Tag: Planet Watch

Planet Watch

Biofuels: not so groovy after all

The scientific community finally acknowledges that “biofuels” fuel deforestation—and thereby result in a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions.

Planet Watch

G8 climate goals too little, too late: scientists

Climatologists blasted the G8 resolution that global temperature should rise no more than 2°C by 2050 as “cavalier” acceptance of an increase that could still “challenge civilized society.”

Planet Watch
Neda Agha Soltan

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carbonUN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment David Boyd issued an urgent call for accelerated action to combat climate change. The statement comes after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report on the impacts of global warming of 2°C—the increase permitted under the Paris Accord. Boyd said that climate change is "one of the greatest threats to human rights" and will have devastating effects on the "rights to life, health, food, housing, and water, as well as the right to a healthy environment." In order to meet human rights obligations, Boyd called on counties to exceed their Paris Agreement obligations. If the temperature increase is allowed to increase to 2.0°C, it would result in "human rights violations upon millions of people." (Photo via Jurist)

Planet Watch

FAO: financial crisis deepens global hunger

The global financial crisis has pushed the ranks of the hungry to a record 1 billion people, a milestone that poses a threat to peace and security, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said.

Planet Watch

Non-motorists bear brunt of traffic fatalities

A WHO study finds that non-motorists disproportionately bear the brunt of traffic fatalities. Car accidents are the world’s 10th leading cause of death, on track to become fifth by 2030.

Planet Watch

Big powers to boycott UN econo-confab

Many developed nations will boycott a UN conference on the financial crisis, objecting to efforts by General Assembly president Miguel d’Escoto to discuss reforming the World Bank and IMF.

Planet Watch

Obama denies White House to run GM

“What we are not doing—what I have no interest in doing—is running GM,” President Obama assured upon announcing the government’s large ownership stake in the reorganized General Motors.

Planet Watch

Dems, Reps divided on climate pseudo-solutions

With a climate bill now being crafted on Capitol Hill, Democrats are supporting a measure that would instate a carbon-trading system—while Republicans favor subsidies for nuclear power.