From climate.connection at mts.net Thu Jul 2 13:31:50 2009 From: climate.connection at mts.net (Dean Medeiros) Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 12:31:50 -0500 Subject: [Connection_update] #175, July 2nd, 2009 Message-ID: <486cb46ac22d3320345f4d6f0014f90f@mts.net> UPDATE: 175,?July 2nd, 2009 1. New Face and Program at Climate Change Connection 1. Winnipeg In Motion Walking Rally - Sunday, July 5th 1. Canada seen worst of G8 not curbing climate change 2. ExxonMobil continuing to fund climate sceptic groups, records show 3. China recruits algae to combat climate change 1. Carbon Counter Displays Running Total of GHG Emissions 2. Free online publication - Building a low-carbon future: politics of climate change 1. How to stay cool, naturally Climate Change Connection News1. New Face and Program at Climate Change Connection Melissa Dupuis?is coordinating the up-and-coming ecoDriverManitoba program. She is responsible for the producing educational materials and workshops on fuel efficient driving behaviours as well as distributing ?Healthy Communities Don?t Idle? signs. Prior to working with CCC, Melissa worked with a sustainable community development organization in rural New Brunswick and also spent time as an intern in Honduras, working on a project with small farmers to encourage more sustainable and profitable farming practices. She has also spent time volunteering in Ecuador, working for an environmental education and conservation organization in the Amazon. Melissa holds a B.A. in Politics from the University of Winnipeg and an M.A. in International Affairs from Carleton University where she focused on climate change and human security. ? If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact Melissa?at?(204) 943-4836 or info at ecodrivermanitoba.ca. ?Events1. Winnipeg In Motion Walking Rally - Sunday, July 5th The ParticipACTION Sun Life - Inspire the nation tour is coming to Winnipeg on Sunday, July 5th to deliver a clear and simple message to the city - it's time to get active and move more! Visit the Inspirational Booth to get a FREE pedometer, interact with tour staff and record a video about how you've added more movement to your life, so you can inspire others to do the same.? Your story could be featured in a television commercial. The Inspirational Booth will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Join ParticipACTION, Sun Life Financial and local partners, Winnipeg in motion and Manitoba in motion, as we inspire Manitobans to get moving by holding an in motion Walking Rally. Gather your friends and family and come out for a FUN, FREE, FAMILY scavenger hunt for your chance to win prizes. Date: Sunday, July 5th Time: 1:00 p.m. Location: AssiniboinePark - near the Duck Pond For additional information, please visit www.winnipeginmotion.ca or callWinnipeg in motion at 940-3648. News1. Canada seen worst of G8 not curbing climate change http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5603M420090701?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews Reuteurs|?ROME?|?July 1,?2009 By Daniel Flynn With only five months to go until a new global pact on climate change, none of the Group of Eight nations is doing enough to curb global warming, withCanada and the United States ranking bottom, a study said on Wednesday. The "G8 Climate Scorecards," compiled by environmental group WWF, said even the greenest members of the rich nations' club -- Germany, Britain and France -- were not on track to meet a "danger threshold" of limiting temperature rises to below two degrees Celsius. G8 leaders gather in Italy next week to discuss the world financial crisis and climate change, hoping to make progress toward a new pact on global warming due to be signed in Copenhagen in December to replace the 1997 Kyoto deal. They will be joined by members of U.S. President Barack Obama's Major Economies Forum in a bid to forge broad consensus. "While there might be a bailout possibility for the financial system, no amounts of money will save the planet once climate change crosses the danger threshold," WWF head James Leape wrote in the foreword to the report. Wednesday's annual G8 scorecard singled out Canada, saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper's conservative government had not implemented a plan to curb emissions, already among the highest in the world per capita and steadily increasing. Canada was not even close to meeting its Kyoto agreements, the WWF said. The report praised U.S. President Obama for prioritizing clean energy in his economic recovery package and promoting green legislation, but said U.S. per capita emissions were among the highest in the world and were projected to rise. "There has been more action in the U.S. in the last four months than in the last three decades -- a trend that will hopefully continue," the report said. Obama's government has not embraced the 2 degree Celsius goal adopted by the European Union. Temperatures have already risen by 0.7 percent since the start of the industrial era. "In order to avoid or reduce the risk of catastrophic climate change, G8 leaders must agree to do everything they can to stay below 2 degrees," said Kim Carstensen, leader of the WWF's Global Climate Initiative. GERMANY TOP, THEN BRITAIN Top of the G8 rankings came Germany, followed by Britain. The WWF praised Berlin for promoting renewable energy and an ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gases by 40 percent by 2020, though said this lacked clear plans for implementation. "There is no reason to celebrate," said Regine Guenther, director for climate change, WWF Germany, adding that emissions needed to be cut by 95 percent by 2050. "This would be essential to keep global temperature rises well below two degrees." Britain has already more than achieved its Kyoto pact targets due to a transition from coal to gas-fired power stations in the 1990s, but there was room to cut emissions in transport, power generation and services, the report said. France has low emissions per capita for an industrialized nation due to its reliance on nuclear power, which provides more than three-quarters of its needs. The WWF does not support nuclear power due to concerns over safety and radioactive waste. G8 host Italy has low emissions compared to G8 partners due mainly to the structure of its economy, the WWF said, but emissions were rising and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government was not making headway to meeting Kyoto obligations. 2. ExxonMobil continuing to fund climate sceptic groups, records show http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/01/exxon-mobil-climate-change-sceptics-funding The Guardian|?LONDON, UK?|?July 1,?2009 By David Adam, Environment Correspondent Records show ExxonMobil gave hundreds of thousands of pounds to lobby groups that have published 'misleading and inaccurate information' about climate change. ? The world's largest oil company is continuing to fund lobby groups that question the reality of global warming, despite a public pledge to cut support for such climate change denial, a new analysis shows. Company records show that ExxonMobil handed over hundreds of thousands of pounds to such lobby groups in 2008. These include theNationalCenter for Policy Analysis (NCPA) in Dallas, Texas, which received $75,000 (?45,500), and the Heritage Foundation in WashingtonDC, which received $50,000. According to Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, at the London School of Economics, both the NCPA and the Heritage Foundation have published "misleading and inaccurate information about climate change." ? On its website, the NCPA says: "NCPA scholars believe that while the causes and consequences of the earth's current warming trend is [sic] still unknown, the cost of actions to substantially reduce CO2 emissions would be quite high and result in economic decline, accelerated environmental destruction, and do little or nothing to prevent global warming regardless of its cause." ? The Heritage Foundation published a "web memo" in December that said: "Growing scientific evidence casts doubt on whether global warming constitutes a threat, including the fact that 2008 is about to go into the books as a cooler year than 2007". Scientists, including those at the UK Met Office say that the apparent cooling is down to natural changes and does not alter the long-term warming trend. ? In its 2008 corporate citizenship report, published last year, ExxonMobil said it would cut funds to several groups that "divert attention" from the need to find new sources of clean energy. ? The NCPA and Heritage Foundation are included among groups funded by ExxonMobil, according to details of its "2008 Worldwide Contributions and Community Investments" published recently. ? Ward said: "ExxonMobil has been briefing journalists for three years that they were going to stop funding these groups. The reality is that they are still doing it. If the world's largest oil company wants to fund climate change denial then it should be upfront about it, and not tell people it has stopped." ? In 2006, Ward, then at the Royal Society, wrote to ExxonMobil to challenge the company's funding of such lobby groups. The move, revealed in the Guardian, prompted accusations of censorship and debate about whether experts should "police" the distribution of scientific information. ? In an article on the Guardian website, Ward writes: "I have now written again to ExxonMobil to point out that these organisations publish misleading information about climate change on their websites, and to seek guidance on how to reconcile this fact with the pledge made by the company. I believe that the company should keep its promise by ending its financial support for lobby groups that mislead the public about climate change." ExxonMobil said it annually reviews and adjusts its contributions to policy research groups. A spokesman said: "Only ExxonMobil speaks for ExxonMobil and our position on climate change is clear. We have the same concerns as people everywhere, and that is how to provide the world with the energy it needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We take the issue of climate change seriously and the risks warrant action." ? 3. China recruits algae to combat climate change http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jun/28/china-algae-carbon-capture-plan?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzEmail&utm_content=559845&utm_campaign=Nightly_%272009-06-30+01%3A30%3A00%27 The Guardian|?LANGFANG,?China?|?June 29,?2009 By Jonathan Watts ? The garish gunk coursing through a greenhouse filled with transparent pipes appears to belong on the set of a particularly slimy episode of Star Trek. Multiplying rapidly as it flows through tubes, stacked 14 high in four long rows, the organism thickens and darkens like the bioweapon of a deranged scientist. But this is not a science fiction horror story, it is one of humankind's most ambitious attempts to recruit algae in the fight against climate change. Developed by a groundbreaking Chinese firm, ENN, the greenhouse is a bioreactor that breeds microalgae, one of the fastest growing organisms on the planet, with carbon captured from gasified coal. China is the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, largely because it relies on coal for 70 per cent of its power. Almost none of the carbon dioxide is captured, partly because there is no profitable way of using it. Algae may be the answer. The organism can absorb carbon far more quickly than trees, a quality that has long attracted international scientists seeking a natural method of capturing the most dominant greenhouse gas. At ENN's research campus in Langfang, an hour's drive from Beijing, scientists are testing microalgae to clean up the back-end of a uniquely integrated process to extract and use coal more efficiently and cleanly than is possible today. Coal is first gasified in a simulated underground environment. The carbon dioxide is extracted with the help of solar and wind power, then "fed" to algae, which can be then used to make biofuel, fertiliser or animal feed. Foreign experts are enthusiastic. "Algae biofuels and sequestration are being tried in a bunch of places, but never with such an innovative energy mix," said Deborah Seligsohn, of the World Resources Institute, who visited ENN recently with a group of international energy executives. "It is really interesting and ambitious." Researchers at the algae greenhouse plan to scale up the trial to a 100 hectare (247 acre) site over the next three years. If it proves commercially feasible, coal plants around the world could one day be flanked by carbon-cleaning algae greenhouses or ponds. "Algae's promise is that its population can double every few hours. It makes far more efficient use of sunlight than plants," said Zhu Zhenqi, a senior advisor on the project. "The biology has been proven in the lab. The challenge now is an engineering one: We need to increase production and reduce cost. If we can solve this challenge, we can deal with carbon." The algae must be harvested every day. Extracting the oily components and removing the water is expensive and energy intensive. ENN is experimenting with different algae to find a hybrid that has an ideal balance of oil content and growth speed. It is testing cultivation techniques using varying temperatures and acidity levels. Algae tests are also being carried out at the University of Ohio. In Japan, algae is farmed at sea where it absorbs carbon from the air. Elsewhere carbon is sprayed or bubbled into algae ponds. But ENN is focusing on a direct approach. "Here we can control it, like in a reactor," said Gu Junjie, a senior advisor. "Theoretically we can absorb 100% of carbon dioxide emissions through a mix of microalgae and chemical fixing with hydrogen." This might work on a large scale in the northern deserts of Inner Mongolia, where land is cheap, plentiful and in need of fertiliser. But elsewhere, application may be limited because of the large areas of land or water needed for cultivation. "Algae is not likely to be the main solution for the carbon problem because of the amount of CO2 that needs to be consumed," said Ming Sung, Chief Representative for Asia Pacific of Clean Air Task Force.? But, he said: "Algae is part of the solution and is closer to what nature intends. Being one of the simplest forms of life, all it takes is light and CO2 in salt water." The advanced algae, solar and coal gasification technology is the latest stage in the rise of ENN, which has been spectacular even by modern Chinese standards. Founded in 1989 as a small taxi company, it has branched successfully into the natural gas industry and now into the field of renewable energy. The private company now employs about 20,000 people, and owns a golf course and hotel near its headquarters in Hebei province, where a new research campus is under construction. In the short term, ENN's advanced underground coal gasification technology is likely to prove more significant than its algae work. This technique enables extraction of fuel from small, difficult-to-access coal seams, and could double the world's current coal reserves. It also avoids the release of the pollutants sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. The company is also one of only a small handful in the world capable of mass producing thin-film solar panels, which can be manufactured with less water and energy than conventional photovoltaic materials. Late last year, the World Bank's International Financing Corporation announced a US$136m loan for ENN's solar business. ENN executives have talked to the US department of energy about joint research, a sign that the transfer of low-carbon technologies is no longer a one-way street from west to east. The development of the algae technology trails the others, but Zhu says the results from the 10,000 litre algae greenhouse have been sufficiently encouraging to move ahead. For the 100 hectare test facility, ENN is looking at sites near the company's 600,000 tonne-a-year coal mine in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, where the cold winters will require a heated greenhouse, and a location on Hainan Island, where the hot weather would allow the algae to be grown more cheaply in open ponds, but further away from China's main coal deposits. With China building the equivalent of more than one new 500MW coal-fired plant every week and likely to be dependent on coal for at least two decades, the further studies planned by ENN could be crucial. Recognising the continued role of the fossil fuel in China, the European Commission proposed a plan this week to co-finance a demonstration coal plant that aims to have near zero emissions through the use of carbon capture and storage technology. If member states and the European parliament agree on the ?50m plan, the facility would be operational by 2020. ?Notices1. Carbon Counter Displays Running Total of GHG Emissions A giant carbon counter sign that counts the total amount of greenhouse gases trapped in the atmosphere was erected last week inManhattan outside MadisonSquareGarden. Developed by MIT scientists, it is the world's first sign to show real-time measurement of global warming causing gases. The current quantity of carbon dioxide in the planet's atmosphere is 3.64 trillion metric tons, the highest level in 800,000 years. Let's hope the sign will spark more public awareness and debate on how to reduce emissions. Visit know-the-number.com to learn more. FACT: CO2 emissions from U.S. coal-based electricity are greater than emissions from all the cars and trucks in America. ? 2. Free online publication - Building a low-carbon future: the politics of climate change http://politicsofclimatechange.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/building-a-low-carbon-future/ Will the reconstruction of the global economy be positive for mitigating climate change? Is the move toward energy security at odds with a low-carbon society? Do we need the return of state planning to overcome the climate change challenge? How can the response to climate change be socially just? How can we forge an achievable but also equitable and legally secure international emissions deal at Copenhagen? By addressing these questions, leading international thinkers and practitioners put forward a compelling new account of climate change politics and policies in this pamphlet, demonstrating how a low-carbon future can be built by a revitalised co-existence of markets and the state, as well as a strong political narrative of hope and opportunity. Tips for Climate-Friendly Living 1. How to stay cool, naturally Seven ways to chill without warming our planet - http://greenlivingonline.com/article/stay-cool-naturally By: Mary Teresa Bitti Conserving energy rather than cranking up the AC will not only help cut greenhouse gas emissions but also keep your money in the bank. More than 40 percent of a typical family?s costs are spent keeping their home at a comfortable temperature. ?Simple things like using ceiling fans and closing your curtains during the day can really help keep your house cool and reduce the amount of energy an air conditioner would use.? says Dr. Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence. ?When it comes to saving energy in your home, every little bit helps to offset climate change.? The David Suzuki Foundation echoes that thought: ?Individual actions may seem small, but together they can change the world.? With that in mind, here are 7 creative and low-impact ways to curb your energy output in the warmer seasons. ? 1. Think about nixing the air conditioner No matter if they?re window models or central systems, air conditioners use a lot of electricity. Part of the reason many of us are so sticky and uncomfortable in summer is because of the humidity. Air conditioners take moisture out of the air, but they?re energy hogs because they also cool air and pump it indoors. More electricity means more greenhouse-gas emissions, and that means warming the Earth to keep you cool. Meanwhile, dehumidifiers also pull humidity out of the air but use far less energy and in combination with ceiling or floor fans, you might be just fine without AC. But if you?re set on air conditioning, be sure to get an ENERGY STAR-qualified model (find detailed information on what to look for here) ENERGY STAR room air conditioners, such as the Fedders 8000 BTU Energy Star ?Through the Wall? room air conditioner (available at The Home Depot), are up to 70 percent more energy efficient than a typical 20-year-old unit, and will cut your electricity bill in half. As for central air, according to the federal government?s Office of Energy Efficiency, ENERGY STAR-qualified central air-conditioning systems are about 10 percent more efficient than standard? models. ? More AC advice? Make sure the unit is the right size for your space. There?s no point in having one that?s more powerful than you actually need. And get your air conditioner tuned up by licensed technicians at the start of the season, otherwise it may be overworked and will consume more energy, putting extra strain on your local electricity grid?and your wallet. ? 2. Fan rescue It?s a centuries-old idea: cool off with a breeze. Ceiling and floor fans are great because they?re relatively inexpensive to buy and they use far less energy than ACs. ENERGY STAR-qualified ceiling fans, such as the 1.3 m Hampton Bay Aluminum Lighthouse, are 20 percent more energy efficient than older models, can make a room feel cooler and can save you up to $25 on your yearly utility bills. Reversible ceiling fans can be used year round as an efficient way to distribute air throughout a home. In the summer, the fan can create a breeze (set the fan to counter-clockwise). In the winter, set the fan to turn clockwise to push warmer air down into the room. Also, it?s a myth that fans cool spaces. Fans cool people, so turn them off when you?re not in the room. ? 3. Windows to the summer When it?s really hot, close your windows, drapes and blinds during the day and open them up at night to let the cooler air indoors. Closing a window or drawing drapes in summer may feel counterintuitive, but in fact it?s a smart, free, environmentally friendly way to keep heat out. Canada?s early settlers often built homes with smaller windows (glass was expensive), which helped keep cool air in during the summer and hot air in during the winter. ? 4. Cross paths with the wind It may seem cruel to bring up memories of biting winter winds, but in summer, the wind can be a cool friend. You can have refreshing breezes inside your home by strategically opening windows and doors. To get the most out of cross-ventilation, open windows that are opposite each other and make sure the path is clear for the air to travel from one to the other. ? 5. Insulation, insulation, insulation Having a well-insulated home is important in hot weather, not just in the bitter months of winter. In the past, attics were often left uninsulated because people believed this allowed for ventilation. In fact, during the summer, all that hot air rising up from indoors and coming in from the outside hovers like a warm blanket over bedroom ceilings on summer nights. Insulating your attic?and your basement?and sealing the holes and gaps wherever air leaks in will help keep your home cooler. ? 6. In the heat of the bright It?s a fact that 90 percent of electricity used by traditional incandescent light bulbs is lost in heat. Which isn?t good news during the summer, when you?re trying to keep cool. A more enlightened option is to choose compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), which produce 75 percent less heat and use some 75 percent less energy than standard incandescents. CFLs also last up to 10 times longer, which means fewer bulbs and packaging going into landfills. Focus on the most-used fixtures in your home, which are usually kitchen ceiling lights, living-room or family-room lamps and outdoor porch or post lamps. And consider changing to ENERGY STAR-qualified light fixtures. Companies such as Sea Gull Lighting offer ENERGY STAR-qualified fixtures in almost every style for every room. The company was named the 2008 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the fourth time and for the second year running, and was awarded the additional designation of Sustained Excellence by the EPA. Its products are widely available in Canada. 7. Cool shades Imagine a parasol that shades your home in summer and lets the sunlight through to warm you when the cold sets in. The parasol is totally natural and eco friendly. And since we?re dreaming, let?s say it?s a pollution-fighter that absorbs carbon dioxide?one of the major greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. We?re talking, of course, about deciduous trees. They?re miracle-workers. Strategically planted around your house, they provide visual pleasure, contribute to the health of your neighbourhood, cool you in summer and allow you to benefit from the sun in winter. And if you can?t accommodate a tree in your own yard, contact your municipality to ask for more trees to be planted in your neighbourhood. Do you want subscribe to this newsletter? Click here Copyright ? Manitoba Eco Network 2008 contact??|??legal??|??terms of use??|??privacy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 19065 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 1447 bytes Desc: not available URL: From climate.connection at mts.net Thu Jul 16 13:20:44 2009 From: climate.connection at mts.net (Dean Medeiros) Date: Thu, 16 Jul 2009 12:20:44 -0500 Subject: [Connection_update] #176 - July 16, 2009 Message-ID: <74aaa5ac537cf48df7400e320015878a@mts.net> UPDATE: 176,?July 16th, 2009 1. New Position Available at Climate Change Connection 1. Power Shift Canada - October 21-23, 2009 1. Cool way to save the planet -- paint the town white 2. Canada won't bend to G8 on climate 3. Obama brings emerging nations on side 4. Nasa satellites reveal extent of Arctic sea ice loss 5. New climate strategy: track the world's wealthiest 1. Trees for tomorrow tree cutting giveaway! 2. Pedal for the planet - Canada to Copenhagen Climate Change Connection News1. New Position Available at Climate Change Connection Community Facilitator - Job Summary Term: 7 months (Sep 1, 2009 ? Mar 31, 2010) Hours: Full time, 35 hours/week (flexible) Start Date: Tue, Sep 1, 2009 Application Close Date:Mon, Aug 3, 2009 Reporting to the Climate Change Connection project manager, the Community Facilitator will team with the Manitoba Department of Intergovernmental Affairs in their project to implement the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program in a number of Manitoba communities. This team will work together to help a network of local climate change coordinators meet their objectives as described in the PCP program. Primary areas of responsibility for the Community Facilitator relate to the training of these local climate change coordinators and facilitating the creation of local action plans. Job Duties and Responsibilities ? Facilitate 18 to 36 public engagement events through the fall/winter of 2009/2010 to assist each municipality, planning district, and neighbourhood to form their local climate change action plan. There will be 1 or 2 events for each group, as determined by the individual municipality, planning district, or neighbourhood. Most of the setup for these events will be done by Manitoba Department of Intergovernmental Affairs. 12 Municipalities:???????????????????????????????????? ? Brandon???????????????????? ? Virden??????????????????????????????? ? City of Thompson ? St Pierre Jolys ? Notre Dame de Lourdes ? RM of St Laurent ? RM of De Salaberry ? RM of Tache ? MSTW Planning district: ?? ? Morden ?? ? RM of Stanley ?? ? RM of Thompson ?? ? Winkler ? 6 Neighbourhoods: ? Daniel McIntyre/St Matthews ? FortRichmond ? Riverview & Lord Roberts ? Brandon City Centre ? Middlechurch area of West St Paul ? Host four Climate Change Boot Camps to orient the local climate change coordinators. (Format and major content of the Boot Camps has been established by Climate Change Connection and Intergovernmental Affairs.) These Boot Camps will: ?? o educate each local coordinator on climate change and associated issues ?? o provide tools and resources necessary to engage the community, develop a public ?????consultation strategy, and draft a local climate change action plan ? Provide an interim report detailing the progress of services provided, referring specifically to the deliverables. The report will include a description of the methods applied, budget, schedule, outcomes so far, challenges, and successes. ? Provide a final report detailing the outcomes of the services provided, again referring specifically to the deliverables. The report will include a description of methods applied, budget, schedule, final outcomes, challenges, and successes. ? Ensure business plan is met and budgets are followed. Job Qualifications The successful candidate should possess an undergraduate degree in biology/natural science, geography, environmental science, or a related field. The candidate requires previous experience in facilitating groups, event planning & delivery, and outreach education. Must have ? ability to work independently & organize their personal workload. ? ability to communicate comfortably in French. ? a valid driver?s licence and be prepared to travel to centres in rural Manitoba. This travel may be alone and may involve overnight stays. ? excellent oral & written communication skills. ? proficiency with computers and computer software packages (Word, Excel), and internet navigation and research. Previous knowledge and experience in the following areas are assets: ? non-profit sector ? rural Manitoba ? climate change ? Application Instructions Please submit a cover letter detailing your suitability for this position, and a current resume to: curt at climatechangeconnection.org We thank everyone for applying. Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. ? ? Events1. Power Shift Canada - October 21-23, 2009 On October 21-23, 2009, Power Shift Canada will bring together over one thousand young people from across the country for two days of?workshops and strategy sessions in Ottawa that will build to a?major?demonstration?day on Parliament Hill. ? Power Shift Canada is being organized by the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition and will build on the success of similar events across the globe - in the UK, in Australia and in the US. It is a chance for Canada's youth to urge our federal government to take?bold steps?in tackling the climate crisis.?The timing is critical.?Power Shift comes just before the UN climate negotiations taking place in December where the international community must pull together a post-Kyoto deal to reduce emissions. Canada has been a well-known laggard on the international front. We need to?make sure that this time our country takes an international stance we can be proud of. ? All young people and those who work with youth organizations are invited to get involved in organizing a Manitoban delegation to Power Shift. To find out how you can help, contact Erica Young (Erica at mbeconetwork.org) or Dean Medeiros (climate.connection at mts.net). ?News1. Cool way to save the planet -- paint the town white http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/cool-way-to-save-the-planet----paint-the-town-white-50931577.html The Winnipeg Free Press | WINNIPEG |?July 16,?2009 By Sean Ledwich ? I'm dreaming of a white cityscape. It's a dream that could offset a global warming nightmare. President Barack Obama's energy secretary, Steven Chu, recently spoke of the benefit of whitening cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He cited research that found if 63 per cent of roofs in 100 large cities were whitened it would be equivalent to taking all the world's billion cars off the road for 10 years. ? White reflects light back to the atmosphere where it passes through the canopy of greenhouse gases, taking heat energy with it. ? Cool roof products for commercial and residential use are widely available. You could also paint your shingles white. That's what Jay Beeson ofAustin, Texas, did. On a CBS news segment, Beeson described his roommates' reaction to his rooftop paint job. ? "They were like 'wow dude, it's nice and cool in here now!'" ? Of course, that's Texas. What about white roofs in Winnipeg? Nobody can argue against the summer benefit. Besides reflecting sunlight back to space, reflective roofs would let air conditioners enjoy more idle time. But would our winter wipe out summer gains? Hashem Akbari, senior scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and author of the research Obama's environment man cited, says Winnipeg would still get a net benefit in spite of our winter. ? "A white roof, no matter where it is, reflects incoming solar radiation and hence slows the rate of global warming." Akbari says anyone who uses energy to cool and heat a building will save money with a white roof. ? Since Canada appears to be waiting for U.S. leadership in the global warming fight, surely now our leaders -- federal, provincial, municipal -- can start encouraging Canadian business and citizenry to lighten our skyward facades. Picture Stephen Harper, Gary Doer, and Sam Katz on stage together, arm-in-arm, excitedly sharing their white roof strategy to fatten our wallets and save our climate. A lovely dream, that. Unfortunately our leaders seem to say as little as possible about global warming during waking hours. ? Prof. Danny Blair thinks politicians see a risk in talking to voters about solutions. Blair, who teaches atmospheric science and climate change at the University of Winnipeg, also finds time to dream. "My dream is to have somebody at the federal level, or even at the municipal or provincial level, with the courage to say the things that need to be said." ? If Mayor Katz held a news conference and told us we should strive to cool our rooftops, would he suffer politically? If he told us to inflate our tires and air-dry our clothes, might he be impeached? It could be that politicians fear the wrath of the small but outspoken forces still promoting the idea that humans aren't causing global warming. In case that's it, here is some political cover from David Phillips, the senior climatologist with Environment Canada. ? "You can't explain what's happened by simply natural forces. Sun spots, volcanism, orbital changes, all those physical reasons that have changed climate in the eons of the past cannot explain what we've seen. Now, if you factor in the human component -- CO2 loading and land-use changes -- eureka! You get a perfect pattern." ? We're causing global warming. It's now up to us to do what we must do and demand more from our leaders. Edmund Burke said, "Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little." ? Whitening rooftops is an opportunity for us to do a lot. ? 2. Canada won't bend to G8 on climate http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/canada-wont-bend-to-g8-on-climate-50459442.html The Winnipeg Free Press | L'AQUILA, Italy |?July 10,?2009 ? The Canadian government refused Thursday to adjust its battle plan against global warming even though its objectives fall short of the new commitment from the G8 group of industrialized countries to slash greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century. ? That madeCanada one of the targets for criticism after U.S. President Barack Obama failed Thursday to obtain clear commitments from emerging industrial powerhouses like China and India to commit to specific targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions. ? Critics, from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to environmental lobby groups, said developed countries didn't show adequate leadership at the G8 summit here despite a widespread recognition that they bear more responsibility than poorer countries for fighting climate change. ? But Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his environment minister, Jim Prentice, said Canada is doing all it can in advance of the UN-sponsored negotiations in Copenhagen in December aimed at a new climate treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 treaty that will expire in 2012. ? Canada joined its partners in the G8 group of industrialized countries -- the U.S., Russia, Japan, Great Britain, France, Germany and Italy -- in supporting an overall 80 per cent cut in emissions by mid-century. ? But Prentice said the Canadian government won't budge from its vow to reduce emissions by 60 to 70 per cent by 2050. ? "This is a realistic target (given) the climate we have, the industrial base we have, our population growth," Prentice told reporters. ? Harper said Canada's reduction plan is in line with the Obama administration's. ? "We have an integrated economy," he said. "If we had regulations that are not similar to the United States, we will simply have a loss of business and production to the United States." ? Russia, like Canada described recently as one of the G8's "bad boys" on climate change by an environmental group, also said it wouldn't abide by the G8 pledge. ? A coalition of Canadian environmental groups said the Harper government's targets fall far short of its global responsibility as one of the world's wealthiest nations. ? "Canada's current 2020 target, which is equivalent to just three per cent below 1990 levels, falls far short of the emission cuts needed to avoid dangerous climate change," Climate Action Network Canada said in a statement. ? Obama led a meeting of 16 major greenhouse gas-emitting countries plus representatives of the European Union on Thursday in a bid to get a broader commitment in support of overall global reductions of 50 per cent by 2050. ? The group, the Major Economies Forum, agreed with the G8 that an average global temperature increase two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial-age levels would be catastrophic. The planet is now 0.8 degrees above pre-industrial levels. ? However, they failed to accept specific targets due to foot-dragging from India and China, countries that have complained that their richer counterparts haven't set sufficiently aggressive medium-term targets for 2020. 3. Obama brings emerging nations on side http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/obama-brings-emerging-nations-on-side/article1213010/ The Globe and Mail?|?L'AQUILA, Italy?|?July 10,?2009 But the G8 effort was criticized yesterday by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. ?Developing countries need funding and technology assistance,? he said. ?Funding is also needed to assist vulnerable developing countries adapt to the harmful effects of climate change.? The wealthy nations must also lead the way by committing to strong mid-term targets, he said. Clare Demerse, of the Pembina Institute, said the original G8 declaration could have had more for the emerging nations. ?[Emerging countries are] saying, ?we're not seeing the good faith, so why should we have to commit to anything,'? Ms. Demerse said. She also criticized Ottawa for not doing all it could to lead the way. For example, she noted that Canada's Environment Minister, Jim Prentice, has said the government does not plan to sway from its commitment to cut greenhouse gases by 60-to-70 per cent by the year 2050, even though the G8 deal mandates an 80-per-cent cut. The government explained yesterday that the 80-per-cent target is an aggregate number for all nations involved. Some countries can do more than 80 per cent and others less, as long as the 80-per-cent figure is reached across the board. Prime Minister Stephen Harper said after the meetings that Canadians appear to like the U.S. plan, which he says is similar to the Canadian proposal. ?I read that Canadians think the Obama plan is credible, and their targets are virtually identical to ours,? Mr. Harper said after the meeting. The U.S. legislation sets a target of 80-per-cent reductions by 2050, 10 to 20 per cent deeper than the Canadian policy. Canada also announced yesterday it would be involved in the establishment of an institute devoted to perfecting technology aimed at capturing and storing carbon before it hits the air. Canada will be one of 19 founding members of the institute, which will be led by Australia. 4. Nasa satellites reveal extent of Arctic sea ice loss http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/08/arctic-ice-ocean The?Gaurdian | PASADENA, California?|?July 8,?2009 The Earth is going thin on top. A new study has revealed that the Arctic Ocean's permanent blanket of ice around the North Pole has thinned by more than 40% since 2004. Scientists said the rapid loss was "remarkable" and could force experts to reassess how quickly the Arctic ice in the summer may disappear completely. They blame the loss on global warming, which has driven temperatures in the Arctic to record highs and summer ice extent to recent lows. The study, based on satellite measurements, is among the first to estimate the thickness of the Arctic ice, rather than just its surface area. Ron Kwok, senior research scientist at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, said: "Even in years when the overall extent of sea ice remains stable or grows slightly, the thickness and volume of the ice cover is continuing to decline, making the ice more vulnerable to continued shrinkage." The study looked at measurements taken of the Arctic region by the Icesat satellite, launched in 2003. Overall, the experts found that the ice, typically up to about 3m thick, thinned by 67cm over the last four winters. Converting to ice volume, the scientists worked out the amount of so-called multiyear ice, which persists through Arctic summers, had decreased in the winter by up to 6,300 cubic kilometres since 2005 ? a decline of more than 40%. The research is published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. Kwok said: "Ice volume allows us to calculate annual ice production and gives us an inventory of the fresh water and total ice mass stored in Arctic sea ice. Our data will help scientists better understand how fast the volume of Arctic ice is decreasing and how soon we might see a nearly ice-free Arctic in summer." Earlier this year, scientists warned that sea ice volume reached a record low in 2008 due to an unusually high proportion of the thinner first year ice. Donghui Yi, a scientist with Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland who worked on the study, said: "The main reason [for the ice thinning] is the growth in melting of the multiyear ice, which is caused by the warmer weather. More ice melts in summer and then you get less in winter." The Arctic ice cap fluctuates with the seasons, growing in the freezing winter and shrinking over the summer. An important finding of the study is that the majority of Arctic ice no longer survives the summer. In 2003, this multiyear ice made up 62% of the region's total ice volume. By 2008, this was down to 32%. The remaining 68% was "first-year" seasonal ice, which was open water during the summer, so is thinner and more likely to melt away. Yi said it would be dangerous to try to use the results to predict when the Arctic might be ice-free in summer. "Some people might do that but I wouldn't like to do those kinds of linear predictions." More years of data are needed to make an informed judgement, he said. Unfortunately, the Icesat's data gathering days are nearly over. Two of its three lasers, used to judge the sea ice height, have already failed and the third is on its last legs. Icesat2, the satellite's replacement, is not planned for launch until 2014. 5. New climate strategy: track the world's wealthiest http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE56562Y20090707?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews Reuters?| WASHINGTON |?July 6,?2009 To fairly divide the climate change fight between rich and poor, a new study suggests basing targets for emission cuts on the number of wealthy people, who are also the biggest greenhouse gas emitters, in a country. Since about half the planet's climate-warming emissions come from less than a billion of its people, it makes sense to follow these rich folks when setting national targets to cut carbon dioxide emissions, the authors wrote on Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. As it stands now, under the carbon-capping Kyoto Protocol, rich countries shoulder most of the burden for cutting the emissions that spur global warming, while developing countries -- including fast-growing economies China and India -- are not required to curb greenhouse pollution. Rich countries, notably the United States, have said this gives developing countries an unfair economic advantage; China, India and other developing countries argue that developed countries have historically spewed more climate-warming gases, and developing countries need time to catch up. The study suggests setting a uniform international cap on how much carbon dioxide each person could emit in order to limit global emissions; since rich people emit more, they are the ones likely to reach or exceed this cap, whether they live in a rich country or a poor one. For example, if world leaders agree to keep carbon emissions in 2030 at the same level they are now, no one person's emissions could exceed 11 tons of carbon each year. That means there would be about a billion "high emitters" in 2030 out of a projected world population of 8.1 billion. EACH PERSON'S EMISSIONS By counting the emissions of all the individuals likely to exceed this level, world leaders could provide target emissions cuts for each country. Currently, the world average for individual annual carbon emissions is about 5 tons; each European produces 10 tons and each American produces 20 tons. With international climate talks set to start this week in Italy among the countries that pollute the most, the authors hope policymakers will look at the strong link between how rich people are and how much carbon dioxide they emit. "You're distributing the task of doing something about emissions reduction based on the proportion of the population in the country that's actually doing the most damage," said Shoibal Chakravarty of the Princeton Environment Institute, one of the study's authors. Rich people's lives tend to give off more greenhouse gases because they drive more fossil-fueled vehicles, travel frequently by air and live in big houses that take more fuel to heat and cool. By focusing on rich people everywhere, rather than rich countries and poor ones, the system of setting carbon-cutting targets based on the number of wealthy individuals in various countries would ease developing countries into any new climate change framework, Chakravarty said by telephone. "As countries develop -- India, China, Brazil and others -- over time, they'll have more and more of these (wealthy) individuals and they'll have a higher share of carbon reductions to do in the future," he said. These obligations, based on the increasing number of rich people in various countries, would kick in as each developing country hit a certain overall level of carbon emissions. This level would be set fairly high, so that economic development would not be hampered in the poorest countries, no matter how many rich people live there. Is this a limousine-and-yacht tax on the rich? Not necessarily, Chakravarty said, but he did not rule it out: "We are not by any means proposing that. If some country finds a way of doing that, it's great.? This week's climate talks in Italy are a prelude to an international forum in December in Copenhagen aimed at crafting an agreement to follow the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. At the same time, the U.S. Congress is working on legislation to curb U.S. carbon emissions. ?Notices1. Trees for tomorrow tree cutting giveaway! http://www.gov.mb.ca/chc/press/top/2009/07/2009-07-15-164400-6257.html Province of Manitoba | July 15? Trees for Tomorrow will host a tree giveaway program offering hybrid poplar cuttings on Saturday, July 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with cuttings available for the public at three locations across the province, Conservation Minister Stan Struthers announced today. Manitoba created the Trees for Tomorrow program in 2008 with the goal of planting five million trees over the next five years as a part of Manitoba?s Beyond Kyoto Initiative.?This program contributes to the United Nations? Billion Tree Campaign, while off-setting carbon emissions that contribute to climate change. ? Trees for Tomorrow has seen many successful plantings to date including hybrid poplar plantings at Long Plain First Nation, Assiniboine Conservation District, Fort Whyte, Winnipeg Floodway and on various private lands.?Many conifer plantations have also been established on woodlots and private lands throughout Manitoba, as well as at Swan Lake First Nation.?A large number of trees have been given away to the public at various scheduled events including Arbor Day, Trans Canada Trails Day ? Save Our Seine, Manitoba Envirothon, and at the RoseauValley and Sansome schools. ? ?The program has made great progress this year on identifying lands ready for tree planting so the goal of planting two million trees by the end of 2009 will be met,? the minister said.??However, due to this spring?s unseasonably cool weather and recent heavy rains, some sites scheduled for planting have become inaccessible to land preparation equipment. ?Although planting at these locations will be deferred until next year, we are confident the program will meet its goal of planting five million by the end of 2012.? ? Hybrid poplar cuttings will be available at the following locations, on July 18: ????????? Winnipeg ? ManitobaLegislativeBuilding, 450 Broadway; ????????? Steinbach ? Manitoba Conservation District Office at ?Unit B ? 284 Reimer Ave.; and ????????? Brandon ? Manitoba Conservation District Office at 1129 Queen St. ? A tree giveaway program for white-spruce seedlings, the provincial tree, will take place during National Forest Week celebrations running from Sept. 20 to 26. ? 2. Pedal for the Planet - Canada to Copenhagen http://kyotoplus.ca/pedal/ ? A new climate treaty will be negotiated during international climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, December 7-18, 2009. Canada now stands out as one of the last major industrialized countries opposed to targets for deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and one of the biggest blockers of climate change negotiations. ? Pedal for the Planet is?a chance for individuals, organizations and communities to join together, to ensure that Canada does its fair share to tackle the climate crisis. Starting on July 3, people across the country will join rides and walks leaving the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Using bikes, trains and other modes of green transport,?participants will demonstrate?their personal commitment to change, and relay?their expectations for a Copenhagen climate treaty on to Ottawa. ? Volunteers are needed every step of the way, for example: cyclists and walkers to join rides and walks, tour leaders who have experience with long-distance cycling trips, people to drive a hybrid electric support vehicle, and help finding organic farms and campgrounds where people can stay.?Donations are also being requested?to ensure that this is a successful event across the country. For more information please contact Kelly Whelan-Enns of Manitoba Wildlands - kelly at manitobawildlands.org, (204) 947-3400. Do you want subscribe to this newsletter? Click here Copyright ? Manitoba Eco Network 2008 contact??|??legal??|??terms of use??|??privacy -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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