In September of 2011, the Prime Minister of Vietnam gave their approval for a national power development plan that would run from 2011 until 2020. Known as the Power Master Plan VII, it puts a heavy emphasis on energy efficiency, energy security, the development of renewable energy, as well as power market liberalization. It has six key directions to
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emissions
Railroad history dates back to the 1550’s in Germany where horse drawn wagons or carts moved along railed roads consisting of wooden rails. Modern rail has come a long way. Today, there are myriad forms of rail transportation that connect people and goods throughout the world. Without the powerful locomotive, modern day rail transportation would not
The exhaust fumes from gasoline vehicles contribute more to the production of a specific type of air pollution-secondary organic aerosols (SOA)-than those from diesel vehicles, according to a new study by scientists from the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). Secondary organic aerosols, tiny “tar balls” resulting from combustion
Bowing to increasing public concern about poor air quality, the Chinese government has approved strict new air pollution standards, including tougher rules for ozone and for particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
The new rules, approved during an executive meeting
Pollutants from Tar Sands Sites Comparable to Mid-Sized City, Study Says
written by Yale Environment 360
The amounts of pollution produced by tar sands excavation sites are comparable to those of a medium-sized city or a large power plant, according to a new study by Environment Canada, the nation’s environmental agency.
Using satellite remote sensing observations, scientists
An interesting piece on FoodProductionDaily.com reports on a recent decision involving greenwashing (and apparently reverse greenwashing) claims in Denmark.
The ruling by the Danish Maritime Court is the culmination of a dispute that began in 2008 after
In our 21st Century the label of ‘sustainable business’ is very trendy, as is having a green badge on your company’s website, signifying an environmentally conscious company. These are good things and we certainly wouldn’t want to discourage them but more often than not they’re quite empty denotations. Here at Inhabitat we’re keen to inspire
The last two years have seen an amazing growth in the popularity of electric vehicles, with the launch of Nissan’s LEAF and the Chevy Volt. One of the moot points related to EVs is how sustainable they are. To be sure, if EVs are fed with renewable energy, they
The use of electric cars in China produces more particulate matter pollution than gasoline-fueled vehicles, according to a new study.
In an analysis of five vehicle technologies in 34 major Chinese cities, U.S. researchers found that the power generated to run electric vehicles produces
The European Environment Agency published a report on the cost and toll of air pollution due to industrial facilities to the European Union last November.
The costs are staggering as the 10,000 facilities induced up to 102 and 169 billion euros in 2009 alone.
However, only a small number of these plants are responsible for the vast majority of this pollution. The EEA notes:
Fifty per cent of the total damage cost occurs as a result of emissions from just 191 or 2 % of the approximately 10 000 facilities that reported data for releases to air.
Three quarters of the total damage costs are caused by the emissions of 622 facilities — 6 % of the total number.
This proves that solving the problem of industrial air pollution could be relatively easy.
The energy sector is the most polluting one as it is responsible for 66 to 112 billion euros of damages. Excluding carbon dioxide, the pollution still costs the 27 country members up to 26 to 71 billion euros.
Other sectors like production processes and manufacturing combustion are responsible for much less pollution, and thus much less induced: 23 to 28 billion euros and 8 to 21 billion euros respectively.
Meanwhile, the report notes that carbon dioxide contributes the most to the overall damage costs with approximately 63 billion euros in 2009. But this is not enough:
Air pollutants, which contribute to acid rain and can cause respiratory problems – sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – were found to cause €38-105 billion of damage a year.
The bottom line: the European Union needs to change the way it is producing electricity and to improve its few remaining plants to get much cleaner air.
California ‘Clean Car’ Rules Mandate Boost in Electric Vehicle Sales
written by Yale Environment 360
California regulators are expected to pass new rules today requiring that 15 percent of all new cars sold by 2025 be powered by electricity, hydrogen, or other reduced-emission sources.
The new rules proposed by the California Air Resources Board would also require a 75-percent
When one thinks of cruise ships, one thinks of grand luxury, solitude, safety, and big. The January 13 capsizing of the Concordia off the coast of Italy, in which at least 11 people died, caught the world — including the cruise ship industry and its passengers — off guard and is shining a spotlight on cruise ship safety and environmental issues. The cruise ship hit
Go ahead — call me a hypocrite. I claim to be a cleantech venture capitalist yet I tell you here and now that I am not convinced of anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change (aka global warming). And I will audaciously tell you that my convictions on climate change in no way run contrary to my strong belief in the need for a cleantech revolution.
On Dec. 16, the Obama administration is expected to finally release new standards for protecting us from mercury and other toxic heavy metals from power plant emissions. All of us have reason to be glad, but parents (and anyone who might ever want to be a parent) should especially welcome this long