Jobs at Risk from Climate Change: UN

2007-11-12

Millions of jobs worldwide could be casualties of climate change, but responding to climate change will create new jobs, UN officials say.

According to the heads of the United National climate and weather agencies:

Global warming could decimate the world fisheries sector, threaten the tourism industry and cause widespread job losses among those displaced by its impacts.

But, says Achim Steiner of the UN Environment Program:

Scores of new jobs would be created in the environment technology sector as countries work to avoid and lessen the effects of climate change.

Global warming and the need to respond to climate change is becoming a major impulse for innovation and efficiency gains.

Labour union leaders have called for clear long-term strategies to help uprooted workers.

As Joaquin Nieto of Sustainlabour points out:

We are talking about a major change, as substantial as the industrial revolution. The problem is the jobs that will be created will not be created at the same time, or in the same place, as the ones that are lost.

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Source: Millions of Jobs at Risk from Climate Change: UN. Laura MacInnis. Reuters. 2007.11.12

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Rising Demand Will Increase Food and Oil Prices

2007-11-09

Rising demand for food in developing countries will increase global food and oil prices.

According to Credit Suisse, global demand for food and biofuels will grow at about 3.3 per cent per annum - compared with the historic average of 2.3 per cent. So the outlook is for agricultural, commodity and oil prices to carry on rising. The $100 barrel of oil could be just the start.

Refer: Urban Ecology News

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Address Climate Change to Stimulate Economy: Bill Clinton

2007-11-01

The shift to a green economy is the biggest economic opportunity facing the United States since the military build up to World War Two, says Bill Clinton.

Clinton: Initiatives to combat global warming, such as the retrofit of old buildings, and switching to more fuel-efficient cars, will create jobs and boost wages. America must prove to China, India and other developing nations that addressing the climate change problem will stimulate their economies.

Refer: Urban Ecology News

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Now or Never to Save the Planet: UN

2007-10-26

The future of humanity is at risk unless serious global environmental issues are addressed quickly and thoroughly, says UN report

The 4th Global Environment Outlook report (GEO 4) released today by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) lists global warming, the extinction of species, dwindling fresh water supplies, loss of forest cover, pollution, and depleted fish stocks as major problems.

We are affecting the environment on a global scale, but lack the institutions necessary to deal with this.

Refer: Urban Ecology News

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Business the Answer to World Poverty

2007-03-19

Report proposes private sector strategies as a way to reduce world poverty.

According to a report issued by the World Resource Institute and the International Finance Corporation:

Well supplied, competitive markets would help the four billion people earning less than $3,000 better meet their needs, and increase their productivity and income. In regions with poorly developed markets, goods and services are often more expensive, of lower quality, or more difficult to access than in regions with developed markets.

Refer: Urban Ecology News

Question: Can markets help spread prosperity without increasing overall resource consumption?

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