Last revised : November 4 2006
Climate change and Global warming

The very important Stern Review (October 30, 2006) says that climate change represents the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen. From the BBC. The main points from the Guardian.

Each year, the day that the global economy starts to operate with an ecological deficit is designated as ‘ecological debt day’ (known internationally as ‘overshoot day’).   This marks the date that the planet’s environmental resource flow goes into the red and we begin operating on a non-existent environmental overdraft. (1) Article in New Economics Foundation: (2) An article from the Independent: (3) A commentary in the Independent:  (4) Article in the Guardian (5) An item on the BBC.

 Some very striking points are made in Africa - Up in Smoke 2. The second report on Africa and global warming from the Working Group on Climate Change and Development. Link here to (1) an introduction by the New Economics Foundation (2) an article by the same; (3) the whole report in PDF; (4) a BBC report; (5) a summary in the Independent; (6) an article in the Observer.

There are, of course, millions of sites devoted to this topic, including those inspired by a wish to dismiss the whole thing. A good article for anyone inclined to accept the apparent optimism of the rejectionist position is one published by the Guardian in August 2004 by George Monbiot. The Guardian also maintains a useful Blog of its coverage of the subject. George Monbiot has also an internet site devoted to this question. and he has recently published a book about it, see this extract as well as the links below it.

The European Union offers an official environment site with a page on climate with many links. But you may be better served by the European Environment Agency.

The BBC has prepared a valuable series Planet under Pressure.

The Royal Society devotes a special page to the topic and its outgoing President, Lord May, addressed the issue in his final Address in November 2005.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment has just (March 2005) issued an alarming major report (main points) on the state of the planet. A simple summary is available.

The ClimateArk is a Climate Change Portal and Search Engine dedicated to promoting public policy that addresses global climate change through reductions in carbon dioxide and other emissions, renewable energy, energy conservation and ending deforestation.

Teachers' Guide to High Quality Educational Materials on Climate Change and Global Warming offers a lot of good outlines, directions and links.

Eco-Portal offers an equally wide-ranging set of links to useful sites.

Natural Resources Defence Council covers this and other environmental issues. Their Global Warming page is especially dense.

The BBC offers a site dedicated to the topic of Global Warming.

Friends of the Earth have a special section on climate change.

The RAPID home page gives information on research into changes in the Gulf Stream that could make Northern Europe much colder.

The UK Rivers Network offer a fine site full of links to online materials for students and people interested.

The New Scientist's page on Climate is also full of solid information.

The United State's Environmental Protection Agency strives to keep its head above the flood of misinformation unleashed by the fossil fuel lobby and they tend to be very cautious.