Month: July 2012

Look in your garbage

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Gaze into the future, look in your garbage bin and think about the waste!

Think Zero Waste and chances are you will be embroiled in spirited debate over whether it is a concept, a physical, or a cultural idiom. CO2Land org suggests it is carbon management program and distinctly an approach to risk and opportunity, with products that evolve with the strategy. It is with consternation that Mother Jones published that “in the United States, we hear “zero waste” and think sanctimonious yuppies. But lets look at the rubbish facts and think:

  • The US has a big trash problem, but China’s will soon be even worse.
  • Projected World Trash Generation, increases per person by 2025 lbs./year
  •  Richer countries generate more paper waste, one third of it because of packaging

Poor countries have a very high proportion of organic waste such as food scraps or grass clippings. Paper, on the other hand, is the single largest component of waste in high-income countries; in the United States, one person generates 705 pounds of paper waste each year. According to an EPA report on trash in the US, one-third of that paper waste comes from the corrugated cardboard boxes in which nearly everything they buy gets packaged and shipped.

In the EPA report you will find composition data for China is missing from this analysis and India’s reporting it highly suggestive that the category of “other” is applying a different standard for sorting trash.

  • Even if we recycled all of our trash, it wouldn’t be enough.

Theoretically developed nations can achieve 86 percent recycling. The quoted report concludes all organic waste is compostable and all plastic, metal, paper, and glass are recyclable and the only trash meant for the landfill is the “other” category, which includes ash, electronic waste, and old appliances. What is frightening about the report is the “other” category in America means the per person ratio the other trash of each american is greater than the total trash of an average person in India.

The story, therefore says: Recycling alone won’t solve our trash problem.  CO2Land org has no reason to think Australia is any different – we need more to be done.

Credit for the story: Sarah Zhang (editorial intern at Mother Jones).

 

 

 

Farm Post program.

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Australia Post’s launched a pilot ‘paddock to plate’ venture is called Farmhouse Direct and combines things successfully with the other AusPost delivery network. The promise of the service is to connect “you directly to the best local produce” and make local farmers markets and “artisan” produce an everyday experience.

The pilot program is reported to have started out as a collaboration with the Victorian Farmers’ Markets Association and was successful enough to lead to a national roll-out involving 70 producers and 680 products. There is sufficient confidence that it will continue to grow and that confidence is shown by Australia Post having set up a website – at farmhousedirect.com.au – where farmers set up shop for free and set their own prices. Quoted is that “Users can explore the website by region, product, produce and even by local farmers markets like the Flemington Farmers Market to order online. Farmers prepare the shipments, which are either picked up by Australia Post from the farmer or handed in to a depot, and Australia Post looks after the delivery.”

CO2Land org accepts that this is an interesting project that has the hallmarks of being a success. Not just a number improvement, but a innovation with a low risk and excellent opportunity for farmers to be better off in the market space. It is a genuine attempt to move with the times – without a huge price tag in setup costs. Keep you eye out for the official launch of the program not to far off, and expected sometime in 2012.

Unfinished business, The EU ETS continues

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The European Investment Bank auctioned emissions permits to raise funds for low-carbon energy technologies, with an emphasis on the benefits of carbon capture and storage(CCS). This was a particular benefit opportunity for Europe’s larger source of CO2 emissions.

The EU quota of emissions permits is called EU permits (EUAs). The Climate Speculator is quoted as saying: “The European Commission on Thursday said it expected to raise between €1.3 billion and €1.5 billion by October to support two to three CCS plants, plus some renewable energy projects from auctioning 200 million EUAs, the first tranche of sales to raise a total of €300 million.

It is widely seen as a disappointment that the original expectations of the EU’s original pre-crisis objective in 2007 to build 10-12 CCS projects will not happen in the timeframes. To blame , the EU financial crisis has taken us to a different place.

The EU’s emissions trading scheme caps the emissions of factories and power plants, and, since 2005 they have got most EUAs for free in a gradual transition to the market to assist the bigger polluters ranging from coal plants to steel mills. Opposition to the scheme is that bigger polluters captured windfall profits.

In the transitional process to the market, from 2013, most power plants will have to source their EUAs under State or EU-run auctions. Sales run by the European Investment Bank in 2012 were a forerunner of that, and are to raise funds for innovative low-carbon technologies and to benefit CCS technologies.

The problem that is now apparent is that the market is too readily participated in and this puts pressure on the attempts to stabilize the carbon price. To counter this the European Commission proposes to withhold permits and boost prices by “backloading” auctioning. That is delaying sales due next year until later in the 2013-2020 trading phase. This strategy is designed to maintain the EU carbon prices at no lower than €8.

CO2land org sees some parallels with the situation in Australia where political opposition oppose carbon prices, which is claimed to raise electricity prices. Do not be surprised if a new advocate springs up named something like ‘real carrot to dangle in front of ministers’ noses”.

Credit for the original story on EU ETS goes to Gerard Wynn Published 16 Jul 2012. ”The Climate Speculator source is ‘This article was originally published by Reuters. Republished with permission.’

 

 

China’s technology plan to tackle climate change

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China announced its ‘Specially Designated National Plan on Science and Technology Development in Tackling Climate Change’. The plan includes the Ten Most Critical Mitigation Technologies and Ten Most Critical Adaption Technologies that have been identified by the Chinese Government to address climate change challenges in that country.

Reported by thecleanrevolution.org on 16 July 2012, China announced its technology plan last week, and the dot points of the plan follow:

“The Ten Mitigation Technologies are:

  • High efficiency super-critical power generation technology
  • Holistic coal gasification-based integrated combustion-cycle technology
  • Non-conventional natural gas exploration and development technology
  • Large-scale renewable energy power generation, storage and grid connection technology
  • New energy automobile technology and low carbon fuel substitute technology
  • City energy supply and end-use energy efficiency and emission reduction technology
  • Building energy saving technology
  • Energy saving and scale-up technology of waste energy and waste heat in the production process of iron and steel, metallurgical, chemical and building material industries
  • Carbon sink technology in agriculture, forestry, husbandry and wetland
  • Carbon capture and storage technology.

The Ten Adaptation Technologies include:

  • Forecast and pre-warning technology of extreme weather events
  • Drought-ridden region water resource exploration and high-efficiency water utilization, and optimized allocation technology
  • Drought-resistant and high-temperature-resistant plant species selection and cultivation, and pest-prevention and control technology
  • Typical climate-sensitive ecosystem protection and remediation technology
  • Climate change impact and risk assessment technology
  • Human health integrated adaptation technology
  • Typical coastal land adaptation technology
  • City lifeline engineering safety guarantee technology in response to extreme weather events
  • Standards and regulation amendment of some key sectors in adaptation to climate change
  • Man-controlled weather manipulation technology.”

CO2Land org notes that while clear guideline are given; success towards tackling climate change relies on close partnerships between government and business, as well as among countries in the global community. They go on to say, “Tackling climate change is a game of we-are-all-in-it-together. A global-level cooperation will provide the right platform for shared innovation and know-how to accelerate the technology R&D, the application of those technologies, as well as the scale up of the applicable and feasible solutions to address the common challenge we all face today.”

Are they serious? You will be in awe that the site said “The Chinese Government invested $16.8 BILLION (RMB 107 BILLION) in Clean Energy and Efficiency in 2011”.

Report: Read more on how global consensus and collaboration can drive a clean revolution in China

Background: China’s 12th Five Year Plan

the most important three and a half minutes

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On 15 July 2012, Malcom Turnbull’s twitter site, about 4 hours after CO2Land org posted the blog ‘weasel words’, an illustration on the importance of honesty was posted as a youtube “the most honest three and a half minuted of television, EVER”. Play it through the link below – it is about morality and media power, and what happens when you lose sight of the big picture – an American story.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Aircraft CO2 Metrics Standard – International measures

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On 11 July 2012, at Saint Petersburg, in the Russian Federation, an important step towards establishing a worldwide CO2 Standard for aircraft was made. The International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO’s) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) unanimously agreed on a CO2 metric system that characterizes the CO2 emissions for aircraft types with varying technologies. ICAO is a United Nations specialist agency, and the announcement is covered in COM15/12.

The ICAO Council President is quoted as saying: “The new CO2 metric system agreed today by States, as well as intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, addresses emissions from a wide variety of aircraft on a fair and transparent basis….. It includes factors which account for fuselage geometry, maximum takeoff weight and fuel burn performance at three different cruise conditions and is a major move forward.”

The new aircraft CO2 metric system will now move onto the next stages in the development of an ICAO CO2 aircraft Standard, and includes the definition of certification procedures to support the agreed metric system and the Standard’s scope of applicability. The criteria for appropriate regulatory intervention will be analyzed, looking at technical feasibility, environmental benefit, cost effectiveness and the impacts of interdependencies.

The ICAO’s Environment Branch Chief, said “highlights that there is a great deal of motivation in every quarter of our sector to achieve real progress on aviation environmental performance.” CO2Land org applauds the courageous for tackling carbon risk in this way.

Off the tracks

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Is the dream of renewable energy already over? To judge from what was said recently one might be forgiven for thinking so.

Almost every speech at the high-level talks of the importance of fossil fuels for energy supply is underlined. And not just by industry representatives, but also by the responsible ministers. The Environment Minister even said: was “against discrimination of fossil fuels”.

Those are just words, but the actions speak even louder. Fact is the use of coal increased substantially last year. Ironically, the additional coal used in the power stations could have been exported, while the export could be counted bringing down our energy-related CO2 emissions to a level not seen before. No wonder some people say our economy is where the real climate change is taking place.

However, it would be premature to write off the governments ambitious energy plan at this stage. We did manage over the past few years to increase renewable energy production to an unprecedented level. This is not an unimportant achievement.

The real question is whether we can build on this success by turning the renewable energy revolution from a subsidy-drain into an engine of technological and economic development. As energy observers note it is a gamble: “No other country can tap such technical expertise from industry or such bottom-up activism from municipalities, companies and citizens’ cooperatives in support of the low-carbon industry.

To prevent the renewable energy industry from becoming permanently sidetracked will require a massive effort and a much greater degree of faith (and coordination) than the current government is displaying. The industry has entered into a precarious, if not chaotic, phase. You can read her assessment of the current energy mood in Berlin by clicking here.

CO2Land apologize for the excitement, but we are not alone!

 

 

Weasel words

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The use of weasel words was a tactic used to engineer that broad based ‘policy’ could be backed out of at any time and a ‘review’ was always the justification for doing so – Flip flop, weasel words, distortion of the truth, devotion to any story will do, maybe Malcolm Turnbull should take over, when he was the voice for the environment he could see ‘as it was, a true understanding of the real world’. As a leader Turnbull had a problem to overcome as he was of honesty, of being courageous and had a conscience.

What does the current leader of the opposition mean when he says “believe me” as opposed to what seems apparent to him saying ‘do as I say’? Check out the following interview taken during the term of this opposition – http://youtu.be/12PN66IBoPs – where there was support for the CARBON TAX by Tony Abbort – Will Turnbull returned as leader be able to stop the weasel?

Put all that aside, are the ‘real’ questions: What is the real price of carbon? What is the real price to business for uncertainty? What is the real cost of the tipping point to no return for the future?

State of the Climate

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Whether you believe it is human induced (anthropogenic) or natural occurring (atmospheric, hydrospheric and biospheric) or otherwise the facts speak for themselves. From the Bureau of Meteorology the Fast Facts are:

  • Climate change is continuing
  • Warming has been measured around Australia and globally during recent decades
  • 2010 Global temperatures were the warmest on record (slightly higher than 2005 and 1998)
  • Australia experienced record rainfalls and the coolest temperatures since 2001 due to a very strong La Niña event in 2010 and 2011
  • Concentrations of long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new high in 2011
  • Australian temperatures are projected to increase in coming decades

Rising CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels has affected global temperature much more than natural climate variability during the past century.

The State of the Climate(March 2010 release) highlighted a multi-decadal warming trend over Australia’s land and oceans, an increase in record hot days and decrease in record cold days across the country, a decrease in rainfall in southwest and southeast Australia, an increase in global sea level, and increases in global greenhouse gas concentrations.

The State of the Climate (2012 release) provides an updated summary of long-term climate trends. It notes that the long-term warming trend has not changed, with each decade having been warmer than the previous decade since the 1950s. The warming trends observed around Australia are consistent with global-scale warming that has been measured during recent decades, despite 2010 and 2011 being the coolest years recorded in Australia since 2001. Global-average surface temperatures were the warmest on record in 2010 (slightly higher than 2005 and 1998). 2011 was the world’s 11th warmest year and the warmest year on record during a La Niña event. The world’s 13 warmest years on record have all occurred in the past 15 years.

State of the Climate 2012 also highlights the increase in global sea level and notes sea-level rise around Australia since 1993 is greater than, or equal to, the global average. Our observations show that sea-surface temperatures around Australia have increased faster than the global average. The concentrations of long-lived greenhouse gases in the atmosphere reached a new high in 2011. Annual growth in global fossil-fuel CO2 emissions between 2009 and 2010 was 5.9 per cent, reversing a small decline of 1.2 per cent recorded between 2008 and 2009 during the global financial crisis”.

CO2Land org stresses that from a farmer perspective the interrupts to the season trends mean considerable adaption will be required, more than just improved management techniques. Evidence is given by the Bureau that  “There has been a general trend towards increased spring and summer monsoonal rainfall across Australia’s north during recent decades, and decreased late autumn and winter rainfall across southern Australia. The summary shows that the very strong La Niña event in 2010 followed by another in 2011 brought the highest two-year Australian-average rainfall total on record.

CO2Land org was impressed with Dr Karl Braganza from the Climate Monitoring Section of the Bureau of Meteorology where he discusses the State of the Climate in 2012 in a video. Visit www.bom.gov.au and follow the report.

 

What is a life cycle?

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The Africa Planet Index reveals a decline of nearly 40% in biodiversity on that continent over the past 40 years – not only have the natural systems degraded but the rapid population growth, increasing prosperity and changing consumption patterns have increased the population’s ecological footprint – pressure on biodiversity is also coming from other nations, such as China, which is depending increasingly on Africa’s resources. Source EcoNews 01/06/12.

The question of how bad global warming will get has long been cast in terms of how hot the world will get – but perhaps more important will be how much rising greenhouse gases crank up the water cycle – models predict that a strengthening greenhouse will increase precipitation where it is already relatively high and decrease it where it is already low. Source Science 27/05/12.

The prevailing view has been that the world’s supply of oil is running out and global production will peak possibly as soon as the end of this decade – now a new theory suggests that oil production will start to fall by 2020 – but not because we’re running out, we just won’t need it. Source New Scientist 19/05/12.

If electric vehicle charging is unmanaged and about 50% of drivers charge at peak periods, then the cost of meeting the additional peak demand in the National Electricity Market could be $1.8 billion by 2020. Source CE Daily 31/05/12.

NSW has become only the 2nd place in the world to trial the idea of social benefit bonds – private investors buy bonds in community programs – dividends are paid by the government when the social goals are met. Source ABC 040612.

Personal wealth across Australia increased by just 0.3% in 2011, compared with 1.9% globally as wealth rates in major developed economies declined – the growth globally came from emerging markets, where wealth jumped by 10%, with China leading the way with wealth up almost 20% in one year – Australia was again ranked 17th country in terms of number of millionaire households SmartCompany 050612.In the most recent quarter, the ACT led in the productivity gains with 6.6% – Victoria 3.7% – NT 3.1% – SA 2.7% – Tas 1% – NSW and WA 0.5% – Qld minus 1.9% DT 120612.

Manufacturers are increasingly moving from the concept of supply chains to supply circles – minimising the use of inputs whether they be materials, energy or water – repairing, recycling and reinventing products, components and materials – reducing costs and increasing productivity while reducing their environmental foot print McKinsey Quarterly 160612.

Australia’s food manufacturing exports are worth up to $17 billion a year – bigger than education or tourism – but now Australia risks becoming Asia’s farm rather than an exporter of quality foods – supermarket wars, rising input costs and a high dollar have been crunching manufacturers – Heinz and McCains have closed factories in Victoria and Tasmania and shifted production to lower-cost New Zealand – Anzac biscuit maker Unibic has collapsed SMH 160612.

Japan’s Kirin’s National Foods, the owner of Dairy Farmers, wrote off $1.2 billion in Australia and the Murray Goulburn Co-operative has mothballed a plant and shed 12% of its workforce –SMH 10612.

Kraft Foods Australasia has seen its earnings drop by two-thirds between 2008-10 but it is maintaining a focus on the opportunity to reach the Asian middle class market which will swell to 1.6 billion consumers by 2020 – a Prime Ministerial Taskforce will be recommending that Australia create a food innovation centre built around collaboration of multinational and small-to-medium sized enterprises, the CSIRO and universities to address the opportunity SMH 160612.

Glass half full – Economics commentator, Ross Gittins, points out that there have been 17,000 jobs lost in a list of 25 recently reported layoffs – and that this is comparable with the number of people leaving jobs voluntarily every month – as well, 46,100 full-time jobs were created in May and average weekly wages rose 4% in 2011-12; official interest rates are 3.5%; inflation is 1.6%; GDP growth is 4.3%; house prices have dropped an average of 5%; and WBM 030612.

Thank you for the material Garry Reynolds, Caring for our Country.