Leading climate change scientist, Professor Chris Field has announced that the severity of global warming over the next century will be well beyond anything predicted.
Field, a senior member of the Nobel-prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC), revealed his findings at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Chicago on Saturday. He told the attendees that IPCC’s previous report on climate change in 2007 (of which he was co-author) had substantially underestimated the rate of global warming and the extent of the problem.
"We are basically looking now at a future climate that is beyond anything that we've considered seriously in climate policy," he said.
Increases in greenhouse gas emissions from 2000-2007 have accelerated more rapidly than forecast “primarily because developing countries, like China and India, increased their electric power generation, by burning more coal” he said. This means that temperatures rises could exceed 6.4 o
The temperature rises could cause large scale melting of permafrost in the Arctic and dry out tropical forests enough for wildfires to breakout. This would dramatically increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and have potentially devastating consequences for the global climate.
"Without effective action, climate change is going to be larger and more difficult to deal with than we thought," Field warned.
Read more about this story on the BBC news website and the Guardian news website
Monday, 16 February 2009
Severity of Global Warming Underestimated
Return of Set-Aside Schemes for Farmers
Environment secretary, Hilary Benn has announced new proposals to bring back payments for farmers who set aside areas of uncultivated land to promote biodiversity and environmental benefits.
The system of subsiding farmers for setting-aside areas of land from agricultural production was introduced in the 1980’s in order to curtail over-production, which had generated food surpluses and caused a dramatic reduction in some commodity prices.
The scheme was effectively abolished by the European Commission in 2008 after harvests were devastated by extensive flooding and global food prices began to soar. Environmental groups and conservationists did not welcome the decision as the uncultivated land provided a vital source of food and refuge for wildlife in agricultural landscapes, especially birds.
In a speech to the National Farmers' Union conference in Birmingham later today, Benn is expected to propose two possible options; a mandatory scheme requiring a minimum area land to be set aside with incentives to expand, and an entirely voluntary scheme. A decision is expected in the summer.
"I welcome the idea of a voluntary scheme, led by the industry, if we can be sure that it will deliver," he is expected to say.
Read more about this issue on the Guardian news website
Updates on the NFU conference can be found here
All Party Parliamentary Environment Group Discuss the Climate Change Act
The BES Policy Team recently attended an All Party Parliamentary Environment Group meeting at the House of Commons to discuss the Climate Change Act and the potential implications of its key provisions on economy and society in the UK.
Guest speaker Joan Ruddock (Labour MP) started off the session by describing the Climate Change Act as ‘ground breaking legislation’ that would contribute to the search for a global agreement on reducing emissions. She reviewed the key provisions of the Act and acknowledged that the Cap and Trade system, due to be enforced next year, is likely to be the most effective strategy for reducing C02 emissions in the UK. It is hoped that more schemes will be included in the system and that Cap and Trade strategies alone will save the UK 4 million tonnes of carbon each year by the year 2020.
Gathered from the discussion, participants were calling for the following:
• The need for the Government to begin to take action at the ground level to increase the energy efficiency of existing building stock, for example, provide a framework and budget for the installation of double glazing and insulation in existing buildings;
• A recognition that a global agreement on emission trading is essential; there are fears that European countries may be placed at a competitive disadvantage if they are the only ones required to have a cap and trade on emissions;
• The need for the public to have a more realistic understanding about the size and impact of their carbon footprint and how they can minimise it;
• The need to make public transport more attractive to the community and reduce dependency on private cars.
Participants also voiced concerns about whether it was sensible to press ahead with plans to build a third runway at Heathrow, considering the Government’s commitment to include emissions arising from the aviation industry in reduction targets. Ruddock empathised but argued that it was crucial for the economy to maintain a hub at Heathrow to prevent the UK from being out-competed by other EU members. It was stressed that this was not a decision that had been taken lightly and would be subject to constant scrutiny.
Ruddock concluded her lecture by stating that she intended the December international agreement in Copenhagen to be a ‘negotiation of substance’. The Climate Change Act should ensure that the mechanisms to create a low carbon economy will be in place in the UK by the time these talks commence. It is hoped that this will enable the UK play a big part in the discussions and that UK legislation will provide a ‘blue print for other countries to emulate’ when tacking the difficulties of climate change.
Friday, 13 February 2009
Vacancy for Science to Policy Liaison Officer at QUEST
QUEST have a vacancy for a Science to Policy Liaison Officer at their headquarters in Bristol. This post is offered as a part time (two days per week) secondment until September 2010.
QUEST (Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System) is a multidisciplinary £23M programme of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It brings together UK scientists working in a wide range of disciplines to answer policy relevant questions on the global environment. For example: How are atmospheric composition and climate naturally regulated? To stabilise climate, how much greenhouse gasses can be emitted and when? How much climate change is dangerous (risk analysis, vulnerability of ecosystem services)? What are the biological options for reducing climate change (avoided deforestation, forestry and bioenergy) and their sustainability?
The ideal candidate will be either:
- Policy person already working within a government agency, other policy institution or NGO (e.g. Defra, DECC, DfID, Environment Agency, WWF) with a science background or good scientific understanding.
- A post-doctoral researcher in the environment or climate change field with strong experience working on policy interface.
Level of experience: equivalent to 3 to 10 years post-doctoral or agency work, PhD not necessary, experience more important. The post will require mobility, familiarity with the workings of government and ideally good personal links across it, excellent written skills, excellent networking abilities, good organisational skills and the ability to work in a team.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
IUCN Consider Successor to Biodiversity 2010 Target
The BES Policy Team yesterday attended an international conference in Brussels, to explore the successor to the target to 'halt biodiversity loss by 2010'. Organised by Countdown 2010, the meeting brought together representatives from the European Parliament, NGOs, learned societies, European agencies and academics to consider whether the 2010 target would be reached, including how to build on successes and mitigate potential failures in policy.
Stavros Dimas, European Commissioner for the Environment, was frank in acknowledging that the target would not be met. However, speakers and participants recognised that the existence of a target has spurred on the development of policy, and led to actions which would not otherwise have occurred. Developing a successor to the target was therefore acknowledged as a vital next step.
The 2010 biodiversity target 'had teeth'; this was the prevailing view of the audience. The Birds and Habitats Directives had provided core, useful components to allow member states to take steps towards addressing biodiversity loss. The Natura 2000 network should also be recognised as taking steps towards success. However, there was general recognition that more needed to be done, and that a successor to the target should be far broader.
Gathered from discussion during the day, participants were broadly calling for the target to possess the following, post-2010:
- a broader focus, incorporating ecosystem services and encouraging an ecosystem-wide approach to biodiversity conservation.
- to include sub-targets to assess progress on the way to achieving the overall goal by 2020 or 2025.
- to take into account the unique conservation needs, incredible biodiversity, and incredible challenges, faced by the Overseas Territories.
- a recognition that EU-wide policy is important, but that implementation should be sensitive to local needs and conditions.
Ladislav Miko, Director of 'Protecting the Natural Environment' at DG Environment, stressed that although the European Commission had its own ideas about the successor to the 2010 target, the target would be developed through stakeholder engagement. He called on NGOs, individual ecologists, economists and others, to participate in the development of the target over the coming months. It was hoped that a successor to the target could be introduced in the first half of 2010.
The BES is working with the IEEM to deliver a reception in the UK parliament in October 2009, exploring the 2010 biodiversity target, and successor, from a UK perspective. If you would like more information, please contact Policy@BritishEcologicalSociety.org.
Happy Birthday Darwin!
Today marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, naturalist and the 'father' of modern evolutionary theory. 2009 also sees the 15oth anniversary of the publication of 'On the Origin of Species', Darwin's seminal work, setting out his exploration of evolution by the process of natural selection.
Celebrating Darwin's achievements, his detailed observations of animals and plants through his voyage on the Beagle and the crystallisation of the theory of evolution on his return to England, should give us pause to consider the situation which the organisms which he so carefully examined, collected and recorded, now find themselves. Conservationists have warned, reported the BBC this morning, that the Galapagos face irreparable damage if tourism to the islands is not curbed. The number of visitors to the Galapagos has quadrupled over the past 20 years, threatening established organisms through the transport of invasive alien species, including the pervasive fire ant, which threatens birds and tortoises, and a species of parasitic fly.
Speaking to the BBC, the director of the Galapagos National Park, Edgar Munoz, acknowledges the challenge but says the Ecuadorian government's actions will tackle the problem. He is hopeful that the threat can be reduced within the next '50 years'. Conservationists have expressed concern however that tackling these insects will not be easy.
Along with many others organising festivals and events around the country to mark these important anniversaries, the BES is celebrating Darwin's life and work by staging two productions of 'Re:Design', a play commissioned by the Darwin Correspondence Project, written by the playwright Craig Baxter, and performed by the Menagerie theatre company in Cambridge. You will be able to see 'Re:Design' either at our Annual Meeting (9 September) or at the British Science Festival (5 September - tbc).
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Scotland Launch Grey Squirrel Cull
A nationally co-ordinated programme has been launched in an attempt to save Scotland’s red squirrel. The £1.3m project will develop habitats in which the red squirrel can thrive, but will also attempt to control the grey population by trapping and killing them.
To achieve this, a "red squirrel protection line" has been drawn across Scotland, stretching south-east from Montrose on the North Sea to Inveraray on the west coast. All grey squirrels caught north of this line will be culled. It is expected that many tens and thousands of greys will be killed, making this the largest mammal cull in the UK.
The number of British red squirrels has been declining since grey squirrels arrived from North America in the 19th Century. The larger and stronger greys easily out-compete reds for food and habitat and also carry squirrelpox; a virus which is harmless to greys but generally lethal in reds.
It is estimated that a mere 160,000 red squirrels are left in Britain - 75% of which live in Scotland - compared to approximately 3.3m greys.
Stuart Brooks, the SWT conservation director, told the guardian that unless concerted action is taken, reds could be extinct on mainland Britain within 30 years.
The project has received criticism from animal campaign organisations such as Advocates for Animals, who feel that the protection of the red squirrel should not come at the greys' expense, and should be achieved through effective habitat management and the development of a squirrelpox vaccine. However, this could take decades to take effect, by which time, many fear, there may be no red squirrels left to protect.
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