Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Joining climate dots

In the summer Martin Rees called for a radical increase in spending energy R&D to tackle climate change. (see Science 313, 571. 2006)

On 25 Sep it was reported that the Earth may be close to the warmest it has been in the last million years.

On 26 Sep Tony Blair (keep a straight face, now) called for radical overhaul of energy policy.

And if the political will really was there where would the money come from?

On 26 Sep Tom Burke made this modest proposal on openDemocracy:
"Europe currently spends 46% of its annual budget on a problem it has already solved: food security. It spends practically nothing on a problem that threatens the livelihoods and wellbeing of every single citizen in the union: climate security. It is time to look to the future rather than remain trapped in the past. That means a radical reallocation of European funds from the common agricultural policy into a climate security fund."
I'm not saying this is the only idea in town or even the best, but it is one for discussion in search for justice that balances liberty and security.

Western NGOs concerned with international development and justice could strengthen their case against agricultural subsidies in rich [European] countries, recommending reallocation to both energy R&D (and some the "good" bits of the Lisbon Agenda) and agricultural and use adaptation in Europe and its "near abroad".

Maybe our Chinese friends can help somehow.

Meanwhile, in another part of the wood, Nature reports that the Bush administration has blocked release of a report that suggests global warming is contributing to the frequency and strength of hurricanes.

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