Calls for Action Against Global Warming on Environment Day

Environmental organizations and officials from around the world called for a reduction in global warming and unveiled plans to combat it, while some governments took action to reduce pollution, on the occasion of World Environment Day.

According to a Thomson Financial report carried by Forbes, the World Wildlife Fund issued a statement warning that none of the Group of Eight countries is "doing enough to avoid a dangerous escalation of global warming," as well as a "climate scorecard" rating the efforts of each country. It quoted the statement as pointing out that the "United States scores the worst of all G8 countries, not having ratified the Kyoto protocol, nor having put any substantive federal measures in place to curb emissions in the short term." The statement also targeted Canada and Russia with specific criticism.

China, which has come under criticism for insufficient environmental regulations, revealed a new plan to slow global warming. A report in The Statesman on Tuesday indicated that China's sixty-two page "policy document" contains "pledges to restructure the economy, promote clean technologies, and improve energy efficiency." It also "vows to combat global warming through energy saving, agricultural adaptation, and forest expansion." Meanwhile, The Brunei Times reported on Wednesday that Chinese authorities had ordered the closure of "heavily polluting industries" around China's third-largest lake, after algae blooms appeared in the lake and massive amounts of drinking water were contaminated.

Other Asian governments also issued statements regarding global warming. According to the Lao News Agency, the Laotian government held a rally to celebrate World Environment Day and "called upon all people to protect the environment and natural resources to reduce global warming." The Lao Deputy Prime Minister spoke at the rally and pointed out potential dangers of rising sea levels and increasing natural disasters. On the other hand, according to an Associated Press story published by the International Herald Tribune, the Indian Prime Minister stated that measures to fight global warming must not "undermine or constrain" developing countries' "growth and development prospects."

An AFP news story carried by SBS World News Australia on Wednesday reported that Brazil's Amazon state enacted a law which will benefit communities which are "protecting their habitat and reducing deforestation." The new law was welcomed by environmental groups. The news story also mentioned that Brazil is the "fourth leading producer of carbon dioxide" in the world, which is contributed to by logging and farming.

Sources:

1. Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2007/06/05/afx3788779.html

2. The Statesman, http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=8&theme=&usrsess=1&id=158402

3. The Brunei Times, http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=32400

4. SBS World News Australia, http://www.worldnewsaustralia.com.au/region.php?id=137521®ion=4

5. International Herald Tribune, http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/06/asia/AS-GEN-India-G-8-Summit.php

6. KPL Lao News Agency, http://www.kpl.net.la/english/news/edn1.htm