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  • UK Councils using chip fat as fuel and road filler

    Councils using chip fat as fuel and road filler

    Amy Dickson

    5th November, 2009

    Richmond council has become the first in the country to run its entire vehicle fleet on 100 per cent recycled biodiesel, while Lincolnshire is using the stuff to patch roads

    At first sight, ‘environmentally-friendly’ and ‘kebab shop’ may not seem like two concepts that belong particularly close together.

    But in Richmond the two are being combined into a emissions-cutting superpower as the council moves to run their vehicles on recycled cooking oil sourced from local restaurants.

    The 200-strong fleet, including waste collection vehicles and trucks, is making the straight switch from diesel to 100 per cent biofuel following a decision made during a Council meeting in September.

    To cut waiting times for the oil, and the Borough’s carbon footprint even more, councillors have agreed a deal with two London-based suppliers – Uptown Oils and reserve supplier Proper Oils – to provide the required 750,000 litres of recycled fuel a year.

    The move is set to save the Council around £60,000 per annum at current diesel prices, and is expected to cut its CO2 emissions by an impressive 1,170 tonnes a year.

    At the forefront

    David Trigg, Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Traffic, Transport and Parking, said: ‘We have put the environment at the heart of our operations for the past three years and the chance to cut our emissions this much could not be passed by and is something we are very proud of having done. We are committed to a cleaner, healthier atmosphere and this is a big step in the right direction.’

    Aside from being a smart environmental move, using locally-sourced biofuels is also more cost effective.
    ‘The contract the Council has negotiated will see our fuel costs drop and the higher the price of standard forecourt diesel gets, the more money we will save,’ Trigg explains. ‘The decision is a win-win situation: in a recession particularly we have a duty to make the best use of our finances, and keeping this much money for other services is also important.’

    Will others follow?

    Local authorities watch each other closely, so you might expect others to be keen to follow Richmond’s lead.

    But when the Ecologist contacted a number of councils in England, none could provide exact details of their current biofuel use. Some councils use a blend of biodiesel and regular diesel, but the ratio is rarely above 30 per cent biodiesel.

    Yet the hurdles involved in reaching a 100 per cent biodiesel blend do not seem particularly high.
    ‘We carried out a trial in 2007 to find out how easy it would be to transfer every vehicle we have to running on 100 per cent biofuel,’ said Trigg. ‘The results proved there would no issues in changing; vehicles do not even need to be adapted.’

    Innovation Elsewhere

    Richmond Council may be the only one using 100 per cent recycled cooking fat to fuel their vehicles, but Lincolnshire council has announced plans for a new scheme to fill the roads with chip fat.

    Instead of the use, oil-derived bitumen, chip fat will be used to bind together Tarmac and fix holes. The technique will be trialled in the county and could then be used across the country if proved successful.

    The method’s developer, Helen Bailey of the engineering company Aggregate Industries, won the Fiona and Nicholas Hawley Excellence in Environmental Engineering Award from the Worshipful Company of Engineers for pioneering the idea.

    Bailey said the use of chip fat to replace some of the 1.25 million tonnes of bitumen used every year would have environmental and economic benefits.
    ‘Bitumen is expensive and uses up valuable crude oil supplies,’ she pointed out.

    A spokesperson for Aggregate Industries said:
    ‘We had a success road trial last week which took place in Bedfordshire. Materials will be laboratory tested and reported in due course; the section of the road will also be monitored

  • Democrats make progress on climate but bill’s future remains uncertain

     

    Republicans had boycotted the bill drafting sessions, demanding a more time for the Environmental Protection Agency to conduct a detailed analysis of how much the bill will cost the economy and ordinary consumers.

    Boxer defended her decision to go ahead with the vote despite the boycott.

    “The committee and Senate rules that have been in place during Republican and Democratic majorities are there to be used when the majority feels it is in the best interest of their states and of the nation to act,” she said in a statement.

    The EPA has done an extensive analysis of a climate change bill passed by the House of representatives in June, and Boxer said it would be uneconomical to order a new study of what are essentially very similar proposals. But Boxer’s move angered Republicans as well as some moderate Democrats who have reservations about the bill. A powerful Democrat on her committee, Max Baucus of Montana, voted no today. making the final count 11-1.

    He said in a statement he was worried that the 20% target was too high and that he wanted more protection for agriculture. But he added: “I’m going to work to get climate change legislation that can get 60 votes, get through the US Senate and signed into law.”

    The bill’s prospects are also threatened by twin defeats this week for
    Democrats in governors’ elections in New Jersey and Virginia. Senators,
    especially those from coal producing and rust belt states who had earlier
    raised concerns that the climate bill could be a “jobs killer” are now much
    more likely to distance themselves from Barack Obama’s agenda.

    “The question is, do people think we’re tending to the things they care
    about?” John Rockefeller, a Democrat from West Virginia who has been on the fence on climate change, told reporters. “Don’t think people in my state
    are going to stand up and start cheering about Copenhagen,” Rockefeller
    said.

    Other Democratic senators – whose support for a climate change law had
    already been doubtful – said they would now have to think carefully about
    economic consequences of energy reform. “People need to be saying slow it
    down and don’t add more to the deficit,” said Ben Nelson a Democrat from
    Nebraska. “And what have many of us been talking about? We don’t want to
    see anything added to the deficit unless there’s cost containment.”

    Boxer reportedly defied advice from the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid,
    to give the Republicans until next Tuesday to end their boycott. She also
    disregarded four moderate Republican senators whose support is seen as
    critical to the bill’s passage. The senators wrote to the EPA on Wednesday
    warning they could not support a bill without a detailed cost analysis from
    the agency.

    “We have a keen interest in ensuring that cost estimates, models and other
    data critical to the legislative process be made available to members of
    Congress and the public in a timely manner,” the four senators wrote. “We
    cannot support legislation without this information.”

    However, John Kerry who is leading an effort to craft a broader climate and
    energy bill that would allow offshore drilling and expand nuclear power,
    said the vote would not hurt prospects of action on global warming. “This
    is and has always been a big lift,” he said.

    Kerry said earlier that growing support for climate change legislation in
    the business community and the opportunities for different regions in the
    US would eventually overpower other arguments. He also said that the US
    chamber of commerce, which has been opposing the climate change bill, now
    seemed to be adopting a more nuanced position.

  • Danger in power of lobbyists to erode coastal planning policy

    Media Release

    >From Sylvia Hale, Greens MP, Spokesperson for Planning

    6 November 2009

     
    Danger in power of lobbyists to erode coastal planning policy

    The impact of lobbyists on discussions around climate change and
    planning is irresponsible and will put an immense strain on resources as
    Australia and NSW seek to deal with issues around climate change,
    including sea level rise, say The Greens.

    “ Groups such as the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s NSW
    executive, who have criticised the NSW Government’s Sea Level Rise
    Policy Statement , contain representatives from some of the biggest
    developers and largest political donors in NSW”, said Sylvia Hale, NSW
    Greens spokesperson on Planning.

    “UDIA’s NSW Branch Councillors include representatives of Boral,
    Johnson Property Group, Lend Lease, Australand, Stockland, Brown
    Consulting and Greenfields Development Company, who between them have
    donated over $1.4 million to Labor and Coalition parties over the last
    ten years. These companies are all big players in the development
    industry in NSW who have a direct financial interest in opposing a
    precautionary coastal planning system.

    “The costs of failing to conservatively manage our coastline and
    estuaries is already becoming apparent, as rises in sea level and
    increased storm activity have affected existing coastal development up
    and down the coast.

    “Continuing coastal land releases in the same way as in the past will
    cost untold millions of dollars as State and Local Governments will be
    expected to clean up the mess as low lying lands are permanently
    inundated, and beaches and estuaries erode.

    “The repudiation of the climate science by property developers is an
    appalling example of naked self interest and deserves the strongest
    condemnation. These companies are interested in nothing but their own
    short-term interests, and it is the role of government to act in the
    long-term interests of people and the environment.

    “Already real sea level rise data indicates nearly half a metre rise
    by 2050, and that’s before melting ice caps are taken into account.

    “Many people around NSW will no doubt share the concerns of The
    Greens that the relationship between the development industry, the
    Government and Opposition is such that the very proper concerns raised
    in the NSW Sea Level Policy Statement will be overridden. Once again the
    development lobby is looking to win out over the broader interests of
    the people and environment of NSW”, said Ms Hale.

     Further information: Colin Hesse (02) 9230 3030 or 0401 719 124
    —
    Another message from the Greens Media mailing list.

    Too many messages? Don’t unsubscribe – try switching to a daily digest.
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  • COPENHAGEN DEBACLE

    Hi all,

    there’s been a dribble of press in Australia over the last couple of days
    that I and others have been trying to foster over the Rudd Government’s
    actions over at the Barcelona prep com for Copenhagen, culminating in the
    walkout of developing nations led by Africa.

    NOW is the time to get writing letters to eds of all the papers and get
    short pithy statements published about how Rudd’s woeful targets are
    holding back global efforts to protect the climate!

    Below is the latest media release I put out for Christine Milne on this.
    Feel free to lift bits from it or use it as a jumping board.

    Please consider writing to the papers today! The shorter the better – try
    to keep them under 150 words.

    letters@smh.com.au
    letters@theaustralian.con.au
    edletters@afr.com.au
    letters@theage.com.au
    letters@dailytelegraph.com.au
    hsletters@heraldsun.com.au
    cmletters@qnp.newsltd.com.au
    advedit@adv.newsltd.com.au
    letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au
    mercuryedletter@dbl.newsltd.com.au
    letters@wanews.com.au

    Write away right away! And please ask your cohorts to do so, too!
    Tim

    Rudd must share blame if Copenhagen fails, but lifting his targets could
    help broker agreement

    Friday 6 November 2009

    With growing resignation among global leaders that the Copenhagen
    Conference will deliver no more than another non-binding ‘political
    agreement’, Kevin Rudd, Penny Wong and those who gave them cover for their
    weak targets must share some of the responsibility.

    Developing countries, led by Africa, have lost patience with the refusal
    of the highly polluting developed world to commit to the kind of targets
    the science demands. A move by Australia to lift our goal to that level –
    40% cuts below 1990 levels by 2020 – could provide the kind of circuit
    breaker needed to rescue the talks and lead the way to a meaningful
    agreement.

    “The clear fact that Kevin Rudd’s woeful targets are holding back global
    progress now means that lifting them to the 40% level required by the
    science and the developing world could help deliver the kind of agreement
    the world needs,” Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne
    said.

    “Africa’s walkout and pointing the finger at Kevin Rudd gives the lie to
    the Government’s claim that it is vital to lock in their 5-25% targets to
    secure an agreement at Copenhagen.

    “As the Greens have said all along, Kevin Rudd’s woeful 5% target and the
    unreasonable conditions on his still too weak 25% maximum offer are part
    of the problem. Locking them in can only undermine the chances of global
    agreement.

    “Imagine the global impact it would have if Kevin Rudd decided now to
    listen to the scientists, listen to the developing world, listen to the
    Greens and listen to his own moral rhetoric and embrace the ambitious 40%
    emissions cuts they all point to!

    “That is the only thing Kevin Rudd can now do to help deliver a truly
    meaningful agreement at Copenhagen.”

    Senator Milne said a ‘political agreement’ at Copenhagen would be no more
    useful than the repeated and meaningless statements from meetings of the
    G8 and G20, and would barely progress talks from the Bali negotiations two
    years ago.

    “Neville Chamberlain reached a political agreement three quarters of a
    century ago, and it did neither him nor the world any favours,” Senator
    Milne said.

    “The only value of a political agreement is to help political leaders
    cover their failure to actually do something.

    “But a worse outcome would be an agreement that locks in targets that are
    too weak to prevent climate catastrophe, such as those in the CPRS.

    “A failure to agree this year is far better than an agreement to fail.”

    ———-
    CAWG Mailing List
    <cawg@lists.nsw.greens.org.au>

    To unsubscribe send an email to
    <cawg-unsubscribe@lists.nsw.greens.org.au>

    Further information can be found at <https://lists.nsw.greens.org.au/mailman/listinfo/cawg>

  • US scales down hopes of global climate change treaty in Copenhagen

     

    “We have to be honest in the process and deal with the realities that we don’t have time in these four weeks to put the language together and flesh out every crossed t and dotted i of a treaty,” said John Kerry, who chairs the Senate foreign relations committee.

    Todd Stern, the state department climate change envoy, agreed. “It doesn’t look like it’s on the cards for December,” he said. “We should make progress towards a political agreement that hits each of the main elements.”

    The scaling back of US ambitions follows a growing international consensus that a binding legal agreement on global warming could not be reached at Copenhagen – now just 32 days away. The US shift resets expectations for what will be accomplished at Copenhagen, once billed by the UN as a last chance to avoid catastrophic global warming.

    Stern, in comments to the house foreign relations committee today, said his comments playing down prospects for a binding treaty at Copenhagen reflected the views of senior US politicians including Ed Markey, the author of a climate change bill passed in June. Stern insisted that negotiators were intent on producing a blueprint in Copenhagen that would lead to a binding legal agreement “perhaps next year or as soon as possible”.

    He said: “We want something beyond certainly a declaration that we are going to keep working on this. We want a real agreement.” However, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, said today that a delay of a year before a legally binding treaty was signed would be too long, given the threat posed by greenhouse gas emissions.

    Kerry, speaking at a National Journal seminar, said he was looking for countries to begin to put in place firm commitments at Copenhagen that would then be enshrined in international law by the end of 2010. “What I am looking for is a binding and real political agreement where the world comes together in Copenhagen with an agreement for fixed reductions that are measurable, verifiable and reportable Then you set either a June or July date or the Mexico date in December next year and work on the language in that year.”

    However, Kerry acknowledged even that scaled back notion of success hinged on the US Congress passing a climate change law, which seems unlikely because of strong Republican opposition to the possible costs of emissions cuts.

    As chair of the foreign relations committee, Kerry will play a pivotal role in getting any treaty ratified by the Senate. He said he was working with a Republican senator, Lindsey Graham, and the one-time Democrat Joe Lieberman to build support for the bill among Republicans and conservative Democrats. The three were meeting later today with the White House, the energy secretary, Stephen Chu, and the interior secretary, Ken Salazar, to craft a bill that would pass in the Senate — and have the support of the Obama administration.

    Kerry said the reduced role for Copenhagen could work out to the world’s advantage — allowing extra time for America, China, and the international community to co-ordinate their efforts. “The president can go China next week, sit with the Chinese and make clear what he is prepared to do, make clear what the Senate is prepared do. What the house has done has been made clear. so you are in a range, and the Chinese and everyone else enter into a political agreement which does not have the force of law till a year later,” he said.

    “We in effect have sealed a deal,” he said. “It works out be a fairly logicial step by step incremental process”

    In Barcelona, at the last negotiating meeting before Copenhagen, rich countries piled pressure on Africa not to derail the climate talks after the poorest countries in the world shocked the UN by walking out of the official talks, demanding that their concerns be met.

    The chair of the Africa group of nations, Kamel Djemouai, was recalled from Barcelona by the Algerian government and other African delegations reportedly received “strong” phone calls from their capitals urging them not to imperil the last negotiations before Copenhagen. Algeria admitted that its negotiator had been recalled but it was denied that this was related to Africa’s stand.

    The African bloc complained that rich nations’ carbon cuts were far too small to avoid catastrophic climate change, and refused to participate until more was done. The move forced the UN to abandon several sessions and reschedule others to give rich countries more time to debate emissions cuts. Countries have agreed to devote 60% of the remaining time to those discussions.

    France has been supportive of Africa’s position ahead of the climate change talks in Copenhagen. But French negotiators are known to have been angered and dismayed by the African move. “They are shooting themselves in the foot,” said one French diplomat.

  • Ruidd singled out in Africa climate boycott

     

    A key African negotiator named Kevin Rudd, along with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, in his criticisms, saying the greenhouse gas reduction targets set by developed nations are too low.

    It is a blow to those who are hoping for an international climate change agreement in the Danish capital.

    Mr Lumumba Di-Aping has questioned just how serious developed nations are in committing to a binding legal agreement and sticking to it.

    “The issue about whether there is a politically binding agreement and a legally binding agreement; I do not know of anything called politically binding agreement,” he said.

    “If there is anything that you know about politics and politically manifestos is that they’re worth very little.

    “Tell me of any politician who delivered on his political manifesto. Was it Gordon Brown? Was it Kevin Rudd?”

    Australia says it will reduce emissions by at least 5 per cent and up to 25 per cent if there is a world deal.

    Mr Di-Aping says it should be 40 per cent below 1990 levels by 2020.

    “You have to live to the ambition that saves the world. In Africa’s words, it is 40 minimum,” he said.

    Australian Greens Senator Christine Milne says the African nations should be commended for taking such a strong stand.

    “The Africans are doing absolutely the right thing. The developing world is suffering, people are dying right now,” she said.

    “They are saying it is time that we had science-based targets that give the planet a chance, that in fact give their people a chance for a start.

    “And that is where the G77 naming Kevin Rudd as one of the people with a manifesto that is virtually meaningless demonstrates that Australia’s targets are too weak.

    “We have to lift our game and do the right thing and put 40 per cent on the table in Copenhagen.”

     

    Positive spin

     

    But Climate Change Minister Penny Wong was at the talks and has put a positive spin on how things have gone.

    “The talks in Barcelona were good. We obviously still have an enormous amount of work to do. This is a very tough set of negotiations,” she said.

    “We have countries who have very different views, coming from very different places.”

    There might be an enormous amount of work to do but there is not much time left.

    Senator Wong says she is hopeful the Copenhagen talks will see a deal done.

    “We’ve said for some time what we need is an effective political agreement at Copenhagen,” she said.

    “This is an opportunity we can’t let pass and that’s what the government is continuing to work towards.

    “I think we all know that’s still something we need to work towards. Again I say there is an agreement there to be had.”