn off lights when not used. Replace your bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs as they are brighter and deliver longer bulb life.
• Develop renewable energies such as biofuels, wind turbines, solar heating panels, and geothermal energy.
• Conserve water. Many water resources are destroyed due to global warming. So, make the most of the water we have today. As much as possible reuse water and teach everyone not to waste water.
• Drive electric cars. Gas prices are continuously rising these days, so it would be more practical to drive an electric car. Aside from being fuel efficient and environment friendly, these cars offer the same luxury and convenience traditional cars provide.

There’s no denying climate change is here. Some may even think that the extremely threatening maladies happening today are a prelude to the apocalypse, which by the way remains a prediction until today. So, don’t celebrate yet and expect that the first ones removed from this planet are those with criminal background. If ever apocalypse happens, it will be survival of the fittest. So, let’s heed the call of the environment to free her from prison of total pollution and disorder.

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

Throughout history, our planet has gone through major climate fluctuations from relatively warm to relatively cold periods. Climate change is actually not something new in our planet, but today we are experiencing an exceedingly fast change in our climate. Like never before, our oceans are heating up fast, glaciers melting at a much quicker rate, and bizarre diseases spreading like wild fire in all corners of the globe. All these are physical evidences of climate change.

It’s heartbreaking to know that the pristine beaches and magnificent landscape of Maldives may soon be wiped off the planet if climate change is to persist. And it’s even more depressing to know that people in Alaska have to suffer from a year round spruce bark beetle infestation which leaves huge forest areas barren.

So, what’s there to do when it’s our life and home that is threatened? Do we wait for major disasters to annihilate a third of our planet before making a move? Do we still need to do instant people search to determine if it’s time yet to make a move? Whether we like it or not, climate change is here and its effect is coming more and more in focus each year. The call of duty has to be answered today, and not a day later, before the true intensity of climate change is unleashed all over the world.

Unfortunately, there is no single and abrupt action that generates immediate result that will solve the problem. It would take years before the effects of climate change are reversed, that is, if it’s not yet too late. But even the simple and smallest changes that can be done today can already immensely contribute to solving the problem. These can include:

• Reducing energy consumption. Industries are the highest consumers of energy. Perhaps by increasing taxes on fossil fuel, some of these companies would work on reducing their energy consumption.
• Save on electricity. Turn off lights when not used. Replace your bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs as they are brighter and deliver longer bulb life.
• Develop renewable energies such as biofuels, wind turbines, solar heating panels, and geothermal energy.
• Conserve water. Many water resources are destroyed due to global warming. So, make the most of the water we have today. As much as possible reuse water and teach everyone not to waste water.
• Drive electric cars. Gas prices are continuously rising these days, so it would be more practical to drive an electric car. Aside from being fuel efficient and environment friendly, these cars offer the same luxury and convenience traditional cars provide.

There’s no denying climate change is here. Some may even think that the extremely threatening maladies happening today are a prelude to the apocalypse, which by the way remains a prediction until today. So, don’t celebrate yet and expect that the first ones removed from this planet are those with criminal background. If ever apocalypse happens, it will be survival of the fittest. So, let’s heed the call of the environment to free her from prison of total pollution and disorder.

grassland animal husbandry

  Current view: In the global context of climate warming, grassland husbandry changes accordingly. Actively respond to climate change’s adverse impact on grassland animal husbandry, and to develop appropriate strategic task is the focus of future work.

Current Guests: China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment Studies Standard Pan Head

Interviewer: Coming from our reporter Wu Yue

In recent years, climate change has been the focus of attention, because it is the human production and daily life. Similarly, the climate change impact on grassland animal husbandry is also gradually becoming apparent. In the Chinese Meteorological Society 26th Annual Meeting of experts to discuss the meeting, China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment department head Professor Pan Xuebiao on how to deal with climate change on the negative impact of grassland animal husbandry, expressed his views.

  Â

Dry grass warming induced climate change, many problems of animal husbandry

PAN Xue-Biao, said from the northern grassland animal husbandry in recent years, the overall climate change point of view, showing a warming, drying trend, which resulted in the north east of grassland animal husbandry area rainfall reduction ecotone border, southward.

Grassland animal husbandry in northern areas of climate change, a direct result of the grass plant phenological change, and cause many problems. In the background of global warming, the grass plant phenological changes in biomass in space and time differences become larger. Drying and warming climate led to degradation of grassland ecosystems, while decrease of grassland biodiversity, biomass reduction, reduction of coverage, so that speed up the desertification of grassland, or even a source of dust storm. At the same time, reduce the amount of grass growth makes its carrying capacity has decreased, indirectly leading to the herdsmen’s income levels. In addition, some extreme climate events on forage supply and livestock breeding produces a double effect, and may lead to “white disaster” and “Black God” and the increase in dust hazards. “White Disaster,” also known as “white wind”, the weather is called “blowing snow” or “snow storm”, so that nomadic herders and sheep get lost, serious traffic congestion. As the snow covered grass, or snow ice formation ice shell, livestock grazing is difficult clawed through the snow. If insufficient Storing winter will cause animals from cold and hunger, disease death increased. “Black God” refers to the grasslands of northern China in winter little snow or no snow, so that livestock water shortage, disease epidemic, resulting in the phenomenon of large numbers of livestock deaths. “White disaster” and “Black God” is a tremendous impact on the pastoral areas of disaster.

PAN Xue-Biao, said, according to the current phenomenon of serious grassland degradation in northern grassland ecosystems and grassland livestock production safety are under serious threat. Long-term in a northern grassland full load, overload the use of the state, not only broke through the grassland ecosystem function and self-organization of water, soil, bio-recycling mechanism of bottom line, and beyond the use of grassland during the harvest time limit, resulting in grassland degradation rate year after year. Climate change science to the adverse effects of grassland animal husbandry, is imminent.

Developing key strategies to improve ability of farmers to adapt to climate change

PAN Xue-Biao, said to reporters in the long run, development science to adapt to climate change impacts on grassland animal husbandry strategic tasks, to more scientific and effective response to climate change. The task of this strategy, it is necessary for the grassland animal husbandry in itself, but also contains the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate change education.

First, we should insist on grassland livestock production in harmony with the ecological and environmental protection, we should build a new pastoral nomads living standards and promote the same goal of building through the production conditions, grassland management and herd management are combined to reduce the adverse climate change impact. Efforts to coordinate livestock grass balance, reduce the pressure overload grassland, ecologically fragile areas will be adjusted to the amount of livestock carrying capacity of the balance area under the effective protection of the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.

Second, we must adopt scientific management methods and increasing areas of grassland animal husbandry of various adaptation technologies, strengthening the response capacity of animal husbandry and pastoral comprehensive resilience and increase the stability of grassland livestock production, caused by climate change temporal pattern of disasters on the new changes and extreme events.

How will the strategic focus of the task fell to the concrete with reality? Professor Pan Xuebiao introduces several scientific and effective response. Adhere to an appropriate balance between livestock grazing principles, you can take reasonable rotation grazing and seasonal grazing, fencing and grazing, and other measures to reduce the intensity of grazing. By playing in storing, Peng Quan construction work to strengthen pastoral production capacity, improve the capacity of disaster and disaster prevention. Farming combined with full use of crop residues and agricultural areas of direct production of forage in the animal husbandry production.

At the same time, PAN Xue-Biao suggested that government departments should develop pastoral insurance, forage reserves, ecological compensation and related policies to support adaptation to climate change grassland animal husbandry. In a policy context for the guidance, but also to strengthen training and management of grassland for grazing, especially farmers and herdsmen to improve adaptation to climate change awareness and knowledge on climate change publicity and popularity of farmers consciously enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

Throughout history, our planet has gone through major climate fluctuations from relatively warm to relatively cold periods. Climate change is actually not something new in our planet, but today we are experiencing an exceedingly fast change in our climate. Like never before, our oceans are heating up fast, glaciers melting at a much quicker rate, and bizarre diseases spreading like wild fire in all corners of the globe. All these are physical evidences of climate change.

It’s heartbreaking to know that the pristine beaches and magnificent landscape of Maldives may soon be wiped off the planet if climate change is to persist. And it’s even more depressing to know that people in Alaska have to suffer from a year round spruce bark beetle infestation which leaves huge forest areas barren.

So, what’s there to do when it’s our life and home that is threatened? Do we wait for major disasters to annihilate a third of our planet before making a move? Do we still need to do instant people search to determine if it’s time yet to make a move? Whether we like it or not, climate change is here and its effect is coming more and more in focus each year. The call of duty has to be answered today, and not a day later, before the true intensity of climate change is unleashed all over the world.

Unfortunately, there is no single and abrupt action that generates immediate result that will solve the problem. It would take years before the effects of climate change are reversed, that is, if it’s not yet too late. But even the simple and smallest changes that can be done today can already immensely contribute to solving the problem. These can include:

• Reducing energy consumption. Industries are the highest consumers of energy. Perhaps by increasing taxes on fossil fuel, some of these companies would work on reducing their energy consumption.
• Save on electricity. Turn off lights when not used. Replace your bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs as they are brighter and deliver longer bulb life.
• Develop renewable energies such as biofuels, wind turbines, solar heating panels, and geothermal energy.
• Conserve water. Many water resources are destroyed due to global warming. So, make the most of the water we have today. As much as possible reuse water and teach everyone not to waste water.
• Drive electric cars. Gas prices are continuously rising these days, so it would be more practical to drive an electric car. Aside from being fuel efficient and environment friendly, these cars offer the same luxury and convenience traditional cars provide.

There’s no denying climate change is here. Some may even think that the extremely threatening maladies happening today are a prelude to the apocalypse, which by the way remains a prediction until today. So, don’t celebrate yet and expect that the first ones removed from this planet are those with criminal background. If ever apocalypse happens, it will be survival of the fittest. So, let’s heed the call of the environment to free her from prison of total pollution and disorder.

grassland animal husbandry

  Current view: In the global context of climate warming, grassland husbandry changes accordingly. Actively respond to climate change’s adverse impact on grassland animal husbandry, and to develop appropriate strategic task is the focus of future work.

Current Guests: China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment Studies Standard Pan Head

Interviewer: Coming from our reporter Wu Yue

In recent years, climate change has been the focus of attention, because it is the human production and daily life. Similarly, the climate change impact on grassland animal husbandry is also gradually becoming apparent. In the Chinese Meteorological Society 26th Annual Meeting of experts to discuss the meeting, China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment department head Professor Pan Xuebiao on how to deal with climate change on the negative impact of grassland animal husbandry, expressed his views.

  Â

Dry grass warming induced climate change, many problems of animal husbandry

PAN Xue-Biao, said from the northern grassland animal husbandry in recent years, the overall climate change point of view, showing a warming, drying trend, which resulted in the north east of grassland animal husbandry area rainfall reduction ecotone border, southward.

Grassland animal husbandry in northern areas of climate change, a direct result of the grass plant phenological change, and cause many problems. In the background of global warming, the grass plant phenological changes in biomass in space and time differences become larger. Drying and warming climate led to degradation of grassland ecosystems, while decrease of grassland biodiversity, biomass reduction, reduction of coverage, so that speed up the desertification of grassland, or even a source of dust storm. At the same time, reduce the amount of grass growth makes its carrying capacity has decreased, indirectly leading to the herdsmen’s income levels. In addition, some extreme climate events on forage supply and livestock breeding produces a double effect, and may lead to “white disaster” and “Black God” and the increase in dust hazards. “White Disaster,” also known as “white wind”, the weather is called “blowing snow” or “snow storm”, so that nomadic herders and sheep get lost, serious traffic congestion. As the snow covered grass, or snow ice formation ice shell, livestock grazing is difficult clawed through the snow. If insufficient Storing winter will cause animals from cold and hunger, disease death increased. “Black God” refers to the grasslands of northern China in winter little snow or no snow, so that livestock water shortage, disease epidemic, resulting in the phenomenon of large numbers of livestock deaths. “White disaster” and “Black God” is a tremendous impact on the pastoral areas of disaster.

PAN Xue-Biao, said, according to the current phenomenon of serious grassland degradation in northern grassland ecosystems and grassland livestock production safety are under serious threat. Long-term in a northern grassland full load, overload the use of the state, not only broke through the grassland ecosystem function and self-organization of water, soil, bio-recycling mechanism of bottom line, and beyond the use of grassland during the harvest time limit, resulting in grassland degradation rate year after year. Climate change science to the adverse effects of grassland animal husbandry, is imminent.

Developing key strategies to improve ability of farmers to adapt to climate change

PAN Xue-Biao, said to reporters in the long run, development science to adapt to climate change impacts on grassland animal husbandry strategic tasks, to more scientific and effective response to climate change. The task of this strategy, it is necessary for the grassland animal husbandry in itself, but also contains the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate change education.

First, we should insist on grassland livestock production in harmony with the ecological and environmental protection, we should build a new pastoral nomads living standards and promote the same goal of building through the production conditions, grassland management and herd management are combined to reduce the adverse climate change impact. Efforts to coordinate livestock grass balance, reduce the pressure overload grassland, ecologically fragile areas will be adjusted to the amount of livestock carrying capacity of the balance area under the effective protection of the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.

Second, we must adopt scientific management methods and increasing areas of grassland animal husbandry of various adaptation technologies, strengthening the response capacity of animal husbandry and pastoral comprehensive resilience and increase the stability of grassland livestock production, caused by climate change temporal pattern of disasters on the new changes and extreme events.

How will the strategic focus of the task fell to the concrete with reality? Professor Pan Xuebiao introduces several scientific and effective response. Adhere to an appropriate balance between livestock grazing principles, you can take reasonable rotation grazing and seasonal grazing, fencing and grazing, and other measures to reduce the intensity of grazing. By playing in storing, Peng Quan construction work to strengthen pastoral production capacity, improve the capacity of disaster and disaster prevention. Farming combined with full use of crop residues and agricultural areas of direct production of forage in the animal husbandry production.

At the same time, PAN Xue-Biao suggested that government departments should develop pastoral insurance, forage reserves, ecological compensation and related policies to support adaptation to climate change grassland animal husbandry. In a policy context for the guidance, but also to strengthen training and management of grassland for grazing, especially farmers and herdsmen to improve adaptation to climate change awareness and knowledge on climate change publicity and popularity of farmers consciously enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.

Tomato
The acidity in tomato can promote the secretion of gastric juice and help digest proteins. In addition, cells can be combined which can produce collagen and strengthen blood vessels with the function of fruitful vitamin C. Mineral like potassium has the function of lowering blood pressure are abundant.

Soybean
Many people know that soy has plant hormones which are good to women, but few people know that soy is an excellent food for men. For example, Japanese men who often eat soy products have lower probability of suffering from prostate cancer than Western men. What’s more, soybeans can prevent bone loss for men as effective as possible.

Carrot
In the body, B-carotene is changed into vitamin A which can improve the body’s resistance and inhibit reactive oxygen. Besides, because of rich potassium, it helps lower blood pressure and has effect on food fiber to stabilize the digestive system.

Garlic
Garlic has a strong sterilizing power, so it can destroy invading bacteria in vivo. In addition, it provides the absorption of vitamin B1 and promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates to produce energy and reduce fatigue.

Green tea
Green tea is rich in vitamin C which can’t be found in black tea. Vitamin C helps prevent colds and is a nutrient to keep skin beauty. In addition, Green tea is rich in glutamate, aspartic acid and amino acids. Glutamate has the function of anti-aging, aspartic acid can improve the immune system while amino acid is a nourishment.

Red wine
If you have to drink, red wine is your best choice. Antioxidant polyphenols from grape skin in red wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Compared with various wines, Purine, a material can increased the uric acid, in wine is rather lower. In addition, red wine can improve antioxidant to prevent atherosclerosis.

Deep-sea fish
Men also suffer from hyperlipidemia, stroke with lower age because of pressure. A substance called the Omega-3 fatty acids from deep-sea fish may prevent blood coagulation, reduce blood vessel contraction, lower levels of triglyceride. Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel spent fish, pacific saury, grouper, salmon, etc. according to the recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA), you’d better to eat fish at least twice a week.

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

Throughout history, our planet has gone through major climate fluctuations from relatively warm to relatively cold periods. Climate change is actually not something new in our planet, but today we are experiencing an exceedingly fast change in our climate. Like never before, our oceans are heating up fast, glaciers melting at a much quicker rate, and bizarre diseases spreading like wild fire in all corners of the globe. All these are physical evidences of climate change.

It’s heartbreaking to know that the pristine beaches and magnificent landscape of Maldives may soon be wiped off the planet if climate change is to persist. And it’s even more depressing to know that people in Alaska have to suffer from a year round spruce bark beetle infestation which leaves huge forest areas barren.

So, what’s there to do when it’s our life and home that is threatened? Do we wait for major disasters to annihilate a third of our planet before making a move? Do we still need to do instant people search to determine if it’s time yet to make a move? Whether we like it or not, climate change is here and its effect is coming more and more in focus each year. The call of duty has to be answered today, and not a day later, before the true intensity of climate change is unleashed all over the world.

Unfortunately, there is no single and abrupt action that generates immediate result that will solve the problem. It would take years before the effects of climate change are reversed, that is, if it’s not yet too late. But even the simple and smallest changes that can be done today can already immensely contribute to solving the problem. These can include:

• Reducing energy consumption. Industries are the highest consumers of energy. Perhaps by increasing taxes on fossil fuel, some of these companies would work on reducing their energy consumption.
• Save on electricity. Turn off lights when not used. Replace your bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs as they are brighter and deliver longer bulb life.
• Develop renewable energies such as biofuels, wind turbines, solar heating panels, and geothermal energy.
• Conserve water. Many water resources are destroyed due to global warming. So, make the most of the water we have today. As much as possible reuse water and teach everyone not to waste water.
• Drive electric cars. Gas prices are continuously rising these days, so it would be more practical to drive an electric car. Aside from being fuel efficient and environment friendly, these cars offer the same luxury and convenience traditional cars provide.

There’s no denying climate change is here. Some may even think that the extremely threatening maladies happening today are a prelude to the apocalypse, which by the way remains a prediction until today. So, don’t celebrate yet and expect that the first ones removed from this planet are those with criminal background. If ever apocalypse happens, it will be survival of the fittest. So, let’s heed the call of the environment to free her from prison of total pollution and disorder.

grassland animal husbandry

  Current view: In the global context of climate warming, grassland husbandry changes accordingly. Actively respond to climate change’s adverse impact on grassland animal husbandry, and to develop appropriate strategic task is the focus of future work.

Current Guests: China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment Studies Standard Pan Head

Interviewer: Coming from our reporter Wu Yue

In recent years, climate change has been the focus of attention, because it is the human production and daily life. Similarly, the climate change impact on grassland animal husbandry is also gradually becoming apparent. In the Chinese Meteorological Society 26th Annual Meeting of experts to discuss the meeting, China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment department head Professor Pan Xuebiao on how to deal with climate change on the negative impact of grassland animal husbandry, expressed his views.

  Â

Dry grass warming induced climate change, many problems of animal husbandry

PAN Xue-Biao, said from the northern grassland animal husbandry in recent years, the overall climate change point of view, showing a warming, drying trend, which resulted in the north east of grassland animal husbandry area rainfall reduction ecotone border, southward.

Grassland animal husbandry in northern areas of climate change, a direct result of the grass plant phenological change, and cause many problems. In the background of global warming, the grass plant phenological changes in biomass in space and time differences become larger. Drying and warming climate led to degradation of grassland ecosystems, while decrease of grassland biodiversity, biomass reduction, reduction of coverage, so that speed up the desertification of grassland, or even a source of dust storm. At the same time, reduce the amount of grass growth makes its carrying capacity has decreased, indirectly leading to the herdsmen’s income levels. In addition, some extreme climate events on forage supply and livestock breeding produces a double effect, and may lead to “white disaster” and “Black God” and the increase in dust hazards. “White Disaster,” also known as “white wind”, the weather is called “blowing snow” or “snow storm”, so that nomadic herders and sheep get lost, serious traffic congestion. As the snow covered grass, or snow ice formation ice shell, livestock grazing is difficult clawed through the snow. If insufficient Storing winter will cause animals from cold and hunger, disease death increased. “Black God” refers to the grasslands of northern China in winter little snow or no snow, so that livestock water shortage, disease epidemic, resulting in the phenomenon of large numbers of livestock deaths. “White disaster” and “Black God” is a tremendous impact on the pastoral areas of disaster.

PAN Xue-Biao, said, according to the current phenomenon of serious grassland degradation in northern grassland ecosystems and grassland livestock production safety are under serious threat. Long-term in a northern grassland full load, overload the use of the state, not only broke through the grassland ecosystem function and self-organization of water, soil, bio-recycling mechanism of bottom line, and beyond the use of grassland during the harvest time limit, resulting in grassland degradation rate year after year. Climate change science to the adverse effects of grassland animal husbandry, is imminent.

Developing key strategies to improve ability of farmers to adapt to climate change

PAN Xue-Biao, said to reporters in the long run, development science to adapt to climate change impacts on grassland animal husbandry strategic tasks, to more scientific and effective response to climate change. The task of this strategy, it is necessary for the grassland animal husbandry in itself, but also contains the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate change education.

First, we should insist on grassland livestock production in harmony with the ecological and environmental protection, we should build a new pastoral nomads living standards and promote the same goal of building through the production conditions, grassland management and herd management are combined to reduce the adverse climate change impact. Efforts to coordinate livestock grass balance, reduce the pressure overload grassland, ecologically fragile areas will be adjusted to the amount of livestock carrying capacity of the balance area under the effective protection of the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.

Second, we must adopt scientific management methods and increasing areas of grassland animal husbandry of various adaptation technologies, strengthening the response capacity of animal husbandry and pastoral comprehensive resilience and increase the stability of grassland livestock production, caused by climate change temporal pattern of disasters on the new changes and extreme events.

How will the strategic focus of the task fell to the concrete with reality? Professor Pan Xuebiao introduces several scientific and effective response. Adhere to an appropriate balance between livestock grazing principles, you can take reasonable rotation grazing and seasonal grazing, fencing and grazing, and other measures to reduce the intensity of grazing. By playing in storing, Peng Quan construction work to strengthen pastoral production capacity, improve the capacity of disaster and disaster prevention. Farming combined with full use of crop residues and agricultural areas of direct production of forage in the animal husbandry production.

At the same time, PAN Xue-Biao suggested that government departments should develop pastoral insurance, forage reserves, ecological compensation and related policies to support adaptation to climate change grassland animal husbandry. In a policy context for the guidance, but also to strengthen training and management of grassland for grazing, especially farmers and herdsmen to improve adaptation to climate change awareness and knowledge on climate change publicity and popularity of farmers consciously enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.

Tomato
The acidity in tomato can promote the secretion of gastric juice and help digest proteins. In addition, cells can be combined which can produce collagen and strengthen blood vessels with the function of fruitful vitamin C. Mineral like potassium has the function of lowering blood pressure are abundant.

Soybean
Many people know that soy has plant hormones which are good to women, but few people know that soy is an excellent food for men. For example, Japanese men who often eat soy products have lower probability of suffering from prostate cancer than Western men. What’s more, soybeans can prevent bone loss for men as effective as possible.

Carrot
In the body, B-carotene is changed into vitamin A which can improve the body’s resistance and inhibit reactive oxygen. Besides, because of rich potassium, it helps lower blood pressure and has effect on food fiber to stabilize the digestive system.

Garlic
Garlic has a strong sterilizing power, so it can destroy invading bacteria in vivo. In addition, it provides the absorption of vitamin B1 and promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates to produce energy and reduce fatigue.

Green tea
Green tea is rich in vitamin C which can’t be found in black tea. Vitamin C helps prevent colds and is a nutrient to keep skin beauty. In addition, Green tea is rich in glutamate, aspartic acid and amino acids. Glutamate has the function of anti-aging, aspartic acid can improve the immune system while amino acid is a nourishment.

Red wine
If you have to drink, red wine is your best choice. Antioxidant polyphenols from grape skin in red wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Compared with various wines, Purine, a material can increased the uric acid, in wine is rather lower. In addition, red wine can improve antioxidant to prevent atherosclerosis.

Deep-sea fish
Men also suffer from hyperlipidemia, stroke with lower age because of pressure. A substance called the Omega-3 fatty acids from deep-sea fish may prevent blood coagulation, reduce blood vessel contraction, lower levels of triglyceride. Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel spent fish, pacific saury, grouper, salmon, etc. according to the recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA), you’d better to eat fish at least twice a week.

There is a new psychiatric malady reported in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Dr. Joshua Wolf and Dr. Robert Sato of the Royal Children’s Hospital have documented a case of a “previously unreported phenomenon” which they are calling Climate Change Psychosis. Indeed, it is a name which describes a very serious mental malady.

 

The psychiatric case was described in the Journal as follows; “A 17-year-old man was referred to the inpatient unit at Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne with an eight-month history of depressed mood . He also had visions of apocalyptic events. The patient had developed the belief that, due to climate change, his own water consumption could lead within days to the deaths of millions of people through an exhaustion of water supplies.”

 

This delusional man is being treated with the concern and care of experts. However, Climate Change Psychosis can frequently be found in human behavior worldwide. Take a look again at the described symptoms of this mental affliction. Visions of future global warming apocalyptic events combined with a belief that individual behavior could lead to deaths of millions. How many people do we hear that insist that each of us have to act now to alter global climate change to save our planet from catastrophe over the next few centuries?

 

What else but the malady of Climate Change Psychosis could explain the fact that the United Nations had deluded itself into thinking that there was no longer any scientific disagreement on the cause or outcome of man-made global warming? Their delusion was subsequently exposed to reality when the Petition Project announced that more than 31,000 scientists have signed a statement that reads; “There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth”.

 

Clearly, the malady of Climate Change Psychosis has spread to lawmakers in the state of California. These politicians will forever be known as the standard bearers for a state global warming car labeling law. Beginning with the 2009 model year, each car in the state will be required by law to be labeled with a global warming score.

 

In fact, this global warming labeling law forces every new car put up for sale to display a number on a scale from one to ten. The score is based on how vehicles in the same model year compare to one another. The higher the score, the cleaner a car should be. The score takes into account emissions related to production of fuel for each vehicle as well as the direct emissions from vehicles. The score will be displayed next to the required smog score, which also rates cars from one to ten for how many smog-forming emissions they emit.

 

Meanwhile, climate change psychosis can be found in the most recent publication of New Scientist Magazine. The magazine’s top story argues that that the leading man-made cause of global warming is actually environmentalism; specifically, efforts to improve air quality by reducing pollution. The story argues that cleaning up the aerosols in the air over the last several decades has actually increased the amount of sun reaching the Earth and increased global warming. So, by trying to clean the air, man is actually contributing to global warming and leading to a future global apocalypse.

 

Climate Change Psychosis has now even reached the point of planning for disaster in an overheated future century. This planning stems from a delusion that the world’s melting polar ice caps will raise the level of global oceans by at least three feet in a hundred or more years. In this future global warming apocalypse, the oceans will rise and kill people by the millions along many coastal regions.

 

Of course, there must be an answer to this global warming delusion in a future time and a solution has recently been proposed. It is called the Lily pad City and there is room for 50,000 inhabitants. Based on a design of a Lily pad, Belgian architect, Vincent Callebaut, has designed a city that would float around the world as an independent and fully self-sustainable home.

 

The city would feature a lake at its center to collect and purify rainwater and have artificial mountains to offer the inhabitants a change of scenery from the seascape. The city would be built without any roads or cars, but would be covered by plants housed in suspended gardens.

 

The architect envisions a city that would drift around the world following the ocean currents and streams. Power will be provided through a series of renewable energy sources including solar, thermal, wind energy, hydraulic, and a tidal power station.

 

The city will actually produce much more energy than it consumes and be entirely ‘zero-emission’ as all the carbon-dioxide and the waste will be recycled. The architect has yet to estimate a cost for this floating environmental Shangri-La or account for wind from storms and hurricanes.

 

There are many other examples of Climate Change Psychosis everywhere we look. The truth is that it has become a serious world-wide malady. At least the symptoms have now been identified and given a name. Maybe in the future we can even find a cure.

The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

Throughout history, our planet has gone through major climate fluctuations from relatively warm to relatively cold periods. Climate change is actually not something new in our planet, but today we are experiencing an exceedingly fast change in our climate. Like never before, our oceans are heating up fast, glaciers melting at a much quicker rate, and bizarre diseases spreading like wild fire in all corners of the globe. All these are physical evidences of climate change.

It’s heartbreaking to know that the pristine beaches and magnificent landscape of Maldives may soon be wiped off the planet if climate change is to persist. And it’s even more depressing to know that people in Alaska have to suffer from a year round spruce bark beetle infestation which leaves huge forest areas barren.

So, what’s there to do when it’s our life and home that is threatened? Do we wait for major disasters to annihilate a third of our planet before making a move? Do we still need to do instant people search to determine if it’s time yet to make a move? Whether we like it or not, climate change is here and its effect is coming more and more in focus each year. The call of duty has to be answered today, and not a day later, before the true intensity of climate change is unleashed all over the world.

Unfortunately, there is no single and abrupt action that generates immediate result that will solve the problem. It would take years before the effects of climate change are reversed, that is, if it’s not yet too late. But even the simple and smallest changes that can be done today can already immensely contribute to solving the problem. These can include:

• Reducing energy consumption. Industries are the highest consumers of energy. Perhaps by increasing taxes on fossil fuel, some of these companies would work on reducing their energy consumption.
• Save on electricity. Turn off lights when not used. Replace your bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs as they are brighter and deliver longer bulb life.
• Develop renewable energies such as biofuels, wind turbines, solar heating panels, and geothermal energy.
• Conserve water. Many water resources are destroyed due to global warming. So, make the most of the water we have today. As much as possible reuse water and teach everyone not to waste water.
• Drive electric cars. Gas prices are continuously rising these days, so it would be more practical to drive an electric car. Aside from being fuel efficient and environment friendly, these cars offer the same luxury and convenience traditional cars provide.

There’s no denying climate change is here. Some may even think that the extremely threatening maladies happening today are a prelude to the apocalypse, which by the way remains a prediction until today. So, don’t celebrate yet and expect that the first ones removed from this planet are those with criminal background. If ever apocalypse happens, it will be survival of the fittest. So, let’s heed the call of the environment to free her from prison of total pollution and disorder.

grassland animal husbandry

  Current view: In the global context of climate warming, grassland husbandry changes accordingly. Actively respond to climate change’s adverse impact on grassland animal husbandry, and to develop appropriate strategic task is the focus of future work.

Current Guests: China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment Studies Standard Pan Head

Interviewer: Coming from our reporter Wu Yue

In recent years, climate change has been the focus of attention, because it is the human production and daily life. Similarly, the climate change impact on grassland animal husbandry is also gradually becoming apparent. In the Chinese Meteorological Society 26th Annual Meeting of experts to discuss the meeting, China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment department head Professor Pan Xuebiao on how to deal with climate change on the negative impact of grassland animal husbandry, expressed his views.

  Â

Dry grass warming induced climate change, many problems of animal husbandry

PAN Xue-Biao, said from the northern grassland animal husbandry in recent years, the overall climate change point of view, showing a warming, drying trend, which resulted in the north east of grassland animal husbandry area rainfall reduction ecotone border, southward.

Grassland animal husbandry in northern areas of climate change, a direct result of the grass plant phenological change, and cause many problems. In the background of global warming, the grass plant phenological changes in biomass in space and time differences become larger. Drying and warming climate led to degradation of grassland ecosystems, while decrease of grassland biodiversity, biomass reduction, reduction of coverage, so that speed up the desertification of grassland, or even a source of dust storm. At the same time, reduce the amount of grass growth makes its carrying capacity has decreased, indirectly leading to the herdsmen’s income levels. In addition, some extreme climate events on forage supply and livestock breeding produces a double effect, and may lead to “white disaster” and “Black God” and the increase in dust hazards. “White Disaster,” also known as “white wind”, the weather is called “blowing snow” or “snow storm”, so that nomadic herders and sheep get lost, serious traffic congestion. As the snow covered grass, or snow ice formation ice shell, livestock grazing is difficult clawed through the snow. If insufficient Storing winter will cause animals from cold and hunger, disease death increased. “Black God” refers to the grasslands of northern China in winter little snow or no snow, so that livestock water shortage, disease epidemic, resulting in the phenomenon of large numbers of livestock deaths. “White disaster” and “Black God” is a tremendous impact on the pastoral areas of disaster.

PAN Xue-Biao, said, according to the current phenomenon of serious grassland degradation in northern grassland ecosystems and grassland livestock production safety are under serious threat. Long-term in a northern grassland full load, overload the use of the state, not only broke through the grassland ecosystem function and self-organization of water, soil, bio-recycling mechanism of bottom line, and beyond the use of grassland during the harvest time limit, resulting in grassland degradation rate year after year. Climate change science to the adverse effects of grassland animal husbandry, is imminent.

Developing key strategies to improve ability of farmers to adapt to climate change

PAN Xue-Biao, said to reporters in the long run, development science to adapt to climate change impacts on grassland animal husbandry strategic tasks, to more scientific and effective response to climate change. The task of this strategy, it is necessary for the grassland animal husbandry in itself, but also contains the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate change education.

First, we should insist on grassland livestock production in harmony with the ecological and environmental protection, we should build a new pastoral nomads living standards and promote the same goal of building through the production conditions, grassland management and herd management are combined to reduce the adverse climate change impact. Efforts to coordinate livestock grass balance, reduce the pressure overload grassland, ecologically fragile areas will be adjusted to the amount of livestock carrying capacity of the balance area under the effective protection of the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.

Second, we must adopt scientific management methods and increasing areas of grassland animal husbandry of various adaptation technologies, strengthening the response capacity of animal husbandry and pastoral comprehensive resilience and increase the stability of grassland livestock production, caused by climate change temporal pattern of disasters on the new changes and extreme events.

How will the strategic focus of the task fell to the concrete with reality? Professor Pan Xuebiao introduces several scientific and effective response. Adhere to an appropriate balance between livestock grazing principles, you can take reasonable rotation grazing and seasonal grazing, fencing and grazing, and other measures to reduce the intensity of grazing. By playing in storing, Peng Quan construction work to strengthen pastoral production capacity, improve the capacity of disaster and disaster prevention. Farming combined with full use of crop residues and agricultural areas of direct production of forage in the animal husbandry production.

At the same time, PAN Xue-Biao suggested that government departments should develop pastoral insurance, forage reserves, ecological compensation and related policies to support adaptation to climate change grassland animal husbandry. In a policy context for the guidance, but also to strengthen training and management of grassland for grazing, especially farmers and herdsmen to improve adaptation to climate change awareness and knowledge on climate change publicity and popularity of farmers consciously enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.

Tomato
The acidity in tomato can promote the secretion of gastric juice and help digest proteins. In addition, cells can be combined which can produce collagen and strengthen blood vessels with the function of fruitful vitamin C. Mineral like potassium has the function of lowering blood pressure are abundant.

Soybean
Many people know that soy has plant hormones which are good to women, but few people know that soy is an excellent food for men. For example, Japanese men who often eat soy products have lower probability of suffering from prostate cancer than Western men. What’s more, soybeans can prevent bone loss for men as effective as possible.

Carrot
In the body, B-carotene is changed into vitamin A which can improve the body’s resistance and inhibit reactive oxygen. Besides, because of rich potassium, it helps lower blood pressure and has effect on food fiber to stabilize the digestive system.

Garlic
Garlic has a strong sterilizing power, so it can destroy invading bacteria in vivo. In addition, it provides the absorption of vitamin B1 and promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates to produce energy and reduce fatigue.

Green tea
Green tea is rich in vitamin C which can’t be found in black tea. Vitamin C helps prevent colds and is a nutrient to keep skin beauty. In addition, Green tea is rich in glutamate, aspartic acid and amino acids. Glutamate has the function of anti-aging, aspartic acid can improve the immune system while amino acid is a nourishment.

Red wine
If you have to drink, red wine is your best choice. Antioxidant polyphenols from grape skin in red wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Compared with various wines, Purine, a material can increased the uric acid, in wine is rather lower. In addition, red wine can improve antioxidant to prevent atherosclerosis.

Deep-sea fish
Men also suffer from hyperlipidemia, stroke with lower age because of pressure. A substance called the Omega-3 fatty acids from deep-sea fish may prevent blood coagulation, reduce blood vessel contraction, lower levels of triglyceride. Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel spent fish, pacific saury, grouper, salmon, etc. according to the recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA), you’d better to eat fish at least twice a week.

There is a new psychiatric malady reported in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Dr. Joshua Wolf and Dr. Robert Sato of the Royal Children’s Hospital have documented a case of a “previously unreported phenomenon” which they are calling Climate Change Psychosis. Indeed, it is a name which describes a very serious mental malady.

 

The psychiatric case was described in the Journal as follows; “A 17-year-old man was referred to the inpatient unit at Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne with an eight-month history of depressed mood . He also had visions of apocalyptic events. The patient had developed the belief that, due to climate change, his own water consumption could lead within days to the deaths of millions of people through an exhaustion of water supplies.”

 

This delusional man is being treated with the concern and care of experts. However, Climate Change Psychosis can frequently be found in human behavior worldwide. Take a look again at the described symptoms of this mental affliction. Visions of future global warming apocalyptic events combined with a belief that individual behavior could lead to deaths of millions. How many people do we hear that insist that each of us have to act now to alter global climate change to save our planet from catastrophe over the next few centuries?

 

What else but the malady of Climate Change Psychosis could explain the fact that the United Nations had deluded itself into thinking that there was no longer any scientific disagreement on the cause or outcome of man-made global warming? Their delusion was subsequently exposed to reality when the Petition Project announced that more than 31,000 scientists have signed a statement that reads; “There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth”.

 

Clearly, the malady of Climate Change Psychosis has spread to lawmakers in the state of California. These politicians will forever be known as the standard bearers for a state global warming car labeling law. Beginning with the 2009 model year, each car in the state will be required by law to be labeled with a global warming score.

 

In fact, this global warming labeling law forces every new car put up for sale to display a number on a scale from one to ten. The score is based on how vehicles in the same model year compare to one another. The higher the score, the cleaner a car should be. The score takes into account emissions related to production of fuel for each vehicle as well as the direct emissions from vehicles. The score will be displayed next to the required smog score, which also rates cars from one to ten for how many smog-forming emissions they emit.

 

Meanwhile, climate change psychosis can be found in the most recent publication of New Scientist Magazine. The magazine’s top story argues that that the leading man-made cause of global warming is actually environmentalism; specifically, efforts to improve air quality by reducing pollution. The story argues that cleaning up the aerosols in the air over the last several decades has actually increased the amount of sun reaching the Earth and increased global warming. So, by trying to clean the air, man is actually contributing to global warming and leading to a future global apocalypse.

 

Climate Change Psychosis has now even reached the point of planning for disaster in an overheated future century. This planning stems from a delusion that the world’s melting polar ice caps will raise the level of global oceans by at least three feet in a hundred or more years. In this future global warming apocalypse, the oceans will rise and kill people by the millions along many coastal regions.

 

Of course, there must be an answer to this global warming delusion in a future time and a solution has recently been proposed. It is called the Lily pad City and there is room for 50,000 inhabitants. Based on a design of a Lily pad, Belgian architect, Vincent Callebaut, has designed a city that would float around the world as an independent and fully self-sustainable home.

 

The city would feature a lake at its center to collect and purify rainwater and have artificial mountains to offer the inhabitants a change of scenery from the seascape. The city would be built without any roads or cars, but would be covered by plants housed in suspended gardens.

 

The architect envisions a city that would drift around the world following the ocean currents and streams. Power will be provided through a series of renewable energy sources including solar, thermal, wind energy, hydraulic, and a tidal power station.

 

The city will actually produce much more energy than it consumes and be entirely ‘zero-emission’ as all the carbon-dioxide and the waste will be recycled. The architect has yet to estimate a cost for this floating environmental Shangri-La or account for wind from storms and hurricanes.

 

There are many other examples of Climate Change Psychosis everywhere we look. The truth is that it has become a serious world-wide malady. At least the symptoms have now been identified and given a name. Maybe in the future we can even find a cure.

In the past few years, climate change has emerged as a major development challenge that has potentially severe implications for global peace and security. The target audience for this policy brief is the U.N. General Assembly.

Background

Climate change poses real risks and its effects are already taking place. It is estimated that in 2007, all but one of UN’s emergency appeals for humanitarian aid were climate related. The impacts of climate change include redrawing our coastlines, altering where we can grow food, changing where we can find water, exposing us to more severe droughts or fiercer storms and likely forcing great numbers of people to migrate from their native lands. Climate change will destabilize the economic as well as agricultural base of several countries, particularly the most susceptible developing countries.

In the meantime, warming temperatures are altering the strategic balance in the Arctic Ocean since new shipping routes are being opened up and the gas and oil supplies previously under the ice are being uncovered. Globally, climate change is bound to strain existing mechanisms for resource sharing like migratory fish stocks and trans-boundary rivers. It is evident that climate change carries the potential to aggravate existing tensions, even trigger new ones. For some time now, security academics and analysts have warned that climate change is a threat to water and food security, coastal populations and allocation of resources, threats which could in turn increase forced resettlement, raise tensions and educe conflict (Rodal, 1994).

Essentially, climate change threatens to destabilize governments’ ability to guarantee security and stability. Whereas most of the scientific facts are agreed upon, climate change is still placed low on the priority list of foreign policies, partly because the threat is viewed as abstract and counter measures are too often scantily defined and communicated. Appreciating the security implications of climate change could undoubtedly give new momentum to the climate change agenda.

Analysis

Security organizations saw climate change as an issue lurking somewhere in the horizon, to be monitored and studied. In 2003, the Pentagon commissioned two analysts to consider the repercussions of abrupt climate change for global security (Schwartz & Randall, 2003). The analysts’ paper imagined a future in which global warming resulted in the collapse of the Gulf Stream, pitching Europe into a new ice age and prompting widespread unrest. The global community has since paid more attention to the security effects of climate change.

In 2004, the chief scientist of the British government, Sir David King, proposed that climate change is a far greater threat to the world’s stability than international terrorism (Rees, 2004). Between May 2006 and June 2007, the British Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, deliberately placed ‘climate security’ at the center of British foreign policy during her brief tenure at the Foreign Office. A group of eminent, retired American generals and admirals released a report in 2007 arguing that climate change will double up as a ‘threat multiplier’ which makes present concerns, such as food insecurity and water scarcity more complex and obstinate and presents a real threat to the interests of American national security (Zinni, 2007).

The Council of the European Union has demonstrated leadership, calling for developed nations to reduce emissions of green house gases in the order of 15 to 30 % by 2020.Additionally, the EU Environment Council and the European Parliament have advocated for further reductions of 60 to 80 % by 2050 (Council of the European Union, 2005). In 2005, ETS (EU Emissions Trading Scheme) was launched and the European Union has been actively involved in the post-Montreal discourse on long-term action. In the EU’s renewed sustainable development strategy, climate change has been identified as a major challenge and area for integration.

Recommendations

The active role of the UN in the global climate change negotiations is fundamental and must continue. The UN has demonstrated leadership in international negotiations and with its comprehensive decisions on energy and domestic climate policies. In a changing global political landscape, key emitters and up-coming economies will also have to be involved and commit to a global climate accord under the United Nation framework.

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The daily observation from the Solar & Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) clearly highlights a potential global problem. In 2008, nearly every day of each of the first four months of the year has recorded an observation of sunspot activity that is equal to zero. In fact, there have been only two days in the last four months when there has been any sunspot activity at all and each small event disappeared very quickly.

 

The importance of sunspot inactivity is the continued confirmation that Sunspot Cycle 24 will be very weak or even delayed. The most recent solar minimum was in March of last year. The new cycle, No.24, was supposed to start soon after that, with a predicted gradual build-up in sunspot numbers. It has not yet happened. History would suggest that the longer the delay in cycle activity, the weaker this sunspot cycle will be.

 

Consider that the future implications of this lack of sunspot activity may be enormous. Sunspots can be historically correlated with temperature change on Earth. Weak sunspot activity correlates to colder temperatures on earth. In fact, low sunspot activity in the past has led to decades of extremely cold worldwide temperatures. Indeed, a lack of sunspot activity may already correlate to the global cooling of the planet seen in the last twelve months. Therefore, current sunspot inactivity may predict even more cooling of the Earth’s climate in the years to come.

 

Last year, a dramatic cooling of the planet was measured by all four agencies that track Earth’s temperature (the Hadley Climate Research Unit in Britain, the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, the Christy group at the University of Alabama, and Remote Sensing Systems Inc in California). It is now estimated that the Earth cooled by about 0.7C in 2007 which is the fastest temperature change on record. However, even as the planet was experiencing a dramatic decrease in temperature, the dubious ramifications of the misguided policies of the proponents of global warming could already be seen.

 

 

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world’s poorest countries can expect the cost of imported food to rise by over fifty percent this year. The World Bank estimates that food prices have already risen by 83 percent in the last three years. Already, thirty seven countries face food crises and consequences like malnourishment, starvation, and civil unrest. Riots over the high price of food have recently broken out in Haiti, Egypt, Senegal and more than twenty other countries worldwide.

 

Biofuels are a major reason that the price of food continues to escalate throughout the world according to conclusions from several reports on the current global food crisis. “Globalization, climate change, and the mass production of biofuels are pushing up food prices worldwide, which could jeopardize the livelihoods of the world’s poorest”, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).

 

Similar findings have also been reported by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In addition, these reports estimate that a global temperature increase of more than three degrees Celsius due to global warming could lift food prices by an additional 40 percent.

 

As can be seen in the reports, all the current planning is based solely on a future assumption of global warming. These reports continue to ignore the current low sunspot activity of Solar Cycle 24 and its potential correlation to an immediate future of cooling temperatures on the climate of the Earth.

 

The unfortunate truth is that if the planet continues to cool in the years ahead there will be less total global agriculture and much higher food prices than in these forecasts. A lack of proper planning for global cooling will result in millions of people starving due to a lack of food or from cold-related diseases because the world will not be prepared for the colder climate solution.

 

Consider that the daily report of sunspot activity may well be a signal of a future climate that is much colder than the world currently anticipates. In fact, in the years ahead, the world may even experience the extreme global effect of a mini ice age. Then, the misguided conversion of crops to fuel to save the planet from global warming would truly be catastrophic.

 

Therefore, agricultural and climate planning should include all possible future climate scenarios, both warm and cold. Like treating a sick patient, proper diagnosis of a problem is the first action in facilitating a cure. Science involves experimentation, observation, and hypothesis. It should not be a dogmatic crusade that is closed to debate.

 

Today, it makes little sense to starve the planet in a attempt to save it in the future through the use of biofuels. Tomorrow, it makes even less sense to plan and prepare for global warming if our future reality may require an increased use of fur coats as protection from the increased cold. That is why accurately taking the temperature of global climate change is crucial to the lives of millions of people in the years and decades ahead.

We live in a planet that has become increasingly flooded with synthetic products and market driven consumerist lifestyle. Charming packaged, with stunning advertisements in the media, this synthetic stuff always beckons people from the shelves of malls bazaars and stores, and it treacherously enter our lives. A large percentage of these are things we use at home daily, and may be a cause for cancer and also contribute to global climate change. This adds up to solid waste management problems also. In the past, many of these items of daily use were made at home using plant, animal or mineral extracts available locally. Increasing industrialization and urbanization has made us replace homemade products by factory produced chemically intensive products. As a result of the indiscriminate use of chemicals and energy, there have been serious health and environmental impacts.

It is as a solution to all this that WWF-India,  Kerala has come up with the display and sale of the wide range of eco-friendly products. WWF has tied up with NGOs like Uravu for their Kerala bamboo products and Dry Flower People for their dry flower arrangements. This would also help WWF to raise ‘Capital for Conservation’ towards environment education and awareness programmes and conservation projects for specific species and habitat.

Popularizing the use of these eco-products would lead to carbon offsets and minimize their carbon footprint. By buying such eco-friendly products, you contribute to the great cause of nature conservation which ensures that Planet Earth remains a living one for this generation and for those to come

The increasing demand to make human lives easier has pushed man to create chemicals which can help create products, heat and cool enclosed environment, and innovate technology. Unfortunately, such chemicals bring environmental consequences such as increased atmospheric temperature which lead to unfavorable weather changes, disruption of habitats of living things, and global warming.

As such, the U.S. and international governments are establishing regulations to limit the usage of manmade chemical substances that deplete the ozone layer, have a high global warming potential, or increase the fugitive emissions related to Greenhouse Gases (GHGs).

Refrigerant gas used to run commercial refrigeration units, as well as air-conditioning systems and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, is a chief cause of climate change because it is made up of hydrochlorofluorocarbons and chlorofluorocarbons. These gases contribute to global warming and also deteriorate the ozone layer. Because of the great harm refrigerant gas can cause to the Earth, the United States and many international countries are phasing out its usage, with complete removal by 2015.

Fossil fuels are a major cause of climate change because they lead to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Natural gas, oil and coal used to operate vehicles and generate electricity emit high levels of carbon dioxide, identified as a chief contributor to global warming. Fossil fuels also produce carbon monoxide, methane emissions, nitrous oxide and nitrogen oxides, all substances that impact air quality and global warming.

Scientists have found that methane is a significant cause of climate change. This greenhouse gas is discharged by cows, pigs, horses, sheep and other domesticated animals. Methane gas is also discharged from garbage in landfills, fertilizers, oil drilling and coal mining. In addition, when a gas leak occurs, a high volume of the dangerous chemical is discharged at one time.

Ozone depletion has been found to be a main cause of climate change. It occurs from things we use every day. Commercial refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems all contain harmful gases that continue to destroy the ozone layer. Refrigerant gases like hydcrocholoflurocarbons (HCFCs) and chlorofluorocarbosn (CFCs) are harmful gases but which are used largely for cooling equipment and refrigeration.

There are several factors that are considered a cause of climate change. They include aerosols, land use, animal agriculture, deforestation, and cement manufacturing. To pinpoint measures which can help minimize impacts on global warming, such areas are being studied.

Many types of pollutants are a cause of climate change. Common pollutants are carbon dioxide, methane, black carbon and nitrous oxide. As these chemical pollutants increase, the ozone layer gets depleted, which results to global warming. Scientists warn that global warming can destroy the planet if no action is taken.

Simply put, too much heat stored in the atmosphere is the cause of climate change. The amount of greenhouse gases in the air contributes to atmospheric heat. Increased heat on lands, oceans, and the atmosphere has changed the Earth’s climate. As a result, human, animal, plant and marine life will be severely impacted.

Throughout history, our planet has gone through major climate fluctuations from relatively warm to relatively cold periods. Climate change is actually not something new in our planet, but today we are experiencing an exceedingly fast change in our climate. Like never before, our oceans are heating up fast, glaciers melting at a much quicker rate, and bizarre diseases spreading like wild fire in all corners of the globe. All these are physical evidences of climate change.

It’s heartbreaking to know that the pristine beaches and magnificent landscape of Maldives may soon be wiped off the planet if climate change is to persist. And it’s even more depressing to know that people in Alaska have to suffer from a year round spruce bark beetle infestation which leaves huge forest areas barren.

So, what’s there to do when it’s our life and home that is threatened? Do we wait for major disasters to annihilate a third of our planet before making a move? Do we still need to do instant people search to determine if it’s time yet to make a move? Whether we like it or not, climate change is here and its effect is coming more and more in focus each year. The call of duty has to be answered today, and not a day later, before the true intensity of climate change is unleashed all over the world.

Unfortunately, there is no single and abrupt action that generates immediate result that will solve the problem. It would take years before the effects of climate change are reversed, that is, if it’s not yet too late. But even the simple and smallest changes that can be done today can already immensely contribute to solving the problem. These can include:

• Reducing energy consumption. Industries are the highest consumers of energy. Perhaps by increasing taxes on fossil fuel, some of these companies would work on reducing their energy consumption.
• Save on electricity. Turn off lights when not used. Replace your bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs as they are brighter and deliver longer bulb life.
• Develop renewable energies such as biofuels, wind turbines, solar heating panels, and geothermal energy.
• Conserve water. Many water resources are destroyed due to global warming. So, make the most of the water we have today. As much as possible reuse water and teach everyone not to waste water.
• Drive electric cars. Gas prices are continuously rising these days, so it would be more practical to drive an electric car. Aside from being fuel efficient and environment friendly, these cars offer the same luxury and convenience traditional cars provide.

There’s no denying climate change is here. Some may even think that the extremely threatening maladies happening today are a prelude to the apocalypse, which by the way remains a prediction until today. So, don’t celebrate yet and expect that the first ones removed from this planet are those with criminal background. If ever apocalypse happens, it will be survival of the fittest. So, let’s heed the call of the environment to free her from prison of total pollution and disorder.

grassland animal husbandry

  Current view: In the global context of climate warming, grassland husbandry changes accordingly. Actively respond to climate change’s adverse impact on grassland animal husbandry, and to develop appropriate strategic task is the focus of future work.

Current Guests: China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment Studies Standard Pan Head

Interviewer: Coming from our reporter Wu Yue

In recent years, climate change has been the focus of attention, because it is the human production and daily life. Similarly, the climate change impact on grassland animal husbandry is also gradually becoming apparent. In the Chinese Meteorological Society 26th Annual Meeting of experts to discuss the meeting, China Agricultural University College of Agricultural Meteorology and Environment department head Professor Pan Xuebiao on how to deal with climate change on the negative impact of grassland animal husbandry, expressed his views.

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Dry grass warming induced climate change, many problems of animal husbandry

PAN Xue-Biao, said from the northern grassland animal husbandry in recent years, the overall climate change point of view, showing a warming, drying trend, which resulted in the north east of grassland animal husbandry area rainfall reduction ecotone border, southward.

Grassland animal husbandry in northern areas of climate change, a direct result of the grass plant phenological change, and cause many problems. In the background of global warming, the grass plant phenological changes in biomass in space and time differences become larger. Drying and warming climate led to degradation of grassland ecosystems, while decrease of grassland biodiversity, biomass reduction, reduction of coverage, so that speed up the desertification of grassland, or even a source of dust storm. At the same time, reduce the amount of grass growth makes its carrying capacity has decreased, indirectly leading to the herdsmen’s income levels. In addition, some extreme climate events on forage supply and livestock breeding produces a double effect, and may lead to “white disaster” and “Black God” and the increase in dust hazards. “White Disaster,” also known as “white wind”, the weather is called “blowing snow” or “snow storm”, so that nomadic herders and sheep get lost, serious traffic congestion. As the snow covered grass, or snow ice formation ice shell, livestock grazing is difficult clawed through the snow. If insufficient Storing winter will cause animals from cold and hunger, disease death increased. “Black God” refers to the grasslands of northern China in winter little snow or no snow, so that livestock water shortage, disease epidemic, resulting in the phenomenon of large numbers of livestock deaths. “White disaster” and “Black God” is a tremendous impact on the pastoral areas of disaster.

PAN Xue-Biao, said, according to the current phenomenon of serious grassland degradation in northern grassland ecosystems and grassland livestock production safety are under serious threat. Long-term in a northern grassland full load, overload the use of the state, not only broke through the grassland ecosystem function and self-organization of water, soil, bio-recycling mechanism of bottom line, and beyond the use of grassland during the harvest time limit, resulting in grassland degradation rate year after year. Climate change science to the adverse effects of grassland animal husbandry, is imminent.

Developing key strategies to improve ability of farmers to adapt to climate change

PAN Xue-Biao, said to reporters in the long run, development science to adapt to climate change impacts on grassland animal husbandry strategic tasks, to more scientific and effective response to climate change. The task of this strategy, it is necessary for the grassland animal husbandry in itself, but also contains the capacity of farmers to adapt to climate change education.

First, we should insist on grassland livestock production in harmony with the ecological and environmental protection, we should build a new pastoral nomads living standards and promote the same goal of building through the production conditions, grassland management and herd management are combined to reduce the adverse climate change impact. Efforts to coordinate livestock grass balance, reduce the pressure overload grassland, ecologically fragile areas will be adjusted to the amount of livestock carrying capacity of the balance area under the effective protection of the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.

Second, we must adopt scientific management methods and increasing areas of grassland animal husbandry of various adaptation technologies, strengthening the response capacity of animal husbandry and pastoral comprehensive resilience and increase the stability of grassland livestock production, caused by climate change temporal pattern of disasters on the new changes and extreme events.

How will the strategic focus of the task fell to the concrete with reality? Professor Pan Xuebiao introduces several scientific and effective response. Adhere to an appropriate balance between livestock grazing principles, you can take reasonable rotation grazing and seasonal grazing, fencing and grazing, and other measures to reduce the intensity of grazing. By playing in storing, Peng Quan construction work to strengthen pastoral production capacity, improve the capacity of disaster and disaster prevention. Farming combined with full use of crop residues and agricultural areas of direct production of forage in the animal husbandry production.

At the same time, PAN Xue-Biao suggested that government departments should develop pastoral insurance, forage reserves, ecological compensation and related policies to support adaptation to climate change grassland animal husbandry. In a policy context for the guidance, but also to strengthen training and management of grassland for grazing, especially farmers and herdsmen to improve adaptation to climate change awareness and knowledge on climate change publicity and popularity of farmers consciously enhance the ability to adapt to climate change.

Tomato
The acidity in tomato can promote the secretion of gastric juice and help digest proteins. In addition, cells can be combined which can produce collagen and strengthen blood vessels with the function of fruitful vitamin C. Mineral like potassium has the function of lowering blood pressure are abundant.

Soybean
Many people know that soy has plant hormones which are good to women, but few people know that soy is an excellent food for men. For example, Japanese men who often eat soy products have lower probability of suffering from prostate cancer than Western men. What’s more, soybeans can prevent bone loss for men as effective as possible.

Carrot
In the body, B-carotene is changed into vitamin A which can improve the body’s resistance and inhibit reactive oxygen. Besides, because of rich potassium, it helps lower blood pressure and has effect on food fiber to stabilize the digestive system.

Garlic
Garlic has a strong sterilizing power, so it can destroy invading bacteria in vivo. In addition, it provides the absorption of vitamin B1 and promotes the metabolism of carbohydrates to produce energy and reduce fatigue.

Green tea
Green tea is rich in vitamin C which can’t be found in black tea. Vitamin C helps prevent colds and is a nutrient to keep skin beauty. In addition, Green tea is rich in glutamate, aspartic acid and amino acids. Glutamate has the function of anti-aging, aspartic acid can improve the immune system while amino acid is a nourishment.

Red wine
If you have to drink, red wine is your best choice. Antioxidant polyphenols from grape skin in red wine can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Compared with various wines, Purine, a material can increased the uric acid, in wine is rather lower. In addition, red wine can improve antioxidant to prevent atherosclerosis.

Deep-sea fish
Men also suffer from hyperlipidemia, stroke with lower age because of pressure. A substance called the Omega-3 fatty acids from deep-sea fish may prevent blood coagulation, reduce blood vessel contraction, lower levels of triglyceride. Fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel spent fish, pacific saury, grouper, salmon, etc. according to the recommendations from the American Heart Association (AHA), you’d better to eat fish at least twice a week.

There is a new psychiatric malady reported in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Dr. Joshua Wolf and Dr. Robert Sato of the Royal Children’s Hospital have documented a case of a “previously unreported phenomenon” which they are calling Climate Change Psychosis. Indeed, it is a name which describes a very serious mental malady.

 

The psychiatric case was described in the Journal as follows; “A 17-year-old man was referred to the inpatient unit at Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne with an eight-month history of depressed mood . He also had visions of apocalyptic events. The patient had developed the belief that, due to climate change, his own water consumption could lead within days to the deaths of millions of people through an exhaustion of water supplies.”

 

This delusional man is being treated with the concern and care of experts. However, Climate Change Psychosis can frequently be found in human behavior worldwide. Take a look again at the described symptoms of this mental affliction. Visions of future global warming apocalyptic events combined with a belief that individual behavior could lead to deaths of millions. How many people do we hear that insist that each of us have to act now to alter global climate change to save our planet from catastrophe over the next few centuries?

 

What else but the malady of Climate Change Psychosis could explain the fact that the United Nations had deluded itself into thinking that there was no longer any scientific disagreement on the cause or outcome of man-made global warming? Their delusion was subsequently exposed to reality when the Petition Project announced that more than 31,000 scientists have signed a statement that reads; “There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gasses is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth”.

 

Clearly, the malady of Climate Change Psychosis has spread to lawmakers in the state of California. These politicians will forever be known as the standard bearers for a state global warming car labeling law. Beginning with the 2009 model year, each car in the state will be required by law to be labeled with a global warming score.

 

In fact, this global warming labeling law forces every new car put up for sale to display a number on a scale from one to ten. The score is based on how vehicles in the same model year compare to one another. The higher the score, the cleaner a car should be. The score takes into account emissions related to production of fuel for each vehicle as well as the direct emissions from vehicles. The score will be displayed next to the required smog score, which also rates cars from one to ten for how many smog-forming emissions they emit.

 

Meanwhile, climate change psychosis can be found in the most recent publication of New Scientist Magazine. The magazine’s top story argues that that the leading man-made cause of global warming is actually environmentalism; specifically, efforts to improve air quality by reducing pollution. The story argues that cleaning up the aerosols in the air over the last several decades has actually increased the amount of sun reaching the Earth and increased global warming. So, by trying to clean the air, man is actually contributing to global warming and leading to a future global apocalypse.

 

Climate Change Psychosis has now even reached the point of planning for disaster in an overheated future century. This planning stems from a delusion that the world’s melting polar ice caps will raise the level of global oceans by at least three feet in a hundred or more years. In this future global warming apocalypse, the oceans will rise and kill people by the millions along many coastal regions.

 

Of course, there must be an answer to this global warming delusion in a future time and a solution has recently been proposed. It is called the Lily pad City and there is room for 50,000 inhabitants. Based on a design of a Lily pad, Belgian architect, Vincent Callebaut, has designed a city that would float around the world as an independent and fully self-sustainable home.

 

The city would feature a lake at its center to collect and purify rainwater and have artificial mountains to offer the inhabitants a change of scenery from the seascape. The city would be built without any roads or cars, but would be covered by plants housed in suspended gardens.

 

The architect envisions a city that would drift around the world following the ocean currents and streams. Power will be provided through a series of renewable energy sources including solar, thermal, wind energy, hydraulic, and a tidal power station.

 

The city will actually produce much more energy than it consumes and be entirely ‘zero-emission’ as all the carbon-dioxide and the waste will be recycled. The architect has yet to estimate a cost for this floating environmental Shangri-La or account for wind from storms and hurricanes.

 

There are many other examples of Climate Change Psychosis everywhere we look. The truth is that it has become a serious world-wide malady. At least the symptoms have now been identified and given a name. Maybe in the future we can even find a cure.

In the past few years, climate change has emerged as a major development challenge that has potentially severe implications for global peace and security. The target audience for this policy brief is the U.N. General Assembly.

Background

Climate change poses real risks and its effects are already taking place. It is estimated that in 2007, all but one of UN’s emergency appeals for humanitarian aid were climate related. The impacts of climate change include redrawing our coastlines, altering where we can grow food, changing where we can find water, exposing us to more severe droughts or fiercer storms and likely forcing great numbers of people to migrate from their native lands. Climate change will destabilize the economic as well as agricultural base of several countries, particularly the most susceptible developing countries.

In the meantime, warming temperatures are altering the strategic balance in the Arctic Ocean since new shipping routes are being opened up and the gas and oil supplies previously under the ice are being uncovered. Globally, climate change is bound to strain existing mechanisms for resource sharing like migratory fish stocks and trans-boundary rivers. It is evident that climate change carries the potential to aggravate existing tensions, even trigger new ones. For some time now, security academics and analysts have warned that climate change is a threat to water and food security, coastal populations and allocation of resources, threats which could in turn increase forced resettlement, raise tensions and educe conflict (Rodal, 1994).

Essentially, climate change threatens to destabilize governments’ ability to guarantee security and stability. Whereas most of the scientific facts are agreed upon, climate change is still placed low on the priority list of foreign policies, partly because the threat is viewed as abstract and counter measures are too often scantily defined and communicated. Appreciating the security implications of climate change could undoubtedly give new momentum to the climate change agenda.

Analysis

Security organizations saw climate change as an issue lurking somewhere in the horizon, to be monitored and studied. In 2003, the Pentagon commissioned two analysts to consider the repercussions of abrupt climate change for global security (Schwartz & Randall, 2003). The analysts’ paper imagined a future in which global warming resulted in the collapse of the Gulf Stream, pitching Europe into a new ice age and prompting widespread unrest. The global community has since paid more attention to the security effects of climate change.

In 2004, the chief scientist of the British government, Sir David King, proposed that climate change is a far greater threat to the world’s stability than international terrorism (Rees, 2004). Between May 2006 and June 2007, the British Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett, deliberately placed ‘climate security’ at the center of British foreign policy during her brief tenure at the Foreign Office. A group of eminent, retired American generals and admirals released a report in 2007 arguing that climate change will double up as a ‘threat multiplier’ which makes present concerns, such as food insecurity and water scarcity more complex and obstinate and presents a real threat to the interests of American national security (Zinni, 2007).

The Council of the European Union has demonstrated leadership, calling for developed nations to reduce emissions of green house gases in the order of 15 to 30 % by 2020.Additionally, the EU Environment Council and the European Parliament have advocated for further reductions of 60 to 80 % by 2050 (Council of the European Union, 2005). In 2005, ETS (EU Emissions Trading Scheme) was launched and the European Union has been actively involved in the post-Montreal discourse on long-term action. In the EU’s renewed sustainable development strategy, climate change has been identified as a major challenge and area for integration.

Recommendations

The active role of the UN in the global climate change negotiations is fundamental and must continue. The UN has demonstrated leadership in international negotiations and with its comprehensive decisions on energy and domestic climate policies. In a changing global political landscape, key emitters and up-coming economies will also have to be involved and commit to a global climate accord under the United Nation framework.

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The simplest explanation is that global warming is climate change in one direction. Specifically it is where net energy in the atmospheric system has increased sufficiently for a measurable warming. More energy in the system means that in many parts of the world it gets hotter.

One way that the Earth gets hotter is due to an increase in the atmosphere of gases that result in the greenhouse effect. The brief explanation of the greenhouse effect is that the wavelength of energy arriving on the Earth’s surface through the atmosphere is shorter than that reflected back towards space – a simple law of physics. Some gases in the atmosphere let the shorter waves through but block the longer wavelengths, so the energy is bounced back down to Earth, trapped, effectively heating things up.

In the absence of the greenhouse effect mother Earth would be frigid and the planet’s surface too cold for water to be liquid. The logic of this important phenomenon is that warming will happen when the concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase.

And this is where the confusion comes because we have attributed the current warming trend to a specific cause – us.

But climate can also cool. This is because there can be a reduction in the net energy balance. During periods of lower atmospheric energy in the geological past, the surface if the Earth has been much cooler than the present. These periods were so cold that we called them ice ages, and there have been lots of them, some short, others long and intense.

So climate change means any change in climate conditions, warmer or colder. Global warming is a directional shift to a more energetic, hotter and more dynamic atmosphere. It is a phase of global warming that the scientific data suggest we are experiencing now.

This is the explanation of the physical phenomenon, the objective one used by the scientists.

The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), made up of scientists, defines the phenomenon as coming from any cause, human or natural. This carries the implication that the world might cool as readily as it might warm up – an understandable assumption given the scientific evidence and the definitions we are given by the scientists.

Politicians are less precise with their rhetoric. Their policy statements tend to confound the scientific explanation.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the forum for the politicians, defines the phenomenon as attributed solely to human causes. The implication is that the world will warm and this warming is because of human actions.

However, during the first term of the George W Bush administration, politicians, commentators and, increasingly the media, dropped the term global warming in favor of climate change.

Why? Well that depends on how cynical you want to be. And how cynical depends on whether you think that the global climate change we are experiencing is due to human action or is just part of the normal scheme of events on a dynamic Earth.

The important thing is to realize that, be it objective fact, concept or fanciful idea, climate can get warmer and it can get colder. It can get wetter or drier; more stormy or calmer; more predictable or more uncertain. And all of these are aspects of climate change that usually do have many, often interacting causes.

The politicians and their spin-doctors were clever. They dropped global warming in favor of climate change when they realized that the consensus view of global warming held the anthropogenic label. Better for them to widen the discourse, otherwise they would be forced by public pressure to try to do something about the warming, actions that would be costly and difficult to agree on. They dropped global warming for the more general and, they thought, less contentious term climate change.

So instead they began to add an adjective and began talking of dangerous climate change or catastrophic climate change… and that is another story.

Interestingly we were not fooled. Currently there are over 3x more Google searches for global warming than there are for climate change. Most of us have understood that the current change in climate is a warming one.

J. Mark Dangerfield, PhD is a scientist, consultant and educator. If you would like more ideas that will sharpen your thinking and help you feel good about the world, grab a copy of his book ‘Awkward news for Greenies and everyone else’ at http://www.createspace.com/3379619

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