Right In Your Backyard: Climate Change Threatens Health | Kim Knowlton's Blog | Switchboard, from NRDC: "Today, NRDC is launching a new web tool called “Climate Change Threatens Health.” These pages (www.nrdc.org/climatemaps ) bring the effects of climate change down to the local level. Users can zoom in on 5 US maps, see how their health is vulnerable to climate change, and learn about what’s needed to protect their families and reduce climate change.
The picture taking shape across the country shows some communities drought-stricken and stressed for adequate safe, clean water supplies; others coping with historic flooding; hotter, drier summers, with greater wildfire risks and more air pollution; most of the nation sweltering under extreme heat; and residents in many states hearing the buzz of mosquito activity for longer and longer seasons each year. Many areas face a combination of these multiple climate-health vulnerabilities.
The medical and national security sectors of our economy have already recognized the need to prepare for the health-related impacts of climate change. It’s time to devote more resources and funding to climate-health preparedness in the new, more volatile climate. "
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Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Climate Change Update: Climate change threatens world security | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online
Climate change threatens world security | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "Climate change is generating an 'unholy brew' of extreme weather events that threaten global security, the UN chief said as the Security Council recognized the issue's potential effect on world peace.
But the 15-member council apparently failed to agree on whether climate change itself was a direct threat to international peace and security, even after a rebuke by the United States which described the lack of consensus as 'pathetic.'
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged concerted action and called on developed countries to lead the charge in mitigating effects of climate change, while encouraging the developing world to do its fair share.
'Extreme weather events continue to grow more frequent and intense in rich and poor countries alike, not only devastating lives, but also infrastructure, institutions, and budgets -- an unholy brew which can create dangerous security vacuums,' Ban told a Security Council debate on the issue.
Climate change, he said, 'not only exacerbates threats to international peace and security; it is a threat to international peace and security.'"
But the 15-member council apparently failed to agree on whether climate change itself was a direct threat to international peace and security, even after a rebuke by the United States which described the lack of consensus as 'pathetic.'
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged concerted action and called on developed countries to lead the charge in mitigating effects of climate change, while encouraging the developing world to do its fair share.
'Extreme weather events continue to grow more frequent and intense in rich and poor countries alike, not only devastating lives, but also infrastructure, institutions, and budgets -- an unholy brew which can create dangerous security vacuums,' Ban told a Security Council debate on the issue.
Climate change, he said, 'not only exacerbates threats to international peace and security; it is a threat to international peace and security.'"
The Security Council issued a presidential statement in which it "expresses concern that possible adverse effects of climate change may, in the long run, aggravate certain existing threats to international peace and security."
But it stopped short of calling climate change a threat in itself, despite pleas to do so by Pacific small island developing states.
A statement from the French delegation expressed "disappointment" over the lack of "punch" to the UN statement.
"The face that a unanimous agreement was reached at the Security Council represents a remarkable advance," it said, but France "regretes that it was not able to reaction a consensus on a more ambitious presidential declaration."
Nauru President Marcus Stephen spoke for states such as the Maldives and Seychelles at the meeting, warning that several islands could disappear altogether, forcing large cross-border relocations.
He said that while the council members understood such security challenges, he said sympathetic words were not enough. (AFP)
Wellness Update: North America: McDonald’s US Happy Meals get apples, fewer fries | BusinessWorld Online Edition
McDonald’s US Happy Meals get apples, fewer fries | BusinessWorld Online Edition: "McDonald’s Corp. said on Tuesday it will soon tweak its Happy Meals, reducing the French fry portion by more than half and automatically adding apples to the popular children’s meals, after coming under pressure from consumer groups to provide healthier fare.
McDonald’s -- which has been taking heat from parents, consumer groups and local lawmakers over the nutritional content and marketing of Happy Meals -- said it would start making the changes in September and the new Happy Meals would be available in all of its 14,000 US restaurants by the end of the first quarter of 2012.
The world’s largest hamburger chain also plans a 15% reduction in sodium across its US menu by 2015. Beyond that, it vowed to cut sodium, added sugars, saturated fats and calories in domestic meals by 2020.
'We are going to be casting our gaze more closely on portion management as well as how we can introduce more food groups such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains,' Cindy Goody, McDonald’s senior director of nutrition, said on a Webcast."
McDonald’s -- which has been taking heat from parents, consumer groups and local lawmakers over the nutritional content and marketing of Happy Meals -- said it would start making the changes in September and the new Happy Meals would be available in all of its 14,000 US restaurants by the end of the first quarter of 2012.
The world’s largest hamburger chain also plans a 15% reduction in sodium across its US menu by 2015. Beyond that, it vowed to cut sodium, added sugars, saturated fats and calories in domestic meals by 2020.
'We are going to be casting our gaze more closely on portion management as well as how we can introduce more food groups such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains,' Cindy Goody, McDonald’s senior director of nutrition, said on a Webcast."
Wellness Tip: Healthy Body: Probiotic-Enriched Yogurt May Promote A Healthy Body Weight | Dr. Cutler
Probiotic-Enriched Yogurt May Promote A Healthy Body Weight | Dr. Cutler: "A recent article published by the Miami Herald cited a study that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, which found that eating nuts and yogurt was more strongly associated with weight loss than consuming fruits and vegetables.
The newspaper reported that there could be a number of reasons why nuts and yogurt support a healthy body weight.
One of these is that many yogurt brands contain live bacteria strains called probiotics. These healthful organisms have been known to replace toxic bacteria in the gut in order to promote healthy digestive function.
The news provider noted that one study found that the bacterial flora in obese individuals' guts were different from that of normal-weight people, indicating that so-called good bacteria may be key in sustaining a healthy weight."
The newspaper reported that there could be a number of reasons why nuts and yogurt support a healthy body weight.
One of these is that many yogurt brands contain live bacteria strains called probiotics. These healthful organisms have been known to replace toxic bacteria in the gut in order to promote healthy digestive function.
The news provider noted that one study found that the bacterial flora in obese individuals' guts were different from that of normal-weight people, indicating that so-called good bacteria may be key in sustaining a healthy weight."
Climate Change Update: Act now on climate – scientist | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online
Act now on climate – scientist | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "The 4th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released in 2007, 'is very clear,' Rajendra Pachauri said Monday in Paris, ahead of a five-day meeting of the body in Brest, France.
The fifth multi-volume assessment, which summarizes peer-reviewed science to help policy makers make decisions, is due out in 2013-2014.
'We have enough evidence, enough scientific findings which should convince people that action has to be taken,' he said after a round-table discussion with France's environment minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.
'Based on observation, we know that there will be more floods, more drought, more heat waves and more extreme precipitation events. These things are happening,' Pachauri said.
Pachauri, whose organization shared the Nobel Peace prize in 2007 with former US vice president Al Gore, announced that a special IPCC report on the relation of extreme weather events and disasters to climate change, and how to adapt to them, would be released on November 19.
The much anticipated report will review efforts by scientists to connect the dots between well identified long-term climate change trends and short-term weather patterns."
The fifth multi-volume assessment, which summarizes peer-reviewed science to help policy makers make decisions, is due out in 2013-2014.
'We have enough evidence, enough scientific findings which should convince people that action has to be taken,' he said after a round-table discussion with France's environment minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.
'Based on observation, we know that there will be more floods, more drought, more heat waves and more extreme precipitation events. These things are happening,' Pachauri said.
Pachauri, whose organization shared the Nobel Peace prize in 2007 with former US vice president Al Gore, announced that a special IPCC report on the relation of extreme weather events and disasters to climate change, and how to adapt to them, would be released on November 19.
The much anticipated report will review efforts by scientists to connect the dots between well identified long-term climate change trends and short-term weather patterns."
Climate Change Update: Act now on climate – scientist | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online
Act now on climate – scientist | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online: "The 4th Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, released in 2007, 'is very clear,' Rajendra Pachauri said Monday in Paris, ahead of a five-day meeting of the body in Brest, France.
The fifth multi-volume assessment, which summarizes peer-reviewed science to help policy makers make decisions, is due out in 2013-2014.
'We have enough evidence, enough scientific findings which should convince people that action has to be taken,' he said after a round-table discussion with France's environment minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.
'Based on observation, we know that there will be more floods, more drought, more heat waves and more extreme precipitation events. These things are happening,' Pachauri said.
Pachauri, whose organization shared the Nobel Peace prize in 2007 with former US vice president Al Gore, announced that a special IPCC report on the relation of extreme weather events and disasters to climate change, and how to adapt to them, would be released on November 19.
The much anticipated report will review efforts by scientists to connect the dots between well identified long-term climate change trends and short-term weather patterns."
The fifth multi-volume assessment, which summarizes peer-reviewed science to help policy makers make decisions, is due out in 2013-2014.
'We have enough evidence, enough scientific findings which should convince people that action has to be taken,' he said after a round-table discussion with France's environment minister, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet.
'Based on observation, we know that there will be more floods, more drought, more heat waves and more extreme precipitation events. These things are happening,' Pachauri said.
Pachauri, whose organization shared the Nobel Peace prize in 2007 with former US vice president Al Gore, announced that a special IPCC report on the relation of extreme weather events and disasters to climate change, and how to adapt to them, would be released on November 19.
The much anticipated report will review efforts by scientists to connect the dots between well identified long-term climate change trends and short-term weather patterns."
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Climate Change Update: Fighting Climate Change by Not Focusing on Climate Change - TIME
Fighting Climate Change by Not Focusing on Climate Change - TIME: New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's announcement last week that he was giving $50 million to the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2085220,00.html#ixzzBcaKcEHrU
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,2085220,00.html#ixzzBcaKcEHrU
"He saw coal pollution first and foremost as a public health issue, one that is directly hurting Americans through higher rates of asthma and heart disease. He was certainly worried about the greenhouse gases those coal plants were spewing — coal is responsible for about 20% of global carbon emissions — but what really motivated him were the mercury emissions, the particulates, the arsenic and all the other conventional poisons created by burning coal. 'Coal kills every day,' Bloomberg told me. 'It's a dirty fuel.' So it is with the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign, which has succeeded more by motivating individual communities over the local health effects of coal pollution than by appealing to the broader risks of global warming.
This approach might be the new way to attack climate change: by identifying actions that can provide a wealth of benefits — including on carbon emissions — rather than simply focusing on global warming alone. That's the message of a new paper called 'Climate Pragmatism' that's being published today by a bipartisan range of thinkers on energy and climate issues. The best way to deal with climate change, as it turns out, is not to deal directly with climate change."
This approach might be the new way to attack climate change: by identifying actions that can provide a wealth of benefits — including on carbon emissions — rather than simply focusing on global warming alone. That's the message of a new paper called 'Climate Pragmatism' that's being published today by a bipartisan range of thinkers on energy and climate issues. The best way to deal with climate change, as it turns out, is not to deal directly with climate change."
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