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One of the aims of the GEF website is to disseminate information
on the thematic areas of GEF.
Biodiversity:
Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of the world's
organisms, including their genetic diversity and the assemblages
they form. It is the blanket term for the natural biological wealth
that under girds human life and well-being.
Just a definition of the term is not enough to have an insight
to this deep sea of concepts. Kindly have a look at our useful links section for links to websites
discussing issues and cases relevant to this thematic areas.
Some of the online discussions available on this
focal area include:
The goal of the Society is to develop the scientific and technical
means for the protection, maintenance, and restoration of life on
this planet - its species, its ecological and evolutionary processes,
and its particular total environment. The list will also serve as
a forum for discussion of the multidisciplinary aspects of conservation
biology, the interaction of science and society in conservation
policy and action, the relationship between maintaining biodiversity
and sustainable development, and to exchange information on SCB
activities, job opportunities and scholarly research.
The purpose of the CONSGIS list is to foster communication among
persons interested in using GIS technology for the conservation
of biodiversity. Anyone can subscribe and contribute news, dialogue,
and discussion to the group.
It is open to subscriber submissions. Its purpose is to circulate
information about recent developments in the field of intellectual
property rights (IPR) related to biodiversity & associated knowledge.
BIO-IPR is a non-commercial and educational service for nonprofit
organisations and individuals active in the struggle against IPRs
on life.
Climate Change:
Climate is the average weather, including seasonal extremes and
variations, either locally, regionally, or across the globe. In
any one location, weather can change very rapidly from day to day
and from year to year, even within an unchanging climate. These
changes involve shifts in, for example, temperatures, precipitation,
winds, and clouds. In contrast to weather, climate is generally
influenced by slow changes in features like the ocean, the land,
the orbit of the Earth about the sun, and the energy output of the
sun.
Fundamentally, climate is controlled by the long-term balance of
energy of the Earth and its atmosphere. Incoming radiation from
the sun, mainly in the form of visible light, is absorbed at the
Earth's surface and in the atmosphere above. On average, absorbed
radiation is balanced by the amount of energy returned to space
in the form of infrared "heat" radiation. Greenhouse gases
such as water vapor and carbon dioxide, as well as clouds and small
particles (called aerosols), trap some heat in the lower part of
the Earth's atmosphere. This is called the greenhouse effect.
Natural events cause changes in climate. For example, large volcanic
eruptions put tiny particles in the atmosphere that block sunlight,
resulting in a surface cooling of a few years' duration. Variations
in ocean currents change the distribution of heat and precipitation.Over
longer time spans, tens or hundreds of thousands of years, natural
changes in the geographical distribution of energy received from
the sun and the amounts of greenhouse gases and dust in the atmosphere
have caused the climate to shift from ice ages to relatively warmer
periods, such as the one we are currently experiencing.
Human activities can also change the climate. The atmospheric amounts
of many greenhouse gases are increasing, especially that of carbon
dioxide, which has increased by 30% over the last 200 years, primarily
as a result of changes in land use (e.g., deforestation) and of
burning coal, oil, and natural gas (e.g., in automobiles, industry,
and electricity generation). If current trends in emissions were
to continue, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would
double during the twenty-first century, with further increases thereafter.
The amounts of several other greenhouse gases would increase substantially
as well.
The accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human
activities will change the climate by enhancing the natural greenhouse
effect, leading to an increase in the Earth's average surface temperature.
This warming may be partially offset in certain regions where air
pollution leads to high concentrations of small particles in the
atmosphere that block sunlight.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC), cosponsored by the United Nations Environment
Programme and the World Meteorological Organization and made up
of over 2000 scientific and technical experts from around the world,
published its First Assessment Report in 1990 and its Second Assessment
Report in 1996. The Second report contains over 10,000 references
and is over 2000 pages in length. Although our understanding of
some details of climate change is still evolving, the IPCC report
is the most comprehensive and scientifically authoritative account
of our understanding of climate change, the potential impacts on
humans and the natural environment, the technology currently available
to reduce human influences on climate, and the socio-economic implications
of possible measures to mitigate these changes.
Kindly have a look at our useful links
section for links to websites discussing issues and cases relevant
to this thematic areas.
Some of the online discussions available on this
focal area include:
CLIMATE-L is a moderated list intended to facilitate information
exchange on the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)
process (including the two upcoming meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies
and the Third COP in Kyoto).
The Economics of Climate Variability and Global Change. This list
has been set up to facilitate interdisciplinary discussion on the
economic aspects of the climate variability and change and stimulate
further research in this area.
- Climate
Neutral Network - A coalition that works to develop
a competitive marketplace for products and services that have
little or no effect on the Earth's climate.
·
Climate
ARK Discussions: This is an on-line discussion forum for frank
and courteous discussion regarding how to promote public policy
that addresses global climate change through reductions in carbon
and other emissions, energy conservation, alternative energy sources and ending
deforestation.
- Ag Energy Climate: Focuses on the potential
climate change impacts on agriculture and the role of energy in
agricultural production, and ways that the agricultural sector
can help in efforts to address climate change.
To subscribe: Send an e-mail message to: listserv@iatp.org. In the body of the message,
type "subscribe ag_climate." If you have problems subscribing,
contact Mark Muller at IATP: mmuller@iatp.org
- Climate debate: A worldwide interactive
forum for scientific and policy debate, collaboration, networking,
sharing ideas, experiences and information relating to global
climate change issues, climate prediction processes and determination
of human influence on climate and assessment of the social and
economic factors that drive climate change including greenhouse
gas emissions, their effects on the biosphere/climate, and their
consequent effects on economics and society.
To subscribe: Send a blank e-mail to: Climateconcern-subscribe@egroups.com
- Climate Concern: Climateconcern is a worldwide
interactive e-mailing forum for scientific and policy debate,
collaboration, networking, sharing ideas, experiences and information
relating to global climate change issues, climate prediction processes
and determination of human influence on climate and assessment
of the social and economic factors that drive climate change including
greenhouse gas emissions, their effects on the biosphere/climate,
and their consequent effects on economics and society.
To subscribe, send a blank e-mail to: Climateconcern-subscribe@egroups.com
- Climate crisis action: Sponsored by Climate
Action Now!, a list dedicated to providing "a forum for discussion
of the crisis and what activists should do about it NOW!."
To subscribe, go to: http://www.onelist.com/subscribe/climatecrisisaction.
- Climate Research: To supplement the current
ClimateConcern mailing list a second list has been established
called ClimateResearch. It is hoped that this list will provide
a forum for those people who wish to discuss the current state
of climate research science and some associated policy and ethical
issues.
To subscribe: go to http://www.egroups.com/group/ClimateResearch
- Climate Watch: An open discussion dedicated
to the issues, news and resources related to the Kyoto Protocol,
COP6, climate change, greenhouse gases, emissions trading and
carbon sink schemes.
To subscribe: To subscribe, send a blank email to: climate-watch-subscribe@topica.com
- Climlist: A moderated international electronic
mail distribution list for climatologists and those working in
closely-related fields. It is primarily intended for persons undertaking
research in climatology, teaching climatology and providing services
of a climatological nature.
To subscribe: Contact Professor John Arnfield at: john.arnfield@osu.edu
- Climate-List: General discussion list on
climate change issues and the annual Climates of Change Congress.
To subscribe: Send an email message to: majordomo@climatesofchange.com.
In the body of the message, type "subscribe climate-list"
(without quotes).
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