Pig Poo into Clean Fuel

by Katherine Gustafson

categories: Clean Energy, Food & Agriculture, Fossil Energy

Published October 28, 2009 @ 02:54PM PT

What if we could turn our nastiest waste products into clean energy?

Considering that we have so many millions of animals penned up in concentrated animal feeding (or should I say “fattening”?) operations, their waste is a resource we possess in spades. We’ve long known it’s possible to capitalize on this mess but weren’t sure of the best way to do it.

New research is giving us a clue, reports New Scientist. If you’re ever stuck with a big lagoon of pig poo and you’d rather have electricity instead, your best bet, according to a team from Denmark’s Aalborg University, is anaerobic digestion. The anaerobic digestion process, by which the manure is broken down by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment to release methane that can power gas turbines, gives the best bang-for-your-poo.

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Indonesia Becomes Third Largest Emitter Due To Illegal Logging

by Mike Smith

Published October 28, 2009 @ 07:07AM PT

Indonesia has accelerated ahead of India, Brazil, Japan, Germany and the UK to take bronze medal in the race to become the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases. What? It's not a race? Well Indonesia are treating it like one. Illegal logging of 10 million hectares and subsequent burning has propelled Indonesia into third place in the list of the world's carbon emitters.

Indonesia has one-tenth of the world's remaining rainforest, but the world-record speed of destruction is accounting for 80% of the country's green house gas emissions. The dictator that ruled for 32 years didn't help things, but the current president hasn't done much to help either. Legal logging continues as unsustainable levels, with the country eager to profit from plantations that require massive land clearance, destroying natural habitats for endangered species. Indonesia welcomes the idea of being paid to conserve its forest (like Ecuador) through UN's Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation, but even that scheme would be unlikely to compensate Indonesia enough to make it worthwhile. And until a better solution is found, the destruction will continue.

Photo Credit: Ben Sutherland

Momentum Growing for Climate Agreement But Ecuador Holds Amazon Ransom

by Mike Smith

Published October 27, 2009 @ 04:05PM PT

At a visit to a sun factory — sorry — solar farm, President Obama urged the Senate to pass emissions caps and suggested that "consensus is building." Sound vague? He continues: "It's a debate between looking backward and looking forward." Amongst the fog of vagueness there was an announcement: $3.4 million to be invested in Smart Grid technology. But as we know, smart grids will only really help if they're fed with renewable electricity.

Meanwhile, exemplifying that this is not a problem that can be solved if we solely consider domestic programs and reductions, Ecuador is asking for money to do nothing. They want the world to pay them to not drill oil in the Amazon, preserving rainforrest. How much is rainforest worth? Considering how valuable it is to storing carbon dioxide, very valuable.

The Ecuador situation is a double whammy with both pristine Amazon rainforest underthreat, losing all the trees carbon feasting benefit, as well as sucking oil out of the ground to burn and further pollute the atmosphere. Momentum for climate change legislation is essential, but we must remember that this problem is an international one, with the preservation of current eco-systems and protection of rainforest from deforestation just as important as installing solar panels in the desert.

Photo credit: Wayne National Forest

Ban Ki-Moon Demands Action at Copenhagen, Obama Not In Such A Rush

by Mike Smith

Published October 26, 2009 @ 02:57PM PT

Ban Ki-Moon has laid out his benchmarks for success in Copenhagen. But don't expect the Obama administration to dance to the same rhythm: they're on their own clock, and have a longer term strategy. Expect the world's eyes to be on Copenhagen, but with a peace prize to collect, President Obama may be just on-time in Oslo to talk climate.

Mr Ban asks that developed and developing countries agree to do all they can to cut emissions, explaining that it is a smart investment to make. As India has been suggesting, he agrees that funding must be made available so that poorer countries can make the transition to low-carbon economies. This of course is nothing new but Mr Ban continues to stress the US's centrality to a deal. He explained in a New York Times op-ed: "I am encouraged by the spirit of compromise shown in the bipartisan initiative announced last week by John Kerry and Lindsey Graham."

The op-ed was directed towards US leadership, but of course President Obama will not be attending Copenhagen talks. But, here's the fun: President Obama will be in Oslo two days after Copenhagen talks begin, to receive his Nobel Prize. The (London) Times report that he'll likely use that stage to set out long-term environmental goals, making the case that though a comprehensive Copenhagen Protocol may not have been signed, the U.S. is serious about combating climate change.

Photo credit: World Economic Forum

India and China Sign Climate Pact — Bad News for Copenhagen

by Mike Smith

Published October 24, 2009 @ 07:07AM PT

India and China will present a united front at future climate change talks, boosting the developing world's bargaining power. On Wednesday the two nations, the two largest carbon dioxide emitters in the developing world, bound themselves together to a common stance for five years. It's not just a bargaining position though, as they will be making joint efforts to cut emissions. But crucially, they continue to resist fixed targets for reductions.

China continues to outpace the U.S. in the developing of green technology, and this agreement has the potential for India and China to collaborate in the developing of cheap turbines. But what about India? The focus is usually on China Vs America as the two biggest polluters that India is often forgotten.

A Time report explains that one Indian worker would love to move from a coal-fired electric one to a more efficient electric one, but the issue at the moment is one of cost. The Indian position is that developed nations must take the burden of reducing emissions responsibilities, since they emitted the most as they themselves developed — the developed world is responsible for 72% of overall emissions. India claim to be going beyond the call of the duty, with its per-capita emissions being so low, and decreasing in some respects, but it's the likely emissions they'll produce over the next fifty years that the developed world fears. Many in India consider that they must be allowed freedom to develop their industries, and that unless developed nations provide funds for green technology, an emissions increase will be inevitable.

Photo credit: Yodel Anecdotel

International Day of Climate Action: Most Widespread Day of Political Action Ever

by Mike Smith

category: Activism

Published October 24, 2009 @ 04:00AM PT

Today is the International Day of Climate Action, featuring over 4000 citizen-led events in more than 180 countries to call on world leaders to address the urgent threat of climate change. The event will be the most widespread day of political action in the planet's history.

If there was ever a time to get involved in a real-world event to express your support for stopping climate change, that time is now.

Events being staged by activists around the globe include children running through Ethiopia's capital, and Chinese students wearing full scuba gear in popular shopping districts. China alone will hold 300 events.

The organization behind the event, 350.org, was founded with the single purpose of holding the International Day of Climate Action and raising awareness about what they call the most important number in the world: 350.  According to co-founder, author, and global warming pioneer Bill McKibben, 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for parts per million carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. It's also therefore the number world leaders need to lead with as they prepare to meet in Copenhagen this December to draft a new global climate treaty.

This isn't vague agenda for change. It's a direct call to action, and a time of global solidarity for something that affects us all. We encourage you to get involved right now by heading to 350.org and find an event near you.

Photo credit: Andrew*

Skepticism of Global Warming Grows, But Majority Continue to Demand Action

by Mike Smith

Published October 22, 2009 @ 09:58AM PT

A new poll reveals Americans are increasingly skeptical that there is solid evidence of the earth warming. Fourteen percent fewer than last April. This despite world governments increasingly taking the advice of the world's best scientists to do something, and do something quickly.

Only 36 percent of those polled believe that human activity is to blame. The decline is true across all party lines. However, 57 percent still believe the evidence that earth is warming, and "a majority (56%) of Americans thinks the United States should join other countries in setting standards to address global climate change."

So why are people changing their minds on global warming? They could be sick of all the coverage that climate change is getting, or fear the cost of action. The fact that this a long emergency, one that won't have dramatic and immediately obvious effects in peoples' backyards like December heat-waves may cause some to question the evidence. But there may be other factors at play; Andrew Kohut from Pew explained to the WSJ "we have since the onset of the recession seen people giving lower priority to environmental issues."

A majority still demand action, and the people continue to give President Obama a clear message: Take action. Limit emissions.

Photo credit: James Jordan