The population on Earth has now exceeded 6 billion and 40 – 60% of that live within 100 km of the coasts. In view of the pressure on Earth the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) has initiated two syntheses, namely the “Air Pollution and Climate – A Synthesis for Policy Makers” and “Megacities in the Coastal Zone”. The Environmental Protection Administration Executive Yuan (Taiwan supported these syntheses and produced two reports. These findings have been presented at the Planet Under Pressure Meeting held in London on 26-29 March, 2012, and hopefully would become the reference material for the Rio+20 summit meeting.

Global Change, Air Pollution and Climate, Megacities in the coastal zone