THE NEGATIONIST “U.S. SENATE MINORITY REPORT”? PURE DISINFORMATION

I publish this post now, some months before Mexico 2010 event, so the people can understand who really the so-called “negationists” are. The “U. S. Senate Minority Report: More Than 650 International Scientists Dissent Over Man-Made Global Warming Claims Scientists Continue to Debunk “Consensus” in 2008 (hereinafter called “minority report”) was published at December 2008. The people mentioned in that document as a source of information should be against the evidence that the global warming is mainly due to human activities. Professor Rayner, one of the main experts on climate changes, is mentioned, at page 194 of the “minority report”, as a “source” against anthropogenic nature of the climate change. Since I knew him as an authority in that field, I asked his opinion. This is his reply


Giovanni:
I have been convinced since the late 1980s that climate change is largely anthropogenic and represents a serious strategic challenge for humanity to manage. I have never been a “scientific skeptic” although there have been occasions when I have been critical of overstated confidence for specific projections and the use of extreme scenarios in order to frighten people into taking action.

It is true that I have been consistently critical of the FCCC and Kyoto route for managing the problem of climate change and its impacts.

I have never directly confronted the authors of the “minority report”, although I have twice been asked by journalists about it and in each case I have made my position clear and asked them to convey to the publishers my view that my inclusion is inappropriate. The publishers apparently take the view that being a skeptic of current policy is sufficient to justify my inclusion and have ignored the calls for my removal from the list.

Steve

Steve Rayner
James Martin Professor of Science and Civilization,
Director, Insitute for Science Innovation and Society,
University of Oxford,
Honorary Professor of Climate Change and Society,
University of Copenhagen,

This demonstrates the real nature of that “minority report” : an ideological and disinformation document misrepresenting the people’s positions and statements, as in the case of Professor Rayner.

THE CLIMATE SUMMIT ON FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The European Commission started a public consultation on the Green Paper On Forest Protection and Information in the EU: Preparing forests for climate change. The consultation terminated on July 31^st. The Climate Summit European Coordination prepared and submitted to the European Commission a document in reply to that Public Consultation. The document is downloadable here.

RUSSIA: A CLIMATE CHANGE VICTIM

I came back from vacation just to share with all of you my sadness (and anger) for what is happening in Russia. The average temperature in the August period in Russia is 23 degrees Celsius, while now is 32, an extreme high temperature for that latitudes. The heat stoked wildfires that continue to burn out of control and clouded Moscow in smoke. 52 people died. At the TV, President Medvedev announced, "What's happening with the planet's climate right now needs to be a wake-up call to all of us, meaning all heads of state, all heads of social organizations, in order to take a more energetic approach to countering the global changes to the climate." He is right. It's time to change our overall attitude against the climate change. What's happening in Russia is just an example of what will happen if we do not act with adequate policy against the climate change. Let's forget Copenhagen (approach and effect) and let try to solve the problem. I give all the condolence from The Climate Summit Europe to the families of the 52 victims of the wildfires.

ANOTHER EVENT IN AFRICA

The Cameroonian youth green NGO, Vital Action for Sustainable Development (AVD), will organize, on August 3rd and 10th 2010, two videoconference sessions during the 5th World Youth Congress to be held in Istanbul on July 31 to August 13 (www.turkiye2010.org). The videoconferences are aimed to connect youth African organization,s working on sustainable development and climate change, with discussions focused on the Post-COP15 Agenda. They will select 50 youth organizations all over Africa to be ourtheir local partners. For more information, go here .

The 1st African Youth Summit on Climate Change

Jean Paul Brice Affana, a member of The Climate Summit Africa, notified us this important event

The 1st African Youth Summit on Climate Change is organized by African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC) to serve as an appropriate avenue where African youth can come together and discuss issues relating to various topics on climate change including the role of youth in adaptation and mitigation projects, public awareness and participation, biodiversity and active participation in UNFCCC negotiations. The Summit is open to young people from all over Africa interested and involved in initiatives aimed to tackle climate change and ensure sustainability. It will consist of informative sessions and skills-building workshops on climate change issues ranging from scientific knowledge to effective political advocacy.
This is the online link to apply or use the application form in word.doc format.

Le 1er Sommet de la Jeunesse Africaine sur les Changements Climatiques est organisé par l’Initiative de la Jeunesse Africaine sur les Changements Climatiques (AYICC) afin de servir de rencontre appropriée au cours de laquelle la jeunesse africaine se réunira et discutera des questions et des sujets liés aux changements climatiques, y compris du rôle des jeunes dans les projets d’adaptation et d’atténuation, la prise de conscience publique, la biodiversité et la participation active des jeunes dans les négociations de la Convention-cadres des Nations Unies sur les Changements Climatiques. Le Sommet est ouvert aux jeunes gens originaires d’Afrique intéressés et impliqués dans les initiatives visant à combattre le réchauffement de la Terre et à assurer le développement durable. Il comportera des sessions instructives et des ateliers de renforcement des compétences sur les défis des changements climatiques, avec un accent mis sur l’amélioration des connaissances scientifiques pour un plaidoyer politique plus efficace.
Voici le lien pour postuler ou alors remplissez le formulaire word:


The Organizing Team
AYICC Africa

THE CLIMATE SUMMIT AFRICA - EU JOINT MEETING

The first meeting between The Climate Summit - Europe and The Climate Summit Africa was held online on June 28 in our Meeting Room .
A decision to prepare common materials to educate people on the climate change and sustainability issue was taken. Therefore, an open Joint Africa-EU Group for Climate and Sustainability Education was set-up for that purpose.

If you would like to participate, please contact

Giovanni Macchia g.macchia1@gmail.com, The Climate Summit, Regional Coordinator EU

Taiwo Adewole taiwoadewole@yahoo.com, The Climate Summit, Africa Coordinator

GOOD PRACTICES IN EUROPE.. THE FINNISH EXAMPLE

According to Finnish Forest Research Institute, Finland's forests absorb 42 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, which is well over half of Finnish carbon dioxide emissions, which were 70 million tonnes in 2008. This is an excellent example of natural resource usage to solve the climate change problems. The complete report of the Finnish Forest Research Insitute can be read here