Skip to content

Politics

WMO report on more pollution

by JW Dowey 10 Sep 2014
WMO report on more pollution

The pristine corals of Indonesia are still preserved from the effects of tourist feet, but can they build a calcium carbonate skeleton if the water becomes even more acid? Raja Ampat image; Credit: © Shutterstock

While others prepare for the UN conference later this month, the WMO has its annual report on pollutants out, with an addition on ocean acidification. This tells us of nearly 150% rises in CO2 since 1750 (250% in methane!) and warns of consequences again. With last year's figures (2012-2013) on carbon dioxide rising at the fastest rate since the 80s, possibly because of the living world (plants) reducing their intake. For whatever, reason, that must be the most significant figure to the upcoming New York conference.

The whole worth of this reporting is debatable, but the news media have reported this one en masse. Maybe they want to brace us for the UN conference. With only 50% of the CO2 emissions creating the atmospheric rise, we can only hope the oceans and the plants keep on absorbing it. They can't of course, so eventually we are faced with even bigger rises, unless one thing happens. It's no longer a matter of cutting emissions. We have to stop them, as it takes centuries to remove the gases from our atmosphere again.

Here is our current collection of articles on Greenhouse Gases. Removing the sources should be a priority. But it isn't. Among many others, Poland and South Africa regard the cheapest coal as good alternatives to saving the environment, while the US and Australia gleefully export it so that newer industries such as shale oil can be exploited. Oil and gas are burnt in almost everyone's home for cooking and heating and the transport we use is rarely as green as we think it is.

All this has to change, not simply continue as another form of fossil fueling!

Wendy Watson-Wright is the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. Her ideas are that the inclusion of a section on ocean acidification in this issue of WMO's Greenhouse Gas Bulletin is appropriate and needed. "It is high time the ocean, as the primary driver of the planet's climate and attenuator of climate change, becomes a central part of climate change discussions." For 300 million years, the sea has never been this acidic, due to the carbonic acid from CO. Most of the animals in the sea suffer effects on their development, with the largest measurable effect being on coral, shells and other calcium-based parts of their metabolism. We mustn't omit study of the marine plants either, especially the essential plankton.

As an addendum, the acidification of oceans is very relevant, but scientifically, the effects of greenhouse gas emissions should always have included two-thirds of our planet surface. Our climate studies need to include these factors simply because oceans are primary drivers of the climate. For reference, here is the WMO press release.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping