Britain is on target for meeting the Kyoto protocol, a reduction of a 12.5% cut from 1990 by the period 2008-2012. But last year the UK's CO₂ emissions actually rose! The rise of 1.25% was mainly caused by the change in the way electricity is generated. Coal is being used instead of gas as it is cheaper but also much more polluting. This means products like enuff will be even more important in the future as generating electric now releases even more CO₂.

The targets set by the Kyoto protocol are far too relaxed. The cuts we need to make are much greater than what Kyoto is asking for. If we can increase our emission and still meet the target then something must have gone very wrong.

The maps of Greenland will have to be redrawn. The melting Greenland ice sheet has revealed a new island. The US Geological Survey has confirmed its existence with satellite photos, that show it as an integral part of the Greenland coast in 1985, but linked by only a small ice bridge in 2002, and completely separate by the summer of 2005. The island has been named Warming Island or Uunartoq Qeqertoq in Inuit .

This new island is being seen as very alarming evidence of Global Warming and the speed with which it is progressing. 

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Thousands of scientists from 63 countries are going to get together to for the International Polar Year (IPY) to investigate the polar regions of our planet and look at the effect climate change is having in these sensitive areas.

Sir David King, the Government's chief scientist, had this to say; "Global warming is the most challenging problem our society has ever had to face up to. Ice is the canary in the coal mine of global warming,"

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Britain's first entirely green housing estate is to be built in London's Docklands. This development will have no carbon emissions. A variety of methods have been employed to achieve the goal of a  zero carbon estate. The estate will be powered by solar panels and wind turbines. TVs will be powered by burning tree branches donated by tree surgeons and toilets will use rainwater. Residents will also grow their own food. Work on the project will begin next mouth.  

This project proves its possible to live a carbon neutral life and if this can be achieved in one new development why not all?

For more info see http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2303004.ece

The great barrier reef, home to thousands of species of animals and plants, is the larges reef in the world and can be seen from space. Coral reefs are already under threat from global warming. In 2005 (the hottest year on record) it is estimated that the world lost 16% of its coral due to coral bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures. On top of this the delicate corals of the great barrier reef now have to face a yet another danger. This time from pollutants and pesticides that have been washed out to sea by flooded rivers. The pesticide has been creating a hazy cloud in the water over parts of the reef, stopping sunlight from getting though to the coral.

Images taken this month by Nasa and US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites show that the coral is being affected at a greater rate than previously thought.  

Coral reef are the rainforest's of the sea and provide habitat for countless animals and plants. Already facing the threat of rising sea temperatures the Great Barrier reef now has to deal with polluted water as well. 

  To find out more look at http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2293483.ece  

Isn't that ironic? Global warming is likley to cause mass extinction worldwide and planes are the fastest growing cause of global warming. Yet we are still planning to destroy nature reserves to build airports and fuel this global crisis.