Natural Environment Blog

Last night, the Australian government released its federal budget, which included increased spending for environmental issues.

Included in the budget, is:

• $200 million will be allocated to protecting the Great Barrier Reef
• $180 million will be allocated to new protected areas
• $150 million to be allocated to Indigenous conservation
• $500 million will be allocated to a fund for development and deployment of clean coal technologies
• $300 million to be used for a “green loan” scheme. Under the scheme, households will be able to borrow up to $10,000 to make their homes more green. This could include installing solar panels, rainwater tanks, greywater recycling, insulation, solar hot water heaters and energy-smart lighting. The loan will only be available to low to middle income households - those who earn less than $100,000 per year. The benefit of this loan is that it’s available at a low interest rate - a maximum of 2 percent of the annual gross income.

• Money will be spent on increasing the market penetration of renewable energy. Currently in Australia, only 8 percent of electricity comes from renewable sources. The government aims to increase that to 20 percent.
• $3 billion to be allocated to water buybacks.
• In total, $12.9 billion will be allocated to “Water for the Future Plan” over the next 10 years in order to improve Australia’s water supplies.

The response to the budget? Mixed. Although more money is being spent on environmental issues, many green groups believe too much is being allocated to the wrong areas, and that not enough is being done about climate change.

Here are some responses from various environmental groups:

• WWF-Australia’s response - Generally happy with the budget, but more action is required.
• Greenpeace’s response to the budget - Disappointed with the lack of measures to attack climate change. Renewable solutions have been sidelined whilst dirty coal is bankrolled.
• The Greens Party’s response - Budget utterly fails climate and oil challenge.

Glaciologists at Massey University have confirmed that the Tasman Glacier, in New Zealand’s South Island, is retreating at its fastest rate in recent history.

Since the 1990s, the glacier has been retreating at an average rate of 180 meters per year. This rate will likely increase to between 477 and 822 meters per year over the next 10 to 19 years.

Dr Martin Brook, lecturer in physical geography in the School of People, Environment and Planning says that the glacier’s faster retreat rate is mainly due to the fact that there is now a lake sitting right in front of the glacier.

This lake didn’t even exist back in 1973. And even as recent as 1990, the lake was very small.

The lake was formed by the glacier’s melting ice. And now, as the glacier melts, the lake becomes higher. And as the lake gets higher, it melts the glacier ice.

This will continue until the lake cannot expand any further (because of the surrounding mountains). This will take between 10 and 19 years based on current calculations.

According to Dr Brook:

The glacier followed a slow retreat phase for a while, in that a thermo-erosional notch in the ice cliff face would develop at the water line, melt back into the glacier undercutting the ice above, causing the ice to collapse into the lake.

But what is happening now is that a short foot of ice is extending out into the lake away from the ice cliff, and the glacier is now in a period of fast retreat. This is because as the water depth increases so does the speed of retreat – simply, a much larger part of the glacier is submerged and the water, even at only two degrees celcius, is still able to melt the glacier ice

Having seen Tasman Glacier with my own eyes, I find this news quite sad. OK, it may not be the most spectacular looking glacier in New Zealand but it is the largest. Although most of the world’s glaciers are retreating, not many are retreating at this rate.

The above photo is one that I took during a walk to Tasman Glacier. You can see a small part of the lake at the top of the river. If I understand correctly, the place where I took this photo may be submerged within a few years…

The above photo is one taken from the track to Mueller Hut (opposite Tasman Glacier). You can see that the glacier is covered in rock and debris. You can also see the 7 kilometer long lake that has formed in front of the glacier. This lake will be 16 kilometers long within 10 to 19 years…

Earth Day is an annual observance aimed at raising an awareness of and an appreciation of Earth’s natural environment.

Actually, there are two different observances called Earth Day. Each have the same aim, but they are held on different days. The two different Earth Days are:

• The United Nations’ International Earth Day (or the “Equinox” Earth Day)- This is held each year on the March equinox (around March 20), and was founded in 1969 by John McConnell.
• The April 22 Earth Day - held each year on April 22nd in many countries around the world. Founded by Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in. This version of Earth Day has been held annually around the world since 1970.

There are a number of different websites dedicated to the different Earth Days. For example, the US has an Earth Day website providing info about Earth Day and how to live in a more sustainable way. Here’s what it says about Earth Day:

Earth Day is a time to celebrate gains we have made and create new visions to accelerate environmental progress. Earth Day is a time to unite around new actions. Earth Day and every day is a time to act to protect our planet.

There is also the International Earth Day website, which includes the Earth Charter, as well as a plea from John McConnell, the Earth Day founder for there to be a singular Earth Day.

Whichever Earth Day you celebrate, it’s a good opportunity to think of the progress we’ve made so far, as well as consider the new ways we can help protect our environment.

Most people, when they think of NASA, think of space exploration. And fair enough too. That’s primarily what NASA was set up to do - to study space. And after all, NASA does stand for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

But what many people don’t know, is that NASA also studies earth - from space. Ever since its creation in 1958, NASA has been studying the earth to some degree.

NASA’s Earth Science Program

In 1991, NASA got more serious about its earth studies and launched a program specifically to address this area. The program, which is called Earth Science Enterprise (ESE), includes the Earth Observing System (EOS) - a system for studying the earth comprehensively.

The purpose of ESE is:

To develop a scientific understanding of Earth’s system and its response to natural or human-induced changes, and to improve prediction of climate, weather, and natural hazards.

The program consists of three main components:

• A series of satellites - These can be used to obtain high resolution imagery photos of the earth.
• An advanced data system - With the ability to support the satellite system.
• And teams of scientists - These teams study the data captured by the satellites and stored in the data system.

The key areas that the program studies include:

• clouds
• water and energy cycles
• oceans
• chemistry of the atmosphere
• land surface
• water and ecosystem processes
• glaciers and polar ice sheets
• the solid Earth

ESE aims to “expand our perspective of the global environment and climate”. In doing so, they hope to find out whether and how Earth can sustain the pressures we’re now placing on it.

For more info, see NASA’s Earth Science page.

The New South Wales (NSW) government of Australia has agreed to introduce new legislation to make industrial hemp cultivation legal.

After decades of opposition to hemp, the NSW government is finally recognizing the benefits that hemp can bring. As well as reaping the great environmental benefits of hemp, the government expects that this will pave the way for a new and viable industry.

Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, says:

Industrial hemp fibre produced here in NSW could pave the way for the establishment of a new viable industry that creates and sells textiles, cloth and building products made from locally grown industrial hemp

Although hemp cultivation has been illegal in NSW until now, trials have been carried out in the west of the state. These have yielded 10 to 12 tonnes of dry stem per hectare, which is similar to yields reported from crops in other Australian states, as well as in Europe.

The National Farmers Federation are welcoming the legislation, although they aren’t aware of many farmers who are hanging out to grow hemp. I suspect over time, many farmers will diversify into this area. Especially if they find it commercially viable.

I sure hope the hemp industry in NSW gets all the support deserves. After all, how many other plants can yield the amazing environmental benefits that hemp does? And how many other plants can provide for such a diverse range of product applications as hemp?

This year is the International Year of the Reef.

The International Year of the Reef 2008 (IYOR 2008) is a worldwide campaign to raise awareness about the value and importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability, and to motivate people to take action to protect them. All individuals, corporations, schools, governments, and organizations are welcome and actively encouraged to participate in IYOR 2008.

The International Year of the Reef was first declared in 1997. IYOR 1997 was a global effort to raise awareness and understanding of our coral reefs and the increasing threats they are facing.

In 1997, IYOR had over 225 organizations in 50 countries participating. There were over 700 articles published in newspapers and magazines. Hundreds of surveys were undertaken.

IYOR 2008 aims to:

• Strengthen awareness about the ecological, economic, social and cultural value of coral reefs and associated ecosystems
• Improve understanding of the critical threats to coral reefs and generate both practical and innovative solutions to reduce these threats
• Generate urgent action at all levels to develop and implement effective management strategies for conservation and sustainable use of these ecosystems.

For more information on IYOR, check out the official IYOR website.

The Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. According to its website, Reef Check aims to:

• Educate the public and governments about the value of coral reefs and rocky reef ecosystems and the crisis facing them
• Create a global network of volunteer teams, trained and led by scientists, that regularly monitor and report on reef health using a standard method
• Facilitate collaborative use of reef health information by community groups, governments, universities and businesses to design and implement ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions
• Stimulate local action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide especially through the creation of Marine Protected Areas.

Reef Check includes 3 major programs:

1. EcoAction Program – an education and certification program for kids to adults who want to learn more about the ocean and take part in protecting reef ecosystems.
2. Coral Reef Management Program – a coral reef monitoring and management system that focuses on establishing Marine Protected Areas to conserve coral reefs while encouraging sustainable use of surrounding reefs by local residents.
3. Reef Check California – a volunteer monitoring program for California rocky reefs designed to provide data for managers and to build a conservation constituency among California divers.

Reef Check works with volunteers in more than 80 countries to help protect and rehabilitate the world’s coral reefs. Much of this work involves monitoring reefs and their marine life, as well as formulating ways to manage their protection and/or rehabilitation.

If you’ve ever been snorkelling or scuba diving, you’ll appreciate the beauty of coral reefs. You might also be aware of the fact that many of the world’s coral reefs are actually dying. In my article on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, I mentioned that factors such as global warming, overfishing, and land pollution are causing major issues for coral reefs. This is where Reef Check hopes to make a difference.

Chief of WWF-Australia, Greg Bourne, has indicated that next year’s Earth Hour will have a much bigger involvement by China. He said:

We’re pretty certain, that when we do it next year, China will become very much more involved

This sounds promising, given China is the world’s most populated country.

Bourne indicates that “tens of millions” of people participated in this year’s Earth Hour. He estimates that it could be as many as 100 million.

That figure will surely increase substantially with China’s increased involvement. According to July 2007 estimates, China’s population is 1,321,851,888!

Bourne also said that this year’s Earth Hour had involvement from every country.

Source: AFP

Earth Hour 2008 was a huge success with cities around the world reducing their energy consumption for an hour.

In Christchurch, New Zealand, power usage dropped by 12.8 per cent during Earth Hour. That’s more than double what the organizers were hoping for. Christchurch was New Zealand’s official host city for this year’s Earth Hour.

Here’s a sample of cities that participated, along with their reported power savings:

• Christchurch saved 12.8 per cent (although some reports have it as high as 13.1 per cent)
• Canberra saved 11.4 per cent
• Toronto saved 9 per cent
• Ontario saved 5 per cent
• Ottawa saved 4 per cent
• Sydney saved 300 megawatts
• Sydney (central) saved 8.4 per cent. Last year, Sydney saved 10.2 per cent during the world’s first Earth Hour.
• London saved 2 per cent
• Bangkok saved 73.3 megawatts of electricity

These results are a stark contrast to cities like Wellington and Regina - cities that didn’t participate. Wellington and Regina’s power usage actually increased during Earth Hour! It’s not known exactly why this occurred but it’s suspected that the cold and wet weather had something to do with it. Many people had their heater on in Wellington, and none of the cities landmark buildings had their lights turned off.

WWF-Australia announced that more than 370 cities, councils, and towns around the world agreed to participate in Earth Hour.

Also, the list of official cities has now increased to 26. (Note that I previously posted a list of 24 cities)

Here’s the 26 official cities participating in Earth Hour:

• Aalborg, Denmark
• Aarhus, Denmark
• Adelaide, Australia
• Atlanta, United States
• Bangkok, Thailand
• Brisbane, Australia
• Canberra, Australia
• Chicago, United States
• Christchurch, New Zealand
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Darwin, Australia
• Dublin, Ireland
• Manila, Philippines
• Melbourne, Australia
• Montreal , Canada
• Odense, Denmark
• Ottawa, Canada
• Perth, Australia
• Phoenix , United States
• San Francisco, United States
• Suva, Fiji
• Sydney, Australia
• Tasmania, Australia
• Tel Aviv, Israel
• Toronto, Canada
• Vancouver, Canada

Here’s a (partial) list of some other cities participating in Earth Hour 2008:

• Aegina, Greece
• Birmingham, United Kingdom
• Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Burlington, Canada
• Calgary, Canada
• Chandigarh, India
• Chisinau, Moldova
• Curitiba, Brazil
• Denver, United States
• Edmonton, Canada
• Galway, Ireland
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Gold Coast, Australia
• Halifax, Canada
• Honolulu, United States
• Jakarta, Indonesia
• Kuwait City, Kuwait
• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Lautoka City, Fiji
• London, United Kingdom
• Mexico City, Mexico
• Miami, United States
• Minneapolis, United States
• Montevideo, Uruguay
• Newcastle, Australia
• Northampton, United Kingdom
• Pasay City, Philippines
• Pecs, Hungary
• Santa Cruz, Bolivia
• Stratford, Canada
• Warsaw, Poland
• Wellington, New Zealand

I think it would be extremely difficult to get an exact figure on the number of cities/local areas participating in Earth Hour. Villages, towns, cities everywhere seem to be participating to some extent. For example, where I live (Cairns, Australia), the council promoted Earth Day and organized Earth Day events such as a free movie screening along the Cairns Esplanade.