UK Documentary The Great Global Warming Swindle

                 

According to a group of scientists brought together by documentary-maker Martin Durkin, if the planet is heating up, it isn't your fault and there's nothing you can do about it. We've almost begun to take it for granted that climate change is a man-made phenomenon. But just as the environmental lobby think they've got our attention, a group of naysayers have emerged to slay the whole premise of global warming. What do you think?  Please post your comments, Root wants to hear what our readers have to say.

World Environment Day June 5 2007

Melting Ice is a hot topic.  World Environment Day, commemorated each year on 5 June, is one of the principal vehicles through which the United Nations stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and enhances political attention and action.

The World Environment Day slogan selected for 2007 is Melting Ice – a Hot Topic? In support of International Polar Year, the WED theme selected for 2007 focuses on the effects that climate change is having on polar ecosystems and communities, and the ensuing consequences around the world.

The main international celebrations of the World Environment Day 2007 will be held in Norway. The City of Tromsø will be hosting this United Nations day.

The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. World Environment Day is a people's event with colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns.

Richard Branson offers $25 million

As noted here, Sir Richard Branson is serious about carbon load reduction.  The head of Virgin Airlines, arguably the most progressive global airline flying, Branson is offering $25 million dollars to the the person who comes up with the best way to remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.  Branson says humankind must realize the scale of the crisis it faces.

"The Earth cannot wait 60 years," he said at the news conference. "I want a future for my children and my children's children. The clock is ticking."  He said if the planet was to survive, it was vital to find a way of getting rid of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.  He said he believed offering the $25m (£12.5m) Earth Challenge Prize was the best way of finding a solution.  Mr. Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore will be a member of the judging panel.
Currently Carbon capture and storage is a key area of research.  Scientists have been looking into removing the greenhouse gas from the atmosphere and storing it in oil and gas fields, injecting it deep into the ocean, or chemically transforming it into solids or liquids that are thermodynamically stable.  However, these methods have raised concerns, notably because of the possibility of leakage from the storage sites and fears that C02 dissolved in large quantities in the ocean might harm marine ecosystems.  Other scientists are also looking at schemes that might "scrub" the air of CO2, collecting the gas for safe storage; but many critics say the energy required to achieve this would make such an approach self-defeating.  Sir Richard Branson has already pledged to invest $3bn (£1.6bn) in profits from his travel firms, such as airline Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Trains, towards research into renewable energy technologies.  Thanks to Treehugger for the headups and the BBC for the graphics below.

1. CO2 pumped into disused coal fields displaces methane which can be used as fuel
2. CO2 can be pumped into and stored safely in saline aquifers
3. CO2 pumped into oil fields helps maintain pressure, making extraction easier

Technorati Profile

Climate Change: Its Time Has Officially Come

It is a bittersweet time for those of us who follow such things (and who isn't these days?).  But the most authoritative report on climate change is published.  The conclusions in no uncertain terms declare that it is time for the world to get serious about curbing greenhouse gas emissions.  The BBC's Oliver Tickell, provides a fascinating outline of what the Kyoto Protocol recommends as a framework for the world to begin.  "Fail to act at this decisive time and the Earth, its people and its whole panoply of life will face the most severe and adverse consequences."  So what now?  As we have posted here in the past, we suggest daily actions, as well as continued pressure on the new Congress to push for adherence to the Protocol, as well as laws by local legislators for change.  The upshot is that with a concerted effort, human beings can reverse our actions in this regard.  The importance of this realization lies with each of us as we consider our own footprint.   Measure our own actions as more work is required.
Photo:  Jerry Jones via flickr.com

PG&E Sells Carbon-Neutral options

PG&E, the largest utility in California, plans to offer a program for its customers to calculate and offset the amount of carbon dioxide their power supply produces.  According to their website, the program becomes available in Spring, 2007.  In previous posts and podcasts, Root has discussed the impact individuals have on our environment.  This is one real time option for those of us who are on the PG&E grid to offset our impact.  Check ClimateSmart out, and thanks to SFGate for their inspiration.

RootCast 2_Energy

The second episode of the RootCast features peak oil expert Richard Heinberg and Climate Protection Campaign director and co-founder Ann Hancock.  Hosted by Michael Edo Keane and Dominique Pacheco.

Climate Change Calculator

In preparing for our latest podcast on peak oil and climate change, Root came across AmericanForests.org's climate change calculator.  Try it, and examine the impact each of us has on our usage of precious resources...and whenever possible, plant trees.

Virgin Atlantic to cut Carbon Emissions by 25%

In the news recently, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Atlantic revealed plans to invest $3 billion in renewable energy initiatives over the next ten years.  Once again, Branson proves his commitment to finding a better way by offering a pragmatic, achievable approach towards sustainable aviation. 
The program involves changing the process by which airplanes are utilized during takeoff and landing.  Instead of taxiing down the runway, airplanes would be towed to a "starting grid" where they would then start their engines.  The "starting grid" system would reduce fuel consumption and on-the-ground carbon emissions by over 50% ahead of take-off at London's Heathrow airport and by nearly 90% for Virgin Atlantic flights at JFK in New York!

Other initiatives include flying aircraft at lighter loads, and a method of descent called "Continuous Descent Approach".  Branson has called for these methods to be employed by other airlines including British Airways, American Airlines and Easyet; engine and aircraft manufacturers such as Rolls Royce and Boeing and airport operators including BAA in the UK.

In a recent post here on the Dervaes Family's urban homestead Root talked about doing the most with what you have, right here, right now.  The two polarities of a multinational, billionaire with resources and vision, and a small family walking their talk inspire us to think and act in kind.

The Canary Project & Jon Santos' Dimensions of Change

Over on Emerge, they are talking about fine artist and commercial designer, Jon Santos teaming up with The Canary Project, a photographic project devoted to documenting climate change via powerful landscapes from environmental hotspots around the globe.  Santos has created Dimensions Of Change a series of collaborative images utilizing motifs based on the utopian ideals of folks like Buckminster Fuller, a site specific sculpture and a video piece devoted to the theme of global warming and the issues it causes with water.  The exhibition runs through the end of this week at Crane Arts Building in Philadelphia, where it has been up since September 4. A billboard of the collaboration between Santos and the Canary Project will run in Philadelphia later this Fall to carry the message on once the exhibition is closed.  Creative and compelling, "Dimensions of Change" makes truly moving art out of one of the greatest dilemmas facing humanity in the 21st Century

California to lead in greenhouse gas restrictions

The Los Angeles Times reports that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders agreed Wednesday on a plan to cut by 25% the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from California electric power plants, refineries and other sources by the year 2020.  It would make California the first state in the nation to fight global warming by slapping caps on carbon dioxide and other emissions.

As curbing emissions is an essential step in this immense global problem, and as legislation of corporate action is necessary in solving it, Root applauds these steps.  In doing so, we encourage further action on the part of the global community and the rest of our 49 states to act now to restrain and repair the damage done to our fragile ecosystem.