TOP 100 SCIENCE SITES
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| Australia's first 'iPod' marks 60th birthday The world's oldest intact computer is turning 60 in Victoria. abc.net.au |
AP IMPACT: Science not faked, but not pretty LONDON (AP) -- E-mails stolen from climate scientists show they stonewalled skeptics and discussed hiding data - but the messages don't support claims that the science of global warming was faked, according to an exhaustive review by The Associated Press.... hosted.ap.org |
Letters: The EU must step up in Copenhagen Gordon Brown is right to warn that failure at Copenhagen is a real possibility (Report, 16 December). If the talks do fail, it will be in no small part down to the frustrating reluctance of EU leaders to step up the EU's negotiating position – and show leadership where it is so desperately needed.As an MEP involved in the negotiations on the EU's position going into COP15, I am alarmed by reports in the last few days that the EU is drawing up a weaker "plan B" on emissions reduction – potentially replacing its commitment to 30% cuts by 2020 with 30% by 2025. Such a move would send a damaging signal at a time when momentum is already lagging. If the EU pursues an unconditional 30% by 2020, it could change the pessimistic mood; to discard it could be a nail in the coffin of a deal.What's more, there is a keen irony in the fact that the EU is trying to position itself in COP15 as a key actor on climate change, at the same time as ministers in Brussels are signing off a very weak agreement on deforestation legislation. Why promise millions of euros for measures in developing countries to prevent deforestation but fail to close all loopholes in EU law on importing illegal timber?If this wasn't bad enough, it now seems possible that the current proposals for a new climate deal in COP15 could even lead to a rise in emissions. Current loopholes in the climate negotiations – notably on "hot air" (surplus permits to pollute) and the accounting of emissions from land use and forestry – could actually lead to an increase in industrialised country emissions by 2020. No wonder the developing nations are so cynical about what is currently on the table.Caroline Lucas MEPLeader, Green party• Copenhagen and the recent Commonwealth summit in Trinidad have rightly put the focus on the resources which developing country governments – both central and local – need to tackle climate change. Now the EU, led by Britain and France, has urged the IMF to consider a global levy on financial transactions, with revenues earmarked to help poorer countries cut emissions. Despite the squeals of outrage from financiers and speculators, such a Tobin tax must be the way forward after the disappointments of Copenhagen: it has been estimated that a levy of only 0.025% on all transactions would yield over $100bn a year – more than enough to make genuine progress on climate change.Carl Wright Secretary general, Commonwealth Local Government Forum• Some of the proposed alternatives to fossil fuel energy systems still need to be demonstrated as reliable enough for widescale implementation. This could involve stop/start progress that may take years if not decades to work through.Much as Emeritus Professor Bob Ryan (Letters, 16 December) favours "the very best" , rather than what he deems "immature" climate science, the point has been reached where the reliable deliverability of solutions must come into play as part of a comprehensive climate risk management strategy. This argues for concerted defensive action now, while the scientific process continues. The alternative would be a big gamble at uncertain odds.There are other reasons why a precautionary approach is advisable, including the ocean acidification due to CO2, as well as the apparent increase in frequency of some extreme meteorological events. We can only hope that effective common ground for responding to this multiplicity of threats emerges at Copenhagen .Anthony RobsonFormer principal engineer (environment), Central Electricity Generating Board• As the Copenhagen conference appears increasingly less likely to produce a major breakthrough, surely there is one limited step that could be agreed – to begin to tax aviation fuel. The rate could be set internationally in a basket of currencies, starting modestly and increasing to a realistic rate over five to eight years. Half the proceeds could be retained by national exchequers and the other half put into an international environment fund to assist poorer countries. It would have the additional benefit of making the world's dwindling oil reserves last longer. Even Michael O'Leary might see the benefit of that.Graham SowterLangho, LancashireCopenhagen climate change conference 2009Climate changeClimate changeClimate change scepticismGordon BrownGreen partyEuropean UnionEnergyEnergyCommonwealth summitIMFTobin taxAirline industryguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Study: 1 in 4 female teens involved in violence WASHINGTON (AP) -- About one in four female teens is involved in some sort of violent behavior at school or at work, according to a government report.... hosted.ap.org |
Cases: Healing Physically, Yet Still Not Whole A survivor of Stage 3 prostate cancer made a difficult realization that he needed more time and rest to heal properly. feeds.nytimes.com |