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The rise of diesel in Europe: the impact on health and pollution
In a bid to reduce CO2 emissions in the 90s, Europe backed a major switch from petrol to diesel cars but the result was a rise in deadly air pollution
Volkswagen’s rigging of emissions tests for diesel cars comes after nearly 20 years of the technology being incentivised in Europe in the knowledge that its adoption would reduce global warming emissions but lead to thousands of extra deaths from increased levels of toxic gases.
Diesel was a niche market in Europe until the mid-1990s, making up less than 10% of the car fleet. Diesels produce 15% less CO2 than petrol, but emit four times more nitrogen dioxide pollution (NO2) and 22 times more particulates - the tiny particles that penetrate the lungs, brain and heart.
Continue reading...Kiribati climate change refugee told he must leave New Zealand
A man seeking to be the world’s first climate change refugee has been booked on a flight home to Kiribati on Wednesday, despite his lawyer saying that is a breach of justice, reports Stuff.co.nz
Ioane Teitiota has been in custody in Mount Eden Prison, one of two private prisons in New Zealand, after his bid to claim climate change refugee status was dismissed last week.
He was arrested by police and immigration officials at his West Auckland home on Tuesday morning for overstaying his permit.
Continue reading...Torres Strait Trochus Fishery - agency application 2015
We are pro-nuclear, but Hinkley C must be scrapped
Overpriced, overcomplicated and overdue, the Hinkley project needs to be killed off and the money invested into other low-carbon technologies
• Read more: Nuclear supporting environmentalists in call to scrap Hinkley C plans
As committed environmentalists, our conversion to the cause of nuclear power was painful and disorienting. All of us carried a cost in changing our position, antagonising friends and alienating colleagues. But we believe that shutting down – or failing to replace – our primary source of low carbon energy during a climate emergency is a refined form of madness.
Because atomic energy provides a steady baseload of electricity, it has great potential to balance the output from renewables, aiding the total decarbonisation of the power supply. The dangers associated with nuclear power have been wildly exaggerated, all too often with the help of junk science. Climate breakdown presents a far greater hazard to human life. The same goes for the air pollution caused by burning coal.
Continue reading...Invitation to comment on the listing assessment of Streblus pendulinus, a Norfolk Island endemic rainforest shrub
15 species removed from the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act
Olympic organisers destroy 'sacred' South Korean forest to create ski run
Green campaigners say recent removal of 500-year-old virgin forest is an ecological disaster and dismiss officials’ ‘patronising’ offer to restore habitat
Campaigners in South Korea have accused organisers of the 2018 winter Olympics of destroying a “sacred” forest to make room for a ski slope, and dismissed official assurances that the site will be restored to its original state after the Games.
Environment groups say the recently-completed removal of tens of thousands of trees from the slopes of Mount Gariwang, including ancient and rare species, amounts to an ecological disaster.
Continue reading...Kayak couple make narrow escape from humpback whale – video
Two kayakers outside the harbour of Moss Landing in California have a narrow escape on Monday after a large humpback whale launches out of the water and lands on them. Fortunately neither of the people on the kayak was hurt and the video from Sanctuary Cruses shows stills of the (fairly surprised) pair after the event
Continue reading...Yet another deadly snake species discovered in Australia
Scientists describe the highly camouflaged Kimberley death adder, native to Western Australia, as one of the world’s most venomous snakes
Related: Snakebite treatment 'will run out next year'
Ophidiophobics should fret not, but Australia has a new species of snake. Scientists have identified a new type of death adder in the Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Living without money: what I learned
A moneyless economy shows how our lives are intrinsically linked to the great web of life. In this deep ecology, our security comes from our relationships with people and nature
With little idea of what I was to expect, or how I was to go about it, seven years ago I began living without money. Originally intended as a one-year experiment in ecological living, I wanted to explore how it felt as a human being to live without the trappings and security that money had long-since afforded me. While terrifying and tough to begin with, by the end of the first year I somehow found myself more content, healthier and at peace than I had ever been. And although three years later I made a difficult decision to re-enter the monetary world – to establish projects that would enable others to loosen the grip that money has on their lives – I took from it many lessons that have changed my life forever.
For the first time I experienced how connected and interdependent I was on the people and natural world around me, something I had previously only intellectualised. It is not until you become physically aware of how your own health is entirely reliant on the health of the great web of life, that ideas such as deep ecology absorb themselves into your arteries, sinews and bones.
Continue reading...Jeremy Miller - Emily St Residence - PechKucha Adelaide #17
#PKNADL17 Sustainable House Day Pecha Kucha Night
11th of September, 2015
The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide 5000
Jeremy Miller | Sustainability House | Emily Street Residence
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Presenter Bio:
Jeremy is an Urban Planner working at the building permit end of the planning process with Sustainability House. His main professional focus is working with builders and developers in improving their energy efficiency, understanding legislative and statutory requirements and developing understanding of the factors that contribute to the thermal performance of buildings. Jeremy is also responsible for the SUHOstudio design arm of Sustainability House working with clients to develop cost effective residential design solutions. His role also involves advocacy and research with Government both at a State and Federal level, delivering training and seminars.
Cast: AdelaideSBN and ESM
Tags: eco-homes, sustainable design, south australia, adelaide and pecha kucha
Nathan McGair - Passive Resistance - PechaKucha Adelaide #17
#PKNADL17 – Sustainable House Day Pecha Kucha Night
11th of September, 2015
The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide 5000
Nathan McGair | Passive Resistance House | Home Owner
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Project Short Story:
Middle aged couple (with 2 young boys) who were tired of our old house. Our best friends are architects, inspiring us to want more out of our house. We rebuilt from an old timber and iron rental property, right next door to Ali’s grandpa. Eight years in the planning, one year in the making we now have our own grand design.
Cast: AdelaideSBN
Tags: eco-homes, sustainable design, south australia, adelaide and pecha kucha
Bohdan Dorniak - Peacock Residence - PechaKucha Adelaide #17
#PKNADL17 Sustainable House Day Pecha Kucha Night
11th of September, 2015
The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide 5000
Bohdan Dorniak | Bohdan Dorniak Architects | Peacock Residence
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Company Bio:
Bohdan Dorniak & Co Pty Ltd was established in 1989. Since then, this Adelaide based architectural practice has been designing buildings that are sensitive to the environment and energy efficient.
Our architectural services are in the areas of design, documentation and contract administration. We pride ourselves in providing excellent services to individual, domestic, corporate and government clients.
With a client-centered approach which respects the client’s wishes, needs, budgetary constraints and lifestyle, further consideration is given to energy demands and ongoing building efficiency and sustainability. Our challenge and commitment is to create a design to fulfill client needs and site conditions
Cast: AdelaideSBN and ESM
Tags: eco-homes, sustainable design, south australia, adelaide and pecha kucha
Mark Thomas - GOODHOUSE #5 & #7 - PechaKucha Adelaide #17
#PKNADL17 Sustainable House Day Pecha Kucha Night
11th of September, 2015
The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide 5000
Mark Thomas | Goodhouse | Goodhouse #05 & #07
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GOODHOUSE Bio:
GOODHOUSE is pioneering an alternative design and construction system that delivers an affordable, highly sustainable, quality architectural housing product.
GOODHOUSE is able to offer this by focusing on efficiencies gained by the systemisation of the design and construction process.
Each home is a composition of well researched materials, systems and construction details, and utilizes offsite manufacture where appropriate. All elements have been considered and balanced in terms of the associated economic considerations, the performance and the carbon footprint impact.Both design and build times are condensed, increasing efficiency and reducing cost.
Cast: AdelaideSBN and ESM
Tags: eco-homes, sustainable design, south australia, adelaide and pecha kucha
Brett Aylen - TS4 Living Houses - PechaKucha Adelaide #17
#PKNADL17 – Sustainable House Day Pecha Kucha Night
Friday, 11th of September, 2015
The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide 5000
Brett Aylen | Architect | TS4 Living
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Presenter Bio:
Brett Aylen is co-founder of TS4 Living, the company behind Australia’s first designed and built zero carbon house. Brett is an architect with a clear vision of what it takes to deliver a sustainable project. He has been working in the industry for 20 years and his broad experience enriches his understanding of sustainability at all levels, from the dynamics of people and communities through to the selection of robust materials and the construction of healthy buildings. Brett is a strong believer in the value of multi-disciplinary teams and is pro-active in building the right team for each project.
Cast: AdelaideSBN and ESM
Tags: eco-homes, sustainable design, south australia, adelaide and pecha kucha
Peter Morrison - Strawbilly House - PechaKucha Adelaide #17
#PKNADL17 Sustainable House Day Pecha Kucha Night
11th of September, 2015
The Joinery – 111 Franklin St, Adelaide 5000
Peter Morrison | Strawbilly House | Owner/Designer/Builder
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Presenter Bio:
Peter is a retired high school tech teacher, designed and built first house in Adelaide Hills about 1975, second one at Goolwa about 1983. Reading “Small is Beautiful” by Francis Schumacher and books by Ghandi, Ivan Illich etc. about this time fostered an interest in sustainability and Global issues. From 1988 to 1993 he worked in Tigray, northern Ethiopia with Community Aid Abroad, and in recent years in Tigray as a volunteer. In 2006 Peter designed and built his current straw bale house in the Aldinga Arts Eco Village South Australia, living currently with his partner Jane.
Cast: AdelaideSBN and ESM
Tags: eco-homes, sustainable design, south australia, adelaide and pecha kucha
Huge pirate tuna fishing operation in Pacific, says Greenpeace – video
Greenpeace says it has uncovered a large illegal tuna fishing operation in the waters of Papua New Guinea after apprehending a Taiwanese ship with 75kg of shark fins. Irregularities in the ships log book raised activists’ suspicions and they later found that the Shuen De Ching No.888 had no fishing licence for the area
Continue reading...Problem with BBC’s rural coverage? Not enough Chris Packhams
The British countryside is becoming a playground for millionaires. We need more broadcasters that dare to take on wildlife killers like the Countryside Alliance
Chris Packham should wear the Countryside Alliance’s attempt to have him silenced with pride. It’s another indication that, in the eerie wasteland of the BBC’s rural coverage, his is one of the very few voices prepared to tell us what is really going on.
The Countryside Alliance, which represents people who kill wild animals, demands that unless he stops speaking out against the persecution of wildlife, “the BBC’s only answer can be to remove the BBC from Chris Packham’s biography by refusing to employ him any more.”
Continue reading...Edible water bottle to cause a splash at EU sustainability awards
Biodegradeable water packaging made from seaweed and new way of dyeing clothes have won joint award for new sustainable products
An edible alternative to plastic water bottles made from seaweed has topped the UK round of an EU competition for new, more sustainable products.
The new spherical form of packaging, called Ooho and described by its makers as “water you can eat”, is biodegradeable, hygenic and costs 1p per unit to make. It is made chiefly from calcium chloride and a seaweed derivative called sodium alginate.
Continue reading...Sea Monkey Alert … just add water
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