RSS Feed

Earthwire 18th March 2008

March 19th, 2008 · 1 Comment

Africa: Increasing African participation in the Climate Change dialog
DFID – Department for International Development
The DFID-funded Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) program is looking to provide financial assistance to institutions that facilitate African attendance at given conferences or meetings to strengthen their capacity to contribute to climate change adaptation in Africa.

Eco-groups attack White House over ozone levels
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
The tightening of air pollution rules in the US has sparked a row between environmental groups and the White House.

Cycling: Pollution puts Cooke gold medal bid at risk
I C Wales
WELSH cycling star Nicole Cookes bid for Olympic gold in Beijing this summer could be destroyed by serious pollution problems in the Chinese capital.

IOC finds no reason to hide pollution risks
The Times
Anti-pollution face masks for athletes competing in Beijing are unnecessary, according to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after an analysis of the air quality around the Chinese capital.

Beijing shrouded in dust as sandstorm besieges capital
Yahoo! News
Air pollution in Beijing reached its highest level on Tuesday as a sandstorm from the north shrouded the capital in dust, choking pedestrians and delaying flights, the government and reports said.

Rush for diesel as drivers steer away from tax and pollution
The Times
Diesel engines used to be dismissed by most drivers as too dirty, noisy and slow even to consider as their next car purchase. But their greater efficiency is attracting a record number of motor-ists, according to figures published to-day by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Smog may stop Beijing Olympics marathon
Telegraph
Athletes whose events last longer than one hour could be at risk from the combined effects of pollution, heat and humidity at the Beijing Olympics, according to an IOC investigation, writes David Bond.

Oil slick destroys underwater plants
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Marine life on Korea’s west coast has been devastated by the oil spill that hit the region in December, according to a government report.

Chinese biofuel ‘could endanger biodiversity’
SCIDEV.NET
[BEIJING] Using China’s forests and ‘idle land’ to produce biofuels could pose a threat to biodiversity, warned experts at an international meeting.

Council’s green advice to staff: Go vegetarian
This is London
A London council wants to encourage its staff to help the environment by going vegetarian. Cutting meat and dairy products from canteen menus will reduce carbon emissions, according to Camden’s climate change group.

Interview: Norway’s EU membership ‘not on political agenda’ – EurActiv.com | EU – European Informati…
EurActiv
Norway is unlikely to join the EU in the near future, but will seek increased cooperation on energy and climate goals and closer alignment of its currency with the euro in the years to come, Norwegian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas told EurActiv.cz in an interview.

Minister: Norway’s EU membership ‘not on political agenda’ – EurActiv.com | EU – European Informatio…
EurActiv
Norway is unlikely to join the EU in the near future, but will seek increased cooperation on energy and climate goals and closer alignment of its currency with the euro in the years to come, Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Walaas told EurActiv.cz in an interview.

Carbon capture is turning out to be just another great green scam
Guardian Unlimited
George Monbiot: Cleaner technology is possible, but Labour plans to introduce it so slowly that any benefits will be lost in higher coal output

Summer floods ‘not linked to climate change’
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
A report suggesting that last summer’s extreme flooding in the UK was a freak event that cannot be directly linked to climate change has caused a media storm.

Poor are sidelined on climate change solutions
International Herald Tribune
Remedies in the developed world ignore how to best help people elsewhere who are already feeling the effects of global warming.

Pipeline to cleaner otter habitat
BBC
Scottish Water claims a new storm pipe in North Lanarkshire will provide a better environment for otters.

Arctic losing long-term ice cover
BBC
Despite colder conditions, the Arctic is losing a lot of its old, stable ice, according to satellite data.

In most species, faithfulness is a fantasy
International Herald Tribune
You can accuse the disgraced ex-governor Eliot Spitzer of many things in his decision to flout the law by soliciting the services of a pricey prostitute, but originality was decidedly not on display.

‘Motorists unfairly hit by £45bn green tax despite more eco-friendly cars’
Daily Mail
Motorists are being hit unfairly hard by the Government’s campaign to cut pollution, car makers claim today. They say new cars are now 13 per cent cleaner than in 1997, with fuel consumption down by five per cent. Yet motoring taxes have soared from £33billion to more than £45billion

Private waste collectors ruled out
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
Dublin’s local authorities have changed waste collection rules so that only the councils or a contractor appointed by the councils will be able to collect rubbish from homes.

British Energy shares rise 20% after confirmation of tie-up talks with rivals
Guardian Unlimited
Rival groups in chase for nuclear operator, British Energy, in tie-up or takeover offer that could value company at more than £7bn

Prince Charles Opens Organic Shop
Daily Record
PRINCE Charles and wife Camilla welcomed customers at the opening of his new organic food shop yesterday.

Prince Charles’ organic shop opens for business in Tetbury
Yahoo! News
At 9am sharp Monday morning the doors of possibly the most exclusive grocers in Britain opened for business. Highgrove, the Prince of Wales’ new store in the Gloucester town of Tetbury, began what is expected to be a brisk trade in organic goods and gifts.

Red Card On Whitehall’s Green Goals
Yahoo! News
If saving energy starts at home then the Government needs to put its own house in order – according to its environment watchdog on CO2 emissions, recycling and renewable energy.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA – Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs
A new centre of excellence is to be set up to help Whitehall departments achieve their targets for reducing carbon emissions and waste across the government estate.

Government ‘to miss green targets’
Yahoo! News
The Government is set to miss targets to reduce carbon emissions from its own departments’ offices and transport, a report has warned.

Wind power urged for computers
Guardian Unlimited
World’s computing power should be moved to remote outposts where renewable energy is abundant, says Cambridge expert

Mather launches study on benefit of renewables
The Herald
The vast renewable energy resource in the Western lsles has to be properly harnessed with minimum environmental impact, according to Energy Minister Jim Mather.

Climate czar praises Scotland’s progress
The Herald
The Scottish Government has shown “fleetness of foot”in tackling global warning, the UK climate czar said yesterday.

Councillor calls for large fine for river polluters
Environment Data Interactive Exchange
A large fine should be imposed on those responsible for a major spillage that killed fish stocks in the Ballymartin and Six Mile Water rivers, an Antrim councillor has said.

Is Beijing Manipulating Air Pollution Statistics?
Time Magazine
While Steven Spielberg’s withdrawal from his role as an artistic adviser was a public relations blow to the Beijing Olympics, the announcement this week that Haile Gebrselassie would not run in the marathon at this summer’s Games hints at a more serious challenge facing the organizers.

US Requires Trains, Ships To Cut Engine Pollution
Planet Ark
WASHINGTON – The US Environmental Protection Agency on Friday issued tough standards to significantly cut polluting emissions spewed from new diesel engines that will power trains and ships.

Study on benefits of green power
BBC
MSPs are to look at how the isles can cash in on wind and wave power without impacting on the environment.

Analysis of Beijing air quality finds some risk to athletes
International Herald Tribune
The IOC’s top medical officer says Beijing’s air quality is better than expected, although a study shows there are risks to athletes in outdoor endurance events and conditions may be less than ideal during this summer’s Olympic Games.

Is Beijing Manipulating Air Pollution Statistics?
Time Magazine
The withdrawal of the world’s leading marathon runner from this summer’s event over concerns about air quality highlights the stakes in a spat between Chinese authorities and an American researcher

Beijing events could be postponed in case of heavy pollution: IOC
Yahoo! News
The International Olympic Committee said Monday that it would set up a special panel to recommend the postponement of events at the Beijing Olympics in case of heavy pollution.

Olympics-Beijing Pollution No Threat To Athletes-IOC
Planet Ark
ATHENS – Pollution at the Beijing Olympics poses no immediate threat to athletes’ health but could affect world-class performances, the International Olympic Committee’s top medical official Arne Ljungqvist said on Monday.

Pollution threat to Olympic endurance events
Telegraph
The IOC have said they will be forced to postpone high profile events such as the marathon, road cycling and the triathlon at this year’s Olympics if pollution in Beijing does not improve.

Ozone Case Shows Bush Meddling In Science-Watchdogs
Planet Ark
WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush’s decision to intervene in setting air pollution standards is part of a longstanding administration pattern of meddling in environmental science, watchdog groups said on Friday.

India Tribe Sacrifices Animals To Stop Mine
Planet Ark
BHUBANESWAR, India – An ancient Indian tribe opposed to an alumina refinery by Britain’s Vedanta Resources has sacrificed dozens of chickens and goats in the hope their gods will prevent the firm’s mining plans.

Arctic winds deliver prospect of a white Easter and a yellow warning
The Times
Dreams of a white Christmas fell flat but a sprinkling of snow can be expected over much of the country during Easter.

Landslide victory for Iran’s conservatives
The Times
Conservatives in Iran celebrated winning a near-landslide victory in parliamentary elections, gaining an expected 70 per cent majority in the 290-seat assembly and retaining the control that they have held over parliament since 2004.

Prince of Wales takes Highgrove to the high street
The Times
These are not just any chocolate, cherry and almond biscuits, these are the Prince of Waless own Highgrove Organic Chocolate, Cherry and Almond Biscuits.

Ship Pilot Charged In San Francisco Oil Spill
Planet Ark
WASHINGTON – The pilot of a container ship that hit the San Francisco Bay Bridge last year and spilled 58,000 gallons of oil was charged on Monday with violating federal pollution laws.

Tags: · , ,


If you liked this article, you maybe interested in the following

1 comment for this entry ↓

Leave a Comment

  • Climate Crunch

    Climate Crunch Network
    Climate Crunch, the new environmental news network site will provide news and views from around the internet. Gathering it’s content from news agencies,sites, blogs & videos it provides a unique view of current affairs and opinions from across the world regarding the environment and climate change.

    Click here to try Climate Crunch

    Twitter



    Latest From Climate Crunch | Whats popular


    Solar Surge iPod and iPhone Cases Are Now Available!

    [Technology] Just in time for sunny spring days, Novothink has announced that its hotly anticipated Solar Surge iPod and iPhone cases have hit the market and are available for sale! We’ve followed these sleek solar cases all the way from their concept renderings, and we’re excited to say that the potent photovoltaic chargers look even better [...] [Inhabitat Technology]


    Richard Branson Aims to Rock the Boat for Green Shipping

    [Energy] The billionaire's new NGO, Carbon War Room, puts the global shipping industry's massive carbon footprint under the spotlight, and spread the word about simple ways to shrink its impact. [GreenBiz Energy]


    Will the Nissan Leaf Battery Deliver All It Promises?

    [Transport] The Nissan Leaf electric vehicle is set to be released in a few months, with Nissan pushing it ahead of their original 2011 release date, and even ahead of the official release of the Chevy Volt in November. Some industry insiders are wondering whether Nissan has cut a few corners in order to get [...] [Inhabitat Transport]


    Democrats toughen up on finance reform. Could it work for clean energy?

    [News] by Jonathan Hiskes A funny thing happened outside the twisted world of Congressional energy politics. Over at the Senate Banking Committee, Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) announced he’s going to push forward with finance reform and consumer protection bill, even if Republicans don’t want to help. This comes after weeks of negotiating between Dodd and Tennessee Republican Bob Corker, who showed more interest in protecting large banks and predatory lenders. (Payday lenders, as it happens, have a strong presence in Tennessee and have given Corker more than $31,000.) Now Dodd’s fed up and moving the bill. As a result, Congress may eventually get something done on the issue. On healthcare reform too, Harry Reid sent Mitch McConnell a letter saying he’s done playing games with Republicans who want to “start over.” Instead, he’s going to finish the job: Though we have tried to engage in a serious discussion, our efforts have been met by repeatedly debunked myths and outright lies. At the same time, Republicans have resorted to extraordinary legislative maneuvers in an effort not to improve the bill, but to delay and kill it. After watching these tactics for nearly a year, there is only one conclusion an objective observer could make: these Republican maneuvers are rooted less in substantive policy concerns and more in a partisan desire to discredit Democrats, bolster Republicans, and protect the status quo on behalf of the insurance industry. On healthcare, and possibly finance, Senate Democrats will have to pass bills through budget reconciliation to avoid Republican filibuster threats. They’ll face verbal attacks and they won’t have the comfort of Republicans voting with them. But, assuming the bills are any good, they’ll be doing the right thing. Back in energy world … Meantime, the engineers of a clean-energy bill are stuck playing the bipartisanship game. You have senators saying convoluted, nonsensical things about a hypothetical bill, as Dave Roberts notes. You have the lead trio—John Kerry, Lindsey Graham, Joe Lieberman—negotiating with fossil-fuel industry groups who are arguing in court that climate-change isn’t a threat to human welfare, as Brad Johnson notes. (“We don’t believe in the problem, but we’ve got the solution!”) Kate Sheppard asked Sen. Barbara Boxer if the new scheme is really the best method to create green jobs, promote energy independence, and curb climate pollution. Boxer didn’t even try to defend the plan on its actual merits. “I’m not going to make an argument that the [new] approach is better [than last fall’s Kerry-Boxer bill] ... Is it better than doing nothing? Absolutely,” she said. So the question is, does it have to be this way? Can’t Democratic leaders grow a pair and muscle a bill through Congress? For Senate Democratic leaders, it’s not yet a question of balls or no balls, because it’s not clear they have 50 votes to use in reconciliation (or in a future when the filibuster is fixed). Energy politics don’t line up along the familiar red-blue divide—rural Democrats, especially from coal-rich states, have historically voted with their Republican counterparts in support of the status quo. So it’s not quite the same situation as with financial reform. But for individual senators, there is a question of toughness. Any plan to make polluters pay for the heat-trapping gasses they emit will be easy to demonize. Those lawmakers will have to explain to voters why it’s in the country’s interest. They won’t have the comfort of many Republicans voting with them. They’ll have to explain why it was the right vote anyway—why bipartisanship matters less to them than addressing an urgent threat. Several threats, actually—global warming, foreign-oil dependence, unemployment, and diminishing technological leadership. That’s the issue facing hesitant Democrats like Byron Dorgan, Ben Nelson, and Jim Webb. On that issue of toughness … Finally, the veterans’ group VoteVets.org provides some perspective on why making a vote for energy independence is considerably less “tough” than facing insurgencies funded by petrodictators in the Middle East. Related Links: How the cap-and-trade controversy could lead to good clean energy policy Job Creation Begins at Home How to provide relief to rural Americans, create jobs, and lower emissions ... all at once! [Grist Climate and Energy]


    China Developing “Combustible Ice” as New Energy Source

    [Energy] Last September, China discovered a large reserve of “combustible ice” on the tundra of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. “Combustible ice” is essentially frozen natural gas – a natural gas hydrate, and is one of the newest energy sources to be discovered. The new reserves found in China reveal a very large supply equal at least 35 [...] [Inhabitat Energy]


    More Americans say global warming exaggerated: poll

    [News] WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A growing number of Americans, nearly half the country, think global warming worries are exaggerated, as more people also doubt that scientific warnings of severe environmental fallout will ever occur, according to a new Gallup poll. [Reuters]


    Bead-Filled Washing Maching Uses 90% Less Water

    [Technology] A new washing machine design uses 90 percent less water and reduces utility bills by 30 percent by cleaning clothes with tiny plastic beads. The machine by UK company Xeros Ltd uses 3mm-long nylon beads that can get into all crevices and folds of clothing and absorb stains and dirt.  Stephen Burkinshaw, a polymer chemist at Leeds University, discovered that nylon beads at 100 percent humidity could attract stains away from clothing and into the center of the beads, preventing deposition back onto the clothes. The machine uses a small amount of water to dampen the clothes and to reach the right humidity level, then the drum is flooded with the beads.  When the cycle is complete the beads drain away with the water to be reused hundreds of times. I'm sure you've already started questioning what happens to these plastic beads once they're done scrubbing clothes.  The company wants to eventually create a closed loop where the saturated beads can be refreshed and reused in the machines, but for the time being they will be collected and recycled. Xeros says that if all of the US used these machines instead of regular washing machines, it would save 1.2 billion tonnes of water per year and  the CO2 emissions saved would equal taking 5 million cars off the road.  The machine would also eliminate the need to dry clean many delicates, another environmental benefit.  The Xeros machine is expected to be available by the end of next year. via Guardian   [EcoGeek]



    Climate Crunch | the complete climate change news service Get the latest buzz from Climate Crunch


  • Communities

  • -->

      My Archives
  • February 2010 (17)
  • January 2010 (19)
  • December 2009 (9)
  • November 2009 (21)
  • October 2009 (29)
  • September 2009 (20)
  • August 2009 (18)
  • July 2009 (31)
  • June 2009 (3)
  • May 2009 (9)
  • April 2009 (28)
  • March 2009 (43)
  • February 2009 (42)
  • January 2009 (91)
  • December 2008 (75)
  • November 2008 (101)
  • October 2008 (179)
  • September 2008 (228)
  • August 2008 (242)
  • July 2008 (272)
  • June 2008 (202)
  • May 2008 (192)
  • April 2008 (181)
  • March 2008 (155)
  • February 2008 (157)
  • January 2008 (122)
  • December 2007 (43)
  • November 2007 (75)
  • October 2007 (92)
  • September 2007 (83)
  • August 2007 (10)