Carbon emissions lead to dangerous changes in oceans

The rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is driving fundamental and dangerous changes in the chemistry and ecosystems of the world's oceans, warn international marine scientists. More than 30% of the CO2 released from burning fossil fuels, cement production, deforestation and other human activities goes straight into the oceans, turning them gradually more acidic. "Ocean conditions are already more extreme than those experienced by marine organisms and ecosystems for millions of years," the researchers said. "This emphasises the urgent need to adopt policies that drastically reduce CO2 emissions." Ocean acidification, which the researchers call the "evil twin of global warming", is caused when the CO2 emitted by human activity, mainly burning fossil fuels, dissolves into the oceans.

It is happening independently of, but in combination with, global warming. "Evidence gathered by scientists around the world... suggests that ocean acidification could represent an equal - or perhaps even greater threat - to the biology of our planet than global warming," says study co-author, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg. "The resulting acidification will impact many forms of sea life, especially organisms whose shells or skeletons are made from calcium carbonate, like corals and shellfish," adds Hoegh-Guldberg, professor at the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies. "These changes are taking place at rates as much as 100 times faster than they ever have over the last tens of millions of years," Hoegh-Guldberg says.

The scientists say there is now persuasive evidence that mass extinctions in past Earth history, like the "Great Dying" of 251 million years ago and another wipeout 55 million years ago, were accompanied by ocean acidification, which may have delivered the deathblow to many species. "These past periods can serve as great lessons of what we can expect in the future, if we continue to push the acidity the ocean even further," said lead author, Carles Pelejero, from the Marine Science Institute of CSIC in Barcelona, Spain, according to a release of the ARC Centre. "This will create conditions not seen on Earth for at least 40 million years," he said.

These findings were published in the latest issue of Trends in Ecology and Evolution.

Rich countries keep polluting, blame India

The rich countries blame India and other developing nations for the world's rising emission levels. Here is proof that the boot is on the other foot. Fresh data released by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change says greenhouse gas emissions from the rich nations increased by 12.8% between 1990-2007, the latest period for which figures are available.

While the industrialized countries are now gunning for India and China to take on stronger commitments and obligations under the new deal to be possibly thrashed out by the Copenhagen round of UN negotiations in December, the data from UNFCCC showed that most of the reductions had come from the "economies in transition" -- mostly eastern European and Balkan countries whose economies have crashed.

Carbon dioxide emissions from the US increased by 20.2% between 1990-2007. US has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol as it refused to enter a regime which would have obliged it to reduce its emissions by a fixed percentage below 1990 levels. The US, even after Barack Obama took over the presidency, has not shifted from its Bush-era stance and has refused to sign on to the protocol.

Even as it played the blame game, its own targets for the period closing 2020 would not even reach the 1990 levels. Developing countries, in contrast, have stated that the science demands US and other developed countries take emission reduction cuts of at least 40% below 1990 levels to keep temperatures under control.

Carbon dioxide emissions, embarrassingly for Denmark, increased by 1% between 1990 and 2007. With the carbon space in the atmosphere already swallowed, even small percentage increases are seen as a serious threat and with Denmark being the host country for the final round of negotiations this year, the statistics will not help convince emerging economies that rich nations are doing enough.

Turkey's emissions grew at 118% while that of Spain by 60% and Japan's at 14%. While these are high-growth or developed economies, India has argued that they have had more than their fair share of the carbon dioxide budget.

"The continuing growth of emissions from industrialized countries remains worrying, despite the expectation of a momentary dip brought about by the global recession," Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of UNFCCC, said in a press statement.

Emissions are explicitly linked to the levels of economic activity of a country as higher production levels require greater fossil fuel based energy. While some countries like UK have been able to achieve some gains, these have come out of one-time events such as switching much of its energy source from coal to gas. Experts warn that these do not reflect a declining long-term trend or the rich nations having drawn long-term trajectories towards emission decline.

Putting the countries on low-carbon pathways can have substantial impact on economic activity and most of the rich nations have shown reluctance to take any actions that may hamper lifestyles as it remains politically unfeasible for them.

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India carbon emissions to triple by 2030

India's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are expected to nearly triple in the next two decades, but will still remain below the current global average, a government backed report said.

The data released late on Wednesday showed the current per capita rate at around 1.2 tonnes per year, compared to the global average of 4.22 tonnes.

Five different studies released by independent institutions concluded that India's per capita emissions of carbon dioxide equivalent would reach 2.1 tonnes in 2020 and 3.5 tonnes in 2030. India's per capita output is one of the lowest globally, but given its massive population it is one of the top polluters in the world.

Speaking at the launch, environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the data would help to inform debate at global climate change talks in Copenhagen in December. "India should be seen to be part of the solution," he said. But Ramesh cautioned that the numbers were "open to peer review" and that the government did not agree with all of them.

The studies found that India's total emissions are estimated to reach between four billion and 7.3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2031.

India has long rejected binding carbon emission targets on the grounds that they would hinder economic growth and development.

More than 180 nations are due to negotiate an agreement to replace the Kyoto Protocol climate treaty in Copenhagen in December. Ramesh reiterated a promise by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that India's per capita emissions would never exceed those of developed nations, but credited energy efficiency options rather than mitigation strategies for the projections.

No case for pressure to cut emissions

Even with 8-9 per cent GDP annual growth for the next decade or two, our per capita emissions will be well below developed country averages. There is simply no case for the pressure we face to reduce emissions, says JAIRAM RAMESH

India’s position on the ongoing climate change agreement negotiations is clear, credible and consistent. We are very conscious of the local impacts of climate change within our country. Embedded in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Bali Action Plan, we are fully alive to our global responsibilities as well.

We will never allow our per capita emissions to exceed that of the developed countries. We have done detailed modelling, the results of which are being released very soon. The results are unambiguous. Even with 8-9 per cent GDP growth every year for the next decade or two, our per capita emissions will be well below developed country averages.

There is simply no case for the pressure that we, who have among the lowest emissions per capita, face to actually reduce emissions. And as if this pressure was not enough, we also face the threat of carbon tariffs on our exports to countries such as yours. We are ensuring that our economic growth path is ecologically sustainable — GDP is increasingly Green Domestic Product, not just Gross Domestic Product.

Apart from vastly greater financial flows from the developed world, we see a critical role for international technology cooperation in enabling countries like India to adapt to climate change. In collaboration with the UN, the Government of India is hosting an International Conference on Climate Change and Technology on October 22-23, 2009.

The New Delhi Statement on technology and climate change will, we hope, be reflected in the Copenhagen Agreement.

INDIA’S ACTION PLAN

We have a comprehensive national action plan on climate change. This is driven primarily by our adaptation imperatives, but it does not neglect what we should do on our own for mitigation. The plan is being converted into a large number of specific programmes and projects. All this is in the public domain. The energy sector is key. Our focus is on making technology leaps to ensure lower emissions.

Our biggest power utility, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) has the second lowest carbon dioxide intensity in the world — that is, emissions per megawatt of power generated. Our energy consumption per unit of GDP has been falling significantly. We are world leaders in fast breeder reactor technology. We are establishing a 182 MW commercial power plant based on indigenously-developed integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) technology. We have launched a major initiative on extracting carbon dioxide from flue gases for propagating algae in bioreactors. Our renewable energy commitment goes back over two and a half decades. Sustainable forestry management is of profound importance to us.

We are just embarking on a close to $3 billion programme (and $3 billion to begin with) to regenerate our natural forests that already cover some 165 million acres—roughly the size of Texas. This is one of the largest carbon sinks in the world—and a sink that will only grow in size and impact. In this connection, I seek your support for India’s proposals to the UNFCCC on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+), that is to acknowledge and reward countries who are in the business of actually expanding forest cover and not just arresting deforestation and degradation. India seeks to engage the world community proactively in the climate change area. We also seek to engage the United States of America purposively. Let me sketch three areas where our two countries can cooperate.

R&D OPPORTUNITIES

First, I see numerous opportunities for joint research, development, demonstration and dissemination projects. This could be in areas like solar energy, biomass, clean coal, high voltage power transmission, smart grids, wastewater utilisation, etc. I propose that we jointly explore the feasibility of establishing an ‘Indo-US Foundation for Climate Change Technology’ with initial kick-start contributions from our respective governments. This will catalyse private investment into the corpus as well. The focus on this Foundation should be on transformative, discontinuity technologies that will enable leapfrogging.

Second, I propose that our two countries collaborate in the area of environmental planning, regulation and management. We are thinking of establishing our own independent, professional, science-based national environmental protection authority. We are planning to set up a National Green Tribunal as some sort of an environmental court. I am convinced that we have much to learn from your long experience in this area. We can also collaborate in the on-going renewal of our vast forestry and biodiversity science and management establishment.

Third, I see building institutional capacity for continuing research on climate change and its impacts as being of fundamental importance. This has to be done by us primarily. All I want to say in this connection is that the US should not overlook the importance of research in the public domain — after all, this is what made the Green Revolution possible in the first place.

I believe that this is what will make the ‘Evergreen Revolution’, with its underpinning in ecological sustainability and equity, also possible. That is why India has proposed the idea of global technology innovation centres working. Your support is crucial to get such centres going for the benefit of millions of ordinary people.

(Opening remarks of Mr Jairam Ramesh, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, at the ITC Green Building event on July 19 in connection with the visit of the US Secretary of State, Ms Hillary Clinton.)

Rich people to blame for carbon emission: Study

As the world grapples with the challenge of climate change, the wealthy seems to be caught on the wrong side, with a study saying that

rich people and their lifestyles account for a major chunk of the carbon emissions globally.

The study by a group of researchers from the Princeton University comes at a time when the developed and developing countries are yet to agree on carbon emission caps, which would help in tackling climate change.

"Most of the world's emissions come disproportionately from the wealthy citizens of the world, irrespective of their nationality," Shoibal Chakravarty, one of the leader authors of the report said.

Chakravarty, who is a physicist at the Princeton Environmental Institute, noted that most of the emissions come from lifestyles that involve airplane flights, car use and the heating and cooling of large homes.

"We estimate that in 2008, half of the world's emissions came from just 700 million people," Chakravarty was quoted as saying about the study in a statement posted on the Princeton University website.

At present, the world average for tons of carbon dioxide emitted a year per individual is about five tons.

Each European produces about 10 tons a year, with each American producing twice that amount, the statement said.

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