Friday, June 14, 2019
Neon Leon: Neon Leon's Big Break
Neon Leon: Neon Leon's Big Break: Neon Leon 720 J Street Centralia WA Dear Readers--There will be no blogs released for a few months. I am taking a break to consider...
Neon Leon's Big Break
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| Neon Leon 720 J Street Centralia WA |
I have spent the last five years focusing on climate change, the ongoing loss of habitat for a multitude of creatures, the continuing depletion of the sources of water and food and the political shenanigans and corruption of the Trump administration, and I still believe that the lying leader of our nation is goin' down one way or another soon.
I have also revealed the vast amount of wonderful things on the horizon in farming, 3D printing and the enormous capacity for improvements in the healthcare industry. I also took note of the marvelous autos and flying machines headed our way.
And I tried very hard to illuminate the power of the internet as a two sided monster which can bring people together for any number of worthwhile pursuits but also giving access to the nasty side of human nature.
Let me be clear here--I will return to this site. Perhaps I will return with stories about the Great Pacific Northwest. Or the long overdue, loving look at some of the legendary pioneers who just happened to be my kin. Maybe an analysis of the Baha'i Faith and the human need for love.
See you soon--Leon Chamberlain
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Neon Leon: ABOUT THOSE FLASHING RED LIGHTS...
Neon Leon: ABOUT THOSE FLASHING RED LIGHTS...: Coal is not a renewable resource, however.
ABOUT THOSE FLASHING RED LIGHTS...
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| Coal is not a renewable resource, however. |
"Even those who don't believe in climate change believe we should develop renewable energy. Americans get it: it's time. This is not controversial. It's actually right in the wheelhouse of American business" --Marshall Herskovitz
Herskovitz, 67, is currently the President Emeritus of the Producers Guild of America. He serves on the advisory board of The Climate Mobilization, an advocacy group calling for a national economic mobilization against climate change on the scale of the home front during World War II, with the goal of 100% clean energy and net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
I agree with his concept of massive mobilization, especially his embrace of American business. I will deal with that shortly. ed. note: Check out my blog archives for info on the world wide deterioration of our supplies of water and food as well as air quality.
I continue on that path today, by analyzing the current capacity of alternative and renewable sources to replace fossil fuels.
Renewable energy comes from a source that is naturally occurring and replenishes naturally without human intervention. Examples include biomass resources, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal and hydro resources, while alternative energy includes resources like natural gas, fuel cells or any waste energy that does not naturally replenish but emits lower carbon emissions.
First, however, an update on what's happening to our planet seems appropriate, given the stubborn resistance of climate change deniers, to wit:
One million plant and animals species are on the verge of extinction, with alarming implications for human survival, according to a United Nations report released on May 6.
According to The Washington Post:
"The landmark report...from universities across the world goes further than previous studies by directly linking the loss of species to human activity [and] shows how those losses are undermining food and water security, as well as human health."
"More plants and animals are threatened with extinction now than any other period in human history, it concludes. Nature’s current rate of decline is unparalleled, and the accelerating rate of extinctions 'means grave impacts on people around the world are now likely,' the report said."
"Robert Watson, a British chemist who served as the panel’s chairman, said the decline in biodiversity is eroding 'the foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.' "
" 'Once you get to basically 2 degrees Celsius [35 degrees fahrenheit], the models show that only 1 percent can survive,' Watson said. 'Let’s be quite candid. We’re not on the pathway to 2 degrees Celsius. We’re on a pathway to 3, 3 ½ degrees Celsius.' "
" 'If we are able to decrease CO2 emissions to zero by 2080, we might avoid 2 degrees Celsius of global temperature increase, but would pass 1.5 degrees Celsius before the year 2040. To actually avoid 1.5 degrees Celsius altogether, CO2 emissions from both fossil fuels and deforestation would need to be eliminated by the year 2050.' "
Here's another red blinking light from The Post:
The headline on May 3 reads As seas rise, Indonesia is moving its capital city. Other cities should take note.
The article by John Englander, president of the International Sea Level Institute is a stunner.
Some excerpts: "The decision [to move Jakarta] validates decades of warnings about the city’s catastrophic flood risk due to sinking land and rising seas."
"While Jakarta is especially vulnerable...to rising seas, it serves as a profound wake-up call for hundreds of major cities, Washington included."
"Indonesian President Widodo said 'the move is necessary, [as] the city can no longer support its massive population in the face of environmental threats...concerns of traffic congestion and water shortages' ...the city is sinking, a phenomenon known as subsidence. In the past 30 years, Jakarta sank more than 10 feet — a problem made only worse as the world’s great ice sheets melt."
"Jakarta is... by no means unique. In the USA major cities such as New Orleans and Norfolk are also subsiding, though not nearly as fast. Even still, all coastal cities must face...the reality of rising seas. There is no time to waste in planning and adapting to this threat."
"Although Miami is often cited as the city most at risk, there are many highly vulnerable — and highly populous — cities around the world, including Mumbai and Calcutta, India; Shanghai; Lagos, Nigeria; Manila; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok; Copenhagen; Tokyo; London; Houston; and Tampa...[these cites] already experience increased flooding during extreme high tides, often referred to as 'king tides.' "
"The latest projections for average global sea-level rise this century range from about three feet to as much as eight. [To lower]... that range largely depends on [reducing] greenhouse gases far beyond current efforts. But even a one-foot rise in sea level can dramatically increase coastal flooding. Hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars of assets are at risk."
"... the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced that...rising seas and subsidence will render the $14 billion fix to New Orleans levees inadequate in just four years. Clearly, we need a new strategy, too."
" [The reduction of] carbon emissions could avert the worst scenarios, but sea-level rise probably cannot be stopped this century. The planet has already warmed almost 2 degrees Fahrenheit, which means ice sheets and glaciers will continue to melt for centuries."
Before you start quivering in fear or hiding under your bed, let me lift your spirits with the increasing levels of success in harnessing the power of renewable and alternative energies.
First, the 2018 report by The International Energy Agency:
"Of the the share of electricity from low-carbon technologies – including renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage -- around one third (35%) of generation came from low-carbon sources in 2017, with the share of renewables reaching 25% and nuclear declining to 10%. In the Sustainability Development Scenario (SDS), the share of generation from low-carbon technologies should increase to nearly two-thirds (63%) in 2030, with wind and solar PV accounting for over 50% of this growth."
"Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) starts being deployed in the late 2020s and accounts for almost 4% of new additions in the period to 2040 with 5% of new generation."
Second, The 2018 Global Status Report (GSR) by Ren 21 noted the following in their executive summary:
"Positive developments show that the renewable energy transition is possible, but advances...are uneven across sectors. The year 2017 was a record-breaking one for renewable energy, [marked] by the largest ever increase in renewable power capacity, falling costs, increases in investment and advances in enabling technologies."
"Increasingly, regions within governments are becoming leaders in renewable energy. At the same time, many emerging countries are expanding their deployment and investment in renewables and related infrastructure. The private sector...drives the deployment of renewable energy through its procurement and investment decisions."
"Renewable-based stand-alone and off-grid single home or mini-grid systems represented about 6% of new electricity connections worldwide between 2012 and 2016."
On the home front, an article a year ago from Fortune magazine click here was upbeat about gains in alternative energy sources:
I agree with his concept of massive mobilization, especially his embrace of American business. I will deal with that shortly. ed. note: Check out my blog archives for info on the world wide deterioration of our supplies of water and food as well as air quality.
I continue on that path today, by analyzing the current capacity of alternative and renewable sources to replace fossil fuels.
Renewable energy comes from a source that is naturally occurring and replenishes naturally without human intervention. Examples include biomass resources, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal and hydro resources, while alternative energy includes resources like natural gas, fuel cells or any waste energy that does not naturally replenish but emits lower carbon emissions.
First, however, an update on what's happening to our planet seems appropriate, given the stubborn resistance of climate change deniers, to wit:
One million plant and animals species are on the verge of extinction, with alarming implications for human survival, according to a United Nations report released on May 6.
According to The Washington Post:
"The landmark report...from universities across the world goes further than previous studies by directly linking the loss of species to human activity [and] shows how those losses are undermining food and water security, as well as human health."
"More plants and animals are threatened with extinction now than any other period in human history, it concludes. Nature’s current rate of decline is unparalleled, and the accelerating rate of extinctions 'means grave impacts on people around the world are now likely,' the report said."
"Robert Watson, a British chemist who served as the panel’s chairman, said the decline in biodiversity is eroding 'the foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.' "
" 'Once you get to basically 2 degrees Celsius [35 degrees fahrenheit], the models show that only 1 percent can survive,' Watson said. 'Let’s be quite candid. We’re not on the pathway to 2 degrees Celsius. We’re on a pathway to 3, 3 ½ degrees Celsius.' "
" 'If we are able to decrease CO2 emissions to zero by 2080, we might avoid 2 degrees Celsius of global temperature increase, but would pass 1.5 degrees Celsius before the year 2040. To actually avoid 1.5 degrees Celsius altogether, CO2 emissions from both fossil fuels and deforestation would need to be eliminated by the year 2050.' "
Here's another red blinking light from The Post:
The headline on May 3 reads As seas rise, Indonesia is moving its capital city. Other cities should take note.
The article by John Englander, president of the International Sea Level Institute is a stunner.
Some excerpts: "The decision [to move Jakarta] validates decades of warnings about the city’s catastrophic flood risk due to sinking land and rising seas."
"While Jakarta is especially vulnerable...to rising seas, it serves as a profound wake-up call for hundreds of major cities, Washington included."
"Indonesian President Widodo said 'the move is necessary, [as] the city can no longer support its massive population in the face of environmental threats...concerns of traffic congestion and water shortages' ...the city is sinking, a phenomenon known as subsidence. In the past 30 years, Jakarta sank more than 10 feet — a problem made only worse as the world’s great ice sheets melt."
"Jakarta is... by no means unique. In the USA major cities such as New Orleans and Norfolk are also subsiding, though not nearly as fast. Even still, all coastal cities must face...the reality of rising seas. There is no time to waste in planning and adapting to this threat."
"Although Miami is often cited as the city most at risk, there are many highly vulnerable — and highly populous — cities around the world, including Mumbai and Calcutta, India; Shanghai; Lagos, Nigeria; Manila; Dhaka, Bangladesh; Bangkok; Copenhagen; Tokyo; London; Houston; and Tampa...[these cites] already experience increased flooding during extreme high tides, often referred to as 'king tides.' "
"The latest projections for average global sea-level rise this century range from about three feet to as much as eight. [To lower]... that range largely depends on [reducing] greenhouse gases far beyond current efforts. But even a one-foot rise in sea level can dramatically increase coastal flooding. Hundreds of millions of people and trillions of dollars of assets are at risk."
"... the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently announced that...rising seas and subsidence will render the $14 billion fix to New Orleans levees inadequate in just four years. Clearly, we need a new strategy, too."
" [The reduction of] carbon emissions could avert the worst scenarios, but sea-level rise probably cannot be stopped this century. The planet has already warmed almost 2 degrees Fahrenheit, which means ice sheets and glaciers will continue to melt for centuries."
Before you start quivering in fear or hiding under your bed, let me lift your spirits with the increasing levels of success in harnessing the power of renewable and alternative energies.
First, the 2018 report by The International Energy Agency:
"Of the the share of electricity from low-carbon technologies – including renewables, nuclear and carbon capture and storage -- around one third (35%) of generation came from low-carbon sources in 2017, with the share of renewables reaching 25% and nuclear declining to 10%. In the Sustainability Development Scenario (SDS), the share of generation from low-carbon technologies should increase to nearly two-thirds (63%) in 2030, with wind and solar PV accounting for over 50% of this growth."
"Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) starts being deployed in the late 2020s and accounts for almost 4% of new additions in the period to 2040 with 5% of new generation."
"Positive developments show that the renewable energy transition is possible, but advances...are uneven across sectors. The year 2017 was a record-breaking one for renewable energy, [marked] by the largest ever increase in renewable power capacity, falling costs, increases in investment and advances in enabling technologies."
"Increasingly, regions within governments are becoming leaders in renewable energy. At the same time, many emerging countries are expanding their deployment and investment in renewables and related infrastructure. The private sector...drives the deployment of renewable energy through its procurement and investment decisions."
"Renewable-based stand-alone and off-grid single home or mini-grid systems represented about 6% of new electricity connections worldwide between 2012 and 2016."
On the home front, an article a year ago from Fortune magazine click here was upbeat about gains in alternative energy sources:
"Eighteen percent of [American electricity] was provided by renewable sources in 2017, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric dams. That’s up from 15% in 2016. Meanwhile, both greenhouse gas emissions from power generation and consumer spending on power declined."
"Renewables’ share of U.S. energy consumption has now doubled since 2008, as coal’s share crashed in the same period from 48% to 30%."
"Solar and wind projects made up roughly 62% of new power construction in 2017, as their cost continues to plummet. 2.9 gigawatts of new renewable energy projects were initiated last year [and] the solar and wind industries are creating jobs faster than the rest of the economy. In 2017, 10.4 million people were employed in the renewable energy industry globally, [mostly] in the solar and bioenergy industries."
Here's a breakdown of the energy sources coming to the rescue:
SOLAR
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| The size of more than 3,500 Soccer fields, Noor Ouarzazate in Morocco is the world's biggest concentrated solar power farm. |
First, let me define what solar energy is. There are two main types of solar energy technology: photovoltaics (PV) and solar thermal, also known as Consolidated Thermal Power (CSP). Solar PV is the rooftop solar you see on homes and businesses - it produces electricity from solar energy directly. Solar thermal technologies use the sun’s energy to generate heat, and electricity is generated from that. It is completely renewable installation costs are outweighed by the money saved in energy bills from traditional suppliers.
A summary of Wikipedia sources click here about solar power reports in 2018 includes the following:
SOLAR PV
New solar PV installations surpassed net additions (the total amount of energy gained from harvesting the source after deducting the amount of energy that was spent to harvest it) of fossil fuels and nuclear power combined. Solar PV was the top source of new power generating capacity in 2017, due largely to strong growth in China. Global capacity increased nearly one-third, due largely to the increasing competitiveness of solar PV, combined with growing electrical demand in developing countries and rising awareness of the technology’s potential to alleviate pollution, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide energy access.
The year 2017 saw record-low auction prices driven by intense competition to increase efficiencies and reduce energy costs. Even as falling prices have challenged solar PV companies, low and predictable energy prices offered by solar PV, along with expanding markets, are luring new participants to the industry, including oil and gas companies.
CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER
CSP plants with thermal energy storage emerge as a viable competitor to fossil fuel thermal power plants. Global concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity reached 4.9 gigawatts (GW) in 2017, with South Africa being the only country to bring new CSP capacity online (100 megawatts (MW). However, at year’s end about 2 GW of new plants was under construction; Spain remained the global leader in existing CSP capacity, followed by the United States.
WIND POWER
An analysis by REN21 shown here in 2018 is bullish on wind power. Some excerpts:
"Current wind energy installations power roughly twenty million homes in the US per year and that number is growing. Most states in the nation now have some form of wind energy...and investment... continues to grow."
A summary of Wikipedia sources click here about solar power reports in 2018 includes the following:
SOLAR PV
New solar PV installations surpassed net additions (the total amount of energy gained from harvesting the source after deducting the amount of energy that was spent to harvest it) of fossil fuels and nuclear power combined. Solar PV was the top source of new power generating capacity in 2017, due largely to strong growth in China. Global capacity increased nearly one-third, due largely to the increasing competitiveness of solar PV, combined with growing electrical demand in developing countries and rising awareness of the technology’s potential to alleviate pollution, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and provide energy access.
The year 2017 saw record-low auction prices driven by intense competition to increase efficiencies and reduce energy costs. Even as falling prices have challenged solar PV companies, low and predictable energy prices offered by solar PV, along with expanding markets, are luring new participants to the industry, including oil and gas companies.
CONCENTRATING SOLAR THERMAL POWER
CSP plants with thermal energy storage emerge as a viable competitor to fossil fuel thermal power plants. Global concentrating solar thermal power (CSP) capacity reached 4.9 gigawatts (GW) in 2017, with South Africa being the only country to bring new CSP capacity online (100 megawatts (MW). However, at year’s end about 2 GW of new plants was under construction; Spain remained the global leader in existing CSP capacity, followed by the United States.
WIND POWER
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| Norway Wind Energy Farm |
An analysis by REN21 shown here in 2018 is bullish on wind power. Some excerpts:
"Current wind energy installations power roughly twenty million homes in the US per year and that number is growing. Most states in the nation now have some form of wind energy...and investment... continues to grow."
"Prices fell rapidly for both onshore and offshore wind power, and the offshore sector had its best year yet. The year 2017 brought tumbling bid prices for both onshore and offshore wind power capacity in auctions around the world...due to technology innovation and scale, [continuing] technology advances, reduced financing costs...and fierce competition in the industry. Electric utilities and large oil and gas companies continued to move further into the industry."
"Though it is a fairly new technology, its potential is enormous. A report made in Britain estimated that tidal energy could meet as much as 20% of the UK’s current electricity demands."
"The most common form of tidal energy generation is the use of Tidal Stream Generators [which] use the kinetic energy of the ocean to power turbines, without producing fossil fuels waste or being as susceptible to the elements as other forms of alternative energy."
"Another plus--the turbines are usually completely under water, so no one can complain about them spoiling the view."
"...bioenergy [represented] around 6% of global heat consumption in 2017. Recent advancements have also seen waste, such as that in landfills, and alcohol products used for similar purposes.in 2017."
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
Hydrogen (H) is defined as a chemical element with atomic number 1 in the periodic table of elements. It is the lightest element and the most abundant chemical substance in the universe.
"Unlike other forms of natural gas, hydrogen is a ...clean burning fuel. Once produced, hydrogen gas cells emit only water vapor and warm air when in use."
"The major issue with this form of alternative energy is that it is mostly derived from the use of ...fossil fuels. As such, it could be argued that the emissions created to extract it counteract the benefits of its use."
"The process of electrolysis, which [splits] water into hydrogen and oxygen, makes this less of an issue [but] electrolysis [is used far less than the other methods] though research continues to make it more efficient and cost-effective."
"Hydrogen use in vehicles [has] enormous potential as an alternative transportation fuel [because] its fuel cells [are highly efficient] and [have] zero emissions in electric vehicles."
"Most hydrogen-fueled vehicles are [cars] and transit buses [with] an electric motor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. A few of these vehicles burn hydrogen directly. The high cost of fuel cells and the [small number] of hydrogen fueling stations have limited the number of [these] vehicles."
But, hold on! Get this--Europe is beginning to use Hydrail (Hydrogen powered trains)! According to the British newspaper, The Telegraph click here reported in January that " [Hydrails could be running] on British railways as early as 2022...
Starting with the first nuclear power station in 1956 (Calder Hall in England), nukes enjoyed continued growth for decades until the events at Chernobyl and Fukushima cast a critical eye on the massive danger poised to mankind when real things go bump in the night.
However, nuclear power remains as one of the most abundant forms of alternative energy. And few would deny that there are direct benefits in terms of emissions and efficiency, while also boosting the economy with creating jobs.
The 2018 report by the World Nuclear Organization click here indicates some of the changes to the industry, to wit:
"[There were] 9 reactor startups (8 less than scheduled), 7 closure decisions and 5 construction starts. Two new reactors entered Long-Term Outage (LTO) and 7 were restarted. Globally, 415 reactors are operating (10 more than a year ago), 49 are under construction (lowest in a decade)."
"Only two countries have started up new reactors in 2018, China connected seven and Russia two. The total of nine new startups compares with 17 units scheduled at the beginning of the year."
"Four units were permanently closed, two in Russia one each in South Korea and the U.S., while two reactors were added to the LTO category, one each in China and India. [The]... 415 operating reactors [includes] 10 more than at the beginning of 2018, but still below pre-Fukushima levels and 23 units from the historic peak of 438 in 2002."
Finally, scientists all over the world are heavily engaged in the pursuit of the holy grail in power- -Nuclear fusion. It offers a means of producing energy that’s safer and cleaner than current methods.
According to the dictionary (Merriam-Webster Online, www.m-w.com), the process is essentially the opposite of nuclear fission, which is used to power today’s nuclear plants. Fission involves splitting large atoms into smaller ones; fusion, on the other hand, combines atoms to release even greater amounts of energy.
Fusion has been a long-sought-after energy source because it is the most efficient power-producing process we know of. Hydrogen is a plentiful fuel, and unlike fission, fusion reactions create minimal, carbon-free waste. Further, hydrogen is in near infinite supply, so we’d be able to power fusion reactors for a long time. For a dramatic demonstration of fusion’s power, just look up toward the sun.
Nuclear fusion is attracting investors interest.
The Economist Magazine focused on nuclear fusion in May. Their findings:
"Firms in North America and Europe are... planning to build...profitable fusion reactors. Their projects have different approaches and different amounts of money behind them. But they all have one thing in common, a desire to bury the old joke that commercial fusion power is 30 years away—and always will be."
"These days most attempts to achieve [fusion] are made using machines called tokamaks...And it is the tokamak route that several of the commercial fusion-power wannabes are travelling along. One such is Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS)...Another is Tokamak Energy...Tokamak Energy has already built a series of working prototypes [CFS has not]."
"There are other approaches beyond using tokamaks. In Vancouver, Canada, a firm called General Fusion is working on one that uses a phenomenon called field-reversed configuration (FRC). [They hope to [build] an experiential plant within five years."
"Another firm...is TAE Technologies...TAE’s... device, unveiled in...2017, is a 25-metre-long machine named Norman, [which] is a cylindrical reactor. It is radical in it's choice of fuel (plasma injectors)."
"And, in the actual design of its reactor, the most radical of the lot is probably the path being pursued by First Light Fusion...Though First Light’s process aims to extract energy from a conventional mixture of deuterium and tritium, [they are unique in their usage of hydrogen isotopes found in normal water.]"
Investment Capital is being raised for these ventures. TAE has rustled up $600m in private funding so far. General Fusion has raised over $100m, Tokamak Energy $65m and First Light, which is still at the earliest stages of progress, $33m.
"[There is] no shortage of ideas about how a practical fusion reactor might be built [and]
everyone talks a good story about this. CFS wants to achieve gain by 2025...TAE aspires to supply fusion-based electricity to the grid by 2030. Which is also the year that Tokamak Energy says it will start generating grid-scale electricity...First Light Fusion predicts that reactors using its technology will be in place some time in the 2030s."
"Stephen Dean, of Fusion Power Associates... observes, 'the history of fusion doesn’t give you a lot of confidence that there won’t be a problem... We’ve been at it for 50 years and there’s always been a problem.' Nevertheless, he also says that ...'They’re all based on good physics. They’re all good people that are doing these programmes. And the prize is enormous. If even one of the fusion startups succeeds, the world’s electricity supply will be guaranteed—and carbon free—for ever.' "
SHOW ME THE MONEY $$$$$$$$$$$$$
So, ya gotta wonder--is all this hoopla about renewables attracting investors with very deep pockets?
One source for an answer comes From the REN21 2017 report mentioned earlier:
A number of countries have introduced initiatives to promote the growth of solar power. Britain's "Feed-in Tariff’ is one example, as is the United States "Solar Investment Tax Credit".
Dollar investment in new renewable power capacity (including all hydropower) was three times the investment in fossil fuel generating capacity, and more than double the investment in fossil fuel and nuclear power generation combined.
Developing and emerging economies overtook developed countries in renewable energy investment for the first time in 2015 and extended their lead in 2017, accounting for a record 63% of the global total, due largely to China. Investment in developing and emerging countries increased 20% to USD 177 billion, while that of developed countries fell 19% to USD 103 billion.
In 2017, corporations sourced renewable electricity in more than 70 countries through corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), utility green procurement programmes and unbundled renewable electricity certificates (RECs) or guarantees of origin (GOs). In addition, corporations in a large number of countries worldwide have invested directly in renewable energy systems for their own consumption.
I should also note that Ford has announced a $500 million investment to develop an all-new electric vehicle in Michigan.
In April, Forbes Magazine published an analysis of the bucks flowing to renewables and alternative fuels thusly:
(1) Big oil is putting capital into low carbon initiatives such as using captured carbon dioxide in oil recovery, returning massive amounts of carbon permanently into the ground. Examples: Occidental Petroleum is building gas liquefaction plants and Shell has been building off-shore wind facilities.
(2) Capital is indeed being raised by the fusion companies mentioned earlier. TAE has rustled up $600m in private funding so far. General Fusion has raised over $100m, Tokamak Energy $65m) and First Light, which is still at the earliest stages of progress, $33m.
(3) Natural Gas will facilitate the increased use of wind and solar energy until utility scale batteries are developed. And methanol is in increasing use as a bunker fuel for shipping, displacing diesel.
(4) Investments in battery storage continues apace and could eventually lead to a more robust renewables sector. The price of battery storage has tumbled by 79% since 2010, from $1,000/kWh to $209/kWh (kilowatt hours)
(5) Governments around the world have chipped in big time with green energy requirements, tax and regulatory mandates and financial incentives while government research has led to past innovations such as unlocking trapped natural gas to current efforts to make cold fusion a reality.
(6) Oil will be with us for decades, natural gas likely much longer. But progress is being made and, from an investment perspective, a new green deal is already here. There is no reason for an investor today to choose between doing good and doing well, at least in the energy and climate change space.
(7) Each of these strategies represents a part of a now undeniable megatrend and investing in the energy transition is no longer an aspiration, it is now a powerful portfolio tool.
"...Rapidly falling prices for wind power have made it the least-cost option for new power capacity in a large and growing number of countries."
"The offshore wind sector had its best year yet, as total capacity increased 30%. ...and the world’s first commercial floating project was commissioned in Scotland...[while] at least 13 countries...met 10% or more of their electricity consumption with wind power during 2017."
OCEAN ENERGY
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| technologies creating renewable energies from seas and oceans |
Ocean energy was also covered in the 2018 REN21 report cited above.
"[Overall] industry’s optimism and development efforts brought ocean energy closer to commercialisation. Of the approximately 529 megawatts (MW) of operating ocean energy capacity at the end of 2017, more than 90% was represented by two tidal barrage facilities."
"...in Europe...some technologies advanced enough to be on the brink of commercialisation. The industry started constructing its first manufacturing plants, promising greater production scale and cost reductions. Government support...through direct funding, [research] and infrastructure support, remains a critical element in ongoing development."
TIDAL ENERGY
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| The French Sabella Tidal Generator |
"While tidal energy uses the power of water to generate energy, much like with hydroelectric methods, its application...has more in common with wind turbines in many cases."
"Though it is a fairly new technology, its potential is enormous. A report made in Britain estimated that tidal energy could meet as much as 20% of the UK’s current electricity demands."
"The most common form of tidal energy generation is the use of Tidal Stream Generators [which] use the kinetic energy of the ocean to power turbines, without producing fossil fuels waste or being as susceptible to the elements as other forms of alternative energy."
"In the USA, most of the tidal energy resources are along the coast of Alaska where populations are small. Still, tidal energy could power their small cities."
"Unlike the wind, the tides are very predictable. So it’s easy to decide where to put tidal turbines and figure out how much energy they will generate.
"Another plus--the turbines are usually completely under water, so no one can complain about them spoiling the view."
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| The Oyster has been making wave energy since 2009 |
WAVE ENERGY
"Water again [is] a valuable contributor to alternative energy... sources with wave energy converters. [They are better than] tidal energy sources because they can be placed in the ocean in various situations and locations."
"[Benefits include:]...no waste production, high reliability and...enormous potential."
"... the cost of such systems is a major contributing factor to slow uptake. Even though wave energy is [new] capital costs per net kw are already down in the range of wind energy devices, and below solar."
HYDROPOWER
Harnessing the force of falling water may be the world's oldest source of power. Its value lies in more than energy production--it also helps to control flooding control and irrigating crops.
The 2018 Report by the International Hydropower Association has these updates on their website:
- Hydropower generates about 24 percent of the world's and 12 percent of the United States' electricity.
- China remained the perennial leader in commissioning new hydropower capacity, accounting for nearly 40% of new installations in 2017.
- Pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH) (a type of hydroelectric energy storage used by electric power systems during periods of high electrical demand) accounted for about 96% of global energy storage capacity in 2017.
- According to the EIA, "Hydropower is also growing and accounts for one-fifth of new renewables...and over a quarter of the growth in renewable energy electricity generation."
BIOENERGY
Bioenergy is defined as renewable energy made available from materials derived from biological sources. Biomass is any organic material which has stored sunlight in the form of chemical energy. As a fuel it may include wood, wood waste, straw, and other crop residues, manure, sugarcane, and many other by-products from a variety of agricultural processes.
Recent advancements have also seen waste, such as that in landfills, and alcohol products used for similar purposes.
"Bioenergy accounts for roughly 9% of world total primary energy supply today...half of this relates to the traditional use of biomass in developing countries for cooking and heating, using inefficient open fires or... cookstoves with impacts on health [like] indoor [and outdoor smoke pollution..."
"Modern bioenergy [however] is an important source of renewable energy--its contribution to final energy demand...is five times higher than wind and solar PV combined."
"...bioenergy [represented] around 6% of global heat consumption in 2017. Recent advancements have also seen waste, such as that in landfills, and alcohol products used for similar purposes.in 2017."
"In recent years, bioenergy for electricity and transport biofuels has been growing the fastest, mainly due to higher levels of policy support."
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| Swimmers near icelandic geothermal plant |
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
According to a recent National Geographic article, geothermal energy is "simply power derived from the Earth’s internal heat...contained in the rock and fluids beneath Earth's crust [ranging] from shallow ground to several miles below the surface..."
"These underground reservoirs of steam and hot water can be tapped to generate electricity [in power plants] or to heat and cool buildings directly."
"A geothermal heat pump system can take advantage of the constant temperature of the upper ten feet of the Earth’s surface to heat a home in the winter, while extracting heat from the building and transferring it back to the relatively cooler ground in the summer."
HYDROGEN POWER
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| Linde's hydrogen station in Emeryville, California |
Hydrogen power can be a mite complicated to understand, so let me help simplify the subject with this diagram:
The supply area depicts all of the sources (renewable and non-renewable) used in the process of creating power and all of them can be used to create hydrogen (H) power. The most common forms are hydrogen gas and hydrogen fuel cells.
The best synopsis of Hydrogen power is by the aforementioned Energy Information Agency. Some excerpts:
"Hydrogen gas (H2) is colorless, odorless and highly flammable. On the periodic table, it is the chemical element of atomic number 1..
"Unlike other forms of natural gas, hydrogen is a ...clean burning fuel. Once produced, hydrogen gas cells emit only water vapor and warm air when in use."
"The major issue with this form of alternative energy is that it is mostly derived from the use of ...fossil fuels. As such, it could be argued that the emissions created to extract it counteract the benefits of its use."
"The process of electrolysis, which [splits] water into hydrogen and oxygen, makes this less of an issue [but] electrolysis [is used far less than the other methods] though research continues to make it more efficient and cost-effective."
"Hydrogen fuel cells produce electricity by combining hydrogen and oxygen atoms. [They] are pollution-free and have greater efficiency than traditional combustion technology."
"...Small fuel cells can power any portable device that uses batteries [while] large fuel cells can provide electricity for emergency power in buildings and in remote areas...not connected to electric power grids."
"Hydrogen use in vehicles [has] enormous potential as an alternative transportation fuel [because] its fuel cells [are highly efficient] and [have] zero emissions in electric vehicles."
"Most hydrogen-fueled vehicles are [cars] and transit buses [with] an electric motor powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. A few of these vehicles burn hydrogen directly. The high cost of fuel cells and the [small number] of hydrogen fueling stations have limited the number of [these] vehicles."
But, hold on! Get this--Europe is beginning to use Hydrail (Hydrogen powered trains)! According to the British newspaper, The Telegraph click here reported in January that " [Hydrails could be running] on British railways as early as 2022...
Based on the tried-and-tested British Rail Class 321, the fuel cell trains – nicknamed ‘Breeze’ – will bring zero-emission hydrogen tech to parts of the UK that still run on diesel."
NUCLEAR POWER
However, nuclear power remains as one of the most abundant forms of alternative energy. And few would deny that there are direct benefits in terms of emissions and efficiency, while also boosting the economy with creating jobs.
The 2018 report by the World Nuclear Organization click here indicates some of the changes to the industry, to wit:
"[There were] 9 reactor startups (8 less than scheduled), 7 closure decisions and 5 construction starts. Two new reactors entered Long-Term Outage (LTO) and 7 were restarted. Globally, 415 reactors are operating (10 more than a year ago), 49 are under construction (lowest in a decade)."
"Only two countries have started up new reactors in 2018, China connected seven and Russia two. The total of nine new startups compares with 17 units scheduled at the beginning of the year."
"Four units were permanently closed, two in Russia one each in South Korea and the U.S., while two reactors were added to the LTO category, one each in China and India. [The]... 415 operating reactors [includes] 10 more than at the beginning of 2018, but still below pre-Fukushima levels and 23 units from the historic peak of 438 in 2002."
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| ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) |
Finally, scientists all over the world are heavily engaged in the pursuit of the holy grail in power- -Nuclear fusion. It offers a means of producing energy that’s safer and cleaner than current methods.
According to the dictionary (Merriam-Webster Online, www.m-w.com), the process is essentially the opposite of nuclear fission, which is used to power today’s nuclear plants. Fission involves splitting large atoms into smaller ones; fusion, on the other hand, combines atoms to release even greater amounts of energy.
Fusion has been a long-sought-after energy source because it is the most efficient power-producing process we know of. Hydrogen is a plentiful fuel, and unlike fission, fusion reactions create minimal, carbon-free waste. Further, hydrogen is in near infinite supply, so we’d be able to power fusion reactors for a long time. For a dramatic demonstration of fusion’s power, just look up toward the sun.
Nuclear fusion is attracting investors interest.
The Economist Magazine focused on nuclear fusion in May. Their findings:
"Firms in North America and Europe are... planning to build...profitable fusion reactors. Their projects have different approaches and different amounts of money behind them. But they all have one thing in common, a desire to bury the old joke that commercial fusion power is 30 years away—and always will be."
"These days most attempts to achieve [fusion] are made using machines called tokamaks...And it is the tokamak route that several of the commercial fusion-power wannabes are travelling along. One such is Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS)...Another is Tokamak Energy...Tokamak Energy has already built a series of working prototypes [CFS has not]."
"There are other approaches beyond using tokamaks. In Vancouver, Canada, a firm called General Fusion is working on one that uses a phenomenon called field-reversed configuration (FRC). [They hope to [build] an experiential plant within five years."
"Another firm...is TAE Technologies...TAE’s... device, unveiled in...2017, is a 25-metre-long machine named Norman, [which] is a cylindrical reactor. It is radical in it's choice of fuel (plasma injectors)."
"And, in the actual design of its reactor, the most radical of the lot is probably the path being pursued by First Light Fusion...Though First Light’s process aims to extract energy from a conventional mixture of deuterium and tritium, [they are unique in their usage of hydrogen isotopes found in normal water.]"
Investment Capital is being raised for these ventures. TAE has rustled up $600m in private funding so far. General Fusion has raised over $100m, Tokamak Energy $65m and First Light, which is still at the earliest stages of progress, $33m.
"[There is] no shortage of ideas about how a practical fusion reactor might be built [and]
everyone talks a good story about this. CFS wants to achieve gain by 2025...TAE aspires to supply fusion-based electricity to the grid by 2030. Which is also the year that Tokamak Energy says it will start generating grid-scale electricity...First Light Fusion predicts that reactors using its technology will be in place some time in the 2030s."
"Stephen Dean, of Fusion Power Associates... observes, 'the history of fusion doesn’t give you a lot of confidence that there won’t be a problem... We’ve been at it for 50 years and there’s always been a problem.' Nevertheless, he also says that ...'They’re all based on good physics. They’re all good people that are doing these programmes. And the prize is enormous. If even one of the fusion startups succeeds, the world’s electricity supply will be guaranteed—and carbon free—for ever.' "
SHOW ME THE MONEY $$$$$$$$$$$$$
So, ya gotta wonder--is all this hoopla about renewables attracting investors with very deep pockets?
One source for an answer comes From the REN21 2017 report mentioned earlier:
A number of countries have introduced initiatives to promote the growth of solar power. Britain's "Feed-in Tariff’ is one example, as is the United States "Solar Investment Tax Credit".
Dollar investment in new renewable power capacity (including all hydropower) was three times the investment in fossil fuel generating capacity, and more than double the investment in fossil fuel and nuclear power generation combined.
Developing and emerging economies overtook developed countries in renewable energy investment for the first time in 2015 and extended their lead in 2017, accounting for a record 63% of the global total, due largely to China. Investment in developing and emerging countries increased 20% to USD 177 billion, while that of developed countries fell 19% to USD 103 billion.
In 2017, corporations sourced renewable electricity in more than 70 countries through corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs), utility green procurement programmes and unbundled renewable electricity certificates (RECs) or guarantees of origin (GOs). In addition, corporations in a large number of countries worldwide have invested directly in renewable energy systems for their own consumption.
I should also note that Ford has announced a $500 million investment to develop an all-new electric vehicle in Michigan.
(1) Big oil is putting capital into low carbon initiatives such as using captured carbon dioxide in oil recovery, returning massive amounts of carbon permanently into the ground. Examples: Occidental Petroleum is building gas liquefaction plants and Shell has been building off-shore wind facilities.
(2) Capital is indeed being raised by the fusion companies mentioned earlier. TAE has rustled up $600m in private funding so far. General Fusion has raised over $100m, Tokamak Energy $65m) and First Light, which is still at the earliest stages of progress, $33m.
(3) Natural Gas will facilitate the increased use of wind and solar energy until utility scale batteries are developed. And methanol is in increasing use as a bunker fuel for shipping, displacing diesel.
(4) Investments in battery storage continues apace and could eventually lead to a more robust renewables sector. The price of battery storage has tumbled by 79% since 2010, from $1,000/kWh to $209/kWh (kilowatt hours)
(5) Governments around the world have chipped in big time with green energy requirements, tax and regulatory mandates and financial incentives while government research has led to past innovations such as unlocking trapped natural gas to current efforts to make cold fusion a reality.
(6) Oil will be with us for decades, natural gas likely much longer. But progress is being made and, from an investment perspective, a new green deal is already here. There is no reason for an investor today to choose between doing good and doing well, at least in the energy and climate change space.
(7) Each of these strategies represents a part of a now undeniable megatrend and investing in the energy transition is no longer an aspiration, it is now a powerful portfolio tool.
There is yet another future renewable energy source which has received little attention--converting air to gas. It seems that Microsoft founder Bill Gates has found a new outlet for his restless energy and wealth.
The Guardian online Magazine has published an article entitled "Could the future of clean energy be to turn air into petrol?" Some excerpts:
"It may sound too good to be true, but Bill Gates and his partners are experimenting with a technology that could potentially help stop global warming as well as provide clean fuel."
"[In fact, their] engineers have already succeeded in extracting CO2 from the air and using it to produce a mix of petrol and diesel. They hope to eventually replicate the process on an industrial scale."
OK, let's go to my get real department.
In the foreseeable future, coal is toast. The stinky stuff is simply no longer competitive, despite Trump's ill founded support.
No energy sector can stand alone; none have an absolute lock on power generation, to wit:
Solar power is reliant on locations where the sun shines. Ditto for wind power.
While geothermal energy is generated in over 20 countries, the heavy upfront costs of creating power plants as well as the eye watering
expenses necessary to drill six miles to reach the "hot spots", can be daunting.
Although research continues into ways to better harness the power of fusion, it remains in experimental stages.
Biofuels stand out because they make use of animal and plant life to create energy and are renewable when plants are used and are renewable in cases where plants are used. The catch? Currently, they usually require fossil fuels to power the machinery for extraction, which can contribute to increased emissions even if biofuels themselves don’t.
There are signs everywhere that the auto industry is going fully electric.
For instance, in the 2019 New York International Auto Show, 40 vehicles had a battery power component; the top two finalists for World Car of The Year were fully electric (Jaguar's I-Pace, followed by Audi's e-tron).
Also, according to Inside EVs, "...in 2018, electric vehicles sales were up by 81%. The sales of electric vehicles are also increasing...in other countries. Electric cars outsold other non-electric car models in Norway...which was about 60% of all vehicles sales."
However, while its true that EVs put out zero emissions, they don’t produce any power themselves; they are only as green as the power that comes out of the wall socket. Further, driving ranges vary greatly. In particular, if you love to put the pedal to the metal, your range drops dramatically.
Bottom line? There is no silver bullet here. Renewables are clearly on a tear but they still produce only some 20 % of our energy sources worldwide. They must work with all the other energy sources whenever and whenever they can in order to meet the insatiable energy needs of an ever increasing population.
Given enough time, there is little doubt that we can do this, especially if we can somehow resist the urge to buy piles of stuff we really don't need at all.
Is there enough time? For this writer, that question is one I have often tried to answer and failed. But I am beginning to think the odds are increasingly in mankind's favor, given our capacity to choose kindness over meanness; to embrace nature like an old friend long missing but found again; to finally realize that while the clock is ticking ever faster, we can do this!
The Guardian online Magazine has published an article entitled "Could the future of clean energy be to turn air into petrol?" Some excerpts:
"It may sound too good to be true, but Bill Gates and his partners are experimenting with a technology that could potentially help stop global warming as well as provide clean fuel."
"[In fact, their] engineers have already succeeded in extracting CO2 from the air and using it to produce a mix of petrol and diesel. They hope to eventually replicate the process on an industrial scale."
OK, let's go to my get real department.
In the foreseeable future, coal is toast. The stinky stuff is simply no longer competitive, despite Trump's ill founded support.
No energy sector can stand alone; none have an absolute lock on power generation, to wit:
Solar power is reliant on locations where the sun shines. Ditto for wind power.
While geothermal energy is generated in over 20 countries, the heavy upfront costs of creating power plants as well as the eye watering
expenses necessary to drill six miles to reach the "hot spots", can be daunting.
Although research continues into ways to better harness the power of fusion, it remains in experimental stages.
Biofuels stand out because they make use of animal and plant life to create energy and are renewable when plants are used and are renewable in cases where plants are used. The catch? Currently, they usually require fossil fuels to power the machinery for extraction, which can contribute to increased emissions even if biofuels themselves don’t.
There are signs everywhere that the auto industry is going fully electric.
For instance, in the 2019 New York International Auto Show, 40 vehicles had a battery power component; the top two finalists for World Car of The Year were fully electric (Jaguar's I-Pace, followed by Audi's e-tron).
Also, according to Inside EVs, "...in 2018, electric vehicles sales were up by 81%. The sales of electric vehicles are also increasing...in other countries. Electric cars outsold other non-electric car models in Norway...which was about 60% of all vehicles sales."
However, while its true that EVs put out zero emissions, they don’t produce any power themselves; they are only as green as the power that comes out of the wall socket. Further, driving ranges vary greatly. In particular, if you love to put the pedal to the metal, your range drops dramatically.
Bottom line? There is no silver bullet here. Renewables are clearly on a tear but they still produce only some 20 % of our energy sources worldwide. They must work with all the other energy sources whenever and whenever they can in order to meet the insatiable energy needs of an ever increasing population.
Given enough time, there is little doubt that we can do this, especially if we can somehow resist the urge to buy piles of stuff we really don't need at all.
Is there enough time? For this writer, that question is one I have often tried to answer and failed. But I am beginning to think the odds are increasingly in mankind's favor, given our capacity to choose kindness over meanness; to embrace nature like an old friend long missing but found again; to finally realize that while the clock is ticking ever faster, we can do this!
Monday, April 15, 2019
Neon Leon: A Guide For Saving Our Mother
Neon Leon: A Guide For Saving Our Mother: Somewhere Over The Rainbow by John Forrest For this writer, the painting by John Forrest is a powerful appeal for people everywhere t...
A Guide For Saving Our Mother
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| Somewhere Over The Rainbow by John Forrest |
For this writer, the painting by John Forrest is a powerful appeal for people everywhere to look at what is happening to Mother Earth. Dorothy is shown as she was in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. However, there's no Emerald City and no characters like Tin Man, The Scarecrow, the Wizard, et al. That fantastic tale has disappeared.
Instead, she stands at a juncture on that fabled Yellow Brick Road. One road leads down to a hazy, grimly overpopulated city below her. We can’t see where the other road is headed. But she’s not looking at the nasty city. Her gaze is in the direction of a new path, perhaps one which holds the promise of a better way to live.
This blog will seek to provide a guide to that brighter future for all of us by confronting the most dangerous threat to mankind--climate change.
The first part of the guide concerns what we can do as individuals, right now, where we live.
In an article for Odyssey (an online newsletter for numerous american universities), Bonnie Smith
contributed an article titled "10 Easy Ways To Help The Environment." Here is a summary:
This online site has an enormous stash of excellent advice which is available right here. Here is an example:
"By using water-saving features you can reduce your in-home water use by 35%. [So]... the average household, which uses 130,000 gallons per year, could save 44,00 gallons of water per year."
Why Conserve Water?
"In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes and rivers... Conserving water also prevents greenhouse gas emissions associated with treating and distributing water."
"Conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation and reducing pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also [cause] untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers ... In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by community-wide ...conservation."
Water Conservation in the Home
The most effective way to save water is to upgrade to efficient fixtures. But there are other ways to help reduce the amount of water you use at home.
Toilets
"Don’t Use Toilets as an Ashtray or a Wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette, facial tissue, or [bits] of trash, you’re wasting gallons of water. Put them in the garbage, or better yet, recycle."
Put Plastic Bottles or a Float Booster in Your Toilet Tank
"... put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside ...two plastic bottles. Fill [them] with water, screw the lids on, and put them in [the] tank...this may save ten or more gallons of water per day...three gallons of water [should] remain in the tank."
Install Low or Dual Flush Models
"Federal regulations state that new toilets must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Replacing an old toilet with [a]...low volume 1.6 gallon... model represents a 70% savings in water and will cut indoor water use by about 30%. [Also] ...consider purchasing a dual flush toilet [one flush for solids. one for liquids] ...saving an average family 15,000 gallons of water a year."
Install Composting Toilets
"Composting toilets...cut water waste from your bathroom since they require no water at all! ...they keep all the ... pollutants out of waterways and make them available for use in non-food landscapes. Check codes in your area to be sure they’re legal before installing one."
Laundry
Consider a High Efficiency Washing Machine
"The most efficient washing machines use as little as seven gallons per load, compared to a whopping 54 for a traditional washer... New Energy Star rated washers use 35 – 50% less water and 50% less energy per load."
Shower
"Install water-saving showerheads, shower timers, and low-flow faucet aerators..[they] are inexpensive and easy ... to install. Long showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. “Low-flow” means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute."
Take Shorter Showers
" ... turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water."
Minimize Use of Kitchen Sink Garbage Disposal Units
Opt for the Dishwasher Over Hand Washing
"... The EPA estimates an efficient dishwasher uses half as much water, saving close to 5,000 gallons each year."
Extending Your Conservation Measures
Insulate Your Water Pipes
Recycle Your Water Where You Can
"Collect the cold water you run before it’s hot enough to shower and use it to water plants or flush the toilet ..."
Eat Less Water-Intensive Foods
"Our diets account for roughly half of all the water we use... Eating less beef, one of the most water-intensive foods, is a smart place to start. [Consider] shifting [to] a plant-based diet."
Water Conservation in the Yard and Garden ... Outside Your Home
Don’t Run the Hose While Washing Your Car
"... this simple practice can save as much as 100 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water."
Use a Broom, Not a Hose, to Clean Driveways and Sidewalks
"... brushing with a broom to first loosen the dirt and grime will decrease your water use and save you time in the long run."
Reuse Wastewater Where Possible
"You can harvest grey water in a small way with a bucket in your kitchen or shower, or install a grey water system, which reroutes water from your drains to your landscape, [provided that legal codes permit it.]"
Vegetable Garden
Maintain Your Irrigation System
Water During the Early Parts of the Day; Avoid Watering When It Is Windy
Add Organic Matter to Your Garden Beds
"...[it] will help increase absorption and water retention. Areas that are already planted can be ‘top dressed’ with compost or organic matter every year."
Harvest Rainwater for Watering Vegetable Beds
"Use rain barrels...to capture valuable rainwater from your roof. Plants prefer untreated water, so your garden will be healthier while you cut your water bill."
Lawns and Shrubs
Plant Drought-resistant Lawns, Shrubs and Plants
"...use drought-resistant grasses such as “Eco-Lawn”. Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species...
Put a Layer of Mulch Around Trees and Plants
Water Your Lawn Only When It Needs It
"A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. During dry spells, you can stop watering altogether and the lawn will go brown and dormant."
Water Conservation Summary
"There is a worsening trend in water supply nationwide. Taking measures...to conserve water not only saves you money, it also is of benefit to the greater community."
Next, let's look at how to eat well.
FOOD
If you are one of the millions of obese Americans, you might want to quit eating like a pig at the trough.
Seriously, do you need to dig into restaurant fare such as tempura-battered, deep-fried cheeseburgers that ooze brie, 15-pound ice cream sandwiches consisting of five flavors of ice cream and cookies the size of hubcaps, two foot-long bratwursts, or something called "The Meat Tornado (sold at a barbecue trailer) that packs in rib ends, bacon, sausage, a cheese sauce and sugar cured jalapenos? (source: food critic Tom Sietsema and The Minneapolis Star's "Outta Control" reports.)
Whatever the size of your waistband, we are also guilty of simply tossing out our food. Food waste is a global problem, but it’s far worse in America. While 32 percent of all food in the world gets wasted, about 40 percent of food grown in the United States goes unused, according to several studies. Sadly, the NRDC has noted that "...while this behavior is happening, 42 million Americans don't have enough to eat. Rescuing less than a third of what we waste would cover their daily calorie needs."
In this section, I will focus on eating organically, and my primary source is Greendiary Check them out here
"...[there are foods] in local markets that are not certified organic by the authorities, but are usually grown using organic methods. Many farmers and gardeners... grow foods using methods that are more organic than the certified standards. However, they would be able to sell these foods at a lesser price as they would not need to pay for official organic certification."
Buy from Specific Brands
"Look around for grocery store chains that sell their own range of organic foods and products. These are usually available at just a fraction of the cost of designer foods. Do not worry about the health factor ...[because]when purchasing... foods...labeled ‘organic’ definitely meets the standards set by the government."
Buy Foods in Bulk
"... buying organics in bulk can help you reduce costs... Opt to buy foods like oils, cereals, beans, noodles, sauces and other packaged goods in bulk, especially when they are on sale."
Buy During Season
"Organics grown locally during the season tend to be much cheaper than imports... On the other hand, it pays to buy boxed or frozen organic food during the off-season, as they would cost cheaper than fresh food imported from different climatic regions."
Buy products using Coupons and Sales Flyers
"Make it a point to pick up sales flyers at every department or grocery store. [Chances are you will find] bargains on organic foods. Several organic brands out there also offer discount coupons... in coupon books in health food stores."
"Many families who shift to organic foods usually join a local cooperative... they are organized buying systems that effectively combine the buying power of multiple families ... to [obtain] ... lucrative discounts on certain items in the market...[such as]...local meats, unprocessed diary and fresh farm produce."
Reduce usage of chemicals and pesticides
"...you can make your own solutions for cleaning... using distilled vinegar, lemon and baking soda. There are many ‘green’ cleaning products available in the market which is environmentally friendly and conventional cleaners too."
"... You can lower the temperature of your water heater...reduce the use of air conditioners or heaters...You can also utilize solar lights around your home."
"Stay out of your gas burning cars--walk, ride a bike or use mass transit whenever possible."
OK, I can hear you, dear readers, these efforts taken at home are all well and good, but your blog responses indicate we must also look at the bigger sources of climate change. So here's an update on the condition of our planet and I will follow with organizations that you can join or support to fight for change.
"We've been warned. Again.
" 'Already, about 25 percent of all premature deaths and diseases around the world – about 9 million in 2015 – are because of human-caused environmental damage and pollution, the report said. Each year, air pollution kills 7 million people worldwide and costs society about $5 trillion. Another 1.4 million are killed because of water pollution.' "
"The report, the sixth Global Environment Outlook from the U.N. Environment Program, was written by 250 scientists and experts from more than 70 countries. It concludes that 'unsustainable human activities globally have degraded the Earth’s ecosystems, endangering the ecological foundations of society.' "
ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE WORLD WIDE
1. Switch from beef to chicken
Cow waste emits methane which is more harmful to our environment than CO2 is. By switching to chicken and eating beef occasionally, you are reducing the methane emissions. In the US 47% of our land is dedicated to food production, 70% of this land is used to grow food for cattle. Only 1% of this land is used to actually feed humans.
2. Cut back plastic usage
Reduce your use of plastic silverware, paper plates and solo cups at outings and lunch at work or school. You can do a big part by simply packing a real fork for your lunch, or buying a refillable container for whatever you're drinking.
3. Walk or bike when you can--you will be more active, use less gas, and you will lower CO2 emissions from your car.
4. Make your own compost bin--it lessens the burden of landfills, provides soil additives and natural fertilizer for your garden and flowers while reducing water usage.
5. Recycle--if your city or state allows for recycling paper, glass, and yard debris, go for it. Also consider printing on both sides of paper and buying rechargeable batteries.
6. Change out your lightbulbs--switching to LED bulbs not only saves you money on your electric bill, but also makes your home greener. LED bulbs last 6 times as long as a traditional bulb, helping reduce waste as well.
7. Bring your own grocery bags--you will be helping to reduce the plastics in our landfills and the oceans.
8. Save water--Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush...just wet your brush and fill a glass for mouth rinsing. Buy a water filter so you stop buying bottled water (cutting back on plastic waste) and only wash your hair every other day or every few days.
9. Switch from disposable to reusable--switch from paper towels to actual hand towels, use real linen napkins, not packaged ones. Check out this link on 15 other ways you can switch from disposable to reusable:
10. Plant your own garden--it's not possible for everyone, but you will become healthier by eating fresh veggies and fruit from your own backyard while helping to generate clean air.
In addition, there are many sites that sell hot and cold containers for food and drink that are compostable. I am not plugging any particular company, but here is one that I found useful .
10. Plant your own garden--it's not possible for everyone, but you will become healthier by eating fresh veggies and fruit from your own backyard while helping to generate clean air.
In addition, there are many sites that sell hot and cold containers for food and drink that are compostable. I am not plugging any particular company, but here is one that I found useful .
Now let's focus on what we can do about conserving water.
First, let me recommend one of my blog's international articles about water which is right here. Armed with that knowledge, you can then consider what you can do closer to home.
WATER
First, let me recommend one of my blog's international articles about water which is right here. Armed with that knowledge, you can then consider what you can do closer to home.
"By using water-saving features you can reduce your in-home water use by 35%. [So]... the average household, which uses 130,000 gallons per year, could save 44,00 gallons of water per year."
Why Conserve Water?
"In addition to saving money on your utility bill, water conservation helps prevent water pollution in nearby lakes and rivers... Conserving water also prevents greenhouse gas emissions associated with treating and distributing water."
"Conserving water can also extend the life of your septic system by reducing soil saturation and reducing pollution due to leaks. Overloading municipal sewer systems can also [cause] untreated sewage to flow to lakes and rivers ... In some communities, costly sewage system expansion has been avoided by community-wide ...conservation."
Water Conservation in the Home
The most effective way to save water is to upgrade to efficient fixtures. But there are other ways to help reduce the amount of water you use at home.
Toilets
"Don’t Use Toilets as an Ashtray or a Wastebasket. Every time you flush a cigarette, facial tissue, or [bits] of trash, you’re wasting gallons of water. Put them in the garbage, or better yet, recycle."
Put Plastic Bottles or a Float Booster in Your Toilet Tank
"... put an inch or two of sand or pebbles inside ...two plastic bottles. Fill [them] with water, screw the lids on, and put them in [the] tank...this may save ten or more gallons of water per day...three gallons of water [should] remain in the tank."
Install Low or Dual Flush Models
"Federal regulations state that new toilets must use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. Replacing an old toilet with [a]...low volume 1.6 gallon... model represents a 70% savings in water and will cut indoor water use by about 30%. [Also] ...consider purchasing a dual flush toilet [one flush for solids. one for liquids] ...saving an average family 15,000 gallons of water a year."
Install Composting Toilets
"Composting toilets...cut water waste from your bathroom since they require no water at all! ...they keep all the ... pollutants out of waterways and make them available for use in non-food landscapes. Check codes in your area to be sure they’re legal before installing one."
Laundry
"Use [your] washer for only full loads [and]
avoid the permanent press cycle, which uses an added 5 gallons for the extra rinse ... adjust water levels to match load size"
Consider a High Efficiency Washing Machine
"The most efficient washing machines use as little as seven gallons per load, compared to a whopping 54 for a traditional washer... New Energy Star rated washers use 35 – 50% less water and 50% less energy per load."
Shower
"Install water-saving showerheads, shower timers, and low-flow faucet aerators..[they] are inexpensive and easy ... to install. Long showers can use five to ten gallons every unneeded minute. “Low-flow” means it uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute."
Take Shorter Showers
" ... turn off the shower after soaping up, then turn it back on to rinse. A four-minute shower uses approximately 20 to 40 gallons of water."
Dish Washing
Minimize Use of Kitchen Sink Garbage Disposal Units
"[they] require lots of water to operate properly, and also add ... to the volume of solids in a septic tank, which can lead to maintenance problems. Start a compost pile as an alternate method of disposing food waste."
Opt for the Dishwasher Over Hand Washing
"... The EPA estimates an efficient dishwasher uses half as much water, saving close to 5,000 gallons each year."
Extending Your Conservation Measures
Insulate Your Water Pipes
Recycle Your Water Where You Can
"Collect the cold water you run before it’s hot enough to shower and use it to water plants or flush the toilet ..."
Eat Less Water-Intensive Foods
"Our diets account for roughly half of all the water we use... Eating less beef, one of the most water-intensive foods, is a smart place to start. [Consider] shifting [to] a plant-based diet."
Water Conservation in the Yard and Garden ... Outside Your Home
Don’t Run the Hose While Washing Your Car
"... this simple practice can save as much as 100 gallons when washing a car. Use a spray nozzle when rinsing for more efficient use of water."
Use a Broom, Not a Hose, to Clean Driveways and Sidewalks
"... brushing with a broom to first loosen the dirt and grime will decrease your water use and save you time in the long run."
Reuse Wastewater Where Possible
"You can harvest grey water in a small way with a bucket in your kitchen or shower, or install a grey water system, which reroutes water from your drains to your landscape, [provided that legal codes permit it.]"
Vegetable Garden
Maintain Your Irrigation System
"... check that it’s operating correctly...Clear any visible clogs, and adjust the settings according to the needs of your plants and the time of year.
Water During the Early Parts of the Day; Avoid Watering When It Is Windy
Add Organic Matter to Your Garden Beds
"...[it] will help increase absorption and water retention. Areas that are already planted can be ‘top dressed’ with compost or organic matter every year."
Harvest Rainwater for Watering Vegetable Beds
"Use rain barrels...to capture valuable rainwater from your roof. Plants prefer untreated water, so your garden will be healthier while you cut your water bill."
Lawns and Shrubs
Plant Drought-resistant Lawns, Shrubs and Plants
"...use drought-resistant grasses such as “Eco-Lawn”. Many beautiful shrubs and plants thrive with far less watering than other species...
Native plants will use less water and be more resistant to...diseases. Plant slopes with plants that will retain water and help reduce runoff."
Put a Layer of Mulch Around Trees and Plants
Water Your Lawn Only When It Needs It
"A good way to see if your lawn needs watering is to step on the grass. If it springs back up when you move, it doesn’t need water. If it stays flat, the lawn is ready for watering. During dry spells, you can stop watering altogether and the lawn will go brown and dormant."
Water Conservation Summary
"There is a worsening trend in water supply nationwide. Taking measures...to conserve water not only saves you money, it also is of benefit to the greater community."
"By using water-saving features you can reduce your in-home water use by 35%...the average household, which uses 130,000 gallons per year, could save 44,00 gallons of water per year."
Next, let's look at how to eat well.
FOOD
Seriously, do you need to dig into restaurant fare such as tempura-battered, deep-fried cheeseburgers that ooze brie, 15-pound ice cream sandwiches consisting of five flavors of ice cream and cookies the size of hubcaps, two foot-long bratwursts, or something called "The Meat Tornado (sold at a barbecue trailer) that packs in rib ends, bacon, sausage, a cheese sauce and sugar cured jalapenos? (source: food critic Tom Sietsema and The Minneapolis Star's "Outta Control" reports.)
Whatever the size of your waistband, we are also guilty of simply tossing out our food. Food waste is a global problem, but it’s far worse in America. While 32 percent of all food in the world gets wasted, about 40 percent of food grown in the United States goes unused, according to several studies. Sadly, the NRDC has noted that "...while this behavior is happening, 42 million Americans don't have enough to eat. Rescuing less than a third of what we waste would cover their daily calorie needs."
In this section, I will focus on eating organically, and my primary source is Greendiary Check them out here
Buy from Local Markets
"...[there are foods] in local markets that are not certified organic by the authorities, but are usually grown using organic methods. Many farmers and gardeners... grow foods using methods that are more organic than the certified standards. However, they would be able to sell these foods at a lesser price as they would not need to pay for official organic certification."
Buy from Specific Brands
"Look around for grocery store chains that sell their own range of organic foods and products. These are usually available at just a fraction of the cost of designer foods. Do not worry about the health factor ...[because]when purchasing... foods...labeled ‘organic’ definitely meets the standards set by the government."
Buy Foods in Bulk
"... buying organics in bulk can help you reduce costs... Opt to buy foods like oils, cereals, beans, noodles, sauces and other packaged goods in bulk, especially when they are on sale."
Buy During Season
"Organics grown locally during the season tend to be much cheaper than imports... On the other hand, it pays to buy boxed or frozen organic food during the off-season, as they would cost cheaper than fresh food imported from different climatic regions."
Buy products using Coupons and Sales Flyers
"Make it a point to pick up sales flyers at every department or grocery store. [Chances are you will find] bargains on organic foods. Several organic brands out there also offer discount coupons... in coupon books in health food stores."
"Many families who shift to organic foods usually join a local cooperative... they are organized buying systems that effectively combine the buying power of multiple families ... to [obtain] ... lucrative discounts on certain items in the market...[such as]...local meats, unprocessed diary and fresh farm produce."
AIR
(Also from Green Diary)
Reduce usage of chemicals and pesticides
"...you can make your own solutions for cleaning... using distilled vinegar, lemon and baking soda. There are many ‘green’ cleaning products available in the market which is environmentally friendly and conventional cleaners too."
Reduce carbon footprints and cut down air pollution
"... You can lower the temperature of your water heater...reduce the use of air conditioners or heaters...You can also utilize solar lights around your home."
"Stay out of your gas burning cars--walk, ride a bike or use mass transit whenever possible."
OK, I can hear you, dear readers, these efforts taken at home are all well and good, but your blog responses indicate we must also look at the bigger sources of climate change. So here's an update on the condition of our planet and I will follow with organizations that you can join or support to fight for change.
 |
| Motor bikes riding through the smog at night in China |
From the USA Magazine about the March 13th United Nations report on the environment:
"We've been warned. Again.
Because of a dangerous combination of climate change, pollution, mass extinctions and a growing human population, a massive report from the United Nations said that 'damage to the planet is so dire that people’s health will be increasingly threatened unless urgent action is taken.' "
" 'Already, about 25 percent of all premature deaths and diseases around the world – about 9 million in 2015 – are because of human-caused environmental damage and pollution, the report said. Each year, air pollution kills 7 million people worldwide and costs society about $5 trillion. Another 1.4 million are killed because of water pollution.' "
"The report, the sixth Global Environment Outlook from the U.N. Environment Program, was written by 250 scientists and experts from more than 70 countries. It concludes that 'unsustainable human activities globally have degraded the Earth’s ecosystems, endangering the ecological foundations of society.' "
ORGANIZATIONS FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE WORLD WIDE
Click here for the mother lode of 200 organizations involved with climate change. It is organized under these areas: Climate Change and Global Warming / Air Quality, Directories of Individual Web Sites dealing with Chemical Leak Disasters and Chemical Safety as well as Ozone Layer Depletion.
You can join these organizations and put your boots on the ground in hundreds of locals worldwide, but you can also contribute money to further their various causes also. How do you know that your money is well spent? The easy answer to that question is here. In 16 years, Charity Navigator (CN) has rated over 9000 charities for their honesty and accurate bookkeeping. They rely strictly on individual contributions (currently at $61 million.)
In that vein, Outside Online click here has compiled a list of what they call "The Six Best Environmental Groups To Donate To For a Better World." (ed. note: This is only one list; numerous others have equal merit.) From their report:
"There are many worthy organizations doing great work for the outdoors...worth supporting, but here’s a good place to start."
Mission: The Environmental Defense Fund is perhaps the most wide-ranging organization on this list, working to provide solutions under the ... categories of climate change, oceans, wildlife and habitats, and health. The EDF works with other organizations, businesses, government, and communities to create incentives for positive environmental actions; help companies become better environmental stewards; influence policy; and keep tabs on emerging issues.
Top Programs: Climate and energy, oceans, ecosystems
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 79.1
Charity Navigator Score: 94.48
Mission: The Nature Conservancy protects ecologically important lands and waters around the world with the help of more than 500 staff scientists.
Top Programs: Climate change, fire, fresh water, forests, invasive species, and marine ecosystems.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 71.2
Charity Navigator Score: 84.35
Mission: The Natural Resources Defense Council seeks to protect the basics—air, land, and water—and to defend endangered natural places, with an eye toward how these long-term decisions affect humans.
Top Programs: Climate, land, wildlife, water, oceans, energy, food, sustainable communities.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 83.6
Charity Navigator Score: 96.35
Mission: American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and the wildlife they support, and conserves clean water for people and nature, with an eye toward recreationists as well.
Top Programs: River restoration, federal river management, clean water supply.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 74.9
Charity Navigator Score: 88.18
Mission: The Trust for Public Land creates parks & protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Works to ensure that everyone has access to nature within a 10-minute walk from home.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 84
Charity Navigator Score: Not yet rated by CN, but given an A from Charity Watch.
Mission: The Sierra Club Foundation is the fiscal sponsor of the Sierra Club’s charitable environmental programs, and promotes efforts to educate and empower people to protect and improve the natural and human environment. The Sierra Club is the principal, though not exclusive, recipient of SCF’s charitable grants.
Top Programs: Beyond Coal, Chapter and Group Education Project, Our Wild America.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 88.5
Charity Navigator Score: 94.08
In my opinion there is another organization that should have been included in this list:
Mission: The Greenpeace Fund promotes Greenpeace's mission: to halt environmental destruction and to promote solutions for future generations.
Top Programs: Greenpeace Fund promotes Greenpeace's mission through public education, grassroots lobbying and grants to other environmental organizations. Greenpeace has the capacity to conduct international campaigns in countries around the world; to challenge environmental threats and promote change on issues that transcend national borders.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 82.6
Charity Navigator Score: 92.38
In addition, there are organizations who focus their efforts on oceans. Here's a sampling:
1. THE SURFRIDER
WHAT: A grassroots non-profit foundation working to protect and preserve the world's oceans by focusing on water quality, coastal ecosystems, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation.
WHERE: Mainly North America, as well as parts of South America, Europe and Japan.
HOW: Through a...powerful activist network, people can connect and participate in coastal conservation...The...foundation has a strong social media presence [which encourages]...them to take part in activities such as beach cleanups or to sign digital petitions.
2. OCEANA
WHAT: The largest international ocean conservation organization that works to protect and restore the world’s oceans through targeted policy campaigns.
WHERE: Based in Washington D.C with offices throughout the world.
HOW: Oceana works to protect sea life affected by industrial fishing by using targeted policy campaigns focused on science combined with media, law and public pressure. The clearly defined campaigns, in such fields as responsible fishing and preventing ocean pollution, are designed to produce identifiable policy changes within a 3–5 year timeframe.
3. ROZALIA PROJECT
Too many people are blissfully unaware or simply don't give a rip about climate change. Hopefully, the hundreds of climate organizations listed above can help to open their eyes and hearts.
But corporations and government agencies who support the fossil fuel industry (despite massive evidence of their disastrous effect on the planet) often seem beyond the reach of climate change advocates. What to do? Why not sue the Hell out of them?
You can join these organizations and put your boots on the ground in hundreds of locals worldwide, but you can also contribute money to further their various causes also. How do you know that your money is well spent? The easy answer to that question is here. In 16 years, Charity Navigator (CN) has rated over 9000 charities for their honesty and accurate bookkeeping. They rely strictly on individual contributions (currently at $61 million.)
In that vein, Outside Online click here has compiled a list of what they call "The Six Best Environmental Groups To Donate To For a Better World." (ed. note: This is only one list; numerous others have equal merit.) From their report:
"There are many worthy organizations doing great work for the outdoors...worth supporting, but here’s a good place to start."
Mission: The Environmental Defense Fund is perhaps the most wide-ranging organization on this list, working to provide solutions under the ... categories of climate change, oceans, wildlife and habitats, and health. The EDF works with other organizations, businesses, government, and communities to create incentives for positive environmental actions; help companies become better environmental stewards; influence policy; and keep tabs on emerging issues.
Top Programs: Climate and energy, oceans, ecosystems
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 79.1
Charity Navigator Score: 94.48
Mission: The Nature Conservancy protects ecologically important lands and waters around the world with the help of more than 500 staff scientists.
Top Programs: Climate change, fire, fresh water, forests, invasive species, and marine ecosystems.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 71.2
Charity Navigator Score: 84.35
Top Programs: Climate, land, wildlife, water, oceans, energy, food, sustainable communities.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 83.6
Charity Navigator Score: 96.35
Mission: American Rivers protects wild rivers, restores damaged rivers and the wildlife they support, and conserves clean water for people and nature, with an eye toward recreationists as well.
Top Programs: River restoration, federal river management, clean water supply.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 74.9
Charity Navigator Score: 88.18
Mission: The Trust for Public Land creates parks & protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Works to ensure that everyone has access to nature within a 10-minute walk from home.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 84
Charity Navigator Score: Not yet rated by CN, but given an A from Charity Watch.
Top Programs: Beyond Coal, Chapter and Group Education Project, Our Wild America.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 88.5
Charity Navigator Score: 94.08
In my opinion there is another organization that should have been included in this list:
Mission: The Greenpeace Fund promotes Greenpeace's mission: to halt environmental destruction and to promote solutions for future generations.
Top Programs: Greenpeace Fund promotes Greenpeace's mission through public education, grassroots lobbying and grants to other environmental organizations. Greenpeace has the capacity to conduct international campaigns in countries around the world; to challenge environmental threats and promote change on issues that transcend national borders.
Percent of expenses spent on programs: 82.6
Charity Navigator Score: 92.38
In addition, there are organizations who focus their efforts on oceans. Here's a sampling:
 |
Marine debris is more than ugly, it kills.
|
WHAT: A grassroots non-profit foundation working to protect and preserve the world's oceans by focusing on water quality, coastal ecosystems, beach access, beach and surf spot preservation.
WHERE: Mainly North America, as well as parts of South America, Europe and Japan.
HOW: Through a...powerful activist network, people can connect and participate in coastal conservation...The...foundation has a strong social media presence [which encourages]...them to take part in activities such as beach cleanups or to sign digital petitions.
2. OCEANA
WHAT: The largest international ocean conservation organization that works to protect and restore the world’s oceans through targeted policy campaigns.
WHERE: Based in Washington D.C with offices throughout the world.
HOW: Oceana works to protect sea life affected by industrial fishing by using targeted policy campaigns focused on science combined with media, law and public pressure. The clearly defined campaigns, in such fields as responsible fishing and preventing ocean pollution, are designed to produce identifiable policy changes within a 3–5 year timeframe.
3. ROZALIA PROJECT
WHAT: A non-profit organization goals whose goals are a clean, protected and thriving marine ecosystem. Has been working on the problem of marine debris since 2010. We work surface to seafloor to provide prevention through education, remediation (cleanup), innovation and doing solutions-based research.
WHERE: Gulf of Maine
HOW: Uses a sailing vessel for research and clean up expeditions as well as inspiring education programs across the country.
4. 3. 5 GYRES
WHAT: A non-profit organization dedicated to understanding plastic marine pollution that works towards oceans free of plastic.
WHERE: All over the world.
HOW: Through exploration, scientific research, education, and action the 5 Gyres Institute engages communities in systemic change and encourages corporate partners, policymakers, and the general public to reduce plastic pollution.
But corporations and government agencies who support the fossil fuel industry (despite massive evidence of their disastrous effect on the planet) often seem beyond the reach of climate change advocates. What to do? Why not sue the Hell out of them?
Here is a rundown on some the lawsuits brought against fossil fuel corporations and their enablers.
(1) The Climate Change Lawsuit That Could Stop The US Government From Supporting Fossil Fuels The source is here.
From the 60 minutes TV show last March: "This is a lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 kids which alleges the U.S. government knowingly failed to protect them from climate change…"
"Of all the cases [in] the federal court system, none is more interesting or potentially more life changing than Juliana v. United States. If the plaintiffs win, it could mean massive changes for the use of fossil fuels."
"To quote one federal judge, 'This is no ordinary lawsuit.' It was filed back in 2015 on behalf of a group of kids...trying to get the courts to block the U.S. government from continuing the use of fossil fuels."
"The government’s lawyers...have since watched the Supreme Court reject two of their motions to delay or dismiss the case. Four years in, it is still very much alive, in part because the plaintiffs have amassed a body of evidence that will surprise even the skeptics and have forced the government to admit that the crisis is real."
(2) I also found a posting on the France 24 website dated on March 24 which noted the following:
"...four French NGOs – Notre affaire à tous, la Fondation pour la nature et l'homme, Greenpeace France and Oxfam France – filed a lawsuit at the Paris administrative court against the French government, accusing it of failing to act upon its environmental obligations. A petition accompanying their initiative, called...'The Case of the Century', has collected a record 2.1 million signatures."
The...NGOs are basing their legal action on a series of binding agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the 2004 Environmental Charter, as well as non-binding texts, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
(3) In a report published April 8, "...the Friends of the Earth Netherlands organization has filed a climate change action lawsuit against Shell Oil. (Royal Dutch Shell is a Dutch company [so] it is subject to the laws of the Netherlands.) Friends Of The Earth...and six other environmental and human rights organizations filed suit against Shell seeking to force it to address its role in the climate emergency confronting the world... The lawsuit includes 17,000 private individuals as plaintiffs. They want Shell to reduce its carbon emissions 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and to zero by 2050."
(4) Big oil got slammed in Boston recently.
According to The Boston Globe newspaper, "A lawsuit...filed by the Conservation Law Foundation against Exxon over its Everett petroleum terminal [in Boston MA] will advance in Boston federal court, thanks to a ruling that US District Court Judge Mark Wolf made from the bench [in early March.]"
"CLF’s lawsuit...accuses Exxon of failing to adequately protect the property from potential floods caused by storms and rising sea waters that could sweep pollutants off the site. The closely-watched lawsuit could have ripple effects that influence the broader oil industry and how it prepares for future storms."
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't inform Americans that if you are considering an environmental lawsuit of your own, Earth Justice has your back. Here is a summary from their website.
As the nation’s original and largest nonprofit environmental law organization, Earthjustice leverages their expertise...to fight for justice and advance the promise of a healthy world... . They represent [all] of their clients free of charge, with more than a hundred attorneys in offices across the U.S.
Here are their three goals:
1) Our nation’s laws protect the...natural spaces and wildlife we have inherited from previous generations. Earthjustice enforces those laws to protect...wildlife and wild places, for this and future generations.
2) They fight for a future where children can breathe clean air, no matter where they live; where products in our homes are free of toxic chemicals; and where all communities are safer, healthier places...
3) [Their] legal victories strengthen the rise of clean energy, laying the groundwork for the systemic change we must see.
[They] fight for a...livable future by securing national and global rules to cut carbon through work in the courts, Congress and via international negotiations to secure real, enforceable cuts in...pollution. They [work] for clean power through litigation that challenges reliance on fossil fuels...and opens the door to clean, renewable sources of power. They are helping to reduce black carbon...to slow warming and protect ecosystems. And they are building resilience to climate change by taking a proactive approach to promote ecologically rich, resilient refuges that can sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations on land and at sea.
As we face an uncertain future, perhaps it is time to return to the sage advice of Carl Sagan. (An American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist astrobiologist and author.) 23 years after his death his inspirational words still ring true.
“Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.”
Neon Leon is published on the 15th of each month except on national holidays and times when I am chasing dreams. Available on Facebook and the blogosphere -- leon100x.blogspot.com
Next Up: A review of the progress made in alternative energy sources.
(1) The Climate Change Lawsuit That Could Stop The US Government From Supporting Fossil Fuels The source is here.
From the 60 minutes TV show last March: "This is a lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 kids which alleges the U.S. government knowingly failed to protect them from climate change…"
"Of all the cases [in] the federal court system, none is more interesting or potentially more life changing than Juliana v. United States. If the plaintiffs win, it could mean massive changes for the use of fossil fuels."
"To quote one federal judge, 'This is no ordinary lawsuit.' It was filed back in 2015 on behalf of a group of kids...trying to get the courts to block the U.S. government from continuing the use of fossil fuels."
"The government’s lawyers...have since watched the Supreme Court reject two of their motions to delay or dismiss the case. Four years in, it is still very much alive, in part because the plaintiffs have amassed a body of evidence that will surprise even the skeptics and have forced the government to admit that the crisis is real."
(2) I also found a posting on the France 24 website dated on March 24 which noted the following:
"...four French NGOs – Notre affaire à tous, la Fondation pour la nature et l'homme, Greenpeace France and Oxfam France – filed a lawsuit at the Paris administrative court against the French government, accusing it of failing to act upon its environmental obligations. A petition accompanying their initiative, called...'The Case of the Century', has collected a record 2.1 million signatures."
The...NGOs are basing their legal action on a series of binding agreements, such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the 2004 Environmental Charter, as well as non-binding texts, such as the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.
(3) In a report published April 8, "...the Friends of the Earth Netherlands organization has filed a climate change action lawsuit against Shell Oil. (Royal Dutch Shell is a Dutch company [so] it is subject to the laws of the Netherlands.) Friends Of The Earth...and six other environmental and human rights organizations filed suit against Shell seeking to force it to address its role in the climate emergency confronting the world... The lawsuit includes 17,000 private individuals as plaintiffs. They want Shell to reduce its carbon emissions 45% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels and to zero by 2050."
(4) Big oil got slammed in Boston recently.
According to The Boston Globe newspaper, "A lawsuit...filed by the Conservation Law Foundation against Exxon over its Everett petroleum terminal [in Boston MA] will advance in Boston federal court, thanks to a ruling that US District Court Judge Mark Wolf made from the bench [in early March.]"
"CLF’s lawsuit...accuses Exxon of failing to adequately protect the property from potential floods caused by storms and rising sea waters that could sweep pollutants off the site. The closely-watched lawsuit could have ripple effects that influence the broader oil industry and how it prepares for future storms."
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't inform Americans that if you are considering an environmental lawsuit of your own, Earth Justice has your back. Here is a summary from their website.
As the nation’s original and largest nonprofit environmental law organization, Earthjustice leverages their expertise...to fight for justice and advance the promise of a healthy world... . They represent [all] of their clients free of charge, with more than a hundred attorneys in offices across the U.S.
Here are their three goals:
1) Our nation’s laws protect the...natural spaces and wildlife we have inherited from previous generations. Earthjustice enforces those laws to protect...wildlife and wild places, for this and future generations.
2) They fight for a future where children can breathe clean air, no matter where they live; where products in our homes are free of toxic chemicals; and where all communities are safer, healthier places...
3) [Their] legal victories strengthen the rise of clean energy, laying the groundwork for the systemic change we must see.
[They] fight for a...livable future by securing national and global rules to cut carbon through work in the courts, Congress and via international negotiations to secure real, enforceable cuts in...pollution. They [work] for clean power through litigation that challenges reliance on fossil fuels...and opens the door to clean, renewable sources of power. They are helping to reduce black carbon...to slow warming and protect ecosystems. And they are building resilience to climate change by taking a proactive approach to promote ecologically rich, resilient refuges that can sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations on land and at sea.
As we face an uncertain future, perhaps it is time to return to the sage advice of Carl Sagan. (An American astronomer, cosmologist, astrophysicist astrobiologist and author.) 23 years after his death his inspirational words still ring true.
“Anything else you’re interested in is not going to happen if you can’t breathe the air and drink the water. Don’t sit this one out. Do something. You are by accident of fate alive at an absolutely critical moment in the history of our planet.”
Neon Leon is published on the 15th of each month except on national holidays and times when I am chasing dreams. Available on Facebook and the blogosphere -- leon100x.blogspot.com
Next Up: A review of the progress made in alternative energy sources.
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