Blogs & Ecology

2008 was a good year for enviros in the boardroom. A record 57 climate related shareholder resolutions were filed this year—a figure that has doubled over the past 5 years. Support for these measures averaged more than 23% among shareholders-- another all time high. These figures come from Ceres, a leading coalition of investors and environmental groups. “Growing investor pressure is prompting more companies to see the value of making environmentally sound products,” said Mindy S. Lubber, president of Ceres.

Japan will soon pilot a national carbon footprint labeling system. While the carbon footprint calculation system is still in the development phase, corporations are voluntarily committing their participation. Emphasizing the importance of implementing a uniform method of calculation, the trade ministry is working in collaboration with the participating corporations. According to the Guardian, some of the big name corporations involved include Sapporo, Lawson and Seven-Eleven.

Although researchers may still largely be dealing in uncertainties when it comes to predicting Greenland's exact fate, the data and observations that continue to trickle in suggest a "greener" (see: ice-free) future for the island nation. According to scientists from Ohio State University's Byrd Polar Research Center, there is new evi...

Before the rush of humanity came to California in search of gold, the San Joaquin Delta was rich in peat soil and much of what is now farmland consisted of wetland and swamps. Mother nature’s own carbon sponge.

Being a Capetonian, it’s crossed my mind more than once that our home might not survive the implications of global warming over the next 25 years, and that we might need a plan B to move to higher ground!

The Times published an article a couple of days ago that brings to mind the adage – safeguard the future by being prepared. If the worst case scenario of two-storey waves battering the city shoreline within the next 25 years, comes to pass, then we’ll have to be (prepared, or inland).

This year, Unilever-owned Ben & Jerry's sponsored a student/green entrepreneur from each of eight European countries in its three-year-old mentoring program called Climate Change College.

CO2 reductions plus behavior change
The sponsorship chose the eight students for their innovative business ideas on climate change reductions - the winning solutions had to not only reduce CO2 but also change behavior. For nine months, students received mentoring on their business plans (worth about $30,000), and in addition, a scientific field trip to the Arctic and approximately $10,000 to launch their selected idea. Ben & Jerry's considers its graduat...

It’s like the Olympics around here. No sooner has a world record been broken then along comes an announcement of that same record being freshly eclipsed. Yet another project is claiming to be the world’s largest solar power plant, albeit solar thermal.

This time it is the company, WorleyParsons, who strangely already knee deep in coal, nuclear and Canadian oil sands, are making the noise. Weird, huh? Maybe they see the writing on the wall, or least figure it is safe to have a bet each way.

Image by: Deng Cheng-hong

by Eric de Place

A new spin on cap and dividend.

Real Estate prices in Canada are expected to rise as the effects of global warming set in. Warming temperatures there are expected to make its otherwise frosty winters, a perfect place to live. But we all know that if the predictions are right, our world’s demographic shift to a severe change in weather patterns is probably going to be a lot more complicated than relocating to the higher latitudes.

Treehugger seems to think that our move to cap greenhouse emissions & the possibility of a carbon tax could put the pressure on India and China to consider emission reductions of their own. And that we’re leading the way for developing countries to reduce emissions.

It’s amazing how news written elsewhere about SA gives one another take on what looks like such SLOW progress from here, but in America has been translated as a large positive step. So what are we doing to earn the accolades?

On this week’s episode: Cheap gas prices in China bolster SUV sales. Find out how walk-able your neighborhood is. People Cube helps offices become sustainable.

Photo credit: Panos / Stefan Boness

Several African countries, particularly in East Africa, are facing severe power shortages and declines in agricultural productivity due to drought that experts are linking to climate change. Drought has sharply reduced reservoirs that supply hydroelectric plants in countries like Tanzania, and we've already reported that overuse of water by two hydroelectric dams decreased the level of water in Lake Victoria by at least two meters between 2000 and 2006.

The following summary was submitted by Andrea Hill, who works with Durwood Zaelke, President of the Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.
Amidst all the complexity of international climate change negotiations, it is easy to lose sight of actions we can take now, using proven technologies. Such “immediate mitigation” is essential if [...]