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UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called for urgent action on climate change, saying negotiations on reducing emissions were proceeding too slowly. He said failure to reach agreement at December’s climate talks in Copenhagen would be “morally inexcusable”. Alex Gallafent reports. Download MP3
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Human beings emit over 30 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year. It’s a global problem, connected with sea level rise and changing global temperatures. There have been many calls for reductions in CO2 emissions, but others look to technology to sequester or trap CO2 below the earth’s surface. Ashley Ahearn reports how some of the most promising research in this field is happening in Iceland. Download MP3Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Arctic temperatures in the 1990s reached their warmest level of any decade in at least 2,000 years. That despite a gradual cooling trend over that time as the Earth cycled further away from the sun. A new study to be published in Science Magazine concludes that that cooling was reversed because of increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other green house gases. The World’s Katy Clark reports. Download MP3
Cartoonists find humor — sometimes quite dark humor — in President Obama’s offer of hope on his visit to Ghana, Iceland’s interest in joining the European Union, the politics of fighting global warming, the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing, and the current obsession with facebook.
US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke are in China. They’re meeting with their Chinese counterparts to discuss combating global warming. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad reports. Listen
China, global warming savior or sinner? Join the World Science Forum discussion
China is one of the planet’s biggest polluters, but it’s also a leader in efficient energy use and green technology. Starting today, China expert Julian Wong will appear in The World’s interactive science forum. Ask him questions, dispute his conclusions, and discuss the merits of solar power and pulverized coal. Can China save the world before it overheats? >>>Join the discussion in our science forum
Today on The World: Leaders at the G8 summit agree on targets for reducing greenhouse gases, moondust becomes a medium for a former Apollo astronaut turned artist, and a view of President Obama’s Moscow visit, courtesy of Russian TV. Listen
The World’s Jason Margolis reports on how the changing nature of the G8. The annual summit of the group of eight leading industrialized powers got under way today in L’Aquila, Italy.
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Leaders at the G8 summit in L’Aquila, Italy have issued a joint statement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Anchor Lisa Mullins gets details from Alden Meyer of the Union of Concerned Scientists, who’s been following the talks.
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Correspondent Kathy Schalch reports from Amsterdam on the Dutch city’s pledge to reduce its carbon footprint.
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The answer to today’s Geo Quiz is the Maldives Islands, one of many island nations vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Anchor Marco Werman speaks with Charles Ehrhart, co-author of a study that attempts to chart how climate change will directly affect human populations. Listen
President Obama has called for the U.S. to become energy independent, saying its reliance on foreign oil and global warming posed threats. Outlining his energy priorities, he said the country would not be held “hostage to dwindling resources, hostile regimes, and a warming planet”.
In the fight to curb global warming, we’re often encouraged to drive less or use more fuel efficient cars. Well, it turns out that cars aren’t the biggest source of greenhouse gases. Buildings are responsible for roughly half of the total greenhouse gas emissions around the world. There’s a group of architects that’d like to change that. They call themselves ‘Architecture 2030′. Their goal is to make buildings that use no fossil fuels by the year 2030. The World’s Jason Margolis has our story.