Friday, June 6, 2008

‘END ADDICTION TO CO2’

On World Environment Day, UN Says Everyone Must Take Steps To Fight Warming


Wellington: The United Nations urged the world on Thursday to kick an all-consuming addiction to carbon dioxide and said everyone must take steps to fight climate change.
UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon said global warming was becoming the defining issue of the era and will hurt rich and poor alike.
“Our world is in the grip of a dangerous carbon habit,” Ban said in a statement to mark World Environment Day, which is being marked by events around the globe and hosted by the New Zealand city of Wellington.
“Addiction is a terrible thing. It consumes and controls us, makes us deny important truths and blinds us to the consequences of our actions,” he said in the speech to reinforce this year’s World Environment Day theme of “CO2 Kick the Habit”.
“Whether you are an individual, an organization, a business or a government, there are many steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint. It is a message we all must take to heart,” he said. World Environment Day, conceived in 1972, is the United Nations’ principal day to mark global green issues and aims to give a human face to environmental problems and solutions.
New Zealand, which boasts snow-capped mountains, pristine fjords and isolated beaches used as the backdrop for the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, has pledged to become carbon-neutral.
“We take pride in our clean, green identity as a nation and we are determined to take action to protect it. We appreciate that protecting the climate means behaviour change by each and every one
of us,” said New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark.
New Zealand, like many countries, staged art and street festivals to spread the message on how people can reduce carbon usage.
In Australia, Adelaide Zoo
staged a wild breakfast for corporate leaders to focus on how carbon emissions threaten animal habitats.
In Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, people plan to clean up Gulshan Baridhara lake that has become badly polluted,
and in Kathmandu the Bagmati River Festival will focus on cleaning up the river there.
Many Asian cities, such as Bangalore and Mumbai, plan tree-planting campaigns, while Pune will open a “Temple of Environment” to help
spread green awareness Global carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels are rising quickly and scientists say the world faces rising seas, melt ing glaciers and more intense storms, droughts and floods as the planet warms. AGENCIES
GREEN CORNER
Canada first in the world to pass climate act
The Canadian House of Commons has become the first parliament in the world to pass a climate act, which commits the country to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% from 1990 levels by 2050. The House passed the Climate Change Accountability Bill on Wednesday. It was moved by the leader of the opposition New Democratic Party. IANS
Mexico City smog hurting people’s sense of smell
Chronic pollution in Mexico City, which stains the sky yellow and can trigger government warnings to stay indoors, could be killing off residents’ sense of smell, scientists say. Tests showed people in Mexico City struggled to sniff out everyday odors like coffee compared to residents of a nearby town. REUTERS
Roman statues make a stand against emissions
The marble features of some of Rome’s most famous statues were obscured by gas masks on Thursday as part of a protest against traffic pollution organised by an environmental pressure group. Slogan put up by the group “Terra1” read “The statues say NO to pollution from CO2 emissions!” REUTERS

No comments: