climate change

Champions of Earth

Topics: Climate and Environment
Countries: Sudan

April 22 marks the 38th celebration of Earth Day. In honor of the day, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) is presenting its Champions of Earth award. In 2004, the UNEP established the international environment award to celebrate the contributions of "individuals from every region of the world that have shown extraordinary leadership on environmental issues."

The UNEP is recognizing Dr. Balgis Osman-Elasha, a leading climate change researcher from Sudan. Dr. Balgis Osman-Elasha is considered to be at the forefront of climate change research and is a leading author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Dr. Osman-Elasha is seen by many as a role model for African women. She uses her knowledge and leadership skills to advance understanding of climate change and educate university students in Sudan about the impact and implications of climate change. She is changing the world, and starting at home.

From the Archives

China/EU Alliance 'Could Be Key to Low-carbon Energy'

Topics: Energy and Oil, Climate and Environment
Countries: China
Previously filed under: Asia, Environment
A recent report indicates that China and the EU can and should meet future energy demands in a sustainable and cooperative fashion.

Choking on Growth

The New York Times is producing a fascinating series of articles and multimedia examining the human toll, global impact and political challenge of China's epic pollution crisis.

From the Archives

Can Crops be Climate-Proofed?

Previously filed under: South America, Agriculture
Climate change threatens food crops across the world. Now scientists are re-focusing their efforts on crop resilience, rather than yields.

Little Countries Speak Up on Climate Change

December's United Nations climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia could have ended in a logjam of indecision until Kevin Conrad, spokesperson for Papua New Guinea, took the floor challenging the United States to take the lead or get out of the way. In a recent interview, Conrad explains why the success of this agreement is vital to smaller countries like Papua New Guinea:

“I think collectively we as humanity have become more mature in this climate battle, and we understand collectively that we’ve got to turn off all the emissions sources in order to win,” he said. “The climate doesn’t know whether it came from a factory or from Papua New Guinea’s deforestation. We’ve really got to get all hands on deck and tackle all of the issues.”

Mr. Conrad said the potential breakdown in the session’s final hours was particularly vexing to him because New Guinea and other forested tropical countries were finally getting attention for a proposal of payments by rich countries for preserving tropical forests. Deforestation currently contributes about a fifth of carbon dioxide emissions worldwide.

He said the rich-poor divide in the talks, which crystallized in the final clash in Bali, is a distraction from the reality that all countries have agreed, by the end of 2009, to do something new: define a threshold for greenhouse gases beyond which the world will not go.

Mr. Conrad's willingness to stand up for his cause will hopefully have positive results in furthering global cooperation on vital climate change issues, but in the very least, his willingness to speak out has brought greater heed to his country’s situation.

From the Archives

Humanitarian Cost of Climate Change Understated

Previously filed under: Environment
Natural disasters are becoming more frequent as badly needed emergency funding is stretched thin.

From the Archives

Climate Change Resources

Previously filed under: South America, Environment
As we become increasingly aware of our potential to harm the environment, learn more about how you can make a positive change.

From the Archives

Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to Al Gore and UN Climate Body

Previously filed under: North America, Environment
The 2007 prize was awarded for extraordinary efforts to build awareness about man-made climate change and measures needed to counteract it.

From the Archives

China's Eco-Entrepreneurs

Topics: Climate and Environment
Countries: China
Previously filed under: Asia, Environment
China makes progress towards promoting innovative and sustainable environmental solutions.

From the Archives

Offsets, the Indulgences of Today?

Previously filed under: North America, Environment
Carbon offsets seem like an ideal solution to balancing carbon footprints; however, they may not be as wonderful as they sound.

From the Archives

Communities Come Together to Protect Water Sources

Countries: Kenya
Previously filed under: Africa, Environment
Kenya's Nanyuki River is drying up, and thousands of Kenyans who rely on it are working together to learn how to reverse this process.

From the Archives

Africa Cannot Turn a Blind Eye to Climate Change

Previously filed under: Africa, Opinions and Editorials
African leaders need to stop ignoring climate change and incorporate mitigation and adaptation policies into their development projects.

From the Archives

Climate Change and Malaria

Topics: Health
Countries: Kenya
Previously filed under: Africa, Health
The resurgence of malaria in African cities and highland regions has become important in debates about health and climate change.

From the Archives

Thawing Arctic's Resource Race

Topics: Climate and Environment
Previously filed under: North America, Environment
Due to the effects of global climate change, the Arctic has become a territorial issue for those seeking to claim its resources.

From the Archives

Africa Faces Global Warming

Previously filed under: Africa, Environment
African countries need more scientific data to create successful adaptation strategies to climate change.

Breaking News

Zimbabwe: Irony of Rich Farmers Without Cash

All Africa - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 13:16
ZIMBABWE'S tobacco farmers are having cash problems. They have so much money in their pockets, but cannot buy what they need because it is in the form of cheques.

Ghana: Fisheries Act Forbids Foreign Vessels From Fishing

All Africa - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 12:22
The Ministry of Fisheries has denied allegations by a group, called the Joint Action Against Pair Trawling (JAAPT) that foreign vessels have invaded Ghana's fishing industry and all vessels plying the coastal areas of the country are engaged in pair trawling activities. It says the allegations are simply untrue.

Surplus Rice in Japan 'Could End Rice Crisis'

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 19:44
Selling excess rice held in Japan and imported from the United States would incite a rapid drop in the global price of rice but requires immediate action from Tokyo and Washington, write former editor of The Rice Trader, Tom Slayton, and policy analyst, Peter Timmer.

Half in Ten

OneWorld Daily Headlines - Fri, 05/16/2008 - 19:44
Four prominent American social justice groups are launching a campaign to halve poverty in the United States in 10 years.

Myanmar Farmers May Miss Harvest

New York Times - Thu, 05/15/2008 - 21:34
The timing of Cyclone Nargis, which disrupted farmers as they were preparing to plant, could not have been worse.

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