Climate Change
Global Warming: How is it Calculated its Impact?
The fact that a collapse of civilization be no possibility unlikely, and therefore fit that in the not too distant future, instead of arguing about the feet of beach lost in the tourist areas, or about the costs marginal increase in elderly deaths from heat waves, we are estimating how many small groups of hunter-gatherers, they managed to survive in the steppes of a Europe devastated and impoverished, the fact that such a collapse is possible should be sufficient to promote policies ambitious to fight climate change. We can not continue to bury our heads in the sand and postponing the effective action: time is running out.
Some of the major disagreements have to do with the procedures used by economic analysts in translating biophysical to socioeconomic impacts. Regarding the problem of vast implications of global warming, reappear difficult scientific issues that have fueled heated debates between the orthodox economic establishment on the one hand, and secondly the new prospects opened up by the green economy (and in part by the environmental economics) over the past decades. A way of targeting the underlying problem is that suggested by Francisco Javier Rubio de Urquia: “While we continue using models limited, almost exclusively, the cost analysis of the quantitative level, we are not able to have a more comprehensive view that allows us to properly assess costs and qualitative benefits, for example, derived from the burden borne by the nature and the services it provides. The mere thought that technological progress and market forces are sufficient to alleviate environmental problems under pricing evidence, if not contempt, which has been nature. Believe that we act as if we self-sufficient and, thanks to technology, we are able to cater for all goods and services it provides, and which are vital to our existence, only reflects a high dose of arrogance and over not less than ignorance.”
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Global Campaign for Climate Justice Demand
International negotiations on climate change is one of the areas that require concerted efforts. Several organizations have worked collectively in a call for a global campaign for climate justice, from now on to Durban and beyond. We invite everyone to join this global campaign and to sign the call as an expression of their commitment.
We are movements and organizations engaged in numerous struggles for a new world, a world in which the needs, interests, rights and aspirations of all peoples have priority over the profit of corporations and the excesses of the elite. In the year ahead, our solidarity and collective action are extremely crucial. Climate change is already devastating impacts globally and is accelerating. The margin that we have to prevent rupture occurring in critical situations and to stop climate catastrophe is shrinking rapidly.
Climate change is much more than a multiplication of the sufferings of people already overwhelmed by the injustice of hunger, dispossession and violation of human rights. It is a crisis also threatens to wipe out vast populations and profoundly change life on Earth. We must act with clarity, cohesion and courage if we are to stabilize the climate system on the planet and ensure a just and sustainable world.
Like other global crises, climate change arises mainly from economic and social structures historically unequal, practices and policies pursued by rich countries, industrialized, and production and consumption systems that sacrifice the needs of most interest in terms of a minority. Affected peoples of the world have very little responsibility for the climate crisis, yet suffer its worst effects and lack the means to respond to it.
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Failure of Negotiations in Durban, Accelerates the Onset of Climate Catastrophe
The climate negotiations that culminated in the UN on December 11 in Durban were a failure to further undermine the multilateral system defective and inadequate it is supposed to help address the climate crisis, said Friends of the Earth International.
Developed countries resorted to rhetorical tricks rather than acting, not pledged to cut emissions dramatically, something that is sorely needed, and fell on previous commitments to solve the climate crisis.
The outcome of the negotiations in Durban, classified by some as a setback, actually meant:
- There was no breakthrough in fair and binding actions to reduce emissions.
- There were no developments in the climate fund, which is urgently needed.
- Increased the likelihood of further expansion of the false solutions like carbon trading.
- The destruction of legally binding international framework for action to achieve climate on the basis of science and equity.
Although developing countries resisted the destructive proposals on the table in Durban, Durban final outcome involves:
1. A new “Durban Platform” which will take a decade for climate action – Instead of implementing the existing roadmap, ambitious and fair agreed in Bali four years ago in Durban, a new process was agreed to launch negotiations for a new treaty.
2. A considerable weakening of the Kyoto Protocol – The Kyoto Protocol is the only legally binding international framework that developed countries reduce their emissions. These countries are responsible for 75% of emissions in the atmosphere, despite being home to only 15% of the population. The second commitment period of Kyoto Protocol has not been formally agreed and only covers the European Union and some other developed countries.
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Climate Change Favors the Exploitation of Oil, Minerals and Diamonds in the Arctic
Several conflicts are generated in the seas today, after searching for new sources of energy resources, and now it was the turn of the cold Arctic waters.
Although the scenario becomes more bleak and dividends for decades with little interest, has unleashed the black gold fever frozen, after thawing due to global warming and the revelation of the Geological Survey of the United States, that there is the 25 percent of the hydrocarbons to be discovered on the planet.
According to the study, the Arctic, where territorially converge United States, Russia, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland has the second largest reserve of oil, behind only those of Zagros, Iran.
From the shores of Greenland could extract about 45 billion barrels of oil, a figure that would supply global consumption for a year and a half, plus minerals and diamonds becoming more affordable.
“The paradox is that climate change favors Arctic exploration. The oil companies do believe in climate change,” says Mariano Marzo, Professor of Energy at the University of Barcelona, before the advance of new niche.
On August 16 the Arctic ice last occupied 5.95 million square kilometers, 22 percent less than the average for 1979-2000, according to Ice Data Center and U.S. Snow.
That amount was the lowest figure since satellite measurements began in 1979. In one of the glaciers in the region fell off a plate that doubles in size to the city of Barcelona this pace may confirm scientists’ predictions that there could melt all the ice in the summer of 2070, as proof of its high sensitivity face of rising global temperatures.
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