Physical Evidence of Recovery
- Resources recovering
- Pollution declining
Indian
village beats tsunami with tree power
(Reuters, Naluvedpathy, India, 01/31/05)
Two years ago, drought-stricken farmers in a village on the southern coast
of India walked into the Guinness Book of World Records by planting the
highest number of saplings in a 24-hour period. On Dec. 26, as the killer
tsunami struck down thousands of people and homes in Tamil Nadu state,
the casuarina and eucalyptus trees which had been planted to appease the
weather gods saved the lush green village of Naluvedapathy.
"We knew the trees would be a good wind barrier but never thought
it would work one day as a water barrier as well," said Sudeep Jain,
a top local government official.
Antarctic
ozone hole smaller this year
(Reuters, New Zealand, 10/04/04)
The National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said
its measurements backed up NASA satellite data showing the hole peaked
at about 9 million sq miles compared with 11 million sq miles in 2003.
NIWA scientist Stephen Wood cautioned against reading too much into the
hole's smaller size, which he said was also influenced by natural variations.
"We need to see smaller or less severe ozone holes over a number
of years before we can say for certain that ozone is recovering,"
he said in a statement.
Mexico's
Olive Ridley sea turtles make a comeback
(Reuters, Mexico City, Mexico,
09/20/04)
Sea turtles are spawning in record numbers along Mexico's Pacific coast
this year, thanks largely to stepped up protection against poachers, the
nation's environmental watchdog said. "This turtle that was seriously
hurting in the '80s and '90s is in full recovery and if these protection
efforts continue we should have much success," said Luis Fueyo, director
of marine resources for the agency.
Evidence of Actions to Reverse Overshoot
Shareholder pressure gets results on global warming
(Inter Press Services, Washington 03/17/05)
Activists with stock in six of the 10 biggest U.S. oil and gas firms --
including ChevronTexaco, Unocal Corp., and Marathon Oil -- have reached
agreements with the companies on steps the latter will take to lessen
the growing risks posed by global warming to their share value. ”Most
of the oil and gas companies are taking climate change much more seriously
than they were just a year ago,” according to Mindy Lubber, president
of Ceres, an investor coalition that has helped coordinate shareholder
resolution filings on global warming.”There's a much broader recognition
from companies that climate change is a serious issue with serious financial
consequences for investors if it isn't well managed,” she added.
World
solar industry growth jumped 70 pct in 2004
(Reuters, New York 03/17/05)
Last year, world solar cell production reached 1,256 megawatts (MW) or
about enough to power more than 1.2 million average American homes during
daytime.
China
weighs stripping environmental costs from GDP
(Reuters, Beijing, China 03/02/05)
"Given that the country's economy is rapidly growing while its environment
has been worsening, environmental officials and experts have been calling
for the adoption of green gross domestic product throughout the country,"
the China Daily said. Worried about over-investment that has depleted
natural resources and polluted land and rivers, Beijing is trying to change
the mentality of many officials still obsessed with rosy growth numbers,
which are closely linked to their promotions.
Wind
power growth boosts German green energy share
(Reuters, Frankfurt, Germany 02/23/05)
In the first instance of its kind, the Chinese State Environment Protection
Wind, hydro and other renewable plants produced a total of 56 terawatt
hours (TWh) of electricity or 9.3 percent of power consumed in Germany
in 2004, the environment ministry and renewable energy groups said in
separate statements. The rise in green energy production helped to save
around 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions last year.
Climate
fears prompt energy U-turn in China
(The Independent, London, UK 02/13/05)
In the first instance of its kind, the Chinese State Environment Protection
Agency laid down that the projects - which cover 13 of the country's provinces
and are worth a total of £7.5bn - should not proceed until their
impact on the environment had been reviewed. Among the halted projects
is an important power facility at the highly controversial Three Gorges
dam on the Yangtse River. Observers attribute the move to growing interest
in the environment by premier Wen Jiabao and other national leaders. Many
of the children of top Chinese politicians and officials are members of
the environmental pressure groups that are thriving at the country's top
universities.
Dutch
pioneer corporate bike to rival company car
(Reuters, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 12/22/04)
Amsterdam, with a population of over 700,000, has restricted car traffic
in its narrow, canal-side streets. The abundance of bike lanes means cycling
is usually the fastest way to travel and the Dutch government offers tax
windfalls to citizens who use a bicycle to travel to work. Now a new compay
offers a program that allows customers to start off with a new bicycle
and receive regular service. When the bike breaks down, the company repairs
it on the spot or delivers a replacement.
Saudi
government approves Kyoto climate protocol
(Reuters, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 12/21/04)
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, gave its approval to the
Kyoto protocol which aims to stem global warming, the official Saudi Press
Agency said. As a developing country, Saudi Arabia would not be subject
to emissions cuts under Kyoto, a requirement only binding 30 industrialised
nations. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi had said his country hoped to
sign the protocol but expects to lose billions of dollars in oil sales
as developed nations implement the pact.
EU
clamps down on heavy metal cadmium in batteries
(Reuters, Brussels, Belgium, 12/21/04)
Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, gave its approval on Monday
to the Kyoto protocol which aims to stem global warming, the official
Saudi Press Agency said. Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi, speaking in
Argentina on Thursday, said his country hoped to sign the protocol but
expects to lose billions of dollars in oil sales as developed nations
implement the pact.
Maverick
US states prove popular at climate talks
(Buenos Aires, Argentina, 12/20/04)
Although the US federal goverment backed out of the Kyoto protocol on
greenhouse gas emissions, leadership on climate change at a recent international
climate talks came from some US based businesses and state governments.
Multinationals such as DuPont, Alcoa and IBM have set their own greenhouse
gas reduction targets, and seven states imposed mandatory limits on carbon-dioxide
emissions. California plans to cut emissions from new cars and trucks
by 30 percent by 2016. Such measures could be echoed in New England if
California's legislation survives a lawsuit by leading automakers. They
could also inspire the Europeans. "When designing our energy policy,
Germany will always look to California because it's the best example,"
said Barbel Hohn, environment minister in Germany's largest state of North
Rhine-Westphalia.
Human
compost changes farming and reduces disease in Mozambique
(The Independent, Matimangwe, Mozambique, 12/15/04)
The village of Matimangwe, 2,300 miles from the capital Maputo, is a place
where the demands of beating hunger and disease have merged with innovation
to dramatically transform organic agricultural practices. The innovation:
a a latrine system in which human waste is harnessed into a compost that
is more effective than conventional fertilisers in ensuring sizeable harvests.
Durban's
poor fight for clean air
(BBC, Durban, South Africa, 12/13/04)
The small yet tenacious South Durban Community Environmental Alliance
(SDCEA) has become the first African grassroots group to take the science
into their own hands by taking their own air samples. An internationally
celebrated example of environmental justice in action, the campaign has
seen a once-despondent community play a major part in lobbying the petroleum
giants to change the way they process fuel.
Green
building moves into the mainstream
(Economist, London, UK , 12/02/04)
But things are now changing, as green architecture moves into the mainstream.
In the spring of In America, buildings account for 65% of electricity
consumption, 36% of total energy use and 30% of greenhouse-gas emissions.
So making buildings more energy-efficient could have a significant impact
on energy policy. That is a key goal of the “green architecture”
movement, which is changing the way buildings are designed, built and
run.
FedEx
to build 2nd-largest US private solar system
(Reuters, New York, New York, US , 10/19/04)
The world's largest air-express shipper said it is building the nation's
second largest private solar power system atop its hub in Oakland, California.
The 904-kilowatt system will be second in size only to Fala Direct Marketing's
1.02 megawatts solar system in Long Island, New York.
San
Francisco plan aims to slash greenhouse gases
(Reuters, San Francisco,
California, US , 09/30/04)
San Francisco announced a "climate action plan" that seeks to
cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons by 2012, a 20
percent cut below 1990 emissions.
Rising
popularity of gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles
(Reuters, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, US, 09/09/04)
On the internet auction site eBay Inc. 2004 Toyota Prius hybrid cars are
selling for thousands of dollars more than new models that have never
left the showroom, another sign that demand for these fuel efficient cars
is exceeding supply. And the manufacturer reports a waiting list of six
months for the cars. At 0.26 percent of new car sales the market for hybrid
cars is still tiny, but, based on current trends, consulting firm J. D.
Power & Associates expects this figure to reach 2.5 percent of sales
by 2008 and five to ten percent by 2015.
Drought-hit
Australia plans to save ailing rivers
(Reuters, Canberra, Australia,
07/28/04)
Agricultural uses of water at the headwaters of the Murrary-Darling river
system has resulted in sections of the downstream river drying up in recent
years. Under a new national and state plan irrigators have agreed to reduce
the amount of water they draw and a national water commission will be
created to oversee a national water market, which will regulate water
used by agriculture.
Local
taboos could save the seas
(New Scientist, 04/17/04)
The island nations of the south-western Pacific are considering allowing
citizens to reclaim legal control of their local seas, in the hope they
can use their traditional knowledge, customs and laws to protect fish
stocks and biodiversity.