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Fact Sheet on Climate Change
The global atmospheric concentration of CO2 has increased
from a pre-industrial value of 280 to 379 ppm in
2005. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 in 2005 exceeded the natural range
over the last 650,000 years. The annual CO2 growth-rate was larger during
1995 – 2005 with an average of 1.9 ppm per year,
than 1960–2005 (averaging 1.4 ppm per year).
The global atmospheric concentration of methane has
increased from a pre-industrial value of 715 ppb to 1774 ppb in 2005; which
exceeds the natural range of the last 650,000 years. Growth rate however, has
declined since 1990s. The global atmospheric nitrous oxide concentration
increased from a pre-industrial value of about 270 ppb to 319 ppb in 2005.
The growth rate of NOx has been constant since
19801.
Eleven of the last twelve years (1995 -2006) rank among
the 12 warmest years, since 1850 on record; while 2010 was the hottest year
ever. The updated 100-year linear trend of increase is 0.74°C between 1906
and 2005. The linear warming trend over the last 50 years is nearly twice
that for the last 100 years. The total temperature increase from 1850 – 1899
to 2001 – 2005 is 0.76°C. The warmth of the last half century is unusual in
at least the previous 1300 years. Average Northern Hemisphere temperature
during the second half of the 20th century was higher than during any other
50-year period in the last 500 years
Read full Fact sheet [PDF 20 KB]
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News and Events
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Regional
Workshop for dissemination of the Regional Strategy on Protecting Health
from Climate Change and its adaptation in Member State Strategies and Plans
of Action.
26-27 July
2012, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Prevention and
staying safe and healthy
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Help
in reducing green house gas emission. Take the following measures at
corporate level
 Host
environmentally friendly meetings that encourage tele-meetings.
In-person meetings should be held at green hotels that serve pitchers
instead of bottled water, reuse name badges, and donate unused food to
local food pantries.
Offer
telecommuting options to employees. Establish a telecommuting program
allowing employees to work from home 1-5 days a week.
Encourage
flexi time which will stagger start/end times so that employees can avoid
getting stuck in rush hour traffic and as a result use less gas and reduce
emissions.
Support
green suppliers. Use vendors and suppliers who embrace green practices
(i.e. buy local, purchase used office furniture, etc.).
Modernise your fleet. Update fleets with more
environmentally friendly vehicles where applicable and consider switching
to electric and hybrid vehicles.
Promote
environmentally friendly commuting. Establish carpool initiatives for
employees. Provide mass transit passes for employees. Reward hybrid car
owners with preferred parking.
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