Natural Environment Blog

When I wrote about Henry Ford’s hemp car, I knew it was only a matter of time before I’d be writing about another car made from hemp.

Lotus has announced its latest eco-friendly car - made from hemp. OK, the whole car isn’t made from hemp but hemp has played a large role in it’s construction.

Lotus will unveil the Eco Elise at the British International Motor Show later this month.

With the Eco Elise, Lotus is aiming for a car that’s different to most “green” cars. While most of today’s green cars are being measured by how little gas they consume, the Eco Elise goes much further than this.

In fact, the Eco Elise project focuses on the following areas:

• Sustainable materials - using materials such as hemp, sisal, and biodegradable woolen fabrics.
• Cleaner manufacturing processes - by using a totally water-based paint system.
• Renewable energy generation - through the use of two solar panels on the hemp hard top.
• Reducing carbon miles - by using locally grown hemp fibers, as well as recycled packaging.
• Efficient driving techniques - by assisting the driver in driving more economically. A green light informs the driver the most optimal time to change gears for best economic performance.
• Weight reduction - a lighter car means a more economical car. The Eco Elise is 32 kilograms lighter than the (already lightweight) Elise S.

According to the Lotus press release:

The new green materials sourced for this car have been carefully studied to ensure that each technology used reduces the environmental impact of the vehicle. The life of the components has been analysed; during the production stage, in-use and at the end of the vehicle’s life. The technology used aims to offer lower emissions of both solvents and CO2 in the lifecycle of the vehicle, with reductions in energy consumed during manufacture.

Another great environmental achievement for Lotus is that their manufacturing plant has become more eco-friendly. In 2007, Lotus used 14% less electricity, 30% less gas, and 11% less water than it did in 2006. Lotus also recycle 57% of its waste product.

We all know that plastic bags are bad for the environment. And we all know why it’s important to do something about the plastic bag problem. Most plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. Until now that is.

Daniel Burd, a Canadian high school student has discovered a method for degrading polyethylene plastic bags. He made this exciting discovery during a science project. He wanted to prove that a procedure could be developed to degrade plastic bags.

The discovery won Burd first place prize of $9,800 in the Canada-Wide Science Fair, the Waterloo, Ontario. Burd has also received almost $34,000 in college scholarship offers.

During the project, Burd was able to degrade 43 percent of a plastic bag within six weeks. Burd plans to refine his process so that he can degrade the polyethylene in a much shorter timeframe.

Burd achieved the degradation by isolating microorganisms from soil, then using them to facilitate the degradation process.

This discovery sounds like it has a lot of potential. Of course, it’s early days yet, but wouldn’t it be great if a process could be developed to degrade all the plastic bags already scattered throughout the natural environment? And what if a process could be developed to degrade all the plastic lying in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

Source: Red Orbit

In New Zealand, the Christchurch city council chopped down six trees smack bang in the middle of the city today. What makes it astonishing, is that today is both World Environment Day and Arbor Day!

The council has admitted that this was a “terrible coincidence”. The trees were being removed to make way for a controversial service lane.

Given the theme for his year’s World Environment Day (”Kick the habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy!”), this is even more of a “terrible coincidence”. Forest destruction is one of the worst causes of greenhouse gas.

And, the fact that New Zealand was also observing Arbor Day makes it almost laughable. The whole purpose of Arbor Day is to encourage individuals and groups to plant and care for trees!

And, as if that’s not enough, New Zealand was also the official host of this year’s World Environment Day…

One Christchurch resident said:

As a city that is known as the Garden City, we have that image to uphold. This makes a mockery of `let’s be aware of the environment and let’s walk or cycle to work

I imagine there will be a few red faces in the Christchurch City Council today!

Well, I’d never recommend you do this at home but…

…what better way to celebrate World Environment Day than to climb a skyscraper with your bare hands - and without a rope!

Alain Robert, 45, climbed The New York Times building in Manhattan. Robert reached the top of the 52 story building before being arrested and whisked away by police.

Robert had previously told reporters that he planned to raise awareness of global warming since this is one of the main problems for our time.

When visiting Alain Robert’s website today, you’ll see a banner ad at the top. Clicking on this ad takes you to Robert’s The Solution Is Simple website, where you can send a message to the leaders at next month’s G8 meeting in Japan.

By the way, Robert’s “Simple Solution” is as follows:

1. Stop Cutting Down Trees. Plant More Trees.
2. Make Everything Energy Efficient.
3. Only Make Clean Energy

Wow! It really is simple!

By the way, a second climber was also arrested for climbing the same building today. The cause (if any) is a little unclear at this stage, but he was wearing a “Malaria No More” tee shirt. The Malaria No More organization said they had nothing to do with him.

New Zealand Environment Minister congratulated local communities today for taking such an “enthusiastic interest” in World Environment Day 2008.

World Environment Day 2008 is being held around the world today, June 5.

The main international celebrations for this year’s event are being hosted in Wellington, New Zealand. According to the United Nations’ World Environment Day website, the agenda for the day 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.

The theme this year is:

Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy

The theme also includes the role of forest conservation and sustainable forestry in achieving domestic and global climate change goal.

There are many ways you can participate in World Environment Day 2008. Here are some suggestions from the official World Environment Day website:

• street rallies
• bicycles parades
• green concerts
• essay and poster competitions in schools
• tree planting
• recycling efforts
• clean-up campaigns

You could also check out the World Environment Day Alphabet - 80 Ways to Celebrate.

World Environment Day is an annual event that was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Previous Cities

Previous Cities to host World Environment Day include:

• 2008 - Wellington, New Zealand
• 2007 - Tromsø, Norway
• 2006 - Algiers, Algeria
• 2005 - San Francisco, USA
• 2004 - Barcelona, Spain
• 2003 - Beirut, Lebanon
• 2002 - Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
• 2001 - Torino, Italy and Havana, Cuba
• 2000 - Adelaide, Australia
• 1999 - Tokyo, Japan
• 1998 - Moscow, Russian Federation
• 1997 - Seoul, Republic of Korea
• 1996 - Istanbul, Turkey
• 1995 - Pretoria, South Africa
• 1994 - London, United Kingdom
• 1993 - Beijing, People’s Republic of China
• 1992 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 1991 - Stockolm, Sweden
• 1990 - Mexico City, Mexico
• 1989 - Brussels, Belgium
• 1988 - Bangkok, Thailand
• 1987 - Nairobi, Kenya

Previous Themes

Previous themes for World Environment Day are (including this year’s theme):

• 2008 - Kick the Habit! Towards a Low Carbon Economy
• 2007 – Melting Ice – A Hot Topic?
• 2006 – Deserts and Desertification – Don’t Desert Drylands!
• 2005 – Green Cities – Plan for the Planet!
• 2004 – Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?
• 2003 – Water – Two Billion People are Dying for It!
• 2002 - Give Earth a Chance
• 2001 - Connect with the World Wide Web of Life
• 2000 - The Environment Millennium - Time to Act
• 1999 - Our Earth - Our Future - Just Save It!
• 1998 - For Life on Earth - Save Our Seas
• 1997 - For Life on Earth
• 1996 - Our Earth, Our Habitat, Our Home
• 1995 - We the Peoples: United for the Global Environment
• 1994 - One Earth One Family
• 1993 - Poverty and the Environment - Breaking the Vicious Circle
• 1992 - Only One Earth, Care and Share
• 1991 - Climate Change. Need for Global Partnership
• 1990 - Children and the Environment
• 1989 - Global Warming; Global Warning
• 1988 - When People Put the Environment First, Development Will Last
• 1987 - Environment and Shelter: More Than A Roof
• 1986 - A Tree for Peace
• 1985 - Youth: Population and the Environment
• 1984 - Desertification
• 1983 - Managing and Disposing Hazardous Waste: Acid Rain and Energy
• 1982 - Ten Years After Stockholm (Renewal of Environmental Concerns)
• 1981 - Ground Water; Toxic Chemicals in Human Food Chains and Environmental Economics
• 1980 - A New Challenge for the New Decade: Development Without Destruction
• 1979 - Only One Future for Our Children - Development Without Destruction
• 1978 - Development Without Destruction
• 1977 - Ozone Layer Environmental Concern; Lands Loss and Soil Degradation; Firewood
• 1976 - Water: Vital Resource for Life
• 1975 - Human Settlements
• 1974 - Only one Earth

Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the U.S. have developed a nanopaper that could be used to clean up future oil spills.

The paper-like membrane repels water but can absorb up to 20 times it’s weight in oil. Even better, the oil can be recovered and the nanopaper can be recycled many times over.

Research leader, Francesco Stellacci, an associate professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, said:

Our material can be left in water a month or two, and when you take it out it’s still dry,

She continued:

But at the same time, if that water contains some hydrophobic contaminants, they will get absorbed.

Oil spills can cause a devastating range of problems for wildlife - most of which lead to death.  In fact, a single oil spill can kill thousands of sea birds and marine mammals.

At least 200,000 tons of oil has been spilled into the oceans since 2000, so if this nanotechnology results in faster clean ups, that’s welcome news for the natural environment.

Amazing stuff that nanotechnology!

Now, if only nanotechnology could be used to prevent oil spills altogether…

The FSC certification is widely recognized as the most rigorous social and environmental certification program in the forestry industry. Basically, FSC certification helps save the world’s forests by ensuring that land owners manage their forests responsibly.

The good news is that the amount of forest that is being FSC certified is increasing at an impressive rate.

he following chart demonstrates the amount of land that has been FSC certified since 1995:

Furthermore, as of March this year, over 100 million hectares of forest is now FSC certified. To be more precise, 103,456,399 hectares of land across 79 countries is FSC certified.

This represents a significant increase in the amount of forestry land that has been approved for certification. Consider these facts:

• Within 10 years, FSC certified land has increased from less than 10 million hectares to more than 100 million.
• In 2006, FSC certified acreage grew by 33 percent.
• Globally, FSC certified land now represents 7 percent of production forests.

Andre de Freitas, FSC Head of Operations, commented…

The larger the forest area certified to FSC standards, the larger the forest area that is managed socially and environmentally responsibly. Each additional hectare certified to FSC standards brings us closer to achieving our mission: to improve forest management world wide.

About FSC

Established in 1993, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization that brings people together to find solutions which promote responsible stewardship of the world’s forests.

As mentioned, the FSC certification program is a rigorous social and environmental certification program for the forestry industry.

To learn more about FSC, visit the official FSC website.

Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has announced that the polar bear will now be protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The listing is based on scientific findings that the loss of sea ice is threatening, and will continue to threaten the survival of the polar bear. Studies last year by the U.S. Geological Survey found that as many as 15,000 polar bears could be lost in the coming decades. Given there are only 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears worldwide, this is a huge problem.

The big question appears to be; “When will the lawsuits begin?”.

Adding the polar bear to the endangered species list has a number of repercussions, particularly for the oil companies. About 15 percent of the U.S. oil supplies is produced in Alaska (where polar bears reside).

According to this article, Marilyn Crockett, executive director of the Alaska Oil and Gas Association said:

We now have a species threatened which is both healthy in size and population; the real risk is litigation that will follow,

She goes on to say…

Lawsuits will continue to be filed opposing individual operations, lease sales and permits, and that could have a significant impact on business up here

The Alaska Oil and Gas Association represents 17 oil and gas companies, as well as the owners of a trans-Alaskan pipeline.

Environmental groups aren’t happy either. The problem here is in the wording used in the announcement. The Department of Interior was quite clearly pointed out that this decision is not intended to regulate climate change.

Another big question is; “How accurate is the scientific data?”. Because the polar bear population has actually increased from about 5,000 to 12,000 in the 1960s (depending on who you believe), some people suggest that the Department of Interior’s decision is absurd.

Either way, if this ruling helps prevent the polar bear from becoming extinct, that’s got to be a good thing.

As I mentioned the other day, the Australian government, in its 2008 federal budget, announced increased spending on environmental issues.

This includes $200 million to go towards protecting the Great Barrier Reef. The package is being called “Reef Rescue” and aims to tackle climate change and improve water quality around the Great Barrier Reef. Given the Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world, this is welcome news.

A large part of the funding will go towards grants to landowners and managers. The main aim with this is to reduce sediment from entering the waters around the Great Barrier Reef. Currently, water quality around the reef is being affected by this pollution from the land.

Reef Rescue Allocation

Reef Rescue is divided up into 5 different parts:

• Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Grants ($146 million)
• Healthy Reef Partnerships program ($12 million)
• Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Research and Development program ($10 million)
• Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting program ($22 million)
• Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships program ($10 million)

Here’s an explanation of each of these parts (taken from the official budget website):

Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Grants ($146 million)

The majority of these funds will be provided in the form of matching grants (with matching funding) to landowners and managers who commit to implementing proven practices that reduce loss of nutrients and sediments, while improving farm productivity. This will be delivered in partnership with peak industry groups and existing regional Natural Resource Management groups.

Healthy Reef Partnerships program ($12 million)

A program to build partnerships between peak industry organisations and non-government organisations that support landowners with increased local expertise and extension staff. It will build on existing programs in rural industry bodies and regional NRM groups.

Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Research and Development program ($10 million)

To improve our understanding of the link between land management practices and environmental impacts. Research priorities will be determined in consultation with the Queensland Government, universities and research organisations, and other stakeholders.

Water Quality Monitoring and Reporting program ($22 million)

This funding will allow further development and implementation of a coordinated catchment-wide water quality monitoring and measurement program with established criteria and targets. The funding will also provide for the annual publication of a Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Report Card.

Land and Sea Country Indigenous Partnerships program ($10 million)

This program will build the capacity of traditional owner groups in sea country management. The funds will be used to strengthen communications between local communities, managers and reef stakeholders and build a better understanding of Traditional Owner issues about the management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Funding will also be available for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) to allow for the expansion of the Traditional Use of Marine Resources Agreements across the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

Reef Rescue will play an important role in the survival of the Great Barrier Reef. Let’s hope it’s not too late.

I just read this article on the CBCNews website regarding the reduction in orders for plastic bags across Manitoba. It seems that, ever since supermarkets started selling reusable bags, the number of orders for plastic bags has dropped by about 5 percent.

Great news for the environment.

This is a recurring theme too. As soon as retailers offer reusable bags, orders for plastic bags take a dive.

Another example is Australia. Between 2002 and 2005, plastic bag usage dropped from 6 billion to 3.92 billion. That’s around 35 percent less plastic bags! This was helped by the federal government’s campaign to encourage Australian’s to carry reusable bags to the supermarket. This campaign spawned the “Green Bag”, which is available at many supermarkets across Australia.

Individual retailers can make a difference too - regardless of the government’s policy. For example, Fred Meyer has revealed that it used 3.5 million less plastic bags in 2006 than in 2005. The reduction was a direct result of their reusable grocery bag program.