Tiempo Climate Newswatch

The latest figures from the United Nations show that greenhouse gas emissions from the major industrialized and transition nations are approaching an "all-time high". While total emissions from these nations fell during the final decade of the 20th century, they have risen by 2.6 per cent over the period 2000 to 2005. Continuing economic growth in the industrialized nations and economic recovery in the states of Eastern Europe is held responsible for the trend reversal. Emissions growth in the transport sector has been particularly marked.

Despite the recent trend, the Kyoto Protocol goal of an overall five per cent reduction in emissions below 1990 levels by the year 2012 remains likely to be achieved. "For the totality of Kyoto signatory countries, reductions of 15 per cent are feasible should additional policies be planned and implemented," commented Yvo de Boer, head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat. "But we should not hide the fact that there is continuing greenhouse gas emissions growth on the part of several countries and that they must do more to rein in their emissions," he continued.

Humpback and fin whales were observed this summer in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas far north of their usual habitat, marking what may be a long-term shift in environmental conditions. Humpback whales were seen in the Beaufort Sea, east of Barrow. Fin whales were detected in the Chukchi Sea, 500 kilometres north of their normal range. Both species normally remain south of the Bering Strait.

Brendan Cummings of the Center for Biological Diversity said the humpback sightings may be a sign of a recovering population expanding its range or could indicate a desperate search for food. "All signs point to global warming," he said. "That would be the first suspect of why the whales are there." "We now have even more compelling reasons to protect the Arctic Ocean and the species dramatically affected by climate change," concluded Deborah Williams from Alaska Conservation Solutions.

The East Asia Summit nations have issued the Singapore Declaration on Climate Change, Energy and the Environment. The Declaration endorses the United Nations response to the climate threat under the Framework Convention on Climate Change. It recognizes that rapid economic development, while contributing to sustainable development and poverty eradication, poses "new challenges in dealing with greater energy consumption, regional and global energy security concerns" and cites the increased need for environmental management given the projected doubling of Asia's 1.7 billion urban population between 2000 and 2030.

The Singapore Declaration endorses the long-term objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the stabilization of greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. "The climate change declaration coming out of the East Asia Summit will make the Bali meeting easier," commented Alexander Downer, Australian foreign minister. "There has been a turning of the tide in China and India's position - they're saying yes we need to do something to stabilize emissions." A proposed energy intensity goal of a 25 per cent reduction by the year 2030 was, however, dropped after objections from India. The Declaration does include a strong commitment to technological development in areas such as energy efficiency and conservation, alternative energy sources and cleaner fossil-fuel energy production. The signatories did adopt an aspirational goal of a 15 million hectare increase in regional forest cover by 2020.