Global Climate Change Internet Resources

Population & Environment Linkages Service - http://www.popenvironment.org/

• Part of the National Library for the Environment.
• Includes abstracts and links to 14,170 books, reports, journal articles, newspaper articles, news analysis, maps, conference papers, datasets, slide shows, organizations, regional overviews, laws, bills, and court decisions.
• Under Air and Climate section includes: general information, air resources & pollution, climate change, regional examples, and a bibliography. Also includes Congressional Research Service Reports.

Global Change - http://www.globalchange.org/

· Seeks to familiarize the public with the issues associated with climate change and ozone depletion.

· Since July 1996, the magazine has been published by the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security (Oakland, California). The publication originally was launched in July 1995 by the University of Maryland's Center for Global Change.

· We try to post new material at least once each month. For a list of the most recent postings in all categories, access the Latest Postings heading on the home page. For previous months, go to the Previous Months' Listings. If you are interested only in specific topics, select the appropriate heading on the home page (such as Climate Science) and you will be presented with a list of all the articles Global Change has ever published in that category. The full articles may be summoned by clicking on the individual titles in each listing.

· The articles are brief and written for a very broad audience. A large glossary is provided for those who are not familiar with some of the words we use. For those who wish to learn more about specific topics or articles, Global Change provides extensive references, including direct linkages to information sources elsewhere on the Internet.

· Article listed by categories which include:

o Global change monitor

o Economic impacts

o Adaptation – moderating change

o Profiles – data & trends

o Upcoming events

o Editorials

o Forum for public discussion

o Climate & ozone science

Global Warming – Early Warning Signs: Map illustrating the consequences of global warming - http://www.climatehotmap.org/index.html

• Global average temperatures have warmed about one degree Fahrenheit since 1900. The ten warmest years on record have occurred since 1983, seven of them since 1990. Global temperature in 1998 was the hottest in the historical record, and recent temperatures may have been the highest of the past millennium.
• This map builds on work undertaken by the Sierra Club, which published a report on global warming and extreme weather in the United States in August 1998. Dr. Janine Bloomfield and Molly Smith of the Environmental Defense Fund and Dr. Sharon Locke of the Union of Concerned Scientists researched, categorized, and described the events featured on this world map. The Union of Concerned Scientists has developed background materials on the map for scientists and map curriculum materials for high school teachers. The World Resources Institute oversaw the production of the printed version of the map and undertook the design and construction of this web site.
• This map illustrates the local consequences of global warming. Events indicated on the map are divided into two categories:
• Fingerprints. Some of the events are direct manifestations of a widespread and long-term trend toward warmer global temperatures, as projected by models of a changing climate. These "fingerprints" of climate change are indicated with yellow icons.
• Harbingers. The map also identifies events that foreshadow the types of impacts likely to become more frequent and widespread with continued warming. These "harbingers" of climate change are indicated with red icons. For these events, evidence for a direct link to long-term climate change cannot be confirmed or ruled out at this time.
• Includes extensive discussion of the processes behind and solutions of The First National Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Variability and Change
• Includes curriculum guide for educators with correlations to National Learning Standards

The National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change conducted by the US Global Change Research Program - http://prod.gcrio.org/NationalAssessment/

• Ongoing effort to understand what climate change means for the United States. The Assessment was called for by a 1990 law, and has been conducted under the US Global Change Research Program in response to a request from the President’s Science Advisor.
• This site contains the final approved version of the report of the National Assessment Synthesis Team, which was a federal advisory committee made up of experts drawn from government, universities, industry, and non-governmental organizations.
• The report is provided in two parts: (1) an Overview report, and (2) a Foundation report that provides additional detail and full references. These two national-level, peer-reviewed documents synthesize results from studies conducted by regional and sector teams, and from the broader scientific literature

National Academies Board on Atmospheric Sciences & Climate - http://www4.nationalacademies.org/cger/basc.nsf

• Seeks to advance understanding of the atmosphere and climate, to improve the ability to apply this knowledge for benefit, and to assist the federal government on problems and programs within the Board's. Includes links to recent reports.

World Resources Institute Climate Change Site - http://www.wri.org/climate/

• Tons of information such as carbon sinks, business leadership, developing countries, climate change assessments, strategies, action plans of various countries, and nice graphics of facts & figures (http://www.wri.org/facts/climate.html)
• WRI's core climate efforts, are clustered around three strategies:
• Engage the private sector - WRI's Climate Protection Initiative (CPI) works to accelerate the business community's acceptance of climate change as a real, manageable problem as well as encourage innovative private sector solutions.
• Developing country partnerships - WRI works to contribute to developing countries' effectiveness in negotiating and implementing the climate treaty;
• Rules of the game - WRI identifies and promotes new rules of the game for financing sustainable development and for climate treaty implementation, particularly in the creation of innovative and effective policy mechanisms such as emissions trading and the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol.
• Includes a pre-made slide show of climate change facts and figures with descriptions of each slide - http://www.wri.org/powerpoints/climate/index.htm

Union of Concerned Scientists Global Warming Index - http://www.ucsusa.org/warming/index.html

• Includes variety of information including updates, briefings, fact sheets, web links, facts vs. fiction, what citizens can do, and recommendations for policy makers.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - http://www.ipcc.ch/

• World Meteorological Organization & the United Nations Environment Programme established the IPCC in 1988.
• It is open to all members of the UNEP and WMO.
• The role of the IPCC is to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change. It does not carry out new research nor does it monitor climate related data. It bases its assessment mainly on published and peer reviewed scientific technical literature.
• The IPCC has three working groups and a Task Force
• Working Group I assesses the scientific aspects of the climate system and climate change
• Working Group II addresses the vulnerability of socio-economic and natural systems to climate change, negative and positive consequences of climate change, and options for adapting to it.
• Working Group III assesses options for limiting greenhouse gas emissions and otherwise mitigating climate change.
• The Panel meets in plenary sessions about once a year. It accepts/approves IPCC reports, decides on the mandates and work plans of the working groups, the structure and outlines of reports, the IPCC Principles and Procedures, and the budget.
• The IPCC has continued to provide scientific, technical and socio-economic advice to the world community, and in particular to the 170-plus Parties to the UNFCCC through its periodic assessment reports on the state of knowledge of causes of climate change, its potential impacts and options for response strategies. Its Second Assessment Report, Climate Change 1995, provided key input to the negotiations, which lead to the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC in 1997. The IPCC also prepares Special Reports and Technical Papers on topics where independent scientific information and advice is deemed necessary and it supports the UNFCCC through its work on methodologies for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.

US EPA Atmosphere Page - http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/atmosphere.html

• Provides links to all areas of its atmospheric information.
• Global Warming – http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/airatmosglobalwarming.html - Includes EPA’s global warming site and climate change pages as well as links to other EPA global warming pages

Pew Center on Global Climate Change - http://www.pewclimate.org/index.html

• Non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization dedicated to providing credible information, straight answers and innovative solutions in the effort to address global climate change.
• Established in 1998 by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Center is led by Eileen Claussen, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
• Thirty-two major companies are working together through the Center to educate the public on the risks, challenges and solutions to climate change. These efforts are spearheaded by the Center's Business Environmental Leadership Council, a group of leading companies worldwide that are responding to the challenges posed by climate change.
• The objective of the PCGCC is to educate the public and key policy makers about the causes and potential consequences of climate change, and to encourage the domestic and international community to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by
• releasing highly publicized reports on environmental impacts, economics and policy issues
• educating the public through advertising, public-speaking events and conferences
• advancing international negotiations on climate change by coordinating cross-country policy, industry and government discussions

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change - http://www.unfccc.de/

• Includes current news, full text of Convention and Kyoto Protocol (http://www.unfccc.de/resource/docs/convkp/kpeng.html), beginner’s guides, official reports and documents of the Conference of the Parties, Subsidiary Body for Implementation, and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific & Technological Advice
• Guide to Climate Change Negotiation Process - http://www.unfccc.de/resource/process/index.html

University of Buffalo Science & Engineering Library Global Climate Change Reference Site - http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/sel/bio/ecochange.html

• Includes global perspective with links to all major organizations, US global climate change research & policy, US data resources & information management, online reports, and research in the private sector.

Yahoo News World Full Coverage of Global Warming & Climate Change - http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/World/Global_Warming/

• Includes links to current news stories updated daily as well as links to government, scientific, conservation organizations and pro-global warming sites.

World Conservation Union (IUCN) Climate Change Initiative - http://iucn.org/themes/climate/

• Goal is to develop a strategy on climate change and to assist countries in climate change adaptation and mitigation.
• Work includes participating in the work of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change & the IPCC
• Created the Climate Change Initiative, coordinated from the IUCN Washington Office.
• Strategic Approaches
• IUCN's main concern with climate change is its relationship to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and other natural resources. The Union focuses on four areas of work:
• Clarifying vulnerability. Climate change is considered to be one of the major threats to biodiversity at both the species and ecosystem levels. Through case studies and analysis, IUCN strengthens the understanding of the threat posed by climate change to the world's ecosystems and species as well as the communities dependent upon them.
• Identifying adaptation options. Adaptation to climate change is similar to other aspects of natural resources management. Management of natural resources is characterized by the need to continuously adapt to changing circumstances through a learning-by-doing approach. By providing guidance, tools, and information, IUCN strengthens capacity and management effectiveness so that our Members can minimize the effects of, and adapt to, the effects of climate change.
• Evaluating carbon sequestration activities. The loss and conversation of ecosystems contributes significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. By providing strategic advice, IUCN assists policy makers to integrate carbon sequestration activities with an ecosystem approach.
• Supporting implementation of global conventions. Many countries are constrained by their capacity to implement the international agreements such as the Climate Change Convention. By providing legal and policy advice, IUCN promotes ecological and social issues in the Climate Change Convention negotiations and supports efforts at the regional and national level to address climate change.

Linkages Information Server and Earth Negotiations Bulletin - http://www.iisd.ca/

• Part of the International Institute for Sustainable Development
• Provide information, references, news updates, links for all major international environmental treaties.
• Earth Negotiations Bulletin provides balanced, objective and informative summaries of environment and development negotiations.
• Linkages Climate page, http://www.iisd.ca/climate/index.html, provides updates and references specifically on climate change

Ecological Society of America Global Climate Change – http://esa.sdsc.edu.climate.htm

• Uses question/answer format to discuss major points of climate change issue plus links to other sites

Trends Online - http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/trends.htm

• Compendium published by the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory
• Provides overview of data on fossil fuel emissions data for individual countries, rising levels of CO₂ at Mauna Loa, ice core data, summaries of key data as well as graphs and data tables