The network is used extensively to watch over coral reefs spread throughout the ocean floors, but the on-site water instruments can be used to monitor the warming temperatures of the oceanic waters, without expensive labor. For corals specifically, it would help monitor bleaching events that take place, and stop activities like illegal harvesting, overfishing, pollution etc that increases the same, causing death of corals.

Since the discovery of satellites they have been used only for quintessential purposes like orbiting the earth, taking pictures, bringing in data and information from space, and have yet not been used on a large scale to help the world’s declining biodiversity. However, it is the only equipment that can be used to give a complete view of the scenario from above. Till date, satellites have only been used for tracking certain wildlife, on land or in water. It would be extremely effective and helpful if used in tracking activities like illegal dumping of garbage or sewage causing pollution, overfishing, whaling, etc.

Source: Msnbc

Indonesian authorities and the WWF have come together to save Sumatra. Authorities have finally realized that habitat loss is taking place at an extremely rapid rate. They have agreed upon an ‘ecosystem-based planning’, and if adopted it would ban any projects that will be harmful to the ecological health of Sumatra’s ecosystem.

Sumatra is known for its unique endemic and charismatic fauna like the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Elephant etc. It also has three World Heritage Sites identified by the UNESCO. All of Sumatra’s forests are tropical rain forests. Different islands in the world have their own geographical and evolutionary significance, which translates onto the biodiversity, present in the area. Such islands are usually responsible for several processes of speciation – formation of species and evolutionary radiation that brings about significant changes within species.

It’s the age old saga of rapid industrialization, habitat encroachment for expanding plantations, and illegal logging, threatening the loss of more than 50% of the island’s forests. The WWF has assessed the rate of loss and commends the decision made by the authorities to restore the forests, which has come in decent time to save the remaining forests.

Source: redOrbit

In the near future, we might witness the weirdest gas stations ever - pools teeming with algae considered for biofuel sources. Netherlands is leading the way in processing algae to ultimately produce biofuel. Several companies in this country are considering algae farms for this purpose. The Aviation Industry is also eyeing it as jet fuel for the future. Algae are also used in various other ways like source of animal feed, an important component in skin medication, biodegradable plastics, paints, resins etc.

The simplest of plants are now perceived fit for the ‘green future’. Algae are used for their various characteristics, like the ability to intake and hold large amounts of carbon dioxide and they have fast reproductive capabilities. Though algae have been used to produce biofuel for a long time now, the process has never been cost effective, and the fuel could not be produced in commercial quantities.

Alternative fuels are the only option for the future, to decrease the extensive dependence on fossil fuels. Production of alternative fuels on the other hand, is an ethical issue, especially when it depends on the reproduction rate of organisms. Production of biofuels from food crops or on algal farms will always be a conflict, in terms of land and water being expensive resources. Not to mention, they also might interfere with the existing ecosystems, be it in terms of monoculture or algal bloom.

Source: CNN

Levying carbon tax on energy production turns out to be a simpler and cheaper solution in comparison to the more common cap and trade system of emissions trading. A ‘cap and trade’ approach consists of redistribution and trading of caps on sources, to segregate the sources that emit the total pollution load by collecting caps on all sources. Taxing would involve paying up for the production of carbon at the source, and be more efficient in terms of calculating decreasing emissions.

Decreasing carbon footprints, without even making an effort, except for spending some money through the Clean Development Mechanism, by buying carbon credits has been immensely criticized by most legislators.

Developing different green technologies and energy production and distribution are so widespread throughout countries, that it would be a task in itself to set in the cap and trade system. Carbon taxing, applicable only to fossil fuels on the other hand is definitely welcome since the concept is easy to understand and can be made popular if the revenue from the tax can be returned by reducing other taxes. All this being done to avoid the effects of global warming and climate change, would be a small price to pay.

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Source: Reuters

One of the pleasures of driving on the interstate highways is the breath of fresh air. The journey is more comfortable when there are several biofuel gas stations along the way, making sure you do not run out of fuel. The launch of the innovative four-state ‘biofuels corridor’ along Interstate 65 serve both these purposes efficiently. The highway connects the states of Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana and hits the Hoosier state at Jeffersonville and Clarksville. The biofuel pumps provide B20 and E85 fuels for vehicles with flexfuel tanks. Several such biofuel corridors are likely to be planned in the near future.

Fuel containing 20% biodiesel is called B20 and one with 85% Ethanol is called E85. B20 biodiesel can generally be used in normal diesel engines whereas E85 ethanol is used in engines modified to accommodate higher concentrations of ethanol. As compared to gasoline, E85 decreases greenhouse gas emissions, including the energy required to grow and process corn into ethanol by 15-20%, and shows up to 70% decrease in emissions when cellulose serves as base.

Not only in terms of decreasing emissions, but in terms of economic viability and working towards a green living concept that is widely applicable, increasing the number of biofuel corridor projects is definitely the need of the hour.

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Source: Autobloggreen

When we talk about reducing global emissions, in view of global warming events, it is mostly in terms of vehicular and industrial emissions. No doubt, these contribute to the direct carbon emissions, but the indirect sources of carbon should also be focused on. Indirect sources of carbon vary according to the lifestyle of people, the household articles, the energy requirement and dependence etc. Addressing some such indirect sources, the EPA set the ’surf and turf’ standards for engines of pleasure boats, lawn mowers and weed trimmers. The catalytic converters that’s in use in the modern ‘green’ cars will be used in these machines.

Reducing carbon emissions across the globe and setting standards for the same is not an easy task. It needs the right approach to be lobbying for the same. Economy is always a setback, but it is high time we pay attention to the present scenario of economy in relation to social and environmental perspectives, and realize how much the future depends on it.

Defeating global warming, and nurturing the earth has to be inculcated into the thought process of people and organizations. When organizations like the EPA back such efforts, then change is definitely underway.

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Source: Nytimes

Recalling basic chemistry, we are reminded that ozone depletion takes place due to reactions of the free radical catalyst like nitric oxide, hydroxyl, atomic chlorine, and atomic bromine. Increase in compounds like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and others is directly responsible for this depletion. Applications of CFCs consist of refrigeration, aerosol propellants, fire extinguishers etc.

CFCs are stable compounds, capable of surviving at high altitudes where chlorine and bromine are liberated by the action of ultraviolet light. Each radical catalyzes a chain reaction, breaking down over 100,000 ozone molecules. There are several depletion events near the surface in Polar Regions during spring. But the greatest declines of up to 30% are in the winter and spring, when the stratosphere is colder. Polar stratospheric clouds, which are formed at extremely cold temperatures, absorb the free radicals enhancing ozone depletion.

The Montreal Protocol, an international treaty, considered the most successful international agreement, spoke about gradually phasing out the substances that cause ozone depletion. In 2003, it was said that the depletion had decreased over the past decade, due to the international ban on CFCs. The situation has obviously worsened since then, and although weather patterns also play a role in manipulating ozone columns, the trend over the years has been alternatively decreasing and increasing.

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Source: CNN

Recycling waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), or E- waste as we popularly know it, is the new in thing in the corporate world. All corporate bodies have some amount of electronic garbage going out, no matter how large or small they are.

Toshiba is leading a free recycling program, in a most innovative way, wherein the company takes in all your e-waste and makes sure that they are processed through proper recycling and disposal mechanisms. This recycling program is termed ‘free’ because there is no obligation for the depositor, or rather the recycler, to buy any Toshiba products. Moreover, recyclers have the option of bringing in used products for cash.

Recyclable electronic waste is called a ‘commodity’ while e-waste which cannot be reused or recycled is called ‘waste’. Both the types of e-waste are toxic to the environment and non biodegradable. E-waste contains toxic substances like lead, mercury and cadmium and coatings used in insulation etc. If treated properly, electronic waste can be used for secondary raw materials. Laws and legislation regarding proper disposal of e-waste are still being formulated in most parts of the world. Most e-waste from developed countries are disposed off to the third world countries which find use for it, but their recycling and reusing procedures are not stringent enough to handle proper disposal. E-waste is usually disposed into landfills, and that creates an unsustainable management system. A protocol on management of e-waste, that is applicable worldwide, is the need of the hour.

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Source: ENN

American Senators Barack Obama and John McCain are debating on issues of the nation’s alternative energy sources. The choice between the more sensible resources like sun, wind and plants backed by Obama, as opposed to the strong nuclear resources preferred by McCain, is the matter of debate.

Rightly said the nuclear power resource has become too expensive and puts too much at stake to even matter. Though about 20% of America’s electricity is provided by nuclear sources, unless it has been completely proved as inexpensive in comparison to the other ‘greener’ alternatives, it does not stand a chance. Calculated contribution of emissions by nuclear energy is lesser than the emissions of green resources like wind, sun and coal combined. Effects of radioactive substances and radiation are the only reasons people are wary of nuclear energy. But some officials argue that all these conclusions have been blown out of proportion. The final clincher is the argument that, if there exists a proven technology that doesn’t increase carbon emissions, then why is it not being put to complete use.

Complete use of a resource, in this case - nuclear energy, usually means exploiting it to the maximum extent. Nuclear energy has to be completely safe to be completely reliable. The safety regulations and measures applicable to handle nuclear power resources makes it impossible to be used on a very large scale, and risks more than just the lives of the personnel involved. Coal burns and other alternative energy sources are not capable of INSTANTLY eradicating life on earth.

Source: Nytimes

The IUCN is an international conservation organization, dedicated to preserving the world’s natural resources. The IUCN Red List is a comprehensive inventory providing details on the status of all the animals described worldwide. Based on their status, species are classified into categories like extinct, near threatened, threatened, vulnerable, endangered in wild, endangered, least concern etc.

Scientists are now concerned that mammals throughout the world are facing extinction, in the near future. It is said that within this generation’s lifetime, most of these species will go extinct. Extinction rates are overriding rates of discovery of new species in the wild. Extensive information based on scientific research, on the status and significance of these species exists. Data depicts specific numbers for certain species and relative abundance for some.

Scientists worldwide have been studying animal groups like mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects and other animals independently and collectively at the same time. It is well known that efforts to preserve them can be species specific, or can have a general approach. Protection of smaller animals like amphibians and reptiles depends on the preservation of the world’s forests. And for larger animals like most mammals efforts have to be concentrated towards decreasing poaching, hunting for game, wildlife trade, trade in pets, and animal consumption as food resource. Only when these threats are directly and immensely focused on, will their numbers cease to decline.

Source: ENN