Permafrost hampers greenhouse effect battle

A study conducted by the University of Colorado’s National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) has warned that the accelerated melting of permafrost in the northern part of the globe will increase the effects of climate warming threatening efforts to face the problem. The study, presented by Kevin Schaefer from the University of Colorado Tuesday on the sidelines of the Conference of Parties (COP 18) and the 8th meeting of the Kyoto Protocol Parties (CMP 8) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) currently held in Doha, has shown that there is an increase in climate warming and permafrost melting which will release CO2 into the atmosphere. According to the study, Arctic lands contain nearly 1,700 billion tons of organic carbon formed from the remains of living organisms and plants accumulated over thousands of years. The ice deactivates the carbon’s effects, but with the melting of the permafrost large amounts of it are released into the atmosphere increasing climate warming, Schaefer said. Forecasts show that of 39% of the emissions will come from permafrost at the northern part of the earth by the year 2100, Schaefer explained. The Negotiating Parties in Doha called fon all international climate conventions to reconsider as they did not take permafrost into account. Commenting on the study, Keith Halverson from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) welcomed its recommendations and expressed full support for the soil monitoring process and warned against the disappearance of permafrost. Halverson also commented on the expected results of the COP 18 in Doha, especially with regard to the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.