News

CLIMATE CHANGE MOVES COMMUNITY

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:00:00 +0000

A small community living in the Pacific island chain of Vanuatu has become one of the first to be formally moved as a result of climate change.

The villagers have been relocated higher into the interior of Tegua, one of the chains’ northern most provinces, after their coastal homes were repeatedly swamped by storm surges and aggressive waves linked with climate change.

The relocation underlines the increasingly drastic measures now underway to conserve low lying communities as a result of the rise in man-made emissions to the atmosphere.

Details of the scheme were unveiled at a meeting in December 2005, organised by the UN Environment Programme’s polar centre in Norway. The meeting was called to build bridges between vulnerable Arctic communities and those of small island developing states.

Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s Executive Director, said that the people of the community faced the threats caused by climbing global temperatures, “the most acute of which is the devastation of their entire ways of life”.

He added: “The melting and receding of sea ice and the rising of sea levels, storms surges and the like are the first manifestations of big changes underway which eventually will touch everyone on the planet. The plight of these vulnerable people should be a clear signal to governments that we must hurry up if we are to avert a climate-led catastrophe.”

The relocation project, in Vanuatau, formally completed in August 2005, involved over 100 villagers living in the Lateu settlement.

The meeting revealed that other areas vulnerable to climate change are mountain regions where the melting of glaciers is creating huge lakes whose mud, soil and stone banks could burst sending huge quantities of water down valleys.

The threat is underlined in the Himalayas, where studies by UNEP, in collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), have found some 50 glacial lakes that are of concern in Nepal and Bhutan.

For more details about how climate change is already affecting the world, Europe and the UK, click here.

You're doing all this damage - so pay up

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 03 Sep 2002 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, September 3, 2002

DRIVERS, households and companies in the North East are to be asked to pay up for their part in warming up the planet.

The scheme would mean Newcastle becoming the first city in the world to attempt to be carbon neutral.

Carbon dioxide is one of the prime greenhouse gases behind climate change and the city in council is working with the Future Forests organisation to cut Newcastle’s emissions to zero over 20 years.

A November date has been earmarked to launch the Carbon Neutral Newcastle scheme. The project would involve Future Forests working out how much carbon dioxide is produced annually by companies, organisations, individuals and homes which decide to join the scheme. A plan would be drawn up to cut the emissions but what was left would cost £13 a tonne.

The money goes into a central independent trust fund to which bodies such as community groups apply for carbon dioxide reduction scheme such as tree planting, energy-saving measures like insulation, combined heat and power ventures, solar panels and other renewable power options.

It is estimated that the fund in Newcastle would add up to between £30,000 and £2m a year.

Talks have been held with potential partners ranging from bus companies, Metro operator Nexus on ideas such as cut-price tickets for motorists to Newcastle Airport where passengers could be asked to pay a few pounds per flight to offset their carbon generation.

Future Forests project officer Charles Henderson said Newcastle United had also been approached about the prospect of being the first Premiership carbon neutral club with emissions based on the team’s travel. Another possibility is people in Newcastle taking out carbon neutral mortgages, in which the price of emissions is factored into monthly payments, and electricity and gas customers opting to pay a little more on bills to compensate for their energy impact.

Companies such as Avis, Hilton, EMI and Pedigree Masterfoods have already embarked on the carbon neutral scheme.

Future Forests is running a programme in which 45,000 delegates to the Earth Summit can reduce the carbon dioxide costs of their trip to South Africa.

Mr Henderson said: “We have had a lot of interest from UK cities but Newcastle would be the first to join up. The City would be a proving ground and it could snowball. This is how people can do their bit to combat climate change.”

Council officer Allen Creedy, who has worked on the scheme, said: “As ome of the most forward-thinking city councils in Britain, Newcastle is acutely aware of the environmental impacts of the city. Businesses will be able to claim they or some of their products are carbon neutral.”

An airport spokeswoman said: “We support the carbon neutral scheme but details of our involvement are not finalised. We have already undertaken measures to lessen our environmental impact.”

It wasn't all bad

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 23 Nov 2002 00:00:00 +0000

From The Week, November 23, 2002

Newcastle upon Tyne, once a byword for pollution and heavy industry, is set to become one of the greenest and cleanest cities in Europe. As part of an ambitious plan to become the world’s first ‘carbon neutral’ city by 2025, councillors will plant new forests and promote the use of hydrogen-fuelled vehicles and solar panels. The city’s electrified Metro system will double in size, and hydro-power stations will be built on the region’s rivers and coast.

Scottish Power increases funding

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Thu, 14 Aug 2003 00:00:00 +0100

From Marketing, August 14, 2003

Scottish Power has increased its funding to Newcastle City Council to help the city become the first carbon-neutral city. The money will fund the sourcing of sustainable projects in the North-East region and a launch event in the autumn.

Green tax aims to clean up city

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 26 Sep 2003 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, September 26, 2003

A VOLUNTARY tax to fund a carbon dioxide-fighting war chest has been unveiled in Newcastle in a bid to make the city an eco-friendly world-beater.

Companies and residents are being urged to pay a ‘tariff’ to the city council every time they pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

The project, code-named Carbon Neutral Newcastle, aims to set up schemes which reduce carbon dioxide emissions and promote ways in which businesses and residents can cut back on the CO2 they generate.

Ultimately the aim is to ensure that Newcastle saves more carbon dioxide than it produces. One way of doing this is through planting more trees, which soak up carbon dioxide and pump out oxygen instead.

A £200,000 battle-chest has already been collected from local businesses ahead of the launch and will help fund a grant scheme for projects which can then help reduce carbon dioxide levels. Possible projects include improving insulation in homes and funding renewable forms of energy, such as wind farms or solar panels in buildings.

People will also be encouraged to cut excessive carbon dioxide production from their lives by using public transport, avoiding air travel and not leaving electrical equipment on standby at night.

According to Newcastle City Council, which is leading the project, the city produces 1.8million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.

A media campaign will be launched next week to encourage businesses and residents to look at how they can reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

And they will be encouraged to sign up to a voluntary ‘tariff’ scheme – where they pay a price for creating carbon dioxide.

The £200,000 accumulated from businesses will be used to invest in renewable energy schemes.

Go Carbon Neutral

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 20 Oct 2003 00:00:00 +0100

From Citylife, October 20,2003

CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions are one of the main causes of global warming. CO2 acts like an invisible blanket, trapping heat in our atmosphere.

We all produce this pollution. In one year, the people and businesses in Newcastle produce enough CO2 to fill St James’ Park 760 times over! The good news is there is something we can do about it.

We can turn down our thermostats at home and turn off unwanted lights and electrical appliances. We can travel by public transport. This produces about a third of the CO2 as travelling by car. We can switch to green electricity, which is powered by wind and hydro, in our homes and workplaces.

But we all need to live and work, and that means we can’t avoid CO2 emissions completely.

So we’ve teamed up with Scottish Power, Nexus, the Environment Agency and Newcastle Airport to launch a brand new campaign called CarbonNeutral Newcastle. CarbonNeutral Newcastle is a new and pioneering charity project that ‘offsets’ unavoidable CO2 emissions by funding projects in Newcastle (like solar power, wind turbines and tree-planting) to save exactly the same amount of CO2 as you have produced.

We’ll tell you more about these projects and talk to some of the people who have already signed up in next month’s Citylife.

Viz launches bid to save planet

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 30 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

From The Journal 30 March 2002

VIZ is cleaning up its act. The cult comic, creators of Sid the Sexist, The Fat Slags, The Parkie and Roger Mellie, is joining in Newcastle’s bid to become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

In one year, Newcastle’s population, businesses and organisations produce enough climate-damaging carbon dioxide to fill St James’ Park 760 times.

The Viz office in Newcastle is reducing the 13 tonnes of the gas it produces each year from using energy and commuting. The plan of action includes switching off computers and lights, reducing unnecessary heating and using a Metro pass.

The team is considering a switch to renewable electricity and to compensate for the remaining pollution, Viz is planting 35 trees in Kenton Dene in the city.

The comic put forward Viz character Roger Mellie, writer and broadcaster, as official spokesman.”

He said: “I have long believed that we do not lend the planet from our children, we merely borrow it from our ancestors, or something. And as such I am very pleased to be able to announce that Viz Comic is now officially helping Newcastle become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

“The trees planted on behalf of the comic will absorb greenhouse gases which will help slow global warming and stop flooding and call a halt to the melting of the Polar Ice Caps.

“More importantly, thanks to our clean bill of environmental health, I can smoke my 60 Superkings a day whilst looking in the eye of any of these self righteous, lentil-noshing, beardy weirdies.”

Over the last two years, Newcastle City Council, and sponsors, including Scottish Power, the Environment Agency and underground operator Nexus, have worked together to create a programme for the city to reduce its pollution to zero.

CarbonNeutral, applicable to any organisation, person or activity, is the point where carbon dioxide emissions are reduced and the remainder is offset through local community investment in clean technology and forestry projects.

Since the launch, 3,000 homes and 200 businesses in the North East have switched to green electricity, and 1,000 tonnes of emissions have been offset.

Smog on the Tyne

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 30 Mar 2002 00:00:00 +0000

From The Guardian March 30, 2002

The magazine Viz has vowed to tackle global warming. Along with 3,000 other businesses, it’s joining the push to make Newcastle the world’s first “carbon neutral” city and its creations, including Sid the Sexist, Johnny Fartpants and Roger Mellie, will be switching off lights and planting trees.

Its official spokesman is delighted: “Thanks to our clean bill of environmental health, I can smoke my 60 Superkings a day while looking in the eye of any of these self righteous, lentil-noshing, beardy-weirdies,” says Mellie.

Neutral Newcastle seeks carbon copies

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 00:00:00 +0000

From Public Servant, February 11, 2005

NEWCASTLE City Council wants to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city. If it achieves its goal it is likely to be the envy of many other authorities in the country – being responsible, it turns out, is not always easy.

With the Kyoto protocol entering into lay, the idea of “offsetting” – compensating for – carbon emissions is rising up the agenda.

Compensation involves calculating an amount of greenhouse gas emissions you have caused and reducing the same amount of emissions elsewhere – by such means as renewable energy generators, energy efficiency projects or planting trees that absorb the carbon you have put into the atmosphere.

Newcastle is being helped in its efforts by consultancy the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management (ECCM). Companies and individuals who want to measure their C02 emissions, reduce what emissions the can, and “neutralise” excess emissions by paying an agreed amount per tonne of carbon emitted into a fund that pays for local social and environmentally beneficial actions.

Project manager Charlie Henderson says that in the last year, 1,000 tonnes of carbon have been offset with £20,000 collected. In addition, 180 homes have been insulated, while 3,000 homes and 700 homes are buying green electricity.

Fifteen businesses have signed up so far, including a leisure centre, the Co-op and the city’s Anglican Church. They pay £13.64 per tonne of carbon, the value in the UK’s emission trading scheme at the time the project was set up.

In fact, the market price is now considerably lower – just £5.87 per tonne on the EU market. But Henderson is not worried companies will feel they are getting a raw deal.

“We are not selling a commodity,” he says. “Companies see this as a responsibility, a means of investing in the community. The local social benefits are more important to them than anything else.”

Although ECCM director Richard Tipper says interest in offsetting doubled last year, it would appear it is private sector firms that are leading the way. Henderson says Bristol is the only other council he knows doing a similar thing to Newcastle and most councils are only in the very early stages of thinking about these topics.

C02 much for Byker

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Wed, 07 Jul 2004 00:00:00 +0100

From Sustainable Homes, July 2004
THE regeneration of Byker, Ralph Erskine’s iconic estate has got underway with a competition to find a carbon neutral design for the work.

The Council, as part of the CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign, has said the two competition sites should showcase environmental sustainability, high quality landscapes at sustainable density levels, along with a mixed, diverse community.

In a continuation of the spirit of the Swedish architect, the community at Byker is closely involved in the choice of the winning design, in which there is to be no less social housing than currently present.

English Heritage is considering whether to list other parts of the estate, which was built between 1969 and 1982. For more details, visit www.newcastle.gov.uk.

For information on CarbonNeutral Newcastle visit www.carbonneutralnewcastle.com.

Environment Agency makes amends

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 03 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000

From The Journal, January 3, 2004

THE Environment Agency is starting the New Year with a bid to make amends for the 242 tonnes of greenhouse gas carbon dioxide its Newcastle office produces every year.

Staff are seeking to cut the amount of energy used and the agency has donated money to the CarbonNeutral Newcastle charity fund, which will be allocated to projects such as wind turbines or solar panels for community centres, forestry projects or energy efficiency initiatives.

Measures taken by the Newcastle office include ensuring its electricity supply is from renewable sources, installing sensor lights and timed light switches to save energy. There will also be recycling bins, video conferencing to reduce travel and pollution from cars and a car-sharing scheme for office business.

Newcastle’s aim is to be the world’s first carbon neutral city. Companies are being urged to neutralise their carbon output by saving energy and investing in schemes which prevent carbon being generated.

Sammy concert going green

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Thu, 15 Jan 2004 00:00:00 +0000

From the News Post Leader, January 15, 2004

THE Sunday for Sammy concerts taking place at 4pm and 8pm on Sunday, February 1, are going green and becoming carbon neutral as part of Newcastle’s bid to become the world’s first carbon neutral city.

In one year, Newcastle, its people, organisations and businesses produce enough carbon dioxide to fill St James’ Park 760 times over!

CarbonNeutral Newcastle is encouraging businesses and families to reduce their C02 emissions and also to make a donation to a CarbonNeutral fund.

Money from the fund will then be used to support environmental projects such as tree planting and solar panel projects; all with the aim of making Newcastle carbon neutral.

The Sunday for Sammy concerts raise funds for the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, set up by Jimmy Nail and Tim Healy in memory of their actor friend Sammy Johnson, who played Stick in Spender. The fund supports talented individuals from Tyneside to develop their performing skills.

By making a small donation to the CarbonNeutral fund relating to the amount of C02 emissions caused by the event and travel to it, the event will be classed as CarbonNeutral.

The Sunday for Sammy concerts follow the lead set by other performers, such as Coldplay and Atomic Kitten, who make their concerts carbon neutral.

Tim Healy, chair of the Sammy Johnson Memorial Fund, said: “It’s great that we can do our bit to support CarbonNeutral Newcastle and make Sunday for Sammy green. If we can help support environmental projects through our donation, we are only too happy to help.”

Charlie Henderson, from CarbonNeutral Newcastle, added: “It is fabulous that Sunday for Sammy is going to be a CarbonNeutral event. I hope that many more events, businesses and families will choose to become carbon neutral.”

KYOTO WARNING TO EU

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE UK is almost alone in Europe in honouring Kyoto pledges to cut greenhouse gases, a think tank claims.

According to the Institute of Public Policy Research, 10 of 15 European Union signatories will miss the targets without urgent action. The countries include Ireland, Italy and Spain.

France, Greece and Germany are given an "amber warning" and will not reach targets unless they put planned policies into action, the IPPR said.

Only Sweden and the UK were on course to meet their commitments, the think-tank's study found.

IPPR associate director Tony Grayling commented: "We are nearing the point of no return on climate change. We have very little time left to start reducing global greenhouse gas emissions before irreparable damage is done.

"It is vital that EU countries keep their promises to cut pollution. They will need to adopt tougher limits on emissions from power stations and heavy industry, in the second phase of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme," Mr Grayling said.

Under Kyoto commitments, the European signatories are supposed to cut their emissions to 8% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. The Kyoto commitments have been undermined, critics say, because the US - the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases - has refused to ratify the treaty.

An EU body - the European Environment Agency - warned in November that the EU was likely to cut its emissions by only 2.5% by the year 2012 - rather than the 8% the bloc promised.

BRITS BACK RENEWABLES OVER NUCLEAR

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

ALMOST 80% of Britons support renewable energy as the most efficient way of producing power, a survey has found.

While 54% questioned in the University of East Anglia study said they would accept nuclear power stations if it they helped fight climate change, the vast majority backed renewables.

The survey suggested 78% of people believed that promoting renewable energy was a better way than building new nuclear power stations, and 76% thought reducing energy through lifestyle changes and energy efficiency was better, too.

Supporters of replacing old nuclear stations say it is not a question of either nuclear or renewables, but that all alternatives to fossil fuels must be exploited to the full.
And in terms energy mix, the poll found 63% believed that Britain needed a combination of energy sources, including nuclear and renewables, to ensure a reliable supply of electricity.

Professor Nick Pidgeon, director of the Centre for Environmental Risk, University of East Anglia, led the survey research team.

He said the government had already recognised the need to take public acceptability into account when exploring future energy needs.

"However, almost nothing is known about how ordinary people are responding to the new debate about nuclear power and climate change," he said. "This new research helps us to understand public views on this critical question."

He added: "There is a powerful message for the government in our findings and it is that the debate should be a mature one; and it should not be framed purely around nuclear versus climate change.”

MEP'S FUEL TAX DEMAND

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

GREEN MEP Dr Caroline Lucas has called on the European Union to block the UK’s tax on vegetable oil sold as car fuel, claiming that the move goes against a 2003 directive on biodiesel.

Although reduced fuel duty on vegetable oil was introduced as one the Government’s attempts to promote biofuels, some vegetable oils have now been reclassified as ‘fuel substitutes’ making them liable to taxation. As part of the move, the UK is demanding a rebate for the three years of reduced duty on the fuel.

“In public, the government has said it supports greater use of renewable alternatives to petrol – but its taxation policies show the exact opposite is in fact the case,” said Dr. Lucas.

“Tony Blair has repeatedly told us that tackling climate change is his biggest priority, but his government doesn’t seem to be taking the same view. It’s really very simple: the UK must do everything it can to encourage a reduction in demand for fossil fuels and stop trying to cover up its failures by picking fights with the EU over how to implement the very laws which are designed to help it do so.”

'UNIONS HAVE PART TO PLAY'

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE trade union movement has a critical role to play in building a cleaner planet, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) has said.

Klaus Toepfer claimed an education programme in Norway and Russia for cleaner production techniques and a German energy efficient building renovation scheme proved organised labour could reduce harmful emissions.

He said: “The scheme in Germany should generate 200,000 jobs while cutting greenhouse gas emissions by two million tonnes. The common thread running through these and numerous other pilots is organised labour.

“Indeed, they underscore the growing enthusiasm and commitment of trade unions to embrace sustainable development for the benefit of the workplace, communities living nearby and the global environment as a whole.”

Mr Toepfer claimed in a BBC report that a few decades ago the relationship between the environment and the trade union movement was characterised as one of suspicion.

“Some in organised labour were concerned that environmental protection might jeopardize jobs by placing an undue burden on business and industry.

“Environmentalists suspected that trade unions were bent on defending the status quo of heavy, and in many cases, polluting industry. Those days are gone and these cobwebs of suspicion have been blown away by the realities of a modern globalised world. Both sides now recognise the multiple benefits of reaching out in common cause.

“Meanwhile, organised labour can be a powerful catalyst for change, persuading employers and companies to be more environmentally responsible and resource efficient,” he added.

“This should not only make firms more competitive - thus helping to maintain and boost employment prospects - but reduce the environmental footprint of such firms or sectors on forests and wildlife, up to water supplies and the Earth's protective ozone layer.”

BIOFUEL PLANS ATTACKED

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

EUROPEAN plans to promote so-called biofuels, fuels made from sugar or vegetable oils, have come under attack.

Climate change experts claim that far from being environmentally friendly, the new fuels in fact pose a threat. They argue demand for biofuel crops is leading to tropical forests being cut down for palm oil.

Meanwhile, the EU has conceded that it will miss its target of getting 5.75% of transport running on such fuels by 2010.

European Commission (EC) energy spokesman Ferran Tarradellas said: "We can say that the most advanced country is Austria with 2.5% of the target that they have reached in 2005, but there are other countries that have done very poorly - for instance the UK or Finland," European Commission (EC) energy spokesman Ferran Tarradellas .

UK farmer Peter Kendall, who supplies the raw material for bio-fuels, agreed that his country is doing particularly badly, with just 0.3% of cars using the fuel.
In comparison, ethanol now makes up 20% of Brazil's fuel market, according to World Bank figures.

Biofuel technology has been up and running in South America for more than 30 years - meaning the technology is much more sophisticated, with more than 40 million tonnes of maize fermented to provide ethanol for fuel.

However, most biofuels in the UK are provided by imports, some of which comes from producers whose green credentials are questionable, Mr Kendall said.

"What we are waiting for at the moment is a proper accreditation scheme to make sure that we don't actually just feed this obligation from depleting Malaysian palm growers for example or even contributing to the pressure on land use in Brazil," he added.

The EC has vowed to review the situation this year, and hopes to introduce a system that guarantees biofuel crops are "not damaging sensitive environments".

US FIRMS MEET EMISSIONS GOALS

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 06 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

FIVE companies have reached voluntary US greenhouse gas reduction goals, it has been revealed.

Baxter International Inc, General Motors Corporation, IBM Corporation, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and SC Johnson met the targets set through the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Climate Leaders program.

The companies were recognised in a special announcement with 11 other firms that revealed greenhouse gas reduction goals and 13 corporations that are joining the program at a meeting in California.

"By achieving their greenhouse gas reduction goals, these leading companies are proving that doing what is good for the environment, is also good for business," said EPA Administrator Stephen L Johnson.

"EPA is working hand-in-hand with business to voluntarily reduce their climate footprints in cost-effective ways. Together, the United States is making great progress toward President Bush's goal of reducing the nation's greenhouse gas intensity by 18% over ten years."

Through Climate Leaders, EPA now partners 79 companies whose emissions represent an estimated 8% of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. With these announcements, 46 companies have set greenhouse gas reduction goals; the rest are in the process of setting goals.

Baxter International Inc met its goal to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by 16% per unit of production value.
General Motors Corporation met its goal to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions by 10% for all North American facilities.

IBM Corporation met its goal to reduce average annual CO2 emissions associated with global energy use by 4% per year through 2005. In addition, IBM Corporation also met its goal to reduce total perfluorocompound (PFC) emissions from semiconductor manufacturing processes by 10%.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory met its goal to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 10% per square foot.

SC Johnson met its goal to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 23% per pound of product.

GLOBAL WARMING LINK TO FROG DECLINE

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE dramatic decline of some frog populations is directly connected to global warming, a new study claims.

The scientists looked at biodiversity hotspots in Central and South America, and found compelling links between frog extinctions and changes in temperature.

They believe the perfect conditions are being created for the spread of a fungus that is deadly to amphibians. The international team, reporting its findings in Nature magazine, says the impact on biodiversity is "staggering".

Its research focused on the vividly coloured harlequin frogs (Atelopus) which are critically endangered.

Between the 1980s and 1990s, almost two-thirds of the 110 known species became extinct, and a chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis) has been suggested as the prime suspect.

The scientists compared the last known sightings of the frogs with recorded sea and air temperatures, and discovered strong correlations. They propose that climatic changes are leading to outbreaks of disease caused by the chytrid fungus.

“There is evidence that global warming is causing widespread amphibian extinction by triggering outbreaks of disease," said lead author Dr Alan Pounds.

The scientist from the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve in Costa Rica said: "Night-time warming and day-time cooling means that you are producing conditions more favourable for the fungus."

He added: "We need to act quickly. Disease is the bullet killing frogs, but climate change is pulling the trigger. The bottom line is that we've got to move to cleaner energy sources."

CLIMATE CHANGE PACT WARNING

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

A NEW Asia-Pacific pact aimed at tackling climate change will not reduce carbon emissions. That is the conclusion of a report from an Australian government agency released during the pact's first ministerial meeting.

The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate will develop clean energy technologies and spread them to developing countries.

Critics say it is a business deal and a diversion from the Kyoto Protocol. At the conclusion of the two-day meeting in Australia and the US each pledged more than US$50m for research and development under the Partnership.

Eight "task forces" will look at various areas of research and development including renewables, clean coal and reducing demand from energy-intensive industries such as aluminium smelting.

In a final communiqué, member nations emphasised their goal of securing continued economic growth while at the same time trying to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

"The partnership aims to mobilise domestic and foreign investment into clean and low-emission technology, by fostering the best possible enabling environments," the statement said.

But it added that reductions in greenhouse gases must be achieved without hindering economic growth.

"We recognised that fossil fuels underpin our economies, and will be an enduring reality for our lifetimes and beyond," the statement said.

The six nations in the Partnership - Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and the US - are all major producers or consumers of coal. Together they account for about half of the global total of greenhouse gas emissions.

In the closing news conference, Australia's Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Partnership will have an impact on emissions.

"The partnership efforts in technology and best practice could lead to partners' emissions being 30% less in 2050 than would have otherwise been the case. This, if it is effective, could make a very substantial contribution to mitigating the greenhouse problem."

Mr Downer's figures came from a new report by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (Abare), launched at the meeting.

The report concludes that although Partnership activities may lessen the growth of greenhouse gas emissions, they will not produce a fall.

Even if the Partnership succeeds in rolling out low-pollution technologies across member states, it projects a doubling of global emissions by 2050.
Environmental activists greeted the communiqué with scepticism.

"In my whole business career, I have never seen a more misleading public statement," commented the CEO of WWF Australia Greg Bourne, formerly a senior executive with the oil and gas company BP.

'GOVERNMENTS CAN HELP FIRMS CLEAN UP'

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE private sector will solve the problem of climate change, according to the US Energy Secretary, Samuel Bodman.

He told the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate that the job of governments was to help businesses take up clean technologies.

Critics say the talks are a way to avoid signing up to binding targets like those in the Kyoto Protocol.

The Partnership aims to develop ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through clean technology.

The Partnership's guiding principle is that technology alone developed and exported to the growing economies of Asia can reduce emission, without the need for binding targets as contained in the Kyoto treaty.

But many observers doubt that companies or governments will adopt these technologies if they cost more than conventional systems.

The Partnership does not envisage financial incentives such as the European Union's Emissions Trading Scheme, which rewards companies for reducing their carbon output.

Asked at a news conference why business would adopt more expensive technologies in the absence of financial incentives, Mr Bodman replied: "I believe that the people who run the private sector, who run these companies - they too have children, they too have grandchildren, they too live and breathe in the world. And they would like things dealt with effectively; and that's what this is all about."

US SHOULD NOT RELY ON OIL - BUSH

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Bush has said alternative fuels to compete with petrol could be produced within six years. Speaking in Nashville, Mr Bush said that scientists were close to a breakthrough on making ethanol from materials such as grasses.

Technology, he hoped, would help the US "reduce if not end" reliance on Middle Eastern oil in his lifetime.

In his annual State of the Union address, Mr Bush criticised the US "addiction" to oil.

"The best way to break this addiction is through technology," he said.

He told the Nashville audience that the US was close to a breakthrough in making ethanol from materials like grasses or woods.

"All of a sudden, you know, we may be in the energy business by being able to grow grass on the ranch! And have it harvested and converted into energy. That's what's close to happening," he said.

"We're told that if we continue to focus on research, we'll be able to within six years have a competitive fuel to gasoline."

The US is the world's biggest consumer of oil.

FIRMS ASKED FOR EMISSIONS DATA

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 07 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

MORE than 1,500 of the world's largest companies have been asked to provide information about their greenhouse gas emissions and environmental strategies.

Some of the world's leading investors are backing the initiative, designed to encourage debate about the risks to business from climate change.

Firms such as Exxon Mobil, BP, Ford and Google have been asked to comment on environmental targets and attitudes.

The world's top companies are under pressure to limit their own emissions.

BP and General Electric are among a number of companies to have announced major investment in renewable energy and fuel-efficient technology in recent months.

The environmental survey, organised by the Carbon Disclosure Project, is the fourth of its kind since 2002 and the largest to date.

It is being supported by more than 200 leading institutional investors, which hold more than $30 trillion (£17 trillion) of investments between them.

Companies are being asked to provide specific details of their annual carbon dioxide emissions, what their strategies are for reducing emissions and what technology is available to help them.

The survey also covers corporate attitudes towards environmental regulation and whether companies believe climate change is a risk or an opportunity to their business.

Companies are under no obligation to respond and can choose not to have their replies published.

But in 2005, 350 firms of out 500 canvassed - including Exxon Mobil, BP, Nike and Nippon Steel - responded.

Paul Dickinson, the Project's co-ordinator, said multinational firms were being affected by a range of environmental issues such as changing climatic trends, technological advances and changing consumer attitudes.

The survey helped investors determine whether companies would be "winners or losers" as a result of climate change.

It is a question of institutional investors taking a well-informed view of the profitability of companies based on energy consumption and emission performance," said Mr Dickinson.

"We provide an enormous fishbowl in which everyone can see what everybody else is doing."

Companies in emerging economies, where there are fewer environmental restrictions, are currently less likely to disclose information than European firms, which are subject to tight environmental regulations.

But Mr Dickinson said investors would be encouraging firms in China and Russia to be more open about the issue as they wanted to have a truly global picture of environmental challenges.

The Carbon Disclosure Project is funded by a consortium whose members include state pension funds, charitable foundations and environmental awareness groups.

ECO-FRIENDLY BUSES FOR LONDON

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

SIX new eco-friendly buses are to hit the road in London, as part of the mayor's continuing attempts to reduce the city's air pollution.
The "hybrid" buses use a battery pack and electric motor, with a small diesel engine to charge it when necessary.

Running on route 360 from Wednesday, they are said to be cleaner, quieter and to use less fuel than other buses.

A pilot scheme using hydrogen-powered buses which produce nothing but steam has been extended for another year.

A London Buses spokeswoman said the steam buses, part of a Europe-wide initiative, had been successful.

But they wanted to continue to investigate other types of technology for buses on longer routes and for double-deckers.

They estimate the new buses, whose diesel engine is the same size as that of an ordinary car, will produce 89% less nitrogen oxides, 83% less carbon monoxide and use 40% less fuel.

Mayor Ken Livingstone said they were at "the forefront of environmentally-friendly technology" and would reduce emissions as well as providing a smoother, quieter ride.

They are among several of his initiatives to tackle climate change and air pollution.

After introducing a congestion charge to reduce traffic in central London, he is now considering a "low-emission zone", where high-polluting diesel vehicles would face a charge to drive into London.

Mike Weston, from London Buses, said he hoped London's bus network would lead the way in the UK and beyond in using innovative technology.

The buses' performance will be assessed over the next few months and, if successful, more may be introduced to London's fleet.

TAX WON'T CUT AIR TRAVEL - BLAIR

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Wed, 08 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

TONY Blair says it is unrealistic to think the tax system can be used to reduce air travel in the UK.

The prime minister said it would take a "fairly hefty whack" for people to cut back on flights in the UK and abroad.

He told the Commons liaison committee that it would be hard to sell, and said he would not be keen on such a move.

Instead, he said, the best way to tackle climate change was to invest in more environmentally friendly aircraft and to invest in other new technology.

It had been put to Mr Blair that the rise in aircraft emissions were threatening the overall plans to cut back on greenhouse gases.

Mr Blair told the MPs that the world would be in "serious trouble" unless there was a new agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

He said it was vital to come up with a framework for when the Kyoto Protocol comes to an end in 2012.

Mr Blair said he thought that with a "significant uplift" in investment in new and alternative environmentally-friendly technologies the emissions savings could be found fairly quickly.

He said emissions targets would have to form a part of a future agreement on climate change.

It was understandable that the US was very wary of having targets imposed on it, and instead wanted to concentrate on the use of clean technology - on which it spends more than any other country - he said.

However, there were "real signs of change" in the US on the issue, he said.

But on air travel, the prime minister conceded: "It is unrealistic to think that you will get some restriction on air travel at an international level.

"The best way to go is to recognise that is a reality and see how you can develop the technology that is able to reduce the harmful emissions."

'Not good enough'

Tony Juniper, director of Friends of the Earth, said he was pleased Mr Blair was calling for an international framework on climate change, backed by clear targets.

But he added: "He should not, however, put too much faith in empty speeches from the American President to galvanise global agreement.

"If the prime minister wants to see international action then he must lead by cutting UK emissions."

Norman Baker, the Liberal Democrats environment spokesman, accused Mr Blair of "throwing in the towel" over climate change.

"Emissions from aviation represent the greatest challenge in tackling climate change - for the prime minister to wash his hands in this way is simply unbelievable," he said.

"If aviation continues to grow as projected, the increase in emissions from this sector will cancel out all planned cuts from all other sectors."

How you can help your city

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 09 Sep 2005 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, September 9, 2005

THREE-quarters of people in the North East are concerned about the impact of climate change in the UK.

The findings come from research commissioned by the CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign, and supported by the Northern Rock Foundation and the North East Energy Partnership.

Many in the region believe the threat to the environment is an important, immediate, local issue, and not just one which affects countries far away.

But the survey found that a third of drivers are not prepared to cut back on their car usage and switch to public transport and 78% of recent fliers would not consider reducing their holiday flights.

The research shows that eight out of 10 people in Newcastle believe local government action is vital in encouraging residents to tackle climate change.

Charles Henderson, campaign manager for CarbonNeutral Newcastle, which seeks to cut greenhouse gas emissions, welcomed the results, saying they show how important it is that the public and private sector join forces with local people to make a difference to their region.

He said: "CarbonNeutral Newcastle is committed to making a difference today rather than waiting for the impact of climate change to become even worse before taking action.

"The people of Newcastle and the North East have shown that they are aware of the need to act now and will prove invaluable as we work alongside them in the future."

CarbonNeutral Newcastle, which is backed by Newcastle City Council and supported by Scottish Power, is an ambitious campaign to turn Newcastle into the world's first carbon-free city.

The research found that eight in 10 people already claim to be undertaking some everyday actions which help lessen the impact of climate change, such as boiling the water the need rather than a full kettle and turning their heating down.

Rob Williamson, assistant director of the Northern Rock Foundation, said: "Whilst debates go on about what governments should do in response to global warming, CarbonNeutral Newcastle is looking for practical ways in which people can do more to reduce emissions and so improve everyone's quality of life.

"We're pleased to support this research which will help put the North East at the forefront of efforts to address environmental challenges."

The research also looked at people's views on energy supply in the North East. It found 63% are concerned about the possibility of energy shortages or power cuts in the region over the next five to 10 years.

Offshore wind farms are backed by 62% and solar power by 57%. But nuclear power is the only power source which is rejected by two-thirds of North Easteners.

To date, CarbonNeutral Newcastle has offset 1,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions through the campaign, which has been invested into providing affordable warmth to 220 homes, fitting a house with solar panels and planting 400 trees.

Scottish Power is the lead partner of CarbonNeutral Newcastle and 3,000 homes and 700 businesses have switched to green electricity with the company.

Time to jump

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, October 24, 2005

At the start of Energy Saving Week, Environment editor Tony Henderson reports on Newcastle's bid to become a world leader in the fight against climate change.

THE hardening of scientific consensus over recent years that rapid climate change is happening has generated much debate - and an awful lot of hot air, some would say.

But there is growing agreement that urgent action, and not just more words, is what is needed.

When it comes to actually trying to do something in a co-ordinated fashion, then Newcastle is leading the way.

Exactly two years ago, a drive was launched to make Newcastle the first carbon neutral city in the world. The target is to reduce the city's emissions of the climate change gas carbon dioxide to zero.

The formula involves cutting emissions as much as possible through adopting energy efficiency measures.

Remaining emissions are balanced by projects which compensate for the tonnage of carbon dioxide which is still being released.

The CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign is backed by the city council, Environment Agency and sponsors Scottish Power.

Around 20 businesses and organisations have so far signed up, ranging from the Co-op group, Metro operator Nexus and Newcastle's Gate leisure complex, to the Anglican Church and Viz comic.

CarbonNeutral measures the emission from member organisations and advises on how they can be cut - also saving money because of more efficient energy use.

A voluntary charge of £13 per tonne of remaining emissions goes into a fund to finance balancing projects such as tree planting through North East Community Forests and renewable and energy efficiency schemes.

The campaign has put money into a solar panel scheme for council homes in the city, and is supporting the Newcastle Warm Zone initiative, which is insulating 50,000 homes over four years, saving 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Meanwhile, Scottish Power has recruited 700 businesses and 3,000 homes in the region to take their electricity from renewable sources.

The campaign is not just about future benefits. It is estimated that wasting energy costs small and medium businesses in the North East £30m a year.

Individuals can contribute by, for example, logging on to the CarbonNeutral website and paying a voluntary charge to compensate for the carbon emissions they incur when taking a flight - £10 for a short-haul trip.

Newcastle generates 1.7m tonnes of carbon dioxide a year. So far, the campaign has resulted in cuts of 55,000 tonnes with 1,400 tonnes offset through payments. Campaign director Charles Henderson says that the main thrust of the first two years has been to get the message across to people. A CarbonNeutral-branded Metro train is helping in that respect.

On why Newcastle was chosen, he says: "We approached a number of cities but it was Newcastle which was the most enthusiastic. The city council recognised the importance of climate change and backed the campaign."

Now the time has come to prepare for the second phase of the campaign.

To prepare the way, the campaign commissioned research, backed by Northern Rock Foundation and the North East Energy Partnership, into the views of people in the region on climate change and allied topics.

It found that 75% of people are concerned about climate change in the UK and eight out of 10 say they take everyday action such as turning off unnecessary lights and boiling only the amount of water needed and not a full kettle.

The survey showed that 63% are worried about future energy shortages and power cuts.

Charles says: "The research helps us to understand what makes people tick. If they see neighbours wasting energy, it can be demotivating and people think ‘why should I bother' and what difference can I make."

The answer, therefore, is to get as many people on the carbon neutral bandwagon as possible.

"If they really want to make progress, we will have to offer people a lot of carrots and not just ask for cash," says Charles.

"The research shows that people want convenient ways of cutting emissions and they want to save money and see businesses and councils taking a lead."

A major challenge is persuading people to use cars less and walk, cycle and use public transport more. "There are trips by car which can be made in other ways," says Charles.

“But we are also looking at ways, including financial incentives, by which people can be encouraged to use public and other transport more.”

Options could range from free bike borrowing to cheap tickets. Also under consideration is a Save a Tonne venture in which people are rewarded for cutting a tonne of emissions.

“People need to feel a sense of achievement and need milestones to reach,” says Charles.

Another possibility is using computer programmes to allow householders to see how much energy they are using and the difference it makes when lights and appliances are turned off.

“We are not going to change Newcastle overnight and we are taking one step at a time. It is about going in the right direction and is more about the journey itself.”

The campaign is also talking to the council about incorporating more environmentally friendly features in new developments.

Charles says: “Climate change is happening. It is real and it is happening now, and it affects the North East. People can see the flooding and season changes,

“But they should not be disheartened and it is not all doom and gloom. It is not an impossible task and there are things people can do to help.”

More details on (0191) 277 7149 or www.carbonneutral.com.

'Biggest climate warmth for 1,200 years'

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

IN the late 20th Century, the northern hemisphere experienced its most widespread warmth for 1,200 years, according to the journal Science.

The findings support evidence pointing to unprecedented recent warming of the climate linked to greenhouse emissions.

University of East Anglia researchers measured changes in fossil shells, tree rings, ice cores and other past temperature records or "proxies".

They also looked at people's diaries from the last 750 years.

Timothy Osborn and Keith Briffa of UEA analysed instrument measurements of temperature from 1856 onwards to establish the geographic extent of recent warming.

Then they compared this data with evidence dating back as far as AD 800.

The analysis confirmed periods of significant warmth in the Northern Hemisphere from AD 890 - 1170 (the so-called "Medieval Warm Period") and for much colder periods from 1580 - 1850 (the "Little Ice Age").

The UEA team showed that the present warm period is the most widespread temperature anomaly of any kind since the ninth century.

"The last 100 years is more striking than either [the Medieval Warm Period or Little Ice Age]. It is a period of widespread warmth affecting nearly all the records that we analysed from the same time," co-author Timothy Osborn told the BBC.

Osborn and Briffa used 14 sets of temperature records from different locations across the Northern Hemisphere.

The records included long life evergreen trees growing in Scandinavia, Siberia and the Rockies which had been cored to reveal the patterns of wide and narrow tree rings over time. Wider rings related to warmer temperatures.

The chemical composition of ice from cores drilled in the Greenland ice sheets revealed which years were warmer than others.

The researchers used proxy data developed from the diaries of people living in the Netherlands and Belgium during the past 750 years that revealed, for example, the years when the canals froze.

"These records extend over many centuries and even thousands of years. We simply counted how many of those records indicated that, in any one year, temperatures were warmer than average for the region they came from," said Dr Osborn.

Professor John Waterhouse, director of the Environmental Sciences Research Centre Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge commented: "Although we're getting increasingly accurate measurements of present-day temperature, we've got nothing like that from the past to compare those with.

"There's much uncertainty in past reconstructions. You've got to look at the reconstructed data in the past in light of the likely errors that those data have."

But he added: "As we get more and more evidence in, it is looking as if the current period is the warmest for over 1,000 years."

In November, Science published a paper showing atmospheric levels of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane are higher now than at any time in the past 650,000 years.

'Biggest climate warmth in 1,200 years'

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

Climate 'would hit oil firms' profits'

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

The huge profits reported by oil and gas companies would turn into losses if the social costs of their greenhouse gas emissions were taken into account.

That is the conclusion of research by the New Economics Foundation (Nef).

Nef found that the £10bn-plus profits just reported by Shell and BP are dwarfed by costs of emissions associated with their products.

Nef also suggests UK Treasury revenues from oil and gas may be a disincentive to curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

The comments come in an article for The Green Room, the BBC News website's weekly series of opinion pieces on environmental issues.

Reporting previously undisclosed figures, Nef's policy director Andrew Simms writes: "Our new calculations from research in progress with WWF, based on Treasury statistics, show that UK government income from the fossil fuel sector - conservatively estimated at £34.9bn ($61bn) - is greater than revenue from council tax, stamp duty, capital gains and inheritance tax combined.

"Policies aimed at reducing carbon emissions could therefore have a major impact on the government coffers; a serious disincentive to action."

But, Nef concludes using more government figures, this revenue does not reflect costs associated with climate change resulting from burning oil and gas.

A report prepared for Defra and the Treasury estimates that each tonne of carbon dioxide emitted costs about £20 ($35) in environmental damage.

"Combining the emissions that stem from BP's direct activities and the sale of its products leads to 1,458m tonnes of CO2-equivalent entering the atmosphere, with a damage bill of £29bn ($51bn)," writes Andrew Simms.

"Subtracting that from the £11bn ($19bn) annual profit it has just reported puts it £18bn ($31bn) in the red; effectively bankrupt.

"The same calculation puts Shell £4.5bn ($8bn) in the red, even as it reports an annual profit of £13bn ($23bn)."

Both Shell and BP contend they are investing in renewable energy schemes and other initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Like other members of the European Union, Britain is signed up to the European Emissions Trading Scheme, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas production from industry.

But Tony Blair, along with other European leaders, has been accused by environmental groups of having no policies to reduce emissions from transport, the principal user of oil.

Earlier this week the RAC Foundation suggested a major hike in vehicle excise duty for petrol-thirsty cars.

Nef believes the government has to link its commitments to poverty reduction into domestic policies on energy use and climate change.

Otherwise, it warns, the world's poor will suffer, being less able to afford energy as prices rise, yet the most vulnerable to impacts of climate change.

Creating a cleaner city

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Wed, 26 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, October 26, 2005

In the third of a series of articles during energy week, Daniel Cochlin looks at how organisations from luxury car makers to the church can do their bit.

WITH climate change and global warming at the forefront of political debate at the moment, companies and community groups are coming up with ingenious ways of cutting C02 emissions.

Take the Anglican Church for example - not the most obvious port of call for creating a safer environment. Next time you go to church, you could well find a sermon of the dangers of global warming, or be urged to share cars to get there and back.

The drive to reduce emissions is part of a plan launched two years ago to make Newcastle the first carbon neutral city in the world. The target is to reduce the city's emission of the climate change gas carbon dioxide to zero.

The scheme, backed by the city council, the Environment Agency and sponsors Scottish Power, has recruited a diverse host of local businesses - including the Co-operative Group, Viz magazine and Lexus.

Church leaders in the North East have already made Church House, the centre of the diocese in Percy Main, North Tyneside, carbon neutral and are aiming to do the same in churches.

The Rev Rob Kelsey, vicar at St Maurice's Church, Eglingham, near Alnwick, Northumberland, acts as the Environment Officer for the diocese, and believes the need for C02 reduction comes from a higher calling.

"God made the earth and everything in it and loves it – Christians therefore have a big responsibility for raising awareness about the environment," Mr Kelsey said.

"We have a duty of care as climate change seems like the main issue at the moment. There are a number of ways we can do this - cut electricity and gas use and encourage people to use public transport or car share.

"One of the schemes we are looking at is getting church youth groups to carry out a survey of car use. This will not only show us how bad the problem is, but raise awareness of what we are doing,"

With people increasingly making more journeys by car, manufacturers are keen to do as much as they can to cut their emissions before more stringent laws are passed forcing them to do so.

Luxury car firm Lexus is one which has already suggested an alternative. The concept of using electric vehicles has been bandied around for years, and Chris Whitehead, general manager at the Newcastle branch on Benton Road, believes they have found a solution.

Chris said: "Lexus has produced a hybrid SUV which runs on both electric power and petrol. This benefits the driver in two ways - first cutting emissions, and also giving better fuel economy.

"When the car starts up, there is no sound whatsoever, and you can drive around town at 20mph using the electric system alone. The petrol kicks in when you accelerate more."

Alison McKean, head of environment for Scottish Power, said: "Businesses such as Lexus and the Co-op Group have shown that they can make a difference, and Scottish Power is delighted to be working with them and others to make Newcastle the first carbon-free city in the world."

Climate change is put in the picture

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, October 25, 2005

In the second of a series of articles during Energy Saving Week, Tamzin Lewis hears about an ambitious climate change event in the pipeline for June 2006.

ART might seem an unlikely ally of the climate change lobby, but it could be argued that an image speaks louder than volumes of scientific data.

Ten of the world's leading photographers have captured the impact of global warming, showing that it is far more than just an environmental issue: affecting health, food supplies, livelihoods and human rights.

One striking image shows African elephants of Tanzania moving into the forest of Kilimanjaro for the first time, as their homes on the plains are drying out. In another, Indian health workers fumigate the streets of Kolkotta against the malaria mosquito, on the increase, due to higher temperatures.

Environmentalist Charles Henderson is planning to bring NouthSouthEastWest, a British Council exhibition of Magnum photography to Tyneside, as part of next year's Climate Change: Cultural Change programme.

He says: "We know, rationally, about the seriousness of climate change, but it has not registered at an emotional level, in our gut. Climate Change: Cultural Change will address this."

Charles is director of CarbonNeutral Newcastle, which is behind the drive to make Newcastle the first city in the world with no carbon dioxide emissions.

The proposed Climate Change: Cultural Change will run alongside the World Summit on Arts and Culture being held in Newcastle and Gateshead in June 2006.

The World Summit will attract a high profile international audience of 500 cultural leaders, policy makers and regeneration managers. The conference theme is transforming places, transforming lives. It will focus on the role of arts and culture in social and economic regeneration.

You might wonder what the link is between culture and climate, but Charles says: "The arts can be used to demonstrate the importance of climate change, and its impact on regeneration.

"NewcastleGateshead is leading other cities in new, exciting ways to communicate and stimulate action on climate change. We want to demonstrate to world cultural leaders the importance of climate change, its inter-relationship with regeneration and different ways it can be communicated. It is a new way of thinking about regeneration and sustainable development."

Climate Change: Cultural Change is still in the planning stage and partners Helix Arts and CarbonNeutral Newcastle are seeking support and sponsorship for a proposed series of events including exhibitions, screenings, school and participatory projects in addition to an artist residency.

One of the North East's favourite artists and Baltic trustee, Antony Gormley, already has a foot in the climate change camp. He is involved with Cape Farewell, a series of expeditions into the Arctic, through a route previously icebound but now passable. The project brings together artists, writers and teachers with scientists to help engage the public in the debate about climate change - drawing attention to the affect of changing weather patterns and rising seas.

Those involved with Cape Farewell have discovered the photography, sculpture and literature appear to be engaging people's imagination in ways that scientific proof is not.

As part of Climate Change: Cultural Change, Cape Farewell's lead artist David Buckland proposes to construct an artificial waterfall upon which videos will be projected.

Other proposed highlights are a Tyne Tees short film about artists and climate change; billboard photomontages by artist Peter Kennard; a showing of the film Peninsula Europe which looks at the possible effects of climate change on Europe; and a screening of Self Portrait Sri Lanka, a insight into post-tsunami experiences.

Participatory exhibitions are also proposed including I am Black Gold, to be held at Glob Hub, North Shields. This will involve community organisations and schools and a bus shuttle to and from the exhibition.

I am Black Gold will seek submissions of one mass-produced or manufactured object which represents big business or corporate culture accompanies by an explanation of why it has been chosen. These objects will be exhibited in the gallery and on the internet.

Save your money and your life too

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100

From The Journal, October 27, 2005

In the third of a series of articles during Energy Saving Week, Guy Basnett looks at how cutting CO2 emissions can boost your health – and your bank balance.

SAVING energy is not just about helping the planet – it can put a huge bulge back in your wallet, and may even prolong your life.

Each year thousands of people die across the UK from the cold alone.

Tens of thousands more see their health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, arthritis and heart problems made worse by damp.

But a new campaign to reduce energy waste, and cut climate-changing C02 emissions, could see these conditions hugely improve.

And it could also save homeowners a tidy sum.

David Connor, director of the Newcastle Warm Zone, is urging people to take advantage of an offer to have their homes insulated, often for free.

The project, which is linked to the CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign aims to insulate as many homes in the city as possible before 2008.

Insulating the average home can save one metric tonne of C02 emissions each year, giving an average annual saving of around £100.

“About 70% of the homes we look at qualify for free. The other 30% will pay somewhere between £29 to, at the most, £99,” Mr Connor said.

“That means you will make back any money within a year, and keep on saving.”

All the work is guaranteed for 25 years, and is designed to last for decades.

And in a simple process, all it involves is a couple of holes drilled into the walls before a mineral insulating wool is sprayed into the wall cavitiy.

“It is literally that quick. The only result might be a bit of dust which we sweep up.”

The Warm Zone is a not-for-profit organisation set up 18 months ago through a Government initiative, in partnership with Warm Zones Ltd, Newcastle City Council, Your Homes Newcastle, Scottish Power and National Grid Transco.

As well as insulation, it provides central heating, and advice on energy efficiency and benefits.

And research has shown its benefits are surprisingly far-reaching.

Primary Care Trust figures from between 1996 to 2003 show that an average of 170 people die each year in Newcastle alone from the cold.

Dubbed “excess winter deaths”, it is a problem seemingly peculiar to Britain.

Mr Connor said: “Britain is the worst country in Europe for these deaths, all because of the large numbers of poor quality housing.

“In much colder countries, such as Sweden and Norway, it's almost unheard of.

“Insulating homes has been shown to bring a huge improvement.”

The insulation can also bring massive health benefits. Respiratory conditions, such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia, are worsened by damp.

The cold can also be a factor in a number of crippling conditions, including mobility heart problems and strokes.

Mr Connor said a number of free assessments offered by the Warm Zone have shown why. “We've already looked at 20,000 homes in the city, and a third of them have people who have a health problem relating to the cold and damp.

“Just by having this work done, these conditions can be improved.

“This is work that can save energy and cut C02 emissions, and not only can it save you money for years to come, but it can also improve your health.

“We are the only not-for-profit organisation running this kind of a service, and believe that gives the best deal for people wanting this work done. We can also provide advice and assessments.”

Alison McKean, head of environment for Scottish Power, said: “This campaign is an excellent way in which CarbonNeutral Newcastle, in association with Scottish Power, can show how small changes in people's behaviour can make a massive difference to the environment and their purse.

“Scottish Power is also a partner in the Newcastle Warm Zone, which aims to insulate 50,000 homes over four years. Both campaigns will have a direct impact on the health of Newcastle residents over the short and long term and I am delighted that Scottish Power is able to play a part in this process.”

Lights out for kids - and their parents

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 28 Oct 2005 00:00:00 +0100

From TheJournal, October 28, 2005

In the last of our week of articles for Energy Saving Week Graeme Whitfield hears how campaigners in Newcastle are targeting children to help the city's carbon neutral campaign.

CHILDREN at schools around Newcastle will be the next targets for campaigners hoping to make the North one of the most environmentally-friendly regions in the country.

CarbonNeutral Newcastle is aiming to reduce the city's greenhouse gas emissions and is putting together a package that would take the campaign into schools.

Student volunteers at Newcastle University will then take teaching materials into schools that will link lessons about energy conservation into the National Curriculum.

After the sessions in schools, the children will be encouraged to take the lessons into their homes and carry out energy audits of their own households - with the ultimate aim of reducing energy use in each house.

Charles Henderson, director of the CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign, said: "We're developing a pack that will go into all the schools in the city, both primary and secondary. That will tie in with the National Curriculum so that kids in Newcastle will be taught about things like energy efficiency, climate change and renewable energy.

"But after the lessons we'll also be encouraging the children to go home and do an energy audit of their homes.

"We're developing materials for them to do that such as stickers to remind people to turn off the lights or maybe some gadgets they can use. It's a chance for the kids to learn about energy efficiency and then actually put it into practice by helping their parents to save money on their bills."

CarbonNeutral Newcastle and the Student Community Action Network at Newcastle University are putting together final costings for the scheme and will be looking for funding in the next few weeks.

They have already won the backing of Newcasle City Council's Local Agenda 21 team, which co-ordinates activities on sustainable development throughout the city, with the aim of tying in the CarbonNeutral campaign to other ecological programmes already running in schools.

Though they are keen for children to be involved, the campaigners say it is important not to dump the environmental campaign on the next generation by saying that only they stand to benefit. All ages must be involved, Mr Henderson said, if the CarbonNeutral aims are to be achieved.

But he hopes the open-mindedness of children will make them more receptive to the campaign's message that making homes more energy efficient will have financial as well as environmental benefits.

If the programme goes to plan, children will be given tips on how they can reduce their parents' fuel bills, starting with simple measures like turning off lights at home and walking to work rather than being driven.

Mr Henderson said: "When people talk about the environment they often say it's too late for us so we have to talk to our children and them to deal with the problem.

"We think that's passing the buck. This change needs to happen now because if we wait another 20 years we will have missed the boat.

"We're keen to engage with people in all walks of life, but obviously education at a grass roots level is part of that.

“One of the beauties of taking this message to schools is that children are often a bit more open-minded and keen to get involved.

“By the age of 18 there are so many other things to take people's time and energy.

"But kids are like sponges - they soak up education and getting to them at an early age is really important, particularly if they're then taking the message home to parents."

Tyneside is leading the way in the drive to combat climate change with CarbonNeutral Newcastle trying to reduce carbon emissions at the same time as encouraging environmental measures that will compensate for the greenhouse gases that are being produced.

The CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign is backed by Newcastle City Council, the Environment Agency and sponsors Scottish Power.

Businesses and homeowners around the city have also signed up to support the campaign.

Global challenge for region's students

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sun, 12 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

NORTH East students are being given the chance to take part in international conservation projects.
International environmental charity Earthwatch has launched an awards scheme which will see eight students scoop the opportunity to visit a range of destinations around the globe.
The charity's student awards will give young people the chance to join scientists on conservation projects in some of the world's most exciting habitats.
Winners of the award will be able to choose which expedition they get involved in, from monitoring crocodiles in the swamps of the Okavango Delta to tracking elephants in Sri Lanka's national parks or researching the impacts if climate change in Iceland or Alaska.
The lucky first prize winner will receive £1,000 to put towards an Earthwatch research expedition of their choice, with prizes of £750 and £500 for the runners-up.
The deadline for applications is March 31, 2006. For an application form call Earthwatch on (01865) 318 831 or e-mail projects@ earthwatch.org.uk

University lecturer leads climate change study

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 18 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

RESEARCH led by a Newcastle University lecturer has given an insight into the possible causes and mechanisms of climate change, which many scientists believe is the root cause of recent natural catastrophes like hurricane Katrina.

Professor Tom Wagner of the Institute for Research on Environment and Sustainability (IRES), at the University, led a team which analysed sediments laid down on the ocean floor about 85m years ago.

The sediments contained bands of black shale, formed by decayed organic matter, indicating massive destruction of marine life as the oceans warmed up and became depleted of oxygen.

Adding the results of a climate model, the researchers found that the relative positions of the Earth and the sun were highly significant. Changes in the atmosphere were driven by the large amount of solar energy hitting the upper atmosphere when the Earth's elliptical orbit took it closest to the Sun at the time of equinox.

These atmospheric changes triggered periods of high river run-off into the oceans. This influx of fresh water caused dramatic changes in ocean chemistry which ultimately led to deep water losing oxygen and becoming uninhabitable for higher forms of life.

Council looks at climate concerns

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

PLANS to minimise the need to travel and a bid to foster more sustainable modes of transport could be introduced by Newcastle City Council to cut greenhouse emissions.

And promoting new energy technologies, energy efficiency and sustainable design and construction is also needed, says a report.

The council, which has signed the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, is looking at the measures in a report taken to a regeneration, planning and transport meeting in February.

"The Local Development Framework will play a major role in reducing emissions, and preparing Newcastle for a future of higher fossil fuel costs," said the report.

It added: "We need to promote new energy technologies, energy efficiency, and sustainable design and construction. It is proposed to require 10% renewable energy sources to be incorporated in commercial and residential development."

Councillors now have six weeks to make comments on the report.

Elliot Morley goes CarbonNeutral

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sun, 26 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

ENVIRONMENT minister Elliot Morley visited Newcastle and met a homeowner whose house was being insulated by CarbonNeutral Newcastle Partner, the Warm Zone.

During the visit last month Elliot was presented with a certificate by Charles Henderson, director of CarbonNeutral Newcastle, to celebrate his CarbonNeutral trip. A calculation was made of the CO2 emissions of Elliot and his staff on his whistle-stop tour of the NE on that day. Through its support of the Warm Zone, CarbonNeutral Newcastle offset the ministers CO2 by insulating the very home he was visiting!

Climate Change Communications event

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 20 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

CarbonNeutral Newcastle is presenting a workshop on climate change communication at the Environment Agency office, on Friday 24th February, 10am-1pm. The workshop is open to anyone interested in bidding to DEFRA under its Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge programme. Also presenting is Lynda Sale of SaleOwen Research and Strategy, who undertook the public attitudes research. The workshop is backed by the Regional Assembly and the Government Office for the North East. For more information, contact us.

Report's sea level warning

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Wed, 22 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE North East coast could be in danger from major flooding and tropical temperatures by the year 3000 if greenhouse gas emissions are not sharply reduced, a new study says.
The report, from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, claims Britain, including this region, would look radically different with sea levels rising as much as 11.4m.
The study was commissioned by the Environment Agency.
The study, which was led from the University of East Anglia (UEA), modelled the climate impacts of three possible scenarios:
• What would happen if our emissions were "minimised", meaning that they were decreased steadily to zero between 2020 and 2200
• What would happen if we took no action to reduce our emissions and continued to burn our remaining reserves of conventional fossil fuels by the year 3000
• What would happen if our emissions increased by burning not just conventional fossil fuels but by exploiting unconventional reserves as well, such as methyl hydrates and oil shales
The only scenario that avoided "dangerous climate change" was the minimum emissions scenario, allowing for one-quarter of known reserves of fossil fuels to be used.
This would result in a small increase in emissions up to 2025 before emissions were then phased out by 2220.
The other scenarios produced much more sobering outcomes.
The worst-case scenario would see global and regional warming, raising the world's average surface temperature by 15C and lifting sea levels around the North East coast by more than 11m.
Even in the "business as usual", middle scenario, increased emissions would probably precipitate abrupt climate change events, such as the weakening and shifting of currents in the Atlantic Ocean.
Sea water acidity would also increase dramatically, posing a major threat to marine organisms.
Dr Tim Lenton, the UEA lead author on the paper and a climate change modeller, said: "If we follow business-as-usual then we will commit future generations to dangerous climate change, and if we exploit unconventional fossil fuels we could return the Earth to a hot state it hasn't seen since 55 million years ago.
"The best-case scenario, keeps the temperature rise in the year 3000 at 1.5 degrees of warming and sea level rise to under a metre, because it has avoided the Greenland ice sheet melting."
Barbara Young, the chief executive of the Environment Agency, commented: "We are running out of road on decision-making - unless we dramatically change the use of fossil fuels then we will be committing future generations to the most severe impacts of climate change."
However, some experts say it is difficult to make such predictions.
Professor Geoff Jenkins, formally of the UK's Met Office, said: "The greatest uncertainties are the ones about predicting emission use in the future. We don't know how populations are going to grow, how energy use will grow, whether that will be increasingly reliant on fossil fuels, or whether we'll be smart enough to find some good alternatives," he said.

Search for city's greenest family

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE search is on for Newcastle’s greenest family – with the most environmentally aware picking up great prizes.

Residents in the city are being urged to state how they are doing their best to cut the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

CarbonNeutral Newcastle has teamed up with the Evening Chronicle and Scottish Power to offer the competition, which includes the winning family having its gas or electricity bill for a year.

The winning family will also be given up to four bikes and an energy efficient pack including a washer and fridge freezer.

Entries must be with the Chronicle by Friday (March 3) and the winner will be announced here at CarbonNeutral Newcastle.com once the result is known.

Building on our help to cut emissions

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

A BUILDING society has become the first financial organisation to sign up to the CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign.

The Universal Building Society, based in Kings Manor, Newcastle, signed up as the Carbon Trust released figures that show Newcastle produces 2,209 tonnes of carbon a day.

Universal has nine branches in the region and employs 165 staff. Chief executive Kevin Robinson said: “We are determined to do our bit to put the brakes on global warming with such a worthwhile charity.

“This initiative will encourage all employees to think about ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and help them take no-cost actions that should enable our society to declare itself carbon neutral.

“We all produce carbon dioxide. The good news is we can do something about it.”

CarbonNeutral Newcastle’s Charles Henderson said: “I hope it encourages other businesses to think about their environment and see what a huge impact they can have.”

Warming threat to coast

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 28 Feb 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE impact of global warming on the North East coast has led to The National Trust admitting it will have to rethink its strategy.

Climate change is affecting hundreds of properties and stretches of coastline across the UK, including the north east.

A stocktake on the impact of global warming and other forces of nature has concluded that "we can't always conserve things exactly as we once have. This goes for species, habitats, coasts or buildings".

One of the most dire predictions suggests 169 sites along nearly 380 miles of Britain’s coast will be hit by erosion.

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The report says 126 National Trust coastal sites are already at risk of flooding, with another 33 facing inundation by tidal and river water in the next 100 years.
There will be more flash floods like the one that devastated Boscastle, the Cornish village inundated in August 2004, where the trust's properties alone needed £1.4m worth of repairs and cleaning up, nearly a third of it not covered by insurance.

The 3.3 million member organisation also predicts a difficult future for its historic properties, not built to cope with the havoc caused by drier summers, warmer winters and increasing storms. Pests, some new to Britain, others now active throughout the year, are changing the nature of famous parks and gardens and threatening precious tapestries and other fabrics; algal blooms are invading ornamental ponds; and lawns, the pride and joy of famous houses, need mowing yearround.

Search for Newcastle's greenest family

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Fri, 03 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE search is on for Newcastle's greenest family - with the most environmentally aware picking up great prizes. Residents in the city are being urged to state how they are doing their best to cut the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. CarbonNeutral Newcastle has teamed up with the Evening Chronicle and Scottish Power to offer the competition, which includes the winning family having its gas or electricity bill for a year. The winning family will also be given up to four bikes and an energy efficient pack including a washer and fridge freezer. Entries must be with the Chronicle by Friday (March 3) and the winner will be announced here at CarbonNeutral Newcastle.com once the result is known.

Building help to solve climate change

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 04 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

A BUILDING society has become the first financial organisation to sign up to the CarbonNeutral Newcastle campaign. The Universal Building Society, based in Kings Manor, Newcastle, signed up as the Carbon Trust released figures that show Newcastle produces 2,209 tonnes of carbon a day. Universal has nine branches in the region and employs 165 staff. Chief executive Kevin Robinson said: "We are determined to do our bit to put the brakes on global warming with such a worthwhile charity. "This initiative will encourage all employees to think about ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and help them take no-cost actions that should enable our society to declare itself carbon neutral. "We all produce carbon dioxide. The good news is we can do something about it." CarbonNeutral Newcastle's Charles Henderson said: "I hope it encourages other businesses to think about their environment and see what a huge impact they can have."

MAKE CLIMATE CHANGE HISTORY

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

The Make Poverty History Campaign raised unprecedented public awareness of the problems of absolute poverty, debt and injustice in trade.

However, climate change promises to undo all of that good work, it has been claimed. The public is being invited to find out more about the problems faced by the world's poor and what we can do to reduce our impact.

The event takes place on Monday March 13th at 5:30 pm at the Curtis Auditorium of the Herschel Building directly across the road from Haymarket Metro Station.

Speakers include David Golding from North East Make Poverty History Campaign and Katie Elliot, of Friends of the Earth.

Contact John Broderick, 0781 299 1290 tynebridge_foe@yahoo.co.uk

Climate change experiment call

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

EVERYONE across the North East is being invited to participate in a mass experiment to reduce climate change as part of National Science Week.

"Click for the Climate" invites people to pledge to make a small change to their lifestyle during science week to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Chief scientist, Sir David King, said cutting emissions is up to individuals, as well as government and industry.

The Prime Minister has added support by lowering his thermostat by one degree.

The British Association for the Advancement of Science (BA), which co-ordinates National Science Week, is asking people to visit its website to make an online pledge for a "green" lifestyle change, revealing the estimated carbon dioxide savings if the action is kept up for a week.

The pledges include:
Not going to school or work by car, saving 4.5kg of CO2
Unplugging phone chargers when not in use, saving 1kg of CO2
Fitting three low energy light bulbs, saving 1.4kg of CO2
Off-setting one return air flight by planting a tree, saving 1,000kg of CO2
Not leaving electrical equipment on stand-by, saving 0.6kg of CO2

Supermarkets were also invited to take part in the campaign, and Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Waitrose are reducing the prices of energy-saving light bulbs for the duration of the week.

Professor Sir David King, the government's chief scientific adviser, launched the campaign and said reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the greatest global challenge we face today.

"We in government have a particular responsibility, and hence our emphasis on reducing our emissions by 60% by 2050. At the same time it is a problem for each individual to think about, and this is why the 'Click' campaign is brilliant, because it brings home to each individual their own responsibilities," he said.

The Carbon Reduction Programme (CRed), at the University of East Anglia, will evaluate the results of the campaign, and encourage people to continue their "greener" lifestyles.

More than 500,000 people are expected to take part in National Science Week.

"If they all just replaced one ordinary light bulb in their home with an energy saving bulb, then National Science Week would have cut down carbon dioxide emissions by over 240 tonnes," explained Roland Jackson, chief executive of the BA. "People say they can't make a difference - this shows that they clearly can!"

National Science Week, which this year also incorporates Social Science Week, takes part from 10-19 March.

Sustainable homes rules to be tightened

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Mon, 13 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

THE Government has announced it will strengthen rules for sustainable homes in order to address climate change.
Ministers have approved new building regulations which set mandatory standards that every new home must meet.
The regulations, which will be laid in Parliament this week and come into effect on April 6, raise the energy efficiency of new buildings by 40 per cent compared to 2002. They will also improve compliance by introducing air pressure testing for new buildings.
Ministers have decided to strengthen the Code for Sustainable Homes which sets higher standards for new homes to be rated against, in order to increase environmental sustainability and give home owners better information about the running costs of their homes.
In the light of the consultation, the Government will be introducing a series of revisions to the Code as well as undertaking further research into future improvements.
In addition, energy efficiency ratings - which form one component of the Code - will be made mandatory for new homes and existing homes. The ratings will be included in energy performance certificates set out to EU standards.

Renewable energy boost to holiday business

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Sat, 11 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

A SHEEP farmer in Northumberland is to use renewable energy for new holiday cottages at the farm.
John and Jill Wilson have been welcoming visitors for eight years at Whitelee Farm, between Otterburn and Jedburgh. The couple are now expanding the business and are turning an unused outbuilding into a holiday cottage.
They have been a member of Defra’s Countryside Stewardship Scheme for three years and have carried out a range of work, including tree planting, proving their commitment to helping the environment.
Mr Wilson explained: "We're harvesting the power of wind using a wind generator and we've also installed solar panels and a geothermal system to provide power and heating for the new cottage, as well as for one of the existing cottages.

CO2 shock rise

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0000

SCIENTISTS have recorded a significant rise in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, pushing it to a new record level, it was revealed today.
And CarbonNeutral Newcastle chiefs say it proves there is no time to lose for city people and businesses to back its campaign to reduce the greenhouse gas.
The latest data shows CO2 levels now stand at 381 parts per million (ppm) - 100ppm above the pre-industrial average.
The research by US scientists indicates that 2005 saw one of the largest increases on record - a rise of 2.6ppm.
The figures are seen as a benchmark for climate scientists around the globe.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) has been analysing samples of air taken from all over the world, including America's Rocky Mountains.
The chief carbon dioxide analyst for Noaa says the latest data confirms a worrying trend that recent years have, on average, recorded double the rate of increase from just 30 years ago.
"We don't see any sign of a decrease; in fact, we're seeing the opposite, the rate of increase is accelerating," Dr Pieter Tans told the BBC.
The precise level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is of global concern because climate scientists fear certain thresholds may be "tipping points" that trigger sudden changes.
The UK government's chief scientific adviser, Professor Sir David King, said the new data highlighted the importance of taking urgent action to limit carbon emissions.
"Today we're over 380 ppm," he said. "That's higher than we've been for over a million years, possibly 30 million years. Mankind is changing the climate."

Blair demands green 'revolution'

info@theroundhouse.co.uk — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 00:00:00 +0100

Blair demands green 'revolution'
Mr Blair said the US, China and India had to back emissions targets
Tony Blair has called for a "technological revolution comparable to the internet" to slow global warming. Speaking in New Zealand, he said it was important to develop machines which produced fewer emissions, while maintaining economic growth.
Mr Blair promised to push for an international framework to supersede the Kyoto Protocol when it expires.
The speech came after the government admitted it was unlikely to meet its target for cutting greenhouse gases.