Earth News
Global and Australian enviro news. Guaranteed minimum 50% good news!
Denmark builds world's largest offshore wind farm
Denmark has built the world's largest offshore wind farm, generating 160 megawatts of power. It is the newest of Denmark's 11 offshore wind farms, which produce 12% of the 3,100 megawatts of wind energy generated in Denmark in 2006.
Wind power currently accounts for 20% of Danish electricity and the government has announced plans to significantly increase the renewable energy sector.
Source: Yahoo News/AFP, May 10, 2007.
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New Zealand, Costa Rica And Norway to go carbon neutral
New Zealand aims to become the first country to achieve net zero greenhouse emissions across all sectors. The government is in the process of developing a series of targets, the first being that six of 34 government departments and agencies will be carbon neutral by 2012.
Costa Rica aims to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero before 2030, and aims to be the first nation to offset all its emissions. Environment minister Roberto Dobles said Costa Rica would clean up its fossil fuel-fired power plants, promote hybrid vehicles and increase tree planting to offset emissions.
However, the carbon offset plans have generated some controversy. "It's a deception to allow polluters to continue to pollute with makeup to mask it," said Juan Figuerola, forestry coordinator for the Costa Rican Conservation Federation.
Norway, the world's number five oil exporter, has also joined the carbon neutral race, and wants to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. Under the plan, domestic emissions would be offset by cuts abroad or by buying emissions quotas on international markets. Greenpeace said that Norway should do more at home rather than use its vast oil wealth to buy its way out of the problem through offset schemes.
Sources and more information: <greenlefts.blogspot.com>, <www.enn.com/today.html?id=12836>, <www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/41482/story.htm>.
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European Commission renewables target
In March, the 27-member European Commission committed itself to making renewable energies the source of 20% of the total energy consumption across the bloc by 2020. The current level is 6-7%. The Commission also committed to a target of cutting European Union greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020 from 1990 levels, rising to 30% if other developed nations join in under an international agreement.
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A bright future
Greenpeace, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Climate Action Network Australia released a report in April advocating a legislated 25% renewable energy target by 2020. When coupled with cost-saving energy efficiency measures, the program would add around $1.25 per week to the average household electricity bill.
The report, 'A Bright Future: 25% Renewable Energy for Australia by 2020', is available at: <www.greenpeace.org/australia/resources/reports/climate-change/a-bright-future-25-renewable>.
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Audit slams slow Environment Department
In March, a performance review by the Australian National Audit Office of the Department of Environment and Water Resources was tabled in Parliament. It found the federal government was failing to meet its obligations to protect Australia's rapidly declining biodiversity. The government has made "slow progress" with its biodiversity program. Although approved in August 2004, the program's guidelines were not finalised until June 2006.
The Audit Office report is posted at: <www.anao.gov.au/search.cfm?cat_id=7&arg=>.
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Environmental racism
Twenty years after a landmark study proved that racial minorities were more likely to have hazardous waste sites foisted upon them, a new report finds that the phenomenon has only got worse.
"When we think of the U.S. in the 21st century, we think we've made a great deal of progress in environmental protection and civil rights," said David Pellow, a sociologist and professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, San Diego. "This suggests the opposite, and it's quite disheartening."
The new report lays out several solutions from grassroots action to sweeping federal laws.
New research from the University of Michigan also finds that hazardous waste facilities are disproportionately placed in poor, minority neighbourhoods.
"What we discovered is that there are demographic changes after the siting but they started before the siting," said Paul Mohai from the University's School of Natural Resources and Environment.
More information:
* <www.upi.com/ConsumerHealthDaily/view.php?StoryID=20070320-050832-6558r>
* <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070218135344.htm>
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Blueprint for tackling climate change
Half of the world's energy needs in 2050 could be met by renewables and improved efficiency, claims a study by the German Aerospace Centre, commissioned by Greenpeace and Europe's Renewable Energy Council.
The report, 'Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook', provides a practical blueprint to cut global greenhouse emissions by almost 50% by 2050, whilst providing a secure and affordable energy supply and maintaining steady worldwide economic development.
The report is posted at: <www.energyblueprint.info>.
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MIT-led panel backs geothermal
A comprehensive MIT-led study of the potential for geothermal 'hot rocks' energy in the US found that it could supply a substantial portion of country's electricity demand in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact.
The study considers the feasibility, economic viability and potential environmental impacts, and the expert panel offers a number of recommendations to develop geothermal energy.
More information: <web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/geothermal.html>, <geothermal.inel.gov>.
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Solar power set to shine brightly
The solar industry is poised for a rapid decline in costs that will make it a mainstream power option in the next few years, according to a new assessment by the Worldwatch Institute and the Prometheus Institute.
Although grid-connected solar capacity still provides less than 1% of the world's electricity, it increased nearly 50% in 2006, to 5,000 megawatts, propelled by booming markets in Germany and Japan.
"We are now seeing two major trends that will accelerate the growth of PV: the development of advanced technologies, and the emergence of China as a low-cost producer," says Janet Sawin of Worldwatch. Combined with technology advances, the increase in polysilicon supply will bring costs down rapidly – by more than 40% in the next three years, according to Prometheus estimates.
Denmark has built the world's largest offshore wind farm, generating 160 megawatts of power. It is the newest of Denmark's 11 offshore wind farms, which produce 12% of the 3,100 megawatts of wind energy generated in Denmark in 2006.
Wind power currently accounts for 20% of Danish electricity and the government has announced plans to significantly increase the renewable energy sector.
Source: Yahoo News/AFP, May 10, 2007.
------------------->
New Zealand, Costa Rica And Norway to go carbon neutral
New Zealand aims to become the first country to achieve net zero greenhouse emissions across all sectors. The government is in the process of developing a series of targets, the first being that six of 34 government departments and agencies will be carbon neutral by 2012.
Costa Rica aims to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero before 2030, and aims to be the first nation to offset all its emissions. Environment minister Roberto Dobles said Costa Rica would clean up its fossil fuel-fired power plants, promote hybrid vehicles and increase tree planting to offset emissions.
However, the carbon offset plans have generated some controversy. "It's a deception to allow polluters to continue to pollute with makeup to mask it," said Juan Figuerola, forestry coordinator for the Costa Rican Conservation Federation.
Norway, the world's number five oil exporter, has also joined the carbon neutral race, and wants to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. Under the plan, domestic emissions would be offset by cuts abroad or by buying emissions quotas on international markets. Greenpeace said that Norway should do more at home rather than use its vast oil wealth to buy its way out of the problem through offset schemes.
Sources and more information: <greenlefts.blogspot.com>, <www.enn.com/today.html?id=12836>, <www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/41482/story.htm>.
------------------->
European Commission renewables target
In March, the 27-member European Commission committed itself to making renewable energies the source of 20% of the total energy consumption across the bloc by 2020. The current level is 6-7%. The Commission also committed to a target of cutting European Union greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by 2020 from 1990 levels, rising to 30% if other developed nations join in under an international agreement.
------------------->
A bright future
Greenpeace, the Australian Conservation Foundation and the Climate Action Network Australia released a report in April advocating a legislated 25% renewable energy target by 2020. When coupled with cost-saving energy efficiency measures, the program would add around $1.25 per week to the average household electricity bill.
The report, 'A Bright Future: 25% Renewable Energy for Australia by 2020', is available at: <www.greenpeace.org/australia/resources/reports/climate-change/a-bright-future-25-renewable>.
------------------->
Audit slams slow Environment Department
In March, a performance review by the Australian National Audit Office of the Department of Environment and Water Resources was tabled in Parliament. It found the federal government was failing to meet its obligations to protect Australia's rapidly declining biodiversity. The government has made "slow progress" with its biodiversity program. Although approved in August 2004, the program's guidelines were not finalised until June 2006.
The Audit Office report is posted at: <www.anao.gov.au/search.cfm?cat_id=7&arg=>.
------------------->
Environmental racism
Twenty years after a landmark study proved that racial minorities were more likely to have hazardous waste sites foisted upon them, a new report finds that the phenomenon has only got worse.
"When we think of the U.S. in the 21st century, we think we've made a great deal of progress in environmental protection and civil rights," said David Pellow, a sociologist and professor of ethnic studies at the University of California, San Diego. "This suggests the opposite, and it's quite disheartening."
The new report lays out several solutions from grassroots action to sweeping federal laws.
New research from the University of Michigan also finds that hazardous waste facilities are disproportionately placed in poor, minority neighbourhoods.
"What we discovered is that there are demographic changes after the siting but they started before the siting," said Paul Mohai from the University's School of Natural Resources and Environment.
More information:
* <www.upi.com/ConsumerHealthDaily/view.php?StoryID=20070320-050832-6558r>
* <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/02/070218135344.htm>
------------------->
Blueprint for tackling climate change
Half of the world's energy needs in 2050 could be met by renewables and improved efficiency, claims a study by the German Aerospace Centre, commissioned by Greenpeace and Europe's Renewable Energy Council.
The report, 'Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable World Energy Outlook', provides a practical blueprint to cut global greenhouse emissions by almost 50% by 2050, whilst providing a secure and affordable energy supply and maintaining steady worldwide economic development.
The report is posted at: <www.energyblueprint.info>.
------------------->
MIT-led panel backs geothermal
A comprehensive MIT-led study of the potential for geothermal 'hot rocks' energy in the US found that it could supply a substantial portion of country's electricity demand in the future, probably at competitive prices and with minimal environmental impact.
The study considers the feasibility, economic viability and potential environmental impacts, and the expert panel offers a number of recommendations to develop geothermal energy.
More information: <web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/geothermal.html>, <geothermal.inel.gov>.
------------------->
Solar power set to shine brightly
The solar industry is poised for a rapid decline in costs that will make it a mainstream power option in the next few years, according to a new assessment by the Worldwatch Institute and the Prometheus Institute.
Although grid-connected solar capacity still provides less than 1% of the world's electricity, it increased nearly 50% in 2006, to 5,000 megawatts, propelled by booming markets in Germany and Japan.
"We are now seeing two major trends that will accelerate the growth of PV: the development of advanced technologies, and the emergence of China as a low-cost producer," says Janet Sawin of Worldwatch. Combined with technology advances, the increase in polysilicon supply will bring costs down rapidly – by more than 40% in the next three years, according to Prometheus estimates.
Earth News compiled by Monica Haynes
