Tiempo Climate Newswatch

Wolves in Yellowstone National Park in the United States are reducing the effects of climate change. Warmer winters mean fewer fatalities amongst the elk population, leaving less food for scavengers. Countering this, gray wolves, once threatened by extinction, are now killing more elk, leaving carrion for the scavengers.

"Wolves provide a steady supply of carrion for the scavengers throughout the winter, whether it is mild or severe," reports Chris Wilmers, who conducted the research at the College of Natural Resources at the University of California, Berkeley. Some scavengers have adapted to the wolves' presence. "Ravens have adopted a foraging strategy by following the wolves when they are on a hunt," says Wilmers. "When wolves chase down their prey through wide open spaces over long distances, it's as good as a dinner bell. Ravens and other scavengers know that a meal is coming."

More information

• Science Daily
• EurekAlert
• PLoS Biology

• Research article, PloS Biology

The Canadian government has reached an agreement with car manufacturers to cut greenhouse emissions from vehicles by 25 per cent from 1995 levels over the next five years. The voluntary deal means that mandatory emissions limits, threatened by Environment Minister Stéphane Dion, will not now be imposed. Opposition parties are, however, still pushing for firmer constraints. "We believe that mandatory emissions reduction standards such as they have in California is what Canada should have done," said New Democrat leader Jack Layton. "There's been lots of voluntary commitments around without any teeth and our pollution has gone up considerably instead of down."

The agreement has been welcomed by environmental groups. "This agreement is a breakthrough because it will both cut global warming emissions in Canada, and set the stage for similar reductions in the United States," said Dan Becker of the Sierra Club. "Right now, California and seven eastern states either have, or are in the process of adopting clean car laws. With the addition of Canada, one-third of the North American auto market will have to meet California's tougher emissions rules." Manufacturers would find it economically difficult to make one set of clean cars for eight states and Canada and "a dirty set for the rest," he concluded.

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Background

• ENN
• MSNBC News

• Sierra Club

The United States Government is to keep track of voluntary reductions in greenhouse gases by farmers and foresters. According to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, farm and forest landowners now have "a unique opportunity to be part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions." The Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service is making available an online method of assessing soil carbon sequestration. A broader registry of voluntary efforts by businesses, groups and individuals to reduce greenhouse gases has been kept since 1992.

While the Bush administration claims the registry shows how seriously the greenhouse gas issue is viewed, others disagree. David Hawkins of the Natural Resources Defense Council called the reporting registry a "charade that is intended to allow the government and the participants to portray that they are doing something about global warming, when they are not." He cites the example of companies running nuclear reactors that could claim emissions reductions by saying they would have otherwise operated coal-fired power plants.

More information

• ENN

• Voluntary reporting, US Department of Agriculture
• Voluntary reporting, US Department of Energy