Daily News – November 18, 2008
November 18, 2008
Carbon Dioxide Emissions to be Pumped Back into the Earth
Columbia University Scientists have come up with a novel way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Peridotite, a rock found in the upper mantle below the Earth’s crust, when exposed to air reacts with CO2. Upon reaction it forms carbonates such as marble or limestone. Peridotite is found in places like the Omani Desert, Greece, Croatia and a few Pacific Islands. Since transporting the rock to CO2 producing sites would create emissions it was decided to drill and fracture the rock and pump the CO2 in. This would reduce emissions by about 4 billion tonnes a year out of a total of 20 billion tonnes.
South Australian Tourism Operators Recognized for Reducing Environmental Impact
Seven South Australian tourism operators have received recognition for doing their bit to reduce the environmental impact of their businesses. Some of these are Adelaide Convention Centre and the Quorn Caravan Park. The highest level of recognition was awarded to Banrock Station in the Riverland and the Gluepot Reserve. To achieve this end the businesses needed to make several changes to their functioning to be more environmental friendly. These operators also audited their operations in an effort to be environmentally sustainable, make water savings and have extremely efficient management processes in place.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Sustainable Development Discussed by UN in Thailand
Sustainable Development and the Media’s role in it were discussed at a recent media workshop conducted by the United Nations in Bangkok, Thailand. Journalists from different press agencies in central Asia and the Pacific Region were invited. Bangkok was chosen as the location for this workshop as South Asian countries, due to their sudden burst in growth, need to be more environmentally aware. The workshop saw an active dialogue between journalists to discuss how to deliver the message of sustainable development to the general public. Practical actions and experiences from different countries were discussed.
Indo-German Environment Forum to Begin on Tuesday
A two-day forum, the first of its kind between India and Germany, begins on Tuesday. The forum seeks to enable and strengthen cooperation between the two countries with regards to the environment. Germany has set itself an ambitious target by aiming to reduce emissions 40% by 2020. It is known for its innovative work in technology for the environment. India is currently a huge export market for Germany. The main focus in the forum will be waste management, sanitation and water. These are extremely important in the Indian context. The aim is to strengthen bilateral business ties and at the same time work at reducing the environmental footprint.
Canadian Greenhouse Emissions Up by 22 %
A recent study by the United Nations revealed that Canadian industries, along with those in the US and Australia, remained among the highest greenhouse gas emitters. The data released showed that while the overall emission readings taken from 40 industrialized nations have seen reductions by about 5% from 1990 to 2006, Canadian emissions have seen an increase by 22% in the same period. The erstwhile Soviet Union countries have also seen a steady rise in pollution levels. The study caused grave concerns among climate change groups that industrialized nations had not yet begun to take the issue of pollution seriously.
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