Environment & Climate
These trends look closely at our planet’s health and cover topics such as variations in global temperatures and carbon dioxide, water security, and the state of coral reefs
Apr 26, 2012
Carbon Dioxide Emissions and Concentrations on the Rise as Kyoto Era Fades
According to the latest on-site measurements by the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, global atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations reached 391.3 parts per million (ppm) in 2011, up from 388.56 ppm in 2010 and from 280 ppm from pre-industrial times.
Mar 30, 2012
Losses from Natural Disasters Reach New Peak in 2011
During 2011, a total of 820 natural catastrophes were documented, a decrease of 15 percent from the 970 events registered in 2010. But the 2011 figure is in line with the average of 790 events during 2001–10 and is considerably above the average of 630 events during 1981–2010.
Sep 06, 2011
Tropical Forests Push Payments for Ecosystem Services onto the Global Stage
The term payments for ecosystem services (PES) describes financial arrangements and schemes designed to protect the benefits that the natural environment provides for human beings. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a report of work conducted by some 1,360 scientists from around the world, estimated in 2005 that about 60 percent of all ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably.
Mar 28, 2011
Carbon Markets Struggle to Maintain Momentum
Between 2008 and 2009, the volume of global carbon transactions increased 80 percent, reaching 8.7 billion tons of carbon dioxide–equivalent (CO2e).
Jul 22, 2010
Glacial Melt and Ocean Warming Drive Sea Level Upward
The average sea level around the world has risen a total of 222 millimeters (mm) since 1875, which means an annual rate of 1.7 mm.
Apr 22, 2010
World Will Completely Miss 2010 Biodiversity Target
Species classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as "threatened" increased by 2.1 percent in 2009, as 365 species were added to the organization's Red List of Threatened Species.
Mar 25, 2010
Losses from Natural Disasters Decline in 2009
In 2009, some 860 natural catastrophes occurred worldwide.
Feb 25, 2010
Bottled Water Consumption Growth Slows
Nearly 200 billion liters of bottled water were consumed worldwide in 2008.
Dec 03, 2009
Climate Change Proceeds Down Worrisome Path
Global temperature dropped slightly in 2008, but two other climate indicators—emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) and its concentration in Earth’s atmosphere—continued their worrisome upward trends.
Aug 06, 2009
Water Scarcity Looms
Water scarcity grows in urgency in many regions as population growth, climate change, pollution, lack of investment, and management failures restrict the amount of water available relative to demand.
Jun 04, 2009
Devastating Natural Disasters Continue Steady Rise
In 2008, some 750 natural disasters occurred worldwide, down from 960 in 2007, a drop of 22 percent.
May 07, 2009
Growth in Protected Areas Slows
The areas of the world that are officially protected—national parks and the like—grew by some 26 percent between 1997 and 2007, roughly one third as fast as during the preceding 10 years, when the rate topped 75 percent.
May 07, 2009
One-Fifth of Coral Reefs Lost, Rest Threatened by Climate Change and Human Activities
About one-fifth of the world’s coral reefs have already been lost or severely damaged, while another 35 percent could be lost within 10–40 years, according to the latest review by the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network.
Oct 01, 2008
Weather-related Disasters Dominate
In 2007, there were 874 weather-related disasters worldwide, a 13-percent increase over 2006 and the highest number since the systematic recording of natural perils began in 1974.
Aug 06, 2008
Carbon Emissions on the Rise But Policies Growing Too
In 2007, carbon emissions from fossil fuel combustion worldwide reached an estimated 8.2 billion tons, which was 2.8 percent more than in 2006—and 22 percent above the total in 2000.
Feb 27, 2008
Climate Change Accelerates
The year 2007 tied with 1998 as the second warmest year on record, with an average global temperature of 14.57 degrees Celsius, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies.
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