Year Long Environmental Project with the Joint Efforts of EDN and UL
April 29th, 2010
Safe environment development and creation of new sets and standards of creating better environment are some of the most effective ways through which the new signature campaigns are starting off from the conjoined efforts of EDN and UL. EDN or Earth Day Network is teaming up with Underwriters Laboratories. UL has been the leader in terms of safety testing and gradations in terms of environmental features. They have been active since past 116 years but their current system allows them to understand and clear many issues internationally.
The new teaming is going to bring a better environmental health and a thorough check during the 40th Anniversary celebration year of Earth Day. The official mantra for this current project is “safety, sustainability as well as standards” for better environmental growth and sustainability. There are many plans and programs that are going to work through throughout 2010 bringing new amplified results this year. There are going to be many eco-friendly projects and creative effects that will be recognized through the evolutionary effects that UL and EDN are trying to bring. The CEO of UL, Keith Williams, have declared that there are more and more areas and families coming to be inspired to adapt eco-friendly ways of sustainability and adoptions to be made this year. These family by family changes will yield a great deal of work.
The raising of awareness will result in something bigger that will elevate the overall condition of the earth. In order to help spread the whole aspect of environmental knowledge and aspiration for something better on earth, the new efforts are going to make massive changes. Many environmental concerns are expected to get solved this year.
Sustainability Policies In Investment
December 21st, 2009
The last few years have seen much introspection by players in the financial sector – namely the banking sector and Investors. The effects of global warming and steady deterioration of the environment as a result of human activity is no longer hidden from anyone – the effects can be felt daily. Climate change and the fear of exhaustion of non-renewable resources have led to great changes in public opinion on various issues affecting the environment. As a result, the financial sector has been forced to sit up and take notice of the kind of projects and industries they fund. It is now common for financial analysts and decision makers to factor in the risks related to environmental impact while making decisions related to investing in projects.
In addition to environmental impact, it is increasingly common to take social impact of projects into account while investing. Institutions have been moving away from funding industries that have significant environmental impact. The thrust now is on investing in companies that are innovating in production of clean energy and in sustainable production of goods. Consumer awareness and resulting legislation has caused many banks and venture capitalists to take a second look at the avenues of investment available. In fact, while investment in traditional areas has stagnated and even reduced due to the economic recession, companies involved in clean technology have seen an increase in funding available.
This is a direct result of the frameworks that the financial sector is basing its investment decisions on – the Equator Principles and the Principles of Responsible Investment, both of which provide some guidelines on assessing the sustainability of the projects to be funded.
It is not large institutions alone who can make a difference – the small investor too can do his bit for protecting the environment by investing in green bonds being floated – green bonds invest exclusively in companies that produce environmentally friendly products manufactured using sustainable practices and fair labor policies. There has been much investor interest lately in Renewable Energy Exchange Traded Funds (ETF). There has been a total paradigm shift in investment, both by institutional investors and individuals.
Environmental Laws in the United States
December 6th, 2009
The earliest environmental law in the United States dates back to 1899. The Rivers and Harbors Act determined it was a misdemeanor to dump or unload an refuse into U.S. waters that were navigable without a permit. It further stated that it was also a misdemeanor to fill, excavate, or change the course of, or capacity of any harbor, channel, or port without a permit. An act, previously passed by congress in 1882, bore the same name but was vetoed by President Arthur. All of these laws and regulations are under the administration of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
It wasn’t until the 1960’s that the Federal Government started to actively enforce the Rivers and Harbors Act in any serious fashion, primarily due to the fact that both the public and government became increasingly concerned about our countries polluted waters. Huge oil refineries severely polluted many lakes, rivers, and streams by dumping their waste.
Soon other environmental laws came into being. In 1918 the Migratory bird and species act was enacted. This was due to an agreement made between the U.S. and Canada in 1916 regarding protection of migratory birds.
Environmental acts soon to follow included the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act or FIFRA, and the National Environmental Policy Act. The Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the first statutory environmental law, was mostly replaced by the later Clean Water Act. There are a lot more environmental laws enforced in the United States, some at the state level and others federally controlled.
Rachel Carson published a book called Silent Spring in 1962 and she has been credited with the launch of the environmental movement of the U.S. ever since. Her book laid out, in documentary form, what the effects of DDT and other pesticides had on our waters and birds.
A law suit decided in 1965 is recognized as most likely being the earliest of the environmental cases involved the Scenic Hudson Preservation Conference vs the Federal Power Commission. In this law suit the Second Circuit Court of Appeals determined damage was being done by a power plant. This caused the construction of a power plant to be halted on Storm King Mountain in the state of New York. Another example, the Scenic Hudson case, also gave inspiration to passage of a National Environmental Policy Act out of which grew the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The regulation of activities causing environmental impact is under the control of the environmental policy of the United States. Their goal is protecting the environment for future generations yet to come, all the while interfering as little as necessary. The policy is a result of the environmental movement in the U.S. back in the 1960’s and 1970’s. This is the time period in which many environmentally related laws passed. These policies were intended to regulate water and air pollution and resulted in the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency or the EPA as it is commonly referred to. There are two major tools used to protect the environment and those are inducements and rules. The U.S. makes use of rules through regulation and those regulations come as a result of performance standards. These performance standards spell out the emission levels allowable, then leave the decisions as to how they will be met up to the parties which are covered by these rules
Political conservatives and business interests have fought to limit the funds while slowing the efforts to protect the environment because it was costly to them. Big Business and Big Brother do not like to be regulated by the U.S. government.
Ever since the 1970’s, vast achievements have been reached in water and air quality, and also in controlling of hazardous waste materials.
The political “hot potato” for years now has been the global warming issue. Greenhouse gas emissions are thought to be the cause of a gradual global warming of the atmosphere around our planet. Modern concerns include fuel efficiency and regulatory emission standards.
Sustainable Manufacturing For a Greener Future
November 20th, 2009
The manufacturing sector is important for the industry efforts toward tackling climate change. In THE United States, the manufacturing sector is responsible for roughly 20 percent of direct greenhouse gases emissions. Hence it is important for companies to make their operations more efficient and sustainable. Traditionally the manufacturing industry has considered the problem of pollution at the discharge point. However, an approach based on reducing material and energy at the initial stage can serve two purposes of environment conservation as well as boosting efficiency. It’s important to focus on four key areas: Clean water, Paper and Packaging, Safer material and Climate change.
The manufacturing sector has taken important steps to scale up sustainable and green activities in its operations. Johnson & Johnson – a leading health care manufacturer invested in increasing efficiency in its building and processes. The company netted a cool $30 million in savings. Apparel manufacturer Patagonia encourages customers to return garments to its outlets for recycling through its Common Threads initiative. Another example is that of the sportswear giant Nike that minimized the use of toxic glue used in making footwear by redesigning the parts.
In steel industry, 35 steel manufacturers from 18 countries jointly formed the Ultra-Light Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) initiative in 1994, in partnership with an automotive engineering company. Since cars built with advanced high-strength steel are lighter, their power train can be downsized, thus substantially improving the vehicles’ fuel economy and reducing carbon dioxide emissions over their lifetime Most of the largest players in the manufacturing industry in U.S. have tied with U.S. Climate Action Partnership which calls for strong federal act to call for significant reduction in greenhouse emissions.
There is a need to make the manufacturing process environmental friendly. Design can be an effective tool in these efforts. Proper designing can boost up efficiency and reduce material wastage by selecting suitable material and optimum production technique after understanding how a product will be manufactured, used and ultimately disposed. The manufacturing paradigm must incorporate Lean manufacturing i.e. delivering quality products in minimum time at least cost involving no wastage. Manufacturing process must be also designed to save energy and water which are critical resources. By aggressively encouraging innovation companies can reduce energy and resource use. Waste in the manufacturing process must be used as new resource for production.
Manufacturing industry needs to collaborate with its customers and suppliers to address the pressing problem of climate change. Factories must be located at optimum places to minimize the transportation costs thereby reducing energy expenditure and greenhouse gases emissions. Incentives must be given to employees for choosing strategies that minimize emissions. The manufacturing industry can be an important part of the solution itself by designing energy efficient products that save energy and use renewable sources of power. Manufacturing of wind turbines and solar panels as well as increasing their efficiency and decreasing their initial cost leading to their mass adoption can solve our planet’s current environmental crisis.
The future of manufacturing lies not only in adopting green energy which would be mandatory for human survival but the industry also needs to figure out a way of making money doing so. Needless to say the right time to address this issue has already passed and we have a lot of catching up to do.
Dynamite Fishing in Asia
November 3rd, 2009
In the 1960s in the Philippines, cyanide was used to confound and thereafter capture coral fish. This was done to ensure adequate supply for the developing market of aquarium fish for North America and Europe. Since the 1970s the poison is also being used to catch reef fish which was supplied to restaurants in some Asian countries with Chinese population. In most of the Indo-Pacific countries Cyanide fishing is illegal but because of the high prices that these reef fish fetch and also because of corruption, the use of this poison has increased in the entire region. In seawater sodium cyanide breaks down into ions of sodium and cyanide. Cyanide has the property to block the hemoglobin which is the oxygen transporting protein. Due to this the oxygen does not reach the cell and results in poisoning. Small fish are very vulnerable to this whereas adult fish can take higher doses.
Similar to this is dynamite fishing there exists called blast fishing. In this explosives are used to kill fish which makes it easy to collect them. This practice is also illegal and this has a disastrous effect on the ecosystem as the blast damages the habitat of the fish. This is also dangerous for fisherman as it leads to injuries and accidents. The blasts lead to shockwaves in the underwater which causes the rupture of the swim bladder of the fish and shocks them. Few of them float to the surface but most sink to the floor of the sea. The explosions kill a large number of fish and also other organisms in the sea. They damage the coral reefs and also the physical environment in the sea. Dynamite fishing is a conscious irresponsible attempt to destroy environmental balance.
The Philippines are one of the few countries that has taken concrete action against the problem of cyanide fishing. They have a Cyanide Fishing Reform Program, which is a partnership between the IMA i.e. the International Marine life Alliance and the government. They have taken the initiative to train the fisherman to use alternative methods like hook and line techniques and fine mesh barrier techniques. Governments in many countries have made anti cyanide laws to control the hazards controlled by cyanide fishing. Public awareness campaigns in schools and media are also being organized so that the general public gets educated and becomes aware of the harmful effects of cyanide fishing. IMA has implemented a program in Indonesia and does also help governments of many South Asian countries in the Indo Pacific Destructive Fishing Reform Program.
Many measures have been taken to control the disastrous effects of Dynamite Fishing. Tanzania Fisheries Division and Sea Sense along with the World Wide Fund and the World Conservative Union, and also a financial support from the British High Commission, carried out an anti-dynamite fishing awareness program. Awareness is spread through banners, t shirts, posters etc. Patrols are also done by officers and coastal police to control dynamite fishing.
In spite of the numerous measures taken by the governments of many countries and cyanide and dynamite fishing being banned, it is still carried out in many parts of the world. They both have disastrous effects on the ecological system and the marine life and are dangerous to humans. This also causes loss of income in the tourism sector, and even though many do start to realize the disastrous effects of this kind of operation, human greed and lack of concern for the environment still keep such activities in progress(…)
Green policies in India?
September 9th, 2009
India can be a really laid back country! And for many politicos, the environment and conserving it, is something that is considered to be “soft agenda!” This technically means not very important…
When you really take a long hard look at international politics, you will notice that America has reached where it is at present due to its high consumption of fossil fuels. Clinton went down to India in 2000 to convince India to sign up with it in a form of emissions trading where it could continue to use as much of fossil fuel required while India cut back to compensate for the overuse. India does not really have a political party that focuses on the environment completely. When there was a hue and cry about trees, it was mainly due to direct threats to livelihood like what happened in the Chipko movement in Uttarkhand in 1974. Farmers hugged trees in fear of losing livelihood rather than in an effort to protect the environment. But in Western Europe and the US, the environment is something that can be actually considered an active threat to economic progress. America has for long considered climate change an essential problem that threatens its economic development. Cutting down emissions is impossible as it means cutting down on production and hence development. And emissions trading with India will cost America about 95% less than actually shutting down emissions producing companies that are running its economy!
In India, awareness in people at the grassroots level and the higher echelons about the importance of the environment is almost negligible. With rising poverty, a booming population explosion, internal and external terror problems, health issues and unemployment taking priority; no political party actually finds environmental issues an adequate plan to gain votes. Countries like South Korea. China, America, and UK are now earmarking varying amounts of their budgets to green growth. And at last count, India has devoted nothing to the same aspect of green development.
But Global warming affects all of us uniformly even if one country uses less or if the other uses more! Rising sea levels can literally flood coastal areas of India along with the increased incidence of droughts, floods and famines due to the climate change and continued emissions from countries like the United Sates. With the rapid boom in India’s production and economy in the recent years, it will very soon become necessary for Indian political parties to take an active interest in the problem. At present, the green drive to reduce emissions, recycle and conserve is being run by a mish-mash of active judiciary that curtailed pesticides leaching into groundwater, dynamic NGOs and an urban well-educated middle class. But that is not enough. Unless India finds a way to raise awareness at the grassroots level and include green policies in every aspects of its current development, it could very soon find itself losing its natural resources due to simple hard headed ignorance.
Jobs with Green energy
August 27th, 2009
Many people who take jobs in the alternative energies research and development sector have to, at least in the beginning, take relatively low pay. Taking a job in this industry is thus not about-or, not predominantly about-making money, although that is evidently important, as one who is not well-fed soon becomes one who is not productive at work, especially when we are considering the brain-work involved in the work of researching and developing technologies in the alternative energies sector. There are those who take a job just because they find it is a fulfilling task that they have undertaken-something that is going to help humanity, or their society, or the Earth herself. Nevertheless in truth, most people dream of in terms of work is a position that they at once enjoy immensely while they also are receiving good money for their time and energy. Positions in the alternative energy research and development industry often offer just such an opportunity.
The alternative energy fielded is in need of a vast array of different positions. Many people who get into this are the kind who would keep the power plants up and running others are the developers of new alternative energies and others make it all happen to start with by investing in alternative energy. So–not only do these people have the blessing of an exciting and fulfilling career, but these same people are making the world a better place.
The business of alternative energy is rapidly growing because of many governments are now supporting it. Investors have become excited about putting their financial backing into the alternative energy industry because they can see that it’s the wave of the future, out of both need and the fact of government support. Rising oil prices make alternative energies’ tantalization rise in the minds of investors. As investors become more interested, there is more money available for companies to start up or expand, and that leads to more job opportunities.
The US government is unquestionably involved in promoting the idea of new jobs as being readily available in the alternative energy sector. According to the President, to achieve greater use of “homegrown,” renewable fuels in the United States, advanced technologies need to be researched and developed to be able to make ethanol from plant fibers’ biomass, which at the present is merely discarded as waste material. The President’s 2009 Federal Budget includes $150 million to help with the development of biofuels derived from agricultural waste products such as wood chips, corn stalks, and switch grass. Researchers tell us that furthering the cause of research into cellulose-based ethanol could make the technology cost-competitive by 2012, while potentially displacing up to 30% of the nation’s current fuel consumption.
The President’s plan would additionally drive on next-generation research and development of battery technology for hybrid vehicles besides “plug-in hybrid” vehicles. A “plug-in” hybrid runs on either gasoline or electricity, depending on an on-board computer calculation. Driving in a city setting consumes almost no gasoline over as much as a week’s time with these vehicles.
