Mapping vulnerability of tropical forest to conversion, and resulting potential CO2 emissions: A rapid assessment for the Eliasch Review (open access)

Mapping vulnerability of tropical forest to conversion, and resulting potential CO2 emissions: A rapid assessment for the Eliasch Review

This report is a rapid assessment analysis undertaken to inform the UK's Eliasch Review on the role of international finance mechanisms to preserve global forests in tackling climate change. The results should be used with an understanding of the caveats specified at the end of the report.
Date: May 27, 2008
Creator: Miles, Lera; Kapos, Valerie; Lysenko, Igor; Campbell, Alison & Gibbs, Holly
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Fueling sustainable development: The energy productivity solution (open access)

Fueling sustainable development: The energy productivity solution

The booklet describes the mounting policy and business concerns surrounding the supply of energy and argues that the most cost-effective way to address these concerns is through improving energy productivity and adopting existing energy-efficient technologies that pay for themselves in future energy savings. The document supports the role of public policy in encouraging consumers and businesses to capture the benefits of higher energy productivity.
Date: October 2008
Creator: McKinsey Global Institute
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Reanalysis of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for Attribution of Causes of Observed Chan (open access)

Reanalysis of Historical Climate Data for Key Atmospheric Features: Implications for Attribution of Causes of Observed Chan

This Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment Product addresses current capabilities to integrate observations of the climate system into a consistent description of past and current conditions through the method of reanalysis. In addition, the Product assesses present capabilities to attribute causes for climate variations and trends over North America during the reanalysis period, which extends from the mid-twentieth century to the present. This Product reviews the strengths and limitations of current atmospheric reanalysis products. It finds that reanalysis data play a crucial role in helping to identify, describe, and understand atmospheric features associated with weather and climate variability, including high-impact events such as major droughts and floods. Reanalysis data play an important role in assessing the ability of climate models to simulate the average climate and its variations. The data also help in identifying deficiencies in representations of physical processes that produce climate model errors.
Date: 2008
Creator: U.S. Climate Change Science Program and the Subcommittee on Global Change Research
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
Future Climate Change Research and Observations:  GCOS, WCRP and IGBP Learning from the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report (open access)

Future Climate Change Research and Observations: GCOS, WCRP and IGBP Learning from the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report

Learning from the authors of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and its findings to help guide future strategies for climate change observations and research was the key objective of a workshop organised jointly by the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), and the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) in Sydney, Australia, 4-6 October 2007.
Date: 2008
Creator: International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Revised Research Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (open access)

Revised Research Plan for the U.S. Climate Change Science Program

This Revised Research Plan is an update to the 2003 Strategic Plan of the US Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), a document that was developed via a thorough, open and transparent multi-year process involving a wide range of scientists and managers. The Strategic Plan has long-term value to CCSP, but like any strategic plan, it must be supplemented by shorter-term revisions that take into account both advances in the science and changes in societal needs, and CCSP has an ongoing long-range strategic planning process to ensure that these needs are met. The Revised Research Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Research Plan) draws on CCSP's long-range planning process and provides this update, in compliance with the terms of the Global Change Research Act (GCRA) of 1990. In the Research Plan, the reader will find several things: 1) an updated statement of vision, goals and capabilities consistent with CCSP's current Strategic Plan but reflecting both scientific progress and the evolution of the Program based on accomplishments and evolving societal and environmental needs; 2) a description of the relationship of the Research Plan to the current Scientific Assessment; 3) highlights of ways in which the program is evolving in the context of …
Date: May 2008
Creator: US Climate Change Science Program
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
Annual Report on the Environment and the Sound Material-Cycle Society in Japan 2008 (open access)

Annual Report on the Environment and the Sound Material-Cycle Society in Japan 2008

This document reports the global and Japanese trends in creating a low carbon, material-cycle society. It also describes the policy measures taken by Japan towards establishing such a society.
Date: June 2008
Creator: Japan. Kankyōshō.
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (open access)

Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) provides for federal regulation of pesticide distribution, sale, and use. All pesticides distributed or sold in the United States must be registered (licensed) by EPA. Before EPA may register a pesticide under FIFRA, the applicant must show, among other things, that using the pesticide according to specifications "will not generally cause unreasonable adverse effects on the environment.'' FIFRA defines the term ''unreasonable adverse effects on the environment'' to mean: ''(1) any unreasonable risk to man or the environment, taking into account the economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits of the use of any pesticide, or (2) a human dietary risk from residues that result from a use of a pesticide in or on any food inconsistent with the standard under section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.''
Date: May 22, 2008
Creator: [United States. Congress.]
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Challenges and Successes in Technology Roadmap Implementation: Lessons Learned from Public and Private Sector Roadmaps (open access)

Challenges and Successes in Technology Roadmap Implementation: Lessons Learned from Public and Private Sector Roadmaps

This document is a PDF version of MS Powerpoint presentation by Jack Eisenhauer and Ross Brindle from Energetics Incorporated (www.energetics.com) to Energy Technology Roadmaps Workshop, organized by the International Energy Agency (IEA). This event was held in Paris, France on May 15-16, 2008.
Date: May 16, 2008
Creator: Eisenhauer, Jack & Brindle, Ross
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library

WCRP IPY activities

On 1 March 2007, the International Polar Year 2007/2008, one of the most ambitious coordinated international science programmes was launched. Many of the IPY leaders and participants are members of WCRP projects and groups. Climate issues are at the forefront of the majority of IPY studies. This chart is a visualization of International Polar Year activities at the World Climate Research Program.
Date: March 11, 2008
Creator: World Climate Research Program
Object Type: Poster
System: The UNT Digital Library
Climate Change and Water: Technical Paper VI (open access)

Climate Change and Water: Technical Paper VI

The Technical Paper addresses the issue of freshwater. Sea level rise is dealt with only insofar as it can lead to impacts on freshwater in coastal areas and beyond. Climate, freshwater, biophysical and socio-economic systems are interconnected in complex ways. Hence, a change in any one of these can induce a change in any other. Freshwater-related issues are critical in determining key regional and sectoral vulnerabilities. Therefore, the relationship between climate change and freshwater resources is of primary concern to human society and also has implications for all living species.
Date: 2008
Creator: Bates, Bryson; Kundzewicz, Zbigniew W.; Wu, Shaohong & Palutikof, Jean
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
Towards Sustainable Global Health (open access)

Towards Sustainable Global Health

Global health has in recent years drawn increasing scientific, political and popular attention not only due to global epidemics themselves,but also because of the social activities and environmental conditions that shape health threats and influence those who are affected. The study dealswith the issue of 'Sustainable Global Health'which has evolved from the realization that there will be no alleviation of poverty without success in control of serious public health threats, no economic prosperity and sustainability without a healthy workforce, and no social stability and peace as long as people have to suffer from insufficient health services, from malnutrition, from HIV/AIDS pandemics, or from lack of safe water. The study addresses a broad range of issues related to human health at regional and global levels. It includes the theme of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a tool for the private sector to exercise responsibility and interest in using the workplaces as a route and as means for education, and for a wide participation of every citizen in securing his or her individual health and well-being. Highlighted throughout the study are integrated approaches towards sustainable health.These approaches shed light on both the importance of multilevel health governance and the …
Date: 2008
Creator: Exner, Martin; Klein, Günter; Rechkemmer, Andreas & Schmidt, Falk
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Draft Report of the 28th Session of the IPCC (open access)

Draft Report of the 28th Session of the IPCC

The focus of this meeting was on the Future of the IPCC, including key aspects of the future IPCC work programme and the future structure of the IPCC Bureau and the TFB. The Panel was also invited to consider of the outcome of the Scoping Meeting for a possible Special Report on renewable energy and a proposal for the use of the Funds from the Nobel Peace Prize. The Chair informed the Panel about action taken by the 37th Session of the IPCC Bureau (Budapest, 7-8 April 2008) concerning the finalization of the Technical Paper on Climate Change and Water.
Date: April 2008
Creator: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
Draft Report of the 29th Session of the IPCC (open access)

Draft Report of the 29th Session of the IPCC

The focus of this meeting was on the future of the IPCC, in particular the scoping of the 5th Assessment Report. The Panel was also invited to consider the outcome of the Scoping Meeting for a possible Special Report on "Extreme events and disasters: managing the risks", and of the Expert Meeting on "Alternative common metrics to calculate the CO2 equivalence of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases".
Date: September 2008
Creator: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Object Type: Text
System: The UNT Digital Library
The United States National Report on Systematic Observations for Climate for 2008: National Activities with Respect to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Implementation Plan (open access)

The United States National Report on Systematic Observations for Climate for 2008: National Activities with Respect to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Implementation Plan

Long-term, high-accuracy, stable environmental observations are essential to define the state of the global integrated Earth system, its history and its future variability and change. Observations for climate include: (1) operational weather observations, when appropriate care has been exercised to establish high accuracy; (2) limited-duration observations collected as part of research investigations to elucidate chemical, dynamical, biological, or radiative processes that contribute to maintaining climate patterns or to their variability; (3) high accuracy, high precision observations to document decadal-to-centennial changes; and (4) observations of climate proxies, collected to extend the instrumental climate record to remote regions and back in time to provide information on climate change at millennial and longer time scales. This report was requested by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in order to serve as input to see how progress has been made with respect to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) Implementation Plan developed in 2004 In accordance with the UNFCCC guidelines, the sections of the report delineate specific U.S. climate monitoring activities in several distinct yet integrated areas as follows: (1) common issues; (2) non-satellite atmospheric observations; (3) non-satellite oceanic observations; (4) non-satellite terrestrial observations; (5) satellite global atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial …
Date: September 2008
Creator: U.S. Climate Change Science Program's (CCSP) Observations Working Group
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
WIREC 2008 Ministerial Bulletin: A summary report of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (open access)

WIREC 2008 Ministerial Bulletin: A summary report of the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008

The Washington International Renewable Energy Conference (WIREC 2008) convened from 4-6 March 2008, at the Washington, DC Convention Center in the US. WIREC 2008 consisted of a Ministerial Meeting, a business conference, a trade show exhibition and side events. More than 3000 participants from 118 countries registered for the Ministerial Meeting, including approximately 100 ministerial representatives. This Bulletin reports on the Ministerial Meeting events.
Date: April 11, 2008
Creator: Schulman, Mark
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Change on the United States (open access)

Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Change on the United States

This national scientific assessment integrates and interprets the findings of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) and synthesizes findings from previous assessments, including reports and products by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It analyzes current natural and human-induced trends in global change, and projects future trends impacting the natural environment, agriculture, water resources, social systems, energy production and use, transportation, and human health. It is intended to help inform discussion of the relevant issues by decisionmakers, stakeholders, and the public. As such, this report addresses the requirements for assessment in the Global Change Research Act of 1990.1
Date: May 2008
Creator: Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. National Science and Technology Council.
Object Type: Book
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 5, Number 4, 2008 (open access)

Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 5, Number 4, 2008

Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is devoted to environmental problems associated with islands, including invasive species, threatened species, and rising oceans.
Date: 2008
Creator: Lean, Geoffrey
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 1, 2008 (open access)

Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 1, 2008

Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is devoted to policies and practices that reduce carbon emissions.
Date: 2008
Creator: Lean, Geoffrey
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 2, 2008 (open access)

Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 2, 2008

Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is devoted to sustainable food production and consumption.
Date: 2008
Creator: Lean, Geoffrey
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 3, 2008 (open access)

Tunza: The UNEP Magazine for Youth, Volume 6, Number 3, 2008

Tunza is a UNEP magazine for and by young people. This issue is devoted to water usage.
Date: 2008
Creator: Lean, Geoffrey
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Our Planet, February 2008 (open access)

Our Planet, February 2008

Magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme discussing worldwide environmental policies and other concerns. This issue is devoted to solutions to financing sustainable development and climate change adaptation.
Date: February 2008
Creator: United Nations Environment Programme
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Our Planet, May 2008 (open access)

Our Planet, May 2008

Magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme discussing worldwide environmental policies and other concerns. This issue is devoted to a discussion of ways to reduce carbon emissions in order to reduce the threats of climate change.
Date: May 2008
Creator: United Nations Environment Programme
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Our Planet, September 2008 (open access)

Our Planet, September 2008

Magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme discussing worldwide environmental policies and other concerns. This issue is devoted to forestry, deforestation, and the sustainable use of forest products.
Date: September 2008
Creator: United Nations Environment Programme
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library
Our Planet, December 2008 (open access)

Our Planet, December 2008

Magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme discussing worldwide environmental policies and other concerns. This issue is devoted the use of renewable energy in climate strategy and economic growth.
Date: December 2008
Creator: United Nations Environment Programme
Object Type: Journal/Magazine/Newsletter
System: The UNT Digital Library