The following is a selection of some of the available resources on climate change in order to give a broad indication of the current developments in a rapidly expanding field.
I. Climate Change and the UN
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
Over a decade ago most countries joined the international treaty – the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – to begin to consider what can be done to reduce global warming and to cope with whatever temperature increases are inevitable. More recently, a number of nations have approved an addition to the treaty: the Kyoto Protocol, which has more powerful (and legally binding) measures.
II. Climate and Coalitions and Networks
Climate Justice Now!
http://climatejustice.blogspot.com
The coalition was created by social movements and groups that came together in Bali, in order to enhance exchange of information and cooperation among themselves and with other groups with the aim of intensifying actions to prevent and respond to climate change. This blog brings together activists who demand alternative policies and practices that protect livelihoods and the environment.
Coalition for Rainforest Nations
http://www.rainforestcoalition.org
The Rainforest Coalition functions as an intergovernmental organization, with a Secretariat at Columbia University in New York City. It operates as a forum that seeks to facilitate consensus within the participating Coalition Nations on issues related to domestic and international frameworks for rainforest management, biodiversity conservation and climate stability. It is primarily a diplomatic effort that brings together talent from across government, academia and industry to address the complex issues surrounding environmental sustainability specific to tropical rainforests.
Indigenous Environment Network
Established in 1990 within the United States, Indigenous Environment Network (IEN) was formed by grassroots Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues (EJ). IEN's activities include building the capacity of Indigenous communities and tribal governments to develop mechanisms to protect our sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, health of both our people and all living things, and to build economically sustainable communities.
World Rainforest Movement
The World Rainforest Movement is an international network of citizens' groups of North and South involved in efforts to defend the world's rainforests. It works to secure the lands and livelihoods of forest peoples and supports their efforts to defend the forests from commercial logging, dams, mining, plantations, shrimp farms, colonization and other projects that threaten them.
OneClimate.net
Is a space for contributions from all over the world on emerging ideas and actions to counter climate change. It provides two maps: a thematic map, in which plans are laid out in different thematic areas, such as solar panels to carbon quotas; and a geographic map, which lets the user see what is happening in a particular place and how they can link up.
One Planet Living
A joint initiative of BioRegional and WWF. The aim is to create a worldwide network of One Planet Living Communities, communities that aim to achieve a one planet ecological footprint by 2020.
Realclimate.org
Aims to provide a quick response to developing stories and gives the context sometimes missing in mainstream commentary by working climate scientists for the interested public and journalists. It restricts itself to scientific topics and does not deal with the political or economic implications of its scientific observations.
WiserEarth
A networking platform and information commons for the organizations and individuals working on social justice, environmental restoration and indigenous issues. It is a searchable library of resources, jobs, events, discussions, people and over 105,000 organizations. Its site has 42 areas of focus 'portals' looking specifically at climate issues including emissions trading, climate justice and greenhouse gases.
Climate Action Network
The Climate Action Network (CAN) is a worldwide network of over 365 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working to promote government and individual action to limit human-induced climate change to ecologically sustainable levels.
Stop Climate Chaos
http://www.stopclimatechaos.org
Aims to be the broadest and most diverse coalition yet established within the UK to campaign for changes to government policy on climate change. Its growing membership aims to build irresistible public pressure on the UK Government to act at home and abroad to prevent global warming from exceeding the widely accepted danger threshold of 2°C.
The Climate Group
http://www.theclimategroup.org
The Climate Group is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing business and government leadership on climate change. Using the work of companies and state leaders as a catalyst, the Climate Group works to accelerate international action on global warming with a new, strong focus on practical solutions.
Up in Smoke Coalition
http://www.upinsmokecoalition.org
The Working Group on Climate Change and Development is a unique and diverse network of development and environment organizations. Its central message is that solving poverty and tackling climate change are intimately linked and equally vital, not either/ors. The group addresses the big questions on climate change through its Up In Smoke reports – tools for disseminating the key environment and development issues that are emerging as climate change bites. It does not see its role as suitable for detailed policy or advocacy initiatives.
III. Climate Change and Business
Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP)
A not-for-profit organization whose aim is to facilitate dialogue between shareholders and corporations from which a rational response to climate change will emerge. On their behalf it seeks information on the business risks and opportunities presented by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions data from the world's largest companies: 2,400 in 2007. Its website is the largest repository of corporate greenhouse gas emissions data in the world.
The Climate Group
This group aims to advance business and government leadership on climate change. It runs a business leadership programme to support businesses' progress towards a low carbon economy, and has recently become involved in HSBC's $100 million Climate Initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in some of the world's major cities.
OneCarbon
OneCarbon is an international company that originates high-quality carbon credits by initiating, developing, co-developing or financing projects globally that reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. OneCarbon sells the carbon credits from its portfolio to organizations that aim to meet their compliance target or to enable voluntary carbon offsetting.
IV. Climate and Research
Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP)
The Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) is a partnership for the integrated study of the Earth System, the ways that it is changing and the implications for global and regional sustainability. Earth System Science is the study of the Earth System with an emphasis on observing, understanding and predicting global environmental changes involving interactions between land, atmosphere, water, ice, biosphere, societies, technologies and economies.
Climatic Research Unit
The Climatic Research Unit is widely recognized as one of the world's leading institutions concerned with the study of natural and anthropogenic climate change. Consisting of a staff of around 30 research scientists and students, the unit has developed a number of data sets widely used in climate research, including the global temperature record used to monitor the state of the climate system, as well as statistical software packages and climate models.
Carbon Trade Watch
http://www.carbontradewatch.org
By centring its work on bottom-up community-led projects and campaigns, Carbon Trade Watch aims to provide a durable body of research, which ensures that a holistic and justice-based analysis of climate change and climate policy is not forgotten or compromised. Importantly, the project will gather and translate the work of others in this field to facilitate broader cooperation and understanding.
The Corner House
http://www.thecornerhouse.org.uk
The Corner House supports democratic and community movements for environmental and social justice. It carries out analyses, research and advocacy with the aim of linking issues, of stimulating informed discussion and strategic thought on critical environmental and social concerns, and of encouraging broad alliances to tackle them.
Post Carbon Institute
The mission of Post Carbon Institute is to assist communities in the effort to relocalize and adapt to an energy constrained world. Post Carbon Institute is a think, action and education tank offering research, project tools, education and information to implement proactive strategies to adapt to an energy constrained world. The main response to these concerns is the strategy of relocalization, which aims to rebuild societies based on the local production of food and energy, and the relocalization of currency, governance and culture.
Wuppertal Institute
The Institute's research programme takes an interdisciplinary approach and works towards systems understanding. The research focuses on synergy effects of policy strategies that support the sustainable development of energy and transport systems as well as climate protection.
The International Geosphere–Biosphere Programme (IGBP)
The International Geosphere–Biosphere Programme (IGBP) is a research programme that studies the phenomenon of global change. The vision of IGBP is to provide scientific knowledge to improve the sustainability of the living Earth. IGBP studies the interactions between biological, chemical and physical processes and interactions with human systems, and collaborates with other programmes to develop and impart the understanding necessary to respond to global change.
The Encyclopedia of Earth
The Encyclopedia is a free, fully searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals and educators. The scope of the Encyclopedia is the environment of the Earth broadly defined with particular emphasis on the interaction between society and the natural spheres of the Earth.
Carbon Footprint
http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx
A Carbon Footprint is a measure of the impact human activities have on the environment in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, measured in units of carbon dioxide.
The FrameWorks Institute
The FrameWorks Institute in Washington conducted a project on how Americans think about climate change and how to reframe the issue for the next generation of communications. The research includes in-depth conversations with environmental organizations and with the public, a review and analysis of existing survey research, a conceptual metaphor analysis, a national public opinion poll, content analysis of news, media effects tests and talkback testing.
V. Climate and Energy
Solar Energy History Group (GSES)
The purpose of the group is to describe the work of the pioneers of renewable solar energy down through the ages and in all civilizations, in particular the Italian pioneers of the past 200 years. GSES includes experts, scientists and researchers of different institutions as the International Solar Energy Society.
World Energy Council (WEC)
The World Energy Council (WEC) is the foremost multi-energy organization in the world today. WEC's objectives are to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy by collating data about and undertaking and promoting research into the means of supplying and using energy having, short and long-term, the greatest social benefit and the least harmful impact on the natural environment.
Climate and Campaigns
Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO)
Women's Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) is directing its advocacy efforts to what governments can do to ensure that gender equality and women's voices are included in the climate change discourse. WEDO's two major initiatives on climate change include: an advocacy campaign with partners in select developing countries to integrate a gender approach and women's participation into national adaptation planning and a media and public awareness campaign, Women Demand US Action on Climate Change (WDACC), to push the US government to forego its unilateralist position on global climate change policy.
Share the World's Resources
Share The World's Resources (STWR) is an NGO campaigning for global economic and social justice. STWR Global Focus presents information about why the world economy needs reforming and how a system based on the principle of sharing can improve the livelihoods of many populations.
Climate and Skeptics
Climate Debate Daily
Claims to offer a new way to understand disputes about global warming. It rounds up news and gives equal voice to the dissenters and the activists and as such is a great place to go for varying interpretations of the latest happenings.
Skeptical Science
http://www.skepticalscience.com
A website dedicated to looking at and debunking the arguments of sceptics. It is great for refuting typical arguments, such as 'It's freaking cold!'. We particularly love the skeptic-ometer.
Eco Worrier
Eco Worrier sets out greener ways to consume, such as 'Ten Fairtrade products you didn't know existed' and 'what to do with unwanted shoes'.
World Climate Report
http://www.worldclimatereport.com
The World Climate Report takes the position that global warming is occurring, but its results will be far, far less dramatic then has been supposed.
Climate Resistance
http://www.climate-resistance.org
Climate Resistance is a sit for climate change sceptics, as they put it, 'Neither the science nor the politics of climate change should be exempt from scrutiny'.
