Enviro Information

Wildlife and Habitat Conservation News: Amazing animal-inspired inventions!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Wildlife and Habitat Conservation News: Amazing animal-inspired inventions!

Carbon dioxide from industry could be buried offshore

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:52:00 +0000

Executice summary, by Damian Kahya and Richard Anderson

According to CO2 Sense, a not-for-profit company which works to support clean energy projects in the area, the Yorkshire and Humber region is one of Europe's biggest emitters of carbon dioxide.

Together, Ferrybridge, Drax and Eggborough provide more than 10% of our electricity but emit some 30 million tonnes of CO2, an odourless and colourless gas, every year.

Add to that two of the UK's larger refineries - Total's Lindsay oil and Conoco Phillip's Immingham - and one of our largest steel mills, Tata Steel's Scunthorpe plant.

The entire cluster puts out a total of 60 million tonnes of CO2 more than double the next biggest emitting region in the UK, along the Thames in Greater London.

"What we're in here is one of the Europe's big energy and climate change hotspots," says Dr Stephen Brown, director of carbon capture and storage at CO2 Sense.

It means that in this region, thousands of jobs depend on industries whose emissions are set to be taxed and regulated ever more heavily over the next decade.

The more industries releasing carbon dioxide in one place, the more potential customers there are for a plan to capture the greenhouse gas and bury it far out under the North Sea.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) for electricity generation has not yet been carried out commercially and at scale anywhere.

Many of the UK's coal and nuclear plants are due to be de-commissioned over the next 10 years as a result of old age or because they do not comply with new emissions regulations.

And the government has promised to completely de-carbonise electricity generation by 2050 - so any new gas or coal plants will be needing their carbon dioxide captured and stored.

"If you want to achieve the sort of carbon reductions we're talking about... either we can't do it without CCS or it would be much more expensive," says Malcolm Grimston, associate fellow at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies.

But the Treasury withdrew £1bn of support funding from the project when it became clear that it would not be enough to get the plant built.

Instead a range of projects are now turning to an EU competition - NER 300 - for money they hope will be matched by governments.

Private equity backed 2Co wants to build a new coal plant above the Hatfield coal mine and pump the gas to North Sea oil fields where it can be used for enhanced oil recovery.

The idea is that by pushing carbon dioxide in, you can get more oil out - so making money for the taxpayer.

And at Ferrybridge, Scottish and Southern Energy are to start a small pilot plant shortly, though they are not seeking funding from the NER 300 competition.

All the proposals envisage a giant pipe starting with a coal plant, but then collecting carbon dioxide from anyone who will capture it before bringing it out to be buried under the sea bed.

The project is likely to be run by the National Grid and is designed to prevent high carbon industry leaving to avoid paying for their emissions - so called carbon leakage.

"There is the issue of carbon leakage for companies such as steel firms that compete on a global basis," admits Tata's Dr Bruce Adderly.

One way to force coal and steel plants to pay would be to make carbon so expensive that paying to bury it makes sense.

"The problem with that is you push industry into an uneconomic state and you would lose jobs - the last thing we want to do is lose our industry and then try and decarbonise something that doesn't exist," says Jim Ward, head of CCS at the National Grid.

"The recession has meant the price of carbon has plummeted, and means that anyone who has any money to do anything doesn't want to - a lot of these projects are not going to happen," says Mr Grimston.

Projects will be built, he says, and the cost of doing so will fall - but first there must be a negotiation with government.

And not only is CCS expensive to build, unlike conventional coal and gas, it is also expensive to run, unlike wind and nuclear.

Currently separating out the CO2 reduces the efficiency of the plant by about 20-30%, as you need to burn more coal or gas to produce the same power.

From his perch in a helicopter above one of Europe's most polluting regions, these concerns don't seem to deter Dr Brown.

For Yorkshire and the Humber, along with other industrial parts of the UK, it may well be CCS or bust.

The Right to Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 13:32:00 +0000

This study refers to the fundamental right of the human being to have a healthy, ecologically balanced environment as well as to the necessity of recognizing and guaranteeing this right. The authors analyze the major components of the human being environment protection, the right to water, the right to fresh air, the right to the environment of the human settlements, the relationship: health – environment. A special attention is given to the integration of the sustainable development in the EU policies.

Generally speaking, when we talk about environmental protection, we refer to what is happening or to what we have to do to protect air, water and soil, even if, for the past few years, we hear more and more about the protection of the environment of the human being.

The international consecration of the right to environment was made through the Statement of the first UN Conference regarding the Environment from Stockholm, when it was proclaimed that:” Man has the fundamental right to freedom, equality and adequate conditions of life, in an environment of a quality that permits a life of dignity and well-being.

As a result, the international community has focused slowly and rather corrective its attention upon the aspects which had a visible effect, sometimes with serious consequences, the human beings and the spaces where they operate, taking into consideration the following dimensions of this environmental component – the protection of the human being environment:

Taking into consideration the size and complexity of environmental and health problems in 2003 was adopted the European Environment and Health Strategy having as main purpose to reduce diseases caused by environmental factors , and in 2004 the “SCALE” initiative was launched ( Science – Children - Awareness – Legal instruments – Evaluation) through which the community efforts go hand in hand, in line with sustainable development objectives, in order to protect the most vulnerable groups in our society and those who will shape tomorrow’s society.

These effects are not sufficiently taken into account in current policies, as they are not sufficiently integrated, meaning that the air monitoring data are not correlated with water or soil monitoring data and neither with those of health, and as a consequence, they do not effectively address the specific interface for environment and health.

Source:http://www.cse.uaic.ro/WorkingPapers/articles/CESWP2011_III1_PAR.pdf

Off-track, off-target

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:16:00 +0000

This report shows that current aid is not reaching the people who need it the most – people living in poor rural communities and urban slums. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the MDG target won't be reached for another 200 years. That's a long wait for a toilet!

Dirty water and inadequate sanitation cost sub-Saharan Africa around 5% of its gross domestic product (GDP) every year.
The human cost is even starker – 4,000 children dying every day because of diarrhoeal diseases caused by drinking dirty water and poor sanitation making diarrhoea the biggest killer of children under five in Africa.

Source:

wateraid.org
Report: http://www.wateraid.org/documents/Off-track-off-target.pdf

The big city guide to going green

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:43:00 +0000

Consumers in San Francisco now have a handy resource to turn to for information on eco-friendly restaurants and retailers—and one that will save them money to boot!

The Green Zebra Guide is a shopping guide and coupon book, offering savings of over USD 12,000 at more than 250 local organic restaurants and shops, spas, yoga and Pilates studios, independent bookstores, bike shops, museums and more. Priced at USD 25, many customers will find that the guide pays for itself in just a few purchases.

Not only are customers inspired to go green, but the Green Zebra Guide is a great marketing tool for participating businesses, many of whom are local independents whose brands aren’t as recognizable as their larger chain competitors. The Green Zebra Guide’s outreach to the local community doesn’t stop there. Green Zebra donates a portion of their profits to the Conservation Connection Project, an environmental science initiative for area public schools. Schools and non-profits also can sign up to sell the guides as a fund-raiser, earning USD 10 for each copy sold.

The guide also features articles and tips on eco-friendly living, including a list of 20 steps you can take today for a greener tomorrow—all in all, a great reference for area residents who want to feel better about their impact on their community and environment. Currently, the Green Zebra Guide is limited to the San Francisco area, but as consumers everywhere become more environmentally conscious, this concept could gain popularity in almost any major city.

Source

website

contact

Greener bricks, made from cow dung (Or, how Indonesian cows sh*t bricks)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:34:00 +0000

We’ve covered the value of worm poop, and now it’s time for the merits of cow dung to come to the fore.EcoFaeBrick turns cattle waste into bricks that are greener, stronger and 20% lighter than regular clay bricks.

The Indonesian organization was set up earlier this year to tackle the problem of excessive waste in farming areas. From this, the ecological and economical solution of the Cow Dung Brick was born. There’s no visible difference between a traditional brick and the dung brick—and before you ask, there’s no smell either. Instead of using wood fire the dung bricks are fired using biogas, helping to further reduce carbon emissions. The new product also lets land be retained for farming, rather than being excavated for clay for conventional bricks, or becoming a health risk due to ‘too much dung’.

A green product that boosts the wealth of rural Indonesians, it’s not hard to see why EcoFaeBrick came first in the 2009 Global Social Venture competition. The company has identified 22 areas around Indonesia that they want to expand the project to, plus 22 more in other parts of the world. One to support, or otherwise get involved with!

Website

Contact

Source

Socially responsible flip-flops upcycled from old newspapers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:27:00 +0000

PaperFlops create flip-flops made from old newspaper, benefiting the underprivileged as well as the environment.

Recycled and upcycled products feature regularly here on Springwise. Just recently we’ve seen fortune cookie purses, surfboards and even shoes made with waste materials. Now a company in Indonesia,PaperFlops, are next to tread the eco-friendly footwear path with their flip-flop made from old newspaper, benefiting the underprivileged as well as the environment.

PaperFlops are made entirely from biodegradable materials; newspapers, coconut shells, palm tree roots and 100 percent natural rubber. They employ mentally and physically disabled workers as well as street children in Jakarta, Indonesia, providing education and training in arts and crafts to manufacture the handmade products. It takes approximately 1kg of old newspaper to produce a pair of PaperFlops, which keeps production costs low, while a natural sealant is used to ensure they are water-resistant and hard-wearing. Priced at EUR 31 a pair, PaperFlops are available in a range of models and sizes, and are currently seeking funding through Ulule.

Boasting green credentials is becoming a standard requirement for companies looking to boost their public profile. When this can be achieved at the same time as benefiting the less privileged, so much the better. Could your business kill these two birds with one stone through some equally creative thinking?

Website
Contact
Source

Impact evaluation and interventions to address climate change: A scoping study

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 20:01:00 +0000

Source: Zunia, Tandfonline

This article argues that to ensure effective allocation of these resources, the selection and design of climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions should be based on evidence of what works, what doesn't work, under what circumstances and at what cost. Currently the evidence base on the impact of climate change interventions is minimal and there is a need for wider application of rigorous impact evaluation (IE) in the field.

Climate change interventions have much to learn from experiences in related fields, notably international development and conservation. The paper highlights some of the challenges faced when conducting IEs of climate change interventions and discusses how these can be tackled. Moreover, it discusses some of the key areas of mitigation and adaptation interventions and suggests how IEs could be implemented, using IEs from other policy fields as examples. It argues that despite the limited experience so far there are ample opportunities to conduct IE of climate change interventions.

Article

Change the way you think about your laptop

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:09:00 +0000

Source: WWF, Youtube

Change the way you think about food

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:07:00 +0000

Source: WWF, Youtube

Change the way you think about your morning latte

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:49:00 +0000

Source: Youtube, WWF

Good News for Indonesia's Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:37:00 +0000

The U.S. and Indonesian governments signed an agreement on Sept. 29 that will result in $28.5 million in funding to protect a large block of forest land in Borneo, Indonesia. This land provides a home to various wildlife, absorbs harmful carbon emissions and supplies local communities with jobs and firewood. More ...

Source: WWF

WWF's Social Spot

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:29:00 +0000

Now you can connect to WWF on some of your favorite social network sites. Interact with WWF through our pages on Facebook and Myspace, watch great WWF videos on Youtube, and converse with like-minded activists on our Care2 page. Join the WWF LinkedIn group and get a badge to add to your profile so that all your connections see that you support WWF. Join WWF on SocialVibe, a new innovative Social Networking site that lets you pick your favorite Cause and raise money for it by recruiting friends.

From Conflict to Peacebuilding – the Role of Natural Resources and the Environment

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:45:00 +0000

This United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report aims to summarize current knowledge on the links between environment, conflict and peacebuilding through thirteen field-based case studies.
Based on its analysis, UNEP’s report draws three key conclusions for future UN peacemaking and peacebuilding operations: - Natural resources and the environment can be involved in all phases of the conflict cycle: from contributing to the outbreak and perpetuation of conflict and to spoiling the prospects for peace. The way that natural resources and the environment are governed has a determining influence on peace and security. - Consequently, it is clear that investing in environmental management and the governance of natural resources is an investment in conflict prevention. - Moreover, cooperation over the management of natural resources and the environment provide new opportunities for peacebuilding that should be pursued.

State of the World's Forests 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:07:00 +0000

What will be the impact on forests of future economic development, globalized trade and increases in the world's population? The 2009 edition of the biennial State of the World's Forests looks forward, with the theme 'Society, forests and forestry: adapting for the future'.
Link
Full Report (pdf)

Basic Questions on Climate Change

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:04:00 +0000

What is climate change?

The burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas releases a number of gases. We burn fossil fuels when we drive our cars, use coal-fired electricity, fly in planes or consume products. Some of the gases released from burning fossil fuels are greenhouse gases, which act like a blanket around the earth, trapping heat and warming the earth's atmosphere. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common out of several greenhouse gases. Industrialised countries have released huge amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels, and have caused a human induced change in the earth's climate.

Other Questions

Implementing Sustainable Bioenergy Production

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:55:00 +0000

This paper is a compilation of example principles, frameworks and tools already in use in the conservation community which may be applied to bioenergy production to identify and reduce environmental as well as socio-economic risks and promote opportunities.
Link to paper

The other global warming

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:22:00 +0000

The Other Global Warming - The way that we generate energy creates a long-term global heating that far exceeds the danger of greenhouse gases, according to a renowned astrophysicist. Instead, we need a form of energy creation that harnesses the natural power of the earth: sunlight, wind and waves.
Link to the article
Link to the original resource

Eco-friendly Yoghurt Shop at Sno:la

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 20:27:00 +0000

Frozen yoghurt is a topic we've already covered on a few different occasions: first the Korean-style frozen yoghurt trend, as exemplified by shops like Pinkberry and Red Mango, and then the arrival of self-serve contender Yogurtland. Now adding further differentiation to the industry is Sno:la, a Beverly Hills-based shop that bills itself as a socially conscious alternative.

Sno:la's shops—it just opened one in Kyoto as well, with another due to launch in Santa Monica soon—are designed to be eco-minded and plastic-free. All containers are biodegradable and compostable, with yoghurt cups made of sugar cane, verrine cups made of corn, and spoons made from wood and potatoes. Sno:la's countertops are crafted from recycled computer chips, and tabletops are based on eucalyptus, a fast-growing and sustainable tree. Wall decorations are made from recycled wood, and the concrete floors are soy-painted. Then too there's Sno:la's support of social causes: It gives 1 percent of its gross proceeds to Slow Food USA, which supports sustainable farming, and 1 percent of proceeds from its Chocolate Cremita flavour to the United Nations World Food Program, which helps children worldwide. All that on top of a range of seasonally flavoured yoghurt treats made with organic dairy products, "sweetened only by nature" and accompanied by a choice of some 40 toppings.

Need further proof that the frozen yoghurt industry is maturing? Red Mango recently launched Club Mango, a loyalty program that rewards customers for their purchases. Make no mistake: the era of differentiation has begun. Something to keep in mind for your own next big, yoghurty venture....?

Website: www.snolayogurt.com and www.snola.co.jp

Spotted by: PSFK via Raymond Kollau for Springwise

Fund Rising with email signature

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 22:54:00 +0000

If e-mail signatures can be put to work to help support a political candidate, just imagine the impact they could make for charity. That's essentially the rationale behind Replyforall, a site that uses custom e-mail signatures to raise not just awareness but cold, hard cash for a select group of charitable causes.

replyforall is a new way to support causes in a simple, practical, and sustainable way. we all want to support our favorite causes, but don't always have extra cash to give. however, we do have something very valuable - the relationships with the people who we email every day. replyforall recognizes the power of a broad base of supporters to both have an impact and attract sponsor revenue. so we take what we have and turn it into something we can do.

how replyforall works; you email. we get sponsors. when you email with your friends and family, you're reaching real people who care about what you've got to say. we use this simple but powerful dynamic to get sponsors. after you join replyforall, the messages you send will show the cause you support and a financial sponsor as your signature. the sponsor pays to reach you and the people you email, and we share the sponsor's payment with the causes you select. so you do what you already do. and the more people who join the mission, the more sponsors pay, and the more we can give to causes.

Source:
www.replyforall.com
www.springwise.com

Jungle Camera Traps Reveal Secrets of World’s Rarest Rhinos

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:59:00 +0000

The Javan rhino is critically endangered and faces an extremely high risk of extinction with fewer than 60 left in the wild. The largest population of these rhinos, an estimated 50 animals, is found in some of the world’s most lush and dense rain forests inside Indonesia’s Ujung Kulong National Park.

Getting to know Javan rhinos
To better understand these rarely-seen animals, WWF and staff from Ujung Kulong launched the first project to install video cameras in strategic locations in this protected area in the south-western tip of the island of Java.

The team completed the installation of 34 video camera traps in each of the known habitat blocks. A review of recent footage revealed a wealth of new information on these elusive animals. The cameras recorded both male and female Javan rhinos sharing the same mud wallow, proving that the sexes share the same territory. It also revealed rhino aggression towards another species, which had never been seen before.

The Indonesian project team has recorded video of nine individuals – including a mother and calf. Despite the footage, scientists are concerned. They have not seen any very young calves for several years.

Of the two populations left, the Indonesian population in Ujung Kulon National Park has the better chance of survival since it is the only one that still has proof of breeding. There have been no verified signs of Javan rhinos breeding in Vietnam’s Cat Tien National Park.

Hope for Javan rhinos
These video camera traps will continue to be an invaluable scientific tool for us to better understand the behavior and needs of this endangered species.

To conserve Indonesia’s Javan rhinos the government launched a rhino conservation strategy with WWF, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), Asian Rhino Project (ARP), Yayasan Badak Indonesia (YABI), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The goal is to secure a future for Javan rhinos by translocating individuals from Ujung Kulon to another suitable site to minimize the risk of local extinction.

Source: WWF

Bioplastic

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:44:00 +0000

Unlike typical plastics made from crude oil, “bioplastics” are often made from plant matter such as corn starch, potato starch, cane sugar, and soy protein. A potentially renewable alternative to petroleum-based plastics would have the long-term benefits of reducing global warming pollution and our dependence on fossil fuels, but do bioplastics fit the bill? As they become more ubiquitous—in the form of grocery bags and disposable plates, food containers, and cutlery—numerous concerns have been raised about their true value:

Bioplastics are designed to be composted, not recycled. The plant-based material will actually contaminate the recycling process if not separated from conventional plastics such as soda bottles and milk jugs.
Home composting may not be an option. Some bioplastics cannot be broken down by the bacteria in our backyards; polyethylene (PE) made from cane sugar is one example. Only bioplastics that are fully biodegradable will break down in a home compost pile, and it could still take up to two years for certain items (e.g., forks and spoons). The rest require the high heat and humidity of an industrial composting plant—of which there are only about 100 in the country, and not all collect waste.
Plants grown for bioplastics have negative impacts of their own. Bioplastics are often produced from genetically modified food crops such as corn and soybeans, a practice that carries a high risk of contaminating our food supply. Also, corn and soybean producers typically apply large amounts of chemical pesticides and fertilizers that pollute our air and water. To compound matters, the growth of the bioplastics and biofuels industries (both of which currently rely on food crops as their raw material) increases the demand for crops and the impact of agriculture worldwide.

Environmental advocates are calling for bioplastic production based on renewable crops (such as native wild grasses) grown without chemicals. Bioplastics could also be developed from agricultural waste. Until then, what’s a consumer to do?

Look for the “Compostable” logo. The Biodegradable Products Institute identifies products appropriate for municipal and commercial composting facilities. To find facilities in your state, see the Related Resources.
Opt for reusable or recycled instead. When you can’t use metal cutlery or ceramic dishes, look for recycled, dishwasher-safe products that can be recycled once they’re no longer usable.

Source: union of concerned scientist

World Meteorological Day 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:04:00 +0000

Each year, on 23 March, the World Meteorological Organization, its 188 Members and the worldwide meteorological community celebrate World Meteorological Day around a chosen theme. This Day commemorates the entry into force, on that date in 1950, of the WMO Convention creating the Organization. Subsequently, in 1951, WMO was designated a specialized agency of the United Nations System.

This year, the theme is “Weather, climate and the air we breathe”.

Brochure

UNEP Billion tree campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 22:47:00 +0000

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign, people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges online with the objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide each year. In a call to further individual and collective action, UNEP has set a new goal of planting 7 billion trees by the end of 2009. The campaign strongly encourages the planting of indigenous trees and trees that are appropriate to the local environment.

Loews hotels adopt local farmers

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:29:00 +0000

Loews Hotels—which operates hotels and resorts in 16 cities across North America—recently announced its 'Adopt-a-Farmer' initiative. The aim is to promote local farming while providing customers with food made from ingredients that are locally-sourced, organic and sustainable.

For example, the Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego uses herbs and vegetables from its own garden, sourcing the rest of its ingredients from 12 local farming communities. The Miami Beach Hotel adds in local, farm-raised seafood. The company’s New York headquarters connected with the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, procuring the only artesian sheep's milk made in the Hudson River Valley. Since many ingredients are seasonal, customers will have to wait until June for that strawberry tart, hopefully appreciating it all the more when it does arrive on the menu.

Furthering the brand's still made here approach, Loews Coronado Bay Resort is introducing "Farmers, Foragers and Fishermen"—a seasonal series of dinners, each of which pairs the resort's chef with a local purveyor, who dines with the guests and tells them about his or her products and methods. Although many eco-minded independent businesses already operate similar programs, it’s more unusual to see an entire hospitality chain adopt local farming. Which goes to show: size doesn’t have to get in the way of sustainability. (Related: Vacations that give back — Restaurant to close and reopen every season.)

Website: www.loewshotels.com
Contact: www.loewshotels.com/en/ContactUs.aspx

Spotted by: Raymond Kollau for Springwise