Reactions to story from Guardian
Environment: Boris Johnson announces plans to soak up rainwater
http://www.guardian.co.uk/ environment/ 2008/ aug/ 30/ ...Mayor announces adaptation strategy to prepare London for the effects of climate change
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London grows greener in economic crisis?
http://www.myglobalgarden.com/blog/london-grows-greener-in-e...Welcome to Global Gardening in 2009 - I am back in UK after experiencing the delights of India. Have returned to many exciting developments that should hopefully encourage a greener and more sustainable way of life in London. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, may not be what comes to mind when you think about gardening but it seems that he has realised the value of vegetable gardens: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/nov/04/boris-london He is supporting the excellent Capital Crowth project set up by Rosie Boycott which aims to create 2012 new food growing spaces in the UK by 2012 http://www.capitalgrowth.org/ Mr Johnson is also promoting roof gardens in London as the new weapon in the fight against climate change in our cities as they soak up rainwater from heavy downpours now experienced by London and in fact many other major cities.http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/30/climatechange.greenpolitics Mr Johnson’s adaptation strategy, billed as a world first, calls for compulsory water metering, greater awareness of flood risks and more tree planting, alongside stronger efforts to resist attempts by local authorities and insurance companies to fell existing urban trees - great news! This strategy which will be finalised in the first half of 2009, calls for a citywide “urban greening” programme, using green spaces and trees to absorb and retain rainwater, and recommends greater use of rainwater harvesting and “grey water” recycling in new buildings. Mr Johnson might like to take a look at what is happenning in the States with a wonderful organisation called Sky Vegetables http://www.skyvegetables.com. They encourage supermarkets and other businesses to grow vegetables on their roofs to minimise carbon footprints and help harvest valuable rain water falling on roof tops that otherwise would evaporate .Maybe Tesco and Waitrose should explore this as an option if they are serious about their ‘green credentials’? Check out a useful UK web-site that promotes green roofs (roofs that are intentionally vegetated) and provides advice for their installation - http://www.livingroofs.org. Let’s hope all of these ideas develop in 2009 inspite of the economic turmoil that may challenge certain green initiatives. ShareThis
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Is London read to address climate change
http://thehumanimprint.typepad.com/the_human_imprint/2008/09...The Guardian has carried an interesting report on the risk assessment work that has been undertaken to determine the capability of London to cope with rising temperatures, sea levels and water security issues. Follow the link for more details.
- Author unknown
Is London read to address climate change
http://thehumanimprint.typepad.com/the_human_imprint/2008/09...The Guardian has carried an interesting report on the risk assessment work that has been undertaken to determine the capability of London to cope with rising temperatures, sea levels and water security issues. Follow the link for more details.
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El alcalde de Londres revela sus armas para luchar contra el cambio climático
http://www.ison21.es/2008/09/02/el-alcalde-de-londres-revela...El alcalde de Londres, el conservador Boris Johnson, acaba de anunciar un plan estratégico para luchar contra el cambio climático. Londres se prepara para unos veranos más calurosos y unos inviernos más templados y húmedos, con olas de calor importantes y crecidas del nivel del mar. Según el diario The Guardian, las medidas no solo se centran en reducir las emisiones de CO2, objetivos ya impulsados por el anterior alcalde, Ken Livingstone, sino que también se ocupan de un repertorio amplio de temas relacionados con la eficiencia en el consumo de energía, en ayudas para sustituir las calderas viejas por otras más eficientes de condensación, mejoras en el aislamiento de las viviendas, aumento significativo de las zonas verdes, sobre todo en las cubiertas de los edificios para retener y aprovechar el agua de lluvia, a la vez que sirven de aislamiento térmico contra el calor. En la presentación de este plan al Thames Barrier, declaró: Necesitamos aunar esfuerzos para reducir las emisiones de carbono y ser más eficientes en el consumo de energía si queremos prevenir los peligros del cambio climático. También debemos prepararnos para la forma en la que el cambio del clima nos afectará en el futuro. Esta estrategia subraya los aspectos climáticos que tendrá que enfrentar Londres, que pueden dañar seriamente nuestra calidad de vida, particularmente la de los menos favorecidos, y poner en peligro nuestro liderazgo entre las ciudades más importantes del mundo.
- Author unknown
London gardens are too down to earth
http://2008andallthat.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/london-garden...The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has announced that Londoners can use their gardens to fight against the Climate Crunch, but only if they are on the roof. Rooftop gardens will be encouraged in the capital as a way of retaining more rainwater, as at the moment, most rainwater tends to run along the street and make people’s shoes wet. Gardens already at ground level will be moved to higher ground, so that the rain doesn’t have to fall as far. It is likely to be a popular scheme, as many British people do like a nice garden. Gardens after all offer ample opportunity for spying on neighbours, sleeping in the afternoon and sitting on plastic furniture. The scheme is also likely to have an economic benefit as many London tradesmen will find extra work repairing buildings that have had 3 metres of soggy soil installed above them. Shareholders at the All England Lawn Tennis Club are thought to be pondering the need for a rooftop garden on the new Centre Court roof, as the rainwater collected during the last week of June and first week of July could keep Buxton Spring supplied for several months.
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Boris Johnson unveils climate change strategy for London
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/torydiary/2008/08/boris-jo...Today's Guardian has a detailed account of Boris Johnson's announcement yesterday of the strategy London will take in tackling climate change: "An increase in the number of rooftop gardens to soak up rainwater across the capital is among a series of measures suggested by Johnson yesterday... "The mayor's adaptation strategy, billed as a world first, aims to address the challenges of flooding, extreme temperatures and drought. It calls for compulsory water metering, greater awareness of flood risks and more tree planting, alongside stronger efforts to resist attempts by local authorities and insurance companies to fell existing urban trees." The article lists the key points of the plan: On flooding Citywide urban greening programme based on green spaces and trees to soak up water Campaign to raise public awareness of flood risk Identify and protect critical infrastructure and vulnerable communities On drought Reduce leakage from water mains Compulsory water metering where feasible Rainwater harvesting and 'grey water' use On heatwaves Enhanced access to air-cooled buildings for London's vulnerable people Specific guidance to architects Requirement for new developments to help cool the city Mayor Johnson explains his commitment in terms of a genuine change of mind: "Despite previously attacking the Kyoto Protocol - which regulates international carbon emissions - as "pointless" and saying that anxiety over climate change was "partly a religious phenomenon" Johnson now admits that the 2006 Stern review on the issue had convinced him of the need to act. "When the facts change, you change your mind," he said." The 2006 Stern review met with much scepticism from experts who noted that if Stern's proposals were implemented now, most of the benefits would not be seen until after the year 2800. The Yale economist William Nordhaus calculated that while inaction on global warming would reduce global GDP by $22 trillion over the next century, Sir Nicholas Stern's proposals - if implemented in full - would see global GDP reduced by $36 trillion.
- Author unknown
Climate Change and Global Warming
http://globalissuesweb.com/wp/?p=7496Climate Change Report Paints A Hotter, Wetter Md. (CBS 13 Baltimore) A new climate study paints a hotter, wetter Maryland if greenhouse gases aren’t reduced. Gore hailed, warns against McCain, climate change (Reuters via Yahoo! News) DENVER (Reuters) — Al Gore, who lost the 2000 election but has become a world leader on the environment, was embraced at the Democratic Party’s convention on Thursday as a comeback hero — with a warning against John McCain and climate change. ‘Rich nations should give money to fight climate change’ 30 Aug 2008, 0120 hrs IST, Nitin Sethi,TNN (The Times of India) ACCRA: Asian rivals India and China have joined forces to make a forceful demand that rich nations set aside 0.5%-1% of the GDP to help the developing world face the challenge posed by climate change and make good their unfulfilled commitments towards cutting back on greenhouse emissions. Photos about greenhouse gases (Mail and Guardian) Remember me? United Nations climate talks in Ghana are making progress on ways to help developing nations slow deforestation. Nigeria and South Africa are the main emitters of greenhouse gases in Africa, accounting for almost 90% of the emissions in the continent. Xcel to Disclose Global Warming Risks (The Hendersonville Times-News) The New York attorney general announced an agreement that would require Xcel Energy, a builder of coal-fired plants, to disclose to investors the financial risks of global warming. Boris Johnson outlines London’s defences against global warming (Guardian Unlimited) The mayor of London has outlined his strategy to protect the city from the effects of global warming, including turning the rooftops of the city into gardens to soak up downpours Scientist: Global warming ‘tipping point’ happening in Arctic (Sun Newspapers) WASHINGTON (AP) — More ominous signs Wednesday have scientists saying that a global warming “tipping point” in the Arctic is happening before their eyes: Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has melted to its second lowest level since satellite observations began. Johnson unveils secret weapon in war on climate change - the roof garden (Guardian Unlimited) London mayor announces adaptation strategy to prepare capital for the effects of climate change
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