Cycling of carbon back into the biosphere is described as “green carbon” which is absorbed by land based organisms, and carbon absorbed by marine living organisms (55%) is called “blue carbon”. The Blue Carbon Report, produced by GRID-Arendal and UNEP, in collaboration with the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, and UNESCO International and Oceanographic Commissions, was produced to highlight the vital role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems in the global climate balance.

The Report provides detailed and illustrated information on the importance and functioning of blue carbon capture and how this contributes to natural systems management of carbon. It explains clearly how the world’s oceans, seas and marine ecosystems (including seagrass, salt marshes and coastal wetlands) are daily absorbing and removing large quantities of carbon from the atmosphere.

This publication can be freely downloaded at www.grida.no/publications/rr/blue-carbon or

http://www.grida.no/files/publications/blue-carbon/BlueCarbon_screen.pdf

EnviroWorks was a biannual environmental publication produced by the City of Cape Town’s Environmental Resource Management Department in collaboration with other City departments. It has been used by many and varied people and organisations to gain, teach and share knowledge on environmental issues, both in Cape Town and further afield. Sadly, the publication is no longer produced but back issues of this well produced, informative and colourful newsletter can be freely downloaded.

The United Nations Environment Organisation (UNEP), in collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation (OECD), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other organisations of the International Organisation Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals (IOMC), is developing a Global Chemicals Outlook to frame current understanding of trends in chemical production, use and disposal, economic implications of these trends, and policy options.

Currently available is a Synthesis Report for Decision Makers in English (also downloadable in Arabic, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese) and the Full Report which is currently only available in English.

The trends currently show that patterns of global chemical production, trade, use and disposal are changing towards developing countries and economies in transition. It is stressed that understanding these changing patterns in chemical production, trade, use and disposal, and the potential risks these pose, is essential to ensure that chemicals are managed so that their contribution to improving quality of life is maximised and their related risks minimised.

These publications are packed with current data on different chemicals types and their uses throughout the world and are a valuable source for researchers seeking to understand chemical usage and quantify risks.

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) has long recognised the importance of Business in contributing to the sound management of the environment and has established many programs and published guides to help in this area. (more…)