Tiempo Climate Newswatch

The United States will not accept an emissions reduction target of 40 per cent below the 1990 baseline for the year 2020, which the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has suggested might be necessary to avoid serious climate change. "The 40 per cent below 1990 [levels] is something which in our judgment is not necessary, and not feasible given where we're starting from, so it's not in the cards," warned United States climate envoy Todd Stern. Legislation passed on June 26th by the United States House of Representatives, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, should reduce emissions from sources covered by the Act by 17 per cent below 2005 levels by 2020 and by 83 per cent by mid-century.

Stern was speaking at the latest session of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Mexico. The Major Economies Forum consists of nations responsible for 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Its aim is to help generate the political leadership necessary to achieve a successful outcome at the December climate change conference in Copenhagen. There were signs of increasing support at the meeting for Mexico's proposal of a " green fund", with the possibility raised of the inclusion of carbon credits. The draft document tabled at the meeting by the United States and Mexico proposed an "aspirational" global emissions reduction goal of 50 per cent for the year 2050, with developed nations assigned an 80 per cent target. While delegates supported the notion of a long-term goal, there was no agreement on any specific target.

"Preventing strong growth in hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) use is an important climate mitigation option the world has now," reports Guus Velders of the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. The conclusion results from an assessment by an international team of scientists, led by Velders. Because of the projected growth of HFCs, they could represent up to 45 per cent of total global carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 under a scenario that stabilizes carbon dioxide emissions at 450ppm.

HFCs were adopted as a substitute for ozone-depleting chemicals such as the chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs). Greenpeace developed Greenfreeze in the 1990s, one of a number of hydrocarbon-based refrigerant systems that produce less greenhouse gas. The adoption of Greenfreeze in North America has, however, been held up by concerns over flammability. Ben & Jerry's and General Electric are currently seeking approval for its use.

Cell phone users in vulnerable regions of Bangladesh will receive advance warning of natural disasters. "This new initiative will mean that people will get an alert on their phones warning them that they are likely to face flooding or a cyclone," said Syed Ashraf of the Disaster Management Bureau. "So they will then be able to take action like evacuate their homes and seek shelter in assigned places."

Instant messages are to be sent to TeleTalk and Grameenphone subscribers in flood-prone north-central Shirajganj district and cyclone-prone Cox's Bazar. The messages will flash automatically on the phone's screen rather than being stored in message boxes so that they are immediately obvious. The initiative is to be piloted over the next six months and the aim is that the Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme will then expand it across the whole country.