ANOTHER PLANET?

UNEP and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have confirmed that the ozone 'hole' in the atmosphere should be closed within 30 years. Going back to the 80s, the use of CFS (Chlroroflurocarbons) had led to quite extensve damage to the thin shield that protects the planet from harmful ultra violet rays. A worldwide ban on the use of CFS in aerosol sprays and fridges in 1987 under the Montreal Protocol has substantially reduced ozone depleting emissions - and by the mid century levels should be back to 1980s benchmarks.  Now can we have the same for climate change?BUT .... Surging carbon dioxide levels have pushed greenhouse gases to record highs in the atmosphere, the WMO has said. Concentrations of carbon dioxide, the major cause of global warming, increased at their fastest rate for 30 years in 2013, despite warnings from the world’s scientists of the need to cut emissions to halt temperature rises. Experts warned that the world was “running out of time” to reverse rising levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) to tackle climate change. The annual greenhouse gas bulletin from the WMO showed that in 2013 concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere were 142% of what they were before the Industrial Revolution. Other potent greenhouse gases have also risen significantly, with concentrations of methane now 253% and nitrous oxide 121% of pre-industrial levels.World leaders, including President Obama, are coming to NYC for the United Nation's summit on the climate crisis. The goal of the PEOPLES CLIMATE MARCH is to draw attention to the climate crisis and urge leaders to find solutions to end climate change. But let's not forget, we are already seeing and feeling the effects of climate change. Meaningful action is long overdue, which is why it is so important to support the march efforts. The marches are in London, New York, and eight other locations. Our friend Aylin comments "It's important that governments know that people do care, that we want change, that we want all this beautiful life on earth, including ourselves, to have a future. So if your in london, join the march this Sunday to make a stand! After all I'm sure we don't want to be known as the stupid humans that managed to wipe out our own species and most of life on earth because we couldn't get it together. Could you imagine how embarrassing that would be! All the big decisions that will make a difference to how this will go will happen in your lifetime so join the climate march to be a part of something positive"France's first mega dairy farm is kicking up quite a stink. The farmer, Michel Ramery, has been accused of Americanising French farming with his planned 1000 dairy cow  herd along with 750 heifers and calves - and critics say the farm in the Somme is more about producing effluent to biogas power than producing milk or cheese. opponents blockaded the far last weekend saying milk will be sold off cheaply and destroy other local farms.China's water shortage is prompting residents in Beijing to dig their own wells. These illicit efforts in Shuimo came after 10,000 migrant workers moved to the area - putting a strain on the water supply - which dried up and  eventually was suspended for 19 days.A 1,000 steel tower will soon loom over the Amazon rainforest - allowing scientists to better understand climate change. The move comes as scientists in Brazil have noted that illegal deforestation is crept up by 10% this year after two years of decline - the loss of water vapour released by the rain forest is now having a knock on effect - a drought in Sao Paulo is being directly linked to what was a ;'flying river' - now much depleted leading to reduced rainfall. The city's water table is at its lowest level for 70 years. Former environmental activist Maria Silva is hoping to win the forthcoming presidential elections and polls say she is now running neck and neck with President Rousseff.It seems fracking is NOT always to blame for polluted water. Scientists from five universities in the USA including Duke and Stanford studied eight clusters of contaminated wells near fracking operations in Texas and found that problems were caused by failures in the cement casing  or lining of wells.Skyscrapers will help fight climate change: That's the conclusion of a study comparing the urban sprawl of Atlanta (population 5.25 million) with the similarly sized Spanish city of Barcelona (5.33 million). The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate says residents in Atlanta produce 7.5 tonnes of CO2 from public and private transport - residents in Barcelona just 0.7 tonnes of CO2. Atlanta covers 26 times the area of Barcelona, and is in places over 20km wide, with residents widely dependent on cars. The Commission recommends the use of 'road users charges', high density developments and cycle sharing schemes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and also urges a cessation of forest destruction - currently producing 11% of the world's greenhouse gases/