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2012
Say no to dirty coal in Kosovo
31 January 2012
The World Bank and the US State Department wants to finance a massive new coal-fired power plant in Kosovo. But new studies show that Kosovo does not need a new coal plant - they can achieve their energy and development aspirations through more cost-effective investments in energy efficiency, reductions in power losses, and renewable energy.
Petition to the US State Department
Petition to the Kosovan Parliament, the World bank, and the US Embassy in Prishtina
Alternative energy scenario for Kosovo
Birds and bees are lagging behind the speed of climate change
26 January 2012
Both bird and butterfly communities in Europe have shifted rapidly northward in the past two decades, but compared to the change in average temperatures they are lagging behind. To be in step with climate change butterfly communities should have spread another 135 km and bird communities another 210 km. These are the findings of a Dutch study based on data collected 9,490 bird and 2,130 butterfly communities distributed across Europe.
The shorter life cycles of butterflies might be one explanation why the group tend to be faster than birds to adapt to climate change. Fragmentation of the landscape is given as a partial explanation why neither of two groups manage to keep up the pace with climate change.
Source: Science Daily and Nature Climate Change
US top GHG emitters
26 January 2012
The largest single emitters of green house gases in the United States, are two coal-fired power plants in Georgia, followed by another one in Alabama, all with emissions exceeding 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents in 2010. The information comes from data recently published by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The three plants are all owned by the subsidiaries to the Southern Company.
Industries with emissions greater than 25,000 tonnes a year have to report their emissions US EPA. In total more than 6700 facilities have reported. Power plants accounted for 72 percent of greenhouse gases reported to the agency and carbon dioxide accounted for the largest share, 95 percent, of the GHG emissions reported, followed by methane at 4 percent.
Texas is the state with the highest number of reporting facilities, 673 in total, and also the state with the largest reported emissions, accounting for 12 per cent of the total emissions reported. Plant-specific emissions are to be found in a database at the EPA website.
Source: Daily Environment Report
Make your voice heard on shipping and climate change!
20 January 2012
Yesterday the European Commission opened a public consultation on shipping and climate change, with the intention to collect opinions and background information to shape a possible Commission proposals. The online consultation will be open until 12 April.
Source: European Commission
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