State of the World 2009 published
January 19, 2009
The State of the World reports of the Worldwatch Institute have evolved into a useful source of information on the state of the planet and the links between human systems, ecosystems and natural resources.
The latest (2009) edition of the report, entitled Into a Warming World, focuses on the subject of climate change. Its findings are based on those of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). They provide a comprehensive overview of the policy challenges faced by humanity as we attempt to address the challenges and mitigate the impacts associated with climate change.
The IPCC report concluded, on the basis of "robust scientific evidence" that warming of the climate system was an unequivocal fact. Observed increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global sea levels are regarded as further evidence of this. As an example, in 11 out of the past 12 years, the global surface temperature has been amongst the 12 highest ever recorded.
The latest State of the World report sets out to highlight the difference between "business as usual" type inactivity, and concerted action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. This has been referred to as the "defining challenge of our age".
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