Green economy and Copenhagen

As the United Nations climate change conference in Copehagen approaches, we should examine all the reasons for a green economy rather than simply focusing on climate change.

Of course, climate change is what the conference is about, but there is so much disinformation about the "consequences" of climate change action that need to be cleared up.

So here's a list, probably not complete, of additional good reasons to establish a green economy that will help reduce carbon emissions:

• Energy independence. President Barack Obama actually campaigned more on this issue than climate change in addressing environmental concerns. It is more of a nationalistic concern. For example, it would not make a good argument in Saudi Arabia.
• Peak oil. Yes, many people have forgotten about this in the whole climate change debate. Petroleum is not a sustainable resource! At some point, most experts, even those in the oil industry, agree that oil reserves will no longer be able to keep up with demand. Which nations will fare well when oil prices start going through the roof? Obviously those that have made the adjustments toward renewable energy sources and conservation will be in the driver's seat.
• Pollution. Let's not forget that among the the leading causes of cancer are the carcinogens contained in industrial waste and pollutants. These carcinogens are contaminating the food and water chain. Air pollution also contributes seriously to public health problems. The cost of cleaning up contaminated water and land continues to rise. Pollution directly impacts many industries. For example, fertilizers that runoff into the Gulf of Mexico have created vast dead zones where fisheries and other sea-based industries are impossible.
• If you're a nature lover, a bird watcher, a hunter, a fisherman (or fisherwoman), or anyone else who likes the outdoors, then you need to think about the green economy. A lot of these people already know this even among people who are politically conservative. The old-timers especially have seen the changes that have occurred in the last few decades in many ecosystems.
  
• Economy. The big deception out there is that a green economy will somehow translate to lost jobs, and that it will cost too much. The reality is that it will cost too much not to have a green economy. Ask any economic analyst where the world economy is heading in the future. It's not really a secret anymore. Those nations that do not make the adjusments now will be dependent on those nations that do.

China, India ask Obama for more on climate change

Delegates from China and India at the Poznan forum on climate change have called on President-elect Barack Obama to pledge even deeper emissions cuts to tackle climate change.

“The current climate-change issue was caused by the excessive emissions by the industrialized nations in the process over 200 years of industrialization,” Su Wei, China's lead negotiator said. “They should bear the responsibility to address that problem.” Su said that Obama's promise to reduce U.S. greenhouse emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 is "not ambitious enough."

Obama's goals would fall under the limits set by the Kyoto Protocol for 2012, and well under the European Union pledge of a 20 percent cut by 2020.

Seattle Post Intelligencer

China, India Want More Commitment From Obama on Climate Change Bloomberg - 5 hours ago By Alex Morales Dec. 4 (Bloomberg) -- China and India, the developing nations with the highest carbon-dioxide emissions, want US President- elect Barack Obama to demonstrate more commitment in tackling climate change, delegates at United Nations talks ... The young are the key to fighting climate change guardian.co.uk US to leave door open on climate for Obama: officials AFP

An environmentalist from Oxfam protests in front of the buildings where the UN climate change conference is being held in Poznan December 4, 2008. Oxfam is demanding global action by rich countries to combat climate change. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel (POLAND)

Massive brown cloud costs Asia

A brown cloud of smoke, pollutants and other particles that is three kilometers deep and stretches from the Arabia to the Pacific Ocean is harming the region's health and agriculture, a UN agency says.

In this Feb. 6, 2007 satellite image from NASA, a band of brown haze appears to narrow somewhat as it crosses over South Korea, center, then spreads out over the Sea of Japan toward Japan, center right. Opaque white clouds mix with the haze, especially over the Yellow Sea and Japan. According to a report commissioned by the U.N. Environment Program and released Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008, a thick brown cloud of soot, particles and chemicals stretching from the Persian Gulf to Asia threatens health and food supplies in the world, (AP Photo/NASA)

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) claims that the cloud will damage hearts and lungs, and impair photosynthesis resulting in lower crop yields. The cloud will even hamper ability to monitor global warming.

CTV.ca

Brown cloud 'costs lives and crops' Aljazeera.net - 15 hours ago A brown cloud of soot and pollutants floating over Asia is killing thousands of people and damaging crops, the UN says. The environment programme (UNEP) reports that contamination from factories, fires, cars and deforestation contains particles that ... Toxic Cloud Masks Warming Effects Wall Street Journal UN Report Highlights Dangers Of 'Atmospheric Brown Clouds' RedOrbit

Comment: Towards nuclear disarmament

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon recently called for nuclear states to work toward nuclear disarmament outling a five-point plan.

Recently, the arms race has been heating up again. With the building of a ballistic missile shield by the US, China and Russia have undertaken extensive modernization programs. Russia is building a new type of warhead for both its land-based and submarine-based platforms that will be much faster and harder to knock down than anything before.

China is deploying new solid-fuel ICBMs and is building a fleet of possibly up to eight ballistic missile-carrying submarines. Some of the subs may carrying up to 24 missiles with at least three warheads each.

Twenty years after the end of the Cold War, there are still an estimated 26,000 nuclear weapons in the world today.

Vancouver Sun
UN chief outlines five-point nuclear disarmament plan
AFP - Oct 24, 2008
It was signed by the five nuclear powers and ratified by Britain, France and Russia but not by China and the United States. Ban also underscored the need ...
UN asks N-states to work toward nuclear disarmament Press Trust of India
Ban Ki-moon sets new proposal on nuclear disarmament Toronto Star
UN wants world nuclear disarmament PRESS TV

UN hoping for Obama?

A Washington Post article indicates that many United Nations staff members and delegates are hoping that Sen. Barack Obama wins the U.S. presidential race.

An informal survey of more than two dozen U.N. staff members and foreign delegates showed that the overwhelming majority would prefer that Sen. Barack Obama win the presidency, saying they think that the Democrat would usher in a new agenda of multilateralism after an era marked by Republican disdain for the world body.

The United Nations is not popular with Republicans in general who often advocate a unilateral approach, although workers at the UN acknowledge that the administration has been more cooperative recently.

Out of 28 UN workers and foreign delegates surveyed, only two said they preferred Sen. John McCain for president.

The majority of people here believe in multilateralism. The Republicans were constantly questioning the relevance of the United Nations," said one UN worker while another remarked, "Please, God, let him win."

According to the article, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has a hankering for Obama, but officially he takes no position in the US election.

The United Nations has elected one black secretary-general, Kofi Annan, and Ralph Bunche, a UN mediator who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was African American.

UN chief praises efforts to tackle world poverty

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said that the United Nations program to fight world povery has raised more than $16 billion so far.

"This has exceeded all our expectations," Ban Ki-moon said of support for the Millennium Development Goals, which have a target date of 2015. The $16 billion amount is focused specifically on getting the world's children in school by that date.

Xinhua

UN chief: $16B being given to help world's poor International Herald Tribune - 2 hours ago AP UNITED NATIONS: Bill Gates said Thursday the UN's goals to fight poverty have grabbed the world's attention - and the UN chief said the world has responded with more than $16 billion despite the current financial crisis. World leaders recommit to poverty goals Reuters Ban: About $16 bln pledged at UN summit to combat poverty Xinhua