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Kids For A Cool Climate
| Climate Change News 2002 |
Canada ratifies Kyoto: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien signed the Kyoto Accord on Monday 16th December after a vote of support in the House of Commons.
New Zealand ratifies Kyoto on 10th December 2002.
UK ‘close to record warmth’: Globally 2002 is set to be the second warmest year recorded since 1860. Nine of the ten warmest years have occurred since 1990, including 1999, 2000 and 2001. The only year warmer than 2002 was 1998. Average global temperatures have risen by 0.6 ºC over the last Century.
Dark Things in the Greenhouse: Californian researchers say that in a warmer future, with more nitrogen and rain, extra carbon dioxide would actually slow down plant growth.
Environmental Watchdog calls for £40 Tax on Flights: The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution advocated a freeze on airport expansion together with a tax of between £40 and £100 on every ticket which would double the price of many journeys. The scientists identified short-haul flights as the worst offenders because of their inefficient use of fuel, branding air journeys between London and Manchester as ‘daft’.
Good Copse, Bad Copse: As they photosynthesise, certain species of tree produce chemicals known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). On their own, the VOCs that trees produce are not a problem, but mixed with oxides of nitrogen (from fossil fuel burning or vehicle emissions) they can create ozone—which contributes to smog. Trees producing VOCs were: oaks; poplars and willows. Good trees included: ash; maples; elder; larch; Scots pine and silver birch.
UK faces global warming disaster: A study into rising seas and increased rainfall says that five million people and most of the country’s best farmland are at risk of flooding. London and Yorkshire will be particularly badly hit.
