Google, Britain's environment ministry and the country's Met Office have joined forces to produce a new animated map of the earth from space.
The project, Climate Change in Our World, brings the potential impact of climate change to your own pc.
Based on Google Earth which uses NASA satellite images, viewers can watch the effects of global warming up to 2100 for the Earth as a whole or can zoom in on countries and cities.
"This project shows people the reality of climate change using estimates of both the change in the average temperature where they live, and the impact it will have on people's lives all over the world," said environment secretary Hilary Benn.
"By helping people to understand what climate change means for them and for the world we can mobilize the commitment we need to avoid the worst effects by taking action now."
Even though last year leaders of the major world economies agreed that carbon emissions should be cut by 50% by 2050 from 1990 levels there remains disagreement between rich and poor nations over who should move first.
The map illustrates shows the world heating up over the years, with some of the largest temperature increases visible at the poles where vast areas turn red indicating rises well into double digits. It also details information on local impacts and steps people can and in some cases already are taking.
Scientists say global average temperatures will rise by between 1.8 and 4.0 degrees Celsius this century as a result of growing carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels for power and transport, causing floods and famines and threatening millions of lives.
The map, which can be viewed from http://earth.google.com/outreach/kml_entry.html#tClimate%20Change%20In%20Our%20World , illustrates that within this global average there will be significant local and regional variations.
Climate change is arguably one of the biggest issues facing the world today," said Met Office chief John Hirst.
"Merging the Met Office's unparalleled climate science expertise with the exciting technology of Google Earth is a great way of bringing the impacts of a warming world to life."
Source: Reuters
Monday, May 19, 2008
Eco Highlights
Every week we bring you our favourite eco news, articles, blogs and more from around the world!
Launch of Eco Search Engine
Ecocho says that for every one thousand searches made on its website, it plants two trees - offsetting 1 tonne of greenhouse gases. It uses Yahoo technology and pays for this from ads placed on the site.
World Species Dying Out Like Flies Says WWF
LONDON - World biodiversity has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years due mainly to habitat loss and the wildlife trade, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on Friday... Click here to see full story
10 reasons to ground the plane!
Plane Stupid is a network of groups taking action against airport expansion and aviation's climate impact. In "10 reasons to ground the plane" it gives us a comprehensive look at the affects of flying.
From fur to flippers: Endangered and threatened mammals
Click here to view this gallery of endangered mammals…
Mark Bittman – must watch video: What's wrong with what we eat?
In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what's wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it's putting the entire planet at risk.
Click here to view video
Photos of Panda Bear Growing Up, First Three Months
Treehugger has beautiful photos of the first three months in the life of the panda. Click here to see the photos.
National Geographic: Changing The Climate One Advert At A Time
This month’s edition of National Geographic is dedicated to climate change. However, according to The Unsuitablog, this is a blatant example of greenwash! Click here to read more
Launch of Eco Search Engine
Ecocho says that for every one thousand searches made on its website, it plants two trees - offsetting 1 tonne of greenhouse gases. It uses Yahoo technology and pays for this from ads placed on the site.
World Species Dying Out Like Flies Says WWF
LONDON - World biodiversity has declined by almost one third in the past 35 years due mainly to habitat loss and the wildlife trade, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said on Friday... Click here to see full story
10 reasons to ground the plane!
Plane Stupid is a network of groups taking action against airport expansion and aviation's climate impact. In "10 reasons to ground the plane" it gives us a comprehensive look at the affects of flying.
From fur to flippers: Endangered and threatened mammals
Click here to view this gallery of endangered mammals…
Mark Bittman – must watch video: What's wrong with what we eat?
In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what's wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it's putting the entire planet at risk.
Click here to view video
Photos of Panda Bear Growing Up, First Three Months
Treehugger has beautiful photos of the first three months in the life of the panda. Click here to see the photos.
National Geographic: Changing The Climate One Advert At A Time
This month’s edition of National Geographic is dedicated to climate change. However, according to The Unsuitablog, this is a blatant example of greenwash! Click here to read more
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