£50 million climate network to link over 60 developing countries

The UK today committed £50 million to help over 60 of the world’s poorest countries access the latest climate research, helping them understand how best to tackle climate change in the years following December’s Copenhagen negotiations.

The Climate and Development Knowledge Network, funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), will link developing countries with leading climate experts, allowing them to commission and share knowledge on how best to tackle the potentially devastating effects of climate change.
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Tags: climate change, cop15, copenhagen, developing countries, dfid, finance, funding, knowledge, money, network, research

Flight Demonstrates Aviation Climate Commitment

The Dutch airline KLM has today made important step towards the global aviation industry target of carbon neutral growth from 2020. In the latest in a series of sustainable biofuel flights that have taken place around the world, KLM today conducted a flight partly powered by a biofuel produced from the plant camelina. The flight took off from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport for a demonstration lasting around one hour. On board were a number of Dutch government officials and industry partners – the first time passengers have been on board a biofuels demonstration flight.

Last December an Air New Zealand Boeing 747 test flight used a 50% mix of biofuel from the plant jatropha. Following this, Continental Airlines flew one of its Boeing 737 aircraft on a 50% biofuel mix from algae and jatropha and Japan Airlines flew a Boeing 747 with a 50% blend of biofuel made from camelina, jatropha and algae.
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Tags: airline, algae, biofuel, camelina, carbon neutral, eco fuels, flight, jatropha, klm, plane, sustainable flight

New Fan Cans Recycling Containers Continue to Support Coca-Colas Sustainability Efforts with NFL and NCAA Football Teams

Fan Cans, LLC is once again helping Coca-Cola make a positive difference in the world by expanding the supporting role first played this baseball season in Coke’s “Give It Back” sustainability campaign. Coca-Cola North America and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated recently purchased more Fan Cans – this time with lids shaped like football player helmets – for the Baltimore Ravens, Washington Redskins, and NC State Wolfpack. The innovative football-themed recycling containers grab fan attention, making it easier for Coca-Cola to achieve its long-term goal of collecting and reusing 100% of its bottles and cans.
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Tags: cans, coca cola, drinks, fan cans, football, ncaa, nfl, recycling, recycling containers, reuse, sustainable

Keep Your Home Warm this Winter and Your Energy Bills Down

It’s starting to feel a lot like winter. With cooler days and nights approaching, now is the best time to prepare your home for colder months. By taking a few steps to winterize your home ahead of time, you’ll be able to keep your energy bills lower and your house cozy and warm all season long. Green Mountain Energy Company offers these seven tips for more efficient energy use that anyone can do for very little cost.
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Tags: bills, cheap, cost, electric, Energy, gas, heating, homes, save money, warm

Humanity now requires the resources of one and a half planets

Humanity now requires the resources it would take almost one and a half planets to sustainably produce, according to figures to be released Tuesday by Global Footprint Network. The data show that humanity is demanding nature’s resources and producing CO2 at a rate 44 percent faster than what nature can regenerate and reabsorb, meaning it now takes 18 months for the Earth to regenerate what we use in one year. (See www.footprintnetwork.org/factsheet2009 for key findings.)

The urgent threats we are facing today – most notably climate change, but also biodiversity loss, shrinking forests, declining fisheries and freshwater stress – are symptoms of this alarming trend.
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Tags: biodiversity, co2, declining fisheries, ecological footprint, electric, Energy, global footprint network, humanity, power, resources, shrinking forests

Nepal’s forests to be handed over to local communities

Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest are to be handed over to Nepal ’s rural poor, with help from a £40 million programme from the Department for International Development (DFID).

The ten-year National Forestry Programme will give Nepalese communities ownership of the thousands of hectares of forest currently under government control, helping some of the world’s poorest people to earn an income from their natural resources and put a stop to the rampant deforestation currently blighting the country.
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Tags: brown, carbon emissions, forests, government, local communities, nepal

Next generation do not know how to save the planet

A pan-European study, commissioned by Sony Europe, revealed Europe ’s next generation are confused by environmental messages and don’t know how to save the planet.

New research from Sony Europe reveals:

• 6 in 10 children across Europe think that conflicting messages about the environment is confusing, leading them to feel helpless and apathetic about protecting their environment

•  A quarter of European children don’t know how to get involved with environmental issues and don’t see what difference they can make

•  Young people in Europe see large businesses and governments as equally responsible for tackling environmental issues

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Tags: children, climate change, environment, europe, kids, save the planet, schools, sony, young people

Online Green Business Traffic Outpaces Conventional Retail during Recession

The WeBuyItGreen Eco Library, an information resource for green consumers and businesses, has published a new analysis of online retail traffic growth. Recent market research on consumer preference has indicated that consumer spending on green products may have leveled off during the recession because shoppers have become more cost-conscious. However, the WeBuyItGreen report suggests that this recessionary leveling effect upon green consumption may be milder in specific areas of online retail.
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Tags: alexa, Business, credit crunch, eco library, green consumers, online, recession, retail, shopping

The Tree of Life – The Practical Answer to the Fight Against Global Warming

Climate change campaigners estimate that on average, each personal computer generates two tonnes of carbon every year. Millions of individuals and concerned business people want to find a practical way to reduce their own carbon footprint and contribute something positive to developing countries.

Many climate change campaigners are dismayed at the lack of progress on reaching agreement on anti-global warming strategies ahead of the hugely important Copenhagen conference.

While governments across the world have dithered and put self-interest ahead of urgent action needed to combat global warming, individuals and a growing number of concerned companies have already started taking action.

They are funding the planting of trees in a project set up by Carbon Credit Tree Africa, a company formed specifically to help local communities in Africa to make a positive contribution to the worldwide battle against global warming. Carbon Credit Tree Africa is the conduit through which western companies and individuals have channeled their own personal carbon credits to the benefit of the African communities, and, in the long term to the benefit of the whole planet.

Just one of these hardy trees can offset three tonnes of carbon emissions during its lifetime. So for many people the equation is starkly simple: paying for the planting of just one tree can make a significant difference, and give an individual a major carbon credit contribution.

One leading medical equipment company is leading the way in trying to persuade the medical industry to get involved.

Germany based Schaef SystemTechnik GMBH is already a market leader in manufacturing carbon-neutral medical equipment. Its latest product is the world’s first carbon-neutral digital radiography panel which will be launched at the Radiological Society of North America’s 2009 Assembly in Chicago between November 29 and December 4.

But alongside that product launch, Schaef SystemTechnik will also be asking its potential customers to go the extra mile to combat global warming – not only can the medical profession reduce its carbon footprint with new technology, it can also take the practical step of supporting the Carbon Credit Tree Africa scheme.

Every visitor to Schaef SystemTechnik’s stand at RSNA 2009 will be invited to use a carbon calculator to assess the scale of their own carbon footprint, and how many carbon credits they should be seeking to reduce their company’s impact on overall global warming.

Schaef SystemTechnik’s initial agreement with Carbon Credit Tree Africa consists of the planting and cultivation of 1000 trees and represents a significant investment in the reduction of global warming.

Besides the direct removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis the trees also reduce other types of air pollution, help to recycle water, generate oxygen and control soil erosion.

The planting of trees has long been identified as an effective carbon offsetting strategy and is accepted by the Kyoto Protocol (the primary carbon emissions agreement to United Nations countries) as such.

The ability for a company to purchase carbon credits in this manner has the dual benefit of reducing environmental impact whilst adding to organisations profile by being associated with such environmentally friendly behaviour.

Carbon Credit Tree Africa has a sustainable business model in absolutely every sense of the word but also seeks to go above and beyond a simple carbon credit trading company.

The trees planted on behalf of environmentally aware businesses around the world not only serve to reduce atmospheric carbon during their lifetime but are also used to further offset emissions once matured, compounding both their benefit to the environment and their value to the customer.

The olive trees planted in the company’s Western Cape property in South Africa will, for example, also produce olive oil as a replacement for diesel and biogas burned in place of natural gas.

The choice of tree is also significant – olive trees generally live for between 300 and 600 years, so the benefits provided by planting just one tree will be felt for generations to come.

The company also offsets its own emissions through planting trees as well as providing information on how its customers may cut down on emissions in a number of other ways.

The tree plantations it owns and manages are also designed as safe, healthy habitats where Aids orphans can live and work meaning that any carbon credits purchased through Schaef SystemTechnik will be beneficial in both environmental and humanitarian campaigns.

Source: PRWeb

Tags: aid, carbon footprint, climate change, computer, offset, olive trees, plant trees, tree, trees

Green Living Expert Annie B. Bonds Natural Flu Protection Kit

Pacific Sands, Inc (OTCBB: PFSD) is pleased to present The Natural Flu Protection Kit, the first product to emerge from the company’s partnership with Annie B Bond and GreenChiCafé.com.

Annie B. Bond is called the foremost expert on green living by Body & Soul Magazine, and is the best-selling author of five books, including Clean & Green, Better Basics for the Home, and Home Enlightenment. Pacific Sands, Inc. manufactures, markets and sells a broad range of environmentally-friendly products. The partnership is designed to provide information, products, and inspiration for helping people put the green lifestyle into practice.
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Tags: annie b bond, bacteria, eco, environment, flu, greenchicafe, n1h1, natural, protection, superbugs, swine flu