Recycling Planet Earth

October is Energy Awareness Month, apparently.

Recycling Planet Earth — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 23:05:11 +0000

You may, or may not know, that this October it is Energy Awareness Month – at least in America. Each year the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) as part of the US Department of Energy promote ideas and suggestions for everyone to save energy. Their theme this year is “Turn Words into Action; Turn Action into Results.”

The main result is that through the month of October, events are happening across America. Companies and various government bodies are taking the opportunity to send out messages of their proactive endeavours, including one slightly stuttering US Navy. The Whitehouse has also produced a riveting calendar of events for your perusal.

Who knows about Energy Awareness Month?

What you may have gathered already, is that while the intention of the Energy Awareness Month is good in name, it is not something that has grabbed the attention of the public. Indeed many of the events organised by the US government are not exactly exciting, and for the person in the street dare we say, boring? How many people do you know, know about Energy Awareness Month? Did you yourself know about its existence before reading this article? The reach of these talks don’t carry far, after they have been given.

Having an entire month dedicated to the ‘awareness’ of Energy is potentially a powerful thing. It can be argued that there is now a month for almost anything, including worthy causes, which have diluted the potency of the concept in the first place.

However if the Energy Awareness Month is continued to be ‘sold’ as a month where various utilities, retailers and government offices take time out to exalt their own energy efficiency efforts, whilst trying to teach Americans how to be efficient, it will never reach the potential the month could have.

Changing direction

What would be a better effort would be to engage on a community level. Create events and showcases where people can get involved rather than being told by some company that they may never have heard of before, what is the best way to be more energy efficient. It also needs to be more exciting, and inspiring, for people to get onboard and seek out change.

Don’t get us wrong, we like the idea of Energy Awareness Month. We however feel that the Department of Energy has completely missed the boat on this one.

Did you know of the month before reading this article? How do you think this month could be used more effectively? Let us know below!

Infographic: Why we should think about carpooling

Recycling Planet Earth — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 14:42:47 +0000

The folks over at Carpooling.com have commissioned a thought provoking infographic to get the public thinking about the milestone of the world reaching a staggering 1,000,000,000 owned cars.

Also known as car-sharing, by more people using vehicle for a journey instead of taking their own car, the costs and detriments of travel are reduced. This also has the benefit of reducing the amount of cars during when there are jams on the road.

The infographic, which focuses on the environmental affect of 1,000,000,000 cars and the potential economical saving of car sharing also shows how carpooling.com’s registered user numbers have grown since launch in 2001.

Click on any image to see the larger version of the infographic.

Source: Carpooling.com infographic

Virgin Atlantic launches low carbon fuel

Recycling Planet Earth — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 13:34:09 +0000

Richard Branson was at London’s disused Battersea Power Station to announce the development of a new low carbon aviation fuel which Branson said was “one of the most exciting developments of our lifetime and a major breakthrough in the war on carbon.”

Developed in association with Lanzatech, Virgin Atlatic aim to halve its carbon footprint by capturing the gases emitted from industrial steel production, and chemically converting it for use as fuel for their airline fleet. The benefit being that the gases that are usually expelled will have been captured, with Virgin Atlantic aiming for 65% of the world’s steel mills.

So whilst Virgin Atlantic won’t directly reduce their carbon emissions produced by their planes, their aim seems to be reducing their footprint by sourcing fuel that has a creation process that is cleaner.

Production by 2014

The technology is currently being piloted in New Zealand, a larger demonstration facility will be commissioned in Shanghai this year, and the first commercial operation will be in place in China by 2014. Following successful implementation, a wider roll-out could include operations in the UK and the rest of the world.

Lanzatech have produced a video to demonstrate their new technology, there is no sound attached.

Source: Virgin Atlantic news release

Welcome to Recycling Planet Earth

Recycling Planet Earth — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:52:21 +0000

We had a spark of an idea in 2010, to create a gathering place for all things to do with the environment and its sustainability. That spark of an idea has been slowly taking shape over the last year… and now (drumroll, please!) we are proud to be opening Recycling Planet Earth’s doors. Welcome to our site, but more importantly, welcome to our community. We invite you to unite your efforts and your voice with us to Protect and Preserve Planet Earth for Future Generations.

Recycling Planet Earth is an environmental blogging, news, media and social networking site, dedicated to reporting and exploring all the latest developments in the world of Environmental Activism and Green Living. In addition to the latest news and views, our site will keep you informed about great, environmentally conscious products and gifts – many of them exclusive to RPE.com – so you can help do your part to “Protect and Preserve Planet Earth! It’s time for all of us to “Do Something About It” and we are here to work with you in developing an on-line community committed to making that happen.

Social

It’s a word that has been bandied about a lot. However, we feel it is incredibly important to the future of Recycling Planet Earth and more importantly, to our Planet as a whole. The power of RPE.com, is that the site will be powered by you. Each and every one of you has the power to shape and direct Recycling Planet Earth as it grows and evolves into an influential meeting place with a powerful, global voice. We aren’t only interested in your ideas, feelings, suggestions and comments – we are counting on them to help us evolve into the community we need to be in order to face the unique challenges that lie ahead as we work to “Protect and Preserve our Planet for Future Generations”. One Community. One Voice. Sign up today and join our community. Join your voice with others committed to affecting change. Together, we can make a difference.

The Team behind Recycling Planet Earth

Meet the team.

We’re giving away free stuff!

Who doesn’t like free things? As long as they don’t come at a cost to others or to our environment. We certainly like the right kind of “free” things around here, so to celebrate our launch, we are giving away free wristbands and some other eco-friendly goodies. This is a limited time offer for Recycling Planet Earth’s first visitors, so sign up today and grab your guilt-free swag! All the products and gifts we plan to feature at Recycling Planet Earth are made of eco-friendly materials, so wear them with pride and explain what they are and what they mean to everyone you meet. Knowing that by increasing awareness, you are part of the solution: one of Recycling Planet Earth’s cornerstone philosophies.

I’d like a free wristband, please!

October 2011 – Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Recycling Planet Earth — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:10:52 +0000

Every month we bring you amazing photography from around the world to use as your desktop background. The best thing is, the stunning photography comes from you, our talented followers. This is a great opportunity to get featured each month, and show off your camera skills.

In keeping with Recycling Planet Earth’s belief in the importance and power of Community, all of these photographs will come from you – our fellow environmental enthusiasts. Send in a link to your photos, or comment below, and every month we’ll showcase the best we have on offer.

This month we have 1 featured desktop background for you to pick from and use. We have them in various resolutions to suit most screens. Simply pick the one that matches your monitor display resolution, and right-click/double-click (PC or Mac, respectively) to download on the resolution link.

You can also click on the images to preview a larger version.

Flowering

This month we have a striking image of a flower shot in Australia – ‘points’ for the first person to e-mail us its correct name!

“These striking formations, formed over millions of years, show Nature’s beauty at it’s most serene.”

Download
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September 2011 – Desktop Wallpaper Calendar

Recycling Planet Earth — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 23:49:32 +0000

You can also click on the images to preview a larger version in a new window.

Rock Formations

This month we have a striking image from of beautiful Rock Formations.

“These striking formations, formed over millions of years, shows natures beauty at it’s most serene best.”

Download
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Indonesian President bans logging of Forests

Recycling Planet Earth — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:21:29 +0000

Earth's forest are retreating at an alarming rate

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed a presidential decree that bans logging of 64 million hectares of carbon-rich primary forests and peatlands and suspends the granting of new permits for clearing these lands for two years.

The moratorium signed late last week, which goes into effect immediately, is part of an agreement worth US$1 billion between Indonesia and Norway aimed at reducing the country’s greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Indonesia has vowed to cut its emissions by 26 percent from business-as-usual levels by 2020, or by 41 percent with sufficient international support.

“WWF recognizes the two-year ban on logging and clearing of primary forests and peatlands as a foundation for Indonesia’s ambitious shift towards a low carbon economy,” said Dr. Efransjah, CEO of WWF-Indonesia.

President Yudhoyono announced plans to reduce forest loss by moving economic development practices, such as pulp and palm oil plantations, onto degraded lands at the Business for the Environment Global Summit in April of this year. “The government can now shift its focus to the bolder steps necessary to protect high carbon stocks found in secondary forests, as well as their biodiversity and cultural values.”

According to a WWF analysis, the moratorium will extend protection to only an additional 14 per cent of primary forests, as the majority of Indonesia’s primary forests are already protected by law. The potential emissions reductions from land use, land-use change and forestry could be far greater under this decree if the moratorium was extended beyond primary forests to include secondary forests as well, said WWF.

“Because concessions can continue being awarded in secondary forests, the moratorium’s impact will be limited as it will reduce deforestation and cut carbon emissions by only about 4 percent,” said Nazir Foead, Director of WWF-Indonesia. “There is clearly much more that must be done if Indonesia is to achieve its ambitious emissions reduction targets.”

Still, the moratorium could be an opportunity to help put in place effective forest governance and sound ecosystem-based spatial planning, particularly in settling overlapping land-uses. WWF is calling on Ministries and other government agencies to use the two-year period of the moratorium to review and improve governance on issuing licenses to industrial timber plantations, agro-industrial plantations and mining in secondary forests and other land uses. Strengthening the analysis of ecological and cultural values in these forests could contribute to this, said WWF.

“We must absolutely make the most of these two years to strengthen this commitment from Indonesia, so that it indeed catalyses the international community to address deforestation,” said Rasmus Hansson, CEO of WWF Norway and chair of WWF’s global Forest and Climate Initiative. “The Norwegian government and other donor countries must step forward and support Indonesia’s efforts to advance the conservation, sustainable management and enhancement of these globally significant forests.”

Source: WWF: Indonesian decree to halt primary forest loss

Russian government moves to protect critically endangered whales

Recycling Planet Earth — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 07:55:31 +0000

Companies seeking oil extraction rights to a newly available concession off Russia’s Sakhalin Island will not be permitted to conduct activities while Western gray whales are present. The seasonal restriction, imposed by the Russian government, will require developers to conduct activities only from late November to late May, when the whales are away from their summer feeding grounds around the island.

The oceans potentially contain oil, that various companies seek to extract.

The new regulation applies to only one section of the waters surrounding Sakhalin, although numerous companies have active projects in other areas close to the whales’ feeding habitat. There are currently four off-shore oil and gas platforms near Sakhalin in Russian Far East, but the development of additional platforms is planned.

The waters around the island are the primary feeding habitats for critically endangered Western gray whales and their calves. There may be fewer than 130 of the whales remaining.

Activities needed for oil exploration, such as seismic testing, can disrupt the whales’ behaviour or even cause them to abandon their feeding area.

“WWF welcomes this seasonal restriction and urges authorities to expand the regulation to include all other off-shore projects near Sakhalin,” said Aleksey Knizhnikov, WWF-Russia’s Oil & Gas Environmental Policy Officer. “While the whales await this much needed protection, WWF calls on operators to halt their dangerous off-shore activities during this summer’s feeding season, including Sakhalin Energy’s planned seismic survey.”

Whales will begin to arrive to Sakhalin next month and scientists will be on hand to observe the animals’ physical condition. The number of whales and their ‘skinniness’ will be analysed to determine the impacts of last summer’s seismic testing. Three seismic surveys were conducted in or near whale feeding habitat last summer and are believed to have caused severe pressure on the animals. Several surveys are being planned by oil developers for this summer.

Sakhalin Energy, a consortium that includes oil giant Shell, recently revealed plans to construct a new off-shore platform close to the whales’ feeding habitat, and plans to conduct seismic surveys this summer to determine the exact location of the platform. A coalition of environmental organizations, including WWF, has urged Sakhalin Energy to halt all activities relating to the new platform until an assessment has been made of the cumulative impacts the numerous different oil and gas projects have on the whales.

The Russian government’s directive highlights the need for establishing protected zones for Western gray whales, an initiative WWF has supported for a number of years. The document also stresses that specialized observers are necessary to monitor the impact of oil and gas development on the whales.

“We commend the government for its leadership in prohibiting industrial activities when the whales are present in this area,” Knizhnikov said. “We look forward to the implementation of additional measures to fully mitigate the impact of oil development around Sakhalin Island.”

Source: WWF: Russian government moves to protect critically endangered whales

Leaders at Brazzaville summit must make brave choices to save world’s forests

Recycling Planet Earth — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:48:44 +0000

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Congo Brazzaville, May 31 –Leaders of the world’s key tropical forest countries must make brave choices at this week’s Brazzaville rainforest summit and show commitment to save their forests and support the fight against devastating consequences of climate change.

The Amazon, Borneo-Mekong and Congo forest blocks account for one third of the planet’s forests. These vast expanses of forest play a crucial role in regulating global climate, unpinning local livelihood strategies and protecting the diversity of life on the planet.

Forests are home to 80% of terrestrial biodiversity and more than 300 million people worldwide. In 2005, the total global trade in forest products was valued at around US$ 379 billion.

But every year, the three regions lose millions of hectares of tropical forest, even though the true value of the “standing” forests is far greater than the economic benefit of the alternative land use.

The summit meeting in Brazzaville brings together representatives from 30 countries of the three regions in an effort to help develop long-term solutions for the sustainable management of these precious forests.

WWF hopes this summit will influence a positive outcome of the upcoming climate talks in Durban later this year and lead to further big conservation wins and stronger commitments to protect the environment.

“Representing their countries and their peoples, leaders at the Brazzaville summit carry a heavy responsibility on their shoulders,” said Natasha Kofoworola Quist, WWF CARPO Regional Representative.

“They must work closely together so that they and the world can continue to benefit from these unique rainforests.”

The implementation of policies promoting sustainable management, restoration of tropical forest and zero net deforestation is among WWF asks at the summit.

The global conservation organisation also promotes the establishment of transparent financial mechanisms for the management of Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) revenues by 2015.

Regional cooperation can help protect rainforests by expanding protected areas, exchanging critical information and experience, harmonising social and economic policy, and coordinating on conservation measures.

According to WWF tackling deforestation will require a new climate change deal to provide the right incentives to reduce deforestation and land degradation.

When forests are destroyed, for example, by logging or conversion for agricultural use, they release large quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Indeed, deforestation is responsible for 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions globally.

“With major conferences such as next year’s Earth Summit and the climate summit in Durban coming up, they should also see the Brazzaville meeting as an opportunity to set the global standard for cooperation on critical conservation issues,” Quist said.

“WWF wishes that the outcomes of this Summit be taken further and would ask the participating countries to make strong time bound commitments to inspire and galvanize international support.”

Source: Leaders at Brazzaville summit must make brave choices to save world’s forests

100% Renewable Energy by 2050?

Recycling Planet Earth — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:14:33 +0000

Can we run our Planet entirely on renewable energy?

The Energy Report is a bold, new vision of a world run entirely on renewable energy by 2050. It shows that such a transition is not only possible but also cost-effective, providing energy that is affordable for all and producing it in ways that can be sustained by the global economy and the planet.

It goes on to say that by 2050, power, transport, industrial and domestic energy needs could be met overwhelmingly from renewable sources vastly reducing anxieties over energy security, pollution and not least, catastrophic climate change.

The report also investigates the most critically important political, economic, environmental and social choices and challenges and encourages their further debate.

Source: The Energy Report – 100% renewable energy by 2050

Forests: What future do we want?

Recycling Planet Earth — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 14:12:19 +0000

Forests are central and essential to life. Supporting wild species and providing countless goods and vital ecosystem services like clean water and carbon storage. Their future is in our hands… but what does that future look like?

How do you think we should balance our need for materials that our Forests provide, and the requirements to sustain our environment?