Denmark Minister for Climate and Energy calls for action.

For Denmark, the focus has been on energy efficiency for the past 30 years, making it one of the foremost energy saving countries in the world. Today, the country leads the way, with 16% of all energy coming from sustainable sources such as wind power.

Ms. Connie Hedegaard, Minister for Climate and Energy, Denmark (F): This is – in essence – our responsibility as politicians. Taking a moral standpoint on a delicate scientific matter and acting accordingly.

VOICE: At the International Geological Congress in Norway, Danish Minister for Climate and Energy Connie Hedegaard highlighted the need to curb carbon dioxide emissions through incentives provided to industry and households. At the same time, she was quick to point out an emerging concern regarding livestock-produced methane, whose warming effect is 72 times more intense than that of CO2 over a span of 20 years.

Ms. Connie Hedegaard (F): The whole agriculture sector will also be a sector worldwide where a lot of methane is being released. We’ll have to pay more attention to research into new ways of handling agriculture worldwide.

VOICE: Congratulations Minister Hedegaard and Denmark for being on the fast track to becoming a model green nation. May we all act with urgency to reduce carbon and methane emissions as quickly as possible.

World’s cetaceans need protection.

The latest report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the world’s largest conservation network, shows that the hunting bans of the 1980s have been effective in saving some of the most endangered species of whales. However, one third of the world’s marine mammals are at greater risk of extinction than ever, with up to 25 percent of all whales, dolphins and porpoises highly endangered due to whaling, fishing and habitat loss. The IUCN report provides clear evidence that conservation efforts, and especially hunting bans, are essential to ensure the cetaceans’ survival.

We are truly grateful, IUCN, for sharing the vision of a brighter future for our treasured underwater mammal friends. Blessed be our world in rich biodiversity through the respected preservation of all God’s creations.

http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSLB15706020080812?sp=true, http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/whales-under-threat-of-extinction-891490.html