Changing climate…
Who would imagine 70 years ago that ‘Environment’ would be such an important matter for the human being. The term environment was even not mentioned at the time in the founding text of the UN organization that organized for the last 40 years the environmental conventions and summits nor in the EEC foundation texts.
50 years ago, things started to change. When the Club of Rome published its report ‘the limits to Growth’ giving the message that we should see the development with another eye, one would need a lof of imagination to become able to see how fast the limits have been trespassed at the expense of the Environment and Nature.
One would need even bigger imagination to convince somebody about the fact that all the technology shown at the science fiction films shown on the b&w TV screens would have been out of date today.
The third industrial revolution, made by microchips, IT and digital technology followed by the fourth revolution managed to delight the human beings and – like fire with Prometheus – gave them access to new experiences (…democratized them at a certain degree) – giving them also the means that could skyrocket their capabilities making them feel as the masters of this World… Homo Superior…
During this wild-enthusiastic ascending path of creation, humans flew that high, bringing the distant Universe much closer but having also lost contact with the Earth omitting to give her the proper attention or – more rightly – the proper respect, to the nature, the environment and to all creatures that coexist with them (animals, plants, natural resources).
It was not by pure luck that humans took the name ‘anthropoi’ – ‘The one who looks high’.
How about another attribute describing the same creature? ‘Those who always create, always destroy and fix again’
And thus – ‘imperceptibly’- we did arrive in the era of ‘Climate Change’, creating things, destroying plenty of others and trying to fix them now.
The truth is that many of those things would not be able to get fixed while others would take a lot of time and effort until they will get fixed, demanding sacrifices from all, not only financial but also psychological like a change of attitude…
Today, as we talk, what matters most is to realize that Environment and Nature need us – more than we think we need them…
This will be the first great step – this change of attitude – that will enable us to see things clearer about what we need to do at a personal and group level so that we can pass the Earth on to the next generations in the same condition that we would like to have found ourselves.
For those who lack imagination about what they can do personally, with the family or in a group to help the Environment and Nature, they must certainly have to talk with their Human Resources Department… Don’t worry… They might have prepared something good to be on the safe side… as they use to do with other things too…
Ecologys’ time line
Any thinking person needs to stay informed or at least have an idea about the situation in which its hosting planet is and about the impact human action (voluntary or not) has with all the risks that follow. Apart from luck, future is also made from the present and the past.
We believe that the following ´ecology time-line´ can help to this.
On the left of the time line, we can see various facts that had a negative impact on the environment and life in general starting from the moment the term ‘ecology’ has been coined until today, while on the right side you see some of the ‘corrective’ actions and human interventions.
Showing respect for our readers’ time we have fixed the objective to ‘open’ a window looking backwards in order to give them the chance to have a quick look on things that happened or continue to happen and matter to them understand how ´on earth´ we have got here.
We avoided going too much in detail or to go critical – the reader can do this by reading the press and the various sources that are available.
We can now get an opinion and gain ideas about what we can do. This is something important to start with in the present moment.
1866
‘Ecology’… a new term coined by the German biologist Ersnt Haeckel
1889
Slaughter of the American Buffalo
1900
Chestnut blight – Fungus introduced by imported trees from Asia destroys Europes’ and North Americas’ Chestnut
1902
Convention for the Protection of Birds Useful to Agriculture signed by 10 european countries
1910
Dutch Elm disease. Fungus spread by the bark beetle
Oil Geyser in Kern leaks 1,1 million t. crude oil
1912
Ιtai-Itai disease from mining toxic waist poisoning in river Jinzu – Japan
1914
Use of modern chemical weapons in WW 1
1918
Rats from ship Makambo dance Mambo in Lord Howe Island… destroying ecosystem and biodiversity
1920
Production and use of Τetraethyllead to boost gasoline, engines’ compression (and toxic emissions) for a century
1922
Foundation of the International Council for Bird Preservation (later on ‘Birdlife’)
1930
Introduction of CFC (Chlorofluorocarbons) in our daily life in cooling liquids and spray propellants (aerosol)
1937
(Greece) Law for the Forest protection Law
1939
Drought, dustbowls and industrial development force the farmers to quit their farms in Oklahoma
1944
(Greece) – Water scarcity in Athens
1945
Nuclear bomb hits Hiroshima & Nagasaki
Creation of UN (United Nations)
1948
Donora Smog: Deadly Smog in Pennsylvania caused by toxic emissions from steel processing
Foundation of the International Union for the Protection of Nature (IUPN) later IUCN
1949
UN Scientific Conference about conservation and utilization of natural resources
1950
Asbestos. A new material enters in our life. It becomes dangerous when microparticles get inhaled
1951
Nuclear test in Nevada
(Greece) – Foundation of the Greek Society for the protection of Nature
1952
The Great Smog of London: coke heating toxic emissions and particles in the air kill thousants
1954
Nuclear tests in Marshall Islands
1956
Minamata Disease in Japan by mercury waste poisoning
Clean Air Act in the UK
1957
Explosion in plutonium treatment nuclear facilities in Kyshtym in Soviet Union
Fire in the nuclear factory of Windscale in the UK
1960
Plastic bag becomes part of the Shoppers’ life
Yokkaichi asthma caused by Sulfure dioxide emissions in the Japanese minners town
Anti-Sparrow campaign in China (despite birds’ beneficial role against parasites).
Foundation of Unesco’s International Biological Program (IBP) with the collaboration of ICSU (International Committee of Scientific Unions)
1961
Use of biological weapons in Vietnam War
Foundation of WWF
(Greece) – Mount Parnitha becomes a protected national
forest
(Greece) – Exhaust pipe emission controls around Athens
Accident in a Soviet Union Submarine off Greenland
1962
Oil pipes and human error spill 1 million gallons of oil in the Mississippi River
(Greece) –Reforestation program for Attica
1963
3,5 million gallons of soya oil spill in Pepin Lake in Minnesota from a Soya depot
USSR, US and Great Britain sign a treaty for the ban of nuclear tests in the atmosphere
1964
IUCN creates the ‘Red List of Endangered Species
1966
French nuclear tests in French Polynesia in S. Pacific
The first sea tidal impoundment barrage gets inaugurated in France.
1967
(Greece) – Big fire burns big forest area in Mitilini Island
Supertanker spills 94 million lt crude Oil in the Cornish sea and coasts
1968
Supertanker spills 3 million gallons in Puerto Rico
Cuyahoga River in Cleveland ignite from pollution
UNESCO organizes the International Experts Biosphere Conference leading to the Stockholm Conference in 1972
TV Broadcasting of the ‘Odyssey of the Cousteau team’
1970
Minamata syndrome in Ontario – Canada due to waste containing Mercury
‘Earths Day’ in San Francisco. The first environmental protest rally
1971
Greenpeace foundation
UN International Treaty RAMSAR – for the protection of wetlands
1972
Red Imported Fire Ants ‘conquest’ Asia, Australia and N.Zealand
Oil dwells of Lago Agrio in Equador pollute land
Two Tankers collide in the Gulf of Oman. 115.000 t of crude oil spilled
Τhe Club of Rome publishes a report ‘The limits to Growth’
First UN conference for the Environment touches ground in Stockholm
Approval of the UN program UNEP (United Nations Environment Program)[ UNEP employs 7 interlinked sub-programs for action:
Climate Action, Chemicals and Pollutions Action, Nature Action, Science Policy, Environmental Governance, Finance and Economic Transformations and Digital Transformation]
UN convention about the worlds heritage
The ‘London Convention’ promoting the control of all sources of marine pollution
DDT gets banned in the USA
1973
Creation of the first GMO
international convention on sea pollution prevention gets signed ( Marpol )
Kenya bans elephant hundting and Ivory trade
1974
Hairspray impacts the Ozone layerScientists announce
Rene Dumon: The first ´Green Party´ candidate for the French Presidentia
1975
Layer of ice in Antarctica below 5 m continues to thin down
Ecological disaster from coal dust industrial waste in Cape Breton – Canada
Supertanker runs aground outside Leixoes in Portugal. 40.000 t of oil pollute sea and shores
1976
Seveso dioxin industrial disaster in Italy
Between 1976 – 2001, more than 6.500 spills of oil polluted Niger’s river delta, UNDP says
Ecological disaster at Seveso Plant in Ιταλίας (dioxine)
1977
Snow in Miami
Thousands of tons of toxic wastedumped near Niagara Falls town. The area enters in the Superfund plan for 22 years
(Greece) – Measures against the Smog are taken in Athens.
1978
Tanker splits in three and spills 220.000 t of crude oil in the sea and Brittany Coasts
Great fire burns Mountain Penteli forest area
Oil distillery waste pollutes for decades the Greenpoint area in New York
Pesticide Industry pollutes with toxic waste Mapua – in New Zealand
Aral Sea in Kazakhstan in Soviet Union disapears by the intensive irrigation & diversion of nearby rivers
Sweden bans hairspray and products containing CFC
1979
Collision of supertankers. 287.000 t of oil spilled in the sea outside Tobago islands
Three Mile Island – Pennsylvania Nuclear Accident. Cleanup takes 14 years
Thousands of fish & sea creatures captured each year by ‘ghost’ nets
Gasleak from underwater Oil dwell in the Gulf of Mexico spills 120.000 t of oil in the Golf of Mexico
Boat collision with tanker in Bosporus. 30.000 t. of gas burn & 60.000 t spill in the sea
World Climate Conference in Geneva. UN creates the WCP (World Climate Program)
International Convention for the acid rain prevention and the Long Range Trans-boundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP)
1980
Sea pollution by oil tanker spillage in the Navarino bay
Chemical poisoning decimates the vultures in India (Diclofenac)
Waste incinerator in Astugi base in the Japanese town Ayase pollutes environment with dioxin and heavy metals
Corals are bleaching due to the increase in temperatures level
UNEP, IUCN and WWF publish the World Conservation Strategy report. The concept of sustainable development is introduced
US Congress approves the Comprehensive, Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and the Superfund frame program for environmental recovery.
1981
(Greece) – Heavy smog in the air above Athens – Attica. Contingency plan is on
(Greece) – Arson puts mount Hymetus forest in Attica on fire
1982
(Greece) – Fire burns forest land in Attica (Bogiati) and Karpathos.
2nd Earth Summit in Nairobi.
Greenpeace activists block dumpbing of Nuclear Waste in Spain
1983
(Greece) – Athens most polluted EEC capital according to EEC report
Town ghosts in Missouri from dioxin waste
War in the Persian Gulf. Oil dwells and platforms burn during months
Supertanker sinks off Cape Town. 170.000 cubic meters oil spill
Creation of the UN Word Commission for the Environment and Growth (WCED producing comprehensive reports for UN decision making
1984
Industrial accident in Bhopal. Pesticide emissions – Cyanide kills thousands of people
1985
Explosion of a soviet unions’ submarine nuclear reactor in the bay of Chazhma
Helsinki Protocol on sulfur emissions reduction gets signed
Vienna convention provides the framework for international reductions in the production of CFC and the protection of Ozone Layer
Resolution A.591 (14) on the prevention of marine pollution
1986
Radiation from Ukraine Chernobyl’s Nuclear Reactor explosion pollutes the Northern Hemisphere
Toxic emissions and waste released by a chemical factory pollute the Rhine
Nuclear waste dumped in Hanford Site near Washington pollute Columbia river and the atmosphere
Battery recycling factories in Los Angeles and in other towns of US pollute the soil with lead
1987
Montreal Protocol for the protection of the Ozone Layer has been ratified by all 198 UN Member States. Regulates the production and consumption of 100 man-made chemicals referred to as ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances)
UN Word Commission for the Environment and Development (WCED) ‘Our Common Future’ (also called ‘Brundtland report’) is the basis for the ‘Agenda 21’ (1992) for the implementation of the ‘sustainable Development’
1988
Tanker sinks out of Nova Scotia – Canada. 160.000 t of oil spill in the sea in an area where krill develops
Creation of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) established by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The ‘Copenhagen amendment’ in the protocol of Montreal for the Ozone layer is acceleration the ban of additional dangerous substances
3rd Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro for the Environment and Development CNUED brings 3 conventions:
1. UNFCCC – United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change assembling the COP (conference of the Parties) on a yearly basis
2. CBD – Convention on Biological Diversity (with UNBD Conference)
3. UNCCD – Convention to combat Desertification – ratified in 1994
Treaty between US and Soviet Union signed by presidents Reagan and Gorbachev to reduce the nuclear missiles of medium range
1989
Tanker oil spill disaster. 37000 tonnes of crude oil pollute sea and shores at Prince William Sound -Alaska.
(Greece) – fire destroys big forest area in Parnitha
Coral reefs in Australia are threatened by climate change and pollution
Industrial accident at a distillery in Pasadena – Texas. 23 people dye. Toxic emissions in the atmosphere
UN Helsinki conference – 79 states commit to reduce their CFC emissions
International treaty of Basel about dangerous waste exports in developing countries
1990
(Greece) – Big Oil spil 25 klm long in the Saronic bay off Athens
French philosopher Michel Serres publishes the ‘Natural Contract’ and his ideas about animal rights
Swarms of the hybrid Africanized killer bee escapes quarantine and invades progressively the US territory threatening local bees, humans or animals that ‘invade’ their areas
Death in Alamosa river – Colorado. Waste from heavy metals and acids kills life
Wetlands shore erosion in Louisiana due to pollution
Draining program of Mesopotamian Marches threatens ecosystem
Bbenzene found in famous mineral water. Company recalls all product accross the World
French philosopher Michel Serres ideas about animal rights reach the public.
e-Cemetery in Guiyu. Thousands of workers are treating daily e-waste from 100 trucks
1991
War in the Gulf ignites oil dwells and platforms
Tanker sinks off Genoa spilling polluting with crude oil sea and shores
Train derails in Dunsmuir, California. Railroad car containing 72.000 of pesticides tumbles off the bridge over the Sacramento river killing aquatic life on a 64 km stretch of river
Tanker sinks off the shores of Angola. 260.000 t of oil pollute sea
IUCN publishes the ‘Caring for the Earth’ (the successor to the ‘World Conservation Strategy’ published in 1980)
War in Yugoslavia. Impact on environment is disastrous
The ‘Madrid Protocol’ stops mining activity in Antarctica
1992
Greenpeace ship detained by Russian Army during activist operations at the Novaya Zemplya Nuclear Testing Archipelago. Between 1955 – 1990, 132 nuclear detonations took place according to information.
The Ozone stratospheric Layer in the Antartic covers covers 3 times the size of USA.
Exportation of hazardous wastes practice to Mexico has been reveiled by environmental organisations.
(Greece) – Fire destroys 2000 acres of forest in Kreta (Hania)
Tanker Aegaean Sea disaster. 79000 tonnes of light crude oil pollute Spanich coasts (La Korounia)
Explosion at an Oil dwell in Fergana – Uzbekistan. Leak of 285.000 t of oil
UN Rio Convention.[ Outcomes:
1. The Rio Declaration with 27 principles for the protection of our Earth was published
2. The Agenda 21 plans the environmental targets for the sustainable development
3. The declaration of principles regarding the Forest protection
4. The creation of CSD (Commission on Sustainable Development) as to control progress
5. Signature of international conventions for the protection of Biodiversity
6. Negotiations starting point against the desertification
7. The UNFCCC framework convention]
50.000 demonstrators rally in Rio de Janeiro protesting about the way Environment is handled
U2 rock concert in Sheffield against the new Nuclear plant in Thorpe
World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity’ is a document signed by 1700 leading scientists
1993
Tanker drifted aground on the southern tip of Shetland Islands spilling 85.000 t of oil
Soviet Nuclear Tests (1949 – 1963) in Kazakhstan exposed 1.5 million people to illness or death
UN reports on rivers in the Urals contaminated with radioactive waste
(Greece) – Greece fails to comply with EEC environmental regulations (Case C-387/97)
WW1 munitions and chemical weapons found by a construction crew in Spring Valley – Washington
1994
Broken Russian pipeline releases 21000 cubic meters of petroleum products in the Arctic
A broaken russian pipeline releases 21000 cubic meters of petroleum products in the Artctic
Greece) – Ratification of the UN Framework Convention for the Climate Change (UNFCCC) with the law ν.2205/1994 (Α’60) and ratification of the International Convention for the protection of Biological Diversity with the law ν. 2204/1994 (Α’59)
(Greece) – Special measures against the smog in Attica
(Greece) – The Greek Council of State finds the approval of Acheloos river diversion against Constitution – failing an overall environmental risk assessment.
UN global conference at Barbados islands on the Sustainable development of Small Island developing States
1995
(Greece) – Fire burns forest land and houses in mount Penteli
French nuclear tests in the south pacific
WMO and WHO pinpoint that heat waves will get more frequent
WWF predicts that the Mediterranean basin and the Alps will face extreme weather conditions due to Climate Change
Munitions and work chemicals washed out in N. Ireland and the Isle of Man
Heat wave kills 500 in Chicago
COP1 in Berlin. Conference of the Parties in Berlin within the UNFCCC
1996
Oil spill disaster in Wales. Tanker spills with thousands of tons of crude oil the sea
Radioactive leaks from nuclear plant in Ukraine
Dolly, the first cloned sheep is born in Scotland.
COP2 on the climatic change in Geneva (Switzerland)
Asbestos gets banned in France
1997
Southeast Asian haze from slash-and -burn practices in Indonesia
CCD1 convention to combat desertification in Rome
(Greece)- Ratification of the International Convention to combat the Desertification with the Law ν.2468/1997 (Α’32)
The Kioto climate change conference. Third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) under the UNFCCC. The industrial countries that take part commit to reduce by 5,2% their 1990 base CO2 emissions. They are given the possibility to finance measures to bring other countries emissions down. An international “emissions trading” regime is conceived allowing industrialized countries to buy and sell emissions
Earth Summit II – New York City, assessing progress on Earth Summit I – Rio
1998
(Greece) – Heatwave and forest fires across the country.
COP4 – UN conference for the Climate Change in Buenos Aires
The Rotterdam Convention on hazardous chemicals and dangerous waste imports / exports
1999
Salton Sea – California is not anymore a sustainable wetland for many species
Soil Salinization hits Australia
Vistula river in Poland is full of corrosive and toxic substances
COP5 Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Bonn Germany
2000
(Greece) –ECJ imposes financial penalty for the dangerous waste in Chania
(Greece) – Fire burns forest area and houses in the island of Samos
Εcological disaster. Toxic waste from mining company pollute river Somes in Romania. The pollution has been transferred to the lake Tisza in Hungary and the Danube
COP6 The Hague. Session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties
(Greece) – The Lakes of Prespes is announced a Balcanic Park by Greece, Albania and FDM.
(Greece) – Mount Parnitha becomes a Natura Protected Area
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety gets drafted (with effect in 2003)
2001
Explosions in a fertilizers factory in Toulouse
COP7 – Conference of the parties in Marrakech
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Creation of the SPIRS Database
2002
Tanker sinking caused Great Oil spill disaster. 77.000 tons of crude oil spilled off Galicia
(Greece) – Waste management unit functions in Aspropyrgos
Light pollution Law gets voted in Czechia
World Summit on Sustainable development in Johannesburg (Rio+10) promotes an action plan for water, energy, Agriculture, biodiversity, Health
Geologists propose to name the present geological period ‘Anthropocene ‘
COP8 – In New Delhi
2003
Deadly heat wave hits Europe
Emerald ash borers (EAB) (Agrilus Planipennis) invade Russia and S.E. Europe
Arson in Iraqi sulfur plant pollutes the atmosphere
(Greece) – an amendment about the Waste Dumping Areas gets voted (ΧΥΤΑ)
2004
Extinction of the White Gorilla
Hurricane destroys oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. 3.3 million barrels polluting sea
(Greece) – Wind park in N.Greece
COP9 – (UNFCCC) In Milan
2005
(Greece) – Hunting of Fox and other mamals as been prohibited
Leaks from explosion in Chemical Factory in China. Benzene pollutes river Songhua
Two girls for each boy born in Sarnie – Ontario. NGOs talk about pollution
Malaysian Haze. Smoke from farmers scrub engulfs Kuala Lumpur
40.000 liters of caustic soda from derailed train kill 0,5 εκ. fishes at Cheakamus river Canada
(Greece) – Fox hunting gets banned in Greece
COP10 in Buenos Aires within the UNFCCC
2006
Heards of African Elephants slaughtered near Chads’ Wildlife Park
(from 300.000 in1970 only 500 remained in 2013)
More than 70 million sharks are killed each year for their fins
Climate change ‘eats’ land in Nigeria (Gully erosion crisis)
Imported toxic waste dumped at 12 sites in Ivory Coast. 26.000 people treated for symptoms of poisoning
30.000 t of oil leak in the Mediterranean from Israeli bombing in Jiyeh
(COP12) UN Climate Change Conference Nairobi – Kenya.
Completion of the Three Gorges hydroelectric gravity Dam China
2007
(Greece) – Heat wave across the whole Country
(Greece) – Fire at Parnitha burns almost the 1/3 of the National Forest.
We reach the hottest decade ever registered
Thousands of tons of toxic mud from industrial waste are gathered from the lake Okeechobee in Florida
‘Live Earth’ concert fights against climate change in various countries of the World
(Greece) – Protests in Athens about the Forests
Nobel prize to IPCC and Al Gore. The film ‘an inconvenient truth’ is projected across the World
United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali
Japan stops the hunting of the humpback wale
2008
(Greece) – Big Fire destroys Forest big Forest area in the island of Rodos
Fireflies are threatened with extinction
Dangerous waste and emissions from a coating factory in Guangxi – in China
Tennessee river polluted by waste
Pollution tax in Milan
Earths’ time… Lights switched off for 1 hour
China bans little plastic bags
Aarhus convention: Τhe citizens’ environmental rights
2009
UN: Climate Change & overpopulation threaten Earths water reserves
The arctic glasses makes the icebreaker ships redundant
Dead Sea Zones in Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico : Low concentration of O2 gradually empties the area from sea life
5th international Forum on Water in Istanbul
Japan launches the first international CO2 watchdog satellite
‘Should we eat the animals?’ . Α book from Jonathan Safran
G8 meeting in Aquila (Italy). Leaders agree with the idea of measures to keep temperature increase below the 2° C
2010
(Greece) – Year starts with temperatures exceeding last 100 years records
Explosion of an Oil Platform. 780.000m3 of oil spill free in the Gulf of Mexico. Cement injections tap the crack
Leak of oil pipeline at the Delta of Niger. 1 Million gallons pollute sea
(Greece) – Fire destroys the Palm Forest in Rethimnon (Crete)
Toxic mud leaks from Aluminum Factory in Hungary
Leak from oil platform in the Red Sea ((Jebel al Zayt)
Oil pipelines crack in Xingang harbor in China. 60.000 t leak
Activists stop train transporting radioactive waste in Germany
(Greece) – Activists free Minks up in N. Greece
(Greece) – Fishes reappear in R. Kifissos
UN: Results from Spray ban CFC show positive
COP16 – UN Convention in Cancun: ‘green fund’ gets created reaching 100bn dollars
Joined declaration for the initiative against climate change in the Mediterranean Sea signed by Greece, Turkey, Palestine and Malta
Accord to protect big cats untill 2022
UN convention for the Biodiversity in Nagoya. Financial Support and expansion of protected areas on the agenda
2011
Tsounami hits Nuclear Powerstation in Fukushima. Radioactivity in huge quantities pollutes the environment
Life expectancy drops with air pollution – experts say
WMO rings alarms about high concentration of CO2 gases in the atmosphere (CO2,, Methane and nitrogen Monoxide)
Heavy metals and toxic waste leak from Oil Refinery in Bohai – China
(Greece) – Leipsoi island get ‘Green’
Italy bans the plastic bags
UN Durban Conference (South Africa). 190 states agree with the principle to reduce the levels of CO2 gases and the average temperature
2012
Oceans’ temperature raises since 135 years ago. Levels of the sea will follow according with scientific research
Diesel exhaust gas can cause cancer W.H.O. says
Global Witness expects that natural resources or environmental disputes will raise
World Bank forecasts temperature increase of 4 degrees C on average
(Greece) – Attica’s atmosphere with high pollution levels
Leaks of industrial waste containing cadmium in the Longjiang river in China
Vicente Typhoon hits Hong Kong. Containers with Polypropylene pellets pollute the Sea
Japan shuts down its nuclear reactors
UN of the 5th Convention for Earths’ climate Change in Rio de Janeiro. Results did not mach the expectations
UN Conference in Doha – in Qatar. (COP18) The Kyoto Protocol is extended to 2020 but only 37 states have shown commitment
Greece)- Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the Greek Parliament – ν.3017/2012 (Α’117)
2013
Lions herds decrease dramatically in number warns LIONAID
WMO records show that the period 2001–2010 was the hottest ever
(Greece) – Air pollution in Attica. Ministry call for not using Chimneys for heating
International Convention CITES. The commerce of rays and sharks
Mercury International Convention in Geneva
UN conference in Warsaw. An indemnity mechanism for the developed countries against extreme weather phenomena is agreed, as well as a fund against deforestation
Ghana banns ‘charity’ imports from used or idle electric or electronic appliances
2014
(Greece) –Tropical invasive fish species in the Aegean Sea
In 40 years half of the wild animal species have been lost according to WWF
N.Y. Courts have held that animals are not ‘persons’ entitled to rights and protections afforded by the writ of habeas corpus rejecting the NGO demand
Average temperature in 2014 exeeds all other since 1881
Rallies in thousands of towns in the World about the climate change
UN convention for the climate change in New York
EU commits to reduce the use of the plastic bag to ¼ of the actual use until 2025
Denmark covers more than its third of energy needs through wind
2015
2015 has been the hottest year so far
Land corrosion and soil pollution have reduced by 1/3 the cultivable land in the last 40 years.
Our planet is already 1° C above the average temperature of the pre-industrialization period
UN Summit for the Sustainable Development in New York. New plan ‘Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. 17 SD goals & 169 targets
UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris (COP21) and Paris Agreement replacing Kioto’s Protocol.
The parties commit to limit their CO2 emissions at levels that can be absorbed by Nature. The target is to retain the temperature increased below 2°C (in fact 1,5°C).
2016
2/3 of Earths´ Population have water shortages for about 1 month per Year, Dutch experts say
(Greece) – Big fire in N. Evia destroys Forest land
3.7 million People died worldwide in 2012 from either chronic or the acute effects of breathing atmospheric pollutants Word Bank reports (‘Clean air and Healthy Lungs’)
2016 The hottest year ever recorded so far
Toxic waste pollute the area of Baotou Town in China
The great Smog of Delhi covers the town
Euro parliament ratifies the Paris Agreement and commits to a 40% of CO2 reduction until 2030.
Greece votes the Law ν.4426/2016 (Α’187) for the climate change
The Ozone layer shrinks above Antarctica – MIT reports
COP22 – UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech
2017
Climate Change brings extreme weather outbreaks reports EEA (European Environmental Agency)
US President Donald Trump announced US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
(Greece) – 2.650 t of cigarette butts add each year to the beaches pollution, reports MEDASSET
(Greece) – Oil spill 2.500 t pollutes the Saronic bay
The 39 trillion L water reservoir of the world’s largest hydropower project – 3 gorges dam in China – 22500 MW delaying the rotation of Earth by 0,06 microseconds due to the moment of inertia, scientists say
2018
‘Air pollution is the ‘new tobacco’, warns WHO head. 7 m early deaths each year from breathing toxic air & 91% of the world’s population live in areas with air pollution above WHO limits
In its manifesto, WWF says ‘We are the first generation to know we are destroying our planet and the last that can do anything about it. We owe it to those who will inherit our planet to ensure the actions we take account for their impact on future generations’
Global CO2 emissions reach the highest point so far
(Greece) – Drought will hit Southern Europe warns the Joined Research Committee of EC
Leaks C9 from an oil distillery in Fujian pollute the environment
Collision of ship with oil tanker off Shanghai carrying 136.000 t of gas. The place the ship sinks is a passage of migratory fish and whales
Today, a noise in the ocean sounds louder than in the past. This is due to the change of PH in the oceans caused by pollution and the climate change effect
(Greece) – Consumers will have to pay for Plastic bags
(Greece) – Greece marks a steady progression in the area of environmental implementation according to the annual report of the Commission (Environment Implementation Review)
2019
Entomologists warn that half of the insect population is threatened by extinction
The Amazon rain forest absorbs ¼ of the CO2 absorbed by all the land on Earth.
This amount is 30% less than in 1990 because of deforestation and cattle ranching
Period 2015-2019 has been the hottest 5 year period ever
Big fires burn Bolivian Forest. 2,3 million wild animals die
Fires in Amazon Forest
Fire burns Chemical factory in Rouen – France. Toxic substances pollute the Environment
Fridays for Future – student movement for the environment gains momentum, Greta Thunberg face of the Year for the climatic change in Time Magazine
Climate Action Summit in New York
2020
WHO delegation visiting Wuhan in China where 44 people have been diagnosed with a new sort of pneumonia. The transmission is human to human.
Some months later the World lives a Pandemic with millions of deaths
Number of cancer patients increases
20°C in Antartica!
Corona virus: Thousands of people die in England and US. Pandemics’ global death toll in 2020 : 3,3 million according to WHO
Deforestation gets intensive reports Global Forest Watch
Floods and soil erosions in Kyushu (Japan)
The population of migratory fishes has been decreased by 2/3 in the period 1970 – 2016 according to various NGOs
According to WWF, during the period 1970 – 2016, from all the vertebrates, only Human population raised. For the rest (birds, mammals, amphibians, snakes) their total population decreased by 68%
Disastrous tornado hits Fiji islands. Lots of people are forced to emigrate. Typhoons hit Honduras
Tanker runs aground and pollutes Mauritius Islands
Explosion of Depos containing Ammonium nitrate destroys Beirut and kills 218
Blast in a chemical factory in Tarragona
(Greece) – COVID19 decreases the level of noise and air pollution in Attica. Wild animals approach urban areas
The Court case of the Century for France: The highest Court (Conseil d’Etat) orders the government to implement urgent actions in line with the CO2 objectives agreed with the International agreements, the EU Law and the national Law
French Veto against commercial treaty between EU-MERCOSUR states due to a bad approach demonstrated by those states in relation to the Forest sustainability and biodiversity
The Chinese president Xi Jinping announces that China has a target to become Carbon newtral by 2060
The Prime Minister of Japan announces his country will go carbon neutral in 2050
ΕU put a target for 2030 to get 30 million ‘clean’ cars on the roads and to improve the train infrastructures for fast train circulation
2021
Extreme temperatures cause millions of premature deaths according to the statistics of Lancet Planetary Health
IPCC announces that the actual global temperature increase is higher than the one forecasted
Mediterranean countries: The Summer of 2021 is the hottest summer ever recorded
The 4 basic indexes of the climatic change (CO2 emissions, Sea Levels, Global Temperature, Acidification of the Oceans) have exceeded the expected values in 2021, says WMO
COP26 – UN Climate Conference in Glasgow
COP26 – UN Climate Conference in Glasgow
European Commission approves the ‘Green Deal’ focusing on the reduction by 55% of the CO2 emissions by 2030 for all state members of the EU.
(Greece) – Greece climbs further Up in the RECAI Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index
G20 Summit in Rome on Environment & Climate Change
Leak from a gas depot pollutes soil and water in Honolulu
2022
Global Forest area per capita has decreased by more than 60% over the past 60 years reports IOP
Big forest fires & physical disasters are announced on a daily basis by the global media
The water level of the European rivers drops with everything that this implies
Russian Invasion of Ukraine has an global impact on the environment and the implementation of the green goals
(Greece) – Heavy rain falls and Floods in Siteia –Crete)
Activists try to get publics’ attention by dropping soup on famous paintings in National Galleries shouting ‘Just Stop Oil’
Ecological disaster in river Oder due to drought
Sand mining from rivers and marine ecosystems has serious impacts on the future of the sustainability say biologists
Drought hinders Conifers to protect themselveds (trough resin) from Bark beetles
‘Fit for 55’: EU ministers agree new goals in relation to the environment and the Energy
‘Mediterranean Sea – Odyssey for Life´ from Frederic Fougea. A Film Documentary focusing on the environmental challenges that threaten the Mediterranean Sea
French Prime minister announces that France would become a ‘green state’
Εco trials: 14 persons from the consultative committee about Asbestos in France are sent to Justice for their involvement in Eco – crimes with human casualties
COP27 – UN Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – Sharm el-Sheikh (6-18Nov2022)
We will be following
UN unfccc.int webside https://bit.ly/IPCCatC27
IPCC webcast https://bit.ly/WLSCop27
IMF analysis on emission targets https://bit.ly/3T9IWGv
#IPCC #ClimateReport #COP27 #Science4ClimateAction
Bibliography
Sources (indicatively):
Portals: UN, IPCC, UNEP, WMO, UNESCO, EU commission, JRC, Greenpeace, One Earth
Books &Press: The sustainable state (in Greek language) -Ed.ΕΕΔΠ-2022, Environmental Protection and Economic Liberty (in Greek language) – Ed.Sakkoulas – 2002, Economics and Policies for the the sustainable management of the Environment and the natural resources (in Greek language) -E.Kula & Angelos Protopapas – Ed.Sakkoulas – 2005, SanSimera (news portal), Le Monde, Le Monde Diplomatique, Nature
Content selection, copy, editing: R.Briche
Some ideas to bring environmental action further up…!
1. In the building
– Introduction of a waste selection and recycling system
– Replacement of high energy consuming appliances and light bulbs
– Swap to renewable enery supply
– Install time switches or sensors to reduce consumption
– Put water taps functioning with hand pressions in the WC
areas
– …
2. Outside the building
– Building insulation and use of natural light
– Roof Garden
– Ground pollution testing
– Collection of rain water
– …
3. Outdoors
– Beach cleaning day (May – October)
– Tree planting activity
– Tree planting program connected with Sales
-…
4. Within the production process
– Revision of recycling opportunities
– Smart packaging – reduction of plastics
– Biological cleaning and water recycling
-…
5. Transportation and time scheludes
– Employee car sharing program
– Parking for two weeled vehicles
– Teleworking / On-site work program
– Green Company Fleet
– Decentralized offices with teleconferencing facilities
– Working time schedule adaptation to the light and season
– Use of train for product transfer
-…
6. Cafeteria
– Replacement of plastic dishes, cups or water bottles with glass made ones.
– Personal water bottle for all employees
– Drinking water dispensing machines with filters. Frequent microbiological water testing by certified laboratory or authority
– Healthy and sustainable Menu at Canteen
– Green suppliers
-…
7. Pollution
– Systematic reporting on recycling activity at corporate and site level
– No smoking policy and subsidized program of addictions
– Customer infomation about recycling
– Dangerous Goods Management Certification
-…
8. Management and Strategy
– Formulation of the Company Environmental Vision, strategy and CO2 footprint
– Introduction of departmental environmental goals
– Sustainability Reporting
– Environmental awards
– Environmental training (including customers and suppliers)
-…