Category Archives: International
UN climate change summit kicks off in Cancún
The latest round of UN climate change negotiations (COP16) begins today in Cancún, Mexico. Representatives from 193 countries will meet over the next fortnight, in hopes of securing an international deal on climate change. Several world leaders including the US … Continue reading
Organisations Prepare to Celebrate International Biodiversity Day
Organisations around the UK are preparing to celebrate International Biodiversity Day, taking place tomorrow, 22 May. Celebrations began in Wales yesterday, with the start of a three day festival to highlight biodiversity to the public and to encourage individuals to … Continue reading
Socio-economic considerations of establishing a Marine Protected Area in the Chagos Archipelago
The British Ecological Society recently submitted a response to a Foreign and Commonwealth Office consultation document supporting the creation of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Chagos Archipelago. In producing the response to the consultation, the BES recognised that … Continue reading
New Technologies Needed to Feed a Growing Population
Speaking at the Oxford Farming Conference yesterday the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor John Beddington, made clear the Government’s view that using the latest advances in science, such as GM and nanotechnology, is vital to make sure that the world … Continue reading
Make a Pledge for Biodiversity in 2010
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity and the International Year of Biodiversity UK Partnership (IYB-UK), including the BES, would like everyone to do one simple thing to preserve life on earth. With your help, it is easier than it … Continue reading
International Year of Biodiversity – UK – Launches in London
Yesterday, the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin’s ‘On the Origin of Species’, saw the launch of the International Year of Biodiversity 2010 in the UK. The BES Policy Team attended an evening reception at the Natural History … Continue reading
Conserving the Chagos
The BES Policy Team last night attended a meeting and reception organised by the Chagos Environment Network, highlighting the importance of designating the Chagos Archipelago (otherwise known as the British Indian Ocean Territory, or ‘BIOT’) as a highly protected marine … Continue reading
Noise Pollution Not an Insignificant Concern
A review of recent studies into noise pollution and biodiversity has concluded that noise is becoming a major threat, interfering with the way species communicate, mate and hunt. The authors found that man-made noise is already creating a host of … Continue reading
Improving Biodiversity Science Input into Policy
A recent editorial in Science (Vol. 325. no. 5947, p. 1474) argues persuasively that scientists must better ensure biodiversity research information reaches decision-makers. An important opportunity to improve this knowledge transfer will present itself in October, when the United Nations … Continue reading
Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty
This morning the BES Policy Team attended the launch of the Royal Society’s new report, “Geoengineering the climate: science, governance and uncertainty”. The report is the first to provide a wide-ranging assessment of potential future geoengineering options (the large scale … Continue reading