Category: Archive

Archived material from historical editions of The Generator

Warmer World May Mean Less Fish

admin /23 February, 2008

Climate change is emerging as the latest threat to the world’s dwindling fish stocks a new report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) suggests.

 

At least three quarters of the globe’s key fishing grounds may become seriously impacted by changes in circulation as a result of the ocean’s natural pumping systems fading and falling they suggest.

 

These natural pumps, dotted at sites across the world including the Arctic and the Mediterranean, bring nutrients to fisheries and keep them healthy by flushing out wastes and pollution.

 

The impacts of rising emissions on the marine world are unlikely to end there. Higher sea surface temperatures over the coming decades threaten to bleach and kill up to 80 per cent of the globe’s coral reefs-major tourist attractions, natural sea defences and also nurseries for fish.

 

Meanwhile there is growing concern that carbon dioxide emissions will increase the acidity of seas and oceans. This in turn may impact calcium and shell-forming marine life including corals but also tiny ones such as planktonic organisms at the base of the food chain.

 

The findings come in a new rapid response report entitled "In Dead Water" which has for the first time mapped the multiple impacts of pollution; alien infestations; over-exploitation and climate change on the seas and oceans.

 

Seed bank securing plants for future

admin /23 February, 2008

By Doug Conway, News Limited

MANKIND is pillaging the earth at such a ferocious rate that scientists have come up with an insurance policy for something the planet can’t do without – plants.

It’s called a seed bank, and it works in similar fashion to the bank you put your money in.

"We are putting away seeds for a rainy day," British-based Millennium Seed Bank project leader Paul Smith said, after taking delivery of his 1000th seed sample from Australia.

His most immediate goal is to collect and conserve seeds from 10 per cent of the world’s flowering plants by 2010.

Read about another seed bank run by Bill Gates and Monsanto 

Green Woolies to change fridges, lights

admin /23 February, 2008

ALL new Woolworths supermarkets will conform to stringent environmental standards and most old stores will be upgraded after the success of the company’s pioneer "green supermarket" in Rouse Hill, Sydney. Chronic leaking of potent greenhouse gas from supermarket fridges, as well as high energy consumption, led to the changes, Woolworths has confirmed. The Natural Refrigerants Continue Reading →

Sour times

admin /22 February, 2008

From The Economist The sea is becoming more acidic. That is not good news if you live in it EVERY silver lining has its cloud. At the moment, the world’s oceans absorb a million tonnes of carbon dioxide an hour. Admittedly that is only a third of the rate at which humanity dumps the stuff Continue Reading →

Corporate report card shows new awakening

admin /22 February, 2008

A new report from Green.biz reviews the state of the environment in the global economy. You can download the report from them , but here is a lightning summary of the ten top stories of 2007. Corporate Climate Commitments – Major companies are making public commitments about their strategies to address climate change in record Continue Reading →

UK releases recycled guide for builders

admin /22 February, 2008

The Rules of Thumb Guide to Recycled Content in Construction Products available online via WRAP’s tools and publications page provides direction to assist producers state the recycled content of each product on their standard data sheets.  With customers, policy, planning and funding bodies increasingly asking for a higher recycled content in their projects, the Rules of Thumb will support individual product manufacturers to gain market differentiation.

 

Steve Millward, Environmental & Quality Director for leading builder’s merchant Jewson, comments on the practical relevance of this new guide: "We have found that higher recycled content products are being requested by our customers, and this document lays down useful guidance for manufacturers and suppliers to determine what is, and what is not, classed as recycled content."