Each Friday we’ll bring you a round-up of the week’s green news from around the web. Please drop us a line if you know of a story we should include in the next round-up.
Climate change the biggest loser of G20 summit
From The Guardian on 03 April 2009
The $1.1 trillion stimulus package agreed by G20 leaders yesterday risks locking the world into a high-carbon economy in which greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, environmental groups have warned. Campaigners agreed that the summit’s biggest loser was the fight against climate change, despite a positive response from global financial markets to the announcement of financial aid. At the summit, prime minister Gordon Brown reiterated support for low-carbon economic growth and tackling climate change. [full article]
Wind turbines could more than meet US electricity needs
From LA Times on 03 April 2009
Wind turbines off US coastlines could potentially supply more than enough electricity to meet the nation’s current demand, the Interior Department reported Thursday. Simply harnessing the wind in relatively shallow waters – the most accessible and technically feasible sites for offshore turbines – could produce at least 20% of the power demand for most coastal states, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said, unveiling a report by the Minerals Management Service that details the potential for oil, gas and renewable development on the outer continental shelf. [full article]
Kenyan lions being poisoned by pesticides
From The Independent on 03 April 2009
Conservationists in Kenya are calling for a deadly pesticide to be banned after it was linked to the poisoning of a “staggering” number of lions and other wildlife. The East African nation famous for its immense game reserves is also home to traditional cattle herders whose livestock often comes under threat from predators such as lions and hyenas. In the past, this has seen lions shot or speared but more recently herders have switched to using deadly chemicals sprinkled over animal carcasses and left as traps for the big cats. [full article]
Australian miners step up carbon trade opposition
From Reuters on 02 April 2009
Australia’s coal and gas producers, including miner Rio Tinto Ltd, said the government must give more assistance to major emitting export industries, and to increase the number of free carbon pollution permits. Mining and gas firms have stepped up their campaign against the government’s carbon trading plans, telling a Senate inquiry the current plan will stifle investment and force mines to close. Rio Tinto Ltd. produces between 10 and 15 percent of Australia’s coal. “According to our analysis, some Rio Tinto coal mines that are ‘long life’ would close before 2020 under the scheme,” Rio Tinto Australia managing director Stephen Creese said in a submission to the Senate inquiry. [full article]
Oil companies sabotaging America’s “green” revolution
From DeSmogBlog on 02 April 2009
If we act now to implement President Barack Obama’s energy plan – which proposes investment in clean energy (and some badly needed jobs to boot) – we can avert a future in which the nation’s energy costs rise by $420 billion a year over the next five years. Obama’s plan, which aims to hold energy companies’ feet to the fire over global warming gases like carbon dioxide, is now being challenged by these same companies, who charge that the plan’s associated “energy taxes” (estimated to exceed $400 billion), will reduce investment in domestic oil and gas at a time when America is just beginning to develop these resources to free itself from dependence on foreign oil. [full article]
Solution to the carbon problem could be under the ground
From The Independent on 02 April 2009
Carbon dioxide captured from the chimneys of power stations could be safely buried underground for thousands of years without the risk of the greenhouse gas seeping into the atmosphere, a study has found. The findings will lend weight to the idea of carbon capture and sequestration (CSS) – when carbon dioxide is trapped and then buried – which is being seriously touted as a viable way of reducing man-made emissions of carbon dioxide while still continuing to burn fossil fuels such as oil and coal in power stations. [full article]
New funding puts UK renewables ‘ahead of the game’
From Green Bang on 01 April 2009
Energy and Climate Change Minister Mike O’Brien this week announced the availability of up to £10 million for developing the next generation of offshore wind technology. “Renewable energy is a weapon in our armoury to secure future energy supplies, reduce our reliance on foreign imports, and help tackle climate change,” O’Brien said. “That’s why we’re taking the right long term decisions to encourage the massive investment in renewables that we need to see. This includes changing the planning laws, increased financial support, and ensuring sufficient access to the grid.” [full article]
Urban beekeepers know it’s more than just honey and money
From LA Times on 31 March 2009
As concern about pollination and ‘colony collapse disorder’ spreads, urban beekeepers are helping preserve the local honeybee population, one insect at a time. Honeybee colonies pollinate a third of the nation’s food supply and are crucial to California’s agriculture industry. Hives from around the country are brought in each year to pollinate almond trees and other crops. Central Valley farmers have struggled in the last three years as the cost of renting hives rises and the number of bees nationwide dwindles. [full article]
World’s second largest solar plant to be built in Florida
From WorldChanging on 30 March 2009
Concentrated solar-thermal power (CSP) is a core climate solution. It is probably the zero-carbon form of electricity with the most potential, since it can be easily integrated with thermal storage and provide power reliably throughout the day and evening in key locations around the world (including China and India). After being neglected for nearly 2 decades, CSP is finally coming of age with major new deals around the world and here at home. But while we tend to think of CSP as being the most suitable for desert-like conditions, it also makes sense anywhere it is sunny. [full article]
Recession is good for climate change, say experts
From Red, Green and Blue on 30 March 2009
In 2007, the United States clocked in at 7.3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. This year, though, the Energy Department predicts we might be end the year at 6.98 billion tons. Are efforts to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide actually working, or is there something else going on here? The answer, according to an economist at Harvard, is the latter: The recession will cause a drop in carbon emissions simply because there won’t be as many industries, homes and vehicles spewing the greenhouse gas into the air. [full article]
Don’t forget to drop us a line if you know of a story we should include in the next round-up of green news.
