The Scotsman reports ScottishPower Renewables is planning to apply for planning permission to develop three tidal energy projects, the world’s first, off the coast of Scotland.The Scotsman reports ScottishPower Renewables is planning to apply for planning permission to develop three tidal energy projects, the world’s first, off the coast of Scotland.The projects, the first two with 20 turbines each, would be constructed for installation in Pentland Firth, the Sound of Islay and off the North Antrim Coast. The turbines are expected to be 30 meters (approximately 100 feet) in height, with 20-meter blades working at least 10 meters below the water surface.
Sidestepping a major concern common to wind turbines — harm to birds — ScottishPower says, based on tests conducted in Norway, the tidal turbines turn slowly enough to avoid harmful incidents with sea life.
The Scotsman reports ScottishPower Renewables is planning to apply for planning permission to develop three tidal energy projects, the world’s first, off the coast of Scotland.The projects, the first two with 20 turbines each, would be constructed for installation in Pentland Firth, the Sound of Islay and off the North Antrim Coast. The turbines are expected to be 30 meters (approximately 100 feet) in height, with 20-meter blades working at least 10 meters below the water surface.
Sidestepping a major concern common to wind turbines — harm to birds — ScottishPower says, based on tests conducted in Norway, the tidal turbines turn slowly enough to avoid harmful incidents with sea life.
With predictions pointing to a global rise in sea levels over the next century, many countries are beginning the first stages of planning to deal with such increases. For Asia, a land where population density is the least of their problems, but a major problem nonetheless, this foresight could save millions of lives.
One of the countries that is proactively attempting to find solutions is Vietnam. No longer willing to rely on foreign non-governmental organizations, Vietnam is looking to find solutions for themselves.
With predictions pointing to a global rise in sea levels over the next century, many countries are beginning the first stages of planning to deal with such increases. For Asia, a land where population density is the least of their problems, but a major problem nonetheless, this foresight could save millions of lives.
One of the countries that is proactively attempting to find solutions is Vietnam. No longer willing to rely on foreign non-governmental organizations, Vietnam is looking to find solutions for themselves.
Uruguay has granted an acre of land to American-based electric car maker ZAP! for a factory. The country’s government hopes that ZAP! (Zero Air Pollution) cars will help improve Uruguay’s economy and also decrease air pollution. ZAP! had its best sales month yet in August and the push into Uruguay should only help the company broaden its market in South America.
Uruguay has granted an acre of land to American-based electric car maker ZAP! for a factory. The country’s government hopes that ZAP! (Zero Air Pollution) cars will help improve Uruguay’s economy and also decrease air pollution. ZAP! had its best sales month yet in August and the push into Uruguay should only help the company broaden its market in South America.
Editor’s note: this is a guest post by Dr. Vandana Prakash, an Environmental Policy expert.
Delhiites are once again embroiled in a hot environmental debate–this time over plastic bags. Delhi High Court’s decision to ban plastic bags for all shopping sounds dramatic. However, there is no deadline for implementation. As of now, use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, even large bags and those with a greater than normal thickness of 40 micrometers, continues to be allowed.
The check and balance function of the different arms of the government (judiciary v/s executive) in a federal system is certainly eye-catching. On the one hand, the implementers appear to be skirting around the court-order by seeking deviations (allowing ‘degradable,’ more stringently configured bags); on the other hand, they seem to be abiding by court-order on containing the menace of plastic bags.
Plastic bags have become part and parcel of a Delhiite’s daily life. People reuse each bag numerous times — even after multiple washes. That is also remarkable considering that the bags are often made with very thin material. In the end, in the absence of proper disposal mechanism, the bag appears on the roads of Delhi, littering streets, clogging drains, choking rivers and peeping-out intact when any soil is dug-up.
Editor’s note: this is a guest post by Dr. Vandana Prakash, an Environmental Policy expert.
Delhiites are once again embroiled in a hot environmental debate–this time over plastic bags. Delhi High Court’s decision to ban plastic bags for all shopping sounds dramatic. However, there is no deadline for implementation. As of now, use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, even large bags and those with a greater than normal thickness of 40 micrometers, continues to be allowed.
The check and balance function of the different arms of the government (judiciary v/s executive) in a federal system is certainly eye-catching. On the one hand, the implementers appear to be skirting around the court-order by seeking deviations (allowing ‘degradable,’ more stringently configured bags); on the other hand, they seem to be abiding by court-order on containing the menace of plastic bags.
Plastic bags have become part and parcel of a Delhiite’s daily life. People reuse each bag numerous times — even after multiple washes. That is also remarkable considering that the bags are often made with very thin material. In the end, in the absence of proper disposal mechanism, the bag appears on the roads of Delhi, littering streets, clogging drains, choking rivers and peeping-out intact when any soil is dug-up.
Exit polls indicate that a majority of Ecuadorians have voted yes to a new constitution. The constitution is the first in the world’s history to grant nature legal rights, and also to allow individuals to sue on nature’s behalf in courts. It is a major victory for Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa.
Exit polls indicate that a majority of Ecuadorians have voted yes to a new constitution. The constitution is the first in the world’s history to grant nature legal rights, and also to allow individuals to sue on nature’s behalf in courts. It is a major victory for Ecuador’s President, Rafael Correa.
The Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world, is to make its appearance on the streets of India Oct. 1.
A blurb in October’s The Atlantic monthly magazine in the United States raises the obvious concern: A $2,500 car made available in the world’s second most populous nation (approx. 1.1 billion) spells a nightmare for the environment.
This year, in particular, Beijing’s rush to modernization has raised much debate and fretting about what the impact of a 1 Billion-plus society just getting onto its wheels will be on the planet as a whole. Many critics have pooh-poohed the Chinese for the damage we scarcely can visualize is on its way.
Just think, the United States, a country of 300 million people uses 25 percent of the Earth’s oil, and all of the consequences that accompany that. China, a country of more than 1.5 billion people, has been kept out of the candy store for so long and are finally getting the keys to paradise.
The Tata Nano, the cheapest car in the world, is to make its appearance on the streets of India Oct. 1.
A blurb in October’s The Atlantic monthly magazine in the United States raises the obvious concern: A $2,500 car made available in the world’s second most populous nation (approx. 1.1 billion) spells a nightmare for the environment.
This year, in particular, Beijing’s rush to modernization has raised much debate and fretting about what the impact of a 1 Billion-plus society just getting onto its wheels will be on the planet as a whole. Many critics have pooh-poohed the Chinese for the damage we scarcely can visualize is on its way.
Just think, the United States, a country of 300 million people uses 25 percent of the Earth’s oil, and all of the consequences that accompany that. China, a country of more than 1.5 billion people, has been kept out of the candy store for so long and are finally getting the keys to paradise.
It is not a hard proposition to imagine that the continent of Africa has a large potential for being a generator of solar power. Just the ads from eager humanitarian organizations would shed a measure of light on the apparent vast stretches of nothing being drenched in sunlight.
Similarly, I do not think it is a hard proposition to imagine that Africa’s actual solar generation is miniscule, compared to the rest of the planet.
But rather than trying to focus blame within Africa, I think the blame must, as it does with much of the anthropogenic global warming, be laid at the feet of western nations for not doing more for Africa. Because while Africa may see the Sun create an average of 5 to 7 kilowatts per hour for every square meter across its surface, the money is simply not there for governments to spend on solar technology.
It is not a hard proposition to imagine that the continent of Africa has a large potential for being a generator of solar power. Just the ads from eager humanitarian organizations would shed a measure of light on the apparent vast stretches of nothing being drenched in sunlight.
Similarly, I do not think it is a hard proposition to imagine that Africa’s actual solar generation is miniscule, compared to the rest of the planet.
But rather than trying to focus blame within Africa, I think the blame must, as it does with much of the anthropogenic global warming, be laid at the feet of western nations for not doing more for Africa. Because while Africa may see the Sun create an average of 5 to 7 kilowatts per hour for every square meter across its surface, the money is simply not there for governments to spend on solar technology.
Brazil’s government seems to be doing anything they can to take on the challenge of deforestation and global warming in their country. What is not clear is whether or not these efforts are being made wholeheartedly, or simply as an obligatory exercise.
Brazil possesses a large portion of the world-important Amazon Rainforest, and therefore their attention to the issues of deforestation and global warming is crucial. Earlier this year they opened a $23 million international fund to assist with conservation programs in the Amazon– but said that no strings would be attached. So far Norway is the only country to have donated money to the fund. They say they will donate more, but only if progress is achieved.
Now Brazil’s government has made an even gutsier move– they say they will end deforestation in their country by 2015. The only problem: they don’t have any new plans for how to do it– only old ones that don’t really address the issue of protecting Amazon ecosystems.
Brazil’s government seems to be doing anything they can to take on the challenge of deforestation and global warming in their country. What is not clear is whether or not these efforts are being made wholeheartedly, or simply as an obligatory exercise.
Brazil possesses a large portion of the world-important Amazon Rainforest, and therefore their attention to the issues of deforestation and global warming is crucial. Earlier this year they opened a $23 million international fund to assist with conservation programs in the Amazon– but said that no strings would be attached. So far Norway is the only country to have donated money to the fund. They say they will donate more, but only if progress is achieved.
Now Brazil’s government has made an even gutsier move– they say they will end deforestation in their country by 2015. The only problem: they don’t have any new plans for how to do it– only old ones that don’t really address the issue of protecting Amazon ecosystems.
Researchers in Canada have found 4.28 billion year old rocks, probably the world’s oldest, and which may be remnants of a portion of the first crust that formed at the surface of our planet, known as the primordial crust.
The ancient rocks were found in Northern Quebec, along the Hudson’s Bay coast, 40 km south of Inukjuak in an area known as the Nuvvuagittuq greenstone belt.
Researchers in Canada have found 4.28 billion year old rocks, probably the world’s oldest, and which may be remnants of a portion of the first crust that formed at the surface of our planet, known as the primordial crust.
The ancient rocks were found in Northern Quebec, along the Hudson’s Bay coast, 40 km south of Inukjuak in an area known as the Nuvvuagittuq greenstone belt.
The accelerated seasonal retreat of sea ice surprised NASA scientists, who expected a more moderate retreat on the tail of a la Niña year. Moreover, the data show that one cold year, when sea ice levels are able return to normal, is not enough to counter the long-term melting of the arctic.
The accelerated seasonal retreat of sea ice surprised NASA scientists, who expected a more moderate retreat on the tail of a la Niña year. Moreover, the data show that one cold year, when sea ice levels are able return to normal, is not enough to counter the long-term melting of the arctic.