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European public debt at a glance

Submitted by ward on

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CNN

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European public debt at a glance

(CNN) -- Fourteen out of 27 countries in the European Union had public debt exceeding 60% of their gross domestic product at the end of 2010, according to official statistics.

The report by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, showed that the ratio of government debt to GDP across all 27 member states increased from 74.4% in 2009 to 80.0% in 2010.

For the 17 euro zone countries, the debt is even higher, increasing from 79.3% in 2009 to 85.1% last year.

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Human Development Index 2011: Warnings For The Future

Submitted by ward on
Human Development Index 2011: Warnings For The Future
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The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) published its annual Human Development Index on Wednesday, painting a grim picture of the prospects for millions of people in some of the world's poorest nations.

Link: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/03/human-development-index-2011_n_1074500.html#s452179&title=1_Democratic_Republic

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Greenhouse gases rise by record amount

Submitted by ward on

Author: 

Associated Press
Emissions from a coal-fired power station. The output of greenhouse gases has ju
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The global output of heat-trapping carbon dioxide has jumped by a record amount, according to the US department of energy, a sign of how feeble the world's efforts are at slowing man-made global warming.

The figures for 2010 mean that levels of greenhouse gases are higher than the worst case scenario outlined by climate experts just four years ago.

"The more we talk about the need to control emissions, the more they are growing," said John Reilly, the co-director of MIT's Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change.

Link: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/04/greenhouse-gases-rise-record-levels

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World headed for irreversible climate change in five years, IEA warns

Submitted by ward on

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Fiona Harvey
Any fossil fuel infrastructure built in the next five years will cause irreversi
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If fossil fuel infrastructure is not rapidly changed, the world will 'lose for ever' the chance to avoid dangerous climate change

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/09/fossil-fuel-infrastructure-climate-change

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Plant pests: The biggest threats to food security?

Submitted by ward on
Throughout history, the impact of plant pests and diseases, such as potato bligh
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The threat posed to crop production by plant pests and diseases is one the key factors that could lead to "a perfect storm" that threatens to destabilise global food security.

Already, the biological threat accounts for about a 40% loss in global production and the problem is forecast to get worse, scientists warn.

BBC News has asked Dr Matthew Cock, chief scientist for Cabi, a UK-based agri-environment research organisation, to compile a list of the worst plant pests threatening crops around the world.

Link: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15623490

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Agriculture needs massive investment to avoid hunger, scientists warn

Submitted by ward on

Author: 

Fiona Harvey
Agricultural farmland in Ukraine being prepared for planting wheat. Photograph:
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Group of leading scientists urge investment in sustainable agriculture to solve hunger crisis and reduce global warming

Billions more investment is needed in agriculture and food distribution systems around the world in the next few years, if widespread hunger is to be avoided, according to a group of leading scientists.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/16/agriculture-investment-hunger-scientists-warn

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Climate concerns as ‘ozone-friendly’ HFCs use grows

Submitted by ward on

Author: 

Mark Kinver
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A rise in the use of "ozone-friendly" HFCs has prompted experts to voice concerns that the potent greenhouse gases could be a problem in the future.

A UN report says that HFCs, many more times potent than CO2, could account for up to 20% of emissions and hamper efforts to curb climate change.

They are widely used in fridges and air conditioning, replacing CFCs and HCFCs that damage the Earth's ozone layer.

The findings were presented during a meeting on protecting the ozone layer.

Link: 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15818659

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