Browsing environmental news sources so you don't have to. Contact Laura Barnes (lbarnes@istc.illinois.edu) with questions, comments, and suggestions.
Follow ENB on TwitterRead the full story in Water & Wastewater News.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maps of the National Wetlands Inventory are now available for viewing using Google Earth. The wetlands inventory includes wetlands data for approximately 60 percent of the conterminous United States, as well as portions of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Date: May 8, 2008.
Part of the 2008 Safety WebExpo and Conference. Register here.
The field of green chemistry focuses on the design, manufacture and use of chemicals, products and processes to reduce or eliminate adverse effects on human health and ecosystems. Advancements in the field will support businesses and industries, as well as communities, workers and public agencies in their efforts to minimize the use of toxic chemicals in industrial processes and products. Advancements in green chemistry practices can also open new opportunities for green collar jobs, while at the same time ensuring that these new jobs are also safer jobs.
In addition to presenting the findings of our recent report to California EPA, Green Chemistry: Cornerstone to a Sustainable California (http://coeh.berkeley.edu/greenchemistry/briefing), we will address the following topics:
For a full-color, graphic version of this newsletter, go to
http://www.greenercomputing.com/enewsletter.
Welcome to GreenBiz 2.0!
We’ve been working long hours behind the scenes to make GreenBiz.com and our sister sites even more useful and information-packed. At last, here it is, and here’s what new and improved about the sites.
How to Develop a Green IT Culture
By Andy Lawrence
IT has suffered an ‘eco black eye’ over the course of the past year even though its contributions to climate change are minimal compared to other sources. Instead of IT presuming a defensive position in the ‘green IT’ movement, IT should assert its role as a positive force for change, in which it embraces innovative technologies and uses them to improve energy efficiency across the enterprise.
Microsoft Invests $500K in Energy Efficient Computing Research
The funding is part of the company’s Sustainable Computing Program, which focuses on energy efficiency and the “pay for play” principle where the amount of energy used by a computing device is proportional to the demand placed on it. The award recipients include University of Tennessee, Stanford, Harvard and
University of Oklahoma.
How Carbon-Heavy is Your Email?
New research from Sun Microsystems aims to allow firms to measure the carbon footprint of their emails.
SynapSense Software Offers Real-Time Imaging for Data Center Energy Use
The company’s LiveImaging feature allows operators to gauge efficiencies in energy use, heating and cooling, humidity and pressure differentials, making possible on-the-fly adjustments to data center performance.
Softchoice Website Makes Finding Green IT Easier
The online hardware and software retailer has launched a new EcoTech section devoted to EPEAT-certified products and solutions for saving electricity, reducing waste and other environmentally friendly computer products.
EPA and The Green Grid Join Forces to Explore IT Energy Efficiency
The organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to promote the greening of computer facilities and share best practices for replication with government agencies and industry.
Hitachi Planning Most Power-Efficient Data Center
Hitachi Data Systems has unveiled plans for what it says will be the most
power-efficient enterprise-class data center in the world.
Swapping PCs for Thin Client Terminals Slashes Enterprise’s Energy Use, Emissions
Enterprise Rent-a-Car will finish switching out PCs for thin client terminals in its rental locations to streamline car rental transactions and slash energy consumption and emissions.
The latest issue of Renewable Energy Weekly is now available. Highlights include:
Read the full story in Technology Review.
Researchers at Harvard University have made a shoebox-size sensor that could be used to detect extremely low concentrations of a broad variety of chemicals. The heart of the sensor is an array of tiny but powerful lasers that can be tuned over a wide range of wavelengths.
Sensors for detecting small amounts of gases have numerous applications. They are used to monitor toxic pollutants in the air and water, to test for chemicals in blood or on breath, and to detect impurities in natural gas or commercially synthesized chemicals. The commonly used tool for these applications, a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, can detect a range of chemicals, but it is not very sensitive, detecting levels in the low parts-per-million range. The instrument is also heavy and bulky–about the size of a large suitcase–restricting the device to laboratory-type settings.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Regional Administrator Bharat Mathur today congratulated the regional winners of the 2007 Presidents Environmental Youth Awards at an event in Chicago. Each year, the awards honor students in kindergarten through 12th grade who develop innovative environmental projects. This years regional winners all hail from Illinois.
Read the full story at News.com.
Washington lawmakers aiming to green both the Capitol dome and the laws made beneath it are turning to Silicon Valley for inspiration while pledging to help renewable energy start-ups get off the ground.
Chemical Assessments: Low Productivity and New Interagency Review Process Limit the Usefulness and Credibility of EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System. GAO-08-440, March 7.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-440
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08440high.pdf
Toxic Chemicals: EPA’s New Assessment Process Will Increase Challenges EPA Faces in Evaluating and Regulating Chemicals, by John B. Stephenson, director, natural resources and environment, before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. GAO-08-743T, April 29.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-743T
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d08743thigh.pdf
Read the full story in Environmental Protection.
Americans misunderstand key phrases commonly used in environmental marketing and advertising, giving products a greater environmental halo than they deserve and creating a growing risk of backlash. At the same time, a majority of Americans support government regulation of such messages.
Read the full story in Environmental Protection.
Energy efficiency improvements in the U.S. electric power sector could reduce the need for new electric generation by an additional 7 to 11 percent more than currently projected over the next two decades, according to a preliminary analysis of potential energy savings released April 21.
Read the full story in Environmental Protection.
There is a huge shift taking place in the way corporate America is using and thinking about energy, according to the latest survey findings from ChangeWave of Rockville, Md.
The March survey of 1,400 individuals knowledgeable about their company’s energy spending, shows more than one-in-five (22 percent) say their company is very concerned about reducing its corporate energy usage and 35 percent say they are somewhat concerned.
Read the full story in Environmental Protection.
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell on April 21 led more than a dozen governors from across the country in signing the Governors’ Declaration on Climate Change at the 2008 Conference on Climate Change at Yale University.
Read the full story in Environmental Protection.
Aramark of Philadelphia, Pa., has committed to help preserve the world’s oceans and fisheries through a new partnership with Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program.
The aquarium will help the company develop practices to guide the supply, purchase, and consumption of sustainable seafood for as many as 180,000 U.S. employees and potentially tens of millions of consumers in businesses, universities, schools, sports and entertainment facilities, parks and other locations the company operates.
EPA and the National Weather Service challenge all Americans to improve their knowledge of the Air Quality Index (AQI) during the annual “Air Quality Awareness Week” that takes place this year from April 28 to May 2, 2008. As warm weather approaches, using the AQI will help reduce exposure to ground-level ozone pollution. The Air Quality Index is EPA’s color-coded tool for communicating air quality to the public. The most common AQI forecasts range from “code green,” – a good day to engage in outdoor activities, to “code red” – when everyone should use caution.
Read the full story in the Los Angeles Times.
Here’s a simple solution to global warming: vacuum carbon dioxide out of the air.
Klaus Lackner, a physicist at Columbia University, said placing enough carbon filters around the planet could reel the world’s atmosphere back toward the 18th century, like a climatic time machine.
Read the full story at News.com.
Think of it as the future of today’s paper.
The Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) and parent company Xerox are experimenting with a type of paper and a complimentary printer that would produce documents that fade away after 16 to 24 hours. A restaurant, for instance, could print its daily specials on a piece of paper, attach the pieces of paper to menus, and then collect the sheets of then-blank paper in the morning to run through the printer again.
Via ResourceShelf.
Top Ten Greenest Colleges in the U.S., 2007
The Sierra Club selected the top ten most environmentally friendly colleges and universities in the country. Results are based on clean-energy purchases, green-building policies, bike facilities, food served in dorms, recognition by environmental organizations, among other factors
Source: Sierra Club (via Infoplease.com)
Via Docuticker.
Polluted Pets: High Levels of Toxic Industrial Chemicals Contaminate Cats And Dogs
Source: Environmental Working GroupThey are trying their best to warn us.
In the first study of its kind, Environmental Working Group found that American pets are polluted with even higher levels of many of the same synthetic industrial chemicals that researchers have recently found in people, including newborns.
The results show that America’s pets are serving as involuntary sentinels of the widespread chemical contamination that scientists increasingly link to a growing array of health problems across a wide range of animals—wild, domesticated and human.
Via Docuticker.
Since You Asked – Bisphenol A
Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH)+ What is BPA?
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical produced in large quantities for use primarily in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins.
+ Where is bisphenol A found?
Polycarbonate plastics have many applications including use in certain food and drink packaging, e.g., water and infant bottles, compact discs, impact-resistant safety equipment, and medical devices. Epoxy resins are used as lacquers to coat metal products such as food cans, bottle tops, and water supply pipes. Some polymers used in dental sealants or composites contain bisphenol A-derived materials. In 2004, the estimated production of bisphenol A in the United States was approximately 2.3 billion pounds, most of which was used in polycarbonate plastics and resins.
In the latest Bag Monster video, the Bag Monster gets arrested and then escapes. He heads east to Berkeley in search of tolerance and new prey. Watch out for the bag monster . . . he is dangerous and spawning (in your cabinets and under your sinks). The complete collection of Bag Monster videos is available on YouTube.
Read the full story in Interior Design.
Milliken & Company continues to draw alternative energy from an unlikely source: landfills. Approved this week, just in time for Earth Day (April 22), the textile and chemical manufacturer has entered into its second methane harvesting initiative.
Read the full story at News.com.
Microsoft Research has given out $500,000 to four universities doing research in more energy-efficient computing.
Read the full story at News.com.
The rising price of soybeans is putting the squeeze on biodiesel producers, leading some to close down operations.
Read the full story at Eco-Geek.
Its wheels are bigger than your car…the driver has to climb a flight of stairs to get to his seat. And, if GE has their way, they might soon be painting it (at least metaphorically) green.
For the second year in a row, the Ivy League wins the crown as the overall champion conference in EPA’s 2007-2008 College & University Green Power Challenge. Led by the University of Pennsylvania, the Ivy League’s cumulative annual purchase of more than 220 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) has the equivalent environmental impact of avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 32,000 vehicles. This year’s challenge included 40 competing institutions representing 18 different conferences nationwide.
Read the full story in Plenty Magazine.
‘Tis the season for magazines to put out their green issues, and it seems like this April there are more green issues than ever before. After scanning the newsstand, we selected six publications that appeal to a range of people–music hounds, new moms, fashionistas, and more. Here’s our take on which issues are worth reading, and which greenwashed* mags are better off going directly into the recycling bin.
Read the full story in Plenty Magazine.
An expert in natural burials offers insights on the industry, and simple tips for making funerals more eco friendly.
For a full-color, graphic version of this newsletter, go to http://www.greenbiz.com/enewsletter.
Getting the Most Out of Your E-Waste
http://www.greenbiz.com/podcast/2008/04/24/getting-most-out-your-e-waste
When companies recycle e-waste, they need to ensure that every stage of the recycling process is set up appropriately, from where the waste is sent to how it’s processed. But the effort is worth it. Aside from helping the environment, proper e-waste disposal can be a revenue stream and protect a company’s work.
Kodak Makes Progess on Sustainability Goals
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/24/kodak-makes-progess-sustainability-goals
Kodak has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 28 percent since 2002, and has recycled or reused 42 million pounds of waste through a company program, it announced this week. The company also made strides in reducing energy consumption and occupational injuries.
National Grid Wants to Slash Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/21/national-grid-wants-slash-emissions-80-percent-2050
National Grid raised its greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal from 60 percent to 80 percent by 2050, and plans to add carbon budgets that are tied to financial performance, the company announced.
DuPont Honors Seven Products for Sustainable Packaging
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/22/dupont-honors-seven-products-sustainable-packaging
The company paid homage to sustainable innovations in packaging that included materials that were compostable, biodegradable and made from renewable sources.
Greener Supply Chains a Hot Topic
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/23/greener-supply-chains-a-hot-topic
Executives from Clorox, Gap, Nike and other companies met last week to discuss the perils and lessons learned from trying to manage supply chains that cross geographic, ecological and cultural boundaries during a conference sponsored by the Stanford Global Supply Chain Management Forum.
Earth Day Roundup: Trees, Tips, Reports and More
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/23/earth-day-roundup-2008
The 39th Earth Day has come and gone, and with it came a slew of announcements, initiatives and reports. Herewith, a brief summary of Earth Day ‘08.
Think to Launch Electric Cars in U.S.
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/23/think-launch-electric-cars-us
The Norwegian maker of zero-emission cars will bring its City to the United States in 2009.
EPA, NAM Challenge Manufacturers to Cut Energy Use
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/22/epa-nam-challenge-manufacturers-cut-energy-use
The Environmental Protection Agency and National Association of Manufacturers have joined forces to cut energy use by manufacturers by 10 percent.
Sole Technology Discloses Eco-Audit Results, Aims for Carbon Neutrality
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/25/sole-technology-discloses-eco-audit-results-aims-carbon-neutrality
Using data generated over more than seven years, the audit focused on the company’s carbon emissions, waste and water consumption. Sole, the parent of etnies and other action sports clothing and footwear brands, will now use the data to begin trimming its footprint with the intention of becoming carbon neutral by 2020.
Autodesk Program Helps Make Sustainable Design Choices
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/24/autodesk-program-helps-make-sustainable-design-choices
The maker of 3D modeling software has created a program to help designers easily see the environmental aspects of their material choices.
New Report Offers Tips for Truthful, Successful Eco-Labeling
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/21/new-report-offers-tips-truthful-successful-eco-labeling
A study released by Business for Social Responsibility and Forum for the Future looks at the past, present and future of green labeling schemes, and suggests ways for companies to live up to the promises made by their products.
Evian Plans Wetlands Preservation, Adds Recycled Plastic to Bottles
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/25/evian-plans-wetlands-preservation-adds-recycled-plastic-bottles
Three new environmental plans from Evian focus on wetlands protection and making recycled products.
JPMorgan Chase Aims for 20 Percent Carbon Reduction
http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/04/24/jpmorgan-chase-aims-20-percent-carbon-reduction
Using its 2005 emissions as a starting point, the company wants to reduce a fifth of its emissions by 2012 and buy offsets to cover emissions from employee travel.
Business Ethics for SMEs
http://www.greenbiz.com/resources/resource/business-ethics-smes
This briefing from the Institute of Business Ethics explores what business ethics means for small to medium-sized business enterprises and how they can introduce and support high standards of business practice.
Transparent Supply Chain Sends A Clear Message
By Anne Moore Odell, SocialFunds.com
http://greenbiz.com/feature/2008/04/28/transparent-supply-chain-sends-a-clear-message
Hewlett-Packard recently released a list of its largest suppliers in hopes of increasing accountability from factory floors to consumers’ front doors.
Business Finds Its Place on Earth Day
By Jonathan Bardelline
http://www.greenbiz.com/feature/2008/04/21/business-finds-its-place-earth-day
For companies aiming to latch onto society’s increased focus on the environment, Earth Day is the time to do it. Business participation in the day ranges from sales to teaching tools, and while some actions are more light green than others, many businesses are putting forth real, substantial efforts.
Conscious Consumers in a Nutshell
By Martha Shaw
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/04/28/conscious-consumers-a-nutshell
Most agree that there are millions of consumers out there willing to pay extra for safer, healthier products, and many others who are willing to make earth-friendly choices only because they care about the future or the planet. The truth is, green consumers are a moving target for media planners, and it gets even messier when you factor in the effectiveness of the messaging.
Joel Makower’s Two Steps Forward
Earth Day, Green Marketing, and the Polling of America, 2008
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/04/20/earth-day-green-marketing-and-polling-america-2008
Marc Gunther on Corporate America
Merrill Lynch and “Carbon Farming”
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/04/21/merrill-lynch-and-carbon-farming
David Wigder’s Green Marketing Strategies
Action by Governors Highlights Shifting Sentiment on Green
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/04/24/action-governors-highlights-shifting-sentiment-green
Andy Savitz’s Triple Bottom Line
No Peace For The Guy With A “GetSustainable” Address
http://www.greenbiz.com/column/2008/04/19/no-peace-for-the-guy-with-a-getsustainable-address
Highways and Environment: Transportation Agencies Are Acting to Involve Others in Planning and Environmental Decisions. GAO-08-512R, April 25.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-512R
Read the full story in Technology Review.
Food prices worldwide have risen dramatically in the past few years, due in part to a similarly dramatic rise in the amount of corn used for ethanol production in the United States. Now, in an effort to make food less expensive, experts are calling for limits on ethanol production, subsidies for corn, and more incentives for biofuels made from nonfood sources.
Read the full story in Working Mother.
A communique about the future of our planet was presented at a meeting of the United Nations late last year, issued by more than 150 companies — including several of our 2008 Best Green Companies for America’s Children. Their mandate? Companies across all continents must unite to curb global warming. “Tackling climate change is the pro-growth strategy,” they wrote. “Ignoring it will ultimately undermine economic growth.” Our winning companies need no such convincing. From beauty and family products to retail and tech companies, they’ve already picked up the gauntlet, devoting financial resources and innovative thinking to create inventive and sustainable ways to restore and preserve the earth. Here, we profile these 20 progressive companies that are taking on the tough eco-challenges of business — and in the process building a greener world for our children.
Read the full story in the New York Times.
What if you could make fuel for your car in your backyard for less than you pay at the pump? Would you?
Read the full story in the New York Times.
Starting next month, people in Washington will be able to borrow a bicycle any time they need one with the swipe of a membership card.
ISO has just approved the creation of a project committee mandated to develop an international standard on energy management.
The standard will provide all types of organizations and companies a practical and widely recognized approach to increase energy efficiency, reduce costs and improve their environmental performance by addressing both the technical and management aspects of rational energy use. The standard is intended to be broadly applicable to various sectors of national economies, including utility, manufacturing, commercial building, general commerce, and transportation sectors, and therefore, could have influence on as much as 60 % of the world’s energy demand.
Read the full story in the New York Times.
Fort Bragg, Calif., might use a novel “bioremediation” approach to clean up the lingering pollutant that infests the site of a former lumber mill in the town.
Via Docuticker.
Are We Ready? Preparing for the Public Health Challenges of Climate Change
Source: National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and George Mason UniversityFrom press release (NACCHO):
Climate change is a concern to most local public health directors but few have resources to tackle the problem, according to a national survey conducted by National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and George Mason University.
The survey, included in the report Are We Ready? Preparing for the Public Health Challenges of Climate Change, is the first national one of its kind that assesses the perceptions and activities of local public health directors regarding climate change and public health.
More than half of the surveyed directors are concerned about the health effects of climate change on their jurisdictions, though only a small group has been able to make adaptation or prevention a priority.
+ Full Report (PDF; 917 KB)
Read the full story in the Madison-St.Clair Record.
Six years after state and local leaders unveiled a plan to clean up 840 acres of refinery pollution and attract all sorts of industry, those in charge of the project have gone away but the pollution has not.
The cleanup of the former American Oil Company refinery collapsed in 2004, after soil samples revealed contaminants that had not showed up in previous samples.
Read the full story in the New York Times.
Never has food moved around the world at the speed or in the amounts it has over the last few years. Now, many say it is time to make shippers and shoppers pay for the resulting pollution.
Read the full story in Environmental Capital.
More fireworks between states and the Feds over U.S. energy policy. But for once, it’s not California rattling sabers. It’s the heart of the oil–and cow–patch.
Texas could be the latest state to flex its muscles against Washington mandates, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Gov. Rick Perry, concerned about high food prices, is considering asking for an exemption for Texas from federal biofuel mandates that call for steadily increasing production over the next 16 years.
Skyrocketing food prices around the world, from more expensive tortillas in Mexico to rice hoarding in Asia, have redoubled concerns about the wisdom of biofuels, already buffetted by doubts over their green credentials. The potential showdown mirrors what is happening in Europe, where countries like the U.K. and Germany have questioned European biofuel mandates.
Read the full story in Environmental Capital.
Europe’s biofuel industry has long complained about U.S. subsidies. Friday, it took its case to the European Union—but the chances of winning a victory look slim.
EU biodiesel producers have been simmering about the $1 per gallon tax credit American biodiesel producers get. EU producers say that distorts the market and, in the words of the biodiesel trade group, “created a severe injury to the EU biodiesel industry.”
Via Docuticker.
Confined Animal Feeding Operations Cost Taxpayers Billions, New Report Finds
Source: Union of Concerned ScientistsMisguided federal farm policies have encouraged the growth of massive confined animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, by shifting billions of dollars in environmental, health and economic costs to taxpayers and communities, according to a report released today by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). As a result, CAFOs now produce most of the nation’s beef, pork, chicken, dairy and eggs, even though there are more sophisticated and efficient farms in operation.
+ CAFOs Uncovered: The Untold Costs of Confined Animal Feeding Operations
Read the full story at News.com.
Proposals to cool Earth by injecting the atmosphere with sulfate particles would deplete the ozone layer and have “perilous effects” on the planet, according to a paper to be published Friday.
These days everything seems to be going digital and television is no exception. Beginning February 17, 2009, all television stations are required by law to join the digital revolution. From that day forward, all programming will be broadcast in a digital format, more commonly referred to as high definition.
There is no need to panic. And no, you don’t need to buy a new TV. By following a few easy steps, you can convert your old faithful, rabbit-eared friend into a modern digital program receiver. Plus, the federal government will help cover most or all of the cost!
Read the full story from News.com.
4.2 billion.
That’s how many rooftops you’d have to cover with solar panels to displace a cubic mile of oil (CMO), a measure of energy consumption, according to Ripudaman Malhotra, who oversees research on fossil fuels at SRI International. The electricity captured in those hypothetical solar panels in a year (2.1 megawatts each) would roughly equal the energy in a CMO. The world consumes a little over 1 CMO of oil a year right now and about 3 CMOs of energy from all sources.
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 today reinforced its concern for the safety of consumers by issuing “stop sale, use or removal” orders to retailers Home Depot, Lowe’s, Wal-Mart, Ace, Do-It-Best, True Value, Sam’s Club, Meijer and K-Mart. EPA is asking the retailers to remove certain illegal, unregistered and misbranded pesticides distributed by Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. from the shelves of stores across the United States.
Read the full story in Environmental Capital.
One of the emerging debates among environmentalists these days is how aggressively to lobby Congress for legislation to reduce greenhouse gases. The argument for acting now is pretty straightforward: the planet is burning. The argument for waiting is that next year’s Congress is likely to include more Democrats, who will be easier to sway than this year’s Congress. And all three of the remaining major-party presidential candidates support the idea of economy-wide caps on greenhouse gas emissions, unlike the current occupant.
So where does one of the nation’s most influential environmental groups – the Sierra Club – stand on this question? “Our top priority is not to pass a bill this year. Our priority is to lay the framework for a good bill next year,” says Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope. In an interview with Environmental Capital, Mr. Pope says his group wants “as close as we can get to” a 100% reduction; the leading proposal in Congress to cap greenhouse gases currently calls for closer to a 70% reduction. Mr. Pope also criticizes the large percentage of pollution credits that, under the current version of some bills, would be allocated for free to companies. Large allocations, Mr. Pope argues, would lead to windfall profits for those companies.
Via Docuticker.
Carbon Reductions and Offsets (PDF; 510 KB)
Source: Global Carbon Project (Earth System Science Partnership) via United States Carbon Cycle Science Program
From program news item:The Global Carbon Project (GCP) of the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP) recently released a report entitled Carbon Reductions and Offsets, exploring voluntary reductions in carbon emissions via efficiency, emission avoidance, and offsetting. The decision making framework and conclusions are drawn from a case study of the ESSP, where travel, conferences, and office support are the major sources of carbon emissions, although the conclusions are also relevant for other programs and research institutions.
Via Docuticker.
Human activity and the environment: Climate change in Canada
Source: Statistics CanadaCanada’s emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), major contributors to climate change, rose 25% between 1990 and 2005. However, without increases in energy efficiency, the increase in emissions would have been even greater.
In 2005, human activities released the equivalent of 747 megatonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in Canada. This was up about 25% from emissions of 596 megatonnes in 1990.
One megatonne is equal to one million tonnes. To put this in perspective, driving a mid-size car about 5,000 kilometres results in about one tonne of emissions.
However, during the same 15-year period, the amount of GHGs emitted per unit of economic activity declined 18%, while the nation’s population grew 17%, and energy use increased 23%.
Via Docuticker.
Large-scale biofuel production may increase marginalization of women
Source: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO)Rapid increases in the large-scale production of liquid biofuels in developing countries could exacerbate the marginalization of women in rural areas threatening their livelihoods, according to a new FAO study.
The study notes that large-scale plantations for the production of liquid biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel require an intensive use of resources and inputs to which small farmers, particularly women, traditionally have limited access. These resources include land and water, chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
+ Full Report (PDF; 453 KB)
Via Docuticker.
Climate change hitting Arctic faster, harder
Source: World Wildlife Fund (WWF)Climate change is having a greater and faster impact on the Arctic than previously thought, according to a new study by the WWF.
The new report, called Arctic Climate Impact Science – An Update Since ACIA, represents the most wide-ranging reviews of arctic climate impact science since the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment (ACIA) was published in 2005.
The new study found that change was occurring in all arctic systems, impacting on the atmosphere and oceans, sea ice and ice sheets, snow and permafrost, as well as species and populations, food webs, ecosystems and human societies.
Melting of arctic sea ice and the Greenland ice sheet was found to be severely accelerated, now even prompting the expert scientists to discuss whether both may be close to their ‘tipping point’ (the point where, because of climate change, natural systems may experience sudden, rapid and possibly irreversible change).
+ Full Report (PDF; 2.2 MB)
