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 →
Consumers are finding it hard to buy fuel-efficient vehicles because car makers are burying CO2 figures for their models online, report claiim
Rush hour freeway traffic in Los Angeles, California. Car makers must display a vehicle’s fuel consumption and CO2 data in their showrooms but are not legally required to do so on their websites. Photograph: Evan Hurd/Getty Images
Car makers are making the process of searching for a fuel-efficient car “like looking for a needle in a haystack” by burying CO2 figures for their models online, experts and campaigners claimed today.
A report from the government’s Energy Saving Trust, Friends of the Earth Europe and We are Futureproof, said car companies are failing consumers with “confusing” websites.
Opposition seeks migration rethink STEPHANIE PEATLING January 24, 2010 AUSTRALIA should consider whether immigration levels can continue to remain at existing levels as part of a comprehensive population policy to determine how many people the country can support, the federal Opposition says. Infrastructure, housing and environmental sustainability should be considered when setting the numbers Continue Reading →
History
Electric vehicle model by Ányos Jedlik, the inventor of electric motor (1828, Hungary).
From
Light-emitting wallpaper may begin to replace light bulbs from 2012, according to a government body that supports low-carbon technology.
A chemical coating on the walls will illuminate all parts of the room with an even glow, which mimics sunlight and avoids the shadows and glare of conventional bulbs.
Although an electrical current will be used to stimulate the chemicals to produce light, the voltage will be very low and the walls will be safe to touch. Dimmer switches will control brightness, as with traditional lighting.
Qatar announces the future use of biofuels on its airline, but its domestic carbon emissions are shockingly free and easy
Qatar’s West Bay financial district in Doha. The country has the highest per capita carbon emissions in the world. Photograph: Gavin Hellier / Alamy
Qatar made the news twice this week. First, the Manchester United squad flew out to the Gulf state for a few days to get in some training without the hassle of snow – hoping to revive their fortunes after a draw with Birmingham City . Second, it announced a “major environmental initiative” aimed at curbing the carbon emissions of its national airline through the use of biofuel.
They won’t actually be cutting emissions any time soon, of course. Those are soaring, because, bucking the global recession, the airline expects to carry 11% more passengers in the current year.
But the airline is doing an analysis to see if it might one day start burning biofuels. Perhaps the biofuels will be grown on the huge chunk of farmland the state controversially wants to buy in Kenya.