-Caveat Lector- Report Cites Ecological Decline By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS January 13, 2001 WASHINGTON (AP) -- Melting Arctic ice, dying frogs and the destruction of coral reefs are signs of a growing world ecological decline, an environment research group said in a report Saturday. Worldwatch Institute said these changes have coincided with an apparent loss of political momentum on environment issues that governments demonstrated in November when global warming talks collapsed. ``If in the current climate of political and economic uncertainty, political leaders were to roll back environmental laws or fail to complete key international agreements, decades of progress could unravel,'' said Christopher Flavin, president of the institute and co-author of its annual State of the World report. Worldwatch's 275-page report said government officials should be concerned that many global ecosystems are in danger. In addition to melting Arctic ice caused by burning fossil fuels, other environmental stresses include ``the worldwide decline of many species of frogs, salamanders and other amphibia'' due to pressures that range from deforestation to ozone depletion, the report said. Amphibians are considered a ``sort of barometer of Earth's health, more sensitive to environmental stress than other organisms,'' according to Worldwatch researchers. They also said marine biologist estimate that one-quarter of the coral reefs in the world's tropical oceans were sick or dying. In some areas of the Pacific, the figure is as high as 90 percent, posing threats to nations' income from fishing and tourism. The report says there are some signs of progress in bringing destructive environmental trends under control: --In December, negotiators from 122 countries agreed to a legally binding treaty that will severely restrict 12 persistent organic pollutants. --Iceland launched a pioneering effort to harness its geothermal and hydropower to produce hydrogen, which will be used to fuel its automobiles and fishing boats-- an effort that is attracting investments from major oil and car companies. Flavin expressed concern about what he said was the anti-environmental rhetoric of the Bush campaign during the presidential election. President-elect Bush has made drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska a major part of his energy plan and is expected to try to ease present restrictions on logging in national forests. ``The early signs are not terribly good in terms of (Bush's) ties to the oil industry and extractive industries, which have been key opponents on the climate issue,'' Flavin said. ``We'll have to wait and see what stance'' the incoming administration takes. He said the signal the United States sends on environmental issues is crucial because it has the world's largest economy and its environmental impact is second to none. ``If the United States retreats to a more defensive view of global environment threats, it would create a leadership vacuum'' that might encourage environmental groups to push the 15-nation European Union to take a more active role, Flavin said. Two weeks of international talks in the Netherlands on how to cut pollution that is warming the planet ended in failure Nov. 25, after disputes between the United States and the EU proved insurmountable. The key issue blocking agreement was whether and to what extent countries should be allowed to count the carbon dioxide absorbed by forests and farmlands toward their emissions reduction targets. Greenhouse gas emissions mostly come from burning fossil fuels for factories, power plants and cars. Carbon dioxide is a major component of the emissions. ---- On the Net: Worldwatch Institute: http://www.worldwatch.org/ <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! 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