Don’t believe Monsanto’s greenwashing. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), aren’t meant to feed the world or be resiliant  when there are droughts and floods — they’re designed to sell  pesticides, especially Monsanto’s weed killer RoundUp, which the “Roundup Ready” crops, corn, cotton, soy, canola, and now sugar beets and alfalfa, are genetically engineered to resist.

A 2009 study showed that, over the last 13 years, Roundup Ready crops have dramatically increased herbicide use by 383 million pounds!

Before Obama took office, the movement to stop new GMOs was making progress. In 2007, a Federal court ruled that the Bush USDA’s approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa violated the law because it failed to analyze risks such as the contamination of conventional and organic alfalfa and the development of “super-weeds.” The court banned the planting of GE alfalfa until USDA completed a rigorous analysis of these impacts. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals twice affirmed the national ban on Roundup Ready alfalfa planting, but Monsanto is appealing. They’re taking producers of organic alfalfa seed all the way to the Supreme Court!

Now, OCA’s worst fears — about what would happen if the man who was Biotech Governor of the Year, Obama’s USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, was put in charge of new genetically modified crops — are coming true. Vilsack is trying to get the court-ordered ban on Roundup Ready alfalfa lifted by issuing a new draft environmental impact statement (EIS). This sets the stage for Obama Administration approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa.

Alfalfa is the fourth most widely grown crop in the U.S. and a key source of dairy forage. The first perennial crop to be genetically engineered, GE alfalfa can regenerate itself from its root-stock. It is open-pollinated by bees, which can cross-pollinate at distances of several miles, spreading the patented, foreign DNA to conventional and organic crops. GMO-contamination of organic alfalfa is inevitable if the Obama Administration successfully commercializes Monsanto’s GM alfalfa.

Consumers who ingest Roundup Ready alfalfa genes are risking their health; according to the EIS, “acute toxicity in mice was observed.”

According to the EIS, consumers who ingest Roundup may experience “general and non-specific signs of toxicity from subchronic and chronic exposure to glyphosate includ[ing] changes in liver weight, blood chemistry (may suggest mild liver toxicity), liver pathology, and weight of the pituitary gland.”

The EIS warns that, “Based on upper estimates of exposure … infants consuming fruit and all age groups consuming vegetables may be at risk of adverse effects associated with acute exposure to glyphosate residues.”

Consuming milk and meat from animals fed crops that are genetically engineered is also risky. In a survey of milk products sold in stores in Italy, results from the screening of 60 samples of 12 different milk brands demonstrated the presence of GM maize sequences in 15 (25%) and of GM soybean sequences in 7 samples (11.7%).

Consumers are going to want to avoid Roundup Ready alfalfa, but according to the EIS, we don’t have that right because, “At the present time, there is no policy regarding the unintended presence of GE material in organic products or food, consistent with the fact that the NOP is a process-based program for certifying a farm or production system as organic, and not a product-based program that tests or certifies individual products as organic.”

We can’t let the Obama administration take away our right to GMO-free food. Please send Secretary Vilsack a letter by clicking “GO!”

There are a significant amount of resources currently available which were not available in the past, because of the internet. This is especially true for entrepreneurs who are interested in eco-friendly business opportunities. There are a number of websites that provide good sources for promoting environmentally friendly opportunities, like www.greenoppotrunities.org and www.environmentalleader.com and there are also articles from all over the world about certain environmental needs and ideas. The increase in social networking websites, like Facebook and Twitter, also allow for the ability to do fairly inexpensive industry and market research. There are also many books and magazines, which can be found in any bookstore, that focus on the opportunities available to green business owners and the unexplored industries that have room to be more environmentally friendly.

Using waste products to produce other saleable items offers a viable resource not thought of in the past. There are many waste products that can be recycled such as plastics, paper and cardboards as well as animal waste that can provide other products or can be used for energy production. Although we have found ways to recycle many of these products, there are many items that are taken directly to a landfill. The increased cost of fuel and energy, paired with the rising cost of disposal and a decrease in the land available for landfills, there are a large number of opportunities for creativity and innovation.  Services that can find ways to recycle these products or manufacturing facilities that find ways to use these products will have a definite advantage over their competitors. These untouched waste products are the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs who want to find a new industry or market to start their business.

Although there is much competition over almost all markets of the world, consumers show a definite preference for environmentally friendly businesses. The majority of today’s consumers prefer to buy products that are eco-friendly, which creates a climate with a demand for eco-friendly businesses. Current statistics state that fifty percent of consumers imagined the green store would be more comfortable to shop at than the non-green alternative stores. The trend also includes consumers as employees wanting to benefit from the eco-friendly environment and the job security that these new business offer. Eighty one percent of employees in the United States would prefer working for a company that “has a good reputation for environmental responsibility.” This research depicts an atmosphere supported by a great number of consumers and employees, which is the healthiest possible condition for environmental businesses to quickly prosper and maintain success.

Consumer’s interest to be environmentally responsible also provides an incentive for corporations and governments to provide support for financing, investing, and cooperation. In the automobile industry the General Motors Company attempted to rebrand itself with a new design named “Volt” but Toyota is ahead of the game with their product the “Prius” which recently announced their new solar technology. Companies have the opportunity to apply to receive a variety of advantages from the government as well. There are grants, loans, and preferences currently available for green businesses. In April of 2009 on Earth Day, President Barack Obama declared that developing renewable energy is crucial and his administration will for the first time lease federal lands and waters for projects to generate electricity from wind and water.

There are many reasons to be a green entrepreneur, but most importantly the increasing trend is a solid base for a very successful business opportunity. Society has triggered the green movement, which has recently been supported by governments and is waiting for businesses to take advantage. With the available resources and support, environmental companies will be very cost-effective solutions that should last for a significant amount of time. Entrepreneurs should take advantage of these opportunities soon to be the first in their industry or market and get the full reward for their innovation an ability to follow the current trends.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/entrepreneurs-going-green-cost-effective-sustainable-business-opportunities-1775679.html

Make sure you don’t buy anything you don’t need! Try not to fall into marketing traps that make you feel as if you have to have something. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it! One of the biggest contributors to over-consumption is our ability to persuade ourselves to buy things we don’t actually want or ever use.

2.Buy local

Help your local community go green by buying local wherever possible. Not only does this mean a lower carbon footprint but it also keeps local independent shops running, they need all the help they can get in this age of big supermarkets and online shopping. Instead of driving to the nearest Tesco, walk to your local butcher, baker or delicatessen and help keep your local shops and producers open.

3. Recycle

Don’t let anything go to waste. Find out from your local council what recycling options your community has and recycle everything you can – from cans to plastic, from paper to fabric. Get down the local bottle bank and take the plastic bags that have accumulated from years of shopping to a recycling centre.

4. Re-use

If it can be re-used then don’t throw it away! Shopping bags, newspaper, plastic bottles and fabric are all materials that can be very useful around the house. Try to get the most wear out of all your clothes and shoes and make sure nothing goes to waste.

5. Plan Ahead

If you plan your meals in advance you’re guaranteed not to over-buy on your weekly shop. Make sure you know exactly how much produce you’re going to use so you don’t end up wasting food and drink each week.

6. Cut Down

Cutting down your intake of meat can make a drastic difference to the environment. Try to eat meat just once a day (or once every two days if you can!) to lower the emissions and carbon footprint caused by your food consumption.

7. Get Creative

Don’t throw that old pair of jeans out, turn it into a denim skirt! See what you can do with all those things you normally throw away. Wine bottles make great candle holders and old dresses can often be turned into wonderful new skirts. It’s good for the planet, your wardrobe and your imagination!

8. Make a Small Change

Small changes lend themselves to big differences. Try focusing on one aspect of your life a week that can be slightly altered to help the environment. It might be switching energy companies, it might be turning off appliances at the plug, it might even be walking or cycling to work every day. Buy your next party dress from an ethical clothes supplier rather than Topshop. Take small steps one week at a time and see your carbon footprint shrink.

9. Mend

If your favourite pair of shoes are starting to look a little worn then take them to the cobblers. If your favourite top has holes in then sew them up. Make the most out of what you’ve got by mending your current clothing rather than buying replacements.

10. Search Around

Check out your local charity shops before you go on that shopping spree. Not only could it save you money, but if you search around before buying ‘that’ top you might realise you didn’t need it in the first place!

Eco Champion is the enthusiastic owner of MoreEco Ltd. The site helps the consumer find greener ways of shopping by offering cash back incentives. For more information please see http://www.moreeco.co.uk

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/top-10-tips-for-greener-consumption-in-2010-1766734.html

With the renewed interest in alternative and renewable energy sources over the past decade, along with renewable energy mandates and government incentives, new investment capital has been pouring into developing more efficient machines with higher output capacities. Wind turbine technology has rapidly advanced over the past decade. Many manufacturers are now building turbines with name plate capacities of several megawatts.

The 1979 oil and energy crisis in the United States spurred the installation of thousands of wind turbines in the American Southwest. Today’s turbines are producing as much as one hundred times the power of smaller wind turbines that were installed during the early 1980’s California wind rush. Denmark too was one of the first countries to adapt wind power on a larger scale. But now the Danish government has decided that the number of wind turbines should not be increased, and consequently wind turbine operators must take down existing generators, in order to get permission to build new ones.

It can be financially advantageous to erect a wind turbine with a larger nameplate capacity before the existing wind turbine is technically outdated. This is especially the case for Denmark, as the Danish government financially supports these repowering solutions. The advancement in technology, and financial incentives, is allowing wind farm operators to significantly increase their electricity production out of the same area of land both in the United States and in Europe.

However the existing wind turbines are often in good condition, and have many years of power producing life left. Some companies are “remanufacturing” these turbines and claiming they will continue to operate for an average of twenty years or more with proper maintenance. But not all remanufacturing companies are the same.

If a second hand turbine is properly remanufactured, every part and system from top to bottom will be overhauled. Bearings will be replaced, generators rewound, brake systems renewed, blades and towers inspected and cleaned. Most importantly the “gear box” will get the most attention. This is the system that endures the most wear as it’s designed to spin one thousand revolutions per minute for fifteen, twenty or thirty years. To take it a step further, the best remanufacturing companies are updating the control systems with new, digital, computerized systems that can be monitored remotely through the internet.

The most important thing for buyers is to make sure the company selling the remanufactured wind turbine stands behind their finished product. Most remanufacturers offer at least a one year warranty. Good companies will offer at least a two year warranty and the option of an extension. It’s also important for consumers to check with their states renewable energy incentives programs. Some states like Ohio require a five year warranty in order for the turbine to be eligible for their subsidy schemes.

Jason Jacobs is the Head of Operations for FESCO Direct Wind Energy Division
and a member of the executive management team. FESCO Direct is a leading global provider of new, used and remanufactured wind turbine equipment. With corporate headquarters in the U.S.A., the company provides full service installation to retail customer’s worldwide and discounted equipment solutions for wind energy professionals.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/remanufacturing-provides-new-life-to-used-turbines-1768604.html

An estimated 100 billion plastic shopping bags are consumed each year in the USA, according to the Wall-Street Journal. Most plastic bags end up in landfills and the rest often end up in rivers, ponds, lakes, streams or in the sea, where animals can ingest or become entangled in them. Household waste, shopping bags included, increases by more than 25% on average in November and December. Considering how many shopping bags are consumed and wasted at this time of year, the time is now to spread the word about the positive benefits of eco-friendly reusable shopping bags to influence our families, friends and communities.

Adopting a BYOB strategy in our individual shopping habits is a simple way to do just that. If we can raise awareness at this time, the positive impact for the environment is incalculable for 2010 and well into the future. Several cities have already made gradual but significant progress in promoting the use of eco-friendly non woven reusable grocery bags in recent years. Motivating consumers with plastic and paper bag bans, discounts at the register for reusable bag usage and tax motivations are a few to speak of.

Right here in America, the San Jose City Council recently passed one of the nation’s strictest bans on plastic and paper shopping bags. This is a big victory for the Bay Area, which has one million plastic bags per year accumulating in and along the San Francisco Bay. San Jose becomes the latest bay area city to enact some type of ban on disposable shopping bags; others include San Francisco and Palo Alto. Tracy Seipel of the San Jose Mercury News reported that it was actually ONE man who really jump-started the ban, another great example of the power of one person. Here’s a an excerpt:

While visiting his sister-in-law in Taipei, Kansen Chu, elected to San Jose city council in 2007, went grocery shopping and was surprised to get charged for plastic grocery bags. The next day, he brought his own cloth bags back to the store. “I guess the question,” said Chu, “was, Why not San Jose?” He began a conversation with the city’s environmental services staff, which later moved to council committee discussions.

Save the Bay’s 4th annual report on the most garbage-strewn sites in the region further demonstrates the need for bringing your own shopping bags. The 50-year-old environmental advocacy group focused on 10 specific bay-area sites where almost 15,000 plastic bags were retrieved in one day last year in their report. Here’s an excerpt of an article in the San Francisco Chronicle by Kelly Zito.

According to (Save the Bay’s) research, Californians use about 19 billion plastic bags each year, 3.8 million in the Bay Area. The average use time for the bags – made using about 12 million barrels of oil each year in the United States – is about 12 minutes. In addition to the hundreds of years it can take for a plastic bag to decompose in a landfill, the bags also force downtime when fed into traditional recycling equipment. Typically, the bags get wound into conveyor belts or gears and must be cut out by hand.

Ten US cities have banned plastic bags so far, five within the past year. Even Mexico City enacted a ban on plastic shopping bags, which went into effect in August. The city of 20 million now faces the realities of effective enforcement, which is not easy when the Mexico City Chamber of Commerce estimates there are 35,000 vendors in Mexico City’s downtown area alone.

Bans on plastic bags aren’t the only effective way to reduce harmful waste caused by disposable bags. PlasTaxes, which tax consumers at the register for using plastic bags when shopping, were first introduced by the Irish. John Roach of National Geographic reported last year on the worldwide momentum that’s been building since Ireland instituted a PlasTax in 2003. The Irish showed they could reduce plastic bag consumption by 90% or more. Momentum is growing across the world, particularly in America. From Washington, DC to Edmonds, WA to North Pole, AK, communities and governments are spurring an international trend to reduce the harmful environmental effects of disposable shopping bags. Even major retail stores like Target and CVS are taking action by enacting discounts at the register for customers who choose to BYOB or just carry-out their items without a bag.

For the naysayers, it’s convenient to ignore recent momentum in reducing disposable bag waste. But to some, the wide-spread adoption of eco-friendly reusable bags is inevitable. Look at the way smoking is becoming taboo in America. Indoor smoking bans have caught on like wild fire. In the same way, who is to say the use of disposable bags won’t become taboo at some point in the near future? The use of eco friendly reusable grocery bags is definitely gaining steam. Our individual choices to bring our reusable bags when shopping can go a lot farther than we think. That’s what BYOB is all about, setting a proactive example for others to set a trend that will help our planet, it’s valuable finite resources and secure its animals’ habitats.

Of course, plastic and paper bags should be recycled and it’s important to remember most large retailers including Albertsons and Wal-Mart will recycle plastic bags for you. That being said, a BYOB shopping strategy can make your life so much easier because there is no longer a need to accumulate that cupboard full of plastic bags or figure out what and when to do something about it. Keeping a few reusable bags in your car or backpack is a good way to ensure you have them when needed. So give back to our planet by remembering to BYOB! Whether it be at a convenience store, the mall, or while grocery shopping, we can make a difference for the environment and help raise awareness one transaction at a time. Through the fight to eliminate disposable shopping bag waste, we are giving a gift to our Planet, the finest gift of all, sustainability and reusage.

Matthew Ludwig and Al Bemis are accomplished writers with Manifest SEO Services discussing eco and sustainability issues working with Factoy Direct Promos, a leading innovator assisting companies promotional efforts with reusable reusable shopping bags and a full line of custom trade show bags and products

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/give-our-planet-a-gift-by-using-reusable-shopping-bags-1768637.html

There are lots of sites out there, that provide you with great tips. Most of the sites actually have hundreds of tips, I’ll try to show you the most important ones. Not only to save you some money, but also to help the global warming of the earth. It actually is so easy to save money, it’s just that people often forget about the little things. But the little things, they make the difference!

1) Turn of the TV, radio and all other electronic devices. Do NOT put them on the standby modus.

2) Shut down all windows, lock doors properly and turn off or lower the heating when you do have the windows open.

3) At night when you go to bed, set the heating on 13 to 15 degrees, not lower otherwise it will cost you lots of energy when you want to turn up the heat the next morning. This alone could save you around €42 per year

4) Don’t always use the drier, hang out your clothes when it’s nice weather outside. By only hanging out half of your clothes, this could save you 5 till 20 euros per year.

5) Buy energy-efficient lamps, this will cost you less energy and less money. Your savings can rise up to €5 per energy-efficient lamp per year

6) Thaw out your freezer, a freezer with lots of ice uses almost twice as much power. Check out if your freezer closes properly, if not it could use more energy.

7) When you want to thaw an frozen product, put the product in a refrigerator. The refrigerator uses the temperature of the product and so it will cost you less power.

Turn off the lights when you’re not around that much, most people forget to turn off the lights for example in the living room or the kitchen. The will result in unnecessary use of energy.

9) We shower an average of 10 minutes and we use 100 liter of water. If you could save 1 minute in the shower, it could save 10 liter of warm water and so use less energy

10) The chargers of several electronic devices that everyone nowadays has, for example a cell Phone or a video camera, also use power. Even when the battery is fully charged, still power is being used. So turn the power off if your device is fully charged.

Martijn van Nijf – http://www.tipsofgreenliving.com

http://www.beerforeveryone.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/10-basic-tips-for-green-living-1767151.html

Rising consciousness of the impact humans are having on the earth means green issues are becoming higher on peoples list of priorities. In an attempt to try and save it from further damage environmental researchers are constantly exploring new techniques and methods that will hopefully shape the future of waste management.

The amount of electronic products used in each country is astounding, every year alone there are thousands upon thousands of disused computers thrown into landfills – when you realize that a computer is made up from over 1,000 materials and the average lifespan is just 2 years, then it becomes clear they contribute significantly to the e-waste stream. E-waste is also highly toxic as it can cause serious health and pollution problems as it contains harmful contaminants including lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium and brominated flame retardants.

If left to sit in a landfill these toxic chemicals filter into the soil and atmosphere, which in turn have a negative effect on the local community. In some countries the dumping of electronic waste in landfills is now illegal. E-waste also gets incinerated which releases heavy metals, including lead and mercury, into the environment which ultimately end up in the food chain.

A good way to increase a product’s lifespan is to reuse it. Mobile phones and computers are sent to developing countries for their use; however, in practice it doesn’t always work out to be the best option as once they are no longer required, the country has no hazardous waste facilities. It then ends up in scrap yards where workers, often children, are employed to sort it by hand where they are exposed to the toxic chemicals and poisons, along with the local community and surrounding environment. In developed countries, electronics recycling occurs in purpose-built recycling plants under strictly controlled conditions, in developing countries they have no controls in place.

Computer recycling produces a large amount of reusable parts. The CRT glass is sent to a lead smelter to recover the lead or to a CRT glass manufacturer where the glass is used to turn out new CRT glass. The electronic components in the CPU, such as the main board, memory, hard drives, battery, power supply, and sound cards, are removed and sold on to different manufacturers or recyclers around the country. Plastics are separated and generally shredded for recycling, whilst metal components are also separated before being sent to scrap metal recyclers.

The figures associated with e-waste are massive and it’s time leading electronic companies take more control of the situation and deal with the waste from their products. It is the fastest growing sector of the solid waste stream due to frequent upgrades of computers, TV’s, stereo systems and, particularly, mobile phones – in western countries people generally buy a new phone every 2 years.

Manufacturers of electronic goods need to take responsibility for the products they make and avert an e-waste disaster. Their aim should be to design electronics that contain harmful materials and have an extended lifespan. They should also be in a position to take their products back once they have passed their sell by date and re-use and recycle them safely, and as appropriate. Some manufacturers now offer a ‘take back’ scheme whereby you can return your unwanted electronics to the company for recycling.

Responsible disposal of electronic waste is not only the responsibility of leading electronics companies, it is everyone’s concern. Reuse is a resourceful way to recycle your appliances; you could give any unwanted items to friends, family, charity, or other community group that would make use of it. If the appliance doesn’t work then find your nearest e-waste recycling point.

There are waste management services online that can assist with all facets of waste management and resource recovery, organizations with years of experience in putting into action effective, innovative and sustainable waste management and industrial services solutions.

Michiel Van Kets writes articles for Veolia Environmental Services, Australia’s environmental services leader in all facets of resource recovery and waste management services. The company has over 30 years industry experience in implementing effective, innovative and sustainable waste management and industrial services solutions. Visit the website for information on e waste recycling and facilities management Sydney services.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/ewaste-spiralling-out-of-control-1763702.html

Weather in the Northwest is actually quite mild. The seasons are there, however they are not as pronounced as seasons in places like Salt Lake City, Utah for example. The winters are mostly rainy with temperatures rarely below forty five or fifty degrees. Spring comes a bit late, the summer is somewhat shorter and fall creeps in usually mid September.

Sometimes in late January or early February if you step outside you find it quite mild temperature wise and you can almost smell in the air the first hints of spring on the way. With spring the rain picks up somewhat, I guess to get the plants thoroughly watered and ready for blooming. The summers are absolutely beautiful and make the Northwest a great place to visit in the summer. You certainly would not plan a vacation to any other place except maybe Canada or Alaska at this time.

Temperatures may reach the ninety degree range for a week or so but for the most part the range is seventy five to eighty five degrees, rather nice and comfortable. With all the things that one can do here the summers are actually too short. You really have to plan well to get all the recreational activities in the calendar.

The Northwest would be a great area for a summer home where you could spend three or four months a year. There are some really great areas to live such as a lakeside home or maybe a mountain home. There are many forested areas that have available acreage for sale still where a new home might be constructed. I have some friends that have actually done this and the end result was fabulous. Something I have wanted to do is purchase a fairly large boat that I could live on for short periods and also be able to enjoy the great cruising available in the Puget Sound area.

SkullCandy Earbuds Electronics

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/weather-in-the-pacific-northwest-1758452.html

Naturally, it’s a fantastic idea to switch from burning fossil fuels to natural, reusable sources when it comes to getting our energy. The UK is lucky enough to have a huge resource when it comes to wind power – and harnessing that power could make a huge difference in the country’s attitude to sourcing energy.

However, in order to capture the wind’s power, we need to set up wind farms – and this is the main point of contention for many Britons. Many people argue that, like electricity pylons, wind farms spoil the view of the country’s natural landscape. To install a wind farm at a point of natural beauty, many would say, is crushing to the value of Britain’s countryside and a way by which beauty spots could be ruined.

On the other hand, however, many people see the turbines located on wind farms as an attractive addition to the countryside. It seems as though this area is merely down to a matter of opinion.

Those against the wind farms also claim that the revolving turbines are a threat to birds. This could be true, though the RSPB reported in 2005 that it had not seen any adverse effects on birds from such farms, so these claims may be unfounded. Turbines do not revolve particularly fast and it is unlikely that birds would fly into them.

However, the wind farms have also been accused of turning over little energy relative to how much space they take up. Wind powers do generate less energy than conventional power stations, but it is an unmistakable truth that they are, unlike power stations, sources of renewable, eco-friendly energy. And as it is crucial that, if we want our planet to conserve any of its beauty at all, we begin using more of these sources for our electricity – so perhaps the case is that sacrificing a little natural beauty for the sake of the rest of the planet isn’t so bad.

The debate continues to rage on, each side with powerful points. However, as long as we arrive at a point where getting our energy no longer hurts the planet, it is unlikely such discussions will cease.

Andrew Regan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/the-wind-farms-debate-1755828.html

The main focus of the event, and no doubt the most discussed topic over the course of the summit, was about how to establish action. The committee aimed to summarise and agree upon a list of clear decisions on how to slow down the current rate of carbon emissions worldwide, and cement this ‘to do’ list with a series of actionable objectives over the course of the next nine months. The world’s super powers agreed to limit global temperature rises to less than two degrees Celsius. The US, China, Brazil, India and South Africa also agreed to gift $30bn to developing countries over the next three years

Nicaragua submitted proposals to restart the negotiations on legal requirements of emission reductions from developed nations. Previously the United States has come under pressure due to its seemingly slow reactions to getting involved in tackling worldwide environmental issues and this trend continued in Copenhagen. President Obama’s speech received a lot of criticism – with many commentators saying his plans to cut US emissions by four percent on 1990 levels as being less than is required to action change.

In the face of increasingly strong public opinion and mounting scientific research findings, the United Nations Climate Change Conference had key environmental issues on the agenda, not least the threat of flooding as weather conditions become more extreme, and how to implement recommendations from 2008’s Pitt Report. The media notoriety that natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina have been getting worse has been in part dubbed ‘the Al Gore effect’ thanks to the former Vice President’s significant work in raising awareness of climate change repercussions.

Friends of the Earth, campaigners for solutions to environmental problems, has spoken out against the proposed action of major countries, in particular the USA, stating it wants countries to pledge an emissions cut of 40% or more. Previous discussions highlighted funding as being critical to help cut emissions, with Gordon Brown calling for £100bn of global funding to be made available to support this action. Whatever the government news is, the focus seems to very much be on a strategic worldwide investment, rather than any single technological attempt at a solution. It’s just that to some organisations, the major countries aren’t doing enough to evoke change or to encourage developing countries to make the required changes.

Andrew Regan writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/how-will-the-world-be-affected-by-the-outcome-of-the-copenhagen-climate-plan-1748576.html