Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) In the News

India committed to Kyoto Protocol
The Union Minister fro Environment and Forests, T.R. Baalu, today said that India was committed to the cause of global environment and sustainable development by acceding to the Kyoto Protocol. Launching the National Strategy Study for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) implementation in India, Mr. Baalu said work was on to prepare a national inventory of greenhouse gases, identification of vulnerability and adaptation concerns and the steps taken for implementation of the Protocol.

The Hindu, New Delhi, Oct 22, 2003 Page 4

Carbon credit: Valuable virtual commodity
Though the Kyoto Protocol has still not entered into force, and Russia is, as usual sending conflicting signals, the carbon market has begun developing in earnest. Despite the Clean Development Mechanism being a source of interest to many governments and private entities, as of now serious commitment is displayed by only two large market players — the World Bank`s Prototype Carbon Fund and the Dutch CERUPT programme. Market sources, however, seem to indicate that there is growing interest among the Japanese and the Canadians.

Business Line, New Delhi, Oct. 22, 2003 Page 9

Rural world shrinks as cities balloon
The New Times Atlas of the World lists the growing club of real mega cities, all of them with predicted populations of more than 10 million — not by 2030, but by 2005. According to these estimates, Tokyo — the world’s largest city — will hit nearly 27 million. São Paolo in Brazil will reach just under 20 million and Mexico City 19 million. Sixteen other cities are expected to exceed the 10 million mark, including Mumbai 18 million, and Dhaka in Bangladesh, 15 million. But the greatest impact has come through global warming, with successive editions of the atlas showing shrinking ice fields and evaporating lakes. Since the 1975 edition, the surface of the Dead Sea has dropped by a massive 17 metres.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, October 20, 2003 Page 12

Ozone may hamper absorption of carbon
Scientists have long identified forests as a potential buffer against rising concentrations of carbon dioxide, the main smokestack and tailpipe emission linked by most scientists to global warming. Trees sop up the heat-trapping greenhouse gas through photsynthesis and stash it in soil. The more carbon dioxide there is in air, the more of it that forests, in theory, can lock up in the earth.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, October 14, 2003 Pge 5

Customs to monitor anti-ozone substances
Experts from the United Nations Environment Programme are scheduled to visit the Capital later this month to help prevent global exchange of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). The visit comes after the UNEP signed an MoU with the National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) towards effective monitoring of ODS across the borders.

NACEN, the apex body for training of personnel of Custom, Central Excise, Narcotics and other law enforcement agencies, will now be the first agency in Asia-Pacific to impart training in identification and monitoring of ODS .

The Indian Express, New Delhi, October 15, 2003, Page 4supp,

Swiss Re joins hands with UNDP to study climate change
Swiss Re, Harvard Medical School and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have come together to assess trends and to project the future health impact of climate change and biodiversity loss. The two-year research partnership project will also examine the role of climate change and the loss of biodiversity in the emergence and resurgence of infectious diseases around the world, according to Swiss Re.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, October 10, 2003

‘Little’ oil for global warming
Call it a temporary reprieve against greenhouse gassing and bid goodbye to nightmare scenarios caused by global warming such as flooding of coastal cities like Mumbai or Manhattan, says a controversial new analysis. That’s because oil and gas will run out too fast for these doomsday global warming scenarios to materialise, according to researchers at the University of Uppsala in Sweden.

The Economic Times, New Delhi, October 09, 2003, Page No. 7

CFC users can help reduce pollution: Siraj
Speakers at a workshop underscored the need for extension of training for the technicians of the unorganised sector and strengthening monitoring component of Refrigeration Management Sector in Bangladesh. They also said it is essential for concerned officials and users to understand the implication of the country’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol and be able to reduce and subsequently phase out their consumption in a coordinated, planned and cost effective manner.

The Independent (Internet), Dhaka, October 09, 2003

Putin’s Brinkmanship
President Vladimir Putin’s sudden vacillation on ratifying the Kyoto Protocol, though inexplicable to many, is in keeping with the Russian leader’s policy of brinkmanship. Mr Putin knows that Russia’s accession to the treaty is important for its coming into force, particularly after the US’ refusal in 2001 to ratify Kyoto on the grounds that it would be detrimental to its economy by restricting the use of fossil fuels. With emission levels set at 17.5 per cent, Russia’s participation would allow the treaty to be within kissing distance of its 55 per cent target. (Editorial)

The Financial Express, New Delhi, October 07, 2003, Page No. 6

California plans to sue US EPA over carbon dioxide
California Gov. Gray Davis last week announced plans to sue the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its recent decision that carbon dioxide should not be regulated under the federal Clean Air Act. California, which has one of the worst pollution problems in the nation, recently adopted its own plan to combat global warming, partly through the strict regulation of carbon dioxide, which is emitted from cars, trucks, factories, power plants and several other sources.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, October 06, 2003

Business leaders see big benefits to Moscow from Kyoto
Business leaders urged Moscow to save the Kyoto Protocol to curb global warming, saying it could bring billions of dollars to Russia. Moscow has put off a decision on the pact which seeks to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases from cars and factories blamed for driving up global temperatures. Russia wants cash guarantees before signing up to the pact which will fail without its backing.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, October 06, 2003

Rf1.47 million to be spent on destroying ozone related materials
Rf1.47 million (US $ 115,000) is to be spent on the project of destroying materials that damages the ozone layer. Signing between the UNDP and the Ministry of Home Affairs for the "Awareness and Intensive Program", which is under the project of "Information of the Refrigerant Plan", took place. This is a program conducted by the assistance of the United Nations Environmental Program (UNICEF). This is a project to destroy ozone related materials from the Maldives before the year 2010, which is funded by the Multilateral Fund of "the Refrigerant Management Plan (R.M.)" of "Montréal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer"

Haveeru Daily (Internet), Maldives, October 04, 2003

Scientists say warming could cut crops
Scientists said that global warming could slash Russia`s crucial grain harvests if President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders refuse to endorse the U.N. pact. About 1,000 scientists at a World Climate Change Conference in Moscow ending were sharply divided over Putin`s belief that Russians could benefit overall from a world with less bone-chilling winters. But some experts say that agricultural output in the key southern grain areas could be hit by a forecast decline in rains even though a warmer climate will extend growing areas further north as the permafrost thaws in Siberia.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, October 03, 2003

World warming up to climate change
Meterologists may reel off data to prove this year’s monsoon wasn’t longer and wetter than normal, but people are convinced that weather patterns are changing. Summers are hotter and winters shorter. R K Pachauri, chairman of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), accepts that there is a whole range of anecdotal evidence, indicating change. But whether it is a natural climatic variation, regional change, or global warming fuelled by gases from power generation, industries and transport, is yet to be conclusively determined.

The Times of India, New Delhi, 1, October 03, 2003, Page No. 1

Emission rights are sold at new Chicago market
The Chicago Climate Exchange, a start-up hoping to create a market for member companies and governments to trade rights to emit gases associated with global warming, has gotten off to an ambiguous start with an auction that laid the groundwork for trading to begin on Oct 31.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, October 02, 2003, Page No. 18

From Russia, with gas
Vladimir Putin seems to think the international climate conference in Moscow is a judo match, the way he uses political body-pins and chokes to undermine the Kyoto Protocol, the treaty aimed at curbing global warming. He’s taken a U-turn on his promise to ratify the treaty. The Kyoto compact aims to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 1990 levels by 2012, and requires the ratification of 55 countries to take effect. Russia’s ratification is vital since two of the biggest defaulters — the US and China — haven’t signed on...editorial

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, October 02, 2003, Page No. 12

`160,000 dying yearly from global warming`
About 160,000 people die every year from side-effects of global warming ranging from malaria to malnutrition and the numbers could almost double by 2020, a group of scientists have said.

The Statesman, New Delhi, October 02, 2003, 4supp

Let’s not pass off fiction as fact
A fairer reassessment of the research literature regarding the ecological impact of increased levels of ambient carbon dioxide for example leads to the conclusion that this has not produced any detrimental effects upon global weather, climate or temperature during the last century. On the contrary, increased carbon dioxide has significantly improved growth rate in plants. Some experts even go so far as to say that forecasts of harmful climate effects due to rises in minor greenhouse gases in the future may be in error as they do not concur with current experimental knowledge. (Editorial).

The Times of India, New Delhi, October 02, 2003, Page No. 16

Putin U-turn on Kyoto
President Vladimir Putin refused to commit Russia to ratifying the Kyoto treaty designed to cut global warming, backtracking on previous pledges and causing alarm in the EU and among environmental groups. Opening a conference on climate change in Moscow, Putin said Russia’s decision would be in its “national interests”, reflecting a debate in the country that some warming might be of benefit by allowing more grain to be grown. “There is an insistent call for Russia to ratify the Kyoto protocol as soon as possible. The government is closely studying this question. A decision will be taken when this work is finished.”

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, October 01, 2003, Page No. 15

Russia non-committal on Kyoto Protocol
Throwing into doubt the future of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, Russian President Vladimir Putin told climate experts from 90 countries that Russia was not in a hurry to ratify the landmark treaty. Addressing the World Congress on Climate Change which opened in Moscow, Mr Putin declared that Russia would ratify the protocol only if it was in its interest and "after the government thoroughly studies this problem."

The Tribune, New Delhi, September 30, 2003, Page No. 9

Refugee warning to global polluters
Countries such as Britain which are destroying the environment of poorer nations by contributing to global warming and using tropical hardwoods should be prepared to take a fair share of the refugees they have created, says a thinktank report. The New Economics Foundation says the idea of being responsible for environmental refugees is an extension of the "polluter pays" principle. "People whose environment is being damaged and destroyed, and who are losing their lives and their livelihoods, should be recompensed and protected by those responsible," the report says.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, September 30, 2003

Russia wary of ratifying accord on emissions
Russia is unlikely to ratifying the Kyoto protocol on environmental emissions unless it receives substantial guaranteed financial benefits, a Kremlin official said. He said it was ‘fully possible’ that the treaty would not be approved by parliament during 2004, risking the collapse of the international initiative to reduce industrial emissions.

Financial Times, London, September 27, 2003, Page No. 4

Arctic warming proved by ice shelf split
A large ice shelf that has jutted into the Arctic Ocean from the northernmost part of Canada for at least 3,000 years has broken up over the last two years, providing fresh evidence that the region is warming past thresholds that can produce abrupt changes, scientists said. The scientists, from Laval University in Quebec and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, described the changes in a paper published in the current issue of Geophysical Research Letters. The disintegration of the ancient ice shelf appears to have been caused by both a century-long warming trend and more recent accelerated rise in temperatures, the researchers said.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, September 24, 2003, Page No. 4

Huge ice shelf is reported to break up in Canada
Researchers examine a crack in the Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, which has broken up over the last two years. Left to right: Katie Breen and Derek R. Mueller, both of Laval University, and Marco Dussault of Parks Canada. Large ice shelf that has jutted into the Arctic Ocean from northernmost Canada for at least 3,000 years has broken up over the last two years, providing fresh evidence that the region is warming past thresholds that can produce abrupt changes, scientists said.

New York Times (Internet), New York, September 23, 2003

Forestry waste could help meet Kyoto targets - study
European countries could help meet their Kyoto emissions requirements by using forestry waste products like left-over tree stumps and foliage to produce energy, scientists said. Stumps, branches, tree tops and other foliage left in forests by logging firms release carbon dioxide over time as they decompose. Using the material as fuel to produce electricity, or processing them into pulp and paper, could cut down on greenhouse gas emissions, the scientists said in a report released before a World Forestry Congress meeting in Quebec City.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, September 23, 2003

Costs of Kyoto
The Kyoto Protocol`s pledge to pollute the environment to a lesser extent than other countries means falling behind in terms of economic growth. Scientists have failed to prove that the greenhouse effect is bad for this planet`s climate. The European Union which wants Russia to ratify the kyoto protocol should offer something in return.

The Statesman, New Delhi, September 21, 2003, Page No. 8

Efforts stressed to phase out ozone depleting substances
International Ozone Day was observed in Pakistan with the hope and fear of further depletion of Ozone Layer, instability of which could cause lungs and cancer diseases primarily due to rapid industrial pollution the world over. Main event in the federal capital was a seminar, which was addressed by environmentalists, officials of Ministry of Environment and United Nation Environmental Program including State Minister for Environment Major (Retd) Tahir Iqbal.

The Nation (Internet), Pakistan, September 17, 2003

U.N. says `ozone hole` hits record size
The ozone hole over the Antarctic this year has reached the record size of 10.8 million square miles set three years ago, the United Nations` weather organization said. Measurements over and near Antarctica show that ozone decreased more rapidly this year than in previous years and that the size of the ozone hole is now as large as it was in September 2000, the World Meteorological Organization said.

USA Today (Internet), US, September 17, 2003

US, France and Japan have most misinformed citizens on global warming, says study
The US, France, and Japan, some of the most industrialised nations in the world, have the most misinformed citizens on the issue of global warming, finds a new study by American academics. The study says that the people of the US, "among the most educated in the world", know as much, or as little, about the sources of global warming as the residents of poorer developing, less polluting nations of the globe. Recent data on climate change is limited in many countries, with the US, the UK, France, Italy and Germany having the most readily available resources – especially by comparison to poorer nations. Yet the comparative wealth of resources on offer to the citizens of the States is inconsistent with their knowledge, says the report to be published in a forthcoming issue of The International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy.

Edie (Internet), UK, September 12, 2003

The Antarctica `ozone hole` reaches record proportions
The gaping, man-made hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica has hit record proportions for this time of year and could get bigger still within the next few says, a leading scientist said. At just short of 10.81 million square miles, the hole is a fraction under the absolute record of 11 million, but it has historically peaked in the second week in September and therefore could theoritically grow further, British Antarctic Survey scientist Jonathan Shanklin said.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, September 14, 2003, Page No. 15

New global warming study sets off a scientific dispute
A testy scientific dispute has broken out over a new study indicating significant signs of global warming in the Earth’s lower atmosphere. The degree of warming in the troposphere – the region where clouds form – is a key battle ground in the highly politicized debate over global climate change.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, September 13, 2003, Page No. 7

Africa hit harder by global warming
Global warming is affecting Africa more than the industrialised world despite the continent being least to blame for the greenhouse effect. A study by scientist at Britain`s Hadley Centre has found that the tell-tale signature of global warming is significantly stronger in Africa than in other continents such as Europe and America.

The New Indian Express, Chennai, September 7, 2003 Page 19

Greenhouse toll
The resignation of France`s Director General for Health Lucien Abenheim has doubtless been a result of Health Minister Jean-Francois Mattei`s public admonition of the former for keeping him "uninformed" about the magnitude of the human tragedy that was building up in that country. More than 10,000 people-most of them elderly-died in the last two weeks of August in France this year, when temperatures soared to as high as 48.5 degrees. It was the hottest summer in Europe in living memory, and the tragedy was compounded by the fact that most of the Paris bureaucracy was away on holiday to escape the blazing heat...editorial

The Pioneer, New Delhi, September 06, 2003, Page No. 6

Heated world: Is this freak weather or climate change?
Was the Andhra heat wave or the hot weather which has sapped Europe, just a freak weather event or a sign of climate change? R K Pachauri, chairman of the inter-governmental panel on climate change (IPCC), hedges his bets. He, however, admits that it should be regarded as ‘‘a warning bell’’ which should spur greater research and investigation. Now busy working out the scope of IPCC’s fourth assessment report, supposed to be completed by 2007, Pachauri said on Friday that they would try to see how to ‘‘get a fix’’ on extreme weather events.

The Times of India, New Delhi, August 30, 2003, Page No. 9

Greenhouse gas emissions log fall
The amount of greenhouse gases linked to global warming emitted in Japan in fiscal 2001 fell by 2.5 percent from the previous year. The government believes, however, this was only a temporary phenomenon, as a warm winter and cool summer reduced the use of air conditioners. Government data released show that the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from April 2001 through March 2002 totaled 1.3 billion tons.

Japan Times (Internet), Japan, August 29, 2003

Bush under fire for CO₂ climate threat downgrade
Environmentalists accused President Bush of further undermining international efforts to curb global warming with a likely ruling that carbon dioxide is not a pollutant. The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, said, Washington was set to rule both that CO₂ is not an air pollutant and that the federal government thus has no authority to regulate emissions. It said it had been told of the plan by staff from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, August 29, 2003

EPA won`t regulate auto greenhouse gases
The Environmental Protection Agency said it lacked authority to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from motor vehicles. The agency denied a petition by the International Center for Technology Assessment, a technology watchdog group, and other organizations to impose new controls on vehicles` greenhouse gas emissions blamed for contributing to global warming. "Congress must provide us with clear legal authority before we can take regulatory action to address a fundamental issue such as climate change," said Jeff Holmstead, EPA`s assistant administrator, who heads the Office of Air and Radiation.

USA Today (Internet), US, August 28, 2003

Scientists turn up heat on global warming
A group of scientists in East Anglia has launched an ambitious campaign to tackle the threat of global warming in an effort to shame ministers into stronger action on climate change. The task they have set themselves is formidable: to slash the region`s emissions of carbon dioxide in half the time the government believes is possible. At first glance, the project, known as Cred, for carbon reduction, might easily be dismissed as well-meaning nonsense. But the team behind it, Keith Tovey and his colleagues at the University of East Anglia, belong to the most prestigious environmental science department in the country.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, August 27, 2003

Global Warming as WMD
This year began with an extraordinary winter. Then, some parts of India experienced extreme temperatures during the summer. Finally, the monsoon arrived beyond full blast. But India was not the only one: France has experienced a killer heat wave and even places in Northern Europe are stumped by the summer. Now, climate specialist John Houghton has written that global warming is similar to a weapon of mass destruction. He says that the 1990s were the warmest decade in the last 1,000 years. And also, it is likely that more people are killed by severe weather conditions than any single catastrophe.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, August 25, 2003, Page No. 11

Ozone hole is growing
The ozone hole is over the Antarctic is growing at a rate that suggests it could be headed for a record size this year, Australian scientists said. A study by Antarctic bases operated by Australia attributed the development to colder temperatures in the stratosphere where the ozone hole forms.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, August 23, 2003, Page No. 2

The growing ozone hole
The ozone hole over the Antarctic is growing at a rate that suggests it could be headed for a record size this year, Australian scientists said. A study by Australian Antarctic bases attributed the development to the colder temperatures in the stratosphere where the ozone hole forms.

The Hindu, New Delhi, August 23, 2003, Page No. 18 & www.hinduonnet.com

Scientists find larger ozone hole
A joint study by the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and the Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a much larger ozone hole than normal over the Antarctic this spring. Scientists conducting the study found that the hole is likely to be as much as three times the size of Australia, similar to its largest recorded size in 2000. They said that climatic conditions, combined with past chemical emissions, have made the hole grow over the last year. AAD scientist, Dr Andrew Klekociuk, said the enlargement was due to the extremely cold temperatures over the Antarctic during the winter. This causes the release of chlorine from CFC gases that destroy ozone.

Edie (Internet), UK, August 22, 2003

Group opposes climate change report
In antiregulatory group sued the Bush administration in an effort to force the government to stop distributing a report on climate change that the group contends is inaccurate and biased. It was filed in Federal Court in Washington by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a group with industry backing that contends global warming poses no significant risks.

Newstime, Hyderabad, August 21, 2003 Page No. 13

Being driven by hydrogen
The magic alternative to oil is already on the road. So’s the debate. The most abundant element in the universe — hydrogen — may one day fuel your car. But some scientists are not so sure that’s a good idea. Hydrogen has been used for the past decade to power fuel cells, which are something like batteries and use a chemical reaction to produce electricity. The fuel cells are promoted as a way to reduce pollution and dependence on foreign oil. They won the endorsement of President George W. Bush in January 2003 when he pledged $1.2 billion for hydrogen research, and American automakers are testing fleets of experimental vehicles. Fuel cells power components on the space shuttle and more than 50 experimental cars and buses now use them on American and European roads.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, August 20, 2003, Page No. 7

Dying Plankton Harms Idyllic Seychelles Sea Life
Masses of plankton, dying as global warming heats up the waters off the Seychelles, are threatening marine life in the Indian Ocean tourist haven, a government official said. The dead plankton, as it decays, depletes the oxygen in sea water and in effect suffocates other forms of marine life. The sludge also dulls the Seychelles` turquoise waters and tends to turn them green as algae feast on the plankton.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, August 20, 2003

Gene detectives lay bare key bacteria in global-warming fight
Teams of gene scientists have unravelled the DNA of two key marine bacteria believed to play a vital role in the process of global warming. The bugs are leading actors in the world of phytoplankton, the microscopic creatures that float on waves and currents on the uppermost layers of the sea, using sunlight to transform carbon dioxide (CO₂) into energy. CO₂, the big culprit in global warming, is disgorged by the burning of oil, carbon and gas -- the fuels that have driven industrialisation.

Haveeru Daily (Internet), Maldives, August 17, 2003

Europe`s largest glacier shrivels under global warming
Switzerland`s Aletsch glacier, the largest in the Alps, is imposing enough to generate a wind of its own, but the 23-kilometre long (14-mile) river of ice is visibly shrivelling under the impact of global warming. "In the last 140 years it has moved back three kilometres (two miles)," Laudo Albrecht, a Swiss nature conservation expert said, standing on a ridge above the sweating glacier. He was clutching a graph which also shows that the ice flow has melted faster in the past decade or two, and this summer`s heatwave is likely to deepen the trend.

Haveeru Daily (Internet), Maldives, August 17, 2003

Glacier shrivels under global warming
Switzerland`s Aletsch glacier, the largest in the Alps, is imposing enough to generate a wind of its own, but the 23-km long river of ice is visibly shrivilling under the impact of global warming. "In the last 140 years it has move back three kilometres," Laudo Albrecht, a Swiss nature conservation expert said, standing on a ridge above the sweating glacier.

Business Line, New Delhi, August 17, 2003, Page No. 16

Arctic Ice Shrinking Due to Global Warming - Report
Global warming will melt most of the Arctic icecap in summertime by the end of the century, a report showed. The three-year international study indicated that ice around the North Pole had shrunk by 7.4 percent in the past 25 years with a record small summer coverage in September 2002. "The summer ice cover in the Arctic may be reduced by 80 percent at the end of the 21st century," said Norwegian Professor Ola Johannessen, the main author of the report funded by the European Commission. The Arctic Barents Sea north of Russia and Norway could be free of ice even in winter by the end of the century, said Johannesssen, who works at the Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center in Norway.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, August 14, 2003

Canadian Satellite to Study Ozone, Climate Change
The Canadian Space Agency has launched a brand new satellite to help scientists study ozone depletion in the atmosphere, marking the first launch of a small Canadian-built satellite in three decades, officials said. During its mission, the C$60 million ($43 million) satellite will gather data to evaluate the impact of climate changes and of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) on the ozone layer, which protects the Earth from the Sun`s ultraviolet rays. Magellan Aerospace Corp., the prime contractor for the mission, said the small SCISAT satellite was successfully launched into orbit by NASA.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, August 14, 2003

Lake`s fish hit by global warming`
Scientists are blaming global warming for falling fish harvests in Africa`s Lake Tanganyika, threatening the diets of several developing nations. Warming air and water and decreasing wind have cut the amount of mixing between the lake`s surface water and deeper, nutrient-rich layers. The changes have cut algae growth, reducing food for several important fish species, the researchers report in today`s issue of Nature. Many scientists believe that climate change is caused by large volumes of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases that industrialised nations release into the atmosphere.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, August 14, 2003

EU drive to fight global warming
The European commission unveiled tough proposals to cut emissions of particularly potent greenhouse gases by a quarter before 2010, in the fight against global warming. To meet commitments under the Kyoto protocol, the commission proposed phasing out fluorinated greenhouse gases found in everyday objects, including fridges, fire extinguishers, air conditioning units, double glazed windows, running shoes, aerosols and car tyres. Although not as dangerous to the ozone layer as chlorofluorocarbons, the three gases targeted - hydrofluorocarbon (HFCs), perfluorocarbon and sulphur hexafluoride - have a "high global warming potential" because they trap more heat and last longer in the atmosphere.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, August 13, 2003

New Funds To Assist India Phase Out Ozone Depleters
There is some news to cheer environmentalists as well as the industry, particularly ozone depleting substances sector. India will receive US $52 million to completely phase out the production and consumption of toxic chemical carbon tetrachloride (CCT). The announcement was made by the executive committee of the Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol at the end of its 40th meeting held in Montreal recently.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, August 10, 2003

Ozone depletors: Narcotics academy steps up vigil
National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NACEN) is all set to become the nodal agency in South Asia to monitor and control the flow of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS). NACEN, which will be signing an MoU with United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) shortly, will train Customs and other enforcing agencies in and outside the country to check the flow of ODS in compliance with Montreal Protocol. NACEN announced the future partnership with UNEP at a function held today to mark the conclusion of a five-day training workshop for officials from the Customs, Director General Foreign Trade, Border Security Force, Central Industrial Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, 4supp, August 09, 2003

`Rising ozone levels likely to affect US soyabean yield`
Although rising ozone levels already reduce soyabean yields, a study of the crop grown in projected 2030 levels has harvested more troubling results — a 20 per cent yield loss — according to scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Assuming gradual rises in ozone levels, the findings suggest that the US soyabean industry may suffer an additional $21 million loss each year for the next 30 years. However, researchers say, rising carbon dioxide levels may reduce some ozone effects, but other global warming factors cloud their ability to get a clear view of the future.

Business Line, New Delhi, August 09, 2003, Page No. 11

Global warming may be speeding up, fears scientist
One of Europe`s leading scientists raised the possibility that the extreme heatwave now settled over at least 30 countries in the northern hemisphere could signal that man-made climate change is accelerating. "The present heatwave across the northern hemisphere is worrying. There is the small probability that man-made climate change is proceeding much faster and stronger than expected," said Professor John Schellnhuber, former chief scientific adviser to the German government and now head of the UK`s leading group of climate scientists at the Tyndall centre.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, August 06, 2003

MoU to control ODS
The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics will soon be signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme that will enable it to provide training for monitoring and control of Ozone Depleting Substances(ODS) and also carry out research and development in Ozone Science.

The Hindu, New Delhi, August 06, 2003, Page No. 4 www.hinduonnet.com

Kyoto Protocol key to dealing with climatic change: U.K. envoy
The British High Commissioner to India, Rob Young, said the United Kingdom was committed to reducing greenhouse gas emission and it believed that the Kyoto Protocol and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate were the vital steps in dealing with climatic change. Inaugurating the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership in South Asia consultation meet in New Delhi, Sir Young said his country’s target was that 10 per cent of its electricity sales would come from renewable energy sources by 2010.

The Hindu, New Delhi, August 05, 2003, Page No. 10 & www.hinduonnet.com

Warming trends
Ever since George W. Bush renounced the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on global warming two years ago, the industrilized world has been waiting patiently for signs that Americans are ready to focus on the pressing issue of climate change. Lately some American politicians have begun to take the matter more seriously, even if Bush has not. 10 North-eastern governors agreed to devise a regional strategy to reduce these emissions, regardless of what Washington does. (Editorial).

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, August 04, 2003 Page No.6

Workshop to discuss ozone layer depletion
The National Academy of Customs, Excise and Narcotics (NAEN), Faridabad, is organising an international workshop on ‘Monitoring and Control of Ozone Depleting Substances’. The workshop will be inaugurated by S K Bhardwaj, member, Central Board of Excise and Customs, on August 4, 2003. The function will be held at the NACEN complex, Faridabad.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, 3supp, August 04, 2003

Climate swings put heat on Europe
The intense heatwave that has baked much of Europe for weeks, fuelling deadly forest fires, causing drought and damaging crops, has convinced many people that global warming is real. While experts caution that you cannot read too much into a single hot summer or natural disaster, Europeans are growing more fearful as they experience extreme weather with growing frequency. Less than a year ago scores of people died as floods swamped Germany, Russia, Austria and the Czech Republic. This year the problem is extremely hot weather and drought, which is threatening lives and livelihoods in many parts of Europe.

The Age (Internet), Australia, August 02, 2003

Earth observation ministerial meet set for 2004 in Tokyo
Senior officials from 35 countries, including Japan, the United States and European nations, agreed to hold a ministerial meeting in Tokyo next year on observing and monitoring the Earth. The accord was reached at the Earth Observation Summit, which was held here as a means of promoting international cooperation among global observing systems, including satellite networks. The end goal is to help predict natural disasters and assess the state of environmental degradation.

Japan Times (Internet), Japan, August 02, 2003

New study finds pollutants can slow global warming
A new study has found that certain pollutants in the atmosphere can offer localised protection against the effects of global warming. The research, led by Dr Peter Stott of the Met Office’s Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction, shows that particles from aerosols can shield the land from the worst effects of the sun. Dr Stott told edie: “The aerosol particles have two main effects. Directly they scatter the sunlight, making the heat less intense below. Indirectly, they make clouds brighter. This means they reflect sunlight back into the atmosphere on a much greater scale, reducing the temperature below.”

Edie (Internet), UK, August 01, 2003

Climate protocol clean development mechanism progresses
The secretariat of the United Nations Kyoto global warming protocol has announced the first practical steps towards establishing projects under the Clean Development Mechanism. Baseline and monitoring methodologies have been approved for the first two projects, methane management at a landfill in Brazil and an hydrofluorocarbon decomposition project in South Korea. Acceptance of the methodologies by the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Executive Board at its meeting this week means the project sponsors can now claim emission reduction credits under the Kyoto Protocol by demonstrating that any climate benefits generated are additional to those that would have happened without their involvement.

Environment News Service, US, August 01, 2003

Northeast governors to create CO₂ emissions trading system
New York Governor George Pataki announced that he has received commitments from the governors of nine northeast states to join New York state in a regional strategy to reduce carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from power plants. The initiative would develop an emissions trading system to require power generators to reduce emissions. "I thank the leaders of northeast states who have joined New York in this historic initiative to build on those efforts by working together to develop an effective regional strategy to further reduce
harmful emissions," Governor Pataki said.

Environment News Service, US, August 01, 2003

Audit Committee says expansion in aviation is unsustainable and unacceptable
The Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has published a report saying that the forecast growth in UK aviation, along with the accompanying growth in emissions, will accentuate global warming and destroy the government’s recent commitment to a 60% cut in carbon dioxide by 2050. The panel of MPs branded the proposed growth figures as, “unsustainable and unacceptable.” The Committee’s inquiry was prompted by the Treasury discussion document, Aviation and the Environment, in which the government attempted to estimate the environmental costs of aviation. However, the EAC says its paper goes far beyond the scope of that report and questions the assumptions on which the growth forecasts were based.

Edie (Internet), UK, August 01, 2003

Europe`s heat wave raises global warming concerns
The intense heat wave that has baked much of Europe for weeks, fueling deadly forest fires, causing drought and damaging crops, has convinced many people that global warming is a reality. While experts caution that you cannot read too much into a single hot summer or natural disaster, Europe does seem to be experiencing extreme weather with growing frequency. Less than a year ago, scores of people were dying as floods swamped Germany, Russia, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, August 01, 2003

Global warming skeptics facing storm clouds
A big flap at a little scientific journal is raising questions about a study that has been embraced by conservative politicians for its rejection of widely held global warming theories. The study by two astronomers at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, says the 20th century wasn’t unusually warm compared with earlier periods and contradicts evidence indicating man-made ‘greenhouse’ gases are causing temperatures to rise.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, August 01, 2003, Page No. 7

Summit on Earth to focus on environmental issues
In an effort to forge a coherent strategy to address environmental and economic concerns, ministers and policy makers from more than 30 countries will attend the first ever political summit on Earth observation beginning in Washington.

Newstime, Hyderabad, July 31, 2003, Page No. 10

Ozone lose in atmosphere said to slow down
NASA satellite images show that ozone gas is disappearing less quickly from the Earth’s upper atmosphere, a sign that the ozone depletion could be stabilizing, Agence France Press reported from Washington.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, July 31, 2003, Page No. 2

U.S. debates cost of emissions plan
An analysis by economists at the Environmental Protection Agency has found that a Senate plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions associated with global warming could achiever its goal at very little cost, according to a copy of the analysis made available by supporters of the plan. This stands in contrast to Bush administration assertions that the environmental benefits of the plan, which could set limits on emissions of so called greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, would come at a significant cost to the U.S. economy.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, July 31, 2003, Page No. 2

Industrial baker fined $5.25 million for ozone depletion
The nation`s second largest baker has agreed to pay a $5.25 million dollar fine for releasing ozone depleting substances into the atmosphere and to convert all of its industrial process refrigeration appliances to refrigerant systems that do not deplete the ozone layer. Earthgrains, a division of the Sara Lee Corporation, has consented to the fine and replacement program "to avoid protracted litigation," according to spokesman Matt Hall, but the company denies all allegations against it lodged by the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Environment News Service, US, July 31, 2003

Despite dim prospects, energy bill gains favor
Senators John Mc-Cain and Joseph Lieberman are planning to force a vote on an effort to control global warming when the Senate takes up an energy bill this week. While both senators concede that their amendment to the energy bill will likely fail, they said they thought the debate would help generate political pressure on an issue that has prompted volumes of political discussion but little federal legislative action. The proposed amendment would set limits on emissions of greenhouse gases from wide swaths of the economy, with exemptions for households, agriculture, and small facilities that emit under a certain limit.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, July 29, 2003, Page No. 4

Green bucks
Indian companies earn money even as they help industrialised nations meet their anti-pollution targets. India Inc. could earn up to Rs 470 crore as year as the world tries to curb the use of polluting gases. "In the garb of the CDM, industrialised nations may bring outdated technologies to developing countries," warns Neelam Singh of the Centre for Science and Environment, Delhi. She also says that the investment - which in all likelihood will go to advanced developing economies like China and India rather than to others - is locked in for the lifetime of the new technologies. Ten years down the line, when India is officially committed to reducing pollution like the western countries, it could end up having to invest even more. "But", says Singh, "if CDM was specific to the renewable energy sector it would lead to a winwin situation."

India Today, New Delhi, July 28, 2003, Page No. 52

Bush plan on warming to focus on nature’s role
The White House was preparing to issue a revised 10-year global warming research plan that sets five goals, chief among them identifying ‘natural variability’ in climate change, an effort that environmentalists say diverts the focus away from man-made pollution. The second goal listed by the Bush administration is to find better ways of measuring climate effects from burning fossil fuels, industrial production of warming gases and changes in land use.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, July 27, 2003, Page No. 9

U.S. plans to coordinates global warming studies
Seven months after with a promising to come forward with a plan to look into the causes of global warming, the Bush administration released a comprehensive proposal for 13 federal agencies to coordinate current efforts – and develop some new ones – to study climate change.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, July 26, 2003, Page No. 2

Emissions trading directive adopted by European Council
The European Union emissions trading directive has been adopted and finalised by the European Council, formally creating the largest emissions trading scheme in the world.Company emissions can now be traded within europe. EU Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom welcomed the directive, as well as the co-operation between Commission, Parliament and Council, saying: “It has enabled the EU to act swiftly in following up on our commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, and to do so at least cost to industry. We are now world leaders in applying emissions trading.

Edie (Internet), UK, July 25, 2003

Work with climate change to save Britain’s beaches, advise environmental experts
Britain’s sandy beaches could be banished from our coastlines in less than 100 years if climate change continues unchecked, said a group of experts who met in London this week. To help alleviate the situation, a European project is urging those concerned to work with changes created by global warming, rather than against them. Beaches could be starved of their sand and sediments, resulting not only in the loss of the beaches but also in the loss of habitat for a variety of wildlife. This week, an international conference, ‘Living with the Sea: the next step in partnerships’, is convening to discuss solutions to future coastal management problems.

Edie (Internet), UK, July 25, 2003

Bush team to call for more climate studies, groups say
The Bush administration plans to delay action on global warming in favor of more study, according to an excerpt of a report circulated this week by U.S. environmental groups. The administration will release a report recommending a U.S.-backed study of the effects of global warming on the planet. The Bush administration says its plan for more study will "advance the state of knowledge on climate variability, the potential response of the climate system ... to human-induced changes in the atmosphere," according to a draft portion of the study obtained by Reuters from environmental groups.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, July 25, 2003

Climate research called no excuse for inaction
The Bush administration today released a 10 year research strategy for developing knowledge of climate change and its potential impacts on the environment and human lives. The strategic plan builds on the expertise of 13 federal departments and agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Critics say the comprehensive study should not replace action to curb U.S. emissions of greenhouse gases. "We have strong evidence of global warming and high degree of consistency," said Dr. Warren Washington, a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, who is involved in creating and carrying out the research plan. "There is uncertainty over exactly how much it is going to warm over next 100 years."

Environment News Service, US, July 24, 2003

Ozone`s origins traced to lightning
During summer ozone near the Earth`s surface forms in most major U.S. cities when sunlight and heat mix with car exhaust and other pollution. But in other parts of the world, such as the tropical Atlantic, this low level ozone appears to originate naturally in ways that have left scientists puzzled. Atmospheric scientist David Edwards and his colleagues from National Centre for Atmospheric Research and collaborators in Canada and Europe have studied this problem using satellite data from three NASA spacecraft, one from the European Space Agency, and a computer model from NCAR.

The Hindu, New Delhi, 14, July 24, 2003 & www.hinduonnet.com

Kyoto calculations
Much to the annoyance of supporters of the Kyoto Protocol – treaty that binds countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions – Russia keeps postponing ratification. Russia’s change of heart over Kyoto seems mostly motivated by it wallet. (Editorial).

The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong, July 18, 2003, Page No. A9

Russia ends up at the center of debate on global warming
With the U.S. having abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, the global warming treaty’s fate now hinges on Russia, which is dragging its feet in what some see as an attempt to extract greater economic rewards before rafifying. Never known for its commitment to the environment, Russia now finds itself at the center of the climate-change debate.

The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong, July 18, 2003, Page No. M8

Kyoto calculations
Much to the annoyance of EU countries, Russia keeps postponing ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. The Protocol needs Russia since it can only come into effect once it is ratified by the industrialized counties that account for 55 per cent of global emissions. The US pulled out of the treaty last year, making Russia’s participation especially important for the treaty to go into effect. (Editorial)

The Financial Express, New Delhi, July 18, 2003, Page no. 6

Russia moves slowly over Kyoto Protocol
With the U.S. having abandoned the Kyoto Protocol, the global-warming treaty’s fate now hinges on Russia, which is dragging its feet in what some see as an attempt to extract greater economic rewards before ratifying. Never known for its commitment to the environment, Russia now finds itself at the center of the climate-change debate.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, July 17, 2003, Page No. 7

U.S. agriculture department works to reduce greenhouse gases
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working with farmers and foresters to develop methods to counteract greenhouse gas emissions that can cause global warming. The chief of USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service says his agency is working in a variety of ways to encourage carbon sequestration in agricultural land order to reduce the levels of these gases in the atmosphere.

USIS Official Text Press Release, New Delhi, July 10, 2003

Many U.S. industry giants ignoring global warming
Most of the nation`s largest carbon dioxide emitting companies are failing to assess, disclose and address the financial risks posed by climate change, according to a new study of 20 of the world`s largest companies. Unlike many of their foreign rivals, American industry giants such as ChevronTexaco, ExxonMobil, General Electric, Southern Company and Xcel Energy, continue to pursue business strategies that discount the global warming threat, the report details. "Such strategies leave them and their shareholders especially vulnerable to the increased financial risks and missed market opportunities posed by climate change," said Doug Cogan, author of the study and deputy director of social issues for the Investor Responsibility Research Center (IRRC).

Environment News Service, US, July 09, 2003

Battle with global warming
The land is sinking, the sea is rising and Britain faces some tough decisions. The switch of tactics, away from the centuries old strategy of building big walls to keep the seas off land, has been forced by an environmental double whammy. First, thanks to climate change, the water levels around the country are rising.

Newstime, Hyderabad, July 08, 2003, Page No.8

EU on emissions
European Union lawmakers agreed to a major law to fight against climate change a cap on industry`s greenhouse gas emissions and the creation of the world`s first international emissions trading market.

Sahara Time, New Delhi, July 05, 2003, Page No. 17

Kyoto Protocol awaits nod from Russia`s Putin
Russia`s economy ministry said last week that the Kyoto Protocol would not harm Russian interests and that ratification of the landmark environmental pact was a political question awaiting a nod from the Kremlin. Members of the State Duma lower house of parliament said the treaty, which aims to cut global emissions of climate-changing gases, would only go through when President Vladimir Putin gave deputies the word. "Ratification does not carry any special risks for the Russian Federation. We are not against it," Deputy Economy Minister Mukhamed Tsikanov, who is responsible for ecological issues, said.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, July 07, 2003

Global warming
Climate and atmospheric changes will result in less of hte scarlet pimpernel, snow-white lilies, and violet thistle that dot the California countryside, say scientists. The California grassland diversity study, which appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed that increased levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen in the environment lead to a more than one-quarter loss in plant diversity in California grasslands - a cut that mostly comes from the disappearance of wildflowers.

The New Indian Express, Bangalore, June 29, 2003, Page No. 19

Deep rocks might ease global warming
Rocks deep below the North Sea or the Ohio river in the United States could be burial grounds for global warming despite opposition from environmentalists who fear a leaky, short sighted fix. Governments and companies around the world are studying ways to pump greenhouse gases from power stations, oil platforms or steel mills into deep, porous rocks where they might be trapped for millions of years and curb a rise in temperatures.

Newstime, Hyderabad, June 28, 2003, Page No. 10

TVA ruling fails to settle clean air act debate
The Tennessee Valley Authority can ignore the Environmental Protection Agency`s orders to clean up pollution at nine of its coal-fired power plants, a federal appeals court ruled. The ruling, made strictly on procedural grounds, did little to clarify the ongoing debate over the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act, which the government alleged the federally owned power company had violated.

Environment News Service, US, June 27, 2003

Official highlights need for new technology to store carbon emissions
A U.S. official says the deployment of technologies that capture, separate, transfer and store carbon emitted by the combustion of fossil fuels will provide an enormous boost to sustainable growth in developed and developing countries around the world.

USIS Official Text, New Delhi, June 26, 2003

International forum to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Energy ministers from 14 countries, plus the European Union, will gather in Northern Virginia June 23-25 to discuss ways to reduce heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions using commercially viable carbon capture and storage technologies.

USIS Backgrounder, New Delhi, June 23, 2003

In denial on global warming
When it comes to global warming, the Bush administration seems determined to bury its head in the sand and hope the problem will go away. Worse yet, it wants to bury any research findings that global warming may be a threat to human health or the environment...editorial

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, 4, June 21, 2003

Global warming poses new risks for insurance companies
Global warming is no longer ‘ a hypothetical concern of future generations’ but is causing problems right now, experts from the Harward Medical School and Swiss Re have warned. They sounded a note of caution abut new ‘ outbreaks ‘ of health problems including asthma and West Nile virus (WNV), and a palpable danger of added insurance risks and costs as indicative of the need to address climate change issues ‘now’.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, June 21, 2003 Page 12

Hydrogen fuel may make earth cooler, cloudier
Hydrogen fuel cells, the widely hailed pollution-free energy source of the future, may turn out not to be so kind to the Earth, scientists said. Providing the hydrogen needed by all those fuel cells might create a cloudier, cooler planet, with larger and longer-lasting atmospheric ozone holes over the poles, said researchers from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Hydrogen fuel cells are seen as potentially emissions-free energy sources for everything from automobiles to homes, replacing fossil fuel engines and eliminating the noxious pollutants that damage lungs and build up heat-trapping gases cited in theories of global warming.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, June 20, 2003

Tackling global warming
Prof Norman Myers, the eminent British environmentalist, who recently visited India and lectured in a few cities has presented a grim picture of the effects of global warming with the mean temperature of the earth having increased by about 1.6 degree C. If global warming continues, "an increase of 3 to 4 degrees C in the equatorial regions or a drop of a few degrees at the poles will lead to receding mountain glaciers and melting of the polar ice caps and a rise in the sea level".

The Tribune, New Delhi, June 19, 2003, Page No. 15

Global warming makes planet greener, say scientists
A jointly funded study by NASA and the US Department of Energy has found that climate change during the past two decades has had a beneficial effect on plant life by providing extra doses of water, heat and sunlight, and that the Earth is a far greener place as a result. Climate change is providing plants with more heat, water and sunlight, says NASA. Global changes in temperature, rainfall and cloud cover have given plants more heat, water and sunlight in areas where climatic conditions once limited growth.

Edie (Internet), UK, June 13, 2003

EU Parliament votes to cut sulphur emissions
The European Parliament has voted, by an overwhelming majority of 498 to 1, to toughen a bill on cutting sulphur emissions from marine fuel. The proposals set limits on sulphur in marine fuels for the first time, in an attempt to reduce acid rain and improve air quality. The European Commission proposed a 1.5% sulphur limit for fuels used by all seagoing vessels in the Baltic, North Sea, and the English Channel. However, the European Parliament wants this changed to just 0.5%, with the same level applying to vessels of all flags operating out of any European Community port.

Edie (Internet), UK, June 13, 2003

EU assembly, govts start emissions trading talks
European Union lawmakers launched talks this week aimed at finalising a bill to cap "greenhouse gas" emissions from big industry and start a scheme of emissions trading by 2005. Parliament`s lead member on the bill said he hoped to negotiate an agreement with EU governments within 10 days following a vote earlier this week by the assembly`s environment committee tabling key changes to the law.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, June 13, 2003

Hydrogen as fuel may harm ozone layer
While hydrogen is touted as a clean fuel waiting to replace fossil energy sources, a study concludes its widespread use could increase damage to the ozone layer that protects Earth from ultraviolet radiation. The report in the edition of Science magazine says such trade-offs shouldn’t prevent development of hydrogen fuel cells, but they should be taken into account when considering what measures might be needed to limit any environmental down side of a hydrogen fuel economy.

The Times of India, New Delhi, June 13, 2003, Page No. 12

Sikkim lakes flood-prone due to global warming
Fourteen lakes in north Sikkim, formed and engorged by melting glaciers, may be prone to flood. And this is only the tip of the iceberg, an inventory warns. Kathmandu based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development started a project from June 1999 to develop an inventory of glaciers, glacial lakes and floods related with glacial lakes in the Hindukush-Himalayan mountain region through its Mountain Environment and Natural Resources Information Systems.

The Statesman, Kolkata, June 11, 2003, Page No. 5

UN climate body dampens hope as rejects projects
A United Nations climate change body has held its first review of projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions around the globe - and failed to approve a single one. "Don`t expect miracles," Hans Jurgen Stehr, chairman of the executive board of the Clean Development Mechanism, said reuters after announcing the results of the study. "In many ways these are pioneers. Many had valuable ideas," he said on the sidelines of a climate change conference in Bonn, Germany. Under the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, richer nations are allowed to fund projects such as wind farms and solar energy parks in developing countries and get credits towards their own goals of cutting emissions of carbon dioxide and other so-called greenhouse gases blamed for global warming.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, June 10, 2003

Rich countries` greenhouse gas emissions ballooning
The emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from Europe, Japan, the United States and other industrialized countries could grow by 17 percent from 2000 to 2010, despite measures in place to curb them, according to a new United Nations report. Greenhouse gases blanket the Earth, trapping the Sun`s heat close to the planet`s surface. Based on projections provided by the governments themselves, the report is under consideration at a two week meeting of the UN Climate Change Convention's 190 member governments that opened at the Maritim Hotel in Bonn. It is intended to help governments plan their future climate change strategies.

Environment News Service, US, June 09, 2003

Global warming spurs plant growth
Global warming may be blamed for extensive weather conditions but the cloud appears to have a silver lining: plant growth has increased in the past 20 years, according to a group of scientists in the US. The researchers, writing in the edition of Science, the journal, note that global plant productivity has increased by 6 per cent on average.

Financial Times, London, June 06, 2003, Page No. 9

Australia steps up controls on greenhouse gases
Australia will step up controls on synthetic greenhouse gases - which do less harm to the environment than traditional gases - but the government says it will still not ratify a global deal on climate change. Environment Minister David Kemp said the new laws - agreed on World Environment Day - could reduce Australia`s greenhouse gas emissions by up to six million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum, or one percent of emissions in 1990. Synthetic greenhouse gases, which are replacing ozone-depleting substances in refrigerants, air conditioning and aerosols are not as damaging to the environment, although they could still contribute to global warming.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, June 06, 2003

Warning in warming
The punishing conditions have exposed two aspects of the problem. It is an impossible task because the world`s richest nations are unwilling to take a holistic stand that should include scaling down the use of green house gases. Even a primary class student now knows the relationship between the thinning of the ozone layer and the excessive use of chloro-fluoro-carbons by the cosmetics and refrigeration industry......Editorial

The Tribune, New Delhi, June 06, 2003, Page No. 10

Globe to warm faster
A new approach to gauge earth’s climate has found that the atmosphere would witness more warming during 21st century. It said the global warming would be faster than what has been anticipated till now. The approach developed at Hadely Centre for Climate Prediction and Research in Bracknell in UK and published in ‘nature’ said average global temperature could be 5.5 degree Celsius higher by 2100 which is around .5 degree Celsius higher than a forecast accepted worldwide.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, May 24, 2003, Page No. 14

Report proposes programme for US greenhouse gas reduction
A cap-and-trade scheme for fossil fuel providers would be the best solution to reduce the US’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to a US think-tank. The Pew Centre, a philanthropic organisation concerned with improving the environment, has identified and analysed three options which could make up a greenhouse gas reduction programme in Designing a Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programme for the US. The three options are a ‘cap-and-trade’ programme, a greenhouse gas tax and a ‘sectoral hybrid’ programme. The options are all evaluated according to their environmental effectiveness, cost effectiveness, administrative feasibility, distributional equity and political acceptability.

Edie (Internet), UK, May 23, 2003

Romania seen as top supplier of greenhouse credit
Romania is set to be the leading transition economy supplier of greenhouse gas credits in the emerging carbon market, industry analysts said. Countries in Central and Eastern Europe are seen as key carbon credit suppliers under possible future mandatory emission trading schemes, such as the European Union`s and the Kyoto Protocol. Under the EU plan, companies in the oil refining, smelting paper and metals sectors would have to limit emissions or buy credits to pollute more. "If you are a buyer of these credits where should you be looking? On aggregate you should be looking in Romania," said Paul Bodnar," a spokesman at Vertis Environmental Finance, a carbon finance adviser in Hungary.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, May 23, 2003

Global cooling by aerosols
Aerosols effects could change current understanding of global climate change. Atmospheric aerosols, air borne particles that reflect the sun`s heat aways from Earth and into space, are part of everyday life. They are in the haze of air pollution, in plumes of smoke from forest fires and in ash clouds from erupting volcanoes.

The Hindu, New Delhi, May 22, 2003, Page No. 16 & www.hinduonnet.com

UN urges Asia to tax polluters, lend to clean firms
The United Nations wants Asian governments to tax polluters and give cheap loans to help factories become more green, according to a paper released. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report released in Bangkok that Asia now had more consumers earning more than $7,000 a year than Western Europe and North American combined. "It is clear that the Earth`s natural ecosystems will not cope with the style of industrialisation and over-consumption seen in Europe or North America," Shafqat Kakakhel, UNEP Deputy Executive Director, said in a statement accompanying the report.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, May 21, 2003

UK emissions down
British emissions of greenhouse gases fell by 7% from 1990 to 2001, according to government figures published. Emissions of greenhouse gases cause damage to the earth`s protective ozone layer.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, May 21, 2003, Page No. 7

It’s not all gas
Indo-US relations seem to be on an upswing in the field of science. Scientists and technocrats of the two countries are responsible for fashioning an unlikely partnership: the soon-to-be-signed bilateral agreement on developing clean-and-green technologies. It’s an unlikely deal because the centrepiece of the compact will be the joint effort to produce hydrogen-fuelled vehicles that have zero-pollution capabilities. At first glance, this seems a contradiction in terms for the Bush administration that has walked away from the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, ostensibly because it would hurt the US economy by imposing ‘unfair’ GHG reduction targets...editorial

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, May 19, 2003, Page No. 10

Milestone for UK emission trading scheme
The world’s largest greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme has so far proved “very successful”, UK environment minister Michael Meacher said on 12 May at a conference to mark the initiative’s first anniversary. According to the government, nearly 900 companies have traded emission allowances relating to over seven million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent, reports Environment Daily. “Real emission reductions” have resulted. Meanwhile, thousands of companies have cut emissions beyond voluntary targets taken on in parallel to the trading scheme.

Edie (Internet), UK, May 16, 2003

Global warming may hit maize production
Maize production could drop by 10 per cent more over time because of global warming and climate changes leading to food shortages in the developing nations, researchers warn. More than 140 million people in developing nations might ultimately be affected by shortages of maize which is used both as staple diet and livestock feed in several countries. To counter the trend, researchers suggest developing new varieties which can withstand the effects of global warming.

The Statesman, New Delhi, May 16, 2003, Page No. 11

Exxon said to lag majors in climate policy
Top global energy company Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM.N) is the poorest performer among leading world energy producers in responding to global climate change and disclosing greenhouse risks to investors, social investment groups said. London-based Claros Consulting released a report this week that said unlike its peers BP (BP.L) and Shell Oil Co. (SHEL.L) (RD.AS), Exxon Mobil does not support carbon trading, in which companies that produce greenhouse gases over set limits would have to purchase credits to emit over those limits. Claros and Boston-based Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies also said that unlike ChevronTexaco (CVX.N) and Shell, Exxon does not participate in carbon pricing, which factors in the cost of carbon emissions when deciding whether to go ahead with projects.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, May 15, 2003

Australia to pay price for global warming - report
Global warming may increase deaths and injuries due to flooding in Australia by as much as 240 percent by 2020, and cause a huge jump in the number of Pacific islanders whose homes could be washed away, a new report said. The study, which was commissioned by the Australian government, also warned that the risk of tropical diseases, like dengue, could spread south in Australia and urged the authorities to start preparing the health system.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, May 12, 2003

European greenhouse gas emissions rise for second consecutive year
The EU is currently moving backwards, away from its 2008-2012 target of reducing the six main greenhouse gases by 8% on 1990 levels, with its second consecutive year of increases in emissions of the gases, according to the European Environment Agency's latest greenhouse gas inventory. The good news is that the share of emissions from industrial processes and waste have decreased considerably.

Edie (Internet), UK, May 09, 2003

UN confirms UK is on target for Kyoto goals
The UK has already reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 12.8% since 1990, according to new figures from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The reduction is against a background of a decade of economic growth of 25%, points out the UNFCCC. There have been notable cuts in the three main greenhouse gases compared to 1990 figures, according to the new UNFCCC report: a reduction of 35% for N2O, 33% for methane and 8% for CO2. The report also comments that the UK has been outstanding it its rigorous verification and evaluation processes for the greenhouse gas inventory, and praises the high level of collaboration and harmonisation between industry, government and non-governmental organisations in tackling climate change.

Edie (Internet), UK, May 09, 2003

EPA presents awards for actions to protect climate and ozone layer
The environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has presented awards to 23 individual and organizations form around the world for taking actions to protect the Earth's climate and stratospheric ozone layer. A press release says the award recipients, who were announced in Washington, D.C. April 22 as part of the national Earth Day celebration, have demonstrated ingenuity, leadership and public purpose by achieving a reduction of ozone-depleting and heat-trapping gas emissions.

USIS Official Text, New Delhi, April 24, 2003

Cooling the issue
Scientists` claims that man-made pollution is causing "unprecedented" global warming had everyone thought and bothered, but new research showing that the Earth was warmer during the Middle Ages might just cool things off. The review, carried out by a Harvard University team, examined "temperature proxies" such as tree rings, ice cores and historical accounts which allow scientists to estimate temperatures prevailing at sites around the world. The study has been welcomed by sceptics of global warming, who say it puts the claims of environmentalists in context.

The Week, Kochi, April 20, 2003, Page No. 52

Going it alone will cost plenty
The Bush administration did the right thing on diesel emissions this week, curbing an important source of air pollution. Yet President on the environmental promises of his 2000 campaign. Most notably, he broke his pledge to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, offering instead a purely voluntary – and therefore, one might have thought, meaningless – plan to limit global warming.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, April 19, 2003 Page 6

Britain issues smog warning as temperatures sizzle
The mini heatwave sweeping across Britain may bring a nasty downside, with scientists warning of early Summer smog for southern areas over the next couple of days. With temperatures set to reach as high as 25 centigrade (77F) yesterday, beating much of the Mediterranean, scientists from Britain`s Department of Environment (DEFRA) forecast increased ozone levels for London and the southeast. Some people can be sensitive to ozone pollution and may begin to notice an effect on their breathing, DEFRA said in a statement.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, April 17, 2003

The greenhouse effect
It is not just the green colour, which the scientists say is restful for the eyes (red makes the pupils contract while green leads to their expanding), certain plants actually remove toxin chemicals from the air. The number of products that emit chemicals has increased in our houses in the last 25 years. Plywood, board, polishes, cleaners, plastics, artificial fibers, insecticides, hairsprays and other cosmetics... countless unsuspected objects that we confront daily, all contribute to the atmosphere. Besides ridding the air of chemicals, plants also absorb foul odours leaving the environs of your house pollution-free, making them an ideal bio-accumulator. During the process of photosynthesis, plants biologically disintegrate gases absorbed from the atmosphere.

The Pioneer, New Delhi, April 16, 2003, Page No. 7

Industry's success in cutting emissions - but is it all just hot air?
British industry cut carbon dioxide emissions by 13.5 million tonnes last year, almost three times above target, according to government figures. But the five-year emissions trading scheme (UKETS) set up by the government is little more than hot air, according to an environmental news service. UK companies collectively reduced their emissions by ten million tonnes above targets signed up to under Climate Change Agreements (CCAs), with most of the cuts in the steel sector, says the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Edie (Internet), UK, April 11, 2003

A US plan for greenhouse gases, without the U.S.
During negotiations over the Kyoto Protocol, the United States preached the importance of market solutions to reduce greenshouse gas emissions. Few countries listened. Now, with Americans no longer at the table, the former free-market opposition has taken over the pulpit. In December, Canada became the 99th nation to ratify the plan to reduce greenhouse gases. And the heart of the treaty is an emissions-trading plan that closely resembles what the United States originally proposed.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, April 11, 2003, Page No. 16

Japan nuclear scandals stymie Kyoto pact goals
Japan`s plans to meet its obligations under the Kyoto accord on global warming could be in jeopardy as public safety concerns hinder the construction of new nuclear reactors low in greenhouse gas emissions. A string of safety scandals has shattered public faith in the nation`s nuclear industry, pushing back deadlines for rolling out a dozen or so reactors in a country that relies on nuclear energy for about a third of its power.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, April 11, 2003

Declare war on global warming
With his rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change in 2001, President George W. Bush inadvertently caused an upheaval in international relations. Environmental issues had been logn regarded as the poor stepchild of the foreign policy arena. But as recent remarks by Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain and the United Nations arms inspector Hans Blix made clear, the global warming, issue, and particularly America's handling of it, has become a central geopolitical concern.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, April 08, 2003 Page 6

Britain`s greenhouse gas emissions fell last year
Britain`s emissions of greenhouse gases fell by 3.5 percent last year, keeping the country on track to meet its own pollution targets and those set out in the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, the government said. The drop in emissions, the first decrease for two years, was the result of lower energy consumption, due partly to warmer weather, said the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in a statement.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, March 31, 2003

'The rise in sea level will affect India'
The mainstream scientific consensus on global warming becomes clearer by the day. The situation is now far more serious than it ever was in the past 400-600 years. Seven of the 10 warmest years in the 20th century occurred in the 1990s, with global temperatures spiking due to one of the strongest El Ninos on record. But we can do something about it and that is what Professor Norman Myers, honorary visiting Fellow, Green College, University of Oxford, busies himself with. The rise in sea level will also affect India. It is estimated that 23 million Indians in the eastern coast (comprising West Bengal and Orissa) will have to abandon their homes because of the rise in sea levels', said Professor Myers.

The Statesman, New Delhi, March 31, 2003, Page No. 5

UK emissions down
Government's latest data on greenhouse gas emissions, which show that carbon dioxide emissions are down 8% on 1990 levels. Emissions of the 'basket' of six greenhouse gases, weighted by global warming potential have fell by 12.3% between the base year and 2001; there was a slight increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 1999 and 2001; carbon dioxide emissions fell by 5.3% between 1990 and 2001, and provisional estimates for emissions of carbon dioxide are that emissions in 2002 were 8-9% lower than 1990; sulphur dioxide emissions fell 70% between 1990 and 2001; nitrogen dioxide emissions fell by 39% during the same period; emissions of non-methane volatile organic compounds fell by 45% over that period; and ammonia emissions fell by 15% over the period.

Edie (Internet), UK, March 28, 2003

Global warming threatens Snowdonian plant
When the Snowdon lily was first spotted around 1696 by the Welsh botanist Edward Lhwyd it was already rare. A remnant of the ice age, it had clung on to life on the northern slopes of the highest peaks in Wales for 10,000 years, still finding Snowdonia cold enough for its liking. But gradually as the weather has got warmer, the habitat for the Snowdon lily (Lloydia serotina) has shrunk so much that ecologists believe it will soon become extinct in Britain. Only five tiny patches of the plant survive below the peaks of Snowdon, Glyders and Carneddaw, and with no higher mountains to migrate to the future looks bleak. Climate change scientists believe it will be the first British plant to disappear because of global warming.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, March 27, 2003

Global warming worries Stokes
Mrs Vidya Stokes, Minister for Science, Technology and Environment, has called upon the policy makers to take notice of the ongoing climatic changes and their consequences so that corrective measures could be taken to save the mankind from the impending diaster. Inaugurating a two day brainstorming session on "Mountain Environment and Climatic change", organised by the State Council of Science Technology and Environment, she said the phenomenon of global warming, mostly due to human activities, had set off disturbing changes in the environment which did not augur well for the mankind.

The Tribune, New Delhi, March 16, 2003, Page No. 6

Fishy fodder can stifle release of greenhouse gas
Fish oil could be the answer to stifling the release of the greenhouse gas methane from belching farm animals. Belgian scientists found that adding fish oil to animal fodder could cut the release of methane by 25 to 40 percent in sheep without disrupting their normal digestion. "The fish oil shows this very powerful suppression of methane from the animals, Veerle Fievez of Ghent University in Belgium, told New Scientist magazine.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, March 13, 2003

Germans experiment with emissions trading, prices
German companies are experimenting with emissions certificate trading ahead of the launch of a Europe-wide scheme in 2005, organisers of a pilot project said. "A credit for one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction achieved 6.58 euros in a recent auction," said Herlind Gundelach of the Hesse state environment ministry during a presentation of results of the so-called Hesse tender. "This was the first time the market for such certificates was tested in Germany and the results will be fed back into a national working group preparing for implementation of the EU scheme," said Gundelach, state secretary at the ministry which initiated the tender in a private-public partnership.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, March 13, 2003

Global warming may mean a big chill for northern regions
Based on globally averaged land temperatures, said the National Climate Date Center (part of the U.S. Department of Commerce), January 2003 was the second warmest January on record world-wide -1.03 degrees Celsius above the 1880-2002 average. The juxtaposition of a big chill in the North-east and near-record warmth globally seems eerily like the most of the world gets toastier, average winter temperatures in the Northeastern U.S. and Western Europe could plunge. If that possibility surprises you it's because much of the talk about climate change is couched in benign language. 'Global warming' sounds downright pleasant, and the attendant changes are implicitly assumed to be gradual.

The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong, A9, March 10, 2003

Kyoto to Blair rescue
What do global warming and Iraq have to do with one another? Nothing much. Except that for those who want to portray US President George Bush as a reckless cowboy, they are two sides of the same coin. The claim that 'global warming' is a bigger threat to the planet than Saddam Hussein scored a victory of sorts last week in London. Britain's Labour goverhment released its long-awaited white paper on the country's energy policy, bringing headlines back to the issue that, until ?Iraq, caused more trans-Atlantic friction than any other : the Kyoto treaty on climate change.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, March 06, 2003, Page No. 6

India calls for immediate ratification
India reiterated its call for immediate ratification of the kyoto protocol and said the global community should show concern to promote renewable energy proliferation to meet growing global energy demand. "India is a responsible member-country of the global community which subscribes both in letter and spirit to the kyoto protocol," Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy Sources M Kannappan said at an interactive meeting on renewable energy proliferation at the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India.

Business Standard, New Delhi, March 05, 2003, Page No. 2

Rebuked on global warming
Nothing so far has shamed President George W. Bush in to adopting a more aggressive policy toward the threat of global warming. He has been denounced by mainstream scientists, deserted by his progressive friends in industry and sued by seven states. Still he clings stubbornly to a voluntary policy aimed at merely slowing the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, despite an overwhelming body of evidence that only bindings targets and a firm timetable will do the job. (Editorial).

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, March 03, 2003, Page No. 10

Offsetting global warming
Do you feel guilty about global warming every time you get behind the wheel of your car? If you are a frequent flier, start feeling more guilty. On a round trip from New York to London, according to the calculations of the Edinburgh Center for Carbon Management in Scotland, a Boeing 747 spews out about 440 tons of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, That is about the same amount that 80 SUVs emit in a full year of hard driving. But a few orgaizations, among them the Better World Club and American Forests in the United States and Future Forests in Britain, have stepped into the breach. They have devised ways for the environmentally concerned to mitigate their role in the collective output of carbon dioxide.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, February 28, 2003, Page No. 14

Emission credits to curb Denmark`s CO₂ pollution
Denmark said this week it would reach its target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by buying emission credits from central and eastern Europe. Denmark expects to spend 5-25 billion crowns ($0.7-3.6 billion) to reach its commitments to the Koyoto protocol to cut carbon dioxide emissions (CO₂) by 21 percent by 2012. "We want the most improvement for the environment we can get for as little money as possible," Danish Finance Minister Thor Pedersen said at a news conference.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, February 28, 2003

U.S. plans to build emission-free plant
The Bush administration will launch an international initiative to build the first coal-fired power plant that doesn't emit carbon dioxide, one of the so-called greenhouse gases thought to be warming the planet. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham will announce the program. The move is one in a series aimed at understanding how to remove carbon dioxide from power-plant emissions and inject it into geological formations, where it can be permanently stored underground.

The Financial Express, New Delhi, February 28, 2003, Page No. 7

Blair lays out an ambitious emissions cut
Prime Minister Tony Blair has laid out ambitious plans to cut carbon dioxide emissions in Britain by 60 percent in the next five decades and gently criticized President George W. Bush for failing to do more to combat the effects of so-called greenhouse gases. Framing the possible threat of global warming as one of national security, Blair said that the United States had been wrong to back out the 1997 Kyoto treaty, which seeks to minimize carbon dioxide emissions.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, February 26, 2003, Page No. 2

Russia urged to rescue Kyoto pact
Pressure on Russia to ratify the Kyoto protocol is intensifying amid fears in the European Union that Moscow may scupper the agreement to combat climate change by refusing to sanction it. Vladimir Putin, Russia`s president, promised last year that the ratification process would be under way by now in the duma, the lower house of the country`s parliament, but no progress has been made.

The Guardian (Internet), UK, February 26, 2003

Global warming driving pika losses
The pika - a small mammal that makes its home on the talus slopes of western mountains in North America - may be one of the first animals to fall victim to global warming, new research suggests. A study published this month shows that global warming may have contributed to local extinctions of American pika populations in the Great Basin area, between the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains.

Environment News Service, US, February 25, 2003

Blair urges 60 percent global greenhouse gas cuts:
To stop further damage to the global climate a 60 percent reduction in emissions by 2050 is required, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair said today in a major speech on sustainable development in which he committed Britain to the 60 percent cut. Speaking at an event organized by the United Nations Sustainable Development Commission, he set out the case for a new international consensus to tackle key issues of sustainable development like climate change.

Environment News Service, US, February 24, 2003

Bush sees a balance on rules for the environment:
For two years, it has come in bursts, on issues from arsenic to wetlands: the unfolding of what President Bush, as a candidate, promised would be a new era of environmental protection. Whether rejecting a treaty on global warming, questioning Clinton-era rules on forest protection or pressing for changes in landmark environmental laws, Mr Bush has imposed a distinctive stamp on a vast landscape of issues affecting air, water, land, energy and the global climate.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 24, 2003, Page No. 7

Is the Euphoria over CDM unwarranted?:
Notwithstanding the controversies related to the uncertainty in predicting climate change, let alone the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol to the UN Framework conventin on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the new and emerging issue insofar as the developing country context is concerned is the access to additional funds an technology through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Will CDM actually live up to the expectations of developing countries?

The Financial Express, New Delhi, February 24, 2003, Page No. 7

Aussies go under to fight warming:
Australian scientists seeking to ease global warming are going underground. Researc-hers at a government-funded science organisation said on Tuesday they are investigating the possibility of burying up to 1 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide to help solve the problem of greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide is among the gasses emitted by burning fossil fuels.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, February 19, 2003, Page No. 20

Emissions trading could be counter-productive to Kyoto: The Kyoto Protocol is in danger of becoming a ‘first step backwards’ in environmental regulation, warns a new report from the research body Trans National Institute (TNI). Carbon trading, an integral part of the Kyoto Protocol, could allow countries to meet their targets through purchase of carbon credits without actually reducing any greenhouse gas emissions, says a report by Carbon Trade Watch – a new project set up by TNI.

Edie (Internet), UK, February 21, 2003

Firms fail to count cost of global warming:
Most of the world's top 500 companies are failing to take action to deal with the risks of global warming, according to research on the corporate impact of climate change. Some companies in the heavy industries could see their value tumble by as much as 40 per cent -equating to ignore the threat to their business.

Financial Times, London, February 17, 2003, Page No. 1(s)

Voluntarism won’t work:
In a transparent bit of salesmanship that should not be mistaken for a serious policy, the Bush administration announced that it had persuaded several major industries to make voluntary reductions in the rate at which they produce carbon dioxide and other gases that contribute to global warming. It was the administration’s latest effort to show that voluntary controls will make unnecessary the mandatory reductions called for by many scientists, environmentalists and members of Congress – as well as by the 1997 Kyoto protocol that President George W.Bush rejected after taking office.

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, February 15, 2003, Page No. 6

Reducing soot pollution could trigger more surface ozone:
Cutting particulate pollution could see surface levels of ozone unexpectedly rising in some parts of the world, according to a US study. Scientists from Harvard University and the Georgia Institute of Technology combined an atmospheric chemistry model with a global aerosol model to investigate the effect of dust, soot and sulfate aerosols on concentrations of ozone in the troposphere, the lower atmosphere.

Edie (Internet), UK, February 14, 2003

US firms set greenhouse gas targets in Bush plan:
U.S. utilities, automakers, oil refiners and other industries said this week they will voluntarily trim carbon dioxide emissions, drawing praise from the Bush administration and sighs from environmentalists who say it is not enough to reduce heat-trapping gases. Representatives of a dozen industries told a news conference they would participate in the new Climate Vision Program being overseen by the Department of Energy and other federal agencies.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, February 14, 2003

Air travel to knock UK CO2 emissions off target:
Britain is unlikely to deliver on its pledges to curb emissions of carbon dioxide, with pollution from air travel threatening to undo progress by industry and other sectors, said a team of government advisors this week. The independent Sustainable Development Commission said existing measures to cut emissions of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) were unlikely to achieve even two thirds of the government`s targets, and maybe less than half.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, February 14, 2003

Global temperatures stay high in 2002 - UK:
Global temperatures have kept rising and 2002 was one of the warmest years on record while many greenhouse gases reached their highest ever levels in 2001, a British government report said this week. Data analysed by the UK Meteorological Office`s Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research found that last year joined 2001 and 1998 as the top three warmest since records began in 1860.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, February 13, 2003

Shrinking Arctic ice to open shipping short-cuts:
The shrinking Arctic icecap may open a fabled passage for ships between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans within a decade, transforming an icy graveyard into a short-cut trade route. Ship owners may be among the few to benefit from global warming in the extreme north, where the giant thaw is threatening traditional habitats for indigenous peoples and wildlife ranging from polar bears to caribou. U.N. studies project that the Arctic may be free of ice in summertime by 2080. The polar passage, clogged by ice throughout seafaring history, may come to challenge the Panama and Suez canals.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, January 28, 2003

Russia set to ratify Kyoto Protocol - or will they?:
Russia looks set to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, following a press conference announcing that the country has looked into the costs and feasibility of achieving emissions reductions. But other reports suggest Russia is courting the US, which has rejected Kyoto in favour of developing its own approach. Alexander Bedritsky, Chairman of the Russian Hydrometeorology Centre, told journalists that the Russian government had drawn up a list of tasks to complete in order to ratify the protocol, reports the Russian online news service Pravda.

Edie (Internet), UK, January 24, 2003

Portugal`s climate gas burden grows heavier:
Portugal faces an even tougher battle to contain ballooning greenhouse gas emissions than previously realised, a revised draft climate change plan issued by the government`s environment institute shows. The plan contains few proposals to reverse the trend. Based on a recalculation of available data, the institute now forecasts that emissions could be 61% over 1990 levels by 2010. Portugal is committed under the Kyoto protocol to limit the increase to 27%. Even the best case forecast is for emissions 55% higher in 2010 than in 1990. An earlier draft of the plan issued in 2001 predicted a lower increase of 52%, reports Environment Daily.

Edie (Internet), UK, , January 24,2003

Copenhagen protocol ratified:
The Union cabinet has ratified amendments to the Copenhagen and Montreal Protocols. The Copehagen amendment provides for measures for controlling hydrochloroflurocarons (HCFCs) hydrobromoflurocarbons (HBFCs) and methyl bromide. The Montreal Amendment established a licensing system for export and import of new, used, recycled and reclaimed ozone depleting substances.

The Economic Times, New Delhi, January 23, 2003, Page No. 8

US groups sue government agency over global warming:
Three major US environmental groups are suing the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to curb global warming despite its growing impacts on human health and the environment. The move comes amid growing anger among environmentalists over the record and intentions of President George W Bush.

The Kashmir Times, Jammu, January 18, 2003, Page No. 7

Haunted by big, brown cloud, India now wants world to look elsewhere:
India has tough job on its hands as it wants the rest of the world to see through the haze of the Asian Brown Haze (ABC). In the crucial meet of 120 country ministers which starts in Nairobi on Monday, India`s first strategy was to get ABC dropped from the agenda. When it failed, the government is now planning to move in an alternate draft that will ask the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to take up further study around the globe instead of just limiting it to the Indian Ocean.

The Indian Express, New Delhi, 1, February 4, 03

US Senate rejects delay of Bush pollution rules:
The U.S. Senate rejected a Democratic attempt to delay a Bush administration plan to relax costly air pollution rules that apply when utilities, refineries and other industrial plants are repaired or expanded. In the first environmental showdown of the new legislative session, Democrats sought to delay the Environmental Protection Agency`s so-called "New Source Review" rules for six months until the National Academy of Sciences completed an analysis of how it would affect children and adults suffering from asthma and other breathing ailments.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, January 23, 2003

Rabo intermediary in Dutch greenhouse gas projects:
Dutch cooperative Rabobank said this week it had signed an agreement with the government to become a financial intermediary for projects aimed at reducing "greenhouse gas" emissions by 10 million tonnes. Over the next two years, Rabo will close contracts in developing countries on behalf of the Dutch government for sustainable energy projects.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, January 23, 2003

India will soon ratify Montreal Protocol:
The Cabinet on Tuesday decided to ratify two amendments to the Montreal Protocol on protecting the Ozone layer from depletion. The ratification of the Montreal and Copenhagen amendments would formally reiterate India's commitment to the Montreal Protocol on Ozone depleting substances and protecting the Ozone layer. A government spokesperson said that the ratification would also give India trade and other benefits under the Montreal Protocol and facilitate technology transfer and funding of projects using Hydrochloroflurocarbos and Methyl Bromide.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, January 22, 2003, Page No. 2

Green fight over energy plan:
Three major US environmental groups are suing the Environmental protection agency for failing to curb global warming despite its growing impacts on human health and the environment. The move comes amid growing anger among environmentalists over the record and intentions of President George W Bush.

Newstime, Hyderabad, January 20, 2003, Page No. 8

Grass-roots greenery:
Is America ready to tackle climate change? An absurd question, you might think. After all, George Bush pulled out of the UN's Kyoto Protocol on climate change a couple of eyars ago, to much international disapproval. He then unveiled a weak domestic climate plan in which the targets for reducing the growth in emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGS) were purely voluntary.

The Economist, London, January 18, 2003, Page No. 35

Japan to fund green projects under Kyoto mechanisms:
The Japanese Government has announced that it will help fund projects in developing countries in return for emission credits, under the mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol. The Government will shoulder a third of the costs for projects, including wind-power plants and the production of ethanol fuel from methane generated at waste disposal plants. The scheme will cost 300 million yen (US$2.5 million), and in return, Japan will receive nearly 1.2 million tonnes of credits per year.

Edie (Internet), UK, January 17, 2003

Air quality improving, but ozone levels fluctuate:
A government report out shortly will show that overall, the UK's air quality is improving, although problems persist with ozone pollution in rural areas. Provisional air quality indicators for 2002 show that in urban areas air pollution was recorded as moderate or higher on 14 days on average per site, down from 24 days the previous year. In rural areas, the average was 23 days, compared with 30 days in 2001, although the number of days with moderate or high pollution has fluctuated between 19 days in 1987 and 48 days in 1990, with no clear trend.

Edie (Internet), UK, January 17, 2003

France considers sequestering carbon in farmlands:
French Environment Minister Roselyne Bachelot says that carbon sequestration in agricultural lands could be used as part of a national program to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The announcement followed release of an official report concluding that up to two percent of French carbon dioxide emissions could be stored underground, helping France meet its Kyoto Protocol commitment to maintain emissions below 1990 levels.

Environment News Service, US, January 17, 2003

Russia delays global warming pact, may wreck deal:
Russia, vital to the U.N. Kyoto accord on global warming after the United States pulled out in 2001, is not ready to ratify it for economic reasons and this could cripple the pact, experts said. The delay could cost Moscow billions of dollars, they added. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov told the Earth Summit in Johannesburg last September that Russia would ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, first agreed in 1997, "in the near future".

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, January 17, 2003

Walking up to warming:
Given the Bush administration's inert approach to global warming, the best hope for getting a start on the problem this year lies with the Senate. The prospect that something will actually happen there improved greatly last week with the introduction of bipartisan bill bearing the signatures of two marquee sponsors, Joseph Lieberman of Conectincut and John McCain of Arizona. The bill provides an economy wide approach to cutting emissiosn of greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide, that threaten to disrupt the earth's climate in environmentally destructive ways. (Editorial).

International Herald Tribune, Bangkok, January 16, 2003, Page No. 6

Global warming aggravates Australia drought - study:
Global warming and the pollution believed to lie behind it are key reasons for the severity of Australia`s drought, an ominous sign for the future of the food-producing nation, a study published said. The report, by the environmental group World Wide Fund for Nature Australia and two meteorologists, said record day-time temperatures last year led to unprecedented rates of water evaporation. It said to some extent the El Nino weather event, produced by a periodic warming of Pacific waters, could be blamed for the heat and dryness, but natural climate variations alone failed to account for all of the temperature anomalies of 2002.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, January 15, 2003

Exxon sues Greenpeace over Luxembourg protest:
Oil giant Exxon Mobil is suing environmental group Greenpeace over a protest last year in Luxembourg, in which activists chained to petrol pumps brought business to a standstill, Greenpeace said. The company said it wanted compensation after 600 campaigners shut down all its 28 Esso petrol stations in the country for 14 hours last October, accusing Exxon of lobbying Washington to pullout of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.

Planet Ark (Internet), Australia, January 10, 2003

Antarctic ice melt may raise sea level:
A natural cycle of thawing may cause an Antarctic ice sheet as big as both Texas and Colorado to melt away in 7,000 years, possibly causing a worldwide sea level rise of about 16 feet, according to a study. In a study appearing in Science, researchers say that geochemical measurements of when mountainside rocks first become free of ice near the south pole show that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet began melting about 10,000 years ago and is still shrinking. "There was a gradual and continuous melting," said John O. Stone, professor of geology at the University of Washington, Seattle. Over thousands of years the ice has retreated at the rate of about 2 inches a year in a steady pattern that shows no sign of slowing.

The Hindustan Times, New Delhi, January 04, 2003, Page No.10

The world will grow hotter in 2003:
Climate experts say global temperatures in 2003 could match or beat the modern record set in 1998, when temperatures were raised sharply by El Niño, a periodic disturbance of Pacific Ocean currents that warms the atmosphere. The El Niño that year was the strongest ever measured. A new one is brewing in the Pacific but is expected to remain relatively weak, experts say. Still, they say, a persistent underlying warming trend could be enough to push temperatures to record highs.Some of the warming could be the result of natural climate variation, but the experts say it is almost impossible to explain without including the heat-trapping properties of rising levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted by smokestacks and tailpipes.

The Asian Age, New Delhi, January 03, 2003, Page No.8

Antarctic ice sheet may disappear, raising sea by 16 feet:
An Antarctic ice sheet the size of Texas and Colorado combined is melting and could disappear in 7,000 years, possibly raising worldwide sea levels by 16 feet. Based on geologic measurements that date when rocks first become free of ice, researchers have found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet started retreating about 10,000 years ago, said John O. Stone, first author of a study appearing in the journal Science.

USA Today (Internet), US, January 02, 2003

Hundreds of species pressured by global warming:
Hundreds of plant and animal species around the world are feeling the impacts of global warming, although the most dramatic effects may not be felt for decades, according to new research from a Stanford University team. They predict that a rapid temperature rise, together with other environmental pressures, "could easily disrupt the connectedness among species" and lead to numerous extinctions. "Birds are laying eggs earlier than usual, plants are flowering earlier and mammals are breaking hibernation sooner," said Terry Root, a senior fellow with Stanford University's Institute for International Studies (IIS) and lead author of the article published in today's issue of the journal "Nature."

Environment News Service, US, January 02, 2003