EveryJoe » greenhouse-gas-emissions

DHL Delivers via Kite-powered Cargo Ship

Ali — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 13:16:39 +0000

Global DHL delivered 71 containers from Germany to Venezuela with the kite-powered MS Beluga Skysails cargo vessel last week, according to ENN. Tapping the wind power across the oceans allowed the ship to travel faster or decrease fuel consumption by 20%.

And the successful voyage is just in time to counter the criticism against the shipping industry for green house gas emissions:

(From ENN)The maiden voyage was completed at a time when ship-related greenhouse gas emissions are under fire from several fronts. Earlier this week, a report commissioned by the U.N. International Maritime Organization surfaced, finding that ship-related emissions, at 3.5 percent of global carbon emissions, were grossly underestimated and nearly double than previous estimates of 1.4 percent.

Read more on the shipping industry’s environmental impact at DHL Completes More Eco-Friendly Ship Voyage as Industry Comes Under Fire. And see the ship set sail from Hamburg at Using Kites to Pull Cargo Ships Across the Seas.

Post from: EveryJoe

DHL Delivers via Kite-powered Cargo Ship

Tighter EU Emissions To Take a Toll on Heavy Industry

Ali — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:28:22 +0000

The European Commission is set to set to release the new rules on Emissions Trading System (ETS) – part of a post-2012 climate change policy package – next week and have preempted the publication with acknowledgment that the plan will hit the competitiveness of heavy industries.

An article in the EU Observer noted that new changes in greenhouse gas emissions rules will most affect Europe’s aluminum makers. Other industries such as chemical, steel and cement would also be impacted causing a need to raise prices between 5 and 48 percent. The changes would give the US and China a competitive edge in the global market.

The EU Observer article stated that:

It is estimated that Europe’s gross domestic product would fall by 0.1 percent as a result of the proposed changes but the jobs lost in the affected industries would be offset by new opportunities in a low-carbon economy.

What do you think about the EU’s plans?

More at: Tighter Emissions plans to harm EU’s heavy industry

Via EU Observer

Post from: EveryJoe

Tighter EU Emissions To Take a Toll on Heavy Industry

Tesco Products on the ‘Carbon Footprint’ Map

Ali — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 06:50:52 +0000

Attention shoppers, do you know where your light bulbs have been? UK supermarket giant Tesco has teamed up with the Carbon Trust to ‘map’ the carbon footprint of products that shoppers commonly purchase in its stores. The idea is driven by a rising consumer demand that is placing climate issues a priority in product choices.

Consumers are concerned with the embodied energy of the products they purchase. Organic and locally produced are two keys to reducing a product’s carbon footprint, both through sustainable farming and manufacturing and reduced emissions from shorter transportation.

The Tesco Carbon Footprint map is geared towards helping the company track greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain to enable better informed decisions about the products they offer customers.

The Carbon Trust is a government-funded (UK) independent company that help businesses and the public sector cut carbon emissions and supports the development of low carbon technologies, like solar photovoltaic initiatives.

Tesco to map carbon footprint of products at Reuters
Tesco Greener Living

Post from: EveryJoe

Tesco Products on the ‘Carbon Footprint’ Map