|
The PM on the Post Oil Energy Economy
On 13 th July Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, made an important environmental speech which was little-reported in the UK press, except the part about building new nuclear power stations. Addressing an organisation called the Union for the Mediterranean, which consists of EU and Mediterranean states, Brown outlined a post-oil energy economy for the future.
He said:
“We must now leave behind the old wasteful, oil dependent ways of yesterday and embrace the new cleaner and sustainable energy future of tomorrow. The increases in oil and food prices we have seen over recent months are causing hardship to families and businesses in Britain and throughout Europe. They threaten economic instability and their production is environmentally not sustainable.
The years of cheap energy and careless pollution are behind us. We need a new strategy. Past total dependence on oil must give way to a clean energy future.”
More >
..........................................................
Government Launches £50 Billion Renewable Strategy
Photo: Solar Panels by Kevin Thoule
The good news is that the government has launched its £50 billion renewable strategy. The bad news is it's another consultation. It aims to boost UK renewables to meet the EU target of 20% by 2020.
More >
..........................................................
Remineralise Your Soil – Lower Your Carbon Footprint
Photo: www.remineralize.org
Every gardener knows that growing plants take nutrients out of the soil. There are many methods to return the goodness, from the short term fix of chemical fertilisers, through organic enhancers such as seaweed meal or manure, to nitrogen-fixing plants, and many others.
A new idea has slid quietly onto the scene: soil remineralisation . This term means the addition of fresh minerals to depleted soil using “rockdust” or “mineral fines” – the tailings of quarries, which are normally regarded as waste material. This is rather like a person taking a vitamin or mineral tablet to restore their health. Soils which have minerals added create richer, tastier crops, prevent soil erosion, increase pest and disease resistance, and provide an environment for the micro-organisms that enrich the soil to multiply.
More >
..........................................................
Businessweek reveals Saudis have nearly reached Peak Oil
Photo: Oil Pipelines in Saudi Arabia by Saudi Aramco
A remarkable document has been leaked to US magazine Businessweek this month. In it “a person with access to Saudi oil officials” reveals that Saudi Arabia will have reached the peak of its oil production by 2013. Peak Oil is when around half of an oil field's production has been reached – all the easy to extract oil has been sucked out – and the lower grade, harder, more expensive oil is left. The oil has not run out, but the good days are over.
More >
..........................................................
Mayor scraps £25 Congestion Charge for Gas Guzzlers
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has scrapped the CO2 Charge, which would have charged owners of large family cars £25 a day to drive in the Central London Congestion Charge zone, a large increase from the £8 they pay currently. This means there will be no increase in charge for drivers of Band G vehicles from October 2008. The Band A and B discount, which would give free entry to the zone for low or zero-emission vehicles has also been stopped.
The discount for alternative fuel vehicles will remain in place and the existing Congestion Charge scheme will not be affected.
The London Low Emission Zone, which seeks to reduce harmful emissions from the largest diesel-engined vehicles like lorries, buses and coaches, is also unaffected.
More >
.......................................................... |
