3rd International Conference on
"Addressing Climate Change for Sustainable Development through Up-Scaling Renewable Energy Technologies"
12-14 October 2011
Kathmandu, Nepal
Click here to go to conference webpage.
Showing posts with label Climate change. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Climate change. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2011
"Addressing Climate Change for Sustainable Development through Up-Scaling Renewable Energy Technologies"
3rd International Conference on
"Addressing Climate Change for Sustainable Development through Up-Scaling Renewable Energy Technologies"
12-14 October 2011
Kathmandu, Nepal
Click here to go to conference webpage.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
CO2 as renewable energy storage vessel :: RenewableEnergyFocus.com
Research from Det Norske Veritas (DNV) shows that CO2 could be used, amongst other things, as storage for renewable energy.
Full Story
Full Story
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Masdar: Abu Dhabi's carbon-neutral city. BBC News
By Tom Heap
Presenter, Radio 4's Costing The Earth
The world's first zero-carbon city is being built in Abu Dhabi and is designed to be not only free of cars and skyscrapers but also powered by the sun.
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is the last place you would expect to learn lessons on low-carbon living, but the emerging eco-city of Masdar could teach the world.
Read Full Story:
Presenter, Radio 4's Costing The Earth
The world's first zero-carbon city is being built in Abu Dhabi and is designed to be not only free of cars and skyscrapers but also powered by the sun.
The oil-rich United Arab Emirates is the last place you would expect to learn lessons on low-carbon living, but the emerging eco-city of Masdar could teach the world.
Read Full Story:
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Science news highlights of 2009. BBC News
It was the year we learned of a spectacular smash-up in space, and scientists working on the world's biggest physics experiment delighted at collisions of an entirely different sort.
There were shockwaves, too, in Copenhagen, as the summit failed to reach a consensus on tackling climate change, instead merely noting a deal struck by major powers including the US and China.
The BBC's science reporter Paul Rincon looks back at the twists and turns of a year in science and the environment.
Read Full Story:
There were shockwaves, too, in Copenhagen, as the summit failed to reach a consensus on tackling climate change, instead merely noting a deal struck by major powers including the US and China.
The BBC's science reporter Paul Rincon looks back at the twists and turns of a year in science and the environment.
Read Full Story:
Monday, December 21, 2009
Climate summit: Where's the beef? BBC News
By Paul Reynolds
World affairs correspondent, BBC News website
He came. He did a quick deal. He left.
That was how US President Barack Obama intervened in the global warming conference in Copenhagen and whether he saved it from total deadlock or condemned it to issuing a powerless piece of paper depends on your point of view.
The result was a political commitment not a treaty.
And it was worked out by the United States with China and a handful of others. The rest of the conference simply "took note of it", most with resignation, many with anger,
The words sound fine enough. "We emphasise our strong political will to urgently combat climate change."
And: "We shall, recognising the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2C, on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development, enhance our long-term co-operative action to combat climate change."
Read Full Story
World affairs correspondent, BBC News website
He came. He did a quick deal. He left.
That was how US President Barack Obama intervened in the global warming conference in Copenhagen and whether he saved it from total deadlock or condemned it to issuing a powerless piece of paper depends on your point of view.
The result was a political commitment not a treaty.
And it was worked out by the United States with China and a handful of others. The rest of the conference simply "took note of it", most with resignation, many with anger,
The words sound fine enough. "We emphasise our strong political will to urgently combat climate change."
And: "We shall, recognising the scientific view that the increase in global temperature should be below 2C, on the basis of equity and in the context of sustainable development, enhance our long-term co-operative action to combat climate change."
Read Full Story
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
This decade 'warmest on record'. BBC News
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website, Copenhagen
The first decade of this century is "by far" the warmest since instrumental records began, say the UK Met Office and World Meteorological Organization.
Their analyses also show that 2009 will almost certainly be the fifth warmest in the 160-year record.
Burgeoning El Nino conditions, adding to man-made greenhouse warming, have pushed 2009 into the "top 10" years.
The US space agency Nasa suggests that a new global temperature record will be set "in the next one or two years".
World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and Met Office scientists have been giving details of the new analysis at the UN climate summit in Copenhagen.
The WMO said global temperatures were 0.44C (0.79F) above the long-term average.
Read Full Story
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Study shows variability in ocean's CO2 uptake. BBC News
By Mark Kinver
Science and environment reporter, BBC News
Writing in Science, an international team of researchers said the ocean's uptake of carbon varied by as much as 10% over the space of a few years.
The data set, described as the largest of its kind, was gathered by devices fitted to a fleet of commercial ships.
The world's oceans are believed to absorb about half of the total carbon emissions from human activities.
"Out of all the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, about half of it does not stay there," said lead author Andrew Watson, a researcher from the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences.
"It is taken up by the natural world; half of it is absorbed on land, and half of it ends up in the oceans."
Read Full Story:
Science and environment reporter, BBC News
Writing in Science, an international team of researchers said the ocean's uptake of carbon varied by as much as 10% over the space of a few years.
The data set, described as the largest of its kind, was gathered by devices fitted to a fleet of commercial ships.
The world's oceans are believed to absorb about half of the total carbon emissions from human activities.
"Out of all the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, about half of it does not stay there," said lead author Andrew Watson, a researcher from the University of East Anglia's School of Environmental Sciences.
"It is taken up by the natural world; half of it is absorbed on land, and half of it ends up in the oceans."
Read Full Story:
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Biofuels ethanol and biodiesel decrease GHG emissions significantly: Canadian report. RenewableEnergyFocus.com
02 December 2009
Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 62% over conventional petrol, when compared on a fuelcycle analysis, while biodiesel will drop emissions by 99%.
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Ethanol reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 62% over conventional petrol, when compared on a fuelcycle analysis, while biodiesel will drop emissions by 99%.
Read Full Story:
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Converting Water and CO2 into Fuel. Alternative Energy
December 2nd, 2009
Researchers are trying to duplicate the natural process of photosynthesis. If successful, we can use the “evil” carbon dioxide emitted by power plants and industrial units to good use. This way, industrial units don’t have to establish new subsidiary units for the treatment of carbon dioxide. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a prototype machine that utilizes the sun’s energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into the molecular building blocks that can be utilized as transportation fuels. If researchers can make this device produce twice the energy generated by the natural process of photosynthesis, it will do great service to environment. It will pave the way to recycle CO2.
Read Full Story
Researchers are trying to duplicate the natural process of photosynthesis. If successful, we can use the “evil” carbon dioxide emitted by power plants and industrial units to good use. This way, industrial units don’t have to establish new subsidiary units for the treatment of carbon dioxide. Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a prototype machine that utilizes the sun’s energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into the molecular building blocks that can be utilized as transportation fuels. If researchers can make this device produce twice the energy generated by the natural process of photosynthesis, it will do great service to environment. It will pave the way to recycle CO2.
Read Full Story
Monday, November 30, 2009
Cabinet set to meet in Everest. Nepalnews.com
Sunday, 29 November 2009 10:17
As a symbolic call to the world community to see the impact of climate change in the Himalayas, the government is all set to hold a cabinet meeting at the foothills of Mt Everest on December 4.
Read Full Story:
As a symbolic call to the world community to see the impact of climate change in the Himalayas, the government is all set to hold a cabinet meeting at the foothills of Mt Everest on December 4.
Read Full Story:
Monday, November 23, 2009
India questions climate change impacts on the Himalayan Glaciers: Nepal Silent. MYREPUBLICA.com
KD SHRESTHA
On 9 November, “Himalayan Glaciers: A State-of-Art Review of Glacial Studies, Glacial Retreat and Climate Change,” a report challenging climate change’s impact on glacier retreat, was published by India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests on its website.
Produced by G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, it was authored by V.K.Raina, the former Deputy Director General of Geological Survey of India. Since then, it has become the infamous Raina Report.
While the report has only been recently published, the ‘White Paper’ had been discussed as far back as August 16, when Indian news media quoted India’s Minister of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Jairam Ramesh as having said, “The Himalayan Glaciers are in trouble. The paper finds that some are retreating, but others seem to be advancing. However, there is no robust evidence to suggest that climate change is causing the retreat.”
Read Full Story:
On 9 November, “Himalayan Glaciers: A State-of-Art Review of Glacial Studies, Glacial Retreat and Climate Change,” a report challenging climate change’s impact on glacier retreat, was published by India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests on its website.
Produced by G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment & Development, it was authored by V.K.Raina, the former Deputy Director General of Geological Survey of India. Since then, it has become the infamous Raina Report.
While the report has only been recently published, the ‘White Paper’ had been discussed as far back as August 16, when Indian news media quoted India’s Minister of Environment and Forests (MoEF) Jairam Ramesh as having said, “The Himalayan Glaciers are in trouble. The paper finds that some are retreating, but others seem to be advancing. However, there is no robust evidence to suggest that climate change is causing the retreat.”
Read Full Story:
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Fossil fuel carbon dioxide emissions up by 29 percent since 2000. ScienceDaily.com
ScienceDaily (Nov. 17, 2009) — The strongest evidence yet that the rise in atmospheric CO2 emissions continues to outstrip the ability of the world's natural 'sinks' to absorb carbon is published November 17 in the journal Nature Geoscience.
An international team of researchers under the umbrella of the Global Carbon Project reports that over the last 50 years the average fraction of global CO2 emissions that remained in the atmosphere each year was around 43 per cent -- the rest was absorbed by the Earth's carbon sinks on land and in the oceans. During this time this fraction has likely increased from 40 per cent to 45 per cent, suggesting a decrease in the efficiency of the natural sinks. The team brings evidence that the sinks are responding to climate change and variability.
The scientists report a 29 per cent increase in global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel between 2000 and 2008 (the latest year for which figures are available), and that in spite of the global economic downturn emissions increased by 2 per cent during 2008. The use of coal as a fuel has now surpassed oil and developing countries now emit more greenhouse gases than developed countries -- with a quarter of their growth in emissions accounted for by increased trade with the West.
Lead author Prof Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the British Antarctic Survey said: "The only way to control climate change is through a drastic reduction in global CO2 emissions. The Earth's carbon sinks are complex and there are some gaps in our understanding, particularly in our ability to link human-induced CO2 emissions to atmospheric CO2 concentrations on a year-to-year basis. But, if we can reduce the uncertainty about the carbon sinks, our data could be used to verify the effectiveness of climate mitigations policies."
The main findings of the study include:
* CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels increased by two per cent from 2007 to 2008, by 29 per cent between 2008 and 2000, and by 41 per cent between 2008 and 1990 -- the reference year of the Kyoto Protocol.
* CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels have increased at an average annual rate of 3.4 per cent between 2000 and 2008, compared with one per cent per year in the 1990s.
* Emissions from land use change have remained almost constant since 2000, but now account for a significantly smaller proportion of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions (20 per cent in 2000 to 12 per cent in 2008).
* The fraction of total CO2 emissions remaining in the atmosphere has likely increased from 40 to 45 per cent since 1959, models suggests this is due to the response of the natural CO2 sinks to climate change and variability.
* Emissions from coal are now the dominant fossil fuel emission source, surpassing 40 years of oil emission prevalence.
* The financial crisis had a small but discernable impact on emissions growth in 2008 -- with a two per cent increase compared with an average 3.6 per cent over the previous seven years. On the basis of projected changes in GDP, emissions for 2009 are expected to fall to their 2007 levels, before increasing again in 2010.
* Emissions from emerging economies such as China and India have more than doubled since 1990 and developing countries now emit more greenhouse gases than developed countries.
* A quarter of the growth in CO2 emissions in developing countries can be accounted for by an increase in international trade of goods and services.
The researchers called for more work to be done to improve our understanding of the land and ocean CO2 sinks, so that global action to control climate change can be independently monitored. The sinks have a major influence on climate change and are important in understanding the link between anthropogenic CO2 emissions and atmospheric CO2 concentration. But so far scientists have not been able to calculate the CO2 uptake of the sinks with sufficient accuracy to explain all the annual changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration, which hinders the scientists' ability to monitor the effectiveness of CO2 mitigations policies.
An international team of researchers under the umbrella of the Global Carbon Project reports that over the last 50 years the average fraction of global CO2 emissions that remained in the atmosphere each year was around 43 per cent -- the rest was absorbed by the Earth's carbon sinks on land and in the oceans. During this time this fraction has likely increased from 40 per cent to 45 per cent, suggesting a decrease in the efficiency of the natural sinks. The team brings evidence that the sinks are responding to climate change and variability.
The scientists report a 29 per cent increase in global CO2 emissions from fossil fuel between 2000 and 2008 (the latest year for which figures are available), and that in spite of the global economic downturn emissions increased by 2 per cent during 2008. The use of coal as a fuel has now surpassed oil and developing countries now emit more greenhouse gases than developed countries -- with a quarter of their growth in emissions accounted for by increased trade with the West.
Lead author Prof Corinne Le Quéré of the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the British Antarctic Survey said: "The only way to control climate change is through a drastic reduction in global CO2 emissions. The Earth's carbon sinks are complex and there are some gaps in our understanding, particularly in our ability to link human-induced CO2 emissions to atmospheric CO2 concentrations on a year-to-year basis. But, if we can reduce the uncertainty about the carbon sinks, our data could be used to verify the effectiveness of climate mitigations policies."
The main findings of the study include:
* CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels increased by two per cent from 2007 to 2008, by 29 per cent between 2008 and 2000, and by 41 per cent between 2008 and 1990 -- the reference year of the Kyoto Protocol.
* CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels have increased at an average annual rate of 3.4 per cent between 2000 and 2008, compared with one per cent per year in the 1990s.
* Emissions from land use change have remained almost constant since 2000, but now account for a significantly smaller proportion of total anthropogenic CO2 emissions (20 per cent in 2000 to 12 per cent in 2008).
* The fraction of total CO2 emissions remaining in the atmosphere has likely increased from 40 to 45 per cent since 1959, models suggests this is due to the response of the natural CO2 sinks to climate change and variability.
* Emissions from coal are now the dominant fossil fuel emission source, surpassing 40 years of oil emission prevalence.
* The financial crisis had a small but discernable impact on emissions growth in 2008 -- with a two per cent increase compared with an average 3.6 per cent over the previous seven years. On the basis of projected changes in GDP, emissions for 2009 are expected to fall to their 2007 levels, before increasing again in 2010.
* Emissions from emerging economies such as China and India have more than doubled since 1990 and developing countries now emit more greenhouse gases than developed countries.
* A quarter of the growth in CO2 emissions in developing countries can be accounted for by an increase in international trade of goods and services.
The researchers called for more work to be done to improve our understanding of the land and ocean CO2 sinks, so that global action to control climate change can be independently monitored. The sinks have a major influence on climate change and are important in understanding the link between anthropogenic CO2 emissions and atmospheric CO2 concentration. But so far scientists have not been able to calculate the CO2 uptake of the sinks with sufficient accuracy to explain all the annual changes in atmospheric CO2 concentration, which hinders the scientists' ability to monitor the effectiveness of CO2 mitigations policies.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Earth 'heading for 6C' of warming. BBC News
By Richard Black
Environment correspondent, BBC News website
Average global temperatures are on course to rise by up to 6C without urgent action to curb CO2 emissions, the lead author of a new analysis says.
Emissions rose by 29% between 2000 and 2008, says the Global Carbon Project.
All of that growth came in developing countries, but a quarter of it came through production of goods for consumption in industrialised nations.
Read Full Story:
Environment correspondent, BBC News website
Average global temperatures are on course to rise by up to 6C without urgent action to curb CO2 emissions, the lead author of a new analysis says.
Emissions rose by 29% between 2000 and 2008, says the Global Carbon Project.
All of that growth came in developing countries, but a quarter of it came through production of goods for consumption in industrialised nations.
Read Full Story:
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Everyone in Britain could be given a personal 'carbon allowance'. Telegraph.co.uk
Published: 7:00AM GMT 09 Nov 2009
Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
It would involve people being issued with a unique number which they would hand over when purchasing products that contribute to their carbon footprint, such as fuel, airline tickets and electricity.
Like with a bank account, a statement would be sent out each month to help people keep track of what they are using.
If their "carbon account" hits zero, they would have to pay to get more credits.
Those who are frugal with their carbon usage will be able to sell their unused credits and make a profit.
Lord Smith will call for the scheme to be part of a "Green New Deal" to be introduced within 20 years when he addresses the agency's annual conference on Monday.
An Environment Agency spokesman said only those with "extravagant lifestyles" would be affected by the carbon allowances.
He said: "A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out."
However, some have criticised the move as "Orwellian" and say it will have a detrimental impact on business.
Ruth Lea, an economist from Arbuthnot Banking Group, told the Daily Mail: "This is all about control of the individual and you begin to wonder whether this is what the green agenda has always been about. It's Orwellian. This will be an enormous tax on business."
Under the Climate Change Act, Britain is obliged to cut its emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050. This means annual CO2 emissions per person will have to fall from about 9 tonnes to only 2 tonnes.
Lord Smith of Finsbury believes that implementing individual carbon allowances for every person will be the most effective way of meeting the targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
It would involve people being issued with a unique number which they would hand over when purchasing products that contribute to their carbon footprint, such as fuel, airline tickets and electricity.
Like with a bank account, a statement would be sent out each month to help people keep track of what they are using.
If their "carbon account" hits zero, they would have to pay to get more credits.
Those who are frugal with their carbon usage will be able to sell their unused credits and make a profit.
Lord Smith will call for the scheme to be part of a "Green New Deal" to be introduced within 20 years when he addresses the agency's annual conference on Monday.
An Environment Agency spokesman said only those with "extravagant lifestyles" would be affected by the carbon allowances.
He said: "A lot of people who cycle will get money back. It will probably only be bankers and those with extravagant lifestyles who would lose out."
However, some have criticised the move as "Orwellian" and say it will have a detrimental impact on business.
Ruth Lea, an economist from Arbuthnot Banking Group, told the Daily Mail: "This is all about control of the individual and you begin to wonder whether this is what the green agenda has always been about. It's Orwellian. This will be an enormous tax on business."
Under the Climate Change Act, Britain is obliged to cut its emissions by 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050. This means annual CO2 emissions per person will have to fall from about 9 tonnes to only 2 tonnes.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Jomsom under climate change threat. MYREPUBLICA.com
AKANSHYA SHAH
RAXAUL, Nov 15: People in the remote district of Mustang have been experiencing the worst nightmares in terms of the effects of climate change in their livelihoods and economy. This year, the Jomsom valley saw no snowfall in the town area and no rainfall at all. The maximum temperature rose to 27 degree Celsius in comparison to 24 degrees last year. Similarly, the minimum temperature was recorded at 13 degrees, whereas in previous years, the temperature usually dipped to less than minus four degrees. The temperature fluctuation has also had an adverse effect on the snow fall pattern.
Alarmingly, the snow-line has gradually been moving up to an altitude of 5,000 meters, thereby leaving mountain rocks bare. Since snow is melting fast, tree lines are moving up as well.
Read Full Story
RAXAUL, Nov 15: People in the remote district of Mustang have been experiencing the worst nightmares in terms of the effects of climate change in their livelihoods and economy. This year, the Jomsom valley saw no snowfall in the town area and no rainfall at all. The maximum temperature rose to 27 degree Celsius in comparison to 24 degrees last year. Similarly, the minimum temperature was recorded at 13 degrees, whereas in previous years, the temperature usually dipped to less than minus four degrees. The temperature fluctuation has also had an adverse effect on the snow fall pattern.
Alarmingly, the snow-line has gradually been moving up to an altitude of 5,000 meters, thereby leaving mountain rocks bare. Since snow is melting fast, tree lines are moving up as well.
Read Full Story
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Antarctica Glacier Retreat Creates New Carbon Dioxide Store; Has Beneficial Impact On Climate Change. ScienceDaily.com
ScienceDaily (Nov. 10, 2009) — Large blooms of tiny marine plants called phytoplankton are flourishing in areas of open water left exposed by the recent and rapid melting of ice shelves and glaciers around the Antarctic Peninsula. This remarkable colonisation is having a beneficial impact on climate change. As the blooms die back phytoplankton sinks to the sea-bed where it can store carbon for thousands or millions of years.Reporting recently in the journal Global Change Biology, scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) estimate that this new natural 'sink' is taking an estimated 3.5 million tonnes* of carbon from the ocean and atmosphere each year.
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UK announces $80 m to Nepal for tackling climate change. Nepalnews.com
Friday, 13 November 2009
The United Kingdom has announced $80 million (£50 million) to Nepal to tackle climate change and improve lives of poor people.The Department for International Development (DFID) of UK will be spending the amount over the next 10 years.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown today said, "Countries right across the world need to take urgent and radical action to tackle climate change. The poorest and most vulnerable countries need our help to do so.""That is why we are announcing today a £50m ($80m) package of support to work with Nepal to tackle climate change and deforestation," he added.
Read Full Story:
The United Kingdom has announced $80 million (£50 million) to Nepal to tackle climate change and improve lives of poor people.The Department for International Development (DFID) of UK will be spending the amount over the next 10 years.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown today said, "Countries right across the world need to take urgent and radical action to tackle climate change. The poorest and most vulnerable countries need our help to do so.""That is why we are announcing today a £50m ($80m) package of support to work with Nepal to tackle climate change and deforestation," he added.
Read Full Story:
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Climate Change: The Melting Himalayas
SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN:
An interesting Scientific American video from Bhutan
in the following link...
http://www.scientificamerican.com/video.cfm?lineup=1406165298&id=46042620001
An interesting Scientific American video from Bhutan
in the following link...
http://www.scientificamerican.com/video.cfm?lineup=1406165298&id=46042620001
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