Greener Gadgets 2009 kicked off yesterday in New York City, letting forth a deluge of brilliant green technology and gadgets that address the issues of energy, carbon footprint, health and toxicity, new materials, product lifestyle and social development. The Greener Gadgets Design Conference, a collaboration between Greener Gadgets and Core 77, included the debut of […]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Greener Gadgets 2009 Delivers Buffet of Awesome Green Tech”, url: “http://earthfirst.com/greener-gadgets-2009-delivers-buffet-of-awesome-green-tech/” });

A scientist on ExxonMobil’s payroll is trying to convince people that all those greenhouse gas emissions flowing freely around the world are nothing to worry about – in fact, we need more! Princeton University Atomic Physicist Dr. William Happer testifed before the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee on the 25th, claiming that the real […]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Exxon-Paid Scientist Claims Earth Doesn’t Have Enough Greenhouse Gases”, url: “http://earthfirst.com/exxon-paid-scientist-claims-earth-doesn%e2%80%99t-have-enough-greenhouse-gases/” });

Is regular clean clean enough for your family? Not when you can have ‘Clean Coal Clean’! The Coen Brothers are responsible for this hilarious spoof ad talking about how clean coal “harnesses the awesome power of the word clean” to make it sound like the cleanest clean ever… all while the family using the ‘clean […]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: “Clean Coal Air Freshener Spoof by The Coen Brothers”, url: “http://earthfirst.com/clean-coal-air-freshener-spoof-by-the-coen-brothers/” });

Hungary - a major seller of carbon credits– will weaken its credibility in the growing international carbon markets by using revenues to prop up its budget rather than improve energy efficiency and green its energy production, WWF-Hungary has warned.

Mr Imre Szabo, the Minister of Environment, announced that “the Ministry will cut its annual budget this year by freezing 67 million Euros from its 2009 Kyoto carbon trading revenues”.

According to WWF-Hungary, this will not improve the budget balances, create jobs or decrease the country’s energy dependence on gas and oil but it will bring into question the validity of Hungarian carbon credits.

Hungary had recently settled deals with Spain of 6.6 million AAUs (Assigned Amount Units is the trading unit of the Kyoto carbon trading system) and Belgium of 2 million AAUs – on the basis of projects to be undertaken through the country’s planned Green Investment Scheme (GIS).

“The Belgians have already criticized Hungary for being late with greening projects and freezing carbon trade revenues will only frustrate them even more”, said György Dallos, climate change programme officer of WWF Hungary.

The Hungarian government already has a track-record in undermining carbon trading revenues, WWF said. Although the Ministry of Environment had prepared the draft of the National Allocation Plan for the years 2008 to 2012 a year ago, the Budapest government has been unable to have it approved by the European Commission so far.

The delay is estimated to have cost Hungary €5 million due to an inability to fully participate in auction revenues under the European Quota Trading System (ETS) at a time when higher prices prevailed.

Halting or slowing the pace of investment in green technologies is also running counter to world trends of increasing such spending.

“President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well the Canadian, the German, the Australian and many other governments agree with Sir Nicholas Stern that supporting green investments in energy efficiency and renewables is an effective tool to save and even create millions of jobs and decrease energy bills and energy dependence,” Dallos said.

The German “Alliance for Work an Environment” programme saved and created 145.000 jobs and saw 342.000 flats being retrofitted for energy efficiency in the difficult recession period of the German construction industry between 2001 and 2006, Dallos noted.

“If 1.8 million badly insulated Hungarian family houses were insulated within a 5-year period, it would create tens of thousands of jobs all over the country,” Dallos said.

“In addition to that 1.4 billion cubic metres of Russian gas imports would be saved and 3 million tons of greenhouse gas. At current gas prices this would mean saving more than 500 million € in gas imports annually. ““This would bring relief to millions of Hungarians with lower monthly energy bills.”.

Other WWF Hungary proposals for new and sustainable energy politics include saving hundreds of millions of budget Euros by eliminating the current gas price support system and increasing “ridiculously low” mining fees on lignite could cut budget deficits..

Additionally the Government could also stop supporting the Vertes Coal Plant through the “coal penny” system collected on every Kilowatt-Hour consumed in the country.

Another efficient way to save government money is stopping the state owned Hungarian Energy Company (MVM) to build a new lignite plant which would never reach a break even given current financial and electricity market conditions.

“MVM, the largest state owned company, is sitting on piles of cash thanks to the exceptionally high profits in the last two years,” Dallos said. “So far the government has hardly touched these profits in order to establish a new sustainable energy policy for a brighter future of Hungary.”

Brussels, Belgium: With a series of critical European Union meetings on a new global climate deal about to begin, WWF has set out what Europe needs to do to grow in a green way while contributing to helping the world avoid passing the 2 degree threshold of warming that presents unacceptable risks of catastrophic climate change.

“There is a clear link to be made between ambitious climate policies and a new phase of economic growth,” said Stephan Singer, Director of Energy Programme at WWF International.

“The recent financial bailouts prove that when governments decide to fix a problem, money and regulatory instruments are there. There is no excuse to treat the climate crisis with less support and attention.”

The WWF roadmap to a successful new global agreement in Copenhagen in December would see Europe radically strengthen its announced commitments of cutting emissions by just 20 per cent by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2050.

European environment ministers will consider target developed and undeveloped country emissions to take to Copenhagen at Monday’s EU Environment Council meeting in Brussels.

Commit to zero net  emissions

Based on various studies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios, WWF says that emissions will have to be reduced by at least 80 percent by 2050 globally to keep warming below 2°C. In compliance with its fair share of responsibility, the EU must commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

The IPCC also said that industrial countries will have to reduce their greenhouse gases by between 25 and 40% by 2020. The current EU target is only 20%, with a possibility to increase to 30% if other developed nations will join an international agreement.

These targets are clearly at the lower end of the IPCC scale, and even lower in reality considering that EU countries are allowed to fulfil up to two thirds of their commitment by way of certificates for projects in developing countries (the so-called CDM credits).

At the forthcoming Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) meeting on Tuesday March 10, European finance ministers will consider both the plan to boost economic recovery in Europe and financing climate protection measures.

WWF said Ecofin must come to grips with the fact that so far EU countries have failed to seriously face the challenge and to see the opportunities created by a greener economy.

Today, the fossil fuel energy sector in the EU-15 countries still receives about €20 billion of subsidies, equal to 0.2% Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Europe imports about 4.8 billion barrels of oil per year, equal to 3% of GDP. Natural gas imports are another 3% of GDP.

According to the European Commission, between 600,000 and 900,000 jobs can be created by renewable energy by 2020, compared to today’s 150,000 jobs. As a comparison, the cement and the steel sectors – some of those crying wolf about strong climate measure – employ about 60,000 and 300,000 people respectively.

With finance to developing countries being touted as a make or break issue at Copenhagen, WWF is calling for European contributions for clean technology and reduced deforestation in developing countries to
amount to €35 billion per year, in addition to the long-time promised 0.7% GDP for development aid.

Funding of climate protection measures (avoidance, adaptation and forest protection) needs to be sustainable, predictable and controlled in a transparent manner by the international community.

The European Commission’s current proposal also fails to address the enormous potential of energy efficiency, with an almost complete lack of concrete proposals for technology co-operation.

WWF says that the EU financing of technology development and research should be increased by a factor of 10 compared to current levels by 2020, particularly for renewable energies, energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The EU should also promote the setting up of a technology action programme under the UNFCCC to protect intellectual property rights and promote innovation.

Outcomes from the Ecofin and Environment Council meetings are scheduled to be considered by EU Heads of State at a European Council meeting on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March. Some issues however may carry over to when Sweden assumes the presidency of the EU

• Community organisations around the world getting behind campaign
• Sweden to ring church bells, Sydney Ferries to sound horns
• National Education Association (US) lends support

The Scouts, the world’s largest youth movement with more than 28 million members in 160 countries, lead thousands of community groups around the world mobilising their supporters for Earth Hour, the global expression of a desire for serious and sustained action on climate change.

“It is possible for everyone to take action against global warming,” said Luc Panissod, Acting Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and James Leape, Director General of WWF International, in a joint letter to Scouting’s global network earlier this month.

What was described as “an opportunity to talk to your neighbours about the environment and climate change” is the latest expression of a partnership between the Scouts and WWF that goes back decades.

“We see that Scouts all over the world have a great interest in the environment and are leaders in their community,” said Luc Panissod. “Earth Hour offers an opportunity for Scouts to demonstrate this commitment to tackling climate change and engage with their family and friends.”

“The young are vitally concerned with the future and many are well aware that climate change is the greatest threat to the planet’s future. We are delighted that the Scouts are again working with us to secure the environment for generations to come,” said James Leape.

With more than 681 cities in 76 countries already signed up to turn their lights out on March 28, Earth Hour 2009 is shaping up as one of the greatest voluntary actions the world has ever seen.

Executive Director of Earth Hour, Mr Andy Ridley, said community groups are playing a vital role in getting more and more people from around the world engaged in the lights out campaign.

“Earth Hour is driven by citizens and grassroots groups thinking globally and acting locally. No matter how big or small your organisation, I urge you to get involved in Earth Hour and really make a difference in your community and in the world,” Mr Ridley said.

Among other community groups working to ensure the largest possible participation in Earth Hour is the Church of Sweden, which will ring its bells across the country to signal the start of Earth Hour at 8.30pm on March 28.

Sydney Ferries, which has been an enthusiastic supporter of Earth Hour since 2007, will this year be sounding the horns of all its ferries operating on Sydney Harbour, heralding Earth Hour in the city where the campaign first began.

In the United States the National Education Association, representing 3.2 million teachers and education professionals, has also pledged its support for Earth Hour, as has the 1.4 million-strong American Federation of Teachers.

Brussels, Belgium: With a series of critical European Union meetings on a new global climate deal about to begin, WWF has set out what Europe needs to do to grow in a green way while contributing to helping the world avoid passing the 2 degree threshold of warming that presents unacceptable risks of catastrophic climate change.

“There is a clear link to be made between ambitious climate policies and a new phase of economic growth,” said Stephan Singer, Director of Energy Programme at WWF International.

“The recent financial bailouts prove that when governments decide to fix a problem, money and regulatory instruments are there. There is no excuse to treat the climate crisis with less support and attention.”

The WWF roadmap to a successful new global agreement in Copenhagen in December would see Europe radically strengthen its announced commitments of cutting emissions by just 20 per cent by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2050.

European environment ministers will consider target developed and undeveloped country emissions to take to Copenhagen at Monday’s EU Environment Council meeting in Brussels.

Commit to zero net  emissions

Based on various studies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) scenarios, WWF says that emissions will have to be reduced by at least 80 percent by 2050 globally to keep warming below 2°C. In compliance with its fair share of responsibility, the EU must commit to net zero emissions by 2050.

The IPCC also said that industrial countries will have to reduce their greenhouse gases by between 25 and 40% by 2020. The current EU target is only 20%, with a possibility to increase to 30% if other developed nations will join an international agreement.

These targets are clearly at the lower end of the IPCC scale, and even lower in reality considering that EU countries are allowed to fulfil up to two thirds of their commitment by way of certificates for projects in developing countries (the so-called CDM credits).

At the forthcoming Economic and Financial Affairs Council (Ecofin) meeting on Tuesday March 10, European finance ministers will consider both the plan to boost economic recovery in Europe and financing climate protection measures.

WWF said Ecofin must come to grips with the fact that so far EU countries have failed to seriously face the challenge and to see the opportunities created by a greener economy.

Today, the fossil fuel energy sector in the EU-15 countries still receives about €20 billion of subsidies, equal to 0.2% Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Europe imports about 4.8 billion barrels of oil per year, equal to 3% of GDP. Natural gas imports are another 3% of GDP.

According to the European Commission, between 600,000 and 900,000 jobs can be created by renewable energy by 2020, compared to today’s 150,000 jobs. As a comparison, the cement and the steel sectors – some of those crying wolf about strong climate measure – employ about 60,000 and 300,000 people respectively.

With finance to developing countries being touted as a make or break issue at Copenhagen, WWF is calling for European contributions for clean technology and reduced deforestation in developing countries to
amount to €35 billion per year, in addition to the long-time promised 0.7% GDP for development aid.

Funding of climate protection measures (avoidance, adaptation and forest protection) needs to be sustainable, predictable and controlled in a transparent manner by the international community.

The European Commission’s current proposal also fails to address the enormous potential of energy efficiency, with an almost complete lack of concrete proposals for technology co-operation.

WWF says that the EU financing of technology development and research should be increased by a factor of 10 compared to current levels by 2020, particularly for renewable energies, energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The EU should also promote the setting up of a technology action programme under the UNFCCC to protect intellectual property rights and promote innovation.

Outcomes from the Ecofin and Environment Council meetings are scheduled to be considered by EU Heads of State at a European Council meeting on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March. Some issues however may carry over to when Sweden assumes the presidency of the EU

Hungary - a major seller of carbon credits– will weaken its credibility in the growing international carbon markets by using revenues to prop up its budget rather than improve energy efficiency and green its energy production, WWF-Hungary has warned.

Mr Imre Szabo, the Minister of Environment, announced that “the Ministry will cut its annual budget this year by freezing 67 million Euros from its 2009 Kyoto carbon trading revenues”.

According to WWF-Hungary, this will not improve the budget balances, create jobs or decrease the country’s energy dependence on gas and oil but it will bring into question the validity of Hungarian carbon credits.

Hungary had recently settled deals with Spain of 6.6 million AAUs (Assigned Amount Units is the trading unit of the Kyoto carbon trading system) and Belgium of 2 million AAUs – on the basis of projects to be undertaken through the country’s planned Green Investment Scheme (GIS).

“The Belgians have already criticized Hungary for being late with greening projects and freezing carbon trade revenues will only frustrate them even more”, said György Dallos, climate change programme officer of WWF Hungary.

The Hungarian government already has a track-record in undermining carbon trading revenues, WWF said. Although the Ministry of Environment had prepared the draft of the National Allocation Plan for the years 2008 to 2012 a year ago, the Budapest government has been unable to have it approved by the European Commission so far.

The delay is estimated to have cost Hungary €5 million due to an inability to fully participate in auction revenues under the European Quota Trading System (ETS) at a time when higher prices prevailed.

Halting or slowing the pace of investment in green technologies is also running counter to world trends of increasing such spending.

“President Barack Obama, Prime Minister Gordon Brown as well the Canadian, the German, the Australian and many other governments agree with Sir Nicholas Stern that supporting green investments in energy efficiency and renewables is an effective tool to save and even create millions of jobs and decrease energy bills and energy dependence,” Dallos said.

The German “Alliance for Work an Environment” programme saved and created 145.000 jobs and saw 342.000 flats being retrofitted for energy efficiency in the difficult recession period of the German construction industry between 2001 and 2006, Dallos noted.

“If 1.8 million badly insulated Hungarian family houses were insulated within a 5-year period, it would create tens of thousands of jobs all over the country,” Dallos said.

“In addition to that 1.4 billion cubic metres of Russian gas imports would be saved and 3 million tons of greenhouse gas. At current gas prices this would mean saving more than 500 million € in gas imports annually. ““This would bring relief to millions of Hungarians with lower monthly energy bills.”.

Other WWF Hungary proposals for new and sustainable energy politics include saving hundreds of millions of budget Euros by eliminating the current gas price support system and increasing “ridiculously low” mining fees on lignite could cut budget deficits..

Additionally the Government could also stop supporting the Vertes Coal Plant through the “coal penny” system collected on every Kilowatt-Hour consumed in the country.

Another efficient way to save government money is stopping the state owned Hungarian Energy Company (MVM) to build a new lignite plant which would never reach a break even given current financial and electricity market conditions.

“MVM, the largest state owned company, is sitting on piles of cash thanks to the exceptionally high profits in the last two years,” Dallos said. “So far the government has hardly touched these profits in order to establish a new sustainable energy policy for a brighter future of Hungary.”

• Community organisations around the world getting behind campaign
• Sweden to ring church bells, Sydney Ferries to sound horns
• National Education Association (US) lends support

The Scouts, the world’s largest youth movement with more than 28 million members in 160 countries, lead thousands of community groups around the world mobilising their supporters for Earth Hour, the global expression of a desire for serious and sustained action on climate change.

“It is possible for everyone to take action against global warming,” said Luc Panissod, Acting Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and James Leape, Director General of WWF International, in a joint letter to Scouting’s global network earlier this month.

What was described as “an opportunity to talk to your neighbours about the environment and climate change” is the latest expression of a partnership between the Scouts and WWF that goes back decades.

“We see that Scouts all over the world have a great interest in the environment and are leaders in their community,” said Luc Panissod. “Earth Hour offers an opportunity for Scouts to demonstrate this commitment to tackling climate change and engage with their family and friends.”

“The young are vitally concerned with the future and many are well aware that climate change is the greatest threat to the planet’s future. We are delighted that the Scouts are again working with us to secure the environment for generations to come,” said James Leape.

With more than 681 cities in 76 countries already signed up to turn their lights out on March 28, Earth Hour 2009 is shaping up as one of the greatest voluntary actions the world has ever seen.

Executive Director of Earth Hour, Mr Andy Ridley, said community groups are playing a vital role in getting more and more people from around the world engaged in the lights out campaign.

“Earth Hour is driven by citizens and grassroots groups thinking globally and acting locally. No matter how big or small your organisation, I urge you to get involved in Earth Hour and really make a difference in your community and in the world,” Mr Ridley said.

Among other community groups working to ensure the largest possible participation in Earth Hour is the Church of Sweden, which will ring its bells across the country to signal the start of Earth Hour at 8.30pm on March 28.

Sydney Ferries, which has been an enthusiastic supporter of Earth Hour since 2007, will this year be sounding the horns of all its ferries operating on Sydney Harbour, heralding Earth Hour in the city where the campaign first began.

In the United States the National Education Association, representing 3.2 million teachers and education professionals, has also pledged its support for Earth Hour, as has the 1.4 million-strong American Federation of Teachers.

It’s hard to believe that the image above is not a painting but a painstakingly put together paper collage. The artist is Are Mokkelborst, a young talent from Oslo, Norway. His collages have been on view in Oslo and Paris and are currently making the blog circles. For those who really can’t believe that Mokkelbost’s creations are not paintings, read on for proof…