North America's Environmental Outlook: Nine Topics to Watch for 2011 and Beyond

Montreal, 11 January 2011—What is the future for North America's environment? Much of the answer is up to us. 

A new report examines the major forces and underlying trends likely to shape the environment of North America in 2030 and outlines nine areas where decisions today will affect our environmental future in varying degrees.

In fact, while the pressures on North America's environment will continue to increase over the next 20 years, the report emphasizes that it would be a mistake to assume that our choices today can't influence environmental quality down the road.

North American Environmental Outlook to 2030, released today by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC), scans environmental data and projections by the United Nations Environment Program, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and others to examine a range of different environmental scenarios for North America.

The nine areas to watch fall under three categories:

Greatest potential for impact by 2030
Energy use and associated emissions, especially from transportation and buildings
Water use and treatment of wastewater

Most significant coming changes

Continued and accelerated warming, especially in the Arctic
Continued loss of terrestrial biodiversity
Persistent ground-level ozone in urban areas

Issues deserving greater attention
Growth in urban and built-up land area
Freshwater quality and groundwater availability and qualityThe specific economic and health effects of environmental change
The impact of consumption in North America on the environment in other regions and vice versa

"The year 2030 is well within our planning horizon. The scenarios examined in this report suggest taking actions to confront those changes we can best affect in the short term, preparing for environmental change that is almost inevitable but amenable to action in the longer term, and finally, strengthening our knowledge concerning emerging changes about which we know the least," said Evan Lloyd, CEC Executive Director. More >>>

Dhaka-Delhi meet on water, security

Dhaka, Jan 6 (bdnews24.com)--The government is going to hold three separate meetings with India on water sharing, security, and transit and trade during this month.  
Water resources ministry will hold a secretary-level meeting with its Indian counterpart on January 10-11 in Dhaka.

Water resources secretary Shaikh Md Wahid-uz-Zaman will discuss water sharing of Teesta and other common rivers with his Indian counterpart Dhruv Vijai Singh, said a foreign ministry official.

They will also follow-up on different development works stipulated in joint communiqué declared by prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian premier Manmohan Singh in New Delhi in January last year, he said.

"It is expected that the Indian premier will make an announcement on water sharing of Teesta during his reciprocal visit to Bangladesh," he added.

Manmohan was scheduled to visit Bangladesh in January, but not it is not clear exactly when he will be in Dhaka.

Home secretary level meeting between the two countries will be held from January 17 to 19 in Dhaka and the agenda include security, human trafficking and easy visa procedure.  More >>>

Good Water Management a Pillar of Climate Adaptation & Mitigation

Water is the main way by which climate change will affect society, ecosystems and world economies; so concrete and immediate responses to proper water management are crucial when we discuss climate adaptation.
When chairing the regional Dialogue of Policy for Latin America and the Caribbean*, Omar Vidal, Executive Director of WWF-Mexico, said:

“In order to achieve concrete results in adaptation to climate change in terms of water is indispensable to generate information and share it, as well as to adopt consensus and inter-sector agreements that involve all actors in comprehensive policy designing. There are important coincidences among the Dialogues for Water and Climate Change (D4WCC) and COP16, in particular with financial mechanism designing, monitoring, fairness, and social participation.” More >>>

Water is the main way by which climate change will affect society, ecosystems and world economies; so concrete and immediate responses to proper water management are crucial when we discuss climate adaptation.
When chairing the regional Dialogue of Policy for Latin America and the Caribbean*, Omar Vidal, Executive Director of WWF-Mexico, said:

“In order to achieve concrete results in adaptation to climate change in terms of water is indispensable to generate information and share it, as well as to adopt consensus and inter-sector agreements that involve all actors in comprehensive policy designing. There are important coincidences among the Dialogues for Water and Climate Change (D4WCC) and COP16, in particular with financial mechanism designing, monitoring, fairness, and social participation.” More >>>

Greece joins cascade towards global water treaty

UN headquarters, New York: Greece has this month become the 21st country to ratify a global water treaty designed to reduce conflict and guide joint management over rivers and lakes forming or crossing international boundaries. 

The ratification adds new momentum to efforts to bring United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses (UN Watercourses Convention) into force. The Convention, adopted at the United Nations 13 years ago by an overwhelming majority, becomes effective once it has been ratified by 35 nations.

“Water is a resource that often crosses borders, creating both obligations and opportunities for the development of successful cooperation between countries,” said H.E. Tina Birbili, Greek Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Change. More >>>

“The promotion of transboundary cooperation on water issues is inherent to Greece’s foreign policy, since around 25% of its surface water extends to or originates from neighboring countries.

Nepal Has 11 Hour Blackouts as Climate Change Dries up its Rivers

The state-run Nepal Electricity Authority has had to cut power for 11 hours a day beginning this week, because river water levels have dropped dramatically. 

With its steep terrain topped by glaciers, Nepal has the greatest hydro power potential in the world, at 84,000 megawatts. To date, only a small portion of that has been developed, 600 megawatts – enough to serve a small population who live a much less energy-intensive life than people in the US.

But, with warming, over the last few years, Nepal’s glaciers have already been retreating.

This reduces dry season flows formerly fed by gradual melt water throughout the spring and summer. Now river flow from glacier melt is much more unstable throughout the year, putting at risk both hydro power and agriculture. As glaciers melt, new glacial lakes are forming and overflowing making the flow erratic and unpredictable.The state-run Nepal Electricity Authority has had to cut power for 11 hours a day beginning this week, because river water levels have dropped dramatically, according to AllHeadlineNews.

With its steep terrain topped by glaciers, Nepal has the greatest hydro power potential in the world, at 84,000 megawatts. To date, only a small portion of that has been developed, 600 megawatts – enough to serve a small population who live a much less energy-intensive life than people in the US.

But, with warming, over the last few years, Nepal’s glaciers have already been retreating.

This reduces dry season flows formerly fed by gradual melt water throughout the spring and summer. Now river flow from glacier melt is much more unstable throughout the year, putting at risk both hydro power and agriculture. As glaciers melt, new glacial lakes are forming and overflowing making the flow erratic and unpredictable. More >>>