Climate change talks – more hot air?

Even with the media’s ever-growing interest, the last week has proved yet again that getting world leaders to agree - even on something as crucial as tackling climate change - is a very tricky task.

It was hoped that the recent G8 summit in Germany might get agreement from eight key nations on a 50% cut in emissions on 1990 levels by 2050, to follow on from the United Nations-led Kyoto agreement (which set targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions for several countries including the UK, and expires in 2012).

America has been the real fly in the ointment of international climate talks so far. Until recently the US administration refused to acknowledge that human activities contribute to climate change – even though America is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. It looked like George Bush was going to bypass these important world talks, as he proposed his own alternative process for addressing climate change.

Through last-minute diplomacy, the G8 leaders agreed that global greenhouse gas emissions must stop rising, followed by substantial global emission reductions, and agreed to seek "substantial" cuts in emissions in an effort to tackle climate change. Many commentators have been disappointed that the proposed target of 50% cuts by 2050 (backed by the EU, Canada and Japan) haven’t been agreed to. They are to be given ‘serious consideration’ at talks to discuss a new deal in December.

Given the scale and speed of climate change, even one more month of waiting seems too long. We’ll just have to hang on to the hope that America will continue its slow and belated conversion to climate change action in the meantime, so the politicians can really make things move come the end of the year.

Sobering news from the scientists

While politicians continue to argue about how and when to address climate change, the papers and news programmes have been revealing yet more evidence that environmental challenges are greater – and getting worse faster – than previously thought.

Scientists studying 300 Antarctic glaciers over the last ten years have found that they’re not only melting, but are sliding into the ocean much faster than previously predicted. Frighteningly this means faster and higher sea level rises, and potentially more floods than anticipated.

While the glaciers are sliding, so is our progress on cutting the emissions that are capturing heat and causing the ice to melt. A study revealed this week that global CO2 emissions are rising three times faster than previously predicted. They’ve been increasing by 3% a year this decade, compared to a 1.1% a year in the 1990s.

We’re becoming ever more aware about climate change, but that’s not good enough. We all need to up the ante - doing good turns to help reduce our own environmental impacts, and putting the pressure on politicians and businesses to help us make bigger changes faster.

Can you see the wood for the trees?

As a teenager, I remember being very affected by campaigns to protect the rainforests. My 15-year old self was troubled by the plight of picturesque parrots I’d never seen.

With all the focus on climate change these days, it can seem like the destruction of rainforests is a bit out of date as a green issue. But this week campaigners including Sir David Attenborough have reminded us that these ‘green lungs’ of the planet are key in the battle against climate change.

In The Sun Sir Attenborough reported that an area of rainforest the size of Britain (50 million acres) is chopped down each year. That’s a football pitch every second. Every second since I last focussed on those parrots aged 15… Petrifying!

Rainforests produce 20% of the world’s fresh water and are home to more than half of the world’s plant and animal species. The trees play a valuable role in absorbing CO2, but when they’re burnt to make space for crops or livestock they release CO2, and deforestation is now the source of a 5th of the world’s CO2 emissions – more than the USA, China or India.

Wood for good?

So what can we do? Well, as well as avoiding buying tropical timber and eating less meat (often produced on ranches in cleared forest areas), there’s a new way to help protect the forests:

You could support the recently launched charity Cool Earth (www.coolearth.org) and pay to protect an area of rainforest. Backed by a host of big names, the charity guarantees support for the local people who depend on the forests. Seems to me like a great way for us mere mortals who can’t afford to buy up thousands of acres of land to do our bit to help hold on to these vital tools in tackling climate change. What better gift for a friend or relative than an acre of rainforest to help secure our future.

Green shopping hits the big time at the Whole Foods superstore

Lots of the papers have focused on this week’s opening of the new Whole Foods flagship store - 80,000 sq ft of prime retail space in Kensington devoted to green shopping.

It’s roused a mixed response.  Some media commentators have argued in favour of the glamorous delivery of a range of local produce, organic food and healthy alternative bites on a scale not previously seen in the UK (and plans for up to 40 more purpose-built shops across the country from the American company).

But others point out that its products aren’t as low-carbon or organic as they could be (only about 50% of the products are certified organic), and worry that what’s in effect a huge supermarket might make smaller, independently-owned shops close down. They’ve also been quite hysterical at some of the apparently astronomical prices being charged.

Personally, I think an exciting display of healthy, largely organically-produced produce could entice a big new audience (with big budgets) to greener shopping, but I’ll reserve judgement until I see it for myself. I may pop over for some special treats, but my fantastic local organic farmers’ market – where everything’s sourced from within 100 miles - and my weekly box scheme that delivers organic fruit and veg straight to my door will still be where I get most of my supplies. My bank manager will be relieved!

And finally... Springwatch beats Big Brother

A reassuring sign that our national obsession with reality TV isn’t completely out of kilter with the reality of the natural world: over three times as many people spied on badgers nesting and foxes foraging on BBC2’s Springwatch than watched the catty women hissing and purring on Big Brother!