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作者：艾德•杭特
律師能協助解決全球溫暖化的問題嗎？
或許沒有辦法吧！但即使他們沒有辦法解決問題，他們的活動至少可以引起像美國這樣拒絕對溫室效應採取行動的國家的注意。
紐約時報本週指出，最近全美各地的律師聚集起來商討如何讓政府及企業界不得不採取行動以抑制全球溫暖化。他們認為法律上的訴訟可以替因全球氣候變遷而受害的人民或國家贏得損害賠償。聯合國已指出，全球溫暖化的影響每年超過3千億美金。
其中，島嶼國家是這類訴訟案件最有可能的原告，因為他們會因海水水位的上升和珊瑚礁的死亡而失去整個國土。紐約時報發現，那些不支持「京都協定」的國家的企業或律師們，對於這類的努力能否成功持疑。然而，環境律師們一直在觀察一件指標性的案例：加拿大一座核子鎔爐對華盛頓州的作物、林木以及家禽家畜造成損害的案例，這雖然已是60年前的事，但當時的仲裁者就認為，任何國家都不能在污染他國之後卻不負法律責任。
此時，本週就有許多全球氣候相關的新聞。研究者從外太空看地球時發現，現在的北半球已經比21年前還要綠。此外，北美的作物生長季也幾乎增加了兩個星期。研究者同時發現，作物對當地微氣候的變化，比對二氧化碳增加的反應更明顯。
不幸的是，由於地球氣候運行的複雜度，區域微氣候的變化不是全都那麼容易預測的。一項弔詭的預測指出：英格蘭可能會面臨小型冰河時期，因為融化的冰河會堵塞並關閉北大西洋的暖流而造成這些區域的溫度下降。這星期的英國衛報便指出，科學家發表了一份報告顯示海底下的暖流已經減少了20%。有誰願意提供英國總理布萊爾一份好律師的名單嗎？(2001.9.07)
相關資料：
•地球正在變成一個更加綠意盎然的溫室
http://spacedaily.com/news/greenhouse-01t.html
•作物對氣候變遷的反應比對二氧化碳增加的反應要大（來源：the Scientific American）
http://www.sciam.com/news/083101/
2.html
•北美作物的成長季延長了12天（來源：the National Post）
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/
national/story.html?f=/stories/
20010905/684882.html
•科學家警告，全球的珊瑚礁將於西元2050年死亡。
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/
2001/09/09062001/reu_44864.asp
全文與圖片詳見: http://www.tidepool.org/ebbtide/ebb9.
07.01.cfm
版權歸屬Tidepool，環境資訊協會(許嘉玲 譯，黃媺雯 審校)
中英對照全文：http://e-info.org.tw/issue/climate/2001/sub-cc01100901.htm |
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by Ed HUNT
Could lawyers help solve global warming?
Probably not. But, if nothing else, their activities might inspire greater attention to the problem from nations -- like the US -- that refuse to take action to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
The New York Times reported this week that attorneys from all over the US met recently to explore ways to force the US or corporations to take action to combat global warming. The idea is that suits could win damages for people -- or whole countries that suffer as the climate changes. The UN has put the tab for global warming impacts at more than $300 billion a year.
Island nations -- who may lose their entire country as the sea levels rise and coral reefs die -- are the most likely plaintiffs. The Times found legal eagles were skeptical of the success of such efforts. However, environmental lawyers have been looking closely at a landmark case where a Canadian smelting plant damaged crops, timber and livestock in Washington State. The case was 60 years ago, but "an international arbiter found that one country could not pollute another without being held liable."
MEANWHILE there was plenty of climate news this week. Researchers looking at the earth from space found that the Northern hemisphere has become much greener than it was 21 years ago. Moreover, North America's growing season is now almost two weeks longer. Researchers also found that vegetation responds to the local effects of changing climate, more than an increase in CO2.
Unfortunately, the local effects of climate change may not be all that easy to predict, given the complex nature of the Earth's climate systems. One of the paradoxical predictions is that England could suffer a mini-ice age as melting glaciers shut down the North Atlantic conveyor current that brings warm water -- and temperatures -- those latitudes. The week the Guardian reported that scientists documented a 20 percent reduction in the flow of the undersea conveyor. Anyone want to give Tony Blair the number of a good lawyer?
WORTH READING: Earth is Becoming A Greener Greenhouse
http://spacedaily.com/news/
greenhouse-01t.html
WORTH READING: Vegetation Responds to Climate Change More that CO2 From
http://www.sciam.com/news/083101/
2.html
WORTH READING: North America's Growing Season Now 12 Days Longer From the National Post.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/
national/story.html?f=/stories/
20010905/684882.html
WORTH READING: World coral reefs to die by 2050, scientist warns
http://www.enn.com/news/wire-stories/
2001/09/09062001/reu_44864.asp
http://www.tidepool.org/ebbtide/ebb9.
07.01.cfm |
