According to environmental groups, Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya will lose their ice covers withing 25 to 30 years.
WHY? Well, deforestation and industrial pollution is not stopped the ice will continue to disappear according to Fredrick Njau of the Kenyan Green Belt Movement. Statistics indicate that 82% or Kilimanjaro’s ice has already been lost over 80 years. Mount Kenya has lost 92% of its ice over 100 years.
RESULTS: “Both mountains are important water catchment areas in Kenya, with many rivers orginating from them. These rivers are major sources of water and powered generated dams.” Specifically 7 rivers depend on Mt. Kenya on which millions of people rely on.
WHATS BEING DONE: The World Bank will buy Kenya’s carbon through the carbon credits program, which gives money to countries who plant new trees. Hopefully the newly planted trees will absorb 800000 tons of carbon before the year 2017. This would help elimate industrial pollution causing the ice to melt, while raising money for Kenya.
The carbon cretdits seem like a really good sollution. I don’t know what type of restrictions are put on factories and such in countries like Kenya, but maybe that should be stricker than what it is now. It seems like the melting ice on the mountains would really affect the people of Kenya and I am surprised that people have not taken a stronger opposition to the deforestation and industrial pollution already. About 85% of both mountains ices have been lost already.
Warning: Snows of Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya Vanishing Associated Press http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/africa/
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It’s sort funny to think of African countries losing ice, though it makes sense considering the altitudes of these mountains. Jeeze, 85% is a striking number, no doubt. That’s like if the entire population of the world except Oceania were obliterated. Sometimes it is good to see a globalized organization stepping in to do some good, but I wonder if all the grant money will go to trees, knowing the corruption that has traditionally defined African governments (not to mention the colonial governments before them).
Comment by mikeporter October 14, 2006 @ 10:56 pmInteresting topics.
What is the idea behind “buying” another country’s carbon emissions? Do you think that this will help? Why?
How does planting trees lead to more ice? You should explain a little of the science to the uninitiated.
Comment by mrmc October 17, 2006 @ 4:31 pmWow I never even considered the mountains to be affected by pollution and deforestation. I think that because Kenya is so dependant on these rivers and dams that the idea from the World Bank is great. I’ve never even heard of carbon credit. I think that all countries around the world should begin to plant more trees because pollution is a global issue. How exactly is deforestation causing the melting of the ice? Is it because with deforestation comes new development?
Comment by sgoetz October 25, 2006 @ 1:46 pmNone
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