|
LOCAL AUTHORITY WINS QUEEN'S AWARD FOR CHP SCHEME Woking Borough Council in Surrey has become the first local authority in the UK to receive a Queen's Award for a sustainable development initiative to enhance the supply of green energy. The green energy initiative saves the borough's council taxpayers £700,000 a year or £20 per household. The energy is generated through "combined heat and power" plants, which run on natural gas. These recover heat as well as generating electricity, significantly improving efficiency compared to electricity supplied by conventional (fossil fuel) power stations to the national grid. By using waste heat and small networks, which reduce distribution loses, the energy is also cheaper. Woking currently has six generating sites, which supply their localities with heat and electricity. It has established a "private-wire" network, a mini distribution system through which locally produced electricity can be sold direct to customers, without having to go through the national grid. Woking plans to introduce "fuel cell" technology in 2002, which works without burning any fuel. The first fuel cell project will support the heating and power for Woking's park and its swimming pool complex. Source: Independent News, 23rd April 2001, Global warming scheme lands first award for local authority.
Financed by Spain and provided by BP Solar, the Philippines is to launch the world's largest solar energy project that will bring electricity to more than 400,000 in 150 villages. The first phase is due to begin in September in the Mindanao region of the Philippines. The electricity will be used for home lighting, irrigation and the distribution of drinking water. Community centres such as schools and health clinics will also benefit. Source: Global Environmental Change Report, 13th April 2001.
A new Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI), developed by the Earth Institute's Center for International for Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) with collaborators from Yale University and the World Economic Forum, was released in January 2001. The Index ranks countries on a scale from 0 to 100 according to performance in 22 factors associated with environmental sustainability, including urban air quality, public health and environmental regulation. Top of the list of 122 countries ranked by ESI are Finland, Norway and Canada. A country's ranking offers an overall indicator of a nation's ability to sustain human life through food resources and a safe environment, and to deal with both national and international environmental challenges. The ESI has been criticised, however, because its ratings fail adequately to reflect a country's ecological footprint. The United States, for example, scores well according to the ESI and yet consumes over a quarter of the world's resources for only 6% of the global population. The 2001 Environmental Sustainability Index Report is available at: http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/indicators/ESI/ Source: Global Environmental Change Report, 9th February 2001.
In their report North Sea Offshore Wind: A European Powerhouse, Greenpeace has called on the five North Sea countries - the UK, Germany, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands - to develop offshore wind power as an integral component of their climate action plans. Currently most wind energy is generated by land-based turbines and windfarms. In the UK in particular, however, concerns have been raised about the visual impact wind turbines have on the landscape, and many windfarm development proposals have been rejected as a consequence. If wind power was to contribute a significant proportion to electricity demand, it is expected that many thousands or tens of thousands of extra turbines would need to be erected. Siting wind turbines offshore, however, reduces their visual impact. Furthermore, Greenpeace believe that the full North Sea offshore wind potential is more than three times the current electricity consumption of the North Sea countries. If 1% a year of offshore resources for the North Sea countries were used to displace fossil fuels over the next 12 years (the end of the Kyoto Protocol first commitment period), a saving of 186 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide emissions could be made, equal to over 10% of current emission rates. Such a resource would provide clean electricity for 6.5 million homes each year. The Greenpeace report can be downloaded here. Source: Greenpeace website; Global Environmental Change Report, 24th November 2000.
According to research from the Department of Environment, Transport and The Region's Are You Doing Your Bit? campaign, the humble supermarket carrier bag is this year's favourite fashion accessory. The new research has revealed the supermarket carrier bag to be the most popular plastic bag to reuse, even more popular than designer bags. Reusing plastic carrier bags helps to reduce the amount of waste thrown away. In just one year, industry sources estimate that UK shoppers use 8 billion plastic carrier bags, 134 for every person in the UK. Nevertheless, almost 20% of people still prefer not to reuse carrier bags. Source: DETR Press Release, 18th October, Old plastic carrier bags are Britain's favourite accessory.
A new car produced by Toyota will be recycled at the end of its life, claim the Japanese Toyota Motor Corporation. The Hybrid Prius car model, which is powered by an electronic motor and a gasoline engine, will be launched in Europe from October 2000. The electric motors are powered by nickel-metal hybrid batteries, made by Panasonic. These will be recycled at the end of the car's life. New European laws are to introduce tighter recycling laws for carmakers. Currently around 75% of the car's weight is recycled or re-used. By 2006 this will rise to 80% and to 85% by 2015. Source: e-volve.co.uk
The latest report on Transport Statistics for Great Britain has been published. The compendium of figures generally relate to 1999 and include a range of statistics on air, sea, road and rail travel, transport and the environment and road user data. Interesting statistics include the fact that an average mileage of 6,800 (10,900 km) is driven by the average British resident, an increase of 28% since 1985/86. Increases have been recorded in travel by public modes excluding bus and train (i.e. air, ferry, light rail etc.), although travel by car has increased by 41% since 1985/86. The full report Transport Statistics Great Britain is available from The Stationery Office, price £31 and will shortly be available on-line. Source: DETR Press Release, 12th October, Transport Statistics Great Britain 2000 - 26th Edition.
The UK Department of the Environment, Transport & The Regions (DETR) is this Autumn launching a campaign to encourage people to leave their car at home for short journeys where walking or cycling may be more beneficial. According to the DETR the UK population makes 33 million car journeys each week of less than one mile. Over the past 15 years, the amount people walk has fallen by 20%. The DETR has also produced a leaflet providing tips on greener driving. The Autumn transport campaign accompanies the new TV adverts with Mark Lamarr, the presenter and comedian, designed to raise awareness about the collective benefits of sustainable transport, energy efficiency and waste recycling. Further information can be obtained from the Are You Doing Your Bit? campaign office, 77 Kingsway, London, WC2B 6ST, Tel: 020 7544 3131. Source: Are You Doing Your Bit? Update, Autumn 2000, Issue 5.
A new website (http://www.dublintraffic.ie) has been launched to promote car sharing in Dublin. It aims to make the process of finding contacts with similar commuting patterns easy and free. The idea for the website is the brainchild of Peter Seymour, a Kilkenny-based consulting engineer, who endured a long commute between Kilkenny and Dublin for two years. Interested persons can enter journey details into the website database along with a few contact details, which are then displayed, on bulletin boards. There are 160 bulletin boards, covering all the Dublin suburbs and outlying towns and villages within commuting distance of the city. Commuters can then view the appropriate bulletin boards and find out if there are any persons doing a similar journey. They can then contact any suitable commuters via email if they wish to set up a lift share arrangement. The website also features a method for working out car commuting costs. Details of journey length and monthly trip frequency are simply entered along with details of current fuel costs per litre and average distance per litre of fuel. This leads to a total costing of annual commuting. The amount you would save by car sharing with one, two or three other persons is also displayed. Sources: dublintraffic.ie; The Irish Times, Monday September 25, 2000.
John Prescott, UK Environment Secretary, has announced a £180 billion 10-year transport plan which majors on bypasses and road widenings rather than new roads, with a goal of reducing traffic congestion by 2010, compared with current levels. The UK Government has pledged to increase annual spending on projects which promote cleaner fuels such as Powershift and the Cleaner Vehicles Programme. Powershift, a programme run by the Energy Saving Trust, promotes energy efficiency and clean fuel technology. Further information on Powershift can be found on their website. Source: Powershift News Update, Spring 2000; Air Quality Management, August 2000
The solar water heater industry of Barbados is the best known example of the exploitation of a renewable energy technology in the Caribbean. Over 31,000 solar water heaters are installed in homes, businesses, and hotels in Barbados; about 100,000 are in use in Puerto Rico. A crucial factor in creating the market was the provision of monetary incentives by the Barbados Government under the leadership of (then) Prime Minister Tom Adams. A householder could apply the cost of his water heater against his income tax for the year. The success was remarkable: 23,388 solar water heaters were installed in Barbados over the period from 1974 through 1992, and the solar companies presently employ 130 people. For tourism, now the biggest industry in the region, hot water is essential, and solar water heaters are even more cost-effective for this industry than for households. Solar water heaters also reduce the imports of fossil energy by 33,000 tonnes of fuel, a saving of about US $6.5 million (at US $25 per barrel). Source: Sustainable Energy News, No. 30, August 2000
NEW WASTE STRATEGY In May, the Environment Minister Michael Meacher published the Waste Strategy for England and Wales. The Strategy contains tough statutory targets for recycling waste and encouraging homeowners to recycle more of the waste that they produce. In addition, more re-use and recycling schemes will be eligible for financial support from proceeds of the landfill tax credit scheme. Key measures in the Waste Strategy include:
Under the Waste Strategy, by 2003 local authorities will recycle 17% of their waste, almost double the current amount, and by 2015 at least 33%. Combined recycling and composting targets set for England and Wales are:
Source: DETR Press Release, 25th May, The waste mountain - waste of money, waste of space Main menu | Home
'DON'T CHOKE BRITAIN' CAMPAIGN In May UK Transport Minister Keith Hill launched the 'Don't Choke Britain' campaign, which aims to persuade people to adopt a healthier lifestyle to help create a healthier planet. By considering alternative ways of travelling to the private motor car, such as walking, cycling or using public transport, the campaign is showing individuals they can improve their health and help reduce air pollution. The Don't Choke Britain campaign is supported by the Local Government Association, Going for Green, the National TravelWise Association, the Health Development Agency, the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Passenger Transport Executive Group (PTEG). Source: DETR Press Release, 30th May, Healthier travel for a healthier planet Main menu | Home
GLOBAL WIND POWER
Source: Environment On-line, International Network for the Environment Main menu | Home
SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION A new approach to learning in workplaces and the community as well as classrooms was called for today by Government Panel on Sustainable Development Education. In April the Sustainable Development Education Panel, an independent advisory group, published 'plain English' leaflets for schools, colleges, professionals, employers, youth workers, museums, libraries and the public sector on how to promote education for sustainable development. It has also published its second annual report. The Panel's annual report also sets out its priorities for the coming year, which includes working with teachers, professional bodies and local and regional government. Source: DETR Press Release, 12th April 2000. Main menu | Home
MONEY FOR PUBLIC TRANPSORT A £280 million budget bonus has been given for the improvement of the UK's transport network. In March, Lord Macdonald, the Minister for Transport, outlined how the money would be spent. Key spending areas include public transport, schemes to tackle congestion, better road safety and free bus passes for all pensioners. The package includes:
Source: DETR Press Release, 24th March 2000. Main menu | Home
PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT According to the latest annual RAC report on motoring, motorists believe travelling by car for many journeys is both cheaper and quicker than using public transport. Significantly, the proportion of drivers who said they would use their car less if public transport were improved has fallen from 45% two years ago to 39%. The report makes clear, however, that many drivers are unaware of the true cost and journey times by public transport, recommending that much more information about transport choices should be made available to the public. Source: Local Transport Today, 3rd February 2000. Main menu | Home
NATIONAL TRAFFIC GROWTH & CONGESTION STILL EXPECTED TO RISE The UK Commission for Integrated Transport still predict that national road traffic will increase despite the 1998 White Paper on Road Traffic Reduction. The Commission predict that with no further action, traffic will increase by around 35% by 2010 whilst congestion would increase by more than 60%. However, with moderate actions, such as local transport plans, congestion charging and workplace parking fees, both traffic increase and congestion would increase by around 30% by 2010. Intensive action, which would go further than moderate action plans such as introducing motorway tolls on congested sections, would slightly reduce congestion levels by 2010 compared to 1996, whilst road traffic would still increase by around 20% over the same period. Deputy UK Prime Minister, John Prescott has stated that he believes more people will use public transport if it is better. Source: Local Transport Today, 2 December 1999; DETR Main menu | Home
|
SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES |