Tiempo Climate Newswatch

2007 tied with 1998 as the second-warmest year in the global temperature record, according to scientists at the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York, United States. The most significant warmth was found in the Arctic and neighbouring areas, resulting in record ice retreat during the northern summer. Over Northern Hemisphere land areas, 2007 was the warmest year since the start of the record in 1880, reports Jay Lawrimore from the United States National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

The occurrence of La Niña is likely to limit temperatures in 2008. "It is unlikely that 2008 will be a year with truly exceptional global mean temperature," predicts James Hansen from GISS. "The fact that 2008 is forecast to be cooler than any of the last seven years - and that 2007 did not break the record warmth set on 1998 - does not mean that global warming has gone away," comments Phil Jones from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom. "What matters is the underlying rate of warming."

The European Union (EU) executive has adopted its proposed energy and climate plan, with some modification to placate various industrial sectors. The plan is "the right policy framework for transformation to an environment-friendly European economy and to continue to lead the international action to protect our planet," said José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission. Environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said that the plan "gives Europe a head start in the race to create a low-carbon global economy that will unleash a wave of innovations and create new jobs in clean technologies."

The EU emission trading scheme will be revised from the year 2013. Some concessions were won by lobbyists from sectors, such as steel, cement and aluminium, that consider they could be at risk from foreign competition if additional costs are imposed. Sectors at risk will receive their fixed quota of emissions permits for free until 2020. "In exempting these sectors from auctioning until 2020, the Commission is starting from the negative assumption that no other countries will introduce binding measures to reduce emissions," said EU member of parliament Caroline Lucas. A decision regarding conditions associated with the "at risk" category has been pended until the year 2010, leading to discontent within the business community.

Japan wants the baseline year for emissions reductions targets changed to 2000 in any post-Kyoto agreement. "The base year should... be reviewed from the standpoint of equity. Without equity, it will be impossible to maintain efforts and solidarity over the long term," said Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Moving the baseline year would assist any nation whose emissions rose during the 1990s. Fukuda called for a new global target of a 30 per cent energy efficiency improvement by 2020. Japan is establishing a ten billion US dollar fund to assist developing countries respond to the climate threat.

The Davos meeting renewed the commitment of world leaders to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "We are here to say one thing loud and clear: Not on our watch!," said United Nations head Ban Ki-Moon. "I speak to those who are most vulnerable to climate change and those who suffer the most grinding poverty. Let 2008 be the year of the bottom billion." "For us in Africa, the achievement of the MDGs is our sacred duty," said Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, president of Nigeria. "I welcome this initiative from the global community." "I want to challenge the business community to join the renewed efforts of governments and non-governmental organizations," said Cisco Systems chief executive John Chambers. "It's the power of collaborative innovation that makes a difference," he said. Collaborative innovation was the theme of the Davos meeting.