Latest Updates: global warming RSS

• Advanced BioFuels Will Only Add To Global Warming
  Tate 03:20:16 pm on October 26, 2009 | 0 | # |
  Tags: biofuels, deforestation, global warming

  In a study published by Science, it was found that advanced biofuels such as woods and grasses that are meant to provide alternative fuels without cutting into food supplies (such as ethanol does), will emit more carbon dioxide than burning gasoline over the next few decades .. and yes also cut into food supplies.  The study concludes that the land required to grow poplar trees and tropical grasses will displace food crops and accelerate deforestation.  Why is this so difficult for governments to understand?  Another study published last week in the journal Science also indicates that the UN has exaggerated the carbon savings from biofuels because it ignores deforestation and other land use costs.

  also published in the journal Science on Thursday, said the United Nations had exaggerated carbon savings from biofuels and biomass, in a mistake copied by the European Union in its cap and trade law, by ignoring deforestation and other land use changes.

   

• If you Thought Carbon was Bad, How About Methane?
  Srikant Rajan 12:37:40 pm on September 25, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: arctic region, ghg, global warming, green house gases, methane reserves, permafrost

  The amount of methane stored beneath the Arctic is estimated to contain a greater carbon content than the global coal reserves.And what happens when that methane starts to escape ? Well for starters methane is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse(GHG) gas and could significantly accelerate global warming.The main reason for methane escaping from underground reserves is the melting of the permafrost layer in the arctic on account of global warming.

  The Arctic region as a whole has seen a 4C rise in average temperatures over recent decades and a dramatic decline in the area of the Arctic Ocean covered by summer sea ice.this in turn has caused fissures in the seabed causing trapped methane to escape.In some areas the release is so rapid that methane could not dissolve in the seawater but escaped as bubbles to the sea surface.These methane “   chimneys   ” could cause a spiraling effort by accelerating global warming which would further cause melting of ice sheets and more escape of methane .

   

• Now , Trap the Carbon !
  Srikant Rajan 05:07:11 pm on August 11, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: carbon concrete, carbon dioxide, carbon sense solutions, global warming

  Carbon now seems to have no way out to stay in the atmospheres.The process of using algae provides a method to literally  “ suck “ up the carbon from the environment, which is currently being  enhanced and developed.Now concrete developers are investigating a method that allows “ trapping “ of carbon  in concrete . Research says , that concrete accounts for more than 5 % , of human based carbon impact annually – a significant amount. This is due the  fact that cement , an active ingredient in concrete is made by treatment of limestone and clay under intense heat.The heat for this process is most often produced by use of fossil fuels .Furthermore , the mixing of cement gravel,sand and water for manufacturing concrete produces additional heat and steam .

  Halifax based Carbon Sense Solutions , now plans to reverse the carbon produced during concrete manufacturing by exploiting a natural tendency of concrete to reabsorb carbon dioxide.Under natural conditions this process takes hundreds of years and results from a series of natural chemical reactions.Carbon Sense’s process involves treating freshly mixed concrete with a stream of carbon rich gases that speed up these natural reactions , between the gas and calcium rich minerals in cement.This process also eliminates any need for steam or heat , cutting down energy as well as emissions.

  However, the actual impact on carbon reduction due to this process is still not clearly established.Additionally the impact of high carbon in concrete may affect its properties and thereby limit its application in certain cases.

   

• India says no to Kyoto yes to Climate Plan
  Srikant Rajan 11:49:42 am on July 8, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: china, climate plan, emissions reduction, global warming, india, kyoto protocol, solar energy

  Developing countries such as India and china have come been repeatedly criticized for their voracious appetite for energy thus contributing to increased pollution and rising oil prices. According to Bush (the soon to be replaced US president!) the improvement in eating habits of people in “ poorer ” countries such as India is responsible for food grain shortage and not the biofuel policy mess that he has crafted. Now India plans to form eight commissions to promote solar energy, energy efficiency and water conservation to mitigate damage to environment.

  India has recently rejected a proposal by US and Japan to replace national limits on industrial pollution by Kyoto limits. Being a developing country India is not subject to Kyoto protocol. Further India has amply demonstrated its commitment to reduce pollution by implementing the above mentioned process. As Indian minister Mr. Shyam Saran says “ This does demonstrate that we are prepared to be responsible global citizens and join others in a collaborative effort to deal with climate change ” . India has further appealed industrialized nations for emissions cuts and also requested for technological and monetary assistance for developing indigenous carbon reduction measures.

   

• Zero Emission Range Rover
  Srikant Rajan 01:11:58 pm on June 29, 2008 | 2 | # |
  Tags: electric cars, global warming, Hybrid, range rover, zero emission

  If you are environment conscious ,but do not wish to  give up your favorite Range Rover ,then take a look at UK based startup Liberty Electric Cars.This enterprise plans to invest £30 million in a business that will initially re-engineer conventional vehicles to convert them into all electric cars. Currently Liberty buys new rovers and minis and replace them with an electric engine to get a zero emission vehicle costing a royal £95,000 to £125,000 per vehicle.However plans are afoot to source empty "Rovers" to be fitted with electric engines to bring down the cost.

  This is an interesting approach to produce low emission vehicles.CEO Barry Shrier further says that even if the battery used in these cars is recharged using fossil fuel powered plants, the emissions from such cars would be a third of conventional vehicles.This however is not clear whether we are just trading tail pipe car emissions to more coal/fossil fuels.

   

• Global Warming ??? Suck Up The Carbon !
  Srikant Rajan 01:59:11 pm on June 25, 2008 | 1 | # |
  Tags: algae, algae biofuel, algae growth, Algal Biomass Organization, biofuel, boeing, carbon dioxide, global warming, petroalgae

  Algae based biofuel provides a lot of advantages.This process of algae growth ,like a crop and further harvesting it to obtain biofuel leaves a very low carbon impact on the environment.The biggest advantage of algaaculture is that it can act as a source for removing carbon dioxide from air.Research has proven that algae growth in  CO2-enriched air can yield oil that can be converted into high grade biodiseal.Additionally the byproducts left behind after processing algae can be used as animal feed.PetroAlgae,is one of the organizations actively pursuing this endeavor.Fred Tennant, VP,PetroAlgae is overseeing the development of a process in which algae is harvested from fresh-water ponds , converted to oil and refined to biodiseal. The byproducts ,can be further used as a protein rich animal feed.

  The recently formed  Algal Biomass Organization for promoting renewable and sustainable commodities derived from algae,is being promoted by Boeing Commercial Airplanes.Thus it seems that algae has enormous potential for developing as a sustainable energy source.

   

• John Doerr On the Importance of Going Green Now!
  Tate 04:23:20 pm on May 9, 2008 | 0 | # |
  Tags: brazil, china, global warming, john doerr, TED, video, walmart

  This is a really good presentation from John Doerr, legendary venture capitalist at the TED conference.  The bit about what Walmart is doing to go green and the big impact on that is very interesting but puts into perspective on what a GLOBAL issue this is.  We can do everything possible to go green but it won’t matter much if China doesn’t follow.