The health of the planet is the main preoccupation of the papers this morning. Scientists have warned that global warming will come <a href=""sooner and stronger than previously forecast.
Experts say the rise is down to soaring economic development in China, and a reduction in the amount of carbon pollution soaked up by the world's land and oceans. It also means human emissions will have to be cut more sharply than previously predicted to curb the likely effects. "It is rather scary," Corinne Le Quere, one of the British researchers on the project, <a href=""tells the Times.
She is unlikely to be reassured by the Guardian's lead today, which reveals that leaked documents seen by the paper show that ministers are planning a U-turn on Britain's pledges to combat climate change. It "effectively abolishes" its targets to expand the use of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power. Gordon Brown will be advised that the target of 20% of all European energy to come from renewable sources by 2020 is expensive and difficult, and that he should work with governments sceptical about climate change to "help persuade" the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and others to set lower renewable targets.
Meanwhile, the Times reports that the 2012 London Olympics are set to become "the greenest games in modern times". The paper has seen a preview of the transport plan, which reveals "the most aggressive anti-car policy ever applied to a major event". The 8 million spectators will be banned from travelling by car, with only a small number of disabled people allowed to park anywhere near the car exclusion zones planned for the main venues, and the organisers have cancelled plans for two giant park and ride sites on the M25 and M11. A total of 12 rail lines will converge on Stratford by 2012 and, with 4 million people living within a 40 minute bike ride of a games venue, more cycle paths and secure cycle parking will be created near the Olympic sites to encourage cycling. However, buried deep in the article is the news that the delivery authority will be ordering "a fleet of 3,500 cars for International Olympic Committee members, senior officials and athletes".
How the plans will affect London's ranking on the "green city" ranking published in many of the papers today is unclear. The capital is currently number 44 in a 60-strong list which sees Newport in south Wales declared the greenest city and Winchester the least green. The analysis looked at the ecological footprint of each city, including the resources consumed through eating, transport, building, heating and clothing. Newport residents shouldn't start getting too smug, though. The Times explains: "If the consumption levels of even the best-performing British cities was replicated worldwide, it would require the resources of 2.78 planets identical to Earth for the world to continue functioning. For the worst cities in Britain it would require 3.63 planets."
Wealthy Winchester residents may also want to curb their Marks & Spencer ready meal habit. According to the Independent, the retailer is one of the worst culprits in a new study of packaging levels. The chain offered the lowest proportion of packaging material that could be recycled. "It is becoming clear that relying on the good sense of the retailers to reduce the level of waste our society produces is not enough," warns the paper, which has its own Campaign Against Waste. "Legal pressure is necessary if we are to defeat the scourge of excess packaging." The Indy hopes that a bill being introduced in the Commons today will force supermarkets to provide waste bins to enable shoppers to throw away packaging before they leave the store.
This is an edited extract from the Wrap, our digest of the daily papers.
