Sustainable Development News

PC users 'want greener machines'

2006-06-26T13:53:00.000+01:00

Consumers are willing to pay up to an extra £108 ($197) for a PC containing fewer chemicals, a survey has found. People also feel manufacturers should take responsibility for the disposal of old machines, the research shows. The study by Ipsos-Mori for Greenpeace coincides with an announcement by PC maker Dell to phase out a number of toxic chemicals in its products.

So-called e-waste is a growing global problem, with 30 million PCs being dumped each year in the US alone. See more details on my Corporate Social Responsibility blog.

UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development

2006-06-20T16:29:00.000+01:00

From an interesting blog 'Industrial Ecology' -
The UN declared 2005-2014 to be the 'Decade of Education for Sustainable Development'

("Industrial Ecology is sometimes called 'the Science of Sustainability'. Although this might be too broad a definition, Industrial Ecology promotes a broad scientific solution to sustainability problems. This means that Industrial Ecologists tackle sustainability problems with a systems perspective using natural, social and technical science tools.")

UK has appointed a special representative on climate change

2006-06-14T16:34:00.000+01:00

John Ashton, a diplomat and government adviser, will be charged with building new international partnerships to tackle climate change.

Recently Mr Ashton headed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO)Environment, Science and Energy department, before leaving to form a new initiative called E3G, a 'change agency' that has brokered deals on climate and energy between developed and developing countries.

Friends of the Earth welcomed the move, saying "We welcome John Ashton in this role - he is a proven advocate with a track record in helping to move the global community forward on climate change, notably in terms of persuading Russia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol." But they added that Britain's ability to persuade other countries to curb emissions causing climate change is compromised by its own rising carbon dioxide emissions. "The impact of the government's advocacy with other countries would be very much enhanced if it was able to meet its own targets at home,"

Mr Ashton acknowledged this concern: "As a matter of diplomacy you can't go to countries like Brazil or India and say 'please do this' if you're not doing it yourself.

For a full report see the BBC here.

Al Gore appears at Cannes film festival

2006-05-22T15:00:00.000+01:00

At the Cannes Film Festival, Former US vice-president Al Gore warned that the world is facing a "planetary emergency" due to global warming. A documentary based on the politician's environmental campaigning is being screened at the festival. Mr Gore said the world faced a stark choice between the end of civilisation and a future for its children and that global warming was a "challenge to our moral imagination to understand it and then to respond to it urgently".

The documentary An Inconvenient Truth is based on lectures Al Gore has been delivering about environmental crisis for many years. The film shows photographs of changes to glaciers around the world, with snow disappearing from the Alps, Antarctica and the South Pole.

"People have been moved by it," Mr Gore said. "People coming out feeling a sense of urgency." He stressed the problem was moral, not political, and said he hoped the current US government would re-think its environmental strategy and sign up to the successor to the Kyoto treaty. "I even believe that there is a chance that within the next two years even Bush and Cheney will be forced to change their position on this crisis," he said. "One can only attempt to create one's own reality for so long. Reality proper has a way of insisting itself upon you. Mother nature has joined this debate with a very powerful and persistent voice."

But he said he was not thinking of running for president in two years.
"I don't plan to be a candidate again for national office," he said. "There are other ways to serve."

From the BBC - see the full report here.

Construction of China's Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is expected to be completed today

2006-05-20T18:31:00.000+01:00

When the whole project is finished in 2009 will be the world's biggest flood control and hydropower station. The final cost, estimated at US$10.8 billion in 1993, is expected to reach US$25 billion.

Environmentalists fear the project will cause severe pollution and silting by slowing the river's flow with waste from the remnants of abandoned factory sites, homes and hospitals.

For more mind-boggling facts about the dam see Reuters Planet Ark and the Three Gorges Project Corporation web site.

Biodiesel in Manchester, UK

2006-02-21T16:35:00.000+00:00

Green Gold Biodiesel, the first and only forecourt in Manchester, UK selling biodiesel aims to have its first delivery of Pure 100% Biodiesel before theend of February.

In order to use the Pure 100 fuel, you must be a member ofthe biodiesel cooperative. The more members there are, the more fuel can be bought and the cheaper it will become. Membership brings several benefits including access to advice and information regarding biodiesel use, compatibility and technical issues. The station also offers Basic 5 (5% bio diesel) fuel that can be used by anyone.

Membership of Manchester Biodiesel Co-op is £10/year for individuals (up to three vehicles), £15/year for not for profit organisations (up to five vehicles), and£25/year for businesses(ten vehicles). To join, contact the Co-op directly.

Green Gold Biodiesel, 100 Fairfield Street, Manchester, M1 2WR, UK

telephone: +44 (0) 845 373 2769

e-mail: info@greengoldbiodiesel.co.uk

http://www.greengoldbiodiesel.co.uk

Coming soon to your computer screen - Green TV

2006-02-21T13:32:00.000+00:00

From the blog of DeSmogBlog I found this item: Earth Day (March 20) will mark the launch of Green.tv.

According to Green TV Director James Arthur, Green.tv will be a broadband TV channel dedicated to environmental issues. It is also a charity endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with support and films from environmental organisations around the world, including the European Environment Agency, the UK Environment Agency , Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.

2006-01-19T17:36:00.000+00:00

From What's New This Week from Japan for Sustainability (10 - 16 Jan. 2006):

Waste-to-Cement Material Recycling Project Awarded

The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced the winners of the 2005 Awards for Resource-Recycling Technologies and Systems on October 7, 2005. With the aims to promote resource recycling by inviting and encouraging excellent businesses and initiatives that reduce waste generation, reuse used products, and use recycled resources effectively, the program has been conducted jointly by the ministry and the Clean Japan Center since 1975.

2006-01-18T21:05:00.000+00:00

Composting

From What's New This Week from Japan for Sustainability (10 - 16 Jan. 2006):

"Better Compost Management at Kathmandu Valley Using
Fermentation Technique"

The environmental content of the German coalition government agreement

2006-01-18T14:26:00.000+00:00

The agreement between the members of the new German coalition government weakens the conditional 2020 climate change target, emphasising industrial competitiveness and job creation and promising more industry-friendly rules for emissions trading. It will introduce a new tax incentive for vehicles with particulate filters and supports the G8 dialogue process on climate change and energy.

The coalition says it will be guided by the principle of sustainable development. It recognises the challenge of climate change and the likely conflict over energy prices and distribution of energy and raw materials. Its solution is in the joint strategy of improving energy/resource efficiency whilst expanding renewable energy/renewable raw material use.

Climate Change

The goal is limiting global temperature increases to two degrees Celsius against pre industrial levels. Actions for Germany:

further develop Germany's climate change programme including additional measures to meet Germany's Kyoto target.
aim for a post Kyoto international climate change agreement by 2009, which includes obligations on other developed countries and fast developing countries tailored to their abilities.
agree to a GHG target of more than 30%, if the EU agrees to reduce its GHG emissions by 30% by 2020 (Comment: the previous Government's conditional commitment to 40% has not be taken on).
take forward a new partnership between developed and developing countries in line with the G8 initiative. This will aim for improvements to energy supply, energy efficiency and renewables. This partnership will complement a binding international climate change agreement. It is not an alternative.
introduce a CO2 and pollution-based vehicle tax to incentivise efficient vehicles.
support the ACEA voluntary agreement to reduce vehicle emissions by 2008. Biofuels might be used to met the envisaged 2012 target.
take forward the development of alternative fuels in cooperation with industry.

Environment and Transport

The government will work with industry to develop alternative fuels and engines. A revenue-neutral tax incentive will be introduced to encourage the retrofitting of particulate filters. From 2008, new vehicles without a filter will attract a tax penalty. The HGV toll will further reflect CO2 emissions and the Aircraft Noise Act will be amended to take into account the needs of residents, safety and noise.

Sustainable Development

The Government's work at a domestic, European and international levels will be underpinned by sustainable development. Existing institutions such as the Green Cabinet, the SD Council and the Parliamentary Council on SD will be continued.

The 150-page text is available in German here.

2006-01-18T13:17:00.000+00:00

An eco-designer eyes clean technology

A fascinating news story from ZDNN

William McDonough brings his eco-intelligent perspective to clean technology investing. Can he make the world listen?

- Full story -