Society ignores the oil crunch at it’s peril;
Society ignores the oil crunch at its peril
Warnings of a crash in oil production are no longer limited to a prescient few individuals – major British companies and oil CEOs are now sounding the alert
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- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 10 February 2010 11.02 GMT
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Major British companies and oil CEOs are sounding the alert over oil production. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images
In the years approaching the credit crunch, whistleblowers were limited to a few insightful economists and financial journalists. Now whistles are blowing again about another grave threat to the global economy and the security of nations. They warn of an oil crunch: an unexpected crash in global production such that supply can no longer meet demand, even if China and India throttle back.
This time the warning is not limited to a prescient few individuals. Major British companies, led by Virgin, Scottish and Southern and Stagecoach, are flagging the danger, in today’s report from the UK industry taskforce on peak oil and energy security . So too are the CEOs of oil companies themselves, in the case of Total and Petrobras, and growing numbers of other senior oil industry figures, usually recently retired. Even the International Energy Agency is sounding the alert, in a coded sort of way.
World’s first personal carbon credit earns $17 cashback for one tonne of carbon dioxide
World’s first personal carbon credit earns $17 cashback for one tonne of carbon dioxide
Solar panels worth $58,000 bring couple modest return as home-owners look to DIY system of emissions trading
- guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 9 February 2010 18.18 GMT
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Solar roof panels are a long-term investment
As investments go, it does not look like a money-spinner. Invest $58,000 to line the roof of your suburban home with solar panels, and pick up a $17.20 cheque in exchange for the reduction in your household carbon emissions. But the Pennsylvania couple who have earned the world’s first carbon credit for reducing personal emissions think it has been worth it.
Rudd could save Musselroe wind farm jobs by fixing renewables target
Rudd could save Musselroe wind farm jobs by fixing renewables target Hobart, Sunday 7 February 2010 The Rudd government’s bungling of the renewable energy target legislation is jeopardising hundreds of jobs around Australia, including those about to be lost at the stalled Musselroe Bay wind farm. The Greens have proposed a Private Continue Reading →
New wind power tops all other sources in 2009
New wind power tops all other sources in 2009 Ecologist 4th February, 2010 Wind and solar technology made up over half of Europe’s new electricity generating capacity in 2009, as the number of new coal and nuclear facilities fell More wind capacity was installed in Europe during 2009 than any other electricity-generating technology, according Continue Reading →
Nasa mission to unravel sun’s threat to earth
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Nasa mission to unravel sun’s threat to Earth
A new probe could help scientists predict the solar storms that cause chaos for us
Scientists have designed a space probe to peer deep beneath the solar surface and observe how sunlight is generated
NASA is to embark on one of its most ambitious missions in an attempt to unlock the secrets of the sun.
Following its launch in nine days’ time, the US space agency’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) will spend five years in orbit trying to discover the causes of extreme solar activity, such as sun spots and solar winds and flares.
Scientists have long been aware that disturbances on the sun can trigger dangerous x-rays, charged particles and magnetic fields that can disrupt power supplies, communication signals and aircraft navigation systems on Earth.
By understanding how such solar phenomena are created, they hope to be able to produce reliable forecasts of “space weather” and provide advance warnings of any threat.
Greenpeace calls for a ban on Arctic oil drilling
Greenpeace calls for a ban on Arctic oil drilling Ecologist 25th January, 2010 Immediate moratorium on all activity by oil and gas industries would help safeguard the local community and ecosystem as well as reduce potential carbon emissions Plans by the EU, US and China to exploit oil and gas reserves in the Arctic have Continue Reading →