Feline diplomacy?

With its foreign relations in a mess due to continuing human rights accusations, Zimbabwe's diplomatic attempts seem to have taken a turn for the desperate. President Robert Mugabe is facing the ire of conservationists due to his recent wildlife-swapping deal with China. Under the agreement, Zimbabwe will send zebras, elephants and other animals to China in return for four rare Siberian tigers.

South Asia

Lost and found: As many as 35 new amphibian species, 50 new snail species, 16 new crabs, seven new lizards and an as yet unknown species of mouse deer have been discovered in Sri Lanka, the country's Wildlife Heritage Trust (WHT) announced recently. But 19 amphibian species earlier found in Sri Lanka have become extinct, primarily because of loss of habitat.

Killer summer

Uncool dressing is cool

Japan has pitted fashion lovers and conservationists in a rare battle. A current energy conservation drive urges government servants and politicians to dress casually, sans neckties and suits, from June 1, 2005 to September 30, 2005. The idea is if people feel the heat less, air conditioner thermostats can be set higher to save energy.

Other decisions adopted at COP

funding: The Alliance of Small Island States, Africa Group and Least Developed Countries (ldcs) complained that they found it difficult to access funds from the Special Climate Change Fund (sccf) operated by the Global Environment Facility (gef). Co-financing, additional criteria and the narrow scope of adaptation projects eligible for financing were too big a burden.

Is the climate you experience really changing?

In October 2004, Down To Earth carried out a survey on people's perception of climate change. We sought replies for the following questions: • What kind of local/regional changes in climate patterns have you noticed? • Has any specific climatic pattern typical to your region been affected? We received responses from across the country. Respondents included housewives, school teachers, college professors and students.

Global warming is really happening

As climate is a complex system -- like the related human economy -- we cannot fully remove uncertainty from its science. But the state of science seems to be mature enough to draw firm conclusions. The risks are convincing enough to ask decision-makers to act. Unfortunately, very few scientists in developing countries are working on the issue, unlike developed nations." detlef van vuuren, National Institute For Public Health And The Environment, The Netherlands

Why is global warming a myth for some

"There is nothing unusual about the climate of the past century. The warming from 1850 to 1940 is considered to be natural, a recovery from the Little Ice Age. Current warming is minor and there is mostly hype about its adverse impacts." s fred singer President, Science and Environmental Policy Project, USA,as told to Down To Earth on December 14, 2004

Polarised

While policymakers mull over controlling emissions of greenhouse gases (ghgs), scientists are still squabbling about global warming. Some assert it is not happening. Others avow it is natural, not human-caused. They cite cosmic influences as key to climate change.

A blessing?

The Southwest Asian monsoon is one of the most important climate systems of Earth. It supplies much-needed summer showers to agro-based economies like India, Bangladesh and China. Despite this, its linkages with global warming aren't well explored. In India, ironically, the New Delhi-based India Meteorological Department -- the premier weather forecasting authority -- has no research on it. Only a small-scale study, funded by the UK government, has been initiated at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.